You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘prayer’ tag.
The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7
Where do you turn when trouble comes? Who do you call on for help?
When relationships go south, some turned to new relationships, hoping to find relief.
When finances are hard, some borrow money which only increases their debt load and anxiety.
Loss of a loved one can lead to years of grief, depression, and mental health issues.
God has never promised that life will be easy. In fact, He promises us that we will have troubles. He also promises us that he will always be there to work with us through every storm we encounter.
The closer you draw to him, less impact the storms in life will have on you. You can trust in him in whatever storm comes your way!
What storm are you in today? What struggle is keeping you from seeing the good things in life? Lean heavily on God and he will bring you a peace that passes all understanding.
But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:7
“Prayer Doesn’t Work! I prayed for my grandma and she died anyway.”
“I prayed about that job but didn’t get it”
“I prayed that relationship would work but it didn’t.”
One of the reasons many leave the faith, doubt God, or fail to believe in the power of prayer in their lives is because of “unanswered prayer” and God’s seeming inability to fulfill his promises.
John 15:7 is often quoted, or should I say MISquoted, as proof. However, if you read the whole verse in its context you’ll see that the emphasis isn’t on getting what we want at all! The emphasis is on abiding.
Charles Spurgeon writes, “If you want that splendid power in prayer, you must remain in loving, living, lasting, conscious, practical, abiding union with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
When we are one in heart and mind with Jesus our desires become his desires. Our ‘wants’ become His wants. Our focus is on the Kingdom not on earthly passions.
Does that mean that God is not interested in providing us with good relationships, good jobs, and a happy life? Of course not! Jeremiah tells us he has a wonderful plan for our life. But it’s a matter of priorities. Jesus says “seek first, the kingdom of God, and then all these things will be added to us.”
I dare say many if not all of our “unanswered prayers” are self-focused prayers, not abiding prayers.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess to you that often my prayers are for my own good, and not for the good of the kingdom. I don’t see things as you see them. My ways are not your ways. Help me to learn to abide in you so that when I pray, my prayers are kingdom-focused and not self-focused. In your name I pray, amen.
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.Luke 22:31-32
I’d failed. My actions completely went against everything that I stood for and believed. The worst part about it is, it wasn’t just me that I hurt but those around me as well.
Have you ever failed so badly that you didn’t think you could continue on in life? Maybe it was a destroyed relationship. Maybe it was making a decision that cost you your job or career. Maybe it was living a double life and the hidden part was revealed.
One of my favorite Bible characters is Peter. A close friend of Jesus, he was given every opportunity to be a strong leader. Yet with everything that he had going for him, Peter failed Jesus miserably.
But that’s not the end of the story. Jesus warned Peter that he would fail him. Jesus is never surprised by our failures.
Even though Jesus knew Peter would fail, he made Peter a promise. He promised Peter that when (not if) he returned, Jesus had a place for him in the kingdom. By doing so, Jesus made a statement concerning Peters value.
You see, our value is never placed on our ability to live for Jesus. Our value comes because of what Jesus does for us.
Being sifted like wheat hurts. It can leave lasting scars. But being sifted, like wheat also means the stuff we don’t need, the chaff is removed, and the most important part of us is preserved.
Don’t allow your defeats to determine your destination. Your value is not in your failures, but in your Savoir. He’s praying for you, and he has the power to restore you, so you can be the best that you can be.
For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:7
I used to work at a local convenience store. One of the things this store prided itself on was hot, fresh coffee. In order to assure customers this was true, a timer would go off every 30 minutes. This was our cue as employees to head back to the coffee area, check the product and turn off the timer.
I no longer work there, but frequent the store often and, on occasion, will be there when the timer goes off. Whenever that timer goes off (at this store or any of the others in the chain) my mind tells me to check the coffee and turn off the timer! Then, I remind myself that I’m no longer answerable to that call. It has no authority over me. I’m free!
This is a simple example of sin in our lives. Before we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior we acted a certain way, used certain words and involved ourselves in certain activities.
Once we accepted Christ, and began growing in His word through personal study, and corporate worship/teaching, we began to realize that some of the words, actions and activities we involved ourselves in didn’t please God and weren’t a good example to the world around us.
Because we love Jesus, and because our love should drive us to following His word, our desire is to change. But, if you haven’t noticed, there’s a problem.
We are still tempted to use language that doesn’t build others up. We gossip, curse, lie and stretch the truth (which is really a lie by the way).
Our minds take us to places and thoughts we know displease our Savior, and often our bodies follow!
We doubt and worry even though we know God’s promised to see us through every adversity.
We still enjoy certain activities even though we realize this isn’t a place we should be hanging out at because we bear the name of Jesus.
It’s like that crazy timer at the convenience store. We hear the call and have a choice to make. Do we respond or remove ourselves from the situation.
The bad news is, as long as we are alive we will be attacked by the cursed timer, calling us to the old life.
The good news is that through the Holy Spirit we have the power to resist the call. It may not come all at once. It may be a struggle that hounds you for a long time. But through Jesus, victory is yours. Keep trying.
Don’t let failure discourage you, even the best of Jesus followers struggle. He’s willing and ready to forgive. He’s more than able to give you the power to change those habits, those words and the desire to take part in those activities.
Through Jesus you are free!
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Several years ago I remember buying my dream truck. I’d done the research, I knew what I wanted and went for it! I still remember driving that truck off the lot. I love the smell of a new car, don’t you?
I also remember the day the repossession company towed away my dream truck. The cost of operating it, plus the payments were more than I expected. As a result, I lost my dream truck. I didn’t count the cost.
The failure to count the cost has resulted in homes being lost, marriages to fail, companies to fold and dreams to die. Counting the cost is vital to success relationally, emotionally and spiritually.
When Jesus called his disciples he made no grandiose promises of the life before them. He makes is clear that life following Jesus would not be easy. It would involve sacrifice. It promised humiliation and misunderstanding.
Today, we have crosses on our walls, our cars and even tattooed into our skin as a symbol of allegiance to Jesus. That wasn’t the case in Jesus’ time. Crosses meant pain, suffering humiliation, sacrifice and death. Once you had a cross with your name on it, your life was over!
Following Jesus is more than a prayer or going to church when you have time. It’s more than a bumper sticker or a social media post.
Cross bearing is painful, voluntary, at times humiliating and always involves sacrifice. Don’t take following Jesus lightly.
Count the cost, and if you are willing, if your think life with Jesus is better than the life you can provide for yourself, pick up his cross and follow him.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 