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Another post to guide me on my journey of Prayer this month. God Bless!
Do you ever find yourself struggling over what you feel like is unanswered prayer? Most of us have gone through discouraging and perhaps puzzling episodes of unanswered prayer. Typically we begin the Christian life very optimistic about the possibilities of prayer; then we have some disappointing experiences with prayer and skepticism sets in. Few experiences pose a greater challenge to our faith. Maybe you had committed yourself to pray frequently and earnestly that God would do a certain thing for you, and because by what seemed to be unanswered prayer, you felt like He never answered it at all or either, He answered it in a way that you were not happy with. Maybe you even questioned as to if God even heard your prayer or not!
My own confidence or conviction that God answers prayer springs not only from biblical teaching but from personal experience as well. But it has taken…
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I would be disobeying the Lord if I stopped praying for you! I will always teach you how to live right. 1 Samuel 12:23
When those around us fail, the natural inclination of our human nature is to write them off as losers. It would be nice if we could say it’s different in the church, but the reality it’s not. Sometimes we ‘graciously’ offer a grace period in which we test the guilty party to see if they are sincere, but if we are honest, we look more for opportunities to condemn than notice the small steps towards restoration.
The Israelites were notorious for having the attitude of a spoiled two-year-old. Time and again they would rebel against God’s commands, repent and enjoy God’s forgiveness and restoration, only to slip back into their old habits of self-serving, idolatrous living.
After being rescued from Egyptian slavery, miraculously provided for during their trek through the wilderness, protected from enemies more powerful than they were and established in the Promised Land, the Israelites looked around at the surrounding nations and begged Samuel for a king because ‘everyone else gets a king, why can’t we?’
In spite of constant warnings of the dangers of having a human king, God finally relented and allowed them to have a king but not without stern warning. Then the Israelites realized their sin, they repented (again) and asked for prayer (could be spelled protection?).
Samuel’s response challenges our ‘normal, human way of thinking’. He promises to continue to pray for the people out of obedience to God. There almost seems to be a bit of ‘horror’ in his words. NOT praying for the people, in Samuel’s view, would be an act of disobedience to God. But he adds another twist. Samuel didn’t just promise to pray for the rebellious Israelites, he promised to teach them in the way they should go. His actions backed up his prayers. He not only interceded for them, he promised to give them the tools to keep from falling again.
Just before Jesus ascended into heaven he gave the disciples a challenge for the future. He told them to ‘make disciples of all nations.’ Discipleship is building relationship. Discipleship isn’t pointing out the failures of those in our circles; it’s giving them the tools to deal this life attack. We don’t need to be told we are bad, we know that. We need to be shown how to be better.
When the Israelites realized their failure they went to God’s man and received not only prayer for protection but a promise to teach them the ways of Jehovah God. Discipleship takes time and personal interaction. Discipleship isn’t a program but a lifestyle.
When someone you know falls, Paul says to ‘gently restore’ them (Galatians 6:1). Prayer and teaching (time) are two the best ways to restore the broken soul.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you changed everyone you touched by prayer and teaching with patience. Help us to do the same to those in need around us. In your name I pray, Amen.
The other day a worship team member was talking about the tabernacle in the Old Testament. They mentioned how the Holy of Holies was behind the veil and only one priest could enter once a year, but when they did, they could behold the glory of God. As this person was talking, the thought struck me, “We’re there right now!”
Ephesians 2:6 tells us we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. The book of Hebrews tells us we’ve been given entrance to the Holy of Holies (the very presence of God) because of the blood of Jesus. Since that briefing I’ve been thinking how amazing it is that every believer on the face of the earth has what only one person, once a year, had in the Old Covenant – access to the heart and beauty of God.
Today, whether through meditating on the throne of God, or fellowshipping…
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The joy of the Lord is my strength. I hope you enjoy this post by a fellow believer.
I’ve suffered with varying degrees of anxiety for as long as I can remember. I don’t really understand why, except to say that I’ve always been somewhat of a perfectionist and have a deep desire to please others. I have never been medicated for my anxiety, although I’m certain there have been periods in my life where medication would help me greatly. I can remember having anxiety attacks in my early 20’s and feeling like the world was literally spinning out of control. One instance was in Disneyland. I remember sitting down on the ground in the middle of Disney’s California Adventure with my best friend at the time and crying because of the overwhelmed panic I felt.
When I became a Christian when I was 16, I knew that my anxiety was sinful and wrong and that I shouldn’t be feeling this way constantly. I knew that it was…
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Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 