…THROUGH FAITH IN HIM WE MAY APPROACH GOD WITH… CONFIDENCE.’ EPHESIANS 3:12 NIV Mind prayers
Did you know that you can pray in your mind without having to speak a word out loud? All of us know the power of unspoken communication. Many of us grew up with parents who didn’t have to say a thing to make their will known. It may have been the way they cocked their heads, a certain look in their eyes or some other signal; but whatever it was, we knew exactly what was being communicated and how we were expected to respond. Our goal in prayer should be to maintain such a close relationship with God that we can communicate back and forth no matter what the situation, the time of day, or anything else. And we don’t have to shout, or use the right words in the right order, because our hearts are in tune with God’s heart. It’s like the story of the little boy who wanted a bicycle for Christmas. He was praying one night at the top of his voice, telling God the kind and colour of bike he wanted. His mother said, ‘Son, you don’t need to shout for God to hear you.’ He replied, ‘I know, mummy, but I need to shout if grandpa’s going to hear me and buy me that bike!’ The truth is, we don’t need to shout for God to hear us – and we don’t need to try and make our own answers to prayer happen either. Jesus said our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask. He gives to us because of our relationship with Him, not just because we say it at a decibel level loud enough to be heard!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
…THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES ENDURANCE.’ JAMES 1:3 NAS ‘Staying the course’
…THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES ENDURANCE.’ JAMES 1:3 NAS ‘Staying the course’
Endurance means ‘staying the course.’ But endurance is only a word until you have to deal with a strife-torn marriage, the long road back from bankruptcy, divorce or illness, the rebuilding of your life, or the required preparation for success in any field. It takes commitment to keep going when friends fail you, discouragement whispers ‘give up,’ and doubt says ‘it can’t be done.’ That’s when endurance takes on new meaning. It becomes your anchor in the storm, your compass in times of confusion, and the head of steam that gets you up the next hill. Remember, God knows when to discontinue a trial because its purpose has been fulfilled. And He gives us two great promises: 1) His comforting presence (see Isaiah 43:2-5) 2) the assurance that He won’t permit more pressure than we can handle (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). But there’s another reason – others are watching! Paul writes, ‘…People are watching us as we stay at our post…working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth…when God’s showing His power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honoured; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognised by God…immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all’ (2 Corinthians 6:1-10 TM). That’s called ‘staying the course.’
Endurance means ‘staying the course.’ But endurance is only a word until you have to deal with a strife-torn marriage, the long road back from bankruptcy, divorce or illness, the rebuilding of your life, or the required preparation for success in any field. It takes commitment to keep going when friends fail you, discouragement whispers ‘give up,’ and doubt says ‘it can’t be done.’ That’s when endurance takes on new meaning. It becomes your anchor in the storm, your compass in times of confusion, and the head of steam that gets you up the next hill. Remember, God knows when to discontinue a trial because its purpose has been fulfilled. And He gives us two great promises: 1) His comforting presence (see Isaiah 43:2-5) 2) the assurance that He won’t permit more pressure than we can handle (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). But there’s another reason – others are watching! Paul writes, ‘…People are watching us as we stay at our post…working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth…when God’s showing His power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honoured; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognised by God…immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all’ (2 Corinthians 6:1-10 TM). That’s called ‘staying the course.’
Sunday, March 8, 2009
TO THIS END I LABOR, STRUGGLING WITH ALL HIS ENERGY, WHICH SO POWERFULLY WORKS IN ME.’ COLOSSIANS 1:29 NIV
TO THIS END I LABOR, STRUGGLING WITH ALL HIS ENERGY, WHICH SO POWERFULLY WORKS IN ME.’ COLOSSIANS 1:29 NIV
Do you want God’s best for your life? The path of ease won’t get you there, the path of sacrifice will. It’s not easy to rise early while others sleep in order to prepare for the challenge. Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, you’ll discover it’s hard to find people willing to stand with you in your times of testing. But there can be no celebration without preparation! Everybody wants success but not everybody can handle it; some would rather have tranquility. They don’t like criticism and they can’t take pressure. But if you’re the kind of person who isn’t satisfied sitting on the sidelines – go for it! If you have the passion the price won’t stop you. Passionate people are drawn and driven toward the goal (See 2 Corithinans 5:14). Some days you’ll have tears in your eyes and dirt under your fingernails. But in spite of the scrapes and bruises you’ll have a joy that causes you to sing at midnight like Paul and Silas, and a sense of mission that makes you cry out like Isaiah, ‘[Lord], Here am I, send me’ (Isaiah 6:8 NIV). Nobody said it’s easy. Some days all you can do is – stand! When you cannot seem to put one foot in front of the other – stand! Realise there’s never been a day that lasted forever. Don’t give up and don’t give in. Bite your lip, taste your tears and stand on what God has promised you. And remember, you’re not operating in your own strength: ‘To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.’
Do you want God’s best for your life? The path of ease won’t get you there, the path of sacrifice will. It’s not easy to rise early while others sleep in order to prepare for the challenge. Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, you’ll discover it’s hard to find people willing to stand with you in your times of testing. But there can be no celebration without preparation! Everybody wants success but not everybody can handle it; some would rather have tranquility. They don’t like criticism and they can’t take pressure. But if you’re the kind of person who isn’t satisfied sitting on the sidelines – go for it! If you have the passion the price won’t stop you. Passionate people are drawn and driven toward the goal (See 2 Corithinans 5:14). Some days you’ll have tears in your eyes and dirt under your fingernails. But in spite of the scrapes and bruises you’ll have a joy that causes you to sing at midnight like Paul and Silas, and a sense of mission that makes you cry out like Isaiah, ‘[Lord], Here am I, send me’ (Isaiah 6:8 NIV). Nobody said it’s easy. Some days all you can do is – stand! When you cannot seem to put one foot in front of the other – stand! Realise there’s never been a day that lasted forever. Don’t give up and don’t give in. Bite your lip, taste your tears and stand on what God has promised you. And remember, you’re not operating in your own strength: ‘To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.’
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