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Never Give Up! The Fruit of Longsuffering
Why Trials and Suffering?
by Nancy Missler

Over the last few months we’ve started a new series of articles called the ''fruit of longsuffering'' - the choice to hang on tighter, trust the Lord further and never give up. I am absolutely amazed because I have received more heartfelt responses from this series than any other I have written. It seems learning this particular Biblical ''fruit'' is where many of us are living at the present. So, let’s continue our exploration of this very important subject.

Trials, problems and tragedies come to all Christians. They come because of personal sin, they come because of the sins of others, they come because of the schemes of the devil, and they come because God has allowed them for our growth. In my book Faith in the Night Seasons we covered some other basic reasons why God allows trials.

1. To strengthen our faith and trust in Him (1 Peter 5:10) [/*:m:17447]
2. To produce all the fruit of the Spirit (Hebrews 10:36; James 1:3; Psalm 30:5) [/*:m:17447]
3. To silence the enemy (Job 1:9-12 Job 2:3-7) [/*:m:17447]
4. To glorify Himself through us (John 9:1-3 John 11:1-4 ) [/*:m:17447]
5. To conform us more into His image (Philippians 3:10) [/*:m:17447]
6. To enlarge our ministry (2 Corinthians 1:3-7) [/*:m:17447]
7. So that we might see, and then deal with, our sin (1 Peter 2:20 Hebrews 12:5-9) [/*:m:17447]
8. And, finally, to search our hearts to see if we really love Him (as in Genesis 22) [/*:m:17447]

Judges 2:20-23 is a perfect example of this last point. In this chapter God tests the Israelites by not driving out their enemy and, instead, letting them win. How many of us have experienced a similar time when God doesn’t seem to answer our prayers, but actually allows the opposite to occur! This Scripture tells us that He does so simply to know our hearts and to see if we love Him.

A precious, single Christian woman I know just recently experienced this very thing. She moved away from her home, her job and her family because of a very painful experience. She was convinced that God had told her to move and that He would bless her in the new situation.

But, unfortunately, once she settled in her new city, got a great job and a wonderful apartment, all hell broke loose. Her friends betrayed her, her job evaporated, a relationship she prayed would work out disintegrated; and now she’s wondering if she ever heard God at all.

The Lord is obviously very concerned with our comfort, our security and our future, but I believe He is more concerned with how those circumstances are going to affect us internally. In other words, will they bring about a changed heart and a transformed life? In the long run, will they draw us closer to Him? And will they cause us to love others more?

As someone said to me recently, ''God is more interested with the sanctification process in us than He is with the success or the attainment that we are after.''

Remember, God’s ways are opposite to the world’s ways. And they are opposite to our own ways. Now that’s not exactly what we want to hear, but I do believe it’s the truth. The Lord is not as interested in the ''outward'' man as He is with our heart, our true motives and our real intents. This is what He wants exposed. Not for His benefit, for He already knows the truth, but for our benefit. He wants us to see our own self-centered thoughts.

The woman above is slowly beginning to realize all of this as she looks back over the last year of her life and sees God’s handiwork. Hindsight is wonderful, isn’t it?

One of our natural responses in a trial, however, is to blame the enemy for most everything that happens. In reality, however, we must acknowledge that not every difficult situation comes from him. Please don’t misunderstand me, the enemy is always involved when difficult things occur in our lives and he rejoices when we get into trouble or when we react poorly to what the Lord has allowed. Our negative reactions give him more ammunition and more inroads into our soul. But the enemy, himself, is not always the one responsible for sending the trial. God often does that! This is a hard truth to hear; but listen to what Isaiah 53:10 has to say, in speaking about Jesus, ''Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him...[and] put Him to grief.''

I believe there are times that God must do the same with us. What the Lord means to use ''for good'' in our lives, the enemy, on the other hand is right there trying to use to destroy.

How We Respond Is Key

In all of this, the most important thing is ''how we respond.'' Whether we withdraw, advance or simply stay where we are, which is really impossible, depends upon our moment-by-moment responses. Because this is what will determine our whole spiritual future. If we understand what God wants from us and what we are to do, then we can remain peaceful in the eye of the storm and come through the circumstances quickly. If, however, we don’t understand what God is after and we react poorly to His set-up, then we’ll stumble, become confused and only prolong our agony.

If we respond in doubt or the feeling of just giving up or the determination to ''just do it ourselves,'' we will only end up deepening our trouble, quenching our communication with God and walking in the flesh. When God’s promise seems to fail and the vision tarry, it’s not time to grow weary and give up, even though that’s exactly what we ''feel'' like doing. It’s a time to do just the opposite! It’s a time to hang on tighter, trust the Lord further and never give up!

We must continually remind ourselves in our crises that it’s not a time to grow weary and give up, but a time to trust the Lord further and never give up. A time to say, ''though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.'' (Job 13:15)

Jesus Is Our Example

We are told throughout the New Testament to keep our eyes upon Jesus because He is our example. He showed us how to think, how to act, how to live and how to respond. The apostle Peter validates this in 1 Peter 2:21: ''For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.'' Also in 1 Peter 4:1: ''Forasmuch, then, as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind [or the same attitude].''

Jesus is not only our Savior, our Lord and our King, He is also our role model, our standard and our example. Jesus defined the Christian life for us. He walked it ''perfectly.'' He showed us how it’s supposed to be done, how it’s supposed to be walked and how it’s supposed to be lived. Now, obviously, we’ll never be able to emulate Jesus perfectly, but Scripture tells us that we are to set Him as our example. We are to learn by His model. In other words, if God used the ''way of suffering'' in Jesus’ life to accomplish His will, then it’s reasonable to expect that He will use our trials and our suffering to accomplish His will in our lives also.

2 Peter 3:15 teaches that it was only through ''the longsuffering of Jesus'' that we received salvation! Take a minute to comprehend what this Scripture is saying. If the Lord arranged for us to be saved only through His longsuffering - through His patiently enduring our failures, our blunders and our errors, are we not to do the same for our families, our friends and our loved ones? Perhaps our longsuffering towards one other person might eventually bring them salvation - just as Jesus’ did for us.

Love That Endures

Matthew 24:12 is a Scripture that I have quoted many, many times over the past 25 years in regards to the Way of Agape: ''And because iniquity shall abound, the Love [Agape] of many shall grow cold.'' But, take a look at the very next verse in regards to longsuffering or never giving up. It says, ''he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.'' The word ''endure'' here is hupomeno, which means to stay under or to stay behind. Endurance is the agency by which we stay, abide, continue in, dwell under or behind. Just as Jesus endured the Cross, we, too, must stay under, courageously suffering and enduring all the difficult situations that the Lord allows in our lives. Why? So that others may come to know Christ through our patient hope and loving endurance.

Hupomeno can also mean ''perseverance.'' Perseverance is far more than simple endurance. And, it’s far more than just hanging on. Perseverance means continuing to fight, continuing to act and continuing to initiate. I am reminded of Jashobeam, the chief captain of David’s army, who slew 300 foes at one time with only his spear. (1 Chronicles 11)

Perseverance is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for will happen. Again, it’s never giving up!

God uses our trials and our suffering to accomplish His highest will and purposes in our lives. 1 Peter 5:10 assures us that ''after you have suffered awhile,'' the God of all grace will ''perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.''




source: http://www.khouse.org/articles/2006/626/print/

 

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Overcoming discouragement brings great blessing

What, me worry?

Matthew 6:25 KJV
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Psalm 55:22 KJV
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.


Read more:
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=248416#248416


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THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER
E.M. Bounds


The Necessity of Prayer and other books by E.M. Bounds are unfailing wells for a lifetime of spiritual water-drawing. His wise counsel on prayer are words that originated on the anvil of experience.

His thoughts are inspiring, dynamic, and forthright. Probably no one has ever written more convincingly on the subject of prayer than E.M. Bounds.
The Necessity of Prayer will help today's earnest Christians to discover the mystery and the majesty of prayer.

• 
  Contents(click each link)
• Foreward [/*:m:5c90f]
• I. PRAYER AND FAITH [/*:m:5c90f]
• II. PRAYER AND FAITH (Continued) [/*:m:5c90f]
• III. PRAYER AND TRUST [/*:m:5c90f]
• IV. PRAYER AND DESIRE [/*:m:5c90f]
• V. PRAYER AND FERVENCY [/*:m:5c90f]
• VI. PRAYER AND IMPORTUNITY [/*:m:5c90f]
• VII. PRAYER AND IMPORTUNITY (Continuted) [/*:m:5c90f]
• VIII. PRAYER AND CHARACTER AND CONDUCT [/*:m:5c90f]
• IX. PRAYER AND OBEDIENCE [/*:m:5c90f]
• X. PRAYER AND OBEDIENCE (Continued) [/*:m:5c90f]
• XI. PRAYER AND VIGILANCE [/*:m:5c90f]
• XII. PRAYER AND THE WORD OF GOD [/*:m:5c90f]
• XIII. PRAYER AND THE WORD OF GOD (Continued) [/*:m:5c90f]
• XIV. PRAYER AND THE HOUSE OF GOD
  [/*:m:5c90f]

source: http://www.leaderu.com/cyber/books/boun ... ssity.html

 

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:D

source: http://www.zionsvillegb.org/Encouragement.htm
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Great Prayers of the Bible
Exposition and Bible Study
A 181-page book by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson



We've got a long way to go to be able to pray with the courage of Abraham or the passion of Moses -- yours truly included. We want to learn to pray with great faith, but we're just not there yet. I believe that God will use this 11 week Great Prayers of the Bible Bible study to develop you in prayer, to increase your faith and move you into a new level of prayer to your Father. We'll be studying some of the great prayers in order to teach us how to pray prayers that God will honor and answer. This is not a course in manipulating God. It is a study in who God is and how he responds to his children's petitions -- a course in how to be understanding children of God who learn how to adopt God's own heart as we pray. Together we'll learn from the masters to pray prayers that God desires to answer.

Great Prayers of the Bible is suitable for personal study. But the discussion questions make it ideal for small groups and Adult Sunday School classes. Preachers and teachers will also find a lot of their word study research done for them, with a number of illustrations and insights.

1. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15). Jesus taught this classic lesson in prayer to his disciples. We'll consider the Lord's Prayer phrase by phrase as a pattern for our own praying.

2. Moses' Prayer for Israel in the Wilderness (Exodus 32:9-14). Incredible examples of Moses pleading with God to preserve his own name and character and not destroy Israel. We examine the question: Does prayer actually change anything?

3. Abraham's Prayer for Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33). An example of intercessory prayer which finds its basis in God's character.

4. David's Prayer for Pardon and Confession of Sin (Psalm 51). When we sin against God, how can we pray to restore our fellowship? David's prayer is a classic prayer of repentance.

5. David's Prayer at the End of Life (1 Chronicles 29:9-20). A short psalm of praise and David's prayer for his son Solomon to build the temple.

6. David's Psalm of Surrender (Psalm 139). David struggles with God's intense knowledge of him, marvels at God's intricate formation of him in his mother's womb, and then prays a prayer of surrender to God's searching, knowing, probing, and refining.

7. Hezekiah's Petitions for Deliverance and Healing (2 Kings 19:14-19; 20:1-7). Here's a godly king about to see his nation conquered and destroyed by the mighty Assyrian army. Then he who has just heard from a prophet that he should prepare to die soon. How does he pray?

8. Daniel's Confession on Behalf of His People (Daniel 9:1-19). When Daniel realizes the 70 years of exile are ended, he offers a prayer of confession in which he (though personally a righteous man) identifies with the sins of his people and asks for God's mercy.

9. Nehemiah's Prayer for Success (Nehemiah 1:1-2:9). Nehemiah hears of the suffering of the returned exiles. After grieving in fasting and prayer, Nehemiah prays for success -- and commits himself to God's will for his life.

10. Jesus' Prayer of Submission at Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46). Jesus asks for the cup (crucifixion) to be bypassed, but then prays for the Father's will to be done most of all. How do you pray an authentic prayer of submission?

11. Paul's Prayers for the Ephesian Believers (Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-21). Here are Paul's prayers for the Ephesian Christians -- and for us -- to really understand the heights and depths of Christ's love for us.



source: http://www.jesuswalk.com/ebooks/greatprayers.htm

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Hope in God

Our failures, while often painful, remind us that God alone has the power
to save us. When we trust in our own skill, our own strength, we rob God
of His glory and become idolaters. But when we hope in Him alone, He
acts for the sake of His name.


Will I Always Fail?

The good news of the Cross is that you are no longer a
slave to sin. Now, Jesus is the owner of your nature through the power of
the Holy Spirit.

Are you tired of fighting what you think is a losing battle? Do you secretly
feel you're a failure as a Christian? It's not true, and the sooner you learn
to rejoice and grow in the reality of your identity in Him, the sooner you
will experience the thrill of victory.

The conflict between the flesh and the Spirit within you is a form of
spiritual warfare, and you win much of the battle just by realizing the
struggle exists. Sin is still a powerful force to be reckoned with, but it can
no longer exert influence over you unless you allow it to do so. You are
not doomed to failure, and to believe otherwise is to remain in needless,
painful bondage. That breaks the heart of the Lord and grieves the Spirit
greatly. ( Ephesians 4:30 )

Do you remember the agony Peter went through when he denied knowing
the Lord three times? That was spiritual failure on a grand scale, and part
of what heightened the apostle's pain was his overconfidence beforehand.
With great passion in his voice, Peter had exclaimed to Jesus, "Lord, with
You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!" But Jesus replied, "I
say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied
three times that you know Me." ( Luke 22:33-34 )

Peter was probably bewildered, but he was not considering the powerful
lure of sin, especially at a moment of weakness. Sure enough, it wasn't
long before Peter had turned his back on his dearest Friend in the world.
He went outside and wept bitterly. The story does not end there, of
course. After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to Peter and others
on the shore of Galilee and made it clear He fully forgave Peter and
embraced him as a sheep that is found and restored. (John 21:1-25 )

You cannot wander too far, fail too many times, or exceed Christ's
forgiveness. When you repent and turn to Him once more, He restores
your fellowship as though nothing happened. What happens inside your
heart when you fail and turn to Jesus is a strengthening and maturation,
the same kind that occurred in Peter.

The next time we meet him in Scripture is as an active apostle, busy
building and encouraging the early church. Peter had learned his lesson
well. And though he surely experienced other failures and setbacks, he
knew his Savior was ever at his side ready to forgive.

Notice what a wiser Peter says about God's grace and keeping the
perspective of the Spirit: "...eeing that His divine power has granted to
us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge
of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He
has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them
you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world by lust." ( 2 Peter 1:3-4 )

You have a great potential to live free and holy through Jesus Christ,
but God will never force you to do this. Yet, He longs for you to turn to
Him in every spiritual conflict, acknowledge your weakness, and ask for
His power to say, "No."

You are on an ever-upward climb to holiness, set apart for God's
purposes. As you learn to say no to the power of sin and rest in His grace,
you are freed up to obey with renewed vigor and energy and
understanding. Throughout this process, it is necessary to grasp that
obedience is a choice: yielding to God and becoming more like Christ is a
decision you make.

source:
http://ww2.intouch.org/site/c.7nKFISNvEqG/b.1597405/k.C20A/Will_I_Always_Fail.htm

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Facing Life’s Obstacles: Facing Our Failures



Key Passage: Joshua 7:1-10

Supporting Scripture: Joshua 1:3-8; Joshua 7:10-13.

*We fail when we don't consult God for our plan.
*Godly people with the right motivation will often fail.
*The failure of one person can often bring harmful results to many people.
*The counsel of others is never a wise substitute for God's counsel.
*Past blessings do not guarantee tomorrow's blessings.
*Daily meditation and prayer are essential in avoiding failure.
*Principles for facing failure:
---Never give God the blame for failure.
---First look within rather than without.
---Discover the will of God and correct your action.
---Never reinterpret the will of God.
---Prayer is not a substitute for action.
*Failure is a time for faith rather than fear.


Study in depth;
download the Life Principles Notes for this sermon.

To learn more about Scripture's take on failure, read Can I Stop Failing?

Watch this broadcast Bring It Home online, or subscribe to the podcast .

source:
http://ww2.intouch.org/site/c.7nKFISNvEqG/b.1590947/k.299E/Facing_Our_FailuresFLO_2Outline.htm

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Precautions
To not let your worries to interfere with faith and trusting the Lord. Please
do know this, it doesn't mean that you just ignore the right thing to do... It
means to Let the Word of God guide you in your concerns. Never let
good judgement and descision making be hindered by choosing foolishly.
Learn the wisdom of the Lord, and His ways will guide you on the path to
take.

Precautions to those who are young in the faith:
If you need counseling, please do see your, parents( if you are under 21),
and/or a pastor, or a professional to help you sort things out.


Even though the Lord wills to bless us with
prosperity, the Abundant life... it is all more than just things and
selfishness.

Now that being said.... Below is a scripture I chose that will help to
know what focus our prayers should have. All prayer should
be in concern of the will of God, not our own carnal desires.
When we are alive in christ, we are not going to live for the carnal minded
things of this world. Remember that, and being a Christian doesn't mean
we give up a life of enjoyment or reward, but it does mean we give up
being selfish to the point of forgetting the will of God.


Matthew 11:29-30
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am
meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.


I suggest to do a study
on what it truly means to take upon yourself
the yoke of Christ Jesus.

Here is a commentary I found to be interesting, it will give
you much to think about:
(Note: this study is not all that easy, but it does make
you use think really hard on the (word) connections to the verse being
studied.) The more you meditate on this study the more it becomes clear.


-------------------------------------------------------------------
Verse 29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

my
Matthew 7:24; Matthew 17:5; John 13:17; John 14:21-24; John 15:10-14;
1 Corinthians 9:21; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:2;
2 Thessalonians 1:8; Hebrews 5:9

and learn
Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:20; Luke 6:46-48; Luke 8:35; Luke 10:39-42;
John 13:15; Acts 3:22-23; Acts 7:37; Ephesians 4:20-21; Philippians 2:5;
1 John 2:6

for
Matthew 12:19-20; Matthew 21:5; Numbers 12:3; Psalm 131:1;
Isaiah 42:1-4; Zechariah 9:9; Luke 9:51-56; 2 Corinthians 10:1;
Philippians 2:7, Philippians 2:8; 1 Peter 2:21-23

and ye
Matthew 11:28; Jeremiah 6:16; Hebrews 4:3-11

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Verse 30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

my yoke
Proverbs 3:17; Micah 6:8; Acts 15:10,28; Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:18;
1 John 5:3

burden
John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 1:4-5; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10;
Philippians 4:13


commentary source:
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge commentary
http://www.studylight.org/com/tsk/view.cgi?book=mt&chapter=011

 

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Dressed For Battle

When you Pray.....
Are you wearing The Full Armor of God?

Dressed For Battle

How often did one of your parents need to remind you to put on your coat
and gloves before you darted off to school in the dead of winter? "Put
something on your head," they would yell as a reminder to a frustrated
and impetuous child ready to play with friends during those precious few
moments before the bell rang.

So it is with our heavenly Father, who stops us at the door of a cold,
harsh world and reminds us to dress properly.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, the apostle Paul details the believer’s warfare,
going to great lengths to provide for us an adequate outfit to protect us
against Satan’s attacks. Many believers don’t realize they were presented
this expensive outfit when they accepted Christ. It doesn’t have a fancy,
embroidered logo, and it certainly isn’t the most popular apparel in the
world. It rarely, if ever, has been in style.

But it is so very costly, purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ.

God intends for us to use this Scripture practically, to verbally adorn
ourselves with the Armor of God every day and by faith live victoriously
in it. As the spiritual battle rages, we obviously need spiritual protection.
Why else would He give us a dress code?

"As believers we are to aggressively act in taking the armor and putting it
on. Some have questioned what this armor is and when or how often
should we put it on," writes Mark Bubeck in his book The Adversary. "The
answer to how often seems fairly obvious. Every time we face the enemy
and battle him we should be sure our armor is in place. Daily we need to
appropriate our provided armor and put on our spiritual dress for battle.
To me, this text indicates the battle will be there on a daily basis. A very
close, hard-fought battle is always before us. Facing that battle without
armor is unthinkable."

"This is the whole armor of God.
It is a complete, total provision of God,
sufficient to equip us to stand against the
very worst Satan can dish out."

As is the case with all Scripture, we must place the Armor of God in
context. What does God say before and after the listing of armor in
Ephesians? Here are a few noteworthy points:

• Christians are to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might"
(Ephesians 6:10). The three synonyms for power in this verse are also
used in Ephesians 1:19 in reference to God’s power that resurrected
Christ. Through God, we have more than adequate resources to defeat
the enemy.

• Three times, Paul tells us to "stand." We’re not to flee. The Greek word
for "stand" (stete) is a military term for maintaining a position.

• Paul warns us against the wiles of the devil and states that we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood. (v. 12, NKJV) Wrestling involves the most
strenuous, fatiguing, hand-to-hand combat and is rife with trickery. Satan
seeks to deceive us, often disguising himself as an angel of light. (2
Corinthians 11:14)

• Satan’s hierarchy is spelled out for us, revealing his astute organization
against us with his rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness, and
spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.

• After listing the armor, Paul reminds us in verse 18 to keep it oiled in
prayer.

"It is a very worshipful and praising experience to meditate upon each
piece of the armor provided for us by God," Bubeck writes. "This is the
whole armor of God. It is a complete, total provision of God, sufficient to
equip us to stand against the very worst Satan can dish out."

It is no coincidence in a book Paul opens with most assertive and
comforting truths of our position and personage in Christ that he closes it
with how we are to defend ourselves. He knew the former would prompt
the necessity of the latter; Satan doesn’t want us to know the truth that
will make us free, and even after we know it he doesn’t want us to believe
it.

That’s what it says, but it doesn’t pertain to you. How could it? Remember
what you did five years ago? Remember what you said last night?

If the enemy is giving you fits, it’s time to get fitted.

In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, A. Skevington Wood writes
that Paul has listed the armor by the order in which a soldier would don it.
The Romans were expert at war, so perhaps this is the best time to do as
the Romans do. Here’s the door to the dressing room:

Belt of Truth

The belt holds together the entire outfit, and there is no greater
foundation for the Christian than truth. Jesus Christ is Truth, and we are
complete in Him. (Colossians 2:10)

"Because the Christian has accepted the truth of revelation and is now
indwelt by the risen Lord, who is himself the truth, his life has truth (or
reality) as its basis and he displays the consistency of character that
springs from it," Wood writes.

The Roman belt or girdle was wide, like an apron, and served multiple
functions. It gathered in the soldier’s tunic, leaving the adversary with
little to grab in hand-to-hand combat. It also helped anchor the
breastplate, the tight fit leaving no cracks for arrows and knives to pierce.
Finally, it supported the scabbard that held the sword. There is no more
penetrating fact than that the Word of God is housed in absolute truth.

And, as Bible teacher and author Warren Wiersbe states, unless we
practice the truth we cannot use the Word of truth.

"Satan is a liar (John 8:44), but the believer whose life is controlled by
truth will defeat him," Wiersbe writes. "The girdle holds the other parts of
the armor together, and truth is the integrating force in the life of the
victorious Christian."

We are to stand on the foundation of the Gospel,
the sure foothold of our lives.

One final point: Citizens knew a Roman soldier was on duty when his belt
was fastened tight. When it hung loose, he was off-duty. Arthur pointedly
asks us to look around and see whether there are a lot of Christians with
their belts drooping around their knees.

Isn’t it easy to get tripped up that way?

"If we don’t understand what our position is and we don’t know the truth
about ourselves, we don’t know the truth about our relationship to Him,
we don’t know the truth about our assurance and our standing with Him,
then when Satan attacks us, the first thing that we’re going to do is we’re
going to be fearful because we will doubt," says Dr. Charles Stanley. "We
will begin to doubt our position, doubt our relationship. And when you and
I begin to doubt, and fear comes upon us, we are already headed for
major defeat."

Breastplate of Righteousness

Christians must make sure they are covered in righteousness–right
thinking and right living. Indeed, this is where we should fuss over
appearances.

Paul’s language is not a reference to the righteousness of Christ applied
to our accounts when we were saved; rather, this is a practical
righteousness in which we live righteously before God and man day by
day. However, we are enabled to do this through the righteousness of
Christ. He serves as both model and guide for the believer.

"Because righteousness, or holiness, is such a distinctive characteristic of
God Himself, it is not hard to understand why that is the Christian’s chief
protection against Satan and his schemes," writes pastor John
MacArthur. "As believers faithfully live in obedience to and communion
with Jesus Christ, His own righteousness produces in them the practical,
daily righteousness that becomes their spiritual breastplate. Lack of
holiness, on the other hand, leaves them vulnerable to the great enemy
of their souls."

Roman breastplates were bronze, chain-mail, or sometimes even leather
with pieces of animal horns and hooves attached. They served primarily
to protect the heart. Since the heart is the seat of our emotions, it is
fitting that we should guard it against enemy provocation. God does not
want us living and making decisions on the basis of emotions or feelings.
He wants us basing our lives on His truth, which is why the breastplate is
fastened to the belt.

Shoes of Peace

Paul admonishes us to shod our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of
peace. As with the rest of the armor, there are multiple purposes for the
shoes.

Three times Paul tells the believer to "stand" against the enemy’s attack.
Roman sandals often had a spike protruding from the bottom to aid
footing. In combat, one slip could mean death. They also were thick
because one tactic during the days of the Roman wars was to plant "land
mines," sharp sticks jutting from the earth’s surface. Immobility would
leave the soldier a sitting target.

We are to stand on the foundation of the Gospel, the sure foothold of our
lives. With this Gospel of peace we are to serve as peacemakers not only
between men but also between God and man. When we serve as
witnesses of Christ, we help foster reconciliation between God and sinful
man. Remember, in Romans 10:15 Paul quotes from Isaiah 52:7: "How
beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace" (NKJV).

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of
God."

If the shoe fits, wear it.

Shield of Faith

The Greek word Paul uses for shield in this instance is one from which is
derived the English word for door. This was a large shield, more than two
feet wide and four feet high. The soldier could duck behind it for full
coverage.

Foes often covered the tips of their arrows with pitch and set them
aflame, but the Romans would form a solid wall, shield to shield, and
emerge unscathed because they had so soaked their shields in water
beforehand that the wet leather extinguished the flame.

The darts that Christians encounter are alight with the fires of hell.
Wiersbe writes that Satan shoots fiery darts toward our hearts and minds,
distracting us from our focus on God and attempting to sidetrack us with
lies, doubts, temptations, and thoughts full of blasphemy and hate. Our
shield is large enough to duck behind and stand firm.

"When he says stand firm in the strength of the Lord, how am I going to
be able to do that?" Stanley asks. "By simply believing. By believing that
when I ask the Lord Jesus Christ to strengthen me for this battle,
strengthen me in this temptation, strengthen me in this trial, I have the
right to expect Him to do that. Why? Because that is my faith. I am
exercising faith. I am believing that . . . as I hold up the shield of faith
and place my trust in Him, God is my defender, He is my shield, and He is
the one who diverts Satan’s attack."

It is not just irony that a sheild is something a soldier at all costs must
grasp; Paul reminds us to foever hold on to our faith. And it always helps
to soak our shields offaith in the Living Water of the Word.

Helmet of Salvation

In warfare, the enemy most often aims death blows toward the head. An
absolutely essential part of armor is the helmet, which for a Christian
means a guarded mind.

The believer has the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), but Satan and
his minions seek to infiltrate our thinking. Satan realizes he cannot have
believers’ souls, so he attempts to steal our joy and security.

By slipping on the helmet of salvation, the believer asks God to protect
his thinking and to help him think godly thoughts in a godly way.

"The helmet refers to the mind controlled by God," Wiersbe writes. "It is
too bad that many Christians have the idea that the intellect is not
important, when in reality it plays a vital role in Christian growth, service,
and victory. When God controls the mind, Satan cannot lead the believer
astray. The Christian who studies his Bible and learns the meaning of
Bible doctrines is not going to be led astray too easily. We need to
be ‘taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus’ (Eph. 4:21). We are to ‘grow in
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’ (2
Peter 3:18)."

Sword of the Spirit

Hebrews 4:12 states, "For the word of God is living and active and
sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of
soul and spirit . . ."

We wield the sword of the Spirit, which is two-edged in that it can be used
for defensive and offensive purposes. Jesus used the sword of the Spirit
in the wilderness, answering Satan’s every temptation with, "It is
written . . ."

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary explains that there are two Greek
words for "word," as in word of God. The word Paul uses in Ephesians
6:17 is rhema, not logos. The latter "denotes . . . ‘the expression of
thought’ –not the mere name of an object." It also can mean ‘The
Personal Word,’ a title of the Son of God. Rhema, however, "denotes ‘that
which is spoken, what is uttered in speech or writing.’ . . . The significance
of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to
take ‘The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,’ Eph. 6:17; here
the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual
Scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of
need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture."

Remember, the root word of sword is His Word.

Yet with all of this formidable armor, it becomes but tinfoil without prayer,
which is exactly why Paul finishes his treatment with an exhortation to call
upon the Lord with all prayer and petition and at all times. Prayer is the
method in which we connect with the source of our strength so that,
having done everything, we may stand firm.

"Strength in the Lord, all the mighty power we need, is available. What an
important fact that is," Bubeck writes. "Warfare against Satan must be
approached from this perspective. As we avail ourselves of our resources,
we’ll still be standing when the smoke clears away from the battlefield and
the enemy will be in retreat and ultimately trampled under our feet (Romans 16:20)."


-Tim Luke, editor

source: http://ww2.intouch.org/site/c.7nKFISNvE ... 05/k.34FB/
Dressed_for_Battle_52806.htm

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From the Derek Prince - Weekly Devotionals:

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word
I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to
me? Psalm 56:3, 4 NIV

One thing I’ve always loved about the Bible since I came to know it is its
honesty. It faces facts, it pictures life as it is, it knows us in our weakness.

The psalmist does not say boldly, “I’ll never be afraid.†He says, “Sure,
there will come times when I may be afraid; but when I’m afraid, I know
what to do. I’ll trust in God. I’ll trust in the Word of God, the unfailing
Word of God, the sure promises of God.â€Â

You see, in the spiritual life often there is a conflict between two areas of
our being. In our emotions we go through all the feelings of fear, maybe
of panic, it grips us. But there’s another area of our beingâ€â€the spiritâ€â€that
will not yield to panic, that does not accept the dictates of the emotions. It
says, “I’ll not accept the verdict of my emotions about this situation. I’ll
turn to God; I’ll remember what the Word of God says. I’ll find the
promise of God that meets my need. And though in my emotions I may
feel fear, in my spirit I trust. And that trust brings me into a security, a
peace, and a confidence that’s much deeper than my emotions.

The emotions are just like the waves on the surface, but deep down in the
spirit, in the depths of our being, there is settled peace and confidence.


~ Derek Prince ~


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I pray that something in this thread has been of some help to someone,
anyone, even if it was just a sentence or two. Even if it was only a word
or two, or some scriptures that have been posted as references.

Praying in accordance to the Word's of God makes all the difference in
whether ones spirit is refreshed or not.

When we look to Christ Jesus and his comforting words, are assured there
is nothing to fear nor anything to worry over.


Trust in His WORD. Have you read His Word today?


Psalms anyone?


God Bless. :bday:

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How To Deal With Grief

How To: Deal With Grief
By Andrew Wommack

The dictionary defines "grief" as, "deep sadness, as over a loss; sorrow"
(NAHD). This is not limited to, but certainly includes, the loss of a loved
one. It includes the sense of loss that many feel for those who died in the
terrorist attacks. People grieve over the loss of relationships, careers,
youth, innocence, and many other things.

Those who have lived any length of time are well acquainted with grief
and know that it is an inescapable part of life. We cannot avoid all grief,
but we can avoid all the destruction that grief can cause.

One of the first things I always minister to those experiencing grief is that
their situation isn't unique. I think this is very important. One of the devil's
most deceptive ploys is to make you think that no one else knows what
you are going through. There have even been songs written
about, "Nobody knows the trouble I feel, nobody knows my sorrow." That
just isn't true.

The Scripture says very plainly, "There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man" (1 Cor. 10:13). Any situation you find
yourself in is not only experienced by others, but it is a common
experience to us all. This is very important to understand. If Satan can
make you believe your situation is unique, then you automatically exempt
yourself from all help that is available. Regardless of how others attempt
to help, you remain beyond their reach because, in your mind, they
haven't experienced your loss and therefore can't understand or help you.
That isn't true.

To truly heal and move beyond grief, you need others. Self-pity, and
every other destructive result of grief, can only function in isolation. When
exposed to the joy in others, the negative effects of grief begin to die,
just as a mold does when it is exposed to light. If Satan can cut you off
from others, then it's like a wolf separating a sheep from the flock: you
are easy prey.

The Apostle Peter spoke about the devil (1 Pet. 5:8) and then
said, "Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions
are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Pet. 5:9).
Peter said there was comfort in knowing that others are experiencing the
same problems.

In the early days of our ministry, people stayed away from our meetings
by the droves. I was having a hard time coping with that. It was causing
me grief. Then I went to some of Kenneth Copeland's first public
meetings.

He rented the Will Roger's Memorial Auditorium in Fort Worth for a three-
day meeting. That auditorium seated 3,500, but he only had one or two
hundred there at the most. When I saw that Kenneth was experiencing
the same numbers problem I was, it really encouraged me. It didn't bless
me that people weren't coming to his meetings, but I took courage that
someone whom I knew was anointed was experiencing the same
problems that I was.

Those experiencing grief need to see that others have experienced similar
things and have lived through it. In fact, people go on to thrive, not just
survive. Anyone who refuses the encouragement and hope that comes
from observing others who have moved on with their lives will have a
very hard time experiencing victory by themselves.

Another very comforting thing to remember in a time of grief is that the
situation is only temporary. One of my favorite phrases in the Bible is, "It
came to pass." That's why it came: to pass. No tragedy is permanent.
Even death is only a temporary separation.

This is exactly the logic the Apostle Paul used to comfort those who had
lost someone they loved. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, he said, "But I
would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the
Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore
comfort one another with these words."

Death is not a permanent split for believers. It is just a long separation.
We will be united with those who have died. Remembering this will bring
comfort (1 Thess. 4:18) and can even provide a lot of positive motivation.

Putting all our tragedies into the perspective of eternity also minimizes
their impact on us. Many of the things people grieve over will be totally
forgotten in a year. All tragedies will be totally forgotten in eternity as we
experience the comfort of the Lord in full measure. Romans 8:18
says, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Paul suffered more persecution than any of us ever have. It not only
involved physical torment but emotional pain that most of us can't even
imagine; yet he was able to call all his trouble just a "light affliction" (2
Cor. 4:17). If Paul's suffering was greater in quantity and quality than
ours, how can we justify calling our burdens great?

His affliction wasn't light because it was less than ours, but because he put
it into a different perspective. He said his afflictions were light because
they were "but for a moment" (2 Cor. 4:17). After a million years in the
presence of the Lord, all the hardships of his life would seem like nothing.
That's true for all of us.

I once had a woman tell me about her terrible situation and ask for
prayer for her marriage. She was facing her fourth divorce, and she didn't
think she could survive another one. She told me she wasn't a Christian,
but she knew prayer worked and wanted me to pray for her.

I said, "Now, let me get this straight. You aren't a Christian, and you know
you are headed for hell; yet you want me to pray for your marriage and
not your salvation?" She said, "Yes." I said, "After you've been burning in
hell for a thousand years, you won't even care whether you were ever
married or not. Your marriage isn't the important thing. We need to pray
for your salvation!" She agreed and I had the privilege of leading her to
the Lord! We then prayed for her marriage.

God cares about our marriages and wants them to work, but I'm saying
that in light of eternity, marriage is not the most important thing.
Remembering this will help those who have suffered tragedy in their
marriages.

Many people today have exalted lots of things to a level of importance
that reflects how temporally minded they are. When we think of all that's
awaiting us in eternity, our problems shrink down to a manageable size.

Probably the most important thing I minister to those experiencing grief is
that God is not the source of their grief. I believe this is absolutely
essential. Anyone who believes that God directly causes their grief, or
indirectly allows it to happen, is headed for trouble.

Many people are totally shocked at that last statement. It is assumed by
most that nothing can happen without God's approval. It's like God has a
big desk in heaven. All orders have to originate from there, or at least
pass through there to get His stamp of approval. That is not so. Lots of
things happen that God has nothing to do with.

Look at 2 Peter 3:9. It says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
You can't get it any clearer than that. It is not God's will for any to perish,
but they do. Jesus even said most would enter through the broad gate
into destruction instead of the narrow gate that leads to everlasting life
(Matt. 7:13-14). This is directly against God's will. It is not God who
destines people to go to hell, and it's incorrect to say God allows it.

The Lord does everything possible to stop people from going to hell. He
sent His only begotten Son to earth to bear our sins. He sent His Holy
Spirit to convict us and draw us to Him. He sends laborers across our
paths. Any person who goes to hell will have to climb over all these
roadblocks that the Lord has put in their way. It's not God allowing them
to go to hell. It's people's own free will that God gave them which causes
their destruction, not God.

Believing that God causes or allows the things that bring us grief genders
many bad things. For one, it turns many people against the Lord.

I was just with a man who was fighting for his life. He has been to death's
door many times. He was believing that the Lord was allowing all of this to
teach him something. He attributed his illness to the Lord.

His wife was so hurt by watching him suffer that she's become bitter. She
wouldn't go with him to some of the meetings where he was seeking
healing. He didn't understand why. I told him that if I was his wife and I
thought God was destroying the person I loved, I would be bitter toward
God too. That's what's happened to many people.

Two very famous people, whom all of you know, have inadvertently
testified to this truth. They have said their antagonism against the Lord
stemmed from people they loved who died or suffered, and the church
told them this was the work of God. They turned against the Lord by their
own admission and have influenced many others to do the same.

This is all a result of Christians incorrectly ascribing to God a sovereignty
that makes Him responsible for everything that happens. That is not what
the Bible teaches. In situations that cause grief, it is very comforting to
know that God is not the author of, nor the one who allows, our tragedies.
The Lord is not insensitively standing by and allowing us to suffer. He is
touched with our feelings (Heb. 4:15) and has sent His Holy Spirit to
comfort us in whatever trial may come (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

This article covers only a very small portion of the material included on
my four-part album entitled, How To: Deal With Grief. This is not just for
those who have lost loved ones. It will reveal principles that will work to
overcome all of life's disappointments.



source: http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/deal_grief

 

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The Root Of All Grief

The Root Of All Grief
By Andrew Wommack

God created us to live our lives focused on Him. His purpose from the
very beginning was that we should be “God-conscious,†not “self-
conscious.†Until Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, they were so unconscious of self, they did
not even consider their own nakedness. But after their disobedience, they
became fully aware of themselves and wanted to hide from God. Their
focus had shifted from God to self.

Self-consciousness is just another way of saying self-centeredness, and
self-centeredness really is the root of all grief. People grieve for a lot of
reasons, but if they really took the time to analyze their grief, they would
find that it is always the result of self being deprived of something it
wants. So, the answer to dealing with grief can be found in dealing with
self. If you can ever get a revelation of this truth, I guarantee you, it will
set you free and change your life forever.

For example, there are times when there is a real financial crisis in
someone’s life, but most of the time financial problems come from trying
to live above one’s means, attempting to fulfill self-centered desires. If
you were to look at your situation objectively, not as a typical Westerner
but from a world point of view, you would find that at your poorest, you
still have more than most of the people on the planet. It’s not that I am
against prosperity. I’m not. But it’s important to have the right
perspective. If you’re miserable or unhappy over the fact that you don’t
have a bigger home, a newer car, or a wide-screen television, something
is wrong. It’s our self-centeredness that turns a want into a need and then
that need into a personal crisis, which causes us to grieve.


It breaks my heart to see so many Spirit-filled believers acting just as
selfishly as the world. Trying to use God to obtain the things they couldn’t
get in the world, they’re still focused on what’s in it for them. They either
never knew or have forgotten some of the most important scriptures in
the Bible concerning finances. Matthew 6:33 says,

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.â€Â


God has already promised that our needs are met in Him and that they
will be added to us as a by-product of seeking His kingdom first. It’s
completely unnecessary to focus your attention on trying to get something
from God that He has already provided. When you do, it leads you right to
the door of self-centeredness.

Even in the case of the death of a loved one, our grief is rooted in our
personal loss. We focus on the situation from our point of view. “How can
I go on without him or her? I won’t ever see him or her again on earth.â€Â
We convince ourselves that we are mourning over the death of this
person, but it’s really over how it will affect us. If that person was born
again and is now with Jesus, it should be a time to rejoice. Can you
imagine the atmosphere of a believer’s funeral if we focused on the one
who was with Jesus and what he or she was experiencing, rather than our
own self-centered thoughts about what we’re losing? Instead of grieving,
what an exciting time of thanksgiving and praise it would be.

Another huge source of grief is the grief that many experience in their
relationships with other people. Why, because when you are focused on
self, it’s easy to be offended. If you’re experiencing bitterness, hurt, or
anger in your relationship with your boss, a friend, or as is most often the
case, someone in your own family, God’s Word leaves you no room to
misunderstand the reason. Proverbs 13:10 says,

“Only by pride cometh contention.â€Â

This verse makes it clear that pride is the source of all contention. I know
there are a lot of people who don’t want to hear this, but it’s not your
circumstances nor the personalities involved in your situation that causes
you grief; it’s your pride. Pride is not a leading cause of contention; it’s
the only cause. However, pride is like a stickâ€â€it has two ends.

Most people recognize the one end of arrogance and haughtiness as
pride, but fail to see the other end, which is low self esteem resulting in
false humility, timidity, or shyness. People who consider themselves timid
or shy are really just full of pride. Their low self-esteem causes self to
dominate their thoughts. They are so focused on self that all they can
think about is what people may think if they say or do something wrong.
To protect self, they become timid and shy, causing themselves much
grief. If they were asked to give a testimony or lay hands on someone for
prayer, their pride would prevent it. They would not take the risk of SELF
being criticized.

Those with false humility, on the other hand, believe that to debase self is
humility and to exalt self is pride. But that’s wrong too. This is what James
4:10 says,

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.â€Â


What happens when you humble yourself (with the correct understanding
of true humility), and God starts to exalt you? The truly humble will let
Him, but the proud won’t. They are too concerned about what others think
and will try to deflect it by debasing themselves. It’s just another form of
pride.

True humility is agreeing with what God’s Word says about who you are
and doing what God’s Word says you can do. Then, quit worrying about
what people may think, whether they praise you or condemn you. It just
doesn’t matter when you are truly humble and dead to self.

I had to work through this very thing when I first started ministering. God
used a wise man to set me free when he said, “Andy, if you ever get
more concerned about the people you are ministering to than you are
about yourself and what they think of you, God will use you!†For that to
happen, it meant I had to humble myself and accept the fact that God had
a message He wanted me to deliver that would one day help change
the body of Christ’s perception of God. For a man who was so introverted
that I could hardly look someone in the eye, I had to die to self and
become alive in Christ.

The Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:11,

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with
him.â€Â


And in Galatians 2:20 we read,

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the
Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.â€Â


These Bible verses teach that we are supposed to be dead to self and
alive in Christ. And, if we were really dead, it would be impossible to be
offended. Dead people never feel a thing. You can kick them, insult them,
or even lie about them, and they just don’t care. They won’t grieve over
anything you say about them or do to them, because they’re dead. The
reason you are so easily hurt or offended is that you are still alive to self
and full of pride.


However, if you begin to focus on becoming dead to self and alive in
Christ, you will probably fail. I used to resurrect self every morning in
prayer while trying my best to kill it. I confessed all of the sins I thought I
had committed: “Pride! Arrogance! Lack of study of the Word!†On and on,
it would go until at the end of my devotional time, I had spent the entire
time focused on myself. Stupid, stupid!

The correct way to deal with self is to shift your focus. Find someone who
needs prayer or ministry. Help them in their situation, and you will find
yourself forgetting about your own needs. You’ll also discover that what
you thought was so important is really insignificant. Love for another
person will always overcome self. It will require that you give yourself
away and become a living sacrifice, but it’s worth it.

Romans 12:1 says,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service.â€Â


Isn’t it interesting that self-sacrifice is considered by God to be our
reasonable service? To do that, you must humble yourself, reject self
as “lord,†and lay it on the altar. The only problem with a living sacrifice is
that it tends to crawl off the altar. Even if you make this commitment in
your heart right now, you’ll have to renew it again tomorrow, next week,
next month, and next year. As long as you are here on earth, you will
have to make the decision to love Jesus more than self, every day.

We have been lied to about what is important and what will produce the
fruit of love, joy, and peace in our hearts. In a day when self is being
exalted to the max, understanding the consequences, or the fruit, of self-
centeredness is critical. In the end, it will only lead to grief. To help you, I
have a booklet called Self-Centeredness: The Root of All Grief. It may
ruffle a few feathers, but it will help you understand the truth about self-
centeredness. And if you’re willing to apply what you learn, it will set you
free from the grief you’re experiencing in your life.



source: http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/root_grief

 

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"For me to live is Christ."
- Philippians 1:21


The believer did not always live to Christ. He began to do so when God
the Holy Spirit convinced him of sin, and when by grace he was brought to
see the dying Saviour making a propitiation for his guilt. From the
moment of the new and celestial birth the man begins to live to Christ.
Jesus is to believers the one pearl of great price, for whom we are willing
to part with all that we have. He has so completely won our love, that it
beats alone for him; to his glory we would live, and in defence of his
gospel we would die; he is the pattern of our life, and the
model after which we would sculpture our character. Paul's words
mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his
life was Christ-nay, his life itself was Jesus. In the words of an ancient
saint, he did eat, and drink, and sleep eternal life. Jesus was his very
breath, the soul of his soul, the heart of his heart, the life of his life. Can
you say, as a professing Christian, that you live up to this idea? Can you
honestly say that for you to live is Christ? Your business-are you doing it
for Christ? Is it not done for self- aggrandizement and for family
advantage? Do you ask, "Is that a mean reason?" For the Christian it is.
He professes to live for Christ; how can he live for
another object without committing a spiritual adultery? Many there
are who carry out this principle in some measure; but who is there that
dare say that he hath lived wholly for Christ as the apostle did? Yet, this
alone is the true life of a Christian-its source, its sustenance, its fashion,
its end, all gathered up in one word-Christ Jesus. Lord, accept me;
I here present myself, praying to live only in thee and to
thee. Let me be as the bullock which stands between the plough
and the altar, to work or to be sacrificed; and let my motto be, "Ready for
either. "

~ Spurgeon ~


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This week's promise: God's timing is perfect


Prayer is the key

Luke 18:1 NLT
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them they must never give up…


Luke 18:1 KJV
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;




Saved by a Stamp

God's answers to prayers can affect generations to come. In fact, if not for his gracious answers to a prayer offered many years ago, my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would not know his blessing today.

The story is simple. My cousin Mirea and I wanted to visit friends in America. Sensing that we would not abandon our grand idea, my father sent us on our way with heartfelt prayers for our safety.

Our trip across Europe took several days. Finally we arrived on the western shores of England. But as we prepared to set sail for America, we were told there was a problem with our papers. Officials at the immigration office said Mirea was missing a stamp on a paper that would allow her to leave the country. We would have to stay in England for another week until Mirea's papers could be corrected, they said.

Mirea and I went to the steamship office to ask if we could exchange our tickets for a ship leaving later in the month. The man at the window was glad to make the exchange. He was sure he could resell our berths. People were eager to sail on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

As we wandered back to the hotel, Mirea and I were disappointed that we had to stay in England. But, when the news reached us a few days later of the sinking of the Titanic, we both began to cry, in sadness for our lost shipmates, but also in relief, realizing how close we had come to death ourselves. God, in his mercy, had answered by father's father's prayer for our safety with something as small as a missing stamp. How good is God!
~Elsa Sturit Kint ~


Adapted from The Prayer Bible Jean E. Syswerda, general editor, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), p 1495.


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Our prayers bring us into God's presence

How is your prayer life?

The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

Psalm 145:17-19 NLT

Then Saul said, "Let's chase the Philistines all night and destroy every last one of them." His men replied, "We'll do whatever you think is best." But the priest said, "Let's ask God first."
1 Samuel 14:36 NLT

The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.
Mark 1:35 NLT

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT


About this week's promise

The most universally practiced yet least understood of human experiences, prayer is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. Its simplest definition is communication with God. Yet so often we approach prayer like a one-way telephone conversation, forgetting that God also wants to speak to us. Prayer appears nearly on every page of the Bible as the very essence of a faith relationship with the living God.





source: A subscription I get in email: God's Daily Promises 7/20/2207


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Our prayers bring us into God's presence


How should I pray?



For days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:4 NLT

Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven.
Give us our food for today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9-13 NLT


Aligning my will to God's

E. Stanley Jones described the effect of prayer on us like this:

Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God. Aligned to God's redemptive will, anything, everything can happen in character, conduct, and creativeness. The whole person is heightened by that prayer contact. In that contact I find health for my body, illumination for my mind, and moral and spiritual reinforcement for my soul. "Prayer is a time exposure to God," so I expose myself to God for an hour and a half or two hours a day, asking less and less for things and more and more for Himself. For having Him, I have everything. He gives me what I need for character, conduct, and creativeness, so I'm rich with His riches, strong in His strength, pure in His purity, and able in His ability.



source: A subscription I get in email: God's Daily Promises 7/21/2207

 

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Our prayers bring us into God's presence

What can I learn from Nehemiah?


When I heard [how things were going in Jerusalem], I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said, "O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel.

Nehemiah 1:4-6 NLT

The king asked, "Well, how can I help you?"
With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, "If it please Your majesty and if you are pleased with me, send me to Judah to rebuild the city when my ancestors are buried."
Nehemiah 2:4-5 NLT


Nehemiah's example

With little time to think, Nehemiah prayed to God. Eight times in this book we read that he offered a spontaneous prayer. Nehemiah prayed at any time, even while talking with others. He knew that God is always present, always in charge, always listening, and always ready to answer.

Nehemiah could confidently pray to God throughout the day because he had established an intimate relationship with him during times of extended prayer. If we want to be confident about our brief prayers, we need to take time to cultivate a strong relationship with God through times of in-depth prayer.




source: A subscription I get in email: God's Daily Promises 7/22/2207

 

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Our prayers bring us into God's presence

What is the best time to pray?

We can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.

1 John 5:14-15

I love the Lord because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!
Psalm 116:1-2


Seize any time

And talking of sleepiness, I entirely agree with you that no one in his senses, if he has any power of ordering his own day, would reserve his chief prayers for bedtimeâ€â€obviously the worst possible hour for any action which needs concentration. The trouble is that thousands of unfortunate people can hardly find any other. Even for us, who are the lucky ones, it is not always easy. My own plan, when hard-pressed, is to seize any time and place, however unsuitable, in preference to the last waking moment. On a day of travellingâ€â€with, perhaps, some ghastly meeting at the end of itâ€â€I'd rather pray sitting in a crowded train than put it off till midnight when one reaches a hotel bedroom with aching head and dry throat and one's mind partly in a stupor and partly in a whirl. On other, and slightly less crowded, days a bench in a park or a back street where one can pace up and down will do.

~C. S. Lewis in Letters to Malcolm ~



source: A subscription I get in email: God's Daily Promises 7/23/2207

 

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Our prayers bring us into God's presence


How can I make my prayers effective?

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT



Praying effectively

Paul urges Timothy to lift up requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving.

A request is a need, a deep desire for something we don't haveâ€â€something only God can supply.

A prayer is a word of praise and adoration. A more accurate translation of this word from the original Greek might be to "worship in earnest."

Intercession is praying on behalf of others. Our prayers should regularly reflect this kind of selfless lifestyle.

Thanksgiving involved remembering those past prayers that have already been answered, acknowledging that we not only trust God's supremacy and involvement in our life but also how his hand has moved and guided us in the past.

When we pray effectively, we do more than communicate with Godâ€â€we commune with him. We become one in mind and spirit and purpose. Today, let the focus of your prayer time be to connect with God in a very real and personal way, not as a slave would petition his master, but as a son would enjoy the company of a loving and gracious father.



source: A subscription I get in email: God's Daily Promises 7/25/2207

 

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Our prayers bring us into God's presence

Where do we find God's presence?



Open for me the gates where the righteous enter; and I will go in and thank the Lord. Those gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there. I thank you for answering my prayer and saving me!

Psalm 118:19-21 NLT

The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely.
Psalm 145:18 NLT

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God's presence, assured of his glad welcome.
Ephesians 3:12 NLT


Prayer brings us to His presence

[Psalm 118] pictures a victorious yet battle-weary king at the helm of a throng of grateful people entering the gates of the temple to thank God for saving them. During those times, the temple represented God's presenceâ€â€the place where followers would go to pray to the Lord. Today, we enter into God's presence in a car, at work, or in the aisles of a grocery storeâ€â€wherever we take time to pray to him. We can be sure God hears our prayers and answers each one wherever and whenever they are uttered. And by doing so, he gives us even more reasons to pray.

Just like the victorious king in this psalm, we should enter God's presence by thanking him for answering prayers. What answers to prayer are you thankful for today?




source: A subscription I get in email: God's Daily Promises 7/26/2207