"May I Run Your Life, Please?"

I have never seen a person whose life is so "together" that they are capable of running another person's life. But many people try, even without knowing it. Books have been written on the subject. We all have experienced those people who are quick to tell us what we need to do. Some people will even provide a step-by-step, day-by-day commentary making it clear what you should do next. Such a life is plagued with irritation and frustration.

Some of these "controllers" are simply straightforward in their "guidance," often coming across harsh, overpowering and demanding. Others are subtle, making "suggestions" and giving hints that are so well-stated that they manipulate by the guilt and shame. They are skilled and crafty as they inflict their poisonous control.

Those who want to control you will often preface their demands with, "If you would just do what I say, everything will be just fine," or "This is what you need to do." They say or imply things like, "I know what's best for you." They want to run "your show" with rules, demands and expectations, often tapping into your emotions for that extra twist. A little word to "persuade" you to do what they want, providing a dose of guilt if you don't, is a major weapon in their arsenal. They may even blame your lack of response for making them "feel bad" in some way. You suddenly become responsible for their "happiness and contentment" if you don't perform as expected. The Pharisees of Jesus' day were good at it. In the name of religion they controlled and manipulated people with laws, rules and expectations never intended by God. The people were burdened because of the harassment of those who "knew what was best for them." Do you do that with anyone?

The Bible teaches us that no one has the right to your life but you and God: you, because God has given it to you, and God, because Jesus has paid the price for your ransom. The result of keeping your life to yourself is devastating. Your sin actually puts Satan in control, who then can claim your life for eternity. But to give your life to Jesus brings abundant life. He will safely deliver you to the Father and a home in His kingdom forever.

"When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Mt. 9:36, NIV)

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Mt. 11:28, NIV)

By giving our lives to God and living for Him, we can leave the lives of others to them. And, who knows? As we find rest, others may follow our example.

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It's God's Job!

I would like to announce that am taking God at His Word. Speaking of Jesus, Matthew tells us, "Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" (Mt. 9:37-38, NIV)

Prior to the verses above, the Bible sets the stage for Jesus' words. It says, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Mt. 9:35-36, NIV)

I to, have looked at the crowds. I have seen the hurting and the needy. Only a few days ago I held the hand and touched the shoulder of one so overwhelmed with grief words could not be spoken. Only flowing tears and a quivering lip expressed the pain and fear within. I thought, "Lord, help me help this person." Very recently I walked alone through the streets of a neighboring town, and again was overwhelmed at the need. My heart could hear the cries for help as I looked into the lonely faces of the people. I thought, "Lord, I need help! How can these needs be met?" Only a few months ago, I stood in a village on the Amazon River speaking with one who, seventeen months earlier had asked, "Will you come back to teach us the deeper things of the Bible?" I was there to keep my promise. I prayed, "Lord, I need help to reach more of these people." But there are thousands of little villages like that one who have never heard about Jesus. In every instance, it had to be the compassion of the Lord that I felt, for this cold human heart of mine does not have the ability to even care without the urging of His Spirit.

I've decided to take God at His Word. I will pray for workers... plenty of workers... workers who are more in love with the Lord than with their own lives... workers who have become "living sacrifices" to HIM and nothing else. I will pray for workers who have the compassion of Jesus, and not mere passion for their own comforts, ease and desires. I will pray for them... so that God will be glorified by answering my prayer. I will pray that they will be "prayers" who will approach the throne of God with the boldness, boldness that comes from their salvation in Jesus Christ, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I will pray that they will fill my church, and other churches, in number and with prayers, putting the scoffers of the Spirit of God to shame. I will pray that they will assist my fellow pastors in their labors, so that those who are in need for Him and His Word will be satisfied. I will pray that they will spend more time proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ then they do talking about what is wrong. And I will pray that God will begin with me, that He will move His Spirit upon MY heart that I will never be critical of my fellow worker, but join them and lead them to the kingdom's work. After all, it's my job to pray. It's God's job to send.

"Lord, You said that I should pray for workers. I take You at your Word. Here is my prayer to You. Send the laborers for the harvest. Amen."

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Why Go To The Trouble?

Do you want to experience God in your life? Learn to pray. Prayer takes faith. Faith requires the Word. We turn to the Word in the midst of crisis. If we are more likely to turn to God only in the midst of trouble, it makes sense. Just add it up.

God knows the peril of avoiding Him. We all know that life can be short. That is reason enough. But even if we live a long life, Satan has his traps that can take a fatal grip that can drag a person into his permanent hold. A God of love will cause Him to allow some devastating events that will urge us to safety. Consider a loving parent who will allow the pain and discomfort of surgery to save a sick child. God's love is greater, still.

But, suppose you have already accepted Christ as your Savior? Satan is still eager to destroy your productive life that will glorify God. The enemy has his traps for that as well. You can rest assured that the Lord has more for your life than what you have experienced. His love will again allow tough times that you may grow you. In either case, some troubles will come.

In John 16:33 (NIV), Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world." While problems in life are unavoidable, many troubles CAN be avoided. Proverbs 19:23 (NIV) assures us that, "The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble." Do you desire, even need a rest where troubles back off? If we are active in drawing close to God we will find Him drawing close to us. James 4:8 (NIV) says, "Come near to God and He will come near to you." We can bypass many troubles by doing so. So, if we can become what God has designed us to be by pursuing Him, "why go to the trouble?"


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Finding God in Life

One thing I think happens when we face life's tough times is that it makes us think... especially when the though times are long-lasting. It is easy to get into a rut in our thinking. If we are honest, we would have to wonder if it was real thinking at all. If thinking is defined as "a process of thoughts," or thinking something through to a conclusion or an end, mere thoughts passing through our minds do not necessarily qualify as true thinking.

We can easily get caught up in a "comfort zone of thinking, or become satisfied with our mind focusing on the "status quo." We can become content with the thoughts of the community; whether it is a family, church, town or any other type of community. The danger of becoming satisfied with our thoughts regarding the things of God is that we can miss God all together, sometimes by only thinking "about" God, or having false beliefs about Him.

Proverbs gives us a warning. It says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Prov. 16:25, NIV) We must always be on guard, never becoming careless regarding our belief or opinion.

It was during an abrupt change in my daily schedule that caused me to pause and consider my "conversations" with God. I wondered if they were truly conversations with Him. Was I merely reciting religious phrases, followed by my list of desires? I also had to decide if I was following Him "faithfully" when things were going good, and becoming less "dedicated" if things were going against my expectations. A decision like that reveals if we are serving Him, or if we are expecting Him to serve us. True service means that I stay steady if things are going good or if they are going bad. To abandon Him, or feel I "need a change" because the "going gets rough," reveals my expectation of God, and my lack of dedication to Him. What a devastating mistake that could be.

My prayer-life has been changing. I believe I am far from what it will eventually become, but I have decided to never be satisfied with my prayer-life. God is "unfathomable." There is always more of Him to learn and experience. There is always room for growth in our prayer-life. James said, "Come near to God and He will come near to you." (James 4:8a, NIV) We can never come to the place where we can say, "Oh, I have already done that." It is an ongoing relationship. It is always possible to hear God call us to "come closer." I want to experience God like that.

That's just something to think about.

"Lord, thank you for the tough times that direct my attention to you. Amen."

Living in The Land of the Shadow of Death

How could I have missed it? I had read it, who knows how many times, but I never put it together. Jesus moved. He moved to Capernaum. But what I had missed was the reason why. John the Baptist had been preaching, preparing the way, until the day he was arrested. His message was, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 3:2, NIV) When Jesus heard of his arrest, He made His move... into "the land of the shadow of death." (Matthew 4:16) The people "lived" in darkness; in a place where a great cloud of evil blocked the light of God, the truth of the message of God. It was as if John's arrest was the signal for Jesus to make His move.

The reason Jesus came to us was to bring light to those in darkness. John chapter 1 says, "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (vv. 4-5) John's message was a witness of what was to come. It was that "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." (v. 9) Jesus was that light.

When it comes to that "land of the shadow of death," we simply walk into it... walk through it. When we set up our "abode" among them, we are still just passing through. But it's our mission. After all WE are the body of Christ, who still goes into the darkness to rescue the lost. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.... In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14, 16, NIV) Everywhere we go, everywhere we live has it's share of "dark clouds" hiding the truth: some places more so than others.

Sometimes, in our day when fear and uncertainty invade our lives, we are tempted to bend to the pressure. If our "peace and security" has been based on our well planned and organized surroundings, our ability to "earn a living, and provide for the family," we are faced with the assault of the unsettled world. We have built our houses on a foundation of sand. It is now that we must build on the Rock. That fact that He allows us to consider such thing is evidence that we still have opportunity to come to Him. But we must hurry. We must refocus, regarding the purpose of our lives. "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12, NIV)

His purpose is our purpose. Jesus continues to take light to the darkness through His church. He has promised to be with us, to provide for us. (Matthew 28:20) Our hope and security, our peace of mind, is based on His presence. He is our Good Shepherd. In fulfilling the mission of taking this light to others, we can say "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." (Psalm 23:4, NIV) It is there where the people live in darkness, and it is there where our mission will take us. That valley is not our "time of death," of leaving this world. It is the time of LIFE, that others may have the opportunity to leave the darkness and come into the Light that gives eternal life. Focus on your mission... on HIS mission. And "fear no evil."

Why Should I Feel Discouraged?

God makes it very clear. His Word says, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through Him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Cor. 1:20, NIV) What more could we ask? Every promise God has made to us has a "pre-stamped" answer: "Yes! In Jesus' name." God has ordained it. Why should I feel discouraged when He has already promised His promises?

Now, we have a decision to make:

1) Do you accept this "promise of promises" unconditionally, and will you let God prove Himself? If you do, it will require that you do a "faithfulness check" of our own life. Are you living as if you believe as you say you do? Where you stand now, believer, is in the midst of opportunities that may not be comfortable, preferable, or desirable. Do you think God has not placed you here for a purpose. He has put you there to see if you will be faithful to your opportunity of service. Do not run from it. He has already answered His promises with a "Yes" to assure success and victory "right where you are." Don't think it will be any different for you somewhere else. Victory is not a matter of our circumstances, it is a matter of our hearts. His promises are for you, where you are now.

2) Do you accept this promise, but with certain conditions and limitations you have placed on God? He will not accept your conditions. You must measure up to His. Our failures in our service for Him are due to our failing to discover, accept and follow through with His promises. James said, essentially, "Sure you pray, and you do not receive what you pray for. Why is that? It is because you pray with your heart set on the wrong thing. You have wrong motives. You are looking for your own desires to be met instead of God's will to be done." (Personal paraphrase. See James 4:3) His promises are not for our selfish pleasure, but for His kingdom work.

If you choose this way, what difference is there, when it comes to accomplishing God's will, in your life and the person who simply does not believe? When it comes to effectiveness for the kingdom of God, there is no difference. Neither is productive. But God's Word points out a great difference in character. It calls such people "lukewarm." (see Revelation 3:15 ff) And He treats the "lukewarm" differently than He does the "cold." The "cold" have hope. The vast difference can help them hear God. The "lukewarm," however, have chosen to dwell in deeper blindness; and in that valley of shadows, there is less hope. The "appearance" of good tends to blinds them to the truth of God.

3) Do you just refuse His activity in your life, accepting none of His promises? If so, you are to be pitied, for His promises are the only way to life for eternity. They bring the purpose to your life that you have longed for. The reality of God, and the abundance of life that He brings are in His promises... and the answer to each one has already been given. It is "YES!" Don't let the work of the "lukewarm" Christian lead you down their paths. Don't listen to a voice that will lead you away from God. Trust God. Focus on Him.

Look back at your life. Does failure and disappointment seem to follow you wherever you go? It will continue to do so until you accept His offer. If you haven't trusted Him for salvation, today you can. If you have, trust the rest of His promises. There is where you will find your victory. Now is your best time. Search out His promises and trust Him. Christian, He puts you in the midst of difficulty desiring that you find victory where you are. Wonder no further. Answer your discouragement with His promises.

Prayers Not Working? Try This.

I'm not an advocate of quick-fix, magic formula approaches to prayer. There is not a "secret word" that makes lifeless prayer suddenly become powerful prayers. But there is guidance in God's Word that leads us to the God who hears, and answers those who come to Him as He instructs. (Jer. 33:3) But to often, we carelessly, blindly and sometimes "lazily" approach prayer with the same "self-centeredness" that makes us pray with the wrong motive. (James 4:1-3) That attitude also keeps us from doing the "prayer-work" needed to experience the results God desires for us.

For me, prayer-life is a journey. It includes facing the challenge of selfishness, that seeks to invade my prayers, that need to be replaced with a Spirit-given desire to glorify God. For any of us, that takes constant care. I am learning that when we are consistent in seeking God's guidance, He is consistent in guiding us through the steps we need to follow.

I recently came across an article, by Armin R. Gesswein,* that presents a simple but great challenge. The author spoke of his encounter with an old saint who had a history of a powerful prayer-life. He prayed with him, and witnessing his wonderful connection with God, he asked, "Uncle Am, what is it? ...You have some kind of secret in praying... Would you share that with me?"

The author said, "I was 24, he was 73 (he lived to be 93) and, with an eagle-look in his eyes he said: 'Young man, learn to plead the promises of God!'"

Do you desire God enough to do the work... the work of seeking out His promises to us regarding the needs of your burden? If your prayers are not working, try this... find and learn the promises of God. Learn to plead the promises of God. Pray them to Him. After all, "Faith comes from hearing the message... the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17) This has a more literal to us than we have imagined. The Psalmist said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105) The literal Word makes the difference.

For example, you can pray to God for revival like this: "Lord, you have promised that if I call to you, you will hear and answer me. You said, 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' (Jer. 33:3) I trust your promises and accept that you will. You said, 'You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.' (John 14:14) Father, in Jesus' name means according to His will. Lord, that is what I am seeking to do now. I seek His will through your Word. I know it is your will that your people be revived in your Spirit. Habakkuk prayed, 'O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!' (Hab. 3:2, NKJV) Lord, that is my prayer to you." You can pray any need in this way.

Do your prayers work? Do you really want them to? If you truly do, you will be willing to search the scripture for faith and guidance. It is full of God's promises, and God's answers. We must learn to make the Bible our prayer book. Find the promise that fits your need. Prayer for God's glory. Learn to plead the promises of God.

* www.leaderu.com/orgs/bpf/pathways/plead.html

Who Do You Serve? Are You Sure?

The preacher saw the crowds come by the thousands. The word had gotten out and people were coming from all directions. Entire families would sit for hours and listen as he taught. When meal time rolled around, meals were served, and the preaching and teaching continued. It was amazing. The stories spread and reporters eventually pinned their reports.

What preacher, teacher, or evangelist wouldn't like to see such a response to their ministry. Buttons would pop as chests swelled with pride. The staff would be overwhelmed with growing satisfaction as they observed such a popular response to their leader. Even they would have growing anticipation of what the next meeting would bring. But even with such momentum, this kind of popularity is fleeting...for one reason or another.

The preacher was Jesus. The thousands upon thousands of followers became a dozen, maybe a few more. The reason? It was because they didn't like what He was saying...and what it meant to follow Him. They wanted their "itching ears" tickled (2 Tim. 4:3), but it wasn't happening any more. They didn't like it so, like church jumpers today, they left. And as they left they "grumbled" their excuses to try to explain their actions and rid themselves of the guilt. Then Jesus turned to the handful and asked, "You do not want to leave me too, do you?" (John 6:67, NIV) In today's standards, the ministry would be considered an "over-night failure."

Who do you serve? Or, maybe the question should be, "What do you serve?" Who or what you serve will be the reason why you stay or go. If you stop serving because a person, or people disappoint you, you are serving them, or because of them, not God. If you stop serving when things get uncomfortable, or things aren't "happening" like you want, you are serving the circumstances, not the Lord. When those circumstances become less favorable, you will stop.

Jesus is never interested in what you would do IF. He is interested in what you do NOW. If you believe you can do all things through Christ, where you are NOW is the testing ground. If you can't do it here, you can't do it there. In fact, what He really wants is for us seek the Father, not our success. The greatest indication that we are doing so is that we will be patiently and carefully consistent in our walk with Him... when the fruitfulness is evident, and when it is not. Fruit is evident "in season." It is not evident "out of season." But both seasons are necessary.

Paul told Timothy, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Tim. 4:2, NIV) It is safe to say that his guidance goes for "every" aspect of ministry. Serving "in season" means serving when things look good, when the fruit can be easily seen. Serving "out of season" means you don't "take a break from Jesus" because you feel bad, thinking that because you don't see the evidence of fruit, things must not be growing. That is often a sign of giving your best to other things, rather than the Master, leaving no energy for the Lord. It is a sign of what is truly in you. Jesus deserves our best dedication. We must not let our service be to circumstances, feelings, emotions, personalities, personal agreement or anything else. It must be only to our Father through Jesus Christ our Savior. Who, or what do YOU serve? Are you sure? Eventually, He will ask you about it... in person... one-on-one... face to face.

I like how "The Message" delivers 2 Tim. 4:1-2: "I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't quit. Just keep it simple." Teacher, preacher, leader, deacon, shepherd... don't quit. Challenge, warn, urge your people. Just keep it simple. Again, don't quit.

Are You In For A Surprise?

Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

I admit, every time I have read this warning of Jesus I have mixed emotions. I feel a bit of anger at the thought of the liar, Satan, deceiving so many with the very works they do. But they are not good enough to get us into heaven. They will never make us a child of God. Jesus makes that clear. And I have an amount of sadness at the thought of the surprise in store for those who never saw it coming. It will be a shock that will never wear off.

Jesus tells us here that it is the "relationship" that is important, not the works. Works without relationship will not be accepted. A right relationship with the Father, however, will always result in works acceptable to the Father. They still don't get us into heaven. Only Jesus has made that possible. But they are evidence of a right relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. The WILL of the Father is that we have a right relationship with Him over what we can give or do for Him. (Matthew 5:23-24) And Jesus is not teaching that we must maintain our salvation. Jesus does that as well. In this seventh chapter He says, to those who served fruitlessly, "I NEVER knew you."

This passage is a call to all of us to always "know" where we stand. (1 John 5:13) Many are lost, seeking to do good works to gain a home in heaven. It will never happen. Some are saved, yet their works are not "in the Spirit," but in the flesh. Those works will be consumed as the works are judged... but the one doing them, if a true believer, will be saved. (1 Cor. 3:15) And some are serving in "relationship" with the Father. The work is a result of that growing relationship. It is done by depending on and allowing the Spirit of God to do His work through our obedient actions. The relationship with the Father makes it possible to truly know when He is leading and working. These people are moved more by the relationship then they are the work. And whatever happens, no matter what others may do, they are steady servants... unswayed in their positive, joyful devotion. Are you a true servant, or are you in for a surprise?

He Already Knew

When, in my daily routine, I find myself coming across the same passage of scripture, or the same thought again and again, I must pause and consider that God is trying to say something to me. It happens often, but if I fail to acknowledge it, or fail to stop and listen, it does me no good. I fail to benefit from the Lord's teaching.

Lately I have been dealing with many major struggles in my life. I have brought them to the Lord, honestly seeking His response... and I've waited. Waiting can be a noble thing, being part of God's way in speaking with us. But if we fail to pay attention to Him, waiting becomes fruitless.

As I wait on God, I tend to think about the problem. I wonder what to do. I spend time thinking about ways to deal with the issue. I ask myself questions. I consider the possibilities. I take other people into consideration. I compare it with similar problems and how I've dealt with them in the past. But still, I want God's will, and God's help. I want a miracle-- besides, I want His direct intervention and that's what we call anything that the Lord does first-hand. But having patience and faith for that miracle is another thing altogether.

The passage of scripture that continues to "pop up" before me is found in John 6. And it is a small, obscure phrase, in the midst of a very familiar event, that continues to "cry out" to me. The little phrase "for He already had in mind what He was going to do" can be lost in the "bigness" of the rest of the story. (John 6:1-15) But it is significant. It speaks volumes to us in our own situations today. It is filled with "riches" that can be ours if we will only take them. Even before we become aware of our problems, Jesus has in mind what He is going to do.

I like Philip. He was a very active disciple, but he was quiet. As presented in scripture, he seldom had anything to say. In this situation Jesus calls to him and does, what one might say, a very "uncharacteristic" thing. He asks Philip for advice. Have you ever heard Jesus ask for advice? Of course not! But it appears that He does here. For those who are familiar with Jesus, however, we quickly realize that the question was for Philips benefit, and that of other disciples. He wanted Philip to consider the problem, realize the impossibility, and then witness the Source of the answer. Jesus waited just long enough to teach an eternal truth.

Can you imagine that day? Things that seemed so trivial became so eternal. Only a little boy... only five loaves of bread... only two fish... only a passing phrase. But the little "obscure phrase" was significant to the disciples. It was so significant that it was passed down verbally until it was recorded in this Gospel decades later, and preserved for you and me today. Nothing is insignificant to God's Word. Everything deserves our deep consideration.

In my life, as in yours, our present "training" is intended to equip us for the next larger struggle, and greater service for Him. If we fail to pass the test, we very well may have to step aside and go no further. Don't fail the test. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep listening. Keep learning. Keep growing. Expect the unexpected in your struggle. Prepare now... the biggest test is yet to come. But, He already has in mind what He is going to do.

Who Is Your God?

Before you answer that, let's think. I was just reading a classic by Henry Drummond, "The Greatest Thing In The World." He speaks of Jesus' teaching that, "If you love, you will unconsciously fulfill the whole law." He says, "Take any of the commandments. 'Thou shall have no other gods before me.' If a man love God, you will not require to tell him that. Love is the fulfilling of that law." That made me think.

From a secular view, a god is something that dominates a person. It can dominate from minutes, to months, to a lifetime. The god is what a person serves, obeys, or dedicates to. As I thought further, I realized that it is something that controls our time. It is our decision. That means it is what we "allow" to take our time. We can have a large collection of "gods" in our lives. And we can serve any number of them throughout a given day.

God gives us a lot of freedom. In that freedom we seldom have immediate accountability. When "legalism" makes us more faithful to God than does freedom, "legalism" becomes our god. If, in our freedom, we don't "dedicate" to our Creator, we are not recognizing Him as our God. There are many other gods out there: time, people, feelings, attitude, goals, pride, comfort... any number of "things." What He desires, in His relationship with us, is clear. We have become good at "brushing Him aside" in the midst of that realization, and bowing to another god instead.

Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." And HIS commandments will always lead us to Him, with his family of believers. The Body of Christ, His church, isn't complete without your dedicated presence. What is your god today?

"You go... I'll show you"

Abram heard from God. God said, "Go to a land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) Test one. Abram was tested with the command to "just start going." There was no place yet revealed. No plan provided. No time table... just a command to go. As he went he heard the Lord speaking to him telling him of his plans. He built an altar to remind himself, and his descendants that God had spoken there. Then he continued the journey. As he went, listening and expecting God to speak, God guided Him to the land where He sent him.

Prayer is like that journey. We begin with a call, an inner awareness of the need, maybe a feeling of emergency to come to God and find deeper things. As we continue that journey, we will find times that deserve a spiritual "altar" to be erected to remind us of something God said. We don't want to forget that moment. That is a good thing for us to do.

Are you willing to go where He will show you? When you follow God in prayer, you will suddenly find yourself where you didn't realize you were going. The growth that led to that place was gradual, but the realization comes suddenly. A thought, a word, a prayer is suddenly more God-like, more spiritually mature. You hear something in your thought or word that is different than what you would have expressed months ago. That is evidence of God's direction in your journey. You are at a place where He has led you. But the journey is intended to continue. It will be filled with questions and doubt, with trials and struggles. It will sometimes be a lonely journey. But that is part of it. It is those things that will grow us and shape us until we reach His throne. There we are to make our home.

God is calling for His pray-ers to surface and travel with Him to new places. It is needed for His plan to come together. Our future will have a need for the mighty work of God to flow into this world through the prayers of His children. The "host of the faithful" are falling in line. "Call to Him..."

God Will Answer

Elijah prayed to die. After seeing a great demonstration of the awesome power of God, clothed in His faithfulness to His servant's prayer, Elijah was swayed by the threats of a godless voice promising to take his life within twenty-four hours. He ran for his life. This demonstrated the vulnerability and the fragile nature of the human spirit. But God didn't answer as Elijah had requested. He had bigger plans for him, and protected him from himself. In the process God was glorified.

Nehemiah was burdened by the bad news from his homeland. He grieved and prayed to God and made the unusual request that he might find favor in the presence of the king. What could have resulted in the loss of his life turned out to be a great blessing to the people of Israel. The prayer was granted just as Nehemiah requested. According to God's plan, the walls of Jerusalem rose to stand as a witness to a faithful God. And, He was glorified.

Habakuk accused God of being indifferent to his prayers, of being deaf to the words he lifted up to Him again and again. He hated the injustice he witnessed. He said, "Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds." (Habakuk 1:3, NIV) His prayer was met by God as He instructed Habakuk, "Just wait. You'll see." God was glorified.

Is there a great burden YOU have been lifting to God day after day? Could it be that God is saying, "Just wait. You'll see," even as you pray? Perhaps you have presented a need to God that He is willing to answer, "just as you ask." Are you willing to pray until that answer comes? Or, maybe you have prayed while in the grips of negative emotional influence, clouding your mind to reality. Will you trust God to protect and care for you? If you will, God will be glorified.

In each instance, God demonstrated His faithfulness. He still does. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)

"I Will... But I Won't"

The parable of Jesus, found in Matthew 21:28-32, tells us of a man with two sons. Each was asked to work in the father's vineyard. The first said he would not, but changed his mind. The second said he would, but also changed his mind.

Jesus asked, "'Which of the two did what his father wanted?'

"'The first," they answered." (v. 31)

When Jesus told this parable He was teaching the hearers of the work of God involving the people of the world. It was His warning that things may not be as they appear. Even though people will say they will serve God, or respond to a specific call of God, it doesn't mean that they will follow through. And, just as truthfully, even if a person says they will NOT respond to Him, it may not be the end of the story.

I never read this parable without wondering how our heavenly Father must feel when we make great commitments and promises only to fail, even with good sounding excuses, to follow through. As a pastor, I can sense some of the emotional sadness the Father must feel. Many are on the easy (broad) path, saying, "I will... but I won't."

Are you good at saying you will serve God, but later to find any number of reasons not to. A great warning under the surface of parables like this is, "You can come to the place where you feel justified and excused, only to find that you are guilty." (e.g. Matthew 7:21-23)

It would be one thing if such teaching applied only to the physical responsibilities of our relationship with the Father. But they apply to the spiritual as well, and maybe in a greater sense. If Jesus says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," (Matthew 22:37, NIV), certainly we can see the importance of our fulfilled dedication in our service to Him.

God calls us to be stewards of many things. This includes our time, commitment and words. We are also stewards of our attitude and dependability in opportunities of service. It is in these areas that the real test of our faithfulness comes. If God can depend on our faithfulness, so can His children with whom we serve.

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

"'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go." (Matthew 21:28-30)

Which one of the two represents you?

Holy

The angels were created for the purpose of singing His praises. Isaiah saw them. They were the seraphim. Almost nothing is known about these magnificent creatures, this unique band of heavenly beings. But Isaiah gave us a little description of these living servants. We don't know how many he saw, but he said that each had six wings. With two they covered their faces. With two they covered their feet. And with two they flew. Can you see them? They are flying for eternity around the throne of God content in fulfilling their purpose. As with us, being faithful in fulfilling our mission brings glory to God, and contentment in life.

The word seraph means "to burn." They are living creatures of flame flying, singing praises to God. Isaiah also gives us the words of their song: "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD Almighty. The whole earth is filled with His glory." (Isaiah 6:3, NLT) The fact that the angels are eternal, living flames singing, in chorus, the holiness of God not only glorifies God, but it announces His "separateness" as well. It tells all other living beings that God is not to be approached without cleansing... cleansing by fire. Otherwise He is "unapproachable, unapproachable, unapproachable." The fiery angels guard that holiness.

Some people are under the impression that we can do without God. They live as if God is not important, and the longer we avoid Him the more comfortable we will be, with distance between us. But such belief can't be any further from the truth. The most desperate, empty, hopeless and frightening emotions we have ever had are only a fraction of the eternal horror of separation from our Creator who protects and provides for us. What can we do with such a need for a "high and uplifted" God?

Isaiah answers this question. When we look in upon this amazing event, we see that he was flooded with a realization he never had before. He was overwhelmed with the awareness of the truth. He naturally and spontaneously said, "My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and member of a sinful race. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD Almighty!" (Isaiah 6:5, NLT) It was then that the "angels of fire" responded with an immediate and what seemed to be a natural response. They prepared Isaiah for God.

Are you prepared for God? "Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, NIV) Not only is He "unapproachable" and "holy," but He is loving and gracious and has prepared a way for us. And never be deceived...you will never stand "justified" and "acceptable" before the God without Jesus Christ. The price has been paid, but Jesus informs us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6, NIV)

How Do You Pray?

Have you ever paid attention to how you pray? It is important. And it will reveal a lot about you. The scripture gives us many examples of the importance of the way we should pray, not in length of time, or posture, but in heart and purpose.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Teach us to pray...." (Luke 11:1, NIV) The disciples, raised in Jewish homes, familiar with prayer and its importance in their lives, witnessed the power, dedication and commitment of Jesus in prayer. They were moved to seek such a connection with God. They came to Him with the plea, Lord, teach us to pray. Do you desire such a prayer life?

After a long battle with his heart and attitude that surfaced during his trials in life, Job took a turn in his prayer life: he prayed for his friends. His focus changed from questions regarding his own predicament and focused on the "messed up thoughts" of his so-called friends. After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10, NIV) No doubt, the purpose of praying for his friends was for their sake, not for "his" gain. God knows our heart, and motive. Do you pray for others solely for their sake and not for your gain?

James said that many of our prayers are given for selfish reasons. Do you pray with the right motive? Do you seek a "right heart" before God? When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motive, that you might spend what you get on your own pleasures. (James 4:3, NIV) God will guide us to a right motive when we pray.

Jesus prayed for God to be glorified. ...Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify You.... (John 17:2, NIV) Are all of your prayers for this purpose? Do you pray that all answers would be for God's glory? Every thought, every word, and every deed of Jesus was for this purpose. It should be for ours as well.

There are many things to consider when we pray. But sometimes we need to ask a more basic question: "Do you pray?" James also said, You have not because you ask not. (James 4:2)

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Character

Some truths in God's Word are clear and straight forward. Some require study, prayer and time before we can understand them. They are revealed only to the true disciple, the dedicated student of the Bible. Because they are "spiritually understood," it requires time, as the Holy Spirit teaches and grows us that we might understand. (1 Cor. 2:14)

When the Psalmist said, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me," (Psalm 51:10, NIV) he saw hope in the midst of his need, but also realized the "process" required to accomplish it. He knew that the process began with an honest plea to God. He knew that his character could only be changed by God Himself.

What does God use to change our character? The Greek definition for "character" is "a specimen of tried worth." Making it personal in the spiritual sense, it refers to someone who has been tested by God and has passed the tests. That doesn't mean we haven't had failure, but it means that we have learned from our failures. In fact, God's greatest "giants" of the faith have included many of the biggest "failures" known to the world, before God brought about a great character change.

God's Word also reveals that our "character" has a lot to do with God hearing and answering our prayer. We must be careful and not confuse character and lack of failure in life. Remember, some of God's greatest warriors of the faith are those who have failed miserably in their lives. The Godly character that eventually developed was a result of the individual giving themselves to God, allowing His Spirit to do His miraculous work. And some who seemingly have exemplary lives have weak character, unable to understand the deeper things of God.

The character we need to be prayer warriors, and powerful workers for God is a result of His work in us. That means we are all eligible for such a relationship with Him. And He is eager to perform His work in us. Then we can understand and experience more of the deeper things of God's Word.

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Knowing For Sure

Spiritual laws are just as sure as physical laws. If I trip and lose my footing, I will fall. Certain physical laws go into motion with a predictable results. The same is true spiritually. God makes it clear in His Word that those laws WILL activate and will affect us. That leaves us with the "opportunity" to learn what those laws are and how to avoid the undesirable results. It also guides us to the position where these laws will work for our good.

A good example has to do with salvation: "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) Once we have properly responded to that spiritual law, we find other laws at work. Once we believe, we find the "knowledge" that we have eternal life. John said God has given us His Word so that we may "know" that we have eternal life. (1 John 5:13 ) It's not a natural knowledge that we obtain, but a supernatural realization that comes with lifestyle abilities and evidence, if we continue in Him. It is in the acceptance and obedience that we have the assurance.

There is no need to try to understand it before committing to Christ, or to try to convince another of its truth before they accept Christ. They must be willing to accept it. The Bible says it is spiritually communicated by the Holy Spirit...and only through Him abiding in us can we have that assurance. "But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit, it all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means." (1 Cor. 2:14, NLT)

If we depend on anything other than the Spirit of God to give us assurance, we will be deceived. God is interested in our relationship, not our actions. God-like actions without a salvation relationship with Him is possible. But an abiding life with God without Godly actions is not. Then we can expect the miraculous to happen.

Where Did The Church Go?

An indisputable characteristic of the church, as established by Jesus, is unity: unity in purpose, unity in fellowship, unity in worship, and much more. His plan has not changed.

On the other hand, one of reoccurring enemies of this unity in the church is focus on self. The early church was most effective when it could be said that they had "all things in common." But, then as now, the temptation to "serve self" threatened the church.

Sometimes a member of the Lord's church can be heard speaking of the church as "it" or "they." To often it is a result of not being "happy" with the state of a particular congregation. The truth is that every member is responsible for the solution to the problem. And the solution is never brought about without obedience. That obedience will lead us to seek, and find unity through the "positive" process of the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps the level of our joy is directly connected with that obedience to the positive instruction of the Lord. When the church seems strangely "absent," it is often pursuing self-fulfillment. Perhaps we need to refocus.

Jesus never intended for the child of God to be an independent loaner, pursuing his or her own way to purpose. We cannot be disobedient to His will and expect to maintain the meaning, purpose and vitality we need. Has that been your attempt? We are so intertwined that we cannot help but affect each other, for good or bad. The way we affect each other is up to us. "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ." (1 Cor. 12:12)

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A Prayer

"Lord, how do I cry out to you? Instead of what I read in your Word, how do I know that the things that fill me with pain and fear are not the truth? My desire is to know You, and to know Jesus, more and more each day. Yet my pain and struggles overwhelm me. They seem more than I can bear. How do I release this burden to you and receive the peace that is yours?

"Lord, I have learned that any 'peace' that is not of You is a lie that can never stand. If we could be truly happy and 'right' without You, then why did you come? The truth is, 'there is no way to peace and happiness without the living Word working within us.'

"I cry out to you, sometimes in frustration, sometimes in deep pain, sometimes in confusion. I seek to know all that I can and should do to find You. It is your Word that brings the guidance and assurance I need. It guides me like a light on a dark path. It speaks truths that will lead me to your life. It helps me help others, desiring that the Father be glorified. It tells me that 'all things... ALL things are possible through you.'

"How do I cry out to you? I will use only what I truly have. I will cry out to you with my words that, when given in truth, will reveal my heart. May it be a heart that is consistently changing into the likeness of your Son, speaking only the things that are true. May you grow me away from the world and toward your heart. May my desires be the desires of YOUR heart. Help me to seek your will in my life and in the lives of others. I cannot obtain your righteousness otherwise.

"Let me remember that if I 'call to You, You will answer me and show me great and mighty things.' May I desire them for Your glory and Your glory only. I will use what you have given me as I cry out to you... the words of my mouth that reveal the truth of my heart. Then I will seek your Words that reveal Your will to me. May you renew me with your will. Amen."

When We Need Help

We have all come to times of deep distress when there seems no way out. What do we do? Where do we turn? Who can help us when life and its circumstances seem so hopeless?

Our tendency is to cover up the pain. We have many "tricks up our sleeves" as we try to do so. They never do the job. They will only postpone and make worse the pain. They all lead us to denial of the problem.

Jeremiah delivers to us God's invitation: "'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'" (Jeremiah 33:3) The Psalmist said, "As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me." (Psalm 55:16) God has preserved His Word and provided for us the stories of His faithfulness in the midst of the life struggles of many in this world. His works among His people, even though we are separated by time, remain timely to our need today.

As for me, I will also call upon God, in the name of Jesus. I have set my mind and heart to do so. Why in His name? It is because He alone has made a way for us to God. No amount of effort on our part, through works, good intention, or anything else, can win the ear of God. We can come only in Jesus name. We are all in need of His grace in the midst of our struggles and need.

Spurgeon said, "Yes, I must and will pray. What else can I do! What better can I do? Betrayed, forsaken, grieved, baffled, O my Lord, I will call upon Thee." (From Faith's Checkbook, by C. H. Spurgeon, Friday, August 28) Even the churches "giants" struggled and knew the value of the help of God.

Jesus said, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:13-14, NIV) But our hearts must be right, and they can be... right now, through the grace of God. Then what we ask will be to "bring glory to the Father." Our rightness with God is not based on our personal goodness, but our pursuit of God through Jesus Christ, even in the midst of our stumbling. Paul speaks of the war that goes on in his mind. He says, "What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25, NIV) When we need help, only Jesus Christ our Lord can meet the challenge.

If prayer doesn't work, we must look for the reason. There must be a right motive. James said, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3) There is often our problem. A right motive is when our intent is for the glory of God. When it is for His glory, it is always for our good. Then we will experience the joys of heaven. And that is the life we truly desire.

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God's Enthusiasm About You

God has some very good news for you. He says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer." (Matthew 21:22) If we will accept that truth, and work on our belief system, nothing will be impossible. The key is to learn more about Jesus, seek Him, and "remain in Him and He in us."

Jesus says to "abide" in Him. "He that abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5, NKJV) "Abide" means to dwell or to live. We are to live in Jesus, day in and day out. When our lives are given to Him in such a way, HE will do the work to become one with us. It is then that God will do amazing things in your life.

With this relationship, we can see God's enthusiasm about you and me in Christ. He says, "You may come up to my throne and make your request with boldness and great expectation." (see Hebrews 10:19) God's plan is that His children deliver His blessings to this world by being connecting with Him... and that relationship will flow over into the new heaven and new earth. But it is to begin with our lives in Christ today.

God's enthusiasm should be ours. Jesus has opened the door. And He has offered the relationship to anyone who will accept it.

When We Are Overwhelmed, Then What?

I woke up in the early hours feeling overwhelmed spiritually. I know I have responsibilities and expectations God Himself has given me. And those spiritual responsibilities have naturally overflowed into the my physical life. Family, friends and acquaintances with their fears, hurts and needs are involved. Then, on top of that, the world in which we live seems to be out of control. What do we do? How do we pray?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed in life? Do any of my struggles sound familiar? It happens to me often. And when it happens, sometimes waking me from sleep, I must be honest with God, and seek Him. I pray and turn to His Word.

I sought Him in the early morning hours. As I prayed I needed to know that what I heard was from God Himself. I asked for His help, and I waited for Him to defeat the enemies of my battle--the fear and doubt that had awakened me. He spoke to me through His Word and said, "Don't be afraid.... Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (2 Kings 6:16) I wanted to be closer to Him so I could hear more.

The king of Aram, Israels enemy, had sent a large company of his army to Dothan to capture Elisha, God's prophet. With these words, Elisha was assuring his young servant that he had nothing to fear. He then prayed that the servant could see the spiritual forces God had provided for the battle. God answered and the servant saw chariots and horses of fire all around Elisha.

Are you a servant of God? Do you have spiritual enemies that seek to defeat you? God is the same today as He was in Elisha's day. He will do battle for you. Just trust Him and obey Him.

"Lord, give your servants of this day spiritual eyes that we may see the great forces or our Lord doing battle in this day of doubt. Send a revival to your people. Provide these things that we might glorify you in our lives. Amen."

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Who Will Pray For Us? (Part 2)

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God. He tells us that there is a great struggle taking place, a battlefield for allegiance. Satan loses the souls of those who choose God through Jesus Christ. After that happens he seeks to destroy the joy of the Christian and the effectiveness of his Christian life on earth. Jesus gives us guidance that will help us to avoid the pitfalls of Satan in this battle. How are you doing? If you feel you are losing the battle, there is hope. It is found in the guidance of Jesus. Part of the guidance Jesus gives us has to do with our prayer life. Jesus starts with the words, "When you pray...."

The warning Jesus gives us has to do with HOW we do good things. He doesn't tell us not to do righteous things "before men," but we are warned not to do them "to be seen by men," if it be giving to the needy, fasting or, as we see here, prayer. He says, "Do not pray like the hypocrites," (Mt. 6:5), and "do not keep on babbling like the pagans." The hypocrites prayed to be seen. We should not have such a selfish motive. The "pagans" prayed thinking their repetition of words would get the attention of the gods. We should not be so ignorant.

Our prayer life is not rightly influenced by how it "appears" to others, or how it "sounds" to God. It is influenced only by our right relationship with the Heavenly Father. Even Christians
can appear like hypocrites and speak like pagans. God raises up people to pray for the great things of the kingdom as well as kingdom people. They are those who have spent time seeking and finding God in a right relationship. God is not flattered by our eloquence nor our wordiness. But He is moved by our communion with Him.

As we see the "evil day approaching," where the ministry and even the faithfulness, and sometimes the survival of God's people is truly dependent on our prayers, who will pray for us? Who will be prepared? Who will have spent the time in the "school of prayer" to be able to come before God with such familiarity and experienced expectation to pray for God's people? Powerful prayer is "time tested." It is based on faith that must grow. Have you noticed, rising up from deep inside you, an occasional longing for a real person of prayer to come into your life? Maybe He is calling you.

And He will say... "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven....'" (Mt. 6:9) Start a newer relationship with the Father today.

Who Will Pray For Us? (Part 1)

Christian have you noticed, rising up from deep inside you, an occasional longing for a real person of prayer to come into your life? Perhaps that longing comes as an intense interest in true prayer grows inside you. Or maybe you have appreciated the stories of great pray-ers like George Mueller, or "Praying" John Hyde, or E. M. Bounds. Maybe you have longed to relate with God in such a powerful way. Such desires come from the Holy Spirit. If you have had such longings, He has been talking to you.

God's great pray-ers are a unique group from todays average believer. These followers have learned the "work of waiting." They have learned to patiently seek the Father in heaven. They have learned to seek diligently through the scripture, waiting for it to release its truths that point the way. They have learned the discipline of carefully considering the presence of the Holy Spirit as they speak to the God of the throne.

Considering the number of professed believers today, very few have learned to pray in this "school of prayer." It isn't an easy school. It may be the most difficult endeavor you have ever undertaken. But a life without prayer is far more difficult.

Jesus promised, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:13-14, NIV)

Jesus invites you to know Him in such a way. It is here that life finds it's true purpose. In a day when true pray-ers seem so few and far between, and our own prayers seem to never leave the room, where is our hope? Who will pray for us? Jesus invites you to take the journey. He says, "When you pray, pray like this..." (Matthew 6:9ff).

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Why We Fail to Experience God

I paused today, and thought about something. I thought about the tragedy of going through life and walking past the ultimate experience God wants to have with me while I'm on this earth. Then I thought about all those I come into contact with in life. I thought how each of us could affect the other for the glory of God, if we experienced God as He offers Himself to us. Think of how your family, especially your children or closest loved-ones, would be affected. Think of the many lost friends and relatives who may see God as they, otherwise, never would, simply because you and I took the time to experience what God is already offering.

Jesus has opened the door for us. We may "boldly" approach God because of what Jesus has done for us. Every believer has received the Spirit of God. But to experience God in His fullness, we must walk in His Spirit. Much of the opportunity to know and understand God is lost because we do not take the time seek and accept the change needed for that experience. Here are some things to consider.

Our Mind: We need a new mind. We go through many unnecessary struggles because we are functioning with a mind that has not been changed by God. He will not force the change, but He will respond to our willingness to let Him change us. Romans 12:2b tells us we must initiate the process. " (through God) be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Becoming a Christian does not mean we suddenly have a renewed mind. It is a process and it is God who does the renewing.

Our Heart: A renewed mind is revealed in a new heart. That new heart becomes evident in the way we interact with God and with those around us... in the things we say and do. We begin to experience God in greater ways and in more areas of our lives. He begins to change everything, and we begin to experience a whole new life. The new heart becomes evident.

Our Lives: Our tendency, as immature believers, is that we want to hear God's instructions regarding our "job." Then we want to leave Him behind and go about doing the task He has given us, checking back with Him from time-to-time to see how we're doing. With a renewed mind, and the evidence of a new heart, we can find life as we have never imagined it. Regardless of our surrounding circumstances, we can find rest and peace in Him...day and night. We not only benefit from it, but others do as well. It is truly "supernatural" as God's presence is amazingly evident. "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (John 10:10, Amplified Bible) If He came for this reason, why don't we accept it?

We need to be "totally committed." Total commitment does not mean we never sin. But it does mean that with deal with sin properly when it happens. Total commitment means we have a constant, ongoing walk with God. We need to hear His guidance moment by moment. He is waiting.

The Problem With "Being Good"

Have you ever struggled with trying to be good enough to please God? Have you ever wondered if you are going to "make it to heaven?" The reason "living a good life" will not get us into heaven is that "being good" does not change our nature. Being "fit for the kingdom" requires a change of nature, something we cannot do on our own. We need a "spiritual nature." There are certain principles that the liar, Satan, wants to keep from you. It is important that we know the truth.

First, we don't make it to heaven because our "good deeds" outweigh our "bad deeds." It is important to remember that we can never "earn" our way to heaven. The bible makes that very clear. (Ephesians 2:8-9) At first that may cause a person to say, "Well, why even try?" But when we think it through we can see the hope. It will open up a whole new world for us. We need a change of nature, and being good will no more change our carnal nature into spiritual nature than teaching a parrot to talk will change it into a human.

Second, knowing we could not be His without a new nature, God sent Jesus to provide the new nature for us. It was the only way. The price that had to be paid had to measure up. For "eternal life" there had to be an eternal payment. No man could offer anything eternal. But Jesus could, and did. When He finished, essentially God said, "I accept Your payment for man's sin. Now whosoever will may come. I will give them a new nature fit for heaven." He didn't start it for us to finish. He "finished" it. (John 19:30)

Third, we are eternally secure. Since Jesus won our salvation through His faithfulness to God, those who accept Him are "given" to Jesus as His crown and reward. God will never take us away from Jesus. No sin can cause us to lose our salvation. Sin will cause us to lose our fellowship and oneness with God here on earth, but not our salvation. That is a permanent result of Jesus' work. Eternal means eternal. If you could lose it, it wouldn't have been eternal to begin with. Many of those who "leave the faith" were never part of it to begin with. (I John 2:19)

What freedom that brings. We are free from the struggle FOR salvation. And we are free to let God work, through the circumstances of life to become like Him. Accepting these truths opens our understanding of God's Word and brings new LIFE to life, a life of joy. "Being good" is no longer a chore...it is no longer a problem. Through Jesus it becomes truly possible.

Ask God to make you what He wants you to be. Give Him permission and He will do more than you can imagine. (Ephesians 2:10, Jeremiah 33:3)

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God Loves Those Who Have "Messed Up Their Lives"

Some people are pretty proud of themselves. They reflect on their "good lives" and think, "God must be quite proud of me. I'm better than most people in the world. I do more good than bad and if you compare me with most people I know, I would rank very high on the 'good scale.' My good 'definitely' outweighs the bad." There is danger with this attitude.

Then there are those of us who have made some serious blunders in life. We've messed up. And some of us are struggling, even now, to rise up out of it. We think, "How could God even LOOK at me, much less love me?"

The truth is that those of us who have recognized our "miserable failure," are closer to being right with God than those who are "secure in their goodness." The path to God (or back to God), MUST pass through the "valley of remorse and repentance."

God's love for us is never based on our goodness or accomplishment. His love is always the same, and that is greater than our capacity to comprehend. It is always through Christ. His response to us, in our "messed up" lives, is always a result of His love. He has made time for us to receive His forgiveness and help during this time of need. Without His help, we will still be without hope.

Those in desperate need and the greatest danger are those who trust in their own goodness. Because of false security they do not recognize the danger. (see Rev. 3:15-16) A "good" life without Christ is still "messed up."

"Today" is the day for you. Turn to the only hope. Start your journey today. God's Word will show you the way. "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:12, NIV)

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"How Can God Expect Me To Be Perfect?"

Have you ever read something in the Bible and thought, "That's impossible!" If so, you're not alone. Anyone who has spent time in God's Word has thought something like that. One verse that requires more thought and understanding is Matthew 5:48: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (HCSB)

To help us understand what God expects of us, it helps to see examples in scripture. Two come to mind. The Bible says, "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation. Noah walked with God." (Genesis 6:9) But we know that Noah sinned, yet God called him perfect. I Kings 15:14 speaks of Asa, whose "heart was perfect with the Lord all his days." Yet, the Bible says Asa acted foolishly and relied on the Syrians and not the Lord his God. (2 Chronicles 16:7) When I came to that realization, I wanted to learn more.

In Matthew, Jesus said to "be perfect." First, it is important to know He was talking to "kingdom citizens." These are people who have received the very Spirit of God. Second, the perfection of the Christian is a relative thing, starting where we are. It is a called to live the lifestyle of one who is "seeking to be" more and more like our Father. That is exactly what He longs for any of His children to do. And we can do that at this very moment. It is a choice. We can say, "I will pursue God and His ways from now on." It is based on our present state of maturity in Him. It is there that we start "to be perfect" before Him.

Now, that is an exciting thing for a child of God. The first thing we must do is accept God's call and give our life to it. Then in our pursuit of Him, we begin to understand. No more burden of trying to achieve the impossible. When we step out into such a journey, suddenly we find God at work in our lives. We are considered perfect as we pursue Him. When we do so, He makes us more and more like Himself. We can all be "perfect" like that.

Push Your Rock

I remember hearing of a story which I think would qualify as a modern day parable (an earthly story with a heavenly meaning). It goes like this….

One day God took one of His servants, named Servant, to a high mountain and said to Servant, “See this huge rock?”

Servant said, “Yes!”

God said, “I want you to push it until I return. Will you do that?”

“Yes, I will,” replied Servant. So he undertook the task.

Years and years went by and the servant did not see God. But, because he had promised, he continued to push the huge rock.

After many more years of pushing, Servant became discouraged. He began to think, “I don’t see any reason why I should push this huge rock. It makes no sense and I see no reason for doing it. This is worthless.”

Soon after that, God appeared before Him and said, “Are you faithfully pushing my rock?”

Servant said, “Yes! But this makes no sense to me. I’ve been pushing this huge rock for years and it hasn’t moved an inch. I just want to give up.”

Then God said, “I never told you to move the rock. I only wanted you to push it. Step back and look at yourself.”

Servant stepped back and looked at himself. What he found was not the small, weak, skinny servant who began pushing the rock. He saw a big, strong muscular servant who was fit for any task God may have for him.

Servant, don’t stop pushing your rock. Life is full of them, and God often sends us to push them. Don’t pick your own. Let God show you your rock. Then faithfully push it, and wait in faithfulness. He will explain eventually. But the goal isn't simply obedience. It is oneness with the Lord that leads to complete obedience. Oneness with Him, without anything interfering, is the only good thing. Then He can say, "Come, follow me."

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, HCSB)

Hope In Your Storm

The stories and experiences of Jesus are full of relevant guidance for our lives today. For example the maidens filling their lamps are an encouragement, and a warning regarding preparation for the future. The "Beatitudes," that may seem to provide only surface guidance, actually contain deep truths that change us from the inside out. And the list goes on. They are like treasures scattered throughout an open field, providing eternal wealth to any taker. Honest exploration of any of these jewels will always reveal new and deeper values.

Consider the event of Jesus as He walked on the water before His disciples. (Mark 6:45-55) The disciples had undertaken a normal daily task, traveling across the Sea of Galilee. But during that time, a great storm suddenly arose. The Bible says, "Jesus came toward them, walking on the water, He intended to go past them, but... they saw him...." (Mark 6:48b-49a) Jesus was going to meet them on the other side. In the process, He saw their need (as He always does) and made Himself available to them. He was not intending to go to them unless they asked Him. When they called out to Him, with the willingness to obey, they found that all the resources of Heaven became available to them.

The disciples are like us, fighting the storms of life. If you are now facing storms in your life, Jesus has made Himself visible to you. But in order to see Him, you must be willing. He will pass by unless you accept the offer of His presence. Just as with the disciples, we must call upon Him, obey His guidance and put our full trust in Him. Do you feel like you are drowning in life's problems? Do you need heaven's power in your life today? Remember what Jesus did for the disciples: "Jesus... said to them, 'All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.... I am with you all the days'...." (Matthew 28:18a, 20b, AMP) Don't face your storm alone. Jesus is waiting for your response. There is hope in Jesus.

Marvelous, Infinite, Matchless Grace

Why is God's grace so important to you and me? It is important because without it, we simply have no hope whatsoever. We need God's grace. God's grace goes beyond the guilt and sin we needlessly drag through our lives. God gives it without expecting or accepting payment. It is that gift that comes only through the work of Jesus Christ. It is that gift which glorifies the Father and forever makes us right with Him.

Do you carry with you the burden of guilt of past sin? God's grace will set you free. He has paid your debt already. Do you have trouble "dropping" the weight of guilt you feel? Never hesitate to give it to Him. He will take it. And if you feel that burden again, give it to Him again, and again, and again, until you can find it no more. "Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:24-25, NLT)

Perhaps Paul can show us the way. He said, "For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ." (Galatians 2:19, NLT)

I cannot rid myself of the sin and guilt that is mine. I can only ask, and trust that through the work of Jesus, God will take it away. And I find that when I serious lay before Him my sin, honestly seeking His forgiveness, He is faithful, and just to forgive my sin and cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) That is His promise. That is my only hope.

"I have swept away your sins like the morning mists. I have scattered your offenses like the clouds. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." (Isaiah 44:22, NLT) It is already done. He is waiting for you to accept. He is waiting for you to return to Him.

Faith In Our Faith

There have been times when I've prayed and the answers were so specific and detailed that it was beyond coincidence. God answered the prayer. God spoke to my heart and the communication was so strong and clear that I was as sure it was God. It was as if He was a person who stood before me and talked. Then at other times, it seemed that nothing happened. It felt like God didn't even exist. There have been times that I've said, "If I only had enough faith."

The Bible clearly teaches that faith is a "must" for answered prayer. “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:6-7, NIV) Jesus often spoke of faith and even mentioned the lack of faith among His disciples. He spoke of great things being done with just a small amount of faith. He spoke of great faith in the most unsuspecting people. Faith is a "must" if we are to expect anything from God. But how do you get such faith?

The Bible teaches that faith comes from God’s Word. Often we “pray” for faith when God clearly says we are to find it in His Word. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17, NIV) There are many times that I have asked God to give me more faith only to hear Him clearly say, “Read my Word.” It is there that we find faith for following Him.

A good example of this is when I became a Christian. I didn’t have the faith to be saved. But when my pastor showed me what the Bible said about becoming a Christian, I had faith to believe. That is the way God intends it throughout our Christian lives. We are to spend time with Jesus, the Word of God (John 1:14), and through that we have faith for life. There is no other way.

But there is a caution. If we are not careful, we can begin to trust in our faith more than we trust in God. That is “faith in our faith.” Or, we can trust in the amount, dedication to, or intensity of our prayer rather than trusting in God. That is “faith in our prayers.” Both look so “right” that they can lead us astray in our prayer life. We must be careful to have faith in God, as revealed to us in His Word. If we remember, instead of seeking the answer in God, to seek God in the answer, we are on the right path.

Jesus said, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14, NIV) We must pray “as Jesus would pray”… that is, in His name. He prayed only to glorify the Father. And we can do that as we know His will… and that is revealed in only His Word.

"Why Do I Keep Doing That?"

"Why do I keep doing that?" That was pretty much the question of Paul when he said, "I have a desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do, no; the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:18b-19)

Paul answered the question. He saw that his predicament was the same as true believers today. He wanted to do what was right. He intended to do what was right. But it seemed impossible to do it. He found himself doing the wrong he didn't want to do. He felt hopeless... and was hopeless, except for one thing. He had a Savior.

Paul's dilemma was the same as ours. For the child of God, as long as we are here on this earth, there will always be an inner struggle. It is a spiritual warfare between the old, dying self and the "new" spiritual person redeemed and brought to life by the work of Jesus Christ. The good news is that when God looks at a believer, He only sees the "new" person... saved by grace (the undeserved gift of life from God). This is where we ask the question, "Why do I keep doing that." God knows that our sins are coming from the "old person." He knows we still have inner struggles while on this earth.

The battle goes like this. Satan fires his accusations at us, saying things like: "You can't be saved. Look at what you do. You can't help doing those things. Just give up." But the Spirit of God comes to help us. He is constantly doing what we cannot do. He maintains our spiritual life. Then He reminds us, "... You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32, NIV). That truth is found in God's Word. It is with "truth" that we overcome.

God is waiting on you to give Him permission to help you in those earthly struggles. Facing daily struggles is a joint effort. The answer is found in our dependence on God's Word. He will bring it to life if we allow Him to do so. He says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." (1 Peter 5:8-9) We become self-controlled through God's work within us, as we absorb His Word. We "stand firm in the faith" remembering that our "faith" comes from His Word as well. (Romans 10:17) We successfully resist our enemy through God's work within us, as we absorb His Word. Satan "runs in terror" as a result of God's presence within us. God's Word is vital to our victory in life.

After expressing his dilemma, Paul said, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25) Jesus IS the Word. (John 1:14) Stand strong and be victorious with the weapon God has provided for you. "Take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17, NIV)

We don't have to "beat ourselves up" over our sins. And we should never just accept our sin because "we can't help it." We can have victory through Christ. His grace and His presence allow it.

Alone

Sometimes I feel alone. Even in the midst of a crowd of people I've felt as if I was without anyone to walk with me through what lay ahead. We know from the God's Word that He does not intend for us to be alone. (Gen. 2:18) Even though we may be surrounded by people who love us, it is still possible to "feel" alone. Do you ever feel that way?

There are times when God lets us go through trials. He allows us face difficult times that challenge us. Sometimes He "seems" very distant or even absent from our lives. It's important for us to remember, we are never alone. Times like that could be your test for God to show you how much you "really" trust Him and His Word.

God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5b). The truth is that a child of God may wonder away from the Father to the point of not realizing His presence, but He is watching and waiting for our return.

I know of a father who's little daughter had just learned to walk well. She had a tendency to "break-and-run" without giving notice. While walking in a crowded mall, she made her move. The dad decided to let her go until she didn't know what to do. Without her knowledge, he lovingly and "quickly" followed to keep a protective eye on her as she "zig-zagged" through the crowd.

After running from one end of the mall to the other she ran "out of mall." Stopping and looking around she suddenly realized there was no more option. Seeing no familiar faces she began to whimper and cry. It was then that her dad reached down and let her know she was not alone. When he picked her up he received a tight hug around the neck. She felt safe again.

Loving dads do that. God does it even more. Are you running? The Father is waiting.

"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and wondrous things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3, HCSB)


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Grace Enough

There have been times in my life when I felt I was at the end... not the end of life but the end of life as I knew it. There seemed to be no hope. As far back as I can remember I've wanted to let God handle things, but there were times when He didn't even seem to be there. Then He would remind me to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) Whenever I listened and obeyed (as hard as that is sometimes), God always came through. He has grace enough to see us through.

The power of grace is enough to forgive us of all sins. It leads us through storms created by our own sins, but also sin in general. But we must be willing to come before Him with humble hearts to receive such grace. Proverbs 3:34 says, "He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble." The grace of God is available to all who will come to Him and freely receive it.

What we can expect when we experience the grace of God is beyond measure. Words like freedom, relief, refreshment, laughter, joy, and more come to mind. We no longer have to be negative and judgmental, we become more tolerant toward others. Guilt no longer is used to control others or to be controlled by others. In fact, all of the "tough" things the Bible encourages us to do in relationship with others, and with God, becomes possible. We become free of to love, forgive and experience forgiveness. God's grace is enough.

When I Fail

I read a devotional today by David Wilkerson. It reminded me of myself sometimes. He spoke of Adam's sin, and how he tried to hide from God. He also pointed out the truth that something much worse than failure is the fear that goes with it.

I thought of my many failures in the past and how, even though He holds us responsible to face their consequences, God always receives us with love and open arms. He doesn't get "mad" at us. Because of what Jesus did for us, and if we follow Him, we don't have to fear God. We can immediately come to Him and tell a Father who will receive us with more love than we can comprehend.

It also gives me hope for the future. As I follow God through Christ, I can know that He will help me as I face the consequences of my failure. Even then as I acknowledge Him, He will "direct my paths."

The path God has for us always leads us to and in Christ. To find His abundant life, we must follow His lead. Satan is a liar and wants us to believe there is no hope. But there is every hope in Jesus. That fact that you are reading this is evidence that God is reaching out to you. The Bible says we can't even consider God with the Holy Spirit calling us. (John 6:44)

Imagine a life of peace and abundance in the midst of the troubles of life. We are more than conquerors in Christ. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV)

Have you failed? I know I have, many times. It doesn't matter how bad. No matter where you have failed, you are not out of God's reach and help. Don't fear Him and His guidance.

When I fail, I trust it to God.

Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NIV): Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Guaranteed Answer To Prayer

Everything that has to do with our relationship with God has to do with prayer. Yet it is so foreign to most Christians. A strong prayer life isn't going to just happen. It will take work... the work of a disciple. But the results of the right kind of work is guaranteed. You can be a part of God's life and work in this world if you want it.

Recently I had our prayer group read 1 Timothy 2:4: "(God) wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." I asked, "Is it God's will that everyone be saved?" Of course, based on God's Word we can know that it is.

Then I had them to read John 14:13: "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." (NIV) Then I asked, "What would keep our friends and loved ones from being saved? The answer came: "If we do not pray."

What would keep you from experiencing all of the blessings of the Father? The lack of proper prayer. But we must remember, our motive must be right. Our motive must be to glorify the Father, not to get something from God. James 4:3 says, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." Even the best sounding prayers can be disqualified by a motive other than God's glory.

To seek God in the answer rather than seeking the answer in God is a step toward proper prayer. God is longing for a proper prayer relationship with you.

"'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'" (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)

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Help In Times Of Temptation

"The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment." (2 Peter 2:9, NKJV)

All of us are tempted. That's part of life in this world. Temptation is not sin. Sin comes when we give in to temptation. God knows that we cannot resist temptation on our on. So, He has made himself available to deliver us from the temptation. But it requires that we trust Him. "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, NKJV) That makes Him well qualified to protect us. He is qualified to deserve our trust.

It is easier to avoid the predictable traps of temptation... those things that are major sources of temptation in our lives. It is quite another thing to avoid those things that await us in the secret, unobvious places. We can stray away from the obvious. Only God can guard us from the treacherous deception of the enemy in the often unseen places. It is good to remember that the greatest temptation may come when we have experienced a "victory" in another battle.

Throughout our lives we must trust HIM through every temptation. He will guide us away from the hazardous paths, and will do battle for us in the face of the tempter. Jesus said to pray like this: "And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one." (Matthew 6:13a, NKJV) Reaffirming God's faithfulness, the Psalmist said, "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." (Psalm 23:3, NKJV)

Trust Him with your temptations today.