What is the purpose of your life, what were you created for, or better put...
What has God called you to do???????
Well?????
Are you doing it????
Friday, June 11, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
All Of Our Life Must Be Drawn From The Word
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
The Word of God teaches us over and over again about the importance of being rooted and grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ. Often we want prosperity NOW. We want blessings NOW. But God is saying, "No, I want your roots to grow first so you have the spiritual maturity to handle the finances when they come. I want you to be rooted and grounded in Me so you can handle the winds of adversity when they come." Our delight should be in the "law of the Lord," which is the Word of God.
Your prayer life must also be rooted and grounded in the Word of God. All your prayers must be based on God's Word and His promises! Not what you want... because your wants may be ungodly!
If the Word is your delight, you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. When you drive through a desert, the only green you can see is right along a river. If there are any trees growing, they will be growing right beside the river where the water is flowing.
God is trying to say, if you want to be a prosperous, blessed, and healthy believer, stay planted by the rivers of the water of the Word of God and the water of the presence of the Holy Spirit each day. This is the type of tree which has roots traveling deep into the ground and is continually fed.
People in the world are looking for a place to find consolation, faith, and hope. The good news is it is found in Jesus Christ, but the world does not understand this.
Perhaps your prosperity has not yet manifested. God will bless and prosper you but it will come in due season.
In due season you will produce fruit and in due season your leaf will not wither. Every day your prosperity does not manifest is another day for your roots to grow deeper so when that day does arrive, your roots will run deep and you will be established in strength
And prayer is what will sustain you, is what will draw that water up from the
The Word of God teaches us over and over again about the importance of being rooted and grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ. Often we want prosperity NOW. We want blessings NOW. But God is saying, "No, I want your roots to grow first so you have the spiritual maturity to handle the finances when they come. I want you to be rooted and grounded in Me so you can handle the winds of adversity when they come." Our delight should be in the "law of the Lord," which is the Word of God.
Your prayer life must also be rooted and grounded in the Word of God. All your prayers must be based on God's Word and His promises! Not what you want... because your wants may be ungodly!
If the Word is your delight, you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. When you drive through a desert, the only green you can see is right along a river. If there are any trees growing, they will be growing right beside the river where the water is flowing.
God is trying to say, if you want to be a prosperous, blessed, and healthy believer, stay planted by the rivers of the water of the Word of God and the water of the presence of the Holy Spirit each day. This is the type of tree which has roots traveling deep into the ground and is continually fed.
People in the world are looking for a place to find consolation, faith, and hope. The good news is it is found in Jesus Christ, but the world does not understand this.
Perhaps your prosperity has not yet manifested. God will bless and prosper you but it will come in due season.
In due season you will produce fruit and in due season your leaf will not wither. Every day your prosperity does not manifest is another day for your roots to grow deeper so when that day does arrive, your roots will run deep and you will be established in strength
And prayer is what will sustain you, is what will draw that water up from the
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Prayer and His Spirit and His Word
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 - NKJV
Pray before you read God's Word!
We know that Gods word is alive and active and full of power as the amplified bible states, but!
The verses in the Bible are just recorded words until God's Spirit starts to deliver them to you.
They are seeds waiting to come to life!
For that reason, pray.
Prayer is the water that activates the power and life that is in tht seed!
Pray according to the pattern of prayer Paul provided us with, "Lord, give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You that the eyes of my understanding may be enlightened."
And in response, God's Spirit will take the words of scripture you read and make them come alive for you. In this way, just as the scripture quote above declares, Christ's words will be as spirit and life to you. Eph.1:17-18.
How are you going to benefit from those words you hear?
Your spirit responds to them. Your spirit connects to and gets in agreement with what is being said.
It gives you the desire to act on the words you've heard or read.
However, don't be surprised if your soul - your mind, emotions and will - remain unresponsive or even resist that word.
To benefit from God's word you have to get your soul into subjection to your spirit!
Your spirit's desire is for you to respond in body and soul to God's Word.
When God's Spirit opens God's Word to you, then your spirit will say, "Yes, this is for me. It's exactly the counsel I need. I want to go with this!"
Let your spirit have its way.
Let your spirit take charge in your life.
As you do so, Ephesians 3:16-19 will come to life in you.
So pray, "Lord, give me the courage and power of Your Spirit to follow through on the counsel I'm hearing in Your Word." .
May you find life in God's Word
Pray before you read God's Word!
We know that Gods word is alive and active and full of power as the amplified bible states, but!
The verses in the Bible are just recorded words until God's Spirit starts to deliver them to you.
They are seeds waiting to come to life!
For that reason, pray.
Prayer is the water that activates the power and life that is in tht seed!
Pray according to the pattern of prayer Paul provided us with, "Lord, give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You that the eyes of my understanding may be enlightened."
And in response, God's Spirit will take the words of scripture you read and make them come alive for you. In this way, just as the scripture quote above declares, Christ's words will be as spirit and life to you. Eph.1:17-18.
How are you going to benefit from those words you hear?
Your spirit responds to them. Your spirit connects to and gets in agreement with what is being said.
It gives you the desire to act on the words you've heard or read.
However, don't be surprised if your soul - your mind, emotions and will - remain unresponsive or even resist that word.
To benefit from God's word you have to get your soul into subjection to your spirit!
Your spirit's desire is for you to respond in body and soul to God's Word.
When God's Spirit opens God's Word to you, then your spirit will say, "Yes, this is for me. It's exactly the counsel I need. I want to go with this!"
Let your spirit have its way.
Let your spirit take charge in your life.
As you do so, Ephesians 3:16-19 will come to life in you.
So pray, "Lord, give me the courage and power of Your Spirit to follow through on the counsel I'm hearing in Your Word." .
May you find life in God's Word
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6 - 7 - NKJV
One of the most important lessons I've learnt in my Christian life is that I can't afford to carry any of my cares - I have to keep casting them on the Lord!
Casting your cares on the Lord is the most responsible thing you can do because it gets them into the hands of the One who can really do something about them. Care - whether you cast it, roll it, deposit it or commit it to the Lord in prayer - make sure it goes into the His hands.
This is how the Apostle Paul lived. In prayer he committed everything and everyone he was responsible for to the Lord. He knew this was the most responsible thing to do. He knew well that no power he possessed in the flesh was going to benefit his churches or his ministry.
If continuing growth and fruit was to come, he knew it had to come by God. He wrote, "I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him."
God keeps what we firmly and fully deposit in His care, that is, in His safe-keeping. 2Tim.1:12b.
Ask the Lord to show you by His Spirit the full revelation of His care for you.
It can only be real to you as you pray and meditate upon Gods word. When you do that then the revelation of this can come when you read the Scriptures.
It can come out of Peter's declaration, "for God cares for you." It can be nurtured by the words in Hebrews, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Your response to this should be to do as Paul did, to say "I commend you to God and to the word of His grace." Now, do the most responsible thing you can do - cast all your cares upon the Lord! 1Pet.5:7, Heb.13:5, Act.20:32.
Let the Lord carry your concerns
One of the most important lessons I've learnt in my Christian life is that I can't afford to carry any of my cares - I have to keep casting them on the Lord!
Casting your cares on the Lord is the most responsible thing you can do because it gets them into the hands of the One who can really do something about them. Care - whether you cast it, roll it, deposit it or commit it to the Lord in prayer - make sure it goes into the His hands.
This is how the Apostle Paul lived. In prayer he committed everything and everyone he was responsible for to the Lord. He knew this was the most responsible thing to do. He knew well that no power he possessed in the flesh was going to benefit his churches or his ministry.
If continuing growth and fruit was to come, he knew it had to come by God. He wrote, "I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him."
God keeps what we firmly and fully deposit in His care, that is, in His safe-keeping. 2Tim.1:12b.
Ask the Lord to show you by His Spirit the full revelation of His care for you.
It can only be real to you as you pray and meditate upon Gods word. When you do that then the revelation of this can come when you read the Scriptures.
It can come out of Peter's declaration, "for God cares for you." It can be nurtured by the words in Hebrews, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Your response to this should be to do as Paul did, to say "I commend you to God and to the word of His grace." Now, do the most responsible thing you can do - cast all your cares upon the Lord! 1Pet.5:7, Heb.13:5, Act.20:32.
Let the Lord carry your concerns
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
God's pattern for success
~~~~
We live in an impatient generation and people are always wanting everything to happen overnight. Too often even Christians are demanding it all come together in one night.
You need to guard against this mentality of "I want it to instantly be there!"
You need to have the patience - the fortitude - to keep taking steps forward as God gives them to you. Steady building, steady progress gives God the chance to help you until you come into His perfect plan! Psa.37:23.
Most of us want something and we just tell God to bring it to us!
God is not our servant... we are His servants.
We have to labor in prayer as He directs.
Many say well you just confess what you want and wait for it to come and if you pray about it again you are in doubt.
NOT SO FAST!
First of all, you can ask once in doubt... how many times you ask does not determin your level of doubt.
Secondly, you have to ask God what to do and follow His plan. That's what this verse is talking about. There may be times when you have to keep pressing in as God directs you to in prayer!
Daniel Prayed 21 days for the answer to come... yet the angel told him that he was dispatched with the answer the moment the prayer was made, yet Satan tried to stop it!
The verse is telling us about Uzziah, a king of Judah. It makes a wonderful statement, "God made him prosper!"
How did that happened? Well, it was linked to Uzziah seeking the Lord.
That's prayer folks! HE PRAYED! And listened.... too often we just pray on go on our merry way expecting the answer to be at the next dirve up window waiting for us.
Uzziah kept putting himself in a position to be prospered by continually praying, seeking (enquiring of) the Lord.
This is the way it can happen for you too. God's people have always prospered through seeking the Lord, throught prayer.
The Word of God continually tells us to yearn for the Lord and enquire of the Lord and He will see to it that you prosper; He will instruct you by His Spirit on every step to make. Psa.5:12.
Note this about Uzziah's prosperity - it didn't come overnight!
He prospered in steps forward, not leaps. Uzziah had to keep planning for and keep working on his success. He and his son Jotham were builders. They built up their kingdom and God marvellously helped them. Establishing a kingdom takes time.
It takes time for God's kingdom to be established in you! 2 Chron.26:15, 27:6
Be a builder under the Lord's guidance!
Keep following God's bluepirint given to you in payer!
He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the things of God; and as long as he sought (inquired of, yearned for) the Lord, God made him prosper. 2 Chronicles 26:5 - The Amplified Bible
We live in an impatient generation and people are always wanting everything to happen overnight. Too often even Christians are demanding it all come together in one night.
You need to guard against this mentality of "I want it to instantly be there!"
You need to have the patience - the fortitude - to keep taking steps forward as God gives them to you. Steady building, steady progress gives God the chance to help you until you come into His perfect plan! Psa.37:23.
Most of us want something and we just tell God to bring it to us!
God is not our servant... we are His servants.
We have to labor in prayer as He directs.
Many say well you just confess what you want and wait for it to come and if you pray about it again you are in doubt.
NOT SO FAST!
First of all, you can ask once in doubt... how many times you ask does not determin your level of doubt.
Secondly, you have to ask God what to do and follow His plan. That's what this verse is talking about. There may be times when you have to keep pressing in as God directs you to in prayer!
Daniel Prayed 21 days for the answer to come... yet the angel told him that he was dispatched with the answer the moment the prayer was made, yet Satan tried to stop it!
The verse is telling us about Uzziah, a king of Judah. It makes a wonderful statement, "God made him prosper!"
How did that happened? Well, it was linked to Uzziah seeking the Lord.
That's prayer folks! HE PRAYED! And listened.... too often we just pray on go on our merry way expecting the answer to be at the next dirve up window waiting for us.
Uzziah kept putting himself in a position to be prospered by continually praying, seeking (enquiring of) the Lord.
This is the way it can happen for you too. God's people have always prospered through seeking the Lord, throught prayer.
The Word of God continually tells us to yearn for the Lord and enquire of the Lord and He will see to it that you prosper; He will instruct you by His Spirit on every step to make. Psa.5:12.
Note this about Uzziah's prosperity - it didn't come overnight!
He prospered in steps forward, not leaps. Uzziah had to keep planning for and keep working on his success. He and his son Jotham were builders. They built up their kingdom and God marvellously helped them. Establishing a kingdom takes time.
It takes time for God's kingdom to be established in you! 2 Chron.26:15, 27:6
Be a builder under the Lord's guidance!
Keep following God's bluepirint given to you in payer!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Your ministry of prayer
~~~~Remember prisoners, as if you were in prison with them: and remember those suffering ill-treatment, for you yourselves also are still in the body.Hebrews 13:3 - Weymouth's translation
Paul is talking about things we can pray for here. Interestingly he talks about prison ministry. I have gone a number of times to prison... TO MINISTER... And it can be a depressing place to minister!
I heard a minister speak about his work as a prison chaplain. He told us, "A prison chaplaincy colleague of mine said in our work we live among the sad, the bad and the mad." In spite of this, after more than 25 years service, his heart was still tender towards those imprisoned.
Stay tenderhearted!
Jesus feels for us in our weaknesses. Let's feel for others in theirs.
Don't just sit listening to CNN or Fox News and say how bad things are getting, or look at the tragedy those folks are going through! Instead we ought to be respond in prayer and pray God's word over the situation. When the news reports another event that causes us to worry or some disaster, then pray for those in the midst of it. When the news pronounces doom and gloom then speak out the promises God has given you for your life. Heb.4:15, Joh.16:23-24.
The Bible outlines that there is a ministry of prayer for believers.
Paul's first letter to Timothy tells us to pray for all men, for kings and for all who are in authority.
As you listen to the news pray for those involved in it.
There's are all sorts of people to pray for.
Paul called on us to pray for all our sanctified brethren in Christ and to particularly pray for those ministering God's Word.
Jesus told us to have enough grace to pray for people who negatively impact our lives. He said, "Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." 1Tim.2:1-4, Eph.6:18, 2Thes.3:1, Mat.5:44.
So get into gear and prayer by Christ's love!
Paul is talking about things we can pray for here. Interestingly he talks about prison ministry. I have gone a number of times to prison... TO MINISTER... And it can be a depressing place to minister!
I heard a minister speak about his work as a prison chaplain. He told us, "A prison chaplaincy colleague of mine said in our work we live among the sad, the bad and the mad." In spite of this, after more than 25 years service, his heart was still tender towards those imprisoned.
Stay tenderhearted!
Jesus feels for us in our weaknesses. Let's feel for others in theirs.
Don't just sit listening to CNN or Fox News and say how bad things are getting, or look at the tragedy those folks are going through! Instead we ought to be respond in prayer and pray God's word over the situation. When the news reports another event that causes us to worry or some disaster, then pray for those in the midst of it. When the news pronounces doom and gloom then speak out the promises God has given you for your life. Heb.4:15, Joh.16:23-24.
The Bible outlines that there is a ministry of prayer for believers.
Paul's first letter to Timothy tells us to pray for all men, for kings and for all who are in authority.
As you listen to the news pray for those involved in it.
There's are all sorts of people to pray for.
Paul called on us to pray for all our sanctified brethren in Christ and to particularly pray for those ministering God's Word.
Jesus told us to have enough grace to pray for people who negatively impact our lives. He said, "Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." 1Tim.2:1-4, Eph.6:18, 2Thes.3:1, Mat.5:44.
So get into gear and prayer by Christ's love!
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Comforted of God
~~~~~
(God) Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4 - NKJV
OK... So we all have tribulation in our life! Oh, by the way tribulation is not just some end time event... its the hastles we go through in our daily life! And tribulation is a thing we all want to avoid, at all costs!
But, let me give you some advice, try to avoid the temptation to simply rush through life's trying and most discomforting circumstances!
You may think, "I have no time now to wait on God for His comfort."
It's important to realise that God's promises of comfort are given or offered to us with a responsibility, almost a demand on your part to go to Him for comfort.
We use to think someday we would open a prayer center and our slogan would be "Resort to Prayer"... A play on the idea of going to a resort for rest, relaxation and comfort!
Resort to God in trying times and you'll find His comfort. His comfort will settle and encourage you. Just like when you go to a resort for a vacation. Isa.40:1, Joh.14:16.
You have to pull back from the pressures that surround you in order to partake of God's comfort. In other words, you got to get into prayer!
People in the world, sinners... and sometimes saints, live life in the stress and strain of unrelenting busyness, personal confrontations or uncomfortable circumstances. We work ourselves into a spiritual tornado of problems!
In contrast, the Christian life is meant and I stress the word meant... to be lived in the comfort and peace of the Holy Spirit. (Hay don't get me wrong.. those tornadoes will touch down in your life! Just because you are a Christian does not mean everything will be perfect from now on!)
Receive God's comfort by going to Him in prayer, and it will settle you down into a confident expectation (I think that is from the Message bible) of all the things that are wrong being made right.
As an added bonus, you will also gain an awareness of God with you. There's something comforting of the thought of God with us!
Failing to resort to prayer to God for His comfort will usually leave you floundering through and often messing up things in your life. Jer.29:11.
God's comfort will restore peace to you.
For every trying circumstance, upsetting communication,or after a small tornado has touched down in your life, why not go to prayer and seek the comfort of God!
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high God... Ps. 91
In prayer you will find His comfort, it can draw you out and save you from your discomfort.
OH! and by the way... there's a bonus!
You will become a comforter once you've been comforted.
You'll find that the comfort you've received enables you to comfort others!
Isn't that just what the scripture in 2 Corinthians is promising us?
Receive God's comfort in your life
(God) Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4 - NKJV
OK... So we all have tribulation in our life! Oh, by the way tribulation is not just some end time event... its the hastles we go through in our daily life! And tribulation is a thing we all want to avoid, at all costs!
But, let me give you some advice, try to avoid the temptation to simply rush through life's trying and most discomforting circumstances!
You may think, "I have no time now to wait on God for His comfort."
It's important to realise that God's promises of comfort are given or offered to us with a responsibility, almost a demand on your part to go to Him for comfort.
We use to think someday we would open a prayer center and our slogan would be "Resort to Prayer"... A play on the idea of going to a resort for rest, relaxation and comfort!
Resort to God in trying times and you'll find His comfort. His comfort will settle and encourage you. Just like when you go to a resort for a vacation. Isa.40:1, Joh.14:16.
You have to pull back from the pressures that surround you in order to partake of God's comfort. In other words, you got to get into prayer!
People in the world, sinners... and sometimes saints, live life in the stress and strain of unrelenting busyness, personal confrontations or uncomfortable circumstances. We work ourselves into a spiritual tornado of problems!
In contrast, the Christian life is meant and I stress the word meant... to be lived in the comfort and peace of the Holy Spirit. (Hay don't get me wrong.. those tornadoes will touch down in your life! Just because you are a Christian does not mean everything will be perfect from now on!)
Receive God's comfort by going to Him in prayer, and it will settle you down into a confident expectation (I think that is from the Message bible) of all the things that are wrong being made right.
As an added bonus, you will also gain an awareness of God with you. There's something comforting of the thought of God with us!
Failing to resort to prayer to God for His comfort will usually leave you floundering through and often messing up things in your life. Jer.29:11.
God's comfort will restore peace to you.
For every trying circumstance, upsetting communication,or after a small tornado has touched down in your life, why not go to prayer and seek the comfort of God!
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high God... Ps. 91
In prayer you will find His comfort, it can draw you out and save you from your discomfort.
OH! and by the way... there's a bonus!
You will become a comforter once you've been comforted.
You'll find that the comfort you've received enables you to comfort others!
Isn't that just what the scripture in 2 Corinthians is promising us?
Receive God's comfort in your life
Monday, April 12, 2010
The place of prayer in a God created Revival!
Here are what a few men who had first hand knowledge of a God created revival had to say about the place of prayer in a revival
Agonise in prayer “Shall I give you yet another reason why you should pray? I have preached my very heart out. I could not say any more than I have said. Will not your prayers accomplish that which my preaching fails to do? Is it not likely that the Church has been putting forth its preaching hand but not its praying hand? Oh dear friends! Let us agonize in prayer. – CH. H Spurgeon
Pray with all your might “You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God... This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unvelieving nature will oppose. Theywill pour water on this flame” William Both
The place of prayer in revival “It is God’s will through His wonderful grace, that the prayers of His saints should be one of the great principal means of carrying on the designs of Christ’s kingdom in the world. When God has something very great to accomplish for His church, it is His will that there should precede it the extraordinary prayers of His people; as is manifest by Ezekiel 36:37. and it is revealed that, when God is about to accomplish great things for His church, He will begin by remarkably pouring out the spirit of grace and supplication (see Zechariah 12:10).” Jonathan Edwards, Thoughts on the Revival in New England - 1740
Prevailing prayer Prevailing or effectual prayer is that prayer which attains the blessing that it seeks. It is that prayer which effectually moves God. The very idea of effectual prayer is that it effects its objects.Charles Finney, quoted by Oswald J. Smith, The Revival We Need, p27
The first sign of revival When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is to set them a-praying. - Matthew Henry, quoted by Arthur Wallis, In the Day of Thy Power, p112
Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival - men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations. – C.H. Spurgeon
Agonise in prayer “Shall I give you yet another reason why you should pray? I have preached my very heart out. I could not say any more than I have said. Will not your prayers accomplish that which my preaching fails to do? Is it not likely that the Church has been putting forth its preaching hand but not its praying hand? Oh dear friends! Let us agonize in prayer. – CH. H Spurgeon
Pray with all your might “You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God... This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unvelieving nature will oppose. Theywill pour water on this flame” William Both
The place of prayer in revival “It is God’s will through His wonderful grace, that the prayers of His saints should be one of the great principal means of carrying on the designs of Christ’s kingdom in the world. When God has something very great to accomplish for His church, it is His will that there should precede it the extraordinary prayers of His people; as is manifest by Ezekiel 36:37. and it is revealed that, when God is about to accomplish great things for His church, He will begin by remarkably pouring out the spirit of grace and supplication (see Zechariah 12:10).” Jonathan Edwards, Thoughts on the Revival in New England - 1740
Prevailing prayer Prevailing or effectual prayer is that prayer which attains the blessing that it seeks. It is that prayer which effectually moves God. The very idea of effectual prayer is that it effects its objects.Charles Finney, quoted by Oswald J. Smith, The Revival We Need, p27
The first sign of revival When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is to set them a-praying. - Matthew Henry, quoted by Arthur Wallis, In the Day of Thy Power, p112
Oh! men and brethren, what would this heart feel if I could but believe that there were some among you who would go home and pray for a revival - men whose faith is large enough, and their love fiery enough to lead them from this moment to exercise unceasing intercessions that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations. – C.H. Spurgeon
Friday, April 9, 2010
May you know your prayers are answered!
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.James 1:15 - NKJV
How long does it take for a prayer to be answered?
I've got no answer to give you on that.
However, if someone sends me a request for prayer and 6 months later sends me exactly the same request again then that gives me reason for concern.
Could it be that God has failed to respond to the prayer?
No!
What is likely is that the one requesting prayer has been sitting on their hands waiting for prayer's answer. Often it is not enough to pray and wait. Usually you have to take active steps to move that prayer forward.
Following your prayer request a Spirit-led action time is usually needed in order to get you to prayer answered.
Here's a guide that takes you through the request stage of prayer and into the Spirit-led action stage.
1) Present your petition to God - ask Him to act on your behalf to "sort things out and set things up".
2) Call on the Lord to change your perception of the problem so you see what the problem really is. How you see it now may not be how it really is.
3) Look to the Holy Spirit to prompt you about the actions you must take and also the attitude or conduct changes you may need. 1Joh.5:14-15.
God responds to prayer but you have to do your part.
Getting God's answer into your realm of experience requires you translating your faith into action.
Corresponding action is needed as a follow up to faith prayer. In prayer you have to recognise what God is going to have to do. Then you have to accept what you are going to have to do. For this, you let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart about what actions, attitude changes or conduct changes to make. Ja.2:14-23.
May you know your prayers are answered!
How long does it take for a prayer to be answered?
I've got no answer to give you on that.
However, if someone sends me a request for prayer and 6 months later sends me exactly the same request again then that gives me reason for concern.
Could it be that God has failed to respond to the prayer?
No!
What is likely is that the one requesting prayer has been sitting on their hands waiting for prayer's answer. Often it is not enough to pray and wait. Usually you have to take active steps to move that prayer forward.
Following your prayer request a Spirit-led action time is usually needed in order to get you to prayer answered.
Here's a guide that takes you through the request stage of prayer and into the Spirit-led action stage.
1) Present your petition to God - ask Him to act on your behalf to "sort things out and set things up".
2) Call on the Lord to change your perception of the problem so you see what the problem really is. How you see it now may not be how it really is.
3) Look to the Holy Spirit to prompt you about the actions you must take and also the attitude or conduct changes you may need. 1Joh.5:14-15.
God responds to prayer but you have to do your part.
Getting God's answer into your realm of experience requires you translating your faith into action.
Corresponding action is needed as a follow up to faith prayer. In prayer you have to recognise what God is going to have to do. Then you have to accept what you are going to have to do. For this, you let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart about what actions, attitude changes or conduct changes to make. Ja.2:14-23.
May you know your prayers are answered!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Live life in Christ's strength
I am strong for all things in the One who constantly infuses strength in me. Philippians 4:13 - Wuest's Expanded Translation
Wow... It's been a bit since I read from the Wuest translation.. I for got how much I like it! When I read this scripture I heard the Holy Spirit say to me;
Are you finding yourself weary in what you are doing?
I have been doing a lot of work lately getting ready to and painting the Power Tower, the churches 24 hour prayer ministy. Needles to say I have been really sore! When I read this scripture it reminded me that I need to look to Him for my strength. I needed to, in prayer, ask Him to exchange my weakness for His strength.
When things seem to be overwhelming, It could be because you're trying to live and work in your own strength! As Christians we need to be living in a flow of Christ's strength. We need to be going to the Lord in prayer, laying down our burdens at His feet and seeking His strength.
The Lord has given us a precious promise, "Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you". Psa.55:22.
As a young Christian I took a lot of falls by not knowing where my strength had to come from. Then as I started to mature, I was reading what Paul said about where he was drawing strength from and realised how much I was living in my own strength.
Thinking about it, I could see what a strain it was putting on myself. What a release it was to change and start to ask Him to make me strong!
I turned to the Lord's strength. As a result, my daily weariness went away! Life's pressures had gotten in the way and kept me from living vitally united to the Vine, Jesus Christ.
When I drew from the Vine I experienced His strength at work in me sustaining me. John.15:5.
If there was ever a Christian who might have been qualified to do all things in his own strength it was Paul.
Paul seemed to have everything going for him in the natural. Nevertheless, as he testifies in his letter to the Philippians, he didn't attempt to do all things that way, he did them instead in the strength of the One who constantly infused strength in him. May you live that way too.
Ask the Lord for His sustaining strength. May God by His Spirit make you strong in the Lord! Phil.3:4-6, Eph.6:10.
Live life in Christ's strength
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Being faithful in Prayer!
~~~~~
Colossians 1:7: Just as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf... (ESV)
Epaphras is a pastor mentioned in scripture. In Colossians 4:12 Paul wrote, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God."
This man would not give up when he was praying for a person! He would wrestle that thing until he got the victory in prayer on your behalf!
In these two passages from Colossians, twice Epaphras is referred to as being a faithful minister of God. The word "faithful,l" whether translated in the Hebrew or Greek, is referring to consistency. Epaphras was consistent day after day. He was a plodder.
A plodder will not dwell on how far he has to go; instead, he looks at how far he has come. A plodder is faithful to take one step at a time without getting frustrated. Often in the Christian life we can become frustrated about how far we have to go.
In counseling married couples, at times they will get discouraged about how far they have to go in their marriage. Instead, they should rejoice each day over another step taken toward a healthy marriage.
The way God's will is accomplished is one step at a time. We often want to skip steps to get somewhere more quickly. The Word of God works consistently in our lives. Often, blessings that come quickly can be lost quickly.
The Bible warns about quick riches. Riches gained quickly can flow right through our hands. God sends riches that are durable. Often, they don't come overnight. They come here a little, there a little, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Or as Romans 12:2 says, "...the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
God wants you to prosper and be in health as your soul prospers. Prosperity of the soul comes day-by-day. Perhaps you have not reached some of your short-term goals. You may blame yourself or get frustrated and blame God. Instead of getting upset about how far you have to go, why don't you rejoice in how far you have come!
When you pray, sometimes it seems like you are ploding along, we want instant success! But some times prayer takes an investment of time, YOUR time before you see an answer.
In the case of the plodder, it was the tortoise not the hare that won the race. I like to encourage you to look back five or ten years from now and see who is still in the race.
If you are tempted to become discouraged about where you are, instead, thank God for every day you have taken a step closer to fulfilling His call. Focus on the progress you have made and remember: it is not those who start the race that is important; it is those who finish the race that count.
God is looking for those who will finish the race.
Today is not a day to be frustrated.
Today is a day to rejoice in the Lord and call to remembrance the things God has done for you and how far you have come.
He has brought you this far. He will not forget you or abandon you.
He Who has begun a good work will also complete it!
Colossians 1:7: Just as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf... (ESV)
Epaphras is a pastor mentioned in scripture. In Colossians 4:12 Paul wrote, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God."
This man would not give up when he was praying for a person! He would wrestle that thing until he got the victory in prayer on your behalf!
In these two passages from Colossians, twice Epaphras is referred to as being a faithful minister of God. The word "faithful,l" whether translated in the Hebrew or Greek, is referring to consistency. Epaphras was consistent day after day. He was a plodder.
A plodder will not dwell on how far he has to go; instead, he looks at how far he has come. A plodder is faithful to take one step at a time without getting frustrated. Often in the Christian life we can become frustrated about how far we have to go.
In counseling married couples, at times they will get discouraged about how far they have to go in their marriage. Instead, they should rejoice each day over another step taken toward a healthy marriage.
The way God's will is accomplished is one step at a time. We often want to skip steps to get somewhere more quickly. The Word of God works consistently in our lives. Often, blessings that come quickly can be lost quickly.
The Bible warns about quick riches. Riches gained quickly can flow right through our hands. God sends riches that are durable. Often, they don't come overnight. They come here a little, there a little, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Or as Romans 12:2 says, "...the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
God wants you to prosper and be in health as your soul prospers. Prosperity of the soul comes day-by-day. Perhaps you have not reached some of your short-term goals. You may blame yourself or get frustrated and blame God. Instead of getting upset about how far you have to go, why don't you rejoice in how far you have come!
When you pray, sometimes it seems like you are ploding along, we want instant success! But some times prayer takes an investment of time, YOUR time before you see an answer.
In the case of the plodder, it was the tortoise not the hare that won the race. I like to encourage you to look back five or ten years from now and see who is still in the race.
If you are tempted to become discouraged about where you are, instead, thank God for every day you have taken a step closer to fulfilling His call. Focus on the progress you have made and remember: it is not those who start the race that is important; it is those who finish the race that count.
God is looking for those who will finish the race.
Today is not a day to be frustrated.
Today is a day to rejoice in the Lord and call to remembrance the things God has done for you and how far you have come.
He has brought you this far. He will not forget you or abandon you.
He Who has begun a good work will also complete it!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Lord who delivers
~~~~
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19 - NKJV
I'm enjoying life.
I have a life filled with peace.
I am happy to let anyone know that I am blessed.
On the other hand, it's not that I don't have any problems!
Like anyone living in this world I get lots of them.
Nevertheless, there's something going for me that countless others in the world don't have.
I have the Lord.
And I have prayer.
And I talk to Him...
And He hears me!
I have the Lord who delivers me out of all my afflictions.
You have Him too if you're a believer! Heb.7:25.
God's deliverance is sure!
Let your faith be the evidence you need that His deliverance is on its way.
But remember you have to go to Him in PRAYER and make your requests known to Him.
Does He not know what you have need of? No He knows, but He wants you to ask Him.
Sometimes His deliverance is immediate, other times you have to wait awhile.
In waiting the genuineness of your faith is examined.
In the waiting time, it becomes clear whether or not you are letting what God's Word says be good enough evidence for you.
In the waiting time, there's a work out for your patience. Patience is your power to see things through.
Its power increases as you let it have its work out.
Let your patience have a work out and you'll come out of it stronger, more enduring and soon experiencing a victory that otherwise you would have never known. Heb.11:1, 10:35-36.
In time of trouble, look up! Look up to the Lord, not only for His patience but also for His counsel.
To do that you have to talk to Him.. that means you have to pray!
Often the Lord gets you out of trouble by guiding you out with the light of His word. His Spirit is the Comforter who brings to you God's Word. He is there to comfort you in time of trouble telling you that there is a way out and that soon you will know the Lord's deliverance. Heb.12:1-2, 2Cor.1:4.
Rejoice that Jesus brings you through
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19 - NKJV
I'm enjoying life.
I have a life filled with peace.
I am happy to let anyone know that I am blessed.
On the other hand, it's not that I don't have any problems!
Like anyone living in this world I get lots of them.
Nevertheless, there's something going for me that countless others in the world don't have.
I have the Lord.
And I have prayer.
And I talk to Him...
And He hears me!
I have the Lord who delivers me out of all my afflictions.
You have Him too if you're a believer! Heb.7:25.
God's deliverance is sure!
Let your faith be the evidence you need that His deliverance is on its way.
But remember you have to go to Him in PRAYER and make your requests known to Him.
Does He not know what you have need of? No He knows, but He wants you to ask Him.
Sometimes His deliverance is immediate, other times you have to wait awhile.
In waiting the genuineness of your faith is examined.
In the waiting time, it becomes clear whether or not you are letting what God's Word says be good enough evidence for you.
In the waiting time, there's a work out for your patience. Patience is your power to see things through.
Its power increases as you let it have its work out.
Let your patience have a work out and you'll come out of it stronger, more enduring and soon experiencing a victory that otherwise you would have never known. Heb.11:1, 10:35-36.
In time of trouble, look up! Look up to the Lord, not only for His patience but also for His counsel.
To do that you have to talk to Him.. that means you have to pray!
Often the Lord gets you out of trouble by guiding you out with the light of His word. His Spirit is the Comforter who brings to you God's Word. He is there to comfort you in time of trouble telling you that there is a way out and that soon you will know the Lord's deliverance. Heb.12:1-2, 2Cor.1:4.
Rejoice that Jesus brings you through
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Travel "through" with the God of grace!
~~~~~
After you have borne these sufferings a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to share his eternal splendour through Christ, will himself make you whole and secure and strong. 1 Peter 5:10 - J.B. Phillips' translation
We all go through hard times at some time or another in our life.
The pressure, the affliction, the temptation or the attack might come through people or through circumstances or just your perception of things.
Nevertheless, whatever form it takes your "going through it" should be stamped "a little while" and once that little while has passed you can be out the other side and into a place where your God has made you whole, secure and strong. Psa.84:5-7.
When you enter a country they stamp your passport with a date of entry... they you have only so long you can stay there and then you have to leave.. you are just visiting! You can't live there!
When you face hard times remember you are not a citizen of that... but of the kingdom of God and you are just visiting! After a certain time... YOU MUST LEAVE!
The way you face life and its events is important. The story of Esther provides a good illustration. Esther went through a preparation in her life.
First, through the spiritual mentoring of her uncle Mordecai so that the favour of the Lord might be on her.
Second, through the oils and fragrances of the palace so that king Ahasuerus' favour and heart might be towards her.
From these preparations come provision and the prevailing of God's kingdom through her life and victory for God's people. Esther 2:12.
How does your story sound?
Are you giving time for a sweet preparation of God's Spirit in your life?
God has a plan of deliverance and beauty for your life. His plan is one of you getting under the comfort and counsel of His Spirit. When you do that He places you under the flow of His anointing. He pours on you the fragrance of Christ. He makes crooked places straight before you and He makes darkness light! He counsels and consoles you. 1 John 2:20, 2 Cor.2:15, Isa.42:16.
The only way this will happen is if you get on your knees and pray it through!
That is an old fashioned term the the Saints from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the 1900's use to use. They would pray and pray and pay until they got the victory and a knowing in their spirits that the victory had been won.
They didn't pray just one time and "stand in faith". They were not praying and praying because they didn't know if God would answer them, or they doubted that the prayer would be heard. They prayed to break through the strongholds of the enemy who would withhold the answer from coming.
This is what Daniel had to do, he prayed for 21 days and when the message was delivered the Angel said that he had been dispatched the moment Daniel prayed, but that he was fought by the devil who tried to stop the answer from arriving!
So get on your knees in prayer and push through in prayer!
Travel "through" with the God of grace!
After you have borne these sufferings a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to share his eternal splendour through Christ, will himself make you whole and secure and strong. 1 Peter 5:10 - J.B. Phillips' translation
We all go through hard times at some time or another in our life.
The pressure, the affliction, the temptation or the attack might come through people or through circumstances or just your perception of things.
Nevertheless, whatever form it takes your "going through it" should be stamped "a little while" and once that little while has passed you can be out the other side and into a place where your God has made you whole, secure and strong. Psa.84:5-7.
When you enter a country they stamp your passport with a date of entry... they you have only so long you can stay there and then you have to leave.. you are just visiting! You can't live there!
When you face hard times remember you are not a citizen of that... but of the kingdom of God and you are just visiting! After a certain time... YOU MUST LEAVE!
The way you face life and its events is important. The story of Esther provides a good illustration. Esther went through a preparation in her life.
First, through the spiritual mentoring of her uncle Mordecai so that the favour of the Lord might be on her.
Second, through the oils and fragrances of the palace so that king Ahasuerus' favour and heart might be towards her.
From these preparations come provision and the prevailing of God's kingdom through her life and victory for God's people. Esther 2:12.
How does your story sound?
Are you giving time for a sweet preparation of God's Spirit in your life?
God has a plan of deliverance and beauty for your life. His plan is one of you getting under the comfort and counsel of His Spirit. When you do that He places you under the flow of His anointing. He pours on you the fragrance of Christ. He makes crooked places straight before you and He makes darkness light! He counsels and consoles you. 1 John 2:20, 2 Cor.2:15, Isa.42:16.
The only way this will happen is if you get on your knees and pray it through!
That is an old fashioned term the the Saints from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the 1900's use to use. They would pray and pray and pay until they got the victory and a knowing in their spirits that the victory had been won.
They didn't pray just one time and "stand in faith". They were not praying and praying because they didn't know if God would answer them, or they doubted that the prayer would be heard. They prayed to break through the strongholds of the enemy who would withhold the answer from coming.
This is what Daniel had to do, he prayed for 21 days and when the message was delivered the Angel said that he had been dispatched the moment Daniel prayed, but that he was fought by the devil who tried to stop the answer from arriving!
So get on your knees in prayer and push through in prayer!
Travel "through" with the God of grace!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Rise and pray
~~~~~~~
Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."Luke 22:46 - KJV
I have been teaching a class at the bible school at our church on the Birth of Christianity. It covers the last week of Christ life. Years ago when I was studying this time in Jesus life one thing stood out to me. His request for his "buds" to pray for Him and His finding them sleeping instead of praying!
He then told them to basically pray for themselves and not him! What would they have avoided if they had only prayed!
Bob Dylan sang in the 1960s, "The times they are a changing". The times certainly were changing and look at the way they have continued to change. Today we are still in times of change and many of those changes are not good.
The earth is groaning from famines and pestilences, from earthquakes, from wars and rumours of wars, from evil men and from economic uncertainty. All around us we hear news and calls of change. But if we will listen with the ears of the spirit, we hear the summons to prayer.
This time is a time for prayer.
Make time and make space in your life for prayer!
Pray in the Spirit.
Pray with your understanding.
Pray for all men.
Pray for those in authority.
By prayer with heartfelt intercession and thanksgiving even it times of great change you'll still be living in quietness and peace. What's more by prayer the Church of Jesus Christ moves back the gates of hell. Jesus gives keys to the Church so that in prayer we can have powerful influence on what's going on around us. Mat.16:18-19, 1Tim.2:1-4, Ro.8:26-27, 1Cor.14:15.
In Psalms who does it tell us will not be afraid of the terror by night?
He tells us it's the one who lives under the shadow of God Almighty.
That person is hidden from terror in the secret place of God.
What brings that person into that secret place?
It's his prayer life.
His prayer life is consistent and it is characterised by worship and devotion. Commit yourself to such prayer and you will dwell in that secret place of God.
God will hide you from evil in His pavilion. Indeed, He will set you high on a rock out of harms way. Psa.91:1-6, 27:4-5.
Seek the Lord in prayer
Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."Luke 22:46 - KJV
I have been teaching a class at the bible school at our church on the Birth of Christianity. It covers the last week of Christ life. Years ago when I was studying this time in Jesus life one thing stood out to me. His request for his "buds" to pray for Him and His finding them sleeping instead of praying!
He then told them to basically pray for themselves and not him! What would they have avoided if they had only prayed!
Bob Dylan sang in the 1960s, "The times they are a changing". The times certainly were changing and look at the way they have continued to change. Today we are still in times of change and many of those changes are not good.
The earth is groaning from famines and pestilences, from earthquakes, from wars and rumours of wars, from evil men and from economic uncertainty. All around us we hear news and calls of change. But if we will listen with the ears of the spirit, we hear the summons to prayer.
This time is a time for prayer.
Make time and make space in your life for prayer!
Pray in the Spirit.
Pray with your understanding.
Pray for all men.
Pray for those in authority.
By prayer with heartfelt intercession and thanksgiving even it times of great change you'll still be living in quietness and peace. What's more by prayer the Church of Jesus Christ moves back the gates of hell. Jesus gives keys to the Church so that in prayer we can have powerful influence on what's going on around us. Mat.16:18-19, 1Tim.2:1-4, Ro.8:26-27, 1Cor.14:15.
In Psalms who does it tell us will not be afraid of the terror by night?
He tells us it's the one who lives under the shadow of God Almighty.
That person is hidden from terror in the secret place of God.
What brings that person into that secret place?
It's his prayer life.
His prayer life is consistent and it is characterised by worship and devotion. Commit yourself to such prayer and you will dwell in that secret place of God.
God will hide you from evil in His pavilion. Indeed, He will set you high on a rock out of harms way. Psa.91:1-6, 27:4-5.
Seek the Lord in prayer
Saturday, February 27, 2010
All Kinds of Prayer
`
Praying always with all prayer. —Ephesians 6:18
Prayer needs to be a part of your life. But in order for prayer to be the great adventure God wants it to be in your life, and prayer can be an adventure, if you give yourself to prayer.
Our friend Phill Halverson was a great man of prayer and when they came out with a book about his prayer times, they called it Adventures in the Holy Ghost! And that is what prayer can be. A great adventure!
There are all kinds of ways to pray or types of prayer. Don't get stuck with just one way to pray! That's when it becomes an adventure!
Ephesians 6:18 says, "Praying always with all prayer." Some translations say all kinds of prayer,different kinds of prayer or at each and every occasion.
This verse goes on to say that you are to pray with all prayer, or with all kinds of prayer. This is to help you and us the Church to maintain a victorious position in life, God has given His people various kinds of powerful prayer.
Other translations of Ephesians 6:18 include:
"Use every kind of prayer." (Goodspeed )
"Pray. With all manner of prayer." (AMP)
"Pray. With all kinds of prayers." (NIV )
"Pray. With all kinds of prayers that are available for you to use." (REV)
Most people don't realize there are different kinds of prayer. But according to this verse, God has actually made many forms of prayer available to us to use as needed, such as the prayer of faith, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of consecration, and the prayer of agreement.
Sometimes life can be difficult and challenging. And the devil doesn't want you to be blessed or successful. So to face the attacks that come against your marriage, finances, body, job, and career, you must come to realize that prayer is not an option but a necessity. You cannot succeed as a Christian without an active and effective prayer life.
No matter how anointed, skilled, or gifted you may be or how bold and courageous you think you are, you simply cannot have a victorious position in life without prayer.
If you don't pray you can be sure of absolute and total defeat in your life. But when you develop a lifestyle of prayer, taking advantage of every form of prayer available to you, you will find that victory is yours in the midst of every challenge!
The various kinds of prayer have been given to you for your benefit and spiritual growth. So take the time to study the Word and learn how to pray with "all kinds of prayer."
Don't let this day go by without spending quality time in prayer with the Heavenly Father.
There is victory waiting on the other side!
Praying always with all prayer. —Ephesians 6:18
Prayer needs to be a part of your life. But in order for prayer to be the great adventure God wants it to be in your life, and prayer can be an adventure, if you give yourself to prayer.
Our friend Phill Halverson was a great man of prayer and when they came out with a book about his prayer times, they called it Adventures in the Holy Ghost! And that is what prayer can be. A great adventure!
There are all kinds of ways to pray or types of prayer. Don't get stuck with just one way to pray! That's when it becomes an adventure!
Ephesians 6:18 says, "Praying always with all prayer." Some translations say all kinds of prayer,different kinds of prayer or at each and every occasion.
This verse goes on to say that you are to pray with all prayer, or with all kinds of prayer. This is to help you and us the Church to maintain a victorious position in life, God has given His people various kinds of powerful prayer.
Other translations of Ephesians 6:18 include:
"Use every kind of prayer." (Goodspeed )
"Pray. With all manner of prayer." (AMP)
"Pray. With all kinds of prayers." (NIV )
"Pray. With all kinds of prayers that are available for you to use." (REV)
Most people don't realize there are different kinds of prayer. But according to this verse, God has actually made many forms of prayer available to us to use as needed, such as the prayer of faith, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of consecration, and the prayer of agreement.
Sometimes life can be difficult and challenging. And the devil doesn't want you to be blessed or successful. So to face the attacks that come against your marriage, finances, body, job, and career, you must come to realize that prayer is not an option but a necessity. You cannot succeed as a Christian without an active and effective prayer life.
No matter how anointed, skilled, or gifted you may be or how bold and courageous you think you are, you simply cannot have a victorious position in life without prayer.
If you don't pray you can be sure of absolute and total defeat in your life. But when you develop a lifestyle of prayer, taking advantage of every form of prayer available to you, you will find that victory is yours in the midst of every challenge!
The various kinds of prayer have been given to you for your benefit and spiritual growth. So take the time to study the Word and learn how to pray with "all kinds of prayer."
Don't let this day go by without spending quality time in prayer with the Heavenly Father.
There is victory waiting on the other side!
Friday, February 19, 2010
IS JESUS THE WAY
One of the main foundations of our prayer life is the understanding that Jesus is the way.... The only way to God.... Jesus said we must pray in His name.
I know this seems like a useless question to most Christians, but a recent poll among professed believers in Jesus indicates over sixty percent believe most any religion will take you to heaven.
In other words, Jesus is only one of many ways to heaven.If you are like me, when I see a well-known minister appearing on an evening talk show and they are asked the question, “Do you believe faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven and eternal life?” I am interested in w-hat his or her response will be.
I have repeatedly been disappointed with respected ministers who have avoided the issue or have even professed they agree with the belief that there is more than one way to eternal life.
I thank God for those ministers who boldly agree, “Yes, I believe Jesus is the only way to eternal life because that is what the Bible teaches.”
THE UNIVERSE RUNS ON LAWS
Jesus, speaking with the Pharisees, commented on their perception of the natural laws governing the weather. He answered them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:2-3 KJV).
The universe and the earth run on laws that do not vary. The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. The weather forecast can tell us the night before exactly when the sun will rise and set the next day or on any day in the future. The laws of nature are precise.
You cannot put just anything in the gas tank of your automobile and expect it to run. You cannot drive on any side of the road and expect to arrive safely at your destination. You cannot eat just anything, including poisonous plants, and expect to maintain your health or live a full life.
ALL ROADS?
If the universe runs on laws that never vary, why would we believe the answer to the ultimate question in life, “How do I gain eternal life and get to heaven?” Do all roads lead to heaven? Would it not seem plausible that the same God who created the universe to run on unchangeable laws would also create an unchangeable plan to spend eternity with Him?
Do all roads lead to Rome? The answer is no. Why don’t you get into your car this evening and start driving down the road and see if it gets you to Rome. Of course, it won’t. Then why would you trust your salvation and eternal life to any road, any religion, or any philosophy?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
A friend of mine once told me this story, "I was once seated next to a college professor on a flight I was taking. After learning I was a minister of the gospel, she informed me she believed Jesus was very “open-minded” toward all religions and believed there were many means of arriving in heaven. My response was my belief that Jesus was very “narrow-minded.” I also related to this professor Jesus’ statement, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Me.” I explained how the book of Acts says there is no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved than through the Name of Jesus Christ. I commented to the professor how this also seemed narrow-minded. However, this also makes eternal life and getting to heaven very simple. There is only one way. Find it and you are assured of your eternity."
POLITICALLY CORRECT
In these days of not wanting to offend anyone, the gospel remains offensive. In other words, the gospel is not politically correct; it is completely correct!
The world does not want to hear such dogmatism concerning religious matters. The world wants religion to be “personal,” meaning there is a right religion for everyone regardless of what it is. Just choose one and you will get to heaven. This broad-minded view will keep anyone who embraces it from “ruffling the feathers” of the world. Yet, Jesus “ruffled feathers” in His day as did believers in the book of Acts.
Christians have been controversial since the New Testament writings were completed.Christians do not need to be antagonistic, but neither do they need to back down from what the Bible teaches. Right is right. We are not just preaching a message, we are giving a warning. If the bridge is out ahead of us, we need to warn the cars behind us. Those drivers may not appreciate us waving our arms at them to warn them of impending danger, but once they reach the collapsed bridge they will be thankful! Today we are warning people of the impending danger down the road ahead. The world may not like our warning, but will one day understand. Heaven and hell are in the balance!
We are living in a time when the truth is being challenged on every front.
Folks, the only way to pray to the father is asking in Jesus name.. not Budda or Alla, or by meditation or incantation... it's only by the name of Jesus!
I know this seems like a useless question to most Christians, but a recent poll among professed believers in Jesus indicates over sixty percent believe most any religion will take you to heaven.
In other words, Jesus is only one of many ways to heaven.If you are like me, when I see a well-known minister appearing on an evening talk show and they are asked the question, “Do you believe faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven and eternal life?” I am interested in w-hat his or her response will be.
I have repeatedly been disappointed with respected ministers who have avoided the issue or have even professed they agree with the belief that there is more than one way to eternal life.
I thank God for those ministers who boldly agree, “Yes, I believe Jesus is the only way to eternal life because that is what the Bible teaches.”
THE UNIVERSE RUNS ON LAWS
Jesus, speaking with the Pharisees, commented on their perception of the natural laws governing the weather. He answered them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:2-3 KJV).
The universe and the earth run on laws that do not vary. The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. The weather forecast can tell us the night before exactly when the sun will rise and set the next day or on any day in the future. The laws of nature are precise.
You cannot put just anything in the gas tank of your automobile and expect it to run. You cannot drive on any side of the road and expect to arrive safely at your destination. You cannot eat just anything, including poisonous plants, and expect to maintain your health or live a full life.
ALL ROADS?
If the universe runs on laws that never vary, why would we believe the answer to the ultimate question in life, “How do I gain eternal life and get to heaven?” Do all roads lead to heaven? Would it not seem plausible that the same God who created the universe to run on unchangeable laws would also create an unchangeable plan to spend eternity with Him?
Do all roads lead to Rome? The answer is no. Why don’t you get into your car this evening and start driving down the road and see if it gets you to Rome. Of course, it won’t. Then why would you trust your salvation and eternal life to any road, any religion, or any philosophy?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
A friend of mine once told me this story, "I was once seated next to a college professor on a flight I was taking. After learning I was a minister of the gospel, she informed me she believed Jesus was very “open-minded” toward all religions and believed there were many means of arriving in heaven. My response was my belief that Jesus was very “narrow-minded.” I also related to this professor Jesus’ statement, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Me.” I explained how the book of Acts says there is no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved than through the Name of Jesus Christ. I commented to the professor how this also seemed narrow-minded. However, this also makes eternal life and getting to heaven very simple. There is only one way. Find it and you are assured of your eternity."
POLITICALLY CORRECT
In these days of not wanting to offend anyone, the gospel remains offensive. In other words, the gospel is not politically correct; it is completely correct!
The world does not want to hear such dogmatism concerning religious matters. The world wants religion to be “personal,” meaning there is a right religion for everyone regardless of what it is. Just choose one and you will get to heaven. This broad-minded view will keep anyone who embraces it from “ruffling the feathers” of the world. Yet, Jesus “ruffled feathers” in His day as did believers in the book of Acts.
Christians have been controversial since the New Testament writings were completed.Christians do not need to be antagonistic, but neither do they need to back down from what the Bible teaches. Right is right. We are not just preaching a message, we are giving a warning. If the bridge is out ahead of us, we need to warn the cars behind us. Those drivers may not appreciate us waving our arms at them to warn them of impending danger, but once they reach the collapsed bridge they will be thankful! Today we are warning people of the impending danger down the road ahead. The world may not like our warning, but will one day understand. Heaven and hell are in the balance!
We are living in a time when the truth is being challenged on every front.
Folks, the only way to pray to the father is asking in Jesus name.. not Budda or Alla, or by meditation or incantation... it's only by the name of Jesus!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
In the stillness
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Psalm 46:10-11 - NKJV
Years ago I heard on a tape the lady evangelist Virginia Brandt-Berg tell of how she found herself in a situation where she just had to contact someone who had recently moved house. (The tape was a 1960s radio recording.) The problem she faced was that she had no new address or number for her. At the urgency of the matter, she was tempted to panic. However, in her spirit she heard this scripture.
"Be still!” this phrase resounded in her heart. In response, she got still before the Lord. Rather than frantically making every human effort to contact the person instead, she gave the whole situation to God in prayer.
It was then that in the quiet of her heart the Holy Spirit said, "Go to the house the person you need has just moved from". On the face of it that seemed pointless but she did it anyway in obedience to that inner voice.
Sure enough, she hadn't been there long when the person she needed arrived. Apparently, some items still needed clearing up. Virginia rejoiced at the Lord's guidance and the completely urgent matter was taken care of.
I had a similar experience in 1976. I was attending Christ for the Nations in Dallas Texas. I was not planning on going home to Canada for Christmas because I didn't have the finances to do so. My roommate's mother insisted I go home with him to Indianapolis for Christmas. While there, I realized that I had some friends from home that lived near by them... Only 20 miles away.
I didn't have an address... but they were connected with a ministry and I was sure we would be able to find it when we got there. They were not listed in the phone book; the local Christian book store wasn't open to ask...
Then I got quiet and listened to the Holy Spirit... I had just read some of the adventures of the Azusa Street saints had just like this. SO I asked the Lord to help me find the place.
I sat there in the quiet of the car and heard directions to start driving... my friend did, and then I followed more directions. Turn left here, turn right there... and suddenly we were at the back side of a rather large and old multi story brick building and the Holy Spirit said that's it.
We drove around to the font and it was! Listening prayer can get you places you'd never be able to get on your own!
The Holy Spirit is a faithful companion. If you get your heart still before God by worship, praise, and prayer then in that stillness the Holy Spirit can speak.
God's Spirit can smooth things out and set things right. As you acknowledge Him God's Spirit can direct you so you can enter into what He is doing and providing for you.
In quietness discover God's companionship
Years ago I heard on a tape the lady evangelist Virginia Brandt-Berg tell of how she found herself in a situation where she just had to contact someone who had recently moved house. (The tape was a 1960s radio recording.) The problem she faced was that she had no new address or number for her. At the urgency of the matter, she was tempted to panic. However, in her spirit she heard this scripture.
"Be still!” this phrase resounded in her heart. In response, she got still before the Lord. Rather than frantically making every human effort to contact the person instead, she gave the whole situation to God in prayer.
It was then that in the quiet of her heart the Holy Spirit said, "Go to the house the person you need has just moved from". On the face of it that seemed pointless but she did it anyway in obedience to that inner voice.
Sure enough, she hadn't been there long when the person she needed arrived. Apparently, some items still needed clearing up. Virginia rejoiced at the Lord's guidance and the completely urgent matter was taken care of.
I had a similar experience in 1976. I was attending Christ for the Nations in Dallas Texas. I was not planning on going home to Canada for Christmas because I didn't have the finances to do so. My roommate's mother insisted I go home with him to Indianapolis for Christmas. While there, I realized that I had some friends from home that lived near by them... Only 20 miles away.
I didn't have an address... but they were connected with a ministry and I was sure we would be able to find it when we got there. They were not listed in the phone book; the local Christian book store wasn't open to ask...
Then I got quiet and listened to the Holy Spirit... I had just read some of the adventures of the Azusa Street saints had just like this. SO I asked the Lord to help me find the place.
I sat there in the quiet of the car and heard directions to start driving... my friend did, and then I followed more directions. Turn left here, turn right there... and suddenly we were at the back side of a rather large and old multi story brick building and the Holy Spirit said that's it.
We drove around to the font and it was! Listening prayer can get you places you'd never be able to get on your own!
The Holy Spirit is a faithful companion. If you get your heart still before God by worship, praise, and prayer then in that stillness the Holy Spirit can speak.
God's Spirit can smooth things out and set things right. As you acknowledge Him God's Spirit can direct you so you can enter into what He is doing and providing for you.
In quietness discover God's companionship
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Joy in relationship
I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.Psalm 116:1 - 2 - NKJV
It is such a joy to me to be able to say my relationship with the Lord is one that I have experienced for my self... not via some other persons story... you know what I mean?
Many times after I have prayed specific prayers I have seen specific changes.
Sometimes the changes are seeming insignificant things but these have given me a buzz. My experience of seeing things happen as a result of moments with the Lord keeps bringing me back to the Lord for more time with Him. Of course, we are always with the Lord and He is always with us but it is a joy and release to know the Lord specifically responds to our specific prayers.
David in his psalms sings of a "life-impacting relationship" with God that he has experienced. So much of his life was lived on the basis, of what God had spoken in the way of promises by the prophets and secondly, after having heard those promises, what he experienced as a result of calling on the Lord in prayer. With that background of experience, he kept coming back to the Lord in expectation as each new situation arose.
He revelled in his covenant relationship with God.
So, how is it with you?
Since you got born again, what specific things have happened to you with your relationship with Him?
Stop and remember for a moment the answers to prayer. Do you keep resorting to God now in prayer because you are ever remembering the time when prayer fundamentally changed things for you?
Those are the things to remember as you go to the Lord again.
Petition the Lord in prayer today in the hope your experienced relationship with Him gives you.
Revel in the relationship you live in with God
It is such a joy to me to be able to say my relationship with the Lord is one that I have experienced for my self... not via some other persons story... you know what I mean?
Many times after I have prayed specific prayers I have seen specific changes.
Sometimes the changes are seeming insignificant things but these have given me a buzz. My experience of seeing things happen as a result of moments with the Lord keeps bringing me back to the Lord for more time with Him. Of course, we are always with the Lord and He is always with us but it is a joy and release to know the Lord specifically responds to our specific prayers.
David in his psalms sings of a "life-impacting relationship" with God that he has experienced. So much of his life was lived on the basis, of what God had spoken in the way of promises by the prophets and secondly, after having heard those promises, what he experienced as a result of calling on the Lord in prayer. With that background of experience, he kept coming back to the Lord in expectation as each new situation arose.
He revelled in his covenant relationship with God.
So, how is it with you?
Since you got born again, what specific things have happened to you with your relationship with Him?
Stop and remember for a moment the answers to prayer. Do you keep resorting to God now in prayer because you are ever remembering the time when prayer fundamentally changed things for you?
Those are the things to remember as you go to the Lord again.
Petition the Lord in prayer today in the hope your experienced relationship with Him gives you.
Revel in the relationship you live in with God
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A Prayer Summons to American Christians!
I just read this article on line... and was amased to see that this was not given recently! Ther person who gave it died in 1979! But when you read it you would think they are talking about today! So read it and consider its message.....
America stands at the crossroads! It is either revival or the dissolving of the church, the home and the government.
History records that in time of crisis in America in the past, God has moved to avert catastrophe overtaking His people. In such crises hours, He has found some who would work with Him in bringing new mercies to His people. In every national crisis in the past God has found some who would stand in the gap and make up the hedge against the adversary. Upon them God has moved by arousing them to a deep sense of need, which in turn has moved them to intercede for His intervention.
The world and the Church are in a mighty conflict. The spiritual warfare is intensifying. The powers of darkness are massing for the last awful struggle. The church has a powerful weapon with which to fight. If she will but take to her knees she will be victorious.
The need is for godly intercessors in every church and in every American home and community. More than any other need is that for men and women of prayer and faith who will stand in the gap and stay the frightful spirits of lawlessness, immorality, infidelity and corruption which are swarming over the land.
"I sought for a man among them, that should stand in the gap before Me, for the land, that I should not destroy it," declares the Lord to Ezekiel, "but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30).
This was the pitiful condition in Israel. No one could be found to stand in the gap for the land, hence it was destroyed. Can it be in this hour of chaos and crisis more dire, that there is no man or woman in your community or in your church who will stand in the gap? Is there no man or women who, seeing the peril, will give himself or herself continually to wrestling by prayer against principalities, against the rulers of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in high places? (Ephesians 6:12).
The greatest need in every church, in every community, and in every home, is for a prayer leadership that will stir the people of God to prayer. Talking about the conditions, bewailing the need of America for a spiritual awakening is not enough. The most difficult thing to do is to get men and women to pray. This is not a day when people readily pray. Few men and women will actually pray. The greatest spiritual need in America is for a praying leadership who will bring the preachers and the Church back to prayer.
True prayer means the expenditures of serious devotion of time, heart, and soul that the flesh does not like. To get under the burden of prayer is too strenuous a labor for our present-day, pleasure-loving, ease-indulging membership and ministry. Too much hardship is involved. The children of Zion today do not like the "solemn feast garments" of weeping, mourning and fasting that enables Zion to bring forth.
"Woe," pronounced the prophet, "to them that are at ease in Zion" (Amos 6:1).
God help Zion to travail at this crisis end-of-the-age hour! God help us to see the need and necessity of prayer and God help us to meet conditions! The all-important need is for men and women whose hearts are right with God to make prayer a supreme passion of the hour--men and women whose supreme labor for God and country is to cry, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them" (Joel 2:17).
To pray is the greatest thing we can do to save America and avert national chaos and crisis. There are plenty of preachers and writers who deal eloquently with the need of revival, but not many there are who will at this catastrophic hour give themselves to the necessity of prayer. There is one chief battle ground in the nation today, and that is the battleground of prayer. The prayer forces must be summoned. The Church must mobilize on her knees. Christians everywhere must be put to praying.
Revival comes in answer to the heart cries of God's people. The most insistent and urgent pleas, the most fervent exhortations need be sounded forth at this hour to put the saints everywhere to praying.
"Sound an alarm in my holy mountain…for the day of the Lord cometh…Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders…Let the ministers of the Lord weep…then will the Lord pity His people…And He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former and the latter rain in the first month, and the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil, and I will restore…I will pour My Spirit on all flesh...whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved" (Joel 2:1-32).
--Sarah Foulkes Moore (1890-1973)
America stands at the crossroads! It is either revival or the dissolving of the church, the home and the government.
History records that in time of crisis in America in the past, God has moved to avert catastrophe overtaking His people. In such crises hours, He has found some who would work with Him in bringing new mercies to His people. In every national crisis in the past God has found some who would stand in the gap and make up the hedge against the adversary. Upon them God has moved by arousing them to a deep sense of need, which in turn has moved them to intercede for His intervention.
The world and the Church are in a mighty conflict. The spiritual warfare is intensifying. The powers of darkness are massing for the last awful struggle. The church has a powerful weapon with which to fight. If she will but take to her knees she will be victorious.
The need is for godly intercessors in every church and in every American home and community. More than any other need is that for men and women of prayer and faith who will stand in the gap and stay the frightful spirits of lawlessness, immorality, infidelity and corruption which are swarming over the land.
"I sought for a man among them, that should stand in the gap before Me, for the land, that I should not destroy it," declares the Lord to Ezekiel, "but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30).
This was the pitiful condition in Israel. No one could be found to stand in the gap for the land, hence it was destroyed. Can it be in this hour of chaos and crisis more dire, that there is no man or woman in your community or in your church who will stand in the gap? Is there no man or women who, seeing the peril, will give himself or herself continually to wrestling by prayer against principalities, against the rulers of darkness, against spiritual wickedness in high places? (Ephesians 6:12).
The greatest need in every church, in every community, and in every home, is for a prayer leadership that will stir the people of God to prayer. Talking about the conditions, bewailing the need of America for a spiritual awakening is not enough. The most difficult thing to do is to get men and women to pray. This is not a day when people readily pray. Few men and women will actually pray. The greatest spiritual need in America is for a praying leadership who will bring the preachers and the Church back to prayer.
True prayer means the expenditures of serious devotion of time, heart, and soul that the flesh does not like. To get under the burden of prayer is too strenuous a labor for our present-day, pleasure-loving, ease-indulging membership and ministry. Too much hardship is involved. The children of Zion today do not like the "solemn feast garments" of weeping, mourning and fasting that enables Zion to bring forth.
"Woe," pronounced the prophet, "to them that are at ease in Zion" (Amos 6:1).
God help Zion to travail at this crisis end-of-the-age hour! God help us to see the need and necessity of prayer and God help us to meet conditions! The all-important need is for men and women whose hearts are right with God to make prayer a supreme passion of the hour--men and women whose supreme labor for God and country is to cry, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them" (Joel 2:17).
To pray is the greatest thing we can do to save America and avert national chaos and crisis. There are plenty of preachers and writers who deal eloquently with the need of revival, but not many there are who will at this catastrophic hour give themselves to the necessity of prayer. There is one chief battle ground in the nation today, and that is the battleground of prayer. The prayer forces must be summoned. The Church must mobilize on her knees. Christians everywhere must be put to praying.
Revival comes in answer to the heart cries of God's people. The most insistent and urgent pleas, the most fervent exhortations need be sounded forth at this hour to put the saints everywhere to praying.
"Sound an alarm in my holy mountain…for the day of the Lord cometh…Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders…Let the ministers of the Lord weep…then will the Lord pity His people…And He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former and the latter rain in the first month, and the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil, and I will restore…I will pour My Spirit on all flesh...whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved" (Joel 2:1-32).
--Sarah Foulkes Moore (1890-1973)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Earnest Prayer
It seems that when ever I have read the biographies of God's anointed men, they always came from spending time in prayer on their knees with the power of God resting upon them, and the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in their souls.
I am perfectly confident that when you don't spend time alone with God, will never know the anointing of the Holy Spirit. At lease not to the extent that you will when you are a person of prayer. Someone once said "The world must be left outside until God alone fills the vision"!
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication...and suddenly...they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:14; 2:2, 4).
And when they had prayed...they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 4:31).
Peter and John...prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost...and they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-17).
Tarry in prayer, earnest, expectant, persevering, united. As someone has well said: "Tarry at the promise till God meets you there!" Wow that is so good and true!
God has promised to answer prayer!
It is not that He is unwilling; for the fact is He is more willing to give than we are to receive, more anxious to fill us with the Holy Spirit than we are to be filled. But the trouble is, we are not ready! And only as we wait before Him in prayer can He talk to us, prepare our hearts, and get us ready to receive His glorious power.
I am perfectly confident that when you don't spend time alone with God, will never know the anointing of the Holy Spirit. At lease not to the extent that you will when you are a person of prayer. Someone once said "The world must be left outside until God alone fills the vision"!
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication...and suddenly...they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:14; 2:2, 4).
And when they had prayed...they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 4:31).
Peter and John...prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost...and they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-17).
Tarry in prayer, earnest, expectant, persevering, united. As someone has well said: "Tarry at the promise till God meets you there!" Wow that is so good and true!
God has promised to answer prayer!
It is not that He is unwilling; for the fact is He is more willing to give than we are to receive, more anxious to fill us with the Holy Spirit than we are to be filled. But the trouble is, we are not ready! And only as we wait before Him in prayer can He talk to us, prepare our hearts, and get us ready to receive His glorious power.
Monday, January 4, 2010
How is your prayer life?
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.—Ephesians 6:18
OK so it's a New Year and time to make resolutions and all that sort of stuff!
SO I ask you... Is prayer a major part of your life, or is it something you only do when you are in trouble or with others who are praying?
Is prayer really a daily way of life for you, or do you just pray when you get in trouble? Do you pray when you are home and no one else is around, or do you find that you only pray is when you come to church and are in the presence of others who are praying people?
Hay.. I don't knock that... but come on... you have to do this by yourself... you need to do it all during the day... it needs to become as common to you as breathing!
I have found that most people are "on-again, off-again" when it comes to prayer.
Oh yes they can do it for a while, but then they slowly peter out and stop praying because they are too tired to get up early, (by the way you can pray at any time not just early in the morning) or they are distracted by other things.
But how often are we supposed to pray? Ephesians 6:18 gives us the answer! It says, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."
The word "always" means at each and every occasion.
Pray anytime there's an opportunity — no matter where you are or what you're doing. Use every occasion, every season, every possible moment to pray.
Prayer is not optional for the Christian, we are to make prayer a top priority.
But, I find prayer is forgotten or avoided by the average Christian today.
If prayer isn't a priority in your life right now, why not make it a priority?
"But I don't have time to pray." You have time to do whatever you really want to do so no excuse there.
You can find the time. Grab any available time you can find, and make it your prayer time.
Why not do it right? Make a quality decision to make prayer a constant part of your daily routine!
What are you waiting for? Comme on and JUST DO IT!
OK so it's a New Year and time to make resolutions and all that sort of stuff!
SO I ask you... Is prayer a major part of your life, or is it something you only do when you are in trouble or with others who are praying?
Is prayer really a daily way of life for you, or do you just pray when you get in trouble? Do you pray when you are home and no one else is around, or do you find that you only pray is when you come to church and are in the presence of others who are praying people?
Hay.. I don't knock that... but come on... you have to do this by yourself... you need to do it all during the day... it needs to become as common to you as breathing!
I have found that most people are "on-again, off-again" when it comes to prayer.
Oh yes they can do it for a while, but then they slowly peter out and stop praying because they are too tired to get up early, (by the way you can pray at any time not just early in the morning) or they are distracted by other things.
But how often are we supposed to pray? Ephesians 6:18 gives us the answer! It says, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."
The word "always" means at each and every occasion.
Pray anytime there's an opportunity — no matter where you are or what you're doing. Use every occasion, every season, every possible moment to pray.
Prayer is not optional for the Christian, we are to make prayer a top priority.
But, I find prayer is forgotten or avoided by the average Christian today.
If prayer isn't a priority in your life right now, why not make it a priority?
"But I don't have time to pray." You have time to do whatever you really want to do so no excuse there.
You can find the time. Grab any available time you can find, and make it your prayer time.
Why not do it right? Make a quality decision to make prayer a constant part of your daily routine!
What are you waiting for? Comme on and JUST DO IT!
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