...the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Psalm 32:10
The most important choice you make each day is your choice of an attitude. So choose, first, an attitude of thanksgiving. 'In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God... for you' (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV). Paul was in prison when he wrote those words, so his attitude wasn't based on his surroundings; it was a choice he made. Second, choose an attitude of trust. '...the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.' Where does such trust come from? Feeding daily on God's Word! Nehemiah's wall-builders were surrounded by enemies, yet they were able to 'celebrate... because they understood the words which had been made known to them' (Nehemiah 8:12 NAS). God's Word gives you confidence! Satan doesn't fear your sin; he knows God can forgive it. He doesn't fear your depression; he knows God can drive it away. He doesn't fear your lack; he knows God can provide. He fears your discovery of God's Word, because your ignorance of it is the most effective weapon he can use against you. Finally, choose an attitude of love. 'These things I have spoken to you... that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another...' (John 15:11-12 NKJV). Love says, 'I accept you as you are, care when you hurt, desire only what's best for you, and erase all offences.' It refuses to look for ways to run, and opts for working things through. It's resilient. While the world around gives the opposite advice, love stands firm.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Always Give Your Best
...Don't just do the minimum that will get you by... Colossians 3:23
One of Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces was his sculpture of David. He worked on it with such passion that he often slept in his clothes, resenting the time it took to take them off and put them on again. He repeatedly examined and measured the marble to see what pose it could accommodate. He made hundreds of sketches of possible attitudes, and detailed drawings from models. He tested his ideas in wax on a small scale, and only when he was satisfied did he pick up his chisel and mallet. He approached the painting of the Sistine Chapel with the same intensity. Lying at uncomfortable angles on hard boards, breathing the suffocating air just under the vault, he suffered from inflamed eyes and skin irritation from the plaster dust. For the next four years he literally sweated in physical distress; but look at what he produced! Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, 'If a man is called to be a street sweeper he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause and say, "Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well"'. If you're not passionate about what you do, find something you can be passionate about! Don't just strive to make money, strive to make a difference. Significance should be your goal, not survival. Paul gives us the ultimate reason for always giving our best: '...Don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best... Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ' (vv. 23-24 TM).
One of Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces was his sculpture of David. He worked on it with such passion that he often slept in his clothes, resenting the time it took to take them off and put them on again. He repeatedly examined and measured the marble to see what pose it could accommodate. He made hundreds of sketches of possible attitudes, and detailed drawings from models. He tested his ideas in wax on a small scale, and only when he was satisfied did he pick up his chisel and mallet. He approached the painting of the Sistine Chapel with the same intensity. Lying at uncomfortable angles on hard boards, breathing the suffocating air just under the vault, he suffered from inflamed eyes and skin irritation from the plaster dust. For the next four years he literally sweated in physical distress; but look at what he produced! Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, 'If a man is called to be a street sweeper he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause and say, "Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well"'. If you're not passionate about what you do, find something you can be passionate about! Don't just strive to make money, strive to make a difference. Significance should be your goal, not survival. Paul gives us the ultimate reason for always giving our best: '...Don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best... Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ' (vv. 23-24 TM).
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Use your Talents to Glorify God
God has given gifts to each of you. 1 Peter 4:10
Your work is important to God. Your job might use as much as 40 hours in a week, so it should represent Him. 'God has given gifts to each of you... Manage them well... then God will be given the glory.' We've each been given talents for the purpose of honouring God in this world. Undiscovered, undeveloped gifts dishonour Him; so do misused ones. God has gifted you to do something in a way nobody else can. By tapping into your unique abilities and using them to promote His kingdom, you're fulfilling His will in the truest sense. Paul says, '...everything comes from him... and is intended for his glory...' (Romans 11:36 NLT). The breath we breathe, the blood that courses through our veins, the grey matter between our ears are all God's investment in us, and He expects a return. Max Lucado writes, 'We exist to exhibit God, to display his glory. We serve as canvases for his brush strokes, papers for his pen, soil for his seeds, and glimpses of his image... He un-commons the common by turning kitchen sinks into shrines, cafes into convents, and nine-to-five workdays into spiritual adventures... When you magnify your Maker with your strengths... your days grow suddenly sweet.' So, be like the great New England preacher Jonathan Edwards, who lived by two resolutions: 'Resolved first: that all men should live for the glory of God. Resolved second: that whether others do or not, I will.'
Your work is important to God. Your job might use as much as 40 hours in a week, so it should represent Him. 'God has given gifts to each of you... Manage them well... then God will be given the glory.' We've each been given talents for the purpose of honouring God in this world. Undiscovered, undeveloped gifts dishonour Him; so do misused ones. God has gifted you to do something in a way nobody else can. By tapping into your unique abilities and using them to promote His kingdom, you're fulfilling His will in the truest sense. Paul says, '...everything comes from him... and is intended for his glory...' (Romans 11:36 NLT). The breath we breathe, the blood that courses through our veins, the grey matter between our ears are all God's investment in us, and He expects a return. Max Lucado writes, 'We exist to exhibit God, to display his glory. We serve as canvases for his brush strokes, papers for his pen, soil for his seeds, and glimpses of his image... He un-commons the common by turning kitchen sinks into shrines, cafes into convents, and nine-to-five workdays into spiritual adventures... When you magnify your Maker with your strengths... your days grow suddenly sweet.' So, be like the great New England preacher Jonathan Edwards, who lived by two resolutions: 'Resolved first: that all men should live for the glory of God. Resolved second: that whether others do or not, I will.'
Friday, August 20, 2010
When God Gives You a Vision (2)
...I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. Acts 26:19
When God gives you a vision, 1) it will interrupt you. Sometimes God will speak in a voice you can't tune out. Other times, like Jonah, God will let you go to the bottom to get your attention. Either way, things won't go right until you say yes to Him 2) it will illuminate you. You may not like what God says. Ananias didn't like going to pray for Saul of Tarsus, a man with the power to put Christians to death. But God said, 'Go, for he is a chosen vessel... I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake' (Acts 9:15-16 NKJV). Notice the word 'suffer'. The Devil isn't going to send you a congratulatory telegram because you have decided to do God's will, so be prepared for attack 3) it will inspire you. You will accomplish things you never dreamed possible. Look at Gideon. When God found him he was hiding in a winepress (Judges 6:11 NKJV); not exactly a promising start. When the angel called him 'a mighty man of valour' (v 12 NKJV), he replied, 'I am the least in my father's house' (v 15 NKJV). When the angel said, 'The Lord is with you,' he replied, 'If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?' (vv 12-13 NKJV). When he finally took the job, he wondered, 'How can so few of us defeat so many of them?' Yet at that very moment his enemies were having nightmares about him (Judges 7:13-15). The secret of victory lies in knowing 'It is God working in me' (Philippians 2:13).
When God gives you a vision, 1) it will interrupt you. Sometimes God will speak in a voice you can't tune out. Other times, like Jonah, God will let you go to the bottom to get your attention. Either way, things won't go right until you say yes to Him 2) it will illuminate you. You may not like what God says. Ananias didn't like going to pray for Saul of Tarsus, a man with the power to put Christians to death. But God said, 'Go, for he is a chosen vessel... I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake' (Acts 9:15-16 NKJV). Notice the word 'suffer'. The Devil isn't going to send you a congratulatory telegram because you have decided to do God's will, so be prepared for attack 3) it will inspire you. You will accomplish things you never dreamed possible. Look at Gideon. When God found him he was hiding in a winepress (Judges 6:11 NKJV); not exactly a promising start. When the angel called him 'a mighty man of valour' (v 12 NKJV), he replied, 'I am the least in my father's house' (v 15 NKJV). When the angel said, 'The Lord is with you,' he replied, 'If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?' (vv 12-13 NKJV). When he finally took the job, he wondered, 'How can so few of us defeat so many of them?' Yet at that very moment his enemies were having nightmares about him (Judges 7:13-15). The secret of victory lies in knowing 'It is God working in me' (Philippians 2:13).
Thursday, August 19, 2010
When God gives you a vision
...I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. Acts 26:19
Paul had a 'heavenly vision'. But there are those who '...speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord' (Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV). So you must be sure you are operating according to God's plan, not your own nor somebody else's. The story of the Tower of Babel teaches us two things. First, that when people make up their mind to do something, they often succeed; and second, that succeeding doesn't mean that you're in the will of God. The word Babel (confusion) means others can think you're right, yet you're wrong. You ask, 'But isn't it all right to make plans and set goals?' Yes, but your plans and goals should come out of a vision that God has given you. When Paul said, 'I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision', he meant that there's only one acceptable response to God's plan - obedience! Partial obedience, selective obedience or delayed obedience are still all disobedience. William Carey, who is considered the father of modern missions, gave up comfort and fortune to go to India and introduce the gospel. One of his more memorable quotes is: 'Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God' But you can only say that with confidence when you know what God has called you to do. What He ordains, He sustains! When you set your own goals you lack a heartfelt confidence that God is doing the work, so you wear yourself out thinking it's all up to you. However, when you know God has given you a vision for your life, you trust Him, even when you can't see any way to bring it to pass
Paul had a 'heavenly vision'. But there are those who '...speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord' (Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV). So you must be sure you are operating according to God's plan, not your own nor somebody else's. The story of the Tower of Babel teaches us two things. First, that when people make up their mind to do something, they often succeed; and second, that succeeding doesn't mean that you're in the will of God. The word Babel (confusion) means others can think you're right, yet you're wrong. You ask, 'But isn't it all right to make plans and set goals?' Yes, but your plans and goals should come out of a vision that God has given you. When Paul said, 'I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision', he meant that there's only one acceptable response to God's plan - obedience! Partial obedience, selective obedience or delayed obedience are still all disobedience. William Carey, who is considered the father of modern missions, gave up comfort and fortune to go to India and introduce the gospel. One of his more memorable quotes is: 'Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God' But you can only say that with confidence when you know what God has called you to do. What He ordains, He sustains! When you set your own goals you lack a heartfelt confidence that God is doing the work, so you wear yourself out thinking it's all up to you. However, when you know God has given you a vision for your life, you trust Him, even when you can't see any way to bring it to pass
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Are You Feeling Inadequate?
...Our sufficiency is from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5
God will never give you an assignment that does not require His involvement. He calls us: '...Not according to our works [ability], but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus...' (2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV). When God gives you a job to do, He gives you the grace to do it. But don't expect it to be easy. God called Moses to instruct Pharaoh to let His work force leave, to go worship a God Pharaoh didn't even believe in. He told Jonah to go to Nineveh, the most corrupt city in the world, and say to its population, 'Repent or die!' When He called Jeremiah to preach to a hard-edged, self-centered people who refused to listen, he cried so hard that he became known as 'the weeping prophet.' So if you're feeling inadequate today, without God-you are! The heroes in the Bible didn't jump up and say, 'No problem, I can handle that!' But here's the good news: God doesn't call us to work for Him but with Him, and that guarantees your success. You say, 'But I don't have the ability.' No problem: 'Not that we are sufficient of ourselves...our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient.' You say, 'But I don't have the finances.' No problem: '...God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work' (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV). You say, 'But I don't have the strength.' No problem: 'I can do everything through him who gives me strength' (Philippians 4:13 NIV).
God will never give you an assignment that does not require His involvement. He calls us: '...Not according to our works [ability], but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus...' (2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV). When God gives you a job to do, He gives you the grace to do it. But don't expect it to be easy. God called Moses to instruct Pharaoh to let His work force leave, to go worship a God Pharaoh didn't even believe in. He told Jonah to go to Nineveh, the most corrupt city in the world, and say to its population, 'Repent or die!' When He called Jeremiah to preach to a hard-edged, self-centered people who refused to listen, he cried so hard that he became known as 'the weeping prophet.' So if you're feeling inadequate today, without God-you are! The heroes in the Bible didn't jump up and say, 'No problem, I can handle that!' But here's the good news: God doesn't call us to work for Him but with Him, and that guarantees your success. You say, 'But I don't have the ability.' No problem: 'Not that we are sufficient of ourselves...our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient.' You say, 'But I don't have the finances.' No problem: '...God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work' (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV). You say, 'But I don't have the strength.' No problem: 'I can do everything through him who gives me strength' (Philippians 4:13 NIV).
Trust God! Trust God! Trust God!
"You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living..." Psalm 142:5
Hard times energise some people, yet paralyse others. Look at David. Everything he touched turned to gold: Samuel anointed him to be king; he defeated Goliath; Saul chose him as a musician and warrior; the army loved him and wrote songs about him. Then his life fell apart. He lost his job and his marriage failed; Samuel his old mentor died; his best friend Jonathan couldn't help him, and Saul's soldiers hounded him until he had to hide in a cave. At some point we all do time in the cave! It's where you end up when all your earthy supports are gone. It's where you learn important things about yourself that you can't learn anywhere else. It's where God does some of His best work in moulding you into the likeness of Christ. It's where your worst inadequacies confirm that you're out of your depth, and where God sends His power to flow through your weakness. When David prayed, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living,' he'd no way of knowing there was a crown in his future, or that he wasn't going to die in hiding. For all he knew, this cave he was in right now might be as good as it gets. When you're in a situation you can't fix, can't change and can't escape, trust God! Trust God! Trust God! As long as your sense of security is tied solely to your success, it'll always be fragile. But when you know that God is with you even at your lowest point, you can handle the cave and come out stronger!
Hard times energise some people, yet paralyse others. Look at David. Everything he touched turned to gold: Samuel anointed him to be king; he defeated Goliath; Saul chose him as a musician and warrior; the army loved him and wrote songs about him. Then his life fell apart. He lost his job and his marriage failed; Samuel his old mentor died; his best friend Jonathan couldn't help him, and Saul's soldiers hounded him until he had to hide in a cave. At some point we all do time in the cave! It's where you end up when all your earthy supports are gone. It's where you learn important things about yourself that you can't learn anywhere else. It's where God does some of His best work in moulding you into the likeness of Christ. It's where your worst inadequacies confirm that you're out of your depth, and where God sends His power to flow through your weakness. When David prayed, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living,' he'd no way of knowing there was a crown in his future, or that he wasn't going to die in hiding. For all he knew, this cave he was in right now might be as good as it gets. When you're in a situation you can't fix, can't change and can't escape, trust God! Trust God! Trust God! As long as your sense of security is tied solely to your success, it'll always be fragile. But when you know that God is with you even at your lowest point, you can handle the cave and come out stronger!
Pour Out Your Heart to God!
...I pour out my complaint before him... Psalm 142:2
Learn to pray the Psalms. They run the gamut of human emotion from thanksgiving, to anger, to fear, to loneliness, to grief. The Psalmist doesn't miss a beat when it comes to life. Not life as we wish it was, but life as it is: 'I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.' He vents his pain to God, he allows himself to 'feel it.' That takes courage, especially when you just want to put on a brave face. John Ortberg wrote: 'I regret the pain of failure so keenly that I backed away from owning it and learning from it. I could not heal and move on. I wanted to bury it so deeply that no one would ever guess it was there-not even me.' Sound familiar? The Bible doesn't discourage the grieving process, it just warns us not to get stuck in it. '...Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning...' (Psalm 30:5 NIV). To reach your morning of rejoicing you must go through your night of weeping. FB Meyer writes: 'There are some who chide tears as unmanly, un-submissive, un-Christian. They comfort us with a chill, bidding us to put on a rigid and tearless countenance. We may well ask if a man who cannot weep can really love? Sorrow is just love bereaved; its most natural ex-pression is tears. Jesus wept. The Ephesian converts wept on the neck of the Apostle Paul whose face they were never to see again. So go ahead and pour out your heart to God. It's a vital step to becoming whole
Learn to pray the Psalms. They run the gamut of human emotion from thanksgiving, to anger, to fear, to loneliness, to grief. The Psalmist doesn't miss a beat when it comes to life. Not life as we wish it was, but life as it is: 'I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.' He vents his pain to God, he allows himself to 'feel it.' That takes courage, especially when you just want to put on a brave face. John Ortberg wrote: 'I regret the pain of failure so keenly that I backed away from owning it and learning from it. I could not heal and move on. I wanted to bury it so deeply that no one would ever guess it was there-not even me.' Sound familiar? The Bible doesn't discourage the grieving process, it just warns us not to get stuck in it. '...Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning...' (Psalm 30:5 NIV). To reach your morning of rejoicing you must go through your night of weeping. FB Meyer writes: 'There are some who chide tears as unmanly, un-submissive, un-Christian. They comfort us with a chill, bidding us to put on a rigid and tearless countenance. We may well ask if a man who cannot weep can really love? Sorrow is just love bereaved; its most natural ex-pression is tears. Jesus wept. The Ephesian converts wept on the neck of the Apostle Paul whose face they were never to see again. So go ahead and pour out your heart to God. It's a vital step to becoming whole
Keep Climbing
Give me this [mountain] that the Lord promised me. Joshua 14:12
Admiral Joe Fowler served in both World Wars. As a naval architect he designed two of America's largest aircraft carriers, the USS Lexington and the USS Saratoga. He retired from the Navy in 1948. Shortly after, Walt Disney asked him to head up the design and construction of his first theme park in California. Nothing like it had ever been done before. Not only did Fowler complete the project in 1955, but he also managed its operation for many years. Later, when Disney wanted to build another theme park in Florida, he called Fowler to do it. When Fowler completed the project in 1971, he was 71. End of story? No, when Fowler was 87 Disney called on him again to build a futuristic theme park called Epcot Center. When asked why he would take on such a project aged 87, Fowler replied, 'You don't have to die until you want to'. In 1993 he completed the job, and laid down his drawing board at the age of 99. Mission accomplished! At 85 years of age, Caleb said to Joshua, 'Give me this [mountain] that the Lord promised me [45 years ago]' (Joshua 14:12). Did he get it? Yes. So keep climbing. Will you make mistakes along the way? Sure! Henry Ford forgot to put a reverse gear in his first car. He also went bankrupt five times before becoming the father of the automobile industry. You'll stumble on your way to the top, but if you seek God's help and stay with it, you'll get there. The truth is, you're not defeated until your doubts and regrets take the place of your dreams.
He is God
In the book of Job, we read of a man who came under severe attack by Satan. Within a short amount of time, Job went from a man of wealth, health, and large family, to a man who lost all his possessions, was near death, and childless.In the early stage of his trials, Job demonstrated a deep commitment to God's sovereignty; "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:20-21). Then when his wife told him to curse God and die, Job responded with: "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10).Job seemed to have a deep understanding of what we often quote in times of trial; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). But at the same time, Job struggled with understanding why God would allow these things to happen. Yes, God is in control...but why!? When Job couldn't find an answer he began to feel terribly alone and abandoned.Job 23:3-5"If only I knew where to find Him; if only I could go to His dwelling! I would state my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what He would answer me, and consider what He would say."Our trials often cause similar concerns. We find ourselves asking where God has gone and why He is allowing such hardship. Even though we may believe God is "working all things for our good," we often search in vain to find something positive in our situation. And when we fail to see any possible good, we become frustrated and assume God has forgotten us, abandoned us in our time of need.Finally, God responded to Job's cry for answers: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!" (Job 38:4-5). God's response continued for almost four chapters: "Who has a claim against Me that I must repay? Everything under heaven belongs to Me" (Job 41:11). The Creator of the Universe - the One who formed every intricate detail of what we see and cannot see - the One who lifted us out of the slimy pit and set our feet on solid ground, spoke to Job and simply said, "I am God!"Our Heavenly Father loves us so very much! He truly desires for us to know Him better and walk by His side with complete trust. But there are times when our trust must take comfort in accepting a difficult answer. Often, in the middle of our trials, we must continue to simply believe His Word is true. Though we may not understand, we must desperately cling to His promises and KNOW He will never leave us nor forsake us! Let's be at total peace and restore our hope by always remembering that He is God.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
You Can Rise Above Your Beginnings!
The Lord was with Joseph... Genesis 39:2
Joseph didn't come from an ideal family. He was the eleventh son of Jacob, a con-man and a conniver. By this time, however, Jacob had got his spiritual act together. But his ten older sons took after their dad. They once deceived and killed an entire town of men because one of them raped their sister (Genesis 34). Now they're about to commit another deed of treachery, selling Joseph into slavery. Yet Joseph turned out to be a man of greatness. What's the bottom line? That you can rise above your beginnings! Look at Joseph. Perhaps you've been rejected, or discovered the people you thought loved you really didn't. That's Joseph's story. But, 'The Lord was with Joseph'. Those words change everything! Regardless of what happened yesterday, if you remain faithful to God He can rearrange tomorrow in your favour. Many people who've been mistreated are still focusing on the people who hurt them, waiting for them to make things right. In a lot of cases that isn't going to happen. If you've been wronged you need to turn to the One who won't hurt you, and who is there to help and heal you. Face it; some relationships aren't going to get fixed! Your parents may never accept you. You may not be able to escape the problem you've been living with or resolve it to your liking. God's not limited by your past, He's only limited by your lack of faith. So trust Him. '...If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31 NIV). If God is for you, in the final analysis it doesn't matter who's against you
Joseph didn't come from an ideal family. He was the eleventh son of Jacob, a con-man and a conniver. By this time, however, Jacob had got his spiritual act together. But his ten older sons took after their dad. They once deceived and killed an entire town of men because one of them raped their sister (Genesis 34). Now they're about to commit another deed of treachery, selling Joseph into slavery. Yet Joseph turned out to be a man of greatness. What's the bottom line? That you can rise above your beginnings! Look at Joseph. Perhaps you've been rejected, or discovered the people you thought loved you really didn't. That's Joseph's story. But, 'The Lord was with Joseph'. Those words change everything! Regardless of what happened yesterday, if you remain faithful to God He can rearrange tomorrow in your favour. Many people who've been mistreated are still focusing on the people who hurt them, waiting for them to make things right. In a lot of cases that isn't going to happen. If you've been wronged you need to turn to the One who won't hurt you, and who is there to help and heal you. Face it; some relationships aren't going to get fixed! Your parents may never accept you. You may not be able to escape the problem you've been living with or resolve it to your liking. God's not limited by your past, He's only limited by your lack of faith. So trust Him. '...If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31 NIV). If God is for you, in the final analysis it doesn't matter who's against you
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Very Present
'Very Present'
God is... a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Randy Reid, a 34-year-old construction worker, was welding on top of a nearly completed water tower outside Chicago. According to writer Melissa Ramsdell, Reid unhooked his safety gear to reach for some pipes when a metal cage slipped and bumped the scaffolding on which he stood. It tipped, and Reid lost his balance. He fell 110 feet, landing face down on a pile of dirt, just missing rocks and construction debris. A fellow worker called the emergency services. When paramedics arrived, they found Reid conscious, moving, and complaining of a sore back. Apparently the fall didn't cost Reid his sense of humour! As paramedics carried him on a backboard to the ambulance, Reid had one request: 'Don't drop me.' Doctors later said Reid came away from the accident with just a bruised leg. Sometimes we resemble Randy Reid. God protects us from harm in a 110-foot fall, yet we are not willing to trust Him to get us over the next two-foot hurdle. Being sinful, we fail. Being prone to sickness, we hurt. Being mortal, we die. Pressure wears on us. Anxiety gives us ulcers. People intimidate us. Criticism offends us. Disease scares us. Death haunts us. What's the answer? 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.' Note the words 'very present'. When we hit life's rough spots our tendency is to feel abandoned, yet the opposite is true. At that very moment we are more than ever the object of His love and concern. Yes, even when our vision is blurred, our thinking foggy, our faith fleeting, and we look up and can't see Him clearly - He is 'very present'.
HE IS JESUS
In chemistry he turned water into wine. (John 2: 9)
In biology he was born of a virgin (Luke 1:34)
In physics he overcame the law of gravity by ascending into heaven (Luke 24:51)
In economics he multiplied and fed 5000 (Matt 14:190
In history he is the beginning and the end (rev 21:6)
In politics government shall be upon his shoulder (Isaiah 9: 6)
In religion no one comes to God the father except through him (John 14:6)
HE IS JESUS
In biology he was born of a virgin (Luke 1:34)
In physics he overcame the law of gravity by ascending into heaven (Luke 24:51)
In economics he multiplied and fed 5000 (Matt 14:190
In history he is the beginning and the end (rev 21:6)
In politics government shall be upon his shoulder (Isaiah 9: 6)
In religion no one comes to God the father except through him (John 14:6)
HE IS JESUS
Learning to pray
...the Spirit...makes intercession for us... Romans 8:26
Prayer isn't natural to us. Our natural inclination is to depend on ourselves. Some of us haven't learned how to pray. Others don't pray enough to be comfortable with it. Still others don't understand enough of God's Word to pray biblically and get results. Whatever the case, we've no excuse not to pray. The Holy Spirit who lives within us can clarify, correct and change our prayer so that by the time it reaches God it's all sorted out. The Bible says, '...the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us...Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:26-28 NKJV). Who do 'all things work together for good' for? Just anybody and everybody who believes? No, those who 'love God.' And more importantly, those who have learned to allow the Holy Spirit within them to pray, because what He asks for will always be in line with God's will. Learning to pray is like learning a foreign language. The best way to learn it is to hang out in an environment where the language is spoken. So if you want to learn to pray you must a) take the time to do it b) spend time with those who know how to do it c) allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you
Prayer
Lord I am praying this in my confusion.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Show me your ways, O Lord
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Saviour,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:1,2,5
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Show me your ways, O Lord
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Saviour,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:1,2,5
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