Simple prayers from an honest and humble heart are the most effective.
When you are in trouble, a long or poetic prayer is not necessary. Jesus tells of a man who beat his chest and couldn't look up. He went home more justified than the religious Pharisee (Luke 18:13).
Sometimes we go through a season when prayer seems like it dies on our lips. We can hardly speak from being so overwhelmed. There seems to be no words to capture what we are truly experiencing in the moment. The only words we can form is "Help me, God!". And that is enough for God to step in and bring relief.
We have a promise in Psalms 50:15 which says, "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." (KJV).
With a simple prayer comes an act of surrender. If we need God's help, guidance, direction or any number of things it requires letting go of trying to answer our own prayer. We may need an immediate answer so we say a quick prayer. If nothing should happen we taken action without waiting for God to respond.
The moment we call upon Him, we have to believe that He's setting into motion the answer. So much of God's work to answer our prayers is hidden, in the background and out of human sight. Why? He reserves the glory for Himself so no one can say this was a result of something I did that brought about an answer.
On a final note, Jeremiah 33:3 tell us, "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." (ESV).
A simple prayer is the most profound because God will take the weakest voice asking for help to reveal things that could not have been understood and known except to those who call upon Him in sincerity.
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Patience
Patience is more than a virtue. It's one of the fruits of the Spirit that God wants us to cultivate as believers (Galatians 5:22).
The toxic fruit of impatience seems more abundant in our culture. I can think of some reasons for impatience. Not able to control everything and the things we try to control seem to frustrate us because it doesn't go right. Impatience can lead to quick and rash decisions. Driving while impatient can spell disaster.
The original word for patience is long suffering. The characteristic of patience is built and strengthen over time from many trying experiences where we have to choose long suffering over a quick fuse. Do we get it right every time? No. I believe God gives greater grace to those who come to Him for help even after failing.
We have a promise in James 1:4 that says, "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (KJV). Impatience wants to snatch and grab at the first thing within reach. However, patience learns to temper the appetites under His control.
As a result, patience is actually fulfilling and satisfying. The word for lack in this Scripture means "I fall behind". With supernatural patience given by God we never fall behind and lack good things. Like the old adage, "good things come to those who wait".
Here's how we might cultivate patience:
1. consult God on every decision - small or big - He's pleased when we seek Him first
2. trust Him that He knows what is best (we have some great ideas but God's ways is always higher)
3. wait on Him rather than rush to take action - some things can wait - emotional decisions can be a mess!
4. in relationships ask God to heal places in your heart that generate a negative response - you will be surprised to learn what God reveals
to you about your source of impatience
From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God but You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him Isaiah 64:4 NIV).
The toxic fruit of impatience seems more abundant in our culture. I can think of some reasons for impatience. Not able to control everything and the things we try to control seem to frustrate us because it doesn't go right. Impatience can lead to quick and rash decisions. Driving while impatient can spell disaster.
The original word for patience is long suffering. The characteristic of patience is built and strengthen over time from many trying experiences where we have to choose long suffering over a quick fuse. Do we get it right every time? No. I believe God gives greater grace to those who come to Him for help even after failing.
We have a promise in James 1:4 that says, "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (KJV). Impatience wants to snatch and grab at the first thing within reach. However, patience learns to temper the appetites under His control.
As a result, patience is actually fulfilling and satisfying. The word for lack in this Scripture means "I fall behind". With supernatural patience given by God we never fall behind and lack good things. Like the old adage, "good things come to those who wait".
Here's how we might cultivate patience:
1. consult God on every decision - small or big - He's pleased when we seek Him first
2. trust Him that He knows what is best (we have some great ideas but God's ways is always higher)
3. wait on Him rather than rush to take action - some things can wait - emotional decisions can be a mess!
4. in relationships ask God to heal places in your heart that generate a negative response - you will be surprised to learn what God reveals
to you about your source of impatience
From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God but You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him Isaiah 64:4 NIV).
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Don't Run
As children, when we didn't like something or we were told no we'd often ran in the opposite direction. Still as adults we find ourselves running at times from God, from difficult times and broken relationships.
We may not physically run but emotionally and spiritually we pursuing another exit, another path.
I'm learning in a difficult season that options to leave (aka "run") are nowhere to be found. The cost of living is too much for another apartment, but if we stay at the end of the year our lease will be $2,000.00. Something that makes my wife and I very anxious. Looking for work here is another issue - my current employment offers a good salary and benefits - but it has grown toxic with a heavy workload and poor management decisions. And when I sit in the morning to talk to God, my throat is parched and my eyes very dry. I can't even speak some days. Recently, my health has been poor so any energy to just get up and leave seems insurmountable.
Oddly, I'm reminder of David who ran toward the giant. He was not intimidated or cowered by the foul words of this towering enemy. Height made no difference because David recalled what God did in the lion and bear country. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! (I Samuel 17:36).
Perhaps when we are boxed in and the walls are closing in on us - God is using this moment to increase our faith - maximizing in a constricted place. Why? So, our mountains (and the troubles of others) can be moved because we've learned to tear down walls or scale them (Psalms 18:29).
Yes, we would like a clear Christian path without barriers, opposition, illness and oppression so we can run the race unhindered. But we understand that's not the Christian walk. The same God who leads us to quiet waters will take us through the shadow of the valley of death.
Beloved, this message is for me as well, run to the Commander-in-Chief and watch what God can do. Just as the singers started to sing of the mercy of God, He set up an ambush for the enemy (2 Chronicles 20:21-22).
Remember, the battle and victory belongs to God for those are willing to run toward Him even in face of fearful moments.
We may not physically run but emotionally and spiritually we pursuing another exit, another path.
I'm learning in a difficult season that options to leave (aka "run") are nowhere to be found. The cost of living is too much for another apartment, but if we stay at the end of the year our lease will be $2,000.00. Something that makes my wife and I very anxious. Looking for work here is another issue - my current employment offers a good salary and benefits - but it has grown toxic with a heavy workload and poor management decisions. And when I sit in the morning to talk to God, my throat is parched and my eyes very dry. I can't even speak some days. Recently, my health has been poor so any energy to just get up and leave seems insurmountable.
Oddly, I'm reminder of David who ran toward the giant. He was not intimidated or cowered by the foul words of this towering enemy. Height made no difference because David recalled what God did in the lion and bear country. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! (I Samuel 17:36).
Perhaps when we are boxed in and the walls are closing in on us - God is using this moment to increase our faith - maximizing in a constricted place. Why? So, our mountains (and the troubles of others) can be moved because we've learned to tear down walls or scale them (Psalms 18:29).
Yes, we would like a clear Christian path without barriers, opposition, illness and oppression so we can run the race unhindered. But we understand that's not the Christian walk. The same God who leads us to quiet waters will take us through the shadow of the valley of death.
Beloved, this message is for me as well, run to the Commander-in-Chief and watch what God can do. Just as the singers started to sing of the mercy of God, He set up an ambush for the enemy (2 Chronicles 20:21-22).
Remember, the battle and victory belongs to God for those are willing to run toward Him even in face of fearful moments.
Saturday, July 7, 2018
Through The Window
While leaving a store, I heard a woman say, "I saw it through the window." I paused long enough to glance at the window display to consider what she saw to bring her inside.
Shops try to put on their best window displays to draw in customers. Even large box stores like the mall often lack windows will place displays throughout the store to catch shopper's attention.
Our culture uses the phrase "window of opportunity" to describe a rare and critical moment when an opportunity opens up. God described such a window in Malachi 3:10 when we bring the tithe to His storehouse.
But we don't walk through display cases or windows of opportunity but must go through an open door. And Jesus is our door to opportunities that He wants us to see.
Beloved, there are many things that may tease the eyes and tempt the soul, but God wants us to allow His leading to the greater blessing. Too often we reach for the first thing we see.
As anyone of us know from personal experience, it soon gets old or not used much anymore. It may end up in the trash or a garage sale. Or the quality is so poor that it breaks after a short time. What did we see in it the first time? Sadly, some are asking that same question about a husband or wife after so many years of marriage.
We have to ask God for supernatural sight to walk this journey to look past the glittering and lustful objects. John Bunyan's Christian allegory in Pilgrim's Progress describes a place called Vanity Fair where "...all year round, such merchandise is bought and sold "as houses, lands, trades, places, honors, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, as whores, bawds, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not."
Remember we walk by faith not by sight. So, ask God to show you the eternal things - namely the souls we can show the truth and lead others to salvation.
Keep this Scripture in mind when passing by something your eye catches.
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:16-17 (NLT)
Shops try to put on their best window displays to draw in customers. Even large box stores like the mall often lack windows will place displays throughout the store to catch shopper's attention.
Our culture uses the phrase "window of opportunity" to describe a rare and critical moment when an opportunity opens up. God described such a window in Malachi 3:10 when we bring the tithe to His storehouse.
But we don't walk through display cases or windows of opportunity but must go through an open door. And Jesus is our door to opportunities that He wants us to see.
Beloved, there are many things that may tease the eyes and tempt the soul, but God wants us to allow His leading to the greater blessing. Too often we reach for the first thing we see.
As anyone of us know from personal experience, it soon gets old or not used much anymore. It may end up in the trash or a garage sale. Or the quality is so poor that it breaks after a short time. What did we see in it the first time? Sadly, some are asking that same question about a husband or wife after so many years of marriage.
We have to ask God for supernatural sight to walk this journey to look past the glittering and lustful objects. John Bunyan's Christian allegory in Pilgrim's Progress describes a place called Vanity Fair where "...all year round, such merchandise is bought and sold "as houses, lands, trades, places, honors, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, as whores, bawds, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not."
Remember we walk by faith not by sight. So, ask God to show you the eternal things - namely the souls we can show the truth and lead others to salvation.
Keep this Scripture in mind when passing by something your eye catches.
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:16-17 (NLT)
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