John 16:23-24 says "In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."
As I consider these verses there is great hope and promise, yet there is also sorrow. The sorrow is there because we tend to try to live this promise backwards. We want to be satisfied, with much joy and then we will be willing go to God. Even when we eventually go and ask, it isn’t really with much faith because we are asking for what we want. But the truth is, most of the time we don’t even bother to ask for anything.
Look at how this promise is given to us. Jesus says, God will give us whatever we ask for in His name. Now to understand this promise we must understand what ‘in His name’ means. This means that we know God and His Word well enough that we know what will bring Him the most glory and that is what we are asking for. It also means we are asking in His authority and power. So how is your relationship with God? Now, if we are praying according to this, then we know God will give us anything we ask for. This automatically leads to complete joy. Look at your joy level. Remember, happiness is a response to outward stimulus and joy is an expression of an inward condition. The condition of being in right relationship with God. Do you have joy? Is it just a bit of joy or is it complete joy? If we are lacking in joy then it indicates that we have been lacking in relationship and asking. If we have been lacking in asking this might indicate that our motives have been wrong. The bottom line is that God wants to do so much more for us in answer to our prayers. We just need to start praying they way He has said. May your days be filled with many answered prayers and complete joy.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Who is Carrying Your Burdens?
Psalm 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.”
As we face each and every day, it is good to remember this truth about God. He has promised us that as part of our relationship with Him , that we will help us every single day. The way that He will help us is by bearing (holding and carrying) our burdens. This is true regardless of how big or small those burdens may seem to us. So if this is true, why do so many continue to struggle under their own burdens? It's simple, the truth is that these people, the majority of people, refuse to surrender their burdens, giving them up to God. Unfortunately this leads to weariness, stress, ulcers, etc.. Only when we arrive at the point of surrender will God pick those burdens up. Are you willing to surrender to God today? He can and will make all the difference.
As we face each and every day, it is good to remember this truth about God. He has promised us that as part of our relationship with Him , that we will help us every single day. The way that He will help us is by bearing (holding and carrying) our burdens. This is true regardless of how big or small those burdens may seem to us. So if this is true, why do so many continue to struggle under their own burdens? It's simple, the truth is that these people, the majority of people, refuse to surrender their burdens, giving them up to God. Unfortunately this leads to weariness, stress, ulcers, etc.. Only when we arrive at the point of surrender will God pick those burdens up. Are you willing to surrender to God today? He can and will make all the difference.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Where is your focus?
John 6:1-15 gives an account of Jesus feeding the 5000+ crowd. There are some life-changing lesson found in this story.
When we are faced with situation, issues, problems what do we see? Our tendency is to focus on the problem and the more we focus on it the bigger it becomes. What we need to do is surrender everything to God and then focus on Him. In verse 8 Peter brought everything to Jesus, after Philip had basically given up hope. Unfortunately he also didn’t focus on Jesus but on the inadequacy of what he had on hand. It doesn’t matter what we have on hand or how far we think it will go. What matters is, if we have continued to follow Jesus, He is there and can do anything.
So where is our focus today? Is it on the all powerful, creator of the universe Who said that He will never leave or forsake us or is it on the momentary issues that will be gone before we know it. As we face every situation remember, God already has in mind what He is wanting to do. Trust Him, focus on Him and watch what He accomplishes.
When we are faced with situation, issues, problems what do we see? Our tendency is to focus on the problem and the more we focus on it the bigger it becomes. What we need to do is surrender everything to God and then focus on Him. In verse 8 Peter brought everything to Jesus, after Philip had basically given up hope. Unfortunately he also didn’t focus on Jesus but on the inadequacy of what he had on hand. It doesn’t matter what we have on hand or how far we think it will go. What matters is, if we have continued to follow Jesus, He is there and can do anything.
So where is our focus today? Is it on the all powerful, creator of the universe Who said that He will never leave or forsake us or is it on the momentary issues that will be gone before we know it. As we face every situation remember, God already has in mind what He is wanting to do. Trust Him, focus on Him and watch what He accomplishes.
Monday, August 19, 2019
How Much Have You Surrendered
This verse has long been a favorite of mine giving me peace and hope during the trials and storms of life. Yet as I read it again today I realized a very important truth. It follows the statement that God can and will guard all that I have given to Him.
The question is, what have I given to Him? Most Christians will say that they have given God their hearts and eternity. Yes this is important but it leaves most of everything in our hands to guard and protect. When we make Him our Savior and Lord then we place everything in His care. So what have you not surrendered to God … your health, job, pleasure, family? We need to surrender every aspect
of every day to God. This means daily surrender and all throughout the day. Now this might seem like a lot of work, but the benefits are worth it. Remember, when we surrender, trusting God to guard something, He will guard it better than we could hope to.
So be willing today to start surrendering everything to God and discover
the peace that He has promised will guard your heart and mind
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Life Changing Faith
In John 5:1-15 we find an interesting story of healing and faith. A story that should inspire and challenge us all at the same time.
As we look at the crowds, what do we see? Here we are reminded that it is the individual that makes up the crowd that is important. Jesus saw the man and took time to learn about him. We need to make sure we see the individual. When we do, don’t just assume you know what they are all about, take time to learn about them. This doesn’t have to be a long process, just a personalized one.
As we look at the crowds, what do we see? Here we are reminded that it is the individual that makes up the crowd that is important. Jesus saw the man and took time to learn about him. We need to make sure we see the individual. When we do, don’t just assume you know what they are all about, take time to learn about them. This doesn’t have to be a long process, just a personalized one.
Once Jesus had learned about him, notice that He asked if the
man wanted to get well. Why would Jesus ask that? I believe it is for the same reason that He wants and waits for us to ask in prayer, sometimes public prayer, before providing what we need. Jesus wants us to express our faith in words. Why? Because when we verbalize our faith it becomes more concrete in our lives, we are becoming specific in what we are asking and believing for. Now
consider what had to happen for this man to receive healing. When Jesus didn’t say, ‘you are healed’, he had to act in faith. The crippled man was told to ‘get up and walk.’ Do what you haven’t been able to do … walk by faith. I am amazed at the faith of this man. He had wanted healing for decades and never been able to get it. Now, when told the steps into that healing. Do we let the
past, our history, keep us from the miracles that God has for us?
man wanted to get well. Why would Jesus ask that? I believe it is for the same reason that He wants and waits for us to ask in prayer, sometimes public prayer, before providing what we need. Jesus wants us to express our faith in words. Why? Because when we verbalize our faith it becomes more concrete in our lives, we are becoming specific in what we are asking and believing for. Now
consider what had to happen for this man to receive healing. When Jesus didn’t say, ‘you are healed’, he had to act in faith. The crippled man was told to ‘get up and walk.’ Do what you haven’t been able to do … walk by faith. I am amazed at the faith of this man. He had wanted healing for decades and never been able to get it. Now, when told the steps into that healing. Do we let the
past, our history, keep us from the miracles that God has for us?
Another thing to note here is that this crippled man didn’t even know it as Jesus, God made flesh, the worker of miracles that was talking to him. He just had faith in the almighty God. So often we put conditions on receiving what God has for us. If we know beyond any doubt that it is God who is doing this. You know a certified letter with signature and picture proof that it is God, then we might accept it. Yet here is an example of desperation for
what God can do. He simple took things at face value and lived in the blessings of God. May we have that kind of faith today and every day.
what God can do. He simple took things at face value and lived in the blessings of God. May we have that kind of faith today and every day.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Becoming "Good Soil" and Helping Become That ...
Mark 4:1-20 gives us a familiar parable on the Sower and different soils …
As we look at this parable that Jesus describes as basic and essential to understanding all the others, note the warnings. We are shown three negative results of His Word being shared. These are three things we must be guarding from in our lives and if we are sharing God's Word with others, we must be guarding them also.
First, we must not allow satan to come and steal God's Word away from people. This is only be prevented through the power of prayer. Have we laid the proper prayer foundation in our lives and the lives of those we are witnessing to. With the proper relationship with God developed through prayer, we will know when to present the Gospel so that it wont be taken away by satan.
Second, do we honestly present the whole Gospel. Often people will say that God will fix your problems and make life better. Yet here we are reminded that if we accept and live by God's Word, trouble and persecution will come. We need to be prepared for this and prepare others for it. When the tough times come we need to stop and evaluate why it's happening. If it is because of our stupidity that's on us. However, if it is because we are living by the Word of God then stand firm and count yourself blessed because you have been found worthy of suffering for the sake of the Gospel. We must be honest when witnessing and tell people that if they live for God others will not be happy with them and persecute them.
Finally, we need to make sure that we and those who respond to God's Word stay focused on the right thing. This last area that distracts people making them unfruitful are the concerns of life and the false promises of things. Now any detail of life can fall into this category if we let it captivate our attention and focus. We need to do what Scripture admonishes, "Keep our eyes firmly on the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ." When we stay focused on Him, He will help us deal with life and it will all work out.
Do we take these warnings and apply them to ourselves? Do we communicate them clearly to others so that we all become and stay the "good soil?" May we always be found faithful in presenting all of Scripture to others.
As we look at this parable that Jesus describes as basic and essential to understanding all the others, note the warnings. We are shown three negative results of His Word being shared. These are three things we must be guarding from in our lives and if we are sharing God's Word with others, we must be guarding them also.
First, we must not allow satan to come and steal God's Word away from people. This is only be prevented through the power of prayer. Have we laid the proper prayer foundation in our lives and the lives of those we are witnessing to. With the proper relationship with God developed through prayer, we will know when to present the Gospel so that it wont be taken away by satan.
Second, do we honestly present the whole Gospel. Often people will say that God will fix your problems and make life better. Yet here we are reminded that if we accept and live by God's Word, trouble and persecution will come. We need to be prepared for this and prepare others for it. When the tough times come we need to stop and evaluate why it's happening. If it is because of our stupidity that's on us. However, if it is because we are living by the Word of God then stand firm and count yourself blessed because you have been found worthy of suffering for the sake of the Gospel. We must be honest when witnessing and tell people that if they live for God others will not be happy with them and persecute them.
Finally, we need to make sure that we and those who respond to God's Word stay focused on the right thing. This last area that distracts people making them unfruitful are the concerns of life and the false promises of things. Now any detail of life can fall into this category if we let it captivate our attention and focus. We need to do what Scripture admonishes, "Keep our eyes firmly on the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ." When we stay focused on Him, He will help us deal with life and it will all work out.
Do we take these warnings and apply them to ourselves? Do we communicate them clearly to others so that we all become and stay the "good soil?" May we always be found faithful in presenting all of Scripture to others.
Friday, April 6, 2018
Praying God's Way Gets His Answers
When it comes to prayer, Matthew 7:7-8 provides us with one of the most concise and yet misunderstood set of instructions: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
As we consider this very familiar passage there are a few things we need to note. First are the three ways we are to approach God in prayer...Ask, Seek, Knock. These three things are to be done in connection with each other. We shouldn't be able to do one without doing the others. It's a progression that should not be broken up.
Let's quickly examine each of these steps of prayer. First is the asking. So often I think we misunderstand this important starting point. When we ask we tend to know the general issue at hand. It is during this step that the requests become clarified, as we seek God's will regarding it. Do we take time to ask God what He wants us to pray regarding different issues or do we assume we know what's best and ask God to bless our ideas. One is praying God's will the other is praying our will. God will only answer one type of prayer. He will not become our puppet, doing whatever we want. He will however, answer any prayer that is according to His will.
Second, once we have asked and know what God's will is regarding an issue, then we are to seek it out. There is a vast difference between knowing God's will and doing something about it. Once we know it, we should then pursue it with all that we are and have. This is where we are actively going after God's will and continuing to do so until we have it. When we know the specific will of God regarding an issue we are praying for, nothing should ever make us stop praying for it. Nothing but seeing God's will happen. This seeking is where we put all of our effort and energy into seeing it happen. Is this how we pray?
Third, we need to actually finish the prayer process by receiving the answer. Remember, our asking shows us what we should be praying for. Our seeking is the passionate pursuit of that goal. Now, when the prize is at hand we need to finish strong. So often we get to this point, the answer is right there, and we don't think we deserve it so we pull back. This knocking is where we are asking to receive the answer. We know it is right there and we just need to step up and receive it. Don't stop short, keep praying and when you see the answer just before you, ask God to open the opportunity and give you the strength to grasp it.
Many people come so close to the answers they are seeking because they skip one of these step. May we be faithful and do all of them when in comes to our prayer time with God.
As we consider this very familiar passage there are a few things we need to note. First are the three ways we are to approach God in prayer...Ask, Seek, Knock. These three things are to be done in connection with each other. We shouldn't be able to do one without doing the others. It's a progression that should not be broken up.
Let's quickly examine each of these steps of prayer. First is the asking. So often I think we misunderstand this important starting point. When we ask we tend to know the general issue at hand. It is during this step that the requests become clarified, as we seek God's will regarding it. Do we take time to ask God what He wants us to pray regarding different issues or do we assume we know what's best and ask God to bless our ideas. One is praying God's will the other is praying our will. God will only answer one type of prayer. He will not become our puppet, doing whatever we want. He will however, answer any prayer that is according to His will.
Second, once we have asked and know what God's will is regarding an issue, then we are to seek it out. There is a vast difference between knowing God's will and doing something about it. Once we know it, we should then pursue it with all that we are and have. This is where we are actively going after God's will and continuing to do so until we have it. When we know the specific will of God regarding an issue we are praying for, nothing should ever make us stop praying for it. Nothing but seeing God's will happen. This seeking is where we put all of our effort and energy into seeing it happen. Is this how we pray?
Third, we need to actually finish the prayer process by receiving the answer. Remember, our asking shows us what we should be praying for. Our seeking is the passionate pursuit of that goal. Now, when the prize is at hand we need to finish strong. So often we get to this point, the answer is right there, and we don't think we deserve it so we pull back. This knocking is where we are asking to receive the answer. We know it is right there and we just need to step up and receive it. Don't stop short, keep praying and when you see the answer just before you, ask God to open the opportunity and give you the strength to grasp it.
Many people come so close to the answers they are seeking because they skip one of these step. May we be faithful and do all of them when in comes to our prayer time with God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)