Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.… Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. —Luke 4:1–2, 14–15, NIV
Fasting and prayer are essential to receiving a clear vision of God’s specific path for our lives. Many times after a season of prayer and fasting we have a more defined understanding of the part we play in the body of Christ, as well as a greater sense of our particular spiritual giftings (1 Corinthians 12).
Fasting and prayer are essential to receiving a clear vision of God’s specific path for our lives.
We learn a lot from observing the circumstances surrounding the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry (Luke 4). Notice that He went into the desert “full of the Holy Spirit.” However, He returned to Galilee “in the power of the Holy Spirit.” Being full of the Spirit is to know God and His character; walking in the power of the Spirit is when we know that we have the God-given strength and authority in our lives to walk out His will.
The power of the Spirit is essential for us to accomplish the assignment God has for us. God could be leading you to fast so that you can receive His specific instructions for your life. He will empower you not just to know Him but to walk in His power to accomplish what He has called you to do.
That’s exciting!
A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week. We must draw upon God’s boundless store of grace from day to day, as we need it.
—D. L. Moody
FATHER'S DAY IS JUNE 19.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. —Luke 4:14
After praying and fasting for forty days, Jesus returned to Galilee empowered to do all the Father had called Him to do. Jesus was so powerful in public because He was so prayerful in private.
To accomplish the assignments God has for our lives, we also need the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us. God does not expect us to go through the challenges of life without this power.
Prayer and fasting bring us to the place where we can power up. Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit is living with a comprehension of the God-given strength and authority in our lives to walk out His will.
Jesus was so powerful in public because He was so prayerful in private.
Through prayer and fasting, God can prepare us for what lies ahead. We might not know what obstacles we’re going to face, but we can know that God will be faithful to us. He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and He will empower us to meet whatever challenges life may bring.
Every movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.
—D. L. Moody
After praying and fasting for forty days, Jesus returned to Galilee empowered to do all the Father had called Him to do. Jesus was so powerful in public because He was so prayerful in private.
To accomplish the assignments God has for our lives, we also need the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us. God does not expect us to go through the challenges of life without this power.
Prayer and fasting bring us to the place where we can power up. Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit is living with a comprehension of the God-given strength and authority in our lives to walk out His will.
Jesus was so powerful in public because He was so prayerful in private.
Through prayer and fasting, God can prepare us for what lies ahead. We might not know what obstacles we’re going to face, but we can know that God will be faithful to us. He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and He will empower us to meet whatever challenges life may bring.
Every movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.
—D. L. Moody
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Pray Instead
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. —Philippians 4:6–7, MSG
Worry seems inescapable in modern life. No doubt there is plenty to worry about: our kids, the economy, global warming, war, disease… Sometimes it might seem that worry has even replaced Jesus as the focal point of our lives. Jesus Himself admonished us several times not to worry. And the apostle Paul told us that there is an antidote to worry…prayer.
Our timeless God owns the future. He knows exactly what is going to happen, and He promises to be with us every step of the journey.
When we worry about something, we are spending energy on it, wondering what might happen, rehearsing the “if onlys” and “what ifs” in our mind. Why not take that same energy and refocus it on prayer instead? When we worry, we are simply talking to ourselves about our fears, but when we pray, we are taking those fears to God. He knows exactly what is going to happen, and He promises to be with us every step of the journey.
As we are nearing a close to this season of prayer and fasting, let’s heed Paul’s words to “let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers.” Then the peace of God will guard your heart.
Growing an unshakeable trust in God as you face your tomorrow is not about self-improvement or mastering your circumstances, but about God—who He is, what He does, and how we can trust Him.
—Anne Graham Lotz
We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.
—Oswald Chambers
Worry seems inescapable in modern life. No doubt there is plenty to worry about: our kids, the economy, global warming, war, disease… Sometimes it might seem that worry has even replaced Jesus as the focal point of our lives. Jesus Himself admonished us several times not to worry. And the apostle Paul told us that there is an antidote to worry…prayer.
Our timeless God owns the future. He knows exactly what is going to happen, and He promises to be with us every step of the journey.
When we worry about something, we are spending energy on it, wondering what might happen, rehearsing the “if onlys” and “what ifs” in our mind. Why not take that same energy and refocus it on prayer instead? When we worry, we are simply talking to ourselves about our fears, but when we pray, we are taking those fears to God. He knows exactly what is going to happen, and He promises to be with us every step of the journey.
As we are nearing a close to this season of prayer and fasting, let’s heed Paul’s words to “let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers.” Then the peace of God will guard your heart.
Growing an unshakeable trust in God as you face your tomorrow is not about self-improvement or mastering your circumstances, but about God—who He is, what He does, and how we can trust Him.
—Anne Graham Lotz
We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.
—Oswald Chambers
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Taking Off the Grave Clothes
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” —John 11:44, NIV
When it comes to the transforming power of God working in someone’s life, God often uses people to bring about divine life change. The story of Lazarus in John 11 illustrates how it was the power of Jesus’ prayer and spoken word that resurrected Lazarus from the dead, but the disciples played a role in this miracle too.
When it comes to the transforming power of God working in someone’s life, God often uses people to bring about divine life-change.
Lazarus was bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face had been wrapped with a cloth during his time in the tomb. When he arose from his death and came out of the tomb, Jesus called on the disciples to help in the transformation process. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” The disciples needed to help Lazarus. Likewise, we all have a part to play in the lives of those around us.
God has done some incredible things around us during this fast. Could it be that someone around you is still walking around in grave clothes? What do you need to help them let go of?
Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.
—E. M. Bounds
True prayer is measured by weight—not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length.
—Charles H. Spurgeon
When it comes to the transforming power of God working in someone’s life, God often uses people to bring about divine life change. The story of Lazarus in John 11 illustrates how it was the power of Jesus’ prayer and spoken word that resurrected Lazarus from the dead, but the disciples played a role in this miracle too.
When it comes to the transforming power of God working in someone’s life, God often uses people to bring about divine life-change.
Lazarus was bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face had been wrapped with a cloth during his time in the tomb. When he arose from his death and came out of the tomb, Jesus called on the disciples to help in the transformation process. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” The disciples needed to help Lazarus. Likewise, we all have a part to play in the lives of those around us.
God has done some incredible things around us during this fast. Could it be that someone around you is still walking around in grave clothes? What do you need to help them let go of?
Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.
—E. M. Bounds
True prayer is measured by weight—not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length.
—Charles H. Spurgeon
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Alignment with Heaven
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. —Matthew 6:10, KJV
We have all heard the phrase, “just like heaven on earth.” When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9–13, He provided some insight into what “heaven on earth” might look like.
In reality, heaven is a place where God’s will reigns supreme. If we want to have a taste of heaven on earth, then our prayer should be like Jesus’: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done…” The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does in heaven.
On a more personal level, we can pray that His will be unhindered in our own life. Rather than imposing His will upon us, God gives us the choice to surrender to it with trust and gladness. As we yield to the Lordship of Christ over every area of our lives, we come into agreement with Him. We experience alignment with heaven and position ourselves to taste a little bit of heaven here on earth.
The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does in heaven.
God’s will then becomes what we desire and the thing we most seek after. We enter into the incredible adventure of participating in God’s plan to move His kingdom forward on the earth. This is where we find the most fulfilling and joyous life, but it all starts with one personal “yes, Lord” on our part.
Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, His power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.
—Watchman Nee
We have all heard the phrase, “just like heaven on earth.” When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9–13, He provided some insight into what “heaven on earth” might look like.
In reality, heaven is a place where God’s will reigns supreme. If we want to have a taste of heaven on earth, then our prayer should be like Jesus’: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done…” The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does in heaven.
On a more personal level, we can pray that His will be unhindered in our own life. Rather than imposing His will upon us, God gives us the choice to surrender to it with trust and gladness. As we yield to the Lordship of Christ over every area of our lives, we come into agreement with Him. We experience alignment with heaven and position ourselves to taste a little bit of heaven here on earth.
The purest motivation for our prayers is that God will be glorified and that His will would reign supreme in our lives, just as it does in heaven.
God’s will then becomes what we desire and the thing we most seek after. We enter into the incredible adventure of participating in God’s plan to move His kingdom forward on the earth. This is where we find the most fulfilling and joyous life, but it all starts with one personal “yes, Lord” on our part.
Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, His power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.
—Watchman Nee
Monday, January 24, 2011
Cultivating Spiritual Hunger
Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Mark 1:12–13
Even Jesus disconnected from the world to fast and pray. Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of Jesus going to the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. They also describe other times when Jesus pulled away from the demands of the crowds, His ministry, and even His closest friends to pray.
There are times that we, too, need to pull away from the things of the world and focus on God. “The things of the world” can certainly include more than just food. In fact, in our world they are more likely television, movies,
Facebook, Twitter, cell phones, and the Internet. None of these things are wrong in and of themselves, but they are avenues for a mental and spiritual crowd to gather around us and drown out the Holy Spirit’s voice.
Fasting is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of daily life and consciously choosing to bring God into greater focus. Giving up physical nourishment is the first step in engaging that process. If you think about it, though, in day-to-day life we nourish our souls as well as our bodies. We do so through reading, talking, socializing, playing, and entertainment. When our souls are full of those things, we often don’t hunger for God.
Fasting is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of daily life and consciously choosing to bring God into greater focus.
During this time of fasting, we are sure to feel physical hunger, but let’s be intentional about cultivating spiritual hunger as well. Let’s draw away from the crowd and lay aside for a season the activities we use to nourish our souls. Instead let’s enter a state of spiritual hunger, a craving for righteousness. Jesus said that being spiritually hungry is a blessed state, because there we can be sure of being filled with food that truly satisfies our deepest needs (Matthew 5:6).
Prayer is reaching out and after the unseen; fasting, letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepens, confirms the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.
—Andrew Murray
Even Jesus disconnected from the world to fast and pray. Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of Jesus going to the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. They also describe other times when Jesus pulled away from the demands of the crowds, His ministry, and even His closest friends to pray.
There are times that we, too, need to pull away from the things of the world and focus on God. “The things of the world” can certainly include more than just food. In fact, in our world they are more likely television, movies,
Facebook, Twitter, cell phones, and the Internet. None of these things are wrong in and of themselves, but they are avenues for a mental and spiritual crowd to gather around us and drown out the Holy Spirit’s voice.
Fasting is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of daily life and consciously choosing to bring God into greater focus. Giving up physical nourishment is the first step in engaging that process. If you think about it, though, in day-to-day life we nourish our souls as well as our bodies. We do so through reading, talking, socializing, playing, and entertainment. When our souls are full of those things, we often don’t hunger for God.
Fasting is a means of disconnecting from the distractions of daily life and consciously choosing to bring God into greater focus.
During this time of fasting, we are sure to feel physical hunger, but let’s be intentional about cultivating spiritual hunger as well. Let’s draw away from the crowd and lay aside for a season the activities we use to nourish our souls. Instead let’s enter a state of spiritual hunger, a craving for righteousness. Jesus said that being spiritually hungry is a blessed state, because there we can be sure of being filled with food that truly satisfies our deepest needs (Matthew 5:6).
Prayer is reaching out and after the unseen; fasting, letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepens, confirms the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.
—Andrew Murray
Friday, January 21, 2011
Praying Boldly
And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant.” —1 Kings 18:36
The sacrifice referenced above was a declaration that Elijah was a servant of the Most High God. Elijah belonged to God, and he represented God to the people. However, Elijah’s boldness was not a result of who he was; it was the result of knowing God!
As children of God under the New Covenant, we don’t have to be timid or fearful when coming to God in prayer. We can approach Him boldly.
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. (Hebrews 4:16, AMP)
It’s intimidating to think about taking a fearless, confident, bold attitude when coming before God in prayer. Yet this is exactly what we are admonished to do! God has already settled the issue of our access to Him, but we can be assured our access is not because of our own righteousness. It’s because of what Jesus did on the cross.
We can come to the throne in such outrageous boldness because Jesus was outrageously righteous! When we pray, we come to God in the authority of Jesus’ name, and we can be confident that we will find grace, mercy, and perfectly timed help.
Fasting is not an end of itself; it is a means by which we can worship the Lord and submit ourselves in humility to Him. We don’t make God love us any more than He already does if we fast, or if we fast longer. Fasting involves God in the problem. Then in the strength of God, victory is possible.
—Elmer L. Towns
The sacrifice referenced above was a declaration that Elijah was a servant of the Most High God. Elijah belonged to God, and he represented God to the people. However, Elijah’s boldness was not a result of who he was; it was the result of knowing God!
As children of God under the New Covenant, we don’t have to be timid or fearful when coming to God in prayer. We can approach Him boldly.
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. (Hebrews 4:16, AMP)
It’s intimidating to think about taking a fearless, confident, bold attitude when coming before God in prayer. Yet this is exactly what we are admonished to do! God has already settled the issue of our access to Him, but we can be assured our access is not because of our own righteousness. It’s because of what Jesus did on the cross.
We can come to the throne in such outrageous boldness because Jesus was outrageously righteous! When we pray, we come to God in the authority of Jesus’ name, and we can be confident that we will find grace, mercy, and perfectly timed help.
Fasting is not an end of itself; it is a means by which we can worship the Lord and submit ourselves in humility to Him. We don’t make God love us any more than He already does if we fast, or if we fast longer. Fasting involves God in the problem. Then in the strength of God, victory is possible.
—Elmer L. Towns
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Prayer and the Process
Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” -1 Kings 18:43–44, NLT
“How do I know God is going to say yes to my prayers?”
This is a common question many people have as they seek a confident prayer life. However, it’s important to recognize that prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer. It is our responsibility to check our motives and believe God hears us.
We see an example of the process of prayer in this story of Elijah (1 Kings 18). Elijah climbed to the top of the mountain to pray for rain to come. As he waited for the rain, he continued to pray, believing God would answer. When he finally saw a small cloud, he told Ahab to get ready because the rain was coming. Elijah knew what to pray for, and God heard him the first time he prayed. But there was preparation that needed to take place in order for Elijah to receive the answer to his prayer.
Prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer.
It is no mistake that God waited until Elijah had prayed seven times before He answered. In the Bible, seven represents completion. In this story, seven represents the completion of God’s process regarding Elijah’s prayer request.
God does not want merely to answer our prayers; He wants to spend time with us to prepare us for the answer that will come. Many times we want to skip over the process involved in engaging God in prayer as we wait for our answer. But it is this very process that works maturity in us and prepares us for the answers our prayers bring (James 1:4).
The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came.… Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory. —R. A. Torrey
“How do I know God is going to say yes to my prayers?”
This is a common question many people have as they seek a confident prayer life. However, it’s important to recognize that prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer. It is our responsibility to check our motives and believe God hears us.
We see an example of the process of prayer in this story of Elijah (1 Kings 18). Elijah climbed to the top of the mountain to pray for rain to come. As he waited for the rain, he continued to pray, believing God would answer. When he finally saw a small cloud, he told Ahab to get ready because the rain was coming. Elijah knew what to pray for, and God heard him the first time he prayed. But there was preparation that needed to take place in order for Elijah to receive the answer to his prayer.
Prayer is not just about the answer; it’s also about glorifying God in the process of waiting for the answer.
It is no mistake that God waited until Elijah had prayed seven times before He answered. In the Bible, seven represents completion. In this story, seven represents the completion of God’s process regarding Elijah’s prayer request.
God does not want merely to answer our prayers; He wants to spend time with us to prepare us for the answer that will come. Many times we want to skip over the process involved in engaging God in prayer as we wait for our answer. But it is this very process that works maturity in us and prepares us for the answers our prayers bring (James 1:4).
The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came.… Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory. —R. A. Torrey
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Clean House
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. —Romans 8:5–6
Have you ever looked at the top of your refrigerator or in the deep recesses of your couch cushions and noticed the filth that has built up over time? Even though we might clean on a regular basis, there are times when we need to go…a little deeper. We realize that what appeared to be clean on the surface was in all actuality, quite filthy.
The same thing can happen spiritually. As we go about our daily lives, there are things that can build up over time. Even if we worship, pray, and read our Bible regularly, the different temptations, pressures, and cares of this world can build up quietly and end up consuming our lives. Without even realizing it, we can lose our peace, joy, and passion for the things of God. Our service to God, which used to fill us with life and excitement, becomes a tiresome duty that we must fulfill.
Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our minds off of the things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit. Fasting offers an incredibly effective way to get into the nooks and crannies of our souls and bring all those dusty old habits, broken mindsets, and rusty attitudes out into the light of God’s truth.
Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our mind off of the things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit.
In fasting and prayer, our service to God returns to something we want to do rather than something we have to do.
One of the reasons for fasting is to know what is in us.… In fasting it will come out. You will see it. And you will have to deal with it quickly or smother it again.
—John Piper
Have you ever looked at the top of your refrigerator or in the deep recesses of your couch cushions and noticed the filth that has built up over time? Even though we might clean on a regular basis, there are times when we need to go…a little deeper. We realize that what appeared to be clean on the surface was in all actuality, quite filthy.
The same thing can happen spiritually. As we go about our daily lives, there are things that can build up over time. Even if we worship, pray, and read our Bible regularly, the different temptations, pressures, and cares of this world can build up quietly and end up consuming our lives. Without even realizing it, we can lose our peace, joy, and passion for the things of God. Our service to God, which used to fill us with life and excitement, becomes a tiresome duty that we must fulfill.
Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our minds off of the things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit. Fasting offers an incredibly effective way to get into the nooks and crannies of our souls and bring all those dusty old habits, broken mindsets, and rusty attitudes out into the light of God’s truth.
Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our mind off of the things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit.
In fasting and prayer, our service to God returns to something we want to do rather than something we have to do.
One of the reasons for fasting is to know what is in us.… In fasting it will come out. You will see it. And you will have to deal with it quickly or smother it again.
—John Piper
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Fervent Prayer
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
—James 5:16
Fervency speaks to our level of intensity, passion, and persistence. Many times, we can lose our passion in prayer or stop praying for certain things altogether because we lose heart or give up. But God invites us to keep them before Him and trust Him for an answer in His time (Matthew 7:7–11).
The Old Testament prophet Elijah practiced a lifestyle of fervent, intense prayer and witnessed incredible miracles in his lifetime. In the book of Kings, the story is told of a woman whose only son became ill and died (1 Kings 17:17–24). When Elijah heard the news, he quickly took action and did what he knew best—he fervently cried out to God. Elijah fully believed that God could bring the boy back to life, and he prayed not just once but three times that the boy’s soul would return to him. He prayed fervently and repeatedly and he wasn’t going to give up. This was the result: “Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived” (verse 22).
Many times, we can lose our passion in prayer or stop praying for certain things altogether because we lose heart or give up. But God invites us to keep them before Him and trust Him for an answer in His time.
Elijah’s prayer was answered through his persistence and fervency. God hears your prayers as well and will bring an answer in His perfect timing. But don’t be discouraged or disheartened if the answer takes time to arrive or is not exactly what you expected. Commit to praying to God with passion and persistence, trusting the answer will come in God’s perfect way at the perfect time.
—James 5:16
Fervency speaks to our level of intensity, passion, and persistence. Many times, we can lose our passion in prayer or stop praying for certain things altogether because we lose heart or give up. But God invites us to keep them before Him and trust Him for an answer in His time (Matthew 7:7–11).
The Old Testament prophet Elijah practiced a lifestyle of fervent, intense prayer and witnessed incredible miracles in his lifetime. In the book of Kings, the story is told of a woman whose only son became ill and died (1 Kings 17:17–24). When Elijah heard the news, he quickly took action and did what he knew best—he fervently cried out to God. Elijah fully believed that God could bring the boy back to life, and he prayed not just once but three times that the boy’s soul would return to him. He prayed fervently and repeatedly and he wasn’t going to give up. This was the result: “Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived” (verse 22).
Many times, we can lose our passion in prayer or stop praying for certain things altogether because we lose heart or give up. But God invites us to keep them before Him and trust Him for an answer in His time.
Elijah’s prayer was answered through his persistence and fervency. God hears your prayers as well and will bring an answer in His perfect timing. But don’t be discouraged or disheartened if the answer takes time to arrive or is not exactly what you expected. Commit to praying to God with passion and persistence, trusting the answer will come in God’s perfect way at the perfect time.
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Spirit Is Willing
And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
—Romans 7:18–20, NLT
There’s an internal war that rages within each of us. Paul described this so well in Romans 7. Though we desire to do the right thing, we don’t have the power to do so in our own efforts and we mess up.
The good news is that we don’t have to rely on our own strength to make right decisions. We don’t have to be dominated by our sinful nature and end up doing the things we don’t want to do. But the only way we can live this kind of life is by yielding to the Holy Spirit and relying on the strength of Jesus Christ, not our own.
When we’re facing struggles, we must rely on God’s power alive within us through the Holy Spirit. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit resides in us and places in us the desire to do what is pleasing to God (Hebrews 10:16). The Holy Spirit always wants to do what is right and to uphold the perfect will of God, pleasing the Father in every way.
When we’re facing struggles, we must rely on God’s power alive within us through the Holy Spirit.
It is our job to lay down our stubborn fleshly will and yield to the will of God. In that moment, the Holy Spirit will be there to help us. Let’s learn to yield to and become totally reliant upon the Holy Spirit.
[Prayer] turns ordinary mortals into men of power. It brings power. It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God.
—Samuel Chadwick
—Romans 7:18–20, NLT
There’s an internal war that rages within each of us. Paul described this so well in Romans 7. Though we desire to do the right thing, we don’t have the power to do so in our own efforts and we mess up.
The good news is that we don’t have to rely on our own strength to make right decisions. We don’t have to be dominated by our sinful nature and end up doing the things we don’t want to do. But the only way we can live this kind of life is by yielding to the Holy Spirit and relying on the strength of Jesus Christ, not our own.
When we’re facing struggles, we must rely on God’s power alive within us through the Holy Spirit. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit resides in us and places in us the desire to do what is pleasing to God (Hebrews 10:16). The Holy Spirit always wants to do what is right and to uphold the perfect will of God, pleasing the Father in every way.
When we’re facing struggles, we must rely on God’s power alive within us through the Holy Spirit.
It is our job to lay down our stubborn fleshly will and yield to the will of God. In that moment, the Holy Spirit will be there to help us. Let’s learn to yield to and become totally reliant upon the Holy Spirit.
[Prayer] turns ordinary mortals into men of power. It brings power. It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God.
—Samuel Chadwick
Friday, January 14, 2011
Return to Me
“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” —Joel 2:12 NIV
If we look at the kind of fasting that took place in the Old Testament, it would be easy to assume that the reason for fasting is to gain forgiveness. In the book of Joel, the Israelites had wandered far from God, and their sinfulness had resulted in famine and pestilence in the land. Through the prophet Joel, God called them to repentance, ordering them to declare a sacrificial fast, which along with mourning and weeping, would show God the sincerity of their repentance. In return the prophet said that perhaps God would “turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing” (verse 14, NIV).
Such a fast of repentance is seen in the Old Testament time and again, because under the Old Covenant, man had to rely on his works and sacrifices to avert the wrath of God. But under the New Covenant, we don’t have to fast for forgiveness. Every wrong we have done and will do was forgiven at the cross, and when we accept Christ, we live under the New Covenant of grace and forgiveness!
First Thessalonians 5:9 tells us that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (NIV). So then, why do we, as people under the New Covenant, devote ourselves to fasting and prayer?
We don’t have to fast for forgiveness. Every wrong we have done and will do was forgiven at the cross.
As we walk with God, there are times that we feel far from Him or disconnected. Joel’s words resonate with us, even if we live in a context of grace: “return to me with all your heart.” There are times we realize that though we have chosen to follow Jesus, the flame of our love for Him has grown cold.
Your time spent in prayer each day of the fast can result in a new richness, a rewarding connection with the Father. No matter where you are on your journey with Jesus, you can always take a step closer toward Him.
I believe the power of fasting as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.
—Bill Bright
If we look at the kind of fasting that took place in the Old Testament, it would be easy to assume that the reason for fasting is to gain forgiveness. In the book of Joel, the Israelites had wandered far from God, and their sinfulness had resulted in famine and pestilence in the land. Through the prophet Joel, God called them to repentance, ordering them to declare a sacrificial fast, which along with mourning and weeping, would show God the sincerity of their repentance. In return the prophet said that perhaps God would “turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing” (verse 14, NIV).
Such a fast of repentance is seen in the Old Testament time and again, because under the Old Covenant, man had to rely on his works and sacrifices to avert the wrath of God. But under the New Covenant, we don’t have to fast for forgiveness. Every wrong we have done and will do was forgiven at the cross, and when we accept Christ, we live under the New Covenant of grace and forgiveness!
First Thessalonians 5:9 tells us that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (NIV). So then, why do we, as people under the New Covenant, devote ourselves to fasting and prayer?
We don’t have to fast for forgiveness. Every wrong we have done and will do was forgiven at the cross.
As we walk with God, there are times that we feel far from Him or disconnected. Joel’s words resonate with us, even if we live in a context of grace: “return to me with all your heart.” There are times we realize that though we have chosen to follow Jesus, the flame of our love for Him has grown cold.
Your time spent in prayer each day of the fast can result in a new richness, a rewarding connection with the Father. No matter where you are on your journey with Jesus, you can always take a step closer toward Him.
I believe the power of fasting as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.
—Bill Bright
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tune In
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27
Have you ever tried to tune in a radio station only to be frustrated by finding static rather than music? And when you fiddled with the dial again, suddenly you hear a clear signal. The fact is that clear signal always existed on the airwaves. The difference is that now you have adjusted your tuner to the right frequency.
In our hectic lives, there are so many signals bombarding our senses that it can become difficult to distinguish God’s voice from the deafening static noise of life. Fasting enables us to tune out the world’s distractions and tune in to God. As we fast, we deny our flesh. When we deny our flesh, we become more in tune to the Holy Spirit and can hear God’s voice more clearly. If you truly listen for God’s voice, you will hear it. And when you hear it, your faith will increase.
Fasting enables us to tune out the world’s distractions and tune in to God.
If you desire to tune out the static of life and really tune into the voice of God, come to Him first and foremost with ears willing to listen and a heart ready to obey what He says (Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 66:2). The more we practice being in His presence, the clearer and more recognizable His voice becomes.
Fasting is more important, more important perhaps than many of us have supposed.… When exercised with a pure heart and a right motive, fasting may provide us with a key to unlock doors where others may have failed; a window opening up new horizons in the unseen world, a spiritual weapon of God’s provision, mighty to the pulling down of strongholds.
—Arthur Wallis
Have you ever tried to tune in a radio station only to be frustrated by finding static rather than music? And when you fiddled with the dial again, suddenly you hear a clear signal. The fact is that clear signal always existed on the airwaves. The difference is that now you have adjusted your tuner to the right frequency.
In our hectic lives, there are so many signals bombarding our senses that it can become difficult to distinguish God’s voice from the deafening static noise of life. Fasting enables us to tune out the world’s distractions and tune in to God. As we fast, we deny our flesh. When we deny our flesh, we become more in tune to the Holy Spirit and can hear God’s voice more clearly. If you truly listen for God’s voice, you will hear it. And when you hear it, your faith will increase.
Fasting enables us to tune out the world’s distractions and tune in to God.
If you desire to tune out the static of life and really tune into the voice of God, come to Him first and foremost with ears willing to listen and a heart ready to obey what He says (Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 66:2). The more we practice being in His presence, the clearer and more recognizable His voice becomes.
Fasting is more important, more important perhaps than many of us have supposed.… When exercised with a pure heart and a right motive, fasting may provide us with a key to unlock doors where others may have failed; a window opening up new horizons in the unseen world, a spiritual weapon of God’s provision, mighty to the pulling down of strongholds.
—Arthur Wallis
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Fasting Removes Unbelief
Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
—Matthew 17:18–21
When we pray and fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will; by praying and fasting, we are the ones changed. Coming into alignment with God helps us curb our doubts and fears. When we pray and fast, the thing that leaves—the thing that goes out—is our unbelief. It is when we have faith to believe that we can pray with confidence and know that “nothing will be impossible.”
When we pray and fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will; by praying and fasting, we are the ones changed.
Ask God to strengthen your heart to fully believe Him and His Word. It is okay to recognize and acknowledge if you struggle with unbelief. That’s the first step in allowing God to strengthen your faith and bring you into alignment with His plan for your life.
Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect…“above all that we ask or think.”
—Andrew Murray
—Matthew 17:18–21
When we pray and fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will; by praying and fasting, we are the ones changed. Coming into alignment with God helps us curb our doubts and fears. When we pray and fast, the thing that leaves—the thing that goes out—is our unbelief. It is when we have faith to believe that we can pray with confidence and know that “nothing will be impossible.”
When we pray and fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will; by praying and fasting, we are the ones changed.
Ask God to strengthen your heart to fully believe Him and His Word. It is okay to recognize and acknowledge if you struggle with unbelief. That’s the first step in allowing God to strengthen your faith and bring you into alignment with His plan for your life.
Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect…“above all that we ask or think.”
—Andrew Murray
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
God Hears Your Prayers
“Lord, the one you love is sick.” Jn 11:3 NIV
John records, “Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick’” (NCV). Someone went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus and because they went, Jesus responded. The healing didn’t take place for several days, but it was set in motion the moment the Lord was called on. Have you ever wondered where your prayers go? “There was silence in heaven…And…Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden pan…with the prayers of all God’s…people. The angel put this offering…before the throne. The smoke…went up…to God with the prayers of God’s people” (Rev 8:1-4 NCV). Why was there silence in heaven? Because someone was praying! Heaven pauses to hear the prayers of someone like you. The prayers of all God’s…people…went up…to God. Isn’t that awesome! Your words don’t stop until they reach the heart of God, so keep praying. Notice, the friend who went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus said, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” He didn’t base his appeal on the imperfect love of the one in need, but on the perfect love of Jesus. He didn’t say, “The one who loves you is sick.” He said, “The one you love is sick.” That’s different. The power of prayer doesn’t depend on the virtue of the one who prays, but on the unchanging love of the one who hears. Aren’t you glad? You may be deeply flawed, you may not understand the mystery of prayer, but this much is clear: action begins in heaven when someone on earth prays.
John records, “Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick’” (NCV). Someone went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus and because they went, Jesus responded. The healing didn’t take place for several days, but it was set in motion the moment the Lord was called on. Have you ever wondered where your prayers go? “There was silence in heaven…And…Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden pan…with the prayers of all God’s…people. The angel put this offering…before the throne. The smoke…went up…to God with the prayers of God’s people” (Rev 8:1-4 NCV). Why was there silence in heaven? Because someone was praying! Heaven pauses to hear the prayers of someone like you. The prayers of all God’s…people…went up…to God. Isn’t that awesome! Your words don’t stop until they reach the heart of God, so keep praying. Notice, the friend who went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus said, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” He didn’t base his appeal on the imperfect love of the one in need, but on the perfect love of Jesus. He didn’t say, “The one who loves you is sick.” He said, “The one you love is sick.” That’s different. The power of prayer doesn’t depend on the virtue of the one who prays, but on the unchanging love of the one who hears. Aren’t you glad? You may be deeply flawed, you may not understand the mystery of prayer, but this much is clear: action begins in heaven when someone on earth prays.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Your Vision - You Must "Fulfill" It (2)
“Write the vision and make it plain.” Hab 2:2 NKJV
There’s an interesting picture in Amos chapter three, verse twelve: “A shepherd who tries to rescue a sheep from a lion’s mouth will recover only two legs or a piece of an ear. So it will be” (NLT). Picture Satan as that lion, you as that lamb, Jesus as that shepherd coming to pick up what’s left of you, and watch how God brings victory out of defeat. Has life torn your dream to pieces? With God, you only need two things for a comeback: (1) An ear to hear. Stop listening to voices that discourage you; it’s not over until God says it’s over! God told Ezekiel to prophesy to a valley full of dead, dry bones (See Eze 37:4): “So I prophesied…and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army” (Eze 37:10 NKJV). Your hopes may be dead and your soul dry, but if you listen to what God is saying, your dream will live again. (2) A leg to stand on. The God who gave Job twice as much at the end of his trouble as he started with before it, isn’t finished with you yet. Read what He’s promised and stand on His Word. Achan was stoned to death in the Valley of Achor for stealing the spoils after the battle of Jericho. End of story? No, later, God in His mercy said, “I will open a door of hope in the valley of Achor” (See Hos 2:15). You may be living with your consequences, but by God’s grace you can live to see your dream fulfilled.
There’s an interesting picture in Amos chapter three, verse twelve: “A shepherd who tries to rescue a sheep from a lion’s mouth will recover only two legs or a piece of an ear. So it will be” (NLT). Picture Satan as that lion, you as that lamb, Jesus as that shepherd coming to pick up what’s left of you, and watch how God brings victory out of defeat. Has life torn your dream to pieces? With God, you only need two things for a comeback: (1) An ear to hear. Stop listening to voices that discourage you; it’s not over until God says it’s over! God told Ezekiel to prophesy to a valley full of dead, dry bones (See Eze 37:4): “So I prophesied…and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army” (Eze 37:10 NKJV). Your hopes may be dead and your soul dry, but if you listen to what God is saying, your dream will live again. (2) A leg to stand on. The God who gave Job twice as much at the end of his trouble as he started with before it, isn’t finished with you yet. Read what He’s promised and stand on His Word. Achan was stoned to death in the Valley of Achor for stealing the spoils after the battle of Jericho. End of story? No, later, God in His mercy said, “I will open a door of hope in the valley of Achor” (See Hos 2:15). You may be living with your consequences, but by God’s grace you can live to see your dream fulfilled.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Your Vision - You Must "Fulfill" It! (1)
“Write the vision and make it plain.” Hab 2:2 NKJV
When your dream comes from God and you commit yourself to it, it will “surely” be fulfilled. Yes, you’ll stumble, be stretched to new limits, and maybe even stagger across the finish line, but you’ll make it. You’ll get to the Promised Land. Look at Moses: he had a message to deliver to Pharaoh, yet he was a poor speaker. He had marriage problems. He was a “sole trader” who had to reach his breaking point before he learned to delegate responsibility to others. He had a problem with his temper; as a result God said, “You’ll see the Promised Land but you won’t get there” (See Dt 34:4). But Moses finally got there! Fourteen hundred years later he stood with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration: right in the middle of it! You say, “I’ve failed so badly.” David committed adultery, yet his Psalms still bring strength to multitudes and he’s quoted in pulpits around the world. God didn’t excuse David, but He forgave him and used him. “David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God…was buried” (Ac 13:36 NKJV). The Bible describes God as “ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness” (Neh 9:17 NKJV). Notice the words “ready to pardon.” God is ready when you are; all you have to do is turn to Him. Before Habakkuk wrote about his vision, he said, “I will…watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected” (Hab 2:1 NKJV). Corrected but not discarded! Isn’t that wonderful? That’s how grace works.
When your dream comes from God and you commit yourself to it, it will “surely” be fulfilled. Yes, you’ll stumble, be stretched to new limits, and maybe even stagger across the finish line, but you’ll make it. You’ll get to the Promised Land. Look at Moses: he had a message to deliver to Pharaoh, yet he was a poor speaker. He had marriage problems. He was a “sole trader” who had to reach his breaking point before he learned to delegate responsibility to others. He had a problem with his temper; as a result God said, “You’ll see the Promised Land but you won’t get there” (See Dt 34:4). But Moses finally got there! Fourteen hundred years later he stood with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration: right in the middle of it! You say, “I’ve failed so badly.” David committed adultery, yet his Psalms still bring strength to multitudes and he’s quoted in pulpits around the world. God didn’t excuse David, but He forgave him and used him. “David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God…was buried” (Ac 13:36 NKJV). The Bible describes God as “ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness” (Neh 9:17 NKJV). Notice the words “ready to pardon.” God is ready when you are; all you have to do is turn to Him. Before Habakkuk wrote about his vision, he said, “I will…watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected” (Hab 2:1 NKJV). Corrected but not discarded! Isn’t that wonderful? That’s how grace works.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Your Vision - You Must "Follow" It! (2)
“Write the vision and make it plain.” Hab 2:2 NKJV
Five times in Genesis chapter thirty-nine we read: “But the Lord was with Joseph.” Be encouraged: God is at work in spite of what you’re going through right now. Where did Joseph get the wisdom to lead a nation? By dealing with his own family problems, by handling Potiphar’s household staff, and by running a prison system. Like rungs on a ladder, each one took him closer to the top. Notice how it worked: his brothers sold him to Ishmaelite slave traders, who sold him to Potiphar, who put him in prison where he met the butler, who introduced him to Pharaoh, who made him prime minister of Egypt, fulfilling his dream. Was it easy? No, “Until the time…came: the word of the Lord tried him” (Ps 105:19). Your vision will be “tried” by situations that either make or break you. Bill Gothard describes this process as the birth of the vision, the death of the vision, and the resurrection of the vision. When you’ve no funds, no friends, and no fight left in you (the death stage), remember the words of Jesus: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies [to self], it produces much grain” (Jn 12:24 NKJV). When your vision dies and God resurrects it, you begin to talk and act differently. With ego subtracted and grace added, you start saying with the Psalmist, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps 27:13). At that point God smiles and says, “You’re finally getting it right!”
Five times in Genesis chapter thirty-nine we read: “But the Lord was with Joseph.” Be encouraged: God is at work in spite of what you’re going through right now. Where did Joseph get the wisdom to lead a nation? By dealing with his own family problems, by handling Potiphar’s household staff, and by running a prison system. Like rungs on a ladder, each one took him closer to the top. Notice how it worked: his brothers sold him to Ishmaelite slave traders, who sold him to Potiphar, who put him in prison where he met the butler, who introduced him to Pharaoh, who made him prime minister of Egypt, fulfilling his dream. Was it easy? No, “Until the time…came: the word of the Lord tried him” (Ps 105:19). Your vision will be “tried” by situations that either make or break you. Bill Gothard describes this process as the birth of the vision, the death of the vision, and the resurrection of the vision. When you’ve no funds, no friends, and no fight left in you (the death stage), remember the words of Jesus: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies [to self], it produces much grain” (Jn 12:24 NKJV). When your vision dies and God resurrects it, you begin to talk and act differently. With ego subtracted and grace added, you start saying with the Psalmist, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps 27:13). At that point God smiles and says, “You’re finally getting it right!”
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Your Vision - You Must "Follow" It! (1)
“Write the vision and make it plain.” Hab 2:2 NKJV
Paul was on a mission, so he travelled light, practiced personal discipline, avoided distractions and kept his eye on the ball. “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal” (Php 3:13-14 NKJV). Successful companies live by a mission statement every team member can understand; they keep it before them at all times. The Bible says, “Write the vision and make it plain…that he may run who reads it.” So write your vision down, read it regularly, remember it at all times and run with it. Your greatest enemy isn’t the opposition, it’s the distractions. Ever heard of a “white elephant”? When the king of Siam wanted to destroy an enemy he supposedly gave them a white elephant. In those days white elephants were considered sacred and nobody dared refuse a king’s gift. The trouble was, white elephants couldn’t be put to work but they had to be fed—a lot! So the king’s “gift” ended up causing his enemy’s downfall. Hello! Guard against “white elephants” that drain your time, energy and resources. In order to protect your vision, live by these words: “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God…consider Him…lest you become weary and discouraged” (Heb 12:1-3 NKJV).
Paul was on a mission, so he travelled light, practiced personal discipline, avoided distractions and kept his eye on the ball. “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal” (Php 3:13-14 NKJV). Successful companies live by a mission statement every team member can understand; they keep it before them at all times. The Bible says, “Write the vision and make it plain…that he may run who reads it.” So write your vision down, read it regularly, remember it at all times and run with it. Your greatest enemy isn’t the opposition, it’s the distractions. Ever heard of a “white elephant”? When the king of Siam wanted to destroy an enemy he supposedly gave them a white elephant. In those days white elephants were considered sacred and nobody dared refuse a king’s gift. The trouble was, white elephants couldn’t be put to work but they had to be fed—a lot! So the king’s “gift” ended up causing his enemy’s downfall. Hello! Guard against “white elephants” that drain your time, energy and resources. In order to protect your vision, live by these words: “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God…consider Him…lest you become weary and discouraged” (Heb 12:1-3 NKJV).
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Your Vision - You Must "Find" It! (2)
Write the vision and make it plain.” Hab 2:2 NKJV
Jesus said, “For this reason I was born” (Jn 18:37 NIV). When you know why you’re here and what your God-given purpose is, you’ll have all the momentum you need. You won’t always get it right, but you’ll have the power to overcome each obstacle as you proceed. If you get turned around, God loves you enough to get your attention, correct and redirect you and get you back on track. But to find the right answers you must first ask the right questions, such as: (1) What desires have been living in me most of my life? (2) What motivates me to be productive? (3) What keeps me going forward when I’m worn out? (4) What makes me refuse to quit when I meet with resistance or opposition? (5) What do I do that doesn’t seem like work? (6) What do I do that brings positive response and support from others? (7) What am I doing, or what’s happening in my life when doors seem to open automatically and effortlessly? (8) What do discerning leaders and godly counselors think about my work? (9) What makes me feel good about being who I am? (10) What makes my creative juices flow? (11) What am I willing to sacrifice to accomplish it? (12) What am I doing that I’d be proud to offer for God’s approval? (13) What would I do without being paid, if I could afford to? (14) What would I be willing to withstand Satan over, in order to accomplish it? What is God saying to you? It’s not too late; “find” your vision and follow it!
Jesus said, “For this reason I was born” (Jn 18:37 NIV). When you know why you’re here and what your God-given purpose is, you’ll have all the momentum you need. You won’t always get it right, but you’ll have the power to overcome each obstacle as you proceed. If you get turned around, God loves you enough to get your attention, correct and redirect you and get you back on track. But to find the right answers you must first ask the right questions, such as: (1) What desires have been living in me most of my life? (2) What motivates me to be productive? (3) What keeps me going forward when I’m worn out? (4) What makes me refuse to quit when I meet with resistance or opposition? (5) What do I do that doesn’t seem like work? (6) What do I do that brings positive response and support from others? (7) What am I doing, or what’s happening in my life when doors seem to open automatically and effortlessly? (8) What do discerning leaders and godly counselors think about my work? (9) What makes me feel good about being who I am? (10) What makes my creative juices flow? (11) What am I willing to sacrifice to accomplish it? (12) What am I doing that I’d be proud to offer for God’s approval? (13) What would I do without being paid, if I could afford to? (14) What would I be willing to withstand Satan over, in order to accomplish it? What is God saying to you? It’s not too late; “find” your vision and follow it!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Your Vision - You Must "Feel" It!
“Write the vision and make it plain.” Hab 2:2 NKJV
Habakkuk describes his vision as “The burden which the prophet…saw” (Hab 1:1 NKJV). He felt it wherever he went. It drove him to his knees. He prayed, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?…Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble…the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds” (Hab 1:2-4 NKJV). Before God blesses you with a plan of action, He will burden you with the problem you’ve been called to help solve. At three years of age, Louis Braille was blinded in a tragic accident while playing in his father’s harness shop. Refusing to settle for a world of darkness, he said, “I will make a system so that the blind can read and write.” As a result, millions of sight-impaired people have been blessed by the Braille system. The Psalmist cried: “[The] zeal for [my Father’s] house has consumed me” (Ps 69:9 NAS). What’s your all-consuming desire? What are you passionate about? What has God called and gifted you to do? Paul’s burning desire was to reach the world for Christ. And he succeeded. When his enemies imprisoned him, instead of giving in to defeat he turned his cell into a writer’s retreat and penned thirteen epistles that would change more lives after he left the world than he could ever hope to touch while he was in it. What are you willing to give your life to, and for? If your vision is truly of God, you will “feel” it.
Habakkuk describes his vision as “The burden which the prophet…saw” (Hab 1:1 NKJV). He felt it wherever he went. It drove him to his knees. He prayed, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?…Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble…the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds” (Hab 1:2-4 NKJV). Before God blesses you with a plan of action, He will burden you with the problem you’ve been called to help solve. At three years of age, Louis Braille was blinded in a tragic accident while playing in his father’s harness shop. Refusing to settle for a world of darkness, he said, “I will make a system so that the blind can read and write.” As a result, millions of sight-impaired people have been blessed by the Braille system. The Psalmist cried: “[The] zeal for [my Father’s] house has consumed me” (Ps 69:9 NAS). What’s your all-consuming desire? What are you passionate about? What has God called and gifted you to do? Paul’s burning desire was to reach the world for Christ. And he succeeded. When his enemies imprisoned him, instead of giving in to defeat he turned his cell into a writer’s retreat and penned thirteen epistles that would change more lives after he left the world than he could ever hope to touch while he was in it. What are you willing to give your life to, and for? If your vision is truly of God, you will “feel” it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)