Tag: pray

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10.13.24. God is God!

Psalm 115-116 Give God Honor

Listen you people of the land; return to Me says the Lord so that I can bless you. Instead, they follow the gods of the land and not He who is in heaven. These have no life, ears but cannot hear, eyes but cannot see. Why would you bow down to them? These are questions I ask of my family member who bows down to Buddha but not the Everlasting God Almighty, ruler of heaven and earth. She responds; what is good for you is good, what is good for me, is good. Or the other family member who says, the OT is just history but is not relevant to today.  The God of the OT is not like the God of the NT. The God of the OT is revengeful and the God of the NT is peaceful and loving. I reject the OT because of that. 

Perhaps you can relate to these pictures. So how do we respond? First we see  the truth of 2 Cor 4:4 “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so they cannot see the glorious image of Christ.” 

Pray beloved, pray for the scales to fall from their eyes so they can see and then can proclaim as the psalmist: “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name bring honor,for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness.” [Ps 115:1]

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Prepare but also Pray

Ezra 7-10 What would you ask for if you sat under a king and had lived in exile for several years? One king asked that question of his queen, Esther, with the promise of half of his kingdom. Ezra, on the other hand, only wanted to go to Jerusalem and teach the Law of Moses as a priest and a scribe. Some of us “twiddle our thumbs,” but Ezra had set aside time to study the Law of Moses in preparation.

Not only was he skilled as a priest and scribe, but he also boldly asked for provisions for a five months journey, and he brashly told the king he didn’t need soldiers to protect him and his entourage because he was embarrassed and had said: “the good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him.” [Ezra 8:22] Yes, Ezra was not just bold but brash! And God answered each prayer.

Sometimes we want things, but we are cautious and even sometimes ashamed to ask God for His protection and deliverance, but not Ezra! Perhaps Ezra claimed Ps 17:8 “Protect me/us as you would protect the pupil of your eye.” That would have been a powerful prayer and one we can pray as well. Where do you need God’s protection today, and will you be as bold as Ezra? 

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The Path to Victory

God's Word

Joshua 10-12 Starts here: Consistent Obedience

Over and over God reminded Joshua to not be afraid but be strong and courageous for He would be with him. When we believe God and obey God we will be victorious over our three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. To do that we must be in the Word and obey the Word just as Joshua did. That is one truth we should glean from these chapters.

What enemy am I/are you facing today? Will I/you be successful? The challenge is before each of us. We can be victorious when we hide God’s word in our heart just as the Psalmist said: “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” [Ps 119:11]

The first verse I ever learned was this: “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” [Ps 119:105] I don’t think I ever realized how precious those words are! The word illumines my path through the valley where the enemy lays waiting seeking whom he can devour. [1Pet. 5:8] However, this is a truth we can claim; God’s light stays illumined just as it did for Joshua. Maybe I/we need to pray these words when I am/we are fearful of the enemy! “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”[Josh. 10:12]

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“How to Meditate on God’s Word”

How to read and meditate

Psalm 119 Here is a simple method for reading and pondering the words of scripture. Begin with a series of questions. For example, in the first stanza of 119, there are just eight verses. Try asking, as you read, some or all of these questions.

Follow this example:

  1. What words are repeated?
    1. blessed
  2. What attribute of God is noted?
    1. God has ordained His precepts; therefore, God is worthy of our praise, for He is a God of order and design for men. 
  3. Is there a contrast or a comparison noted?
    1. Those who follow in God’s footsteps are blessed. In contrast, those who do not are shamed. 
  4. Which synonyms are given? 
    1. Precepts, ordinances, law, statutes, commands 
  5. Is there a result from the psalmist meditation that you could apply to your life?
    1. No shame comes to those who focus on God’s commands. 
  6. Is there a command that I need to obey? 
    1. Learn God’s just regulations, keep God’s statutes
  7. Is there a challenge given?
    1. I will keep God’s statutes.
  8. Is there a plea to God for some area of his life to which you can relate?
    1. Do not abandon me; pray that my heart is predisposed or steadfastly directed towards knowing and applying God’s precepts.
  9. Is there a verse that I can take with me all day today?
    1. [Pick your own]
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Don’t Stop Praying!

Don't stop praying

Jeremiah 11/12 Is there ever a time when you stop praying for a person? We answer, no, but then we read Jeremiah and hear God say: “Do not pray for these people. Do not cry out to me or petition me on their behalf. Do not plead with me to save them. I will not listen to them…” [Jer 7:16]

How do you react to these words? We must remember that context is king, and Jeremiah had a particular message for specific people. Like Jeremiah, we ask “why” but behind the “why,” there is always a “because.” For Judah, the “why” is Judah’s national sin. The “because” is that God’s ways are not our ways. His ways are higher and have purposes we may not always understand. God could see the hearts, and these had no intention of turning back. How about us? Are we to stop praying? Remember, we don’t have the heart or the wisdom to know; therefore, we are to pray without ceasing. Who knows, but our prayers may be the very link to restoration.

God wanted Jeremiah to present this truth to his people:  “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us.” [Deut 29:29]

We are to be like Jeremiah and Habakkuk:

stand firm, present the gospel, pray and leave the results to God.

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Do You Pray for Righteous Leaders?

Did you pray for your spiritual as well as your government leaders today?

Deuteronomy 17 “Praying for Righteous Leadership”

Prov  14:34 “Righteousness Exalts a Nation” is as true today as it was when Moses penned the words of Deuteronomy. God knows his people’s hearts and how easily they can fall victim to the ways of Satan who often poses as an angel of light to sway our hearts and minds. His goal is to disarm us and why we need wise counselors and judges.

Moses said, choose wisely a man to lead who exhibits godly character and integrity.  He should know God’s Word for he will be the one held accountable for the nation’s sins and purity. That is why he was told to write a copy of the law and read it as long as he lives. In this way, he may learn to revere the Lord his God. Thus when faced with questions of guilt or innocence God’s law principles will guide him. He is to judge righteously so that men are protected from making presumptuous decisions hastily.

Today we are to pray for wise leaders who know the law so that the innocent are protected and the guilty held responsible. Pray their eyes are not swayed by the allure of silver and gold or the strength of horses. Pray they will not exalt themselves above their fellow citizens or turn from the commandments to the right or left.

deut 17 prayer jeremy-yapa-

This is what Moses wrote for Israel. Should we do less for the leaders we choose?

 

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Children Are A Gift from God

pregnancy2aGenesis 33 “Children are a Gift”

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Roe vs Wade here in America. It has been a long journey fraught with ups and downs and often hostility. No one has won in this war and the losses have been extreme for all.

When Esau met Jacob to reunite with him his first question was: “Who are these people with you?” Note Jacob’s answer: ““The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” And that is how we are to see these precious ones that we bring into the world. Children are indeed a gracious gift from God. The psalmist knew that as well: “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” [Ps 127:3] May we honor each life in this way and pray for those who carry these lives to full term.

This week stop and pray for the Pregnancy Clinics/Centers in your city. Honor and pray for them to have wisdom as they seek to help young women see that the life they carry is precious.

All scripture is taken from the FREE online Bible Study Tool Lumina from Bible.org 

 

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Grieving

Romans 9 griefaI have spent the better part of the morning crying and not just crying but grieving deeply. It matters not for the “what” but it does matter that I grieve with Paul over the loss of loved ones that refuse the gospel message. So here’s my question: What brings grief to your heart? Is it the loss of a loved one to death without hope? How about the loss of a job? How about the loss of a home due to flooding?  How about the loss of a nation or a people group?  Grief is a very real and present emotion. We are even now watching from the sidelines as Syria is a battle zone. But, Paul is speaking in the first century and his heart grieves for the loss of his people as they continue to deny Christ and salvation. “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.” Is this my grief too?

Temporal losses of a job are tough but there is always hope to find another. You can lose a home and its contents but you can build a new one. But you cannot bring back a loved one or restore a nation to wholeness. Grief takes its toll and some never recover. But, the deepest grief is when those you love die and enter a Christless eternity. Paul is grieving and we too should also grieve when this occurs.

It is because of that we must earnestly contend for the faith. We must “go and make disciples.” We must pray for our loved ones who do not know Christ.  Paul was willing, just as Moses, to forgo his eternal salvation so that the lost might be saved.

How deep is our grief for the lost?

 

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“Talking to Yourself…”

 

psalm 34 assurance2How many times today have you caught yourself talking to yourself? Are you rehearsing the words of the accuser of the brethren? He says “you cannot be assured of your salvation.” You are not alone my friend. Before David was crowned king he faced many difficult and challenging circumstances and often if truth be known, they came about because he was blameshifting, not taking ownership of his own sin of unbelief in God. We too often go this route and fail to see God’s graciousness in spite of ourselves. It is important when God reveals this to us that we stop and testify to who God is and who we are.

Jesus reminded us “the mouth speaks what fills the heart.” [Matt 12] Therefore, we must fill our hearts with the inspired Word of God that we might resist the devil and tell him to “Go away.”  His desire is to make you doubt but God’s word is true: NO ONE or NOTHING can snatch us from the Father’s hands where our names are engraved upon his palms. Speak the words of Jesus and Satan will flee from us and in that moment, the Illuminating Holy Spirit will come and refresh our spirits.

If you want assurance, hold fast to your confession. Confidently approach the throne of grace. Cling to that which is good. “STAY, PRAY and WATCH.”  It is then that you will see the truth of John 3:36 “The one who believes in the Son “HAS,” eternal life.

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The Original War Room

mark 14 war room2 A recent movie reveals the spiritual battle that all believers face, but the original War Room was in Heaven and played out on the screen of the Garden of Gethsemane. The screenplay revealed the tool of temptation, the submission of our Savior and the power of prayer.

Only Luke reveals to us what took place just after the Last Supper on the way to the Garden. The prophecy of Zechariah would be fulfilled but Jesus revealed that  a battle for the disciples had already been waged in the heavenlies between Satan and God just as it had been for Job. “Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.”

What was it that Satan wanted? He wanted to prove that Simon’s faith was chaff, not wheat. He would fall for the temptation. That is why Jesus implored the disciples three times: “Stay, Pray, Watch” for the “enemy is prowling about seeking whom he can devour.”[1Pet 5]  Satan’s three weapons are; “Steal, Kill, Destroy”—BUT Jesus had prayed. Satan’s weapons are not flesh and blood but spiritual forces of evil. Prayer is our weapon.

The disciples did stay. The disciples slept not prayed. They failed to watch and thus when the accuser, Judas, arrived they were caught off guard. Satan stole their confidence, killed their words, and destroyed their weak faith—-But Jesus prayed.

Jesus is imploring us: “Stay, Pray, Watch.” What are we doing? Are we prepared?

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