April 30
Does God answer every prayer we lift before His Throne of Mercy and Grace? Does He always send what we ask to meet the need about which we raise our supplication before Him? The answer to that is, “No, He does not.” Our God is not a genie who responds to our rubbing the magic lamp of prayer.
While there is great power in prayer, while there is an enormous, virtually untapped resource available to the believer in Christ that few of us utilize as He would have us to do, Jesus has not promised that the floodgates of heaven’s blessings would pour forth in response to our prayers.
He wants us to ask in accordance with His will. I John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have before Him: whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” Contrary to what we might suppose, then, this qualification is not a limiting, but an expanding factor regarding receipt of answers to our prayers, for His Word identifies many things that are His will for us to have!
We may pray for the salvation of the lost, for He says it’s His will that men be saved (I Timothy 2:4). We may pray for healing for the sick because Isaiah 53:5 tells us that He bore the stripes of the Roman lash upon His back to effect health. If we are committed to Jesus above all else, we may pray for prosperity because III John 2 says we are to prosper as our soul prospers. Pray His will to see it done!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Any Time
April 29
When does God, who is busy running the universe, have time to hear a baby’s first prayer? When could He possibly have the opportunity to listen when a desperate teen from an abysmal home environment cries out in anguish to whatever unseen power exists that he wants only to die?
When does God have a chance to note the whispered plea of a frail, old saint who has hardly the energy to breathe, let alone to lift his voice in praise to the One who inhabits eternity? When does He have the time to listen to the cry of my heart—of your heart?
The answer is, any time. Psalm 5:3 says, “At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice at daybreak. I plead my cause to You and watch expectantly.” If you cry to Him upon awakening, He will hear you then and you may anticipate a response to your supplication.
If you water your bed with tears in the night season, He will hear your weeping even then. And though the tears you shed may fall throughout the night, His promise in Psalm 30:5 is that, “…joy comes in the morning.” No matter when or how profusely we may cry, He always hears and answers when we pray.
When does God, who is busy running the universe, have time to hear a baby’s first prayer? When could He possibly have the opportunity to listen when a desperate teen from an abysmal home environment cries out in anguish to whatever unseen power exists that he wants only to die?
When does God have a chance to note the whispered plea of a frail, old saint who has hardly the energy to breathe, let alone to lift his voice in praise to the One who inhabits eternity? When does He have the time to listen to the cry of my heart—of your heart?
The answer is, any time. Psalm 5:3 says, “At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice at daybreak. I plead my cause to You and watch expectantly.” If you cry to Him upon awakening, He will hear you then and you may anticipate a response to your supplication.
If you water your bed with tears in the night season, He will hear your weeping even then. And though the tears you shed may fall throughout the night, His promise in Psalm 30:5 is that, “…joy comes in the morning.” No matter when or how profusely we may cry, He always hears and answers when we pray.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Under His Wing
April 28
As it is important that children have good role models, it is also important that new believers have seasoned mentors in the faith. It is essential that our walk with Christ be grounded by those around us who care about us and who desire us to rise to the heights of faith that He wants for us.
A mature Christian should take younger members of the Body of Christ under his spiritual wing. Offer not only teaching in the truths of the faith, but also render to them a warm inclusion into his life. Introduce them to his godly friends, invite them to his home for dinner and fellowship. Nurture their bodies and spirits.
If we do, we will be following the admonition in Galatians 5:25, 26 that says, “If we live by the Spirit, we must follow the Spirit, not in vain conceit, provoking one another to envy.” Our intent must not be our self-aggrandizement. Our intention is not to draw attention to our ‘good deed.’
Our purpose in taking a new believer under our wing is to honor the Holy Spirit who lives within us and who Jesus said came to teach us so we can witness the Lord to others (Acts 1:8). As we teach the new believers among us, they will grow and teach those who come after them—so new-comers to faith may mature in Jesus.
As it is important that children have good role models, it is also important that new believers have seasoned mentors in the faith. It is essential that our walk with Christ be grounded by those around us who care about us and who desire us to rise to the heights of faith that He wants for us.
A mature Christian should take younger members of the Body of Christ under his spiritual wing. Offer not only teaching in the truths of the faith, but also render to them a warm inclusion into his life. Introduce them to his godly friends, invite them to his home for dinner and fellowship. Nurture their bodies and spirits.
If we do, we will be following the admonition in Galatians 5:25, 26 that says, “If we live by the Spirit, we must follow the Spirit, not in vain conceit, provoking one another to envy.” Our intent must not be our self-aggrandizement. Our intention is not to draw attention to our ‘good deed.’
Our purpose in taking a new believer under our wing is to honor the Holy Spirit who lives within us and who Jesus said came to teach us so we can witness the Lord to others (Acts 1:8). As we teach the new believers among us, they will grow and teach those who come after them—so new-comers to faith may mature in Jesus.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Claim Victory Again!
April 27
God has given us a rich blessing through His gift of memory. Our ability to reflect upon the pleasant things of our past can lift us up in down times. Our ability to share happy experiences with those who enjoyed them with us gives us a lovely reason to stroll hand-in-hand down ‘Memory Lane” with those we love.
The ability to keep track of our missteps on the path of life enables us to avoid walking into the same folly again and again. Yes, indeed, memory plays a significant role in our lives. Memory is an invaluable tool that enables us to reconstruct past blessings to enjoy again and to avoid destructive pitfalls.
The Lord intends that we remember His working in our lives. He wants us to reflect upon the trials He’s brought us through, the blessings He’s lavished upon us, the words of comfort He’s spoken to our heart in times of sorrow, the words of guidance He’s given us in our moments of confusion.
In Psalm 77:11, 12, David says, “I will remember the Lord’s works, His ancient wonders; I will reflect on all He has done.” The psalmist understood that if we are to have faith for our current challenge, we must remember the challenges He’s enabled us to overcome. Remember them and claim victory again!
God has given us a rich blessing through His gift of memory. Our ability to reflect upon the pleasant things of our past can lift us up in down times. Our ability to share happy experiences with those who enjoyed them with us gives us a lovely reason to stroll hand-in-hand down ‘Memory Lane” with those we love.
The ability to keep track of our missteps on the path of life enables us to avoid walking into the same folly again and again. Yes, indeed, memory plays a significant role in our lives. Memory is an invaluable tool that enables us to reconstruct past blessings to enjoy again and to avoid destructive pitfalls.
The Lord intends that we remember His working in our lives. He wants us to reflect upon the trials He’s brought us through, the blessings He’s lavished upon us, the words of comfort He’s spoken to our heart in times of sorrow, the words of guidance He’s given us in our moments of confusion.
In Psalm 77:11, 12, David says, “I will remember the Lord’s works, His ancient wonders; I will reflect on all He has done.” The psalmist understood that if we are to have faith for our current challenge, we must remember the challenges He’s enabled us to overcome. Remember them and claim victory again!
Monday, April 26, 2010
What Spills Out?
April 26
Some of us vacillate betwixt and between. We have a hard time making up our minds about anything. Nobody likes to shop with people like that. Husbands in particular avoid shopping with their wives if they know they will be led about from store to store without a definitive goal or a conclusion to the adventure.
Some of us carry our propensity to avoid taking a position into our professional lives. If you have ever had to work with or for someone like that, you know it is virtually impossible to carry your own part of a task to a viable conclusion because you’re never sure exactly what your part is!
In the spiritual realm, we may evidence the same character flaw. We affirm that we believe in Jesus and we go through the motions of attending church and taking communion and orienting our friendships around those of like precious faith, but one area can be quite telling regarding the depth of our commitment. We profess to love the Lord with all our hearts but when we are in the work-a-day world, we sound just like those around us who do not own Jesus as Savior.
The Bible says in James 3:10, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursings; my brothers, these things ought not to be.” Our words should steadfastly evidence our faith in Jesus. If our tongue has confessed Jesus as Lord, our conversation should be ordered aright in every situation that we may find ourselves. It has been said that what spills out of us when we're jolted is what is in us. When words tumble from our lips, what do they testify to being in our hearts?
Some of us vacillate betwixt and between. We have a hard time making up our minds about anything. Nobody likes to shop with people like that. Husbands in particular avoid shopping with their wives if they know they will be led about from store to store without a definitive goal or a conclusion to the adventure.
Some of us carry our propensity to avoid taking a position into our professional lives. If you have ever had to work with or for someone like that, you know it is virtually impossible to carry your own part of a task to a viable conclusion because you’re never sure exactly what your part is!
In the spiritual realm, we may evidence the same character flaw. We affirm that we believe in Jesus and we go through the motions of attending church and taking communion and orienting our friendships around those of like precious faith, but one area can be quite telling regarding the depth of our commitment. We profess to love the Lord with all our hearts but when we are in the work-a-day world, we sound just like those around us who do not own Jesus as Savior.
The Bible says in James 3:10, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursings; my brothers, these things ought not to be.” Our words should steadfastly evidence our faith in Jesus. If our tongue has confessed Jesus as Lord, our conversation should be ordered aright in every situation that we may find ourselves. It has been said that what spills out of us when we're jolted is what is in us. When words tumble from our lips, what do they testify to being in our hearts?
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Who Do You Believe and Worship?
April 25
Some people, even some Christians, are of the opinion that satan doesn’t exist. They are convinced that he simply represents the concept that there is evil in the world. Perhaps a simpler people in a simpler time accepted the idea of God having an archenemy, but we are too sophisticated to believe that today.
Of course, some of the people who deny the concept of a real devil also diminish the idea of a real God who deserves our worship. They sit in church pews week after week then walk through the church doors into their ‘real lives’ where they comport themselves as though neither satan nor God is a reality.
But Jesus, God incarnate, an historically proven figure, had every reason to believe the reality of God and to believe the existence of satan. Jesus said that anyone who had seen Him had seen the Father, thereby confirming the reality of the first person of the Trinity (John 14:9) and affirming His own Godhood. And Jesus, the wisest, most logical Man who ever walked the earth addressed satan verbally when he offered Him all the kingdoms of the earth.
The Lord said to him, “Get thee behind Me, satan, for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord thy God and serve only HIm.’” Jesus knew the evil one’s desire to be like God, by receiving worship from mankind reserved only for the Holy One. Though satan has the riches of earth to dispense to whom he will, Jesus reminded him he has no right to God’s worship. When the trumpet has sounded, every eye shall behold Jesus and every knee shall bow before only Him (Philippians 2:10).
Some people, even some Christians, are of the opinion that satan doesn’t exist. They are convinced that he simply represents the concept that there is evil in the world. Perhaps a simpler people in a simpler time accepted the idea of God having an archenemy, but we are too sophisticated to believe that today.
Of course, some of the people who deny the concept of a real devil also diminish the idea of a real God who deserves our worship. They sit in church pews week after week then walk through the church doors into their ‘real lives’ where they comport themselves as though neither satan nor God is a reality.
But Jesus, God incarnate, an historically proven figure, had every reason to believe the reality of God and to believe the existence of satan. Jesus said that anyone who had seen Him had seen the Father, thereby confirming the reality of the first person of the Trinity (John 14:9) and affirming His own Godhood. And Jesus, the wisest, most logical Man who ever walked the earth addressed satan verbally when he offered Him all the kingdoms of the earth.
The Lord said to him, “Get thee behind Me, satan, for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord thy God and serve only HIm.’” Jesus knew the evil one’s desire to be like God, by receiving worship from mankind reserved only for the Holy One. Though satan has the riches of earth to dispense to whom he will, Jesus reminded him he has no right to God’s worship. When the trumpet has sounded, every eye shall behold Jesus and every knee shall bow before only Him (Philippians 2:10).
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Only Pure Gold Remains
April 24
The Word of God is powerful. Jesus is the living Word of God. Jesus is the most powerful entity that has ever existed or ever will be. When all has been destroyed by earthquake and fire, when the earth has been shaken and mankind has been brought to his final accounting, Jesus, the living Word, will yet stand.
In Matthew 24:35 Jesus says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away but My Word shall not pass away.” The prophet Jeremiah in his book (Jeremiah 23:19) says, “Is not My Word like fire and like a sledgehammer that pulverizes rock?” When one has heard the Word, it will burn within him.
This eternal, unshakable fire that can never be quenched, never be successfully refuted, never be ultimately denied, will burn within the bosom of the man who will allow it to do the cleansing work of the refiner’s fire. All dross will be melted away. The pure gold of salvation will remain with the Holy Spirit in a man’s heart.
Any hard rock of resistance within will be further crushed and ground to fine power and scattered impotent to the wind. The breath of God will blow upon it and it will be carried on the wind of faith until it is as far from the redeemed as the east is from the west. And the pure gold of Christ the living Word will remain.
The Word of God is powerful. Jesus is the living Word of God. Jesus is the most powerful entity that has ever existed or ever will be. When all has been destroyed by earthquake and fire, when the earth has been shaken and mankind has been brought to his final accounting, Jesus, the living Word, will yet stand.
In Matthew 24:35 Jesus says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away but My Word shall not pass away.” The prophet Jeremiah in his book (Jeremiah 23:19) says, “Is not My Word like fire and like a sledgehammer that pulverizes rock?” When one has heard the Word, it will burn within him.
This eternal, unshakable fire that can never be quenched, never be successfully refuted, never be ultimately denied, will burn within the bosom of the man who will allow it to do the cleansing work of the refiner’s fire. All dross will be melted away. The pure gold of salvation will remain with the Holy Spirit in a man’s heart.
Any hard rock of resistance within will be further crushed and ground to fine power and scattered impotent to the wind. The breath of God will blow upon it and it will be carried on the wind of faith until it is as far from the redeemed as the east is from the west. And the pure gold of Christ the living Word will remain.
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