Prayer is so much more than the blessing at the supper table. It’s a conversation with the Creator of the universe. He could have left us completely on our own, but He gave us the privilege to come to Him in prayer. Today we’re going to look at a few principles of prayer and how we can apply it to our quiet time. ~ ~ ~ SCRIPTURE - JAMES 1:5-6 ~ ~ ~ The book of James is often called the “practical book” of the Bible. It gives us a myriad of opportunities to actually do what God is calling us to do. James 1:5-6 is no exception. When it comes to the topic of prayer, there are two things that the author is bringing to our attention: ASK OF GOD When in prayer, we need to remind ourselves frequently who we are speaking with. This isn’t just some foreign god from another planet. This is Jehovah, who was, and is, and is to come. When we really grasp who it is that we are addressing, our prayer life will explode. In the Gospel of Matthew, not only is God a powerful King, He’s also an intimate Father (Matthew 6:9). It’s a personal relationship. With that being said, I challenge you to watch out for false teachings. Many that claim the name of Christianity will tell you that it’s okay to take your prayers to church leaders and saints. God is the only one who can answer our prayers and offer complete forgiveness for our sins. No amount of ritual will ever do that for us. That’s why it’s important to have that relationship, and ask of God. ASK IN FAITH The problem with lukewarm Christianity is this; there is no faith. James is adamant when he says that the man without faith may as well have not asked at all. Jesus said in the Gospels that faith the size of a mustard seed is more acceptable than nothing. Going back to James 5:16, it says that the prayer of the righteous man availeth much. Righteous also means faithful, or full of faith. Faithful can also mean no obstruction in the way of serving the Lord. A lack of faith in your prayer life displays unbelief. My friends, that will get you nowhere very quickly. HOW TO TALK TO GOD
Talking with God shouldn’t be a monotonous process. It’s not chanting or using big, fancy words behind a pulpit. It’s a reverent understanding that God is our Father and Friend. The songwriter that wrote the hymn “I Must Tell Jesus” knew the importance of knowing God in that way. They also knew the importance of telling the Lord everything, even down to the smallest, minute part of your day. Prayer is also a two-way conversation. You talk to Him and He talks back. Unbelievers might think that’s a little crazy, but it’s biblical truth. For instance, you may be asking for wisdom on a decision you are trying to make. God speaks primarily through His Word, so He may lead you to read Proverbs 3:5-6. This then leads you to make a biblical, sound decision based on the Word of God, therefore obeying it. If you take anything from this, when you have a powerful prayer life, prayer leads to obedience. But it has to be a two-way conversation; you can’t do all the talking. Psalm 46:10 calls us to “be still and know…” that He is God. Often we do so much of the talking that we forget to simply enjoy His presence. Prayer isn’t just for asking for things to happen in our lives. It’s also for resting and thankfulness. This may be the time for you to reflect on a passage you’ve read or a sermon you heard. ~ ~ ~ WANT MORE? CHECK OUT THIS BLOG POST ON PRAYER Prayer is important, but be sure you’re in the Word of God too! My book Strength For Each Day will help you dive into the Bible and it has a short prayer at the end of each page. Pick it up if you’d like!
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~ ~ ~ Sometimes all we need is a good old-fashioned Bible study. You know, the ones where we zip through more than one verse to really delve deep into the Word of God; hence the reason why we don't have one main focal point today. So, in moving on to our study, let's see what God has to say about Satan's lies. NOTE: Keep an eye on your email. I'm sending out a freebie to go along with this post. If you haven't signed up for the email listings, you can do so here. ~ ~ ~ Let me give you a little scenario. You're walking along the path of life and everything is going smooth. But suddenly, it hits. Finances are torn apart, your family is in shambles, and your health is wearing thin. That's when the devil has his chance to kick you down and start telling you lies. Child of God, I want you to know that you don't have to believe his lies. You don't have to sit there and take that abuse. The Word of God is your weapon and we're going to expose a few of those lies and I'm going to arm you with a few verses to fight against those lies. The first lie that Satan throws at us is that we're not good enough. Well, it's partially true. In our own strength, we aren't good enough. But aren't you glad there is a Savior who thought enough of you to go to an old rugged cross for you? Because of that sacrifice, you are good enough. God doesn't see those sins anymore. John 3:16 makes it very clear that WHOSOEVER believes. You are a whosoever. I am a whosoever. You are valuable enough to him that, even if you were the only person on earth, He'd still die for you. The second lie is that we're not strong enough. Again, not in our own power. But God...aren't you glad for the "But Gods"? Aren't you glad when God "buts" in? 2 Corinthians 12:9 gives us the key to kicking that lie to the curb. Even in our weakness, we are made strong through God's power. God still gets the glory through it all, but it is us that benefits from that strength. Even in our weakest moments, we can still call out to Almighty God. Isn't that amazing? The devil loves to use this next one; you're not able. He loves to leave out the part where God says "not in your own strength". He wants us to feel defeated and helpless. He wants us to feel like we're not able to handle the stress of choosing between groceries and medications. His very plan from the beginning was to divert our focus from God. 2 Corinthians 9:8 and Ephesians 3:20 both state that God...is...able. He exceeds our expectations. When you feel like God is too late, that's when He shows up and shows out. Mary and Martha thought Jesus was too late for the graveside service for Lazarus, but thank God He's never too late. And He is able. Some of us ladies can relate to this one. We wake up every morning in the mirror and nit-pick at every flaw. Acne scars, dark circles, stray hair...and the devil says, "You're not beautiful enough". Psalm 139:14 says point blank that you were made in God's image. You were made by His very own hands. He doesn't make mistakes. We traded ashes for beauty when He saved us. Then the devil says, "Well, you're not 'Christian' enough". Proverbs 3:5-6 throws that one out the window. Lean on God for guidance, not other Christians. Trust God and not doctrine or religious conventions. While doctrine and denomination are important, it should never outweigh what the Word of God says. We give in to this lie when we try to look and sound Christian the best we can, but in reality, all we need is the heart change. Everything else comes after. What other lies can you think of that the devil may have thrown at you? What verses can you think of to fight against it? Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ SCRIPTURE REFERENCE - ECCLESIASTES 2:24 ~ ~ ~ When the word 'Christian' is brought up today, images flood our minds of fuddy-duddy people that will do nothing but keep their noses stuck in their Bibles. While that is commendable, the Christian life is so much more than that. Today's passage even tells us that fun itself is from the hand of God; we just have to discern wisely what is godly and what is not. For example, going out on a roadtrip to the mountains could be a wonderful way to have fun and still meditate on God's provision and creativity. Observing the mountains and the deep slope into the valley reminds us that God is with us no matter what stage of life we are in. It also reminds us that God is our Creator and He alone rules it all. He also gave us dominion over His creation. Take this into consideration; taking dominion does not mean trampling over things that are lesser than us. Fun can also mean gardening to tend to the Lord's ground, caring for the animals such as dogs, cats, and horses. Speaking of animals, what about a trip to the zoo? That would be an awesome opportunity to show the children in your life what all God has created. Fun with each other as a family in Christ is also important. Church events and corporate worship were meant for Christians to get together and enjoy the things of God; not sit sourly in a pew until the service is over. So yes, God intends for all Christians to have some sort of fun. He intended for us to rest and enjoy life. What kind of activities do you like doing that honors the Lord while still having fun? ~ ~ ~
Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay. ~ ~ ~ 2 CHRONICLES 7:13-14 ~ ~ ~ If you've been in church long enough, you're probably familiar with today's Scripture. It has shown up a lot on my social media feeds ever since the coronavirus pandemic started, and I feel the Lord has a message for us within these words. The question has been raised many times whether or not this virus is God's plan or Satan's attack, and hopefully this blog post will address this concern. It can be looked at from both angles if you think about it closely. God's permissive will allows Satan to attack us; look at Job 1-2. Job teaches that, although God allows it, there is still a limit on how much harm the devil can do to us. Let's take a look at the two plans individually. GOD'S PLAN? OR IS IT GOD'S WRATH? The past few weeks have really shown the true colors of those who claim the name of Christ. Some say that it is God's plan because of the above verse in 2 Chronicles. When we stray away from God, often He allows things to come upon us to draw us back to Him. Scoffers of the Christian faith would have us to believe that God is cruel and unjust for doing that, but they forget that God is our Father as well; He disciplines His children just as an earthly father would with his own. Others have said that it is God's wrath on unbelievers and Christians who have turned away from Him. Either way, we as believers have to trust God that He knows what He is doing and that He has always been in control. SATAN'S WEAPON Still others suggest that the coronavirus is Satan's way of dispelling God's influence on the world. Satan has always been on the move but God ultimately has the say-so (remember Job). Christians themselves blame Satan and the government because of the very fact that churches and houses of worship are being shut down. What they fail to realize is that 1) God commands us to obey the laws of the land and 2) submit to authority. He will deal with the wrongdoers in His own time. Regardless of how you believe, we must always trust God. Never, ever let the devil get a foothold or you will set yourself up for anxiety and disaster. Remember that God is Jehovah-Jireh, the God who heals. If we simply let go of the worldly things and turn to Him, He WILL intervene one way or another. May God keep you safe and healthy, and I hope that you are well! Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ SCRIPTURE REFERENCE - LUKE 20:38; LUKE 24:5 ~ ~ ~ This past week, Christians all around the world celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sadly, the same Christians spend the rest of the year as though the Lord is dead; they spend the rest of the year thinking that His power is dead. Fortunately, those of us who take the Bible seriously have quite a promise to look forward to. Twice in the book of Luke, the writer emphasizes that Jesus is alive. He is the God of the LIVING. 1) The book of Revelation doesn't sugarcoat the fact that the Lord doesn't want a dead church. He works with those who He makes alive through His Spirit. 2) The writer of the book of Luke suggests that many people, including Christians, are searching for Jesus in dead places. He's not in the drug house. He's not in the bar. He's certainly not among unbelieving friends. Search for Him in the Bible-believing churches and Bible-believing Christians. The Resurrection wasn't meant for us to sit around and mourn the life we once knew. It was meant to stir us to a new life and a new way. Ask the Lord to revive your heart and begin a fresh life. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers on Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ Unless you live under a rock, you're probably aware of the chaos that the coronavirus has created. From stores running out of toilet paper to churches going on lockdown, nobody is sure of anything anything. One thing that a lot of people are concerned about is the sudden responsibility of making sure their children have an education outside of the classroom. This is also true of adult learners in high school and in college. As someone who was homeschooled in my high school years, I didn't always follow a plan. I just kinda stayed in my PJs, put in my required hours, and watched All My Children. But over the years I've come across a few things I wish I knew or things I wish I would have followed. These tips will work for both high schoolers and college students. Feel free to share! ~ ~ ~ 1) Make a to-do list. You won't be scrambling quite as much to figure out what needs to be done if you have a simple to-do list. Priorities come first, so if you have a report due in two days, make sure that's at the top. If you need to read a chapter by Friday, write it in accordingly. 2) Create a schedule. As a homeschooler, the temptation to do whatever whenever was very real. You might be thinking, "Oh hey I can get up at 11 and not worry". Not true! For one thing, you'll throw your body's clock out of whack and by the time the schools open back up, you're going to struggle to get back into a routine. So, stick to a schedule. If your particular school's classes do not require you to be online at a certain time, be reasonable. Perhaps you're a math wiz at 9am; do your math in the mornings. History buff in the afternooons? Go for it! Don't forget to schedule in your to-do's! 3) Take regular breaks. Schedule in a "lunch time" or a recess (let's get real; Netflix) time. Or maybe this is a good time for your "gym" session. Take this time to recharge with food, water, and at the least, light stretches. 4) Use the Pomodoro technique. Set a timer on your phone or computer for twenty minutes and work for that allotted time period. Take a break for five to ten minutes, come back, and repeat. 5) Change up your study space. Stuck at a desk? Move to the couch or bed. Always studying on the bed? Give yourself more structure at your desk. 6) Stay clean! You've probably heard that two million times over the past two or three weeks, but I'm not just referring to your hands. Wipe off your desk regularly (at least once a day). When you have your study materials out, only have out what you need. You don't need your book report notes while studying the Pythagorean Theorem. Do you have any homeschool tips? Have you studied at home before? Leave your comments! A shameful note from the author: So, this week I realized I was at a loss for where to start on studying believer's baptism. There's maybe one or two Scriptures that deal with it, and I wasn't quite sure how to approach the subject. However, I did some looking and I wanted to share a teaching by a pastor that I trust. I feel that he was able to bring out some points that I would not have been able to tactfully bring up. Please know that this is completely biblical, and if it steps on your toes, it's working! ~ ~ ~ Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ Author's note: I had a bit of a mishap while planning posts. A different one was supposed to go up today, but I'm going with the Lord on this one. ~ ~ ~ There is absolutely no doubt, if you are a true student of the Word of God, you'll recognize that we are on the brink of seeing the Lord's return. What a blessed hope! Let's see what the Bible has to say about that glorious day. JESUS HIMSELF SAID IT WOULD HAPPEN Matthew 14:3 In context, the above Scripture pictures Jesus comforting the disciples. His death was imminent, and I imagine the disciples were pretty disheartened. If you spent three years with a close friend only to find out they were going away for an undisclosed amount of time, you'd be disheartened too. However, Jesus gave them a soothing thought; He wouldn't be away forever. He said He was going to prepare a place (heaven) for us. Then, He'd return to bring those who trust in Him back with Him. WE WILL MEET HIM IN THE CLOUDS 1 Thessalonians 4:17 There are those that mock the "fly away" doctrine, but it's there in plain black and white. While the word "rapture" is not specifically mentioned in Scripture, Paul describes the experience as being "caught up". Christ Himself will be in the clouds accompanied by holy angels as our souls reunite with our resurrected bodies. Those who are already gone will rise first, and then those of us who are on the earth will follow after. A TRUMPET WILL SOUND 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:31 There are two views on this particular event: - Both the unsaved and saved will hear the trumpet - Only the saved will hear it While there are no Scriptures that specifically support either claim, we do know from the words of Paul and Christ Himself that a trumpet will indeed sound and be heard. At the moment of the sound, we will be caught up as mentioned in the last point. Some have even speculated that the sound will not be an actual trumpet as we would see in an orchestra; it will be the ram's horn that the Israelites used for various events in the Old Testament. Regardless of your views, the bottom line is that we must be ready for the trumpet. IT WILL BE SUDDEN 1 Corinthians 15:52 In the Gospels, Jesus warns that the rapture will be as the twinkling of an eye. I'm no scientific expert, but I imagine that's pretty fast. All the more reason to be ready right? We don't know when it's going to happen, but the Lord gives us ample opportunity to watch for the signs. In the words of Christ, it will be as a thief in the night; unexpected, and for some, devastating. THE UNSAVED WILL BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Luke 12:40 Here's where we get to the nitty-gritty. We don't mess around when it comes to the things of God. We don't play around with salvation. Unfortunately, there are souls out there who think they have all the time in the world. There are some who flat out refuse to believe in the work at the cross. Would you believe me if I told you there are some sitting on church pews who think that way? My friend, please do not be caught off guard by the rapture. Do not be one of the millions who will watch as their friends and loved ones disappear into the sky. Getting left behind is not going to be a party. Unless you come to know the Lord during the Tribulation, you will not stand a chance at making it to heaven. ~ ~ ~ It is no coincidence that I should be writing this post during the series my church is doing on the End Times. I mentioned earlier that it felt like a planning accident, but with God, I just don't feel like it was quite the accident I thought it was. If you're reading this and you don't know Jesus, please make it right today. Time is surely running short. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ In our first installment of the I Believe series, I think it's important to know the Person behind it all. Let's take a look in Scripture and see what it says about Jesus. Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah gives us a glimpse of the promised Messiah. He refers to Him as "Emmanuel", located in Isaiah 7:14. His words are echoed by the angel Gabriel as he announced the news to Mary. The word Emmanuel means, "God with us". How fitting for the child who would one day dwell among men as God in the flesh. All throughout the gospels, Jesus is pictured driving out the forces of hell. James 2:19 says that even the demons believe and tremble. They know who Jesus is. Mark 3:11 and Luke 4:41 both say in their accounts that the demons flat out cry, "You are the Son of God!" That is why it is imperative for us as believers to realize that simply saying the name of Jesus will give us the help we need when we are fighting a battle. We are to call on His name. Christ's heavenly Sonship is affirmed at the baptism at the Jordan River. God Himself shows up and says, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you". While the life of Jesus was dedicated from the very beginning, this was a special moment. This was the special bond between Father and Son when Christ's purpose was fully realized. There are many more places in the Bible that point out who Jesus is in relation to God the Father, but I'd like to stop with the words of Jesus Himself. In the gospel of John (10:30), he states, "I and the Father are one." The Pharisees thought it was blasphemy to count oneself equal with God, but we know as believers that it is true. Nobody could have done the miracles that He did without the power of God. Nobody could have sacrificed themselves as He did without the strength and love of God. ~ ~ ~ Check out the Bible and see where else you can proof of Christ's Sonship with the Father. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ SCRIPTURE REFERENCE - 1 JOHN 5:5; ROMANS 10:9; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 ~ ~ ~ There are two references I'd like to bring your attention to. One is biblical and the other secular, but has biblical principles. Scenario 1: Jesus has been led into the wilderness by the Spirit. The devil takes this opportunity and runs with it; he tries to tempt Jesus into testing God. Fortunately Jesus knew enough Scripture to defend Himself against the devil's schemes. He was able to drive him away by standing firm on what He believed in. Scenario 2: While a lot of Christians tend to steer away from shows like Good Omens, I found myself fascinated only to find a little nugget of wisdom hidden in the script. Adam and his friends are caught in a predicament. They are about to come face to face with the devil and it seems as though all hell is literally about to break loose. The children, however, had a biblical mindset that we all need to learn from. Before the devil made his entrance, Adam's friends confronted the horsemen. They stood firm, like Jesus, in what they believed in. One in particular said, "I believe in a clean world." And the others seems to follow suit. Then what happened? The horsemen, also referred to as the more powerful demons, were destroyed by the word of what the children believed in. Shortly after, the devil comes crashing out of the ground and stands face to face with Adam. While everyone else was trembling with fear, Adam had a different plan in mind. He made eye contact with the devil and said, "You are not my father". Which leads us to the point of today's post. As children of God, we are to know what we believe and stand firm on it. With the right Scripture, we will be able to ruin any plans that hell itself would have for us. The devil doesn't rule us; our Heavenly Father does. With that being said, what are the practical things we can do to stand firm? - Read your Bible. We can't know what we believe if we aren't in the Word; never take a man's word for it. - Pray for understanding. If something doesn't make sense, the Holy Spirit is your best teacher. - Get under good Bible-believing teachers and preachers. With your Bible in hand, pay close attention to what they have to say. - Use Scripture to thwart the devil. What do you believe? Is there Scripture to back it up? |
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