Praying Specifically
Labels:
From My Heart
Matthew 20:29-34 is the story of the Lord Jesus healing two blind men. These blind men were daily asking the wrong people for the wrong thing. They did not need money-they needed sight. As Jesus passed by, the men cried out, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son on David (20:31)." Jesus answers them by saying, "What will ye that I shall do unto you (20:32)."
Let me ask you a question: Didn't the blind men already tell the Lord what they wanted? They asked for mercy. Is that a bad thing? No. Is it specific? No. To ask for mercy is kind of ambiguous. Everybody needs mercy. Jesus wanted to know what kind of mercy.
Their asking demonstrated the Lord's ability--He could. His answer demonstrated His will--He would. Do not get so spiritual that you pawn off prayer as just a spiritual exercise to become close to God. "God knows everything already, so my asking is just a discipline." Does God know everything? Yes. Does God want me to ask, and to ask specifically? Yes! You are not close to God if you are not depending on Him--if you do not realize you need him and ask for what you need. If you spend your time analyzing prayer scientifically, your dependence will be destroyed. Depend on God and ask Him for what you need.
Prayer does not just change you; prayer changes things. Often we can miss the point by emphasizing the secondary matters of prayer. Praying longer, more fervently, on your knees, before the sun rises, etc., may be valid points, but if you are not asking God--if you have no sense of need--your praying is a sham. If you live with a sense of need, all of those things-time, fervency, posture-will take care of themselves.
Let me ask you a question: Didn't the blind men already tell the Lord what they wanted? They asked for mercy. Is that a bad thing? No. Is it specific? No. To ask for mercy is kind of ambiguous. Everybody needs mercy. Jesus wanted to know what kind of mercy.
Their asking demonstrated the Lord's ability--He could. His answer demonstrated His will--He would. Do not get so spiritual that you pawn off prayer as just a spiritual exercise to become close to God. "God knows everything already, so my asking is just a discipline." Does God know everything? Yes. Does God want me to ask, and to ask specifically? Yes! You are not close to God if you are not depending on Him--if you do not realize you need him and ask for what you need. If you spend your time analyzing prayer scientifically, your dependence will be destroyed. Depend on God and ask Him for what you need.- Do you think the Lord knows what you need?
- Do you think others may even know what you need?
- The question is, will you?
Father's Day Prayer
Labels:
Current Events,
Family Issues
Lord, please bless our fathers,
these men who mean so much to us,
who are greatly responsible
for who we are and who we are becoming.
Bless them for having the courage
to do what's necessary to keep us out of trouble,
for making us do the right thing,
for helping us build our character,
even when it makes us angry;
and bless them for pushing us to do our best,
even when they just want to love us.
Bless our fathers for being our protectors,
for leading us through stormy times to safety,
for making us believe that everything will be all right
and for making it so.
Bless our fathers for quietly making a living
to provide for those they love most,
for giving us food, clothing, shelter
and the other material things that really matter,
for unselfishly investing time and money in us
that they could have spent on themselves.
Bless our fathers, Lord,
for saving some energy for fun,
for leading us on adventures
to explore the outer reaches of ourselves,
for making us laugh,
for being our playmates and our friends.
Bless them for being our secure foundation, our rock,
for holding on tight to us...until it's time to let us go.
Lord, bless these men we look up to,
our role models, our heroes, our fathers.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
~Joanna Fuchs
God's Inheritance
Labels:
Family Issues,
From My Notebook
Genesis 48:21 "And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers."
A common bumperstick on the back of RV's traveling across America reads: "I'm spending my kids' inheritance." Often when it comes to any spiritual inheritance for our kids, we would be better off if we did! Conflict and concern over an inheritance has always been the case. The Old Testament is full of examples: Jacob and Esau, Isaac and Ishmael, Manasseh and Ephraim.
God's inheritance is what informs any other inheritance you may leave your kids. In Genesis 28, Jacob was alone and scared. With a rock for a pillow, he falls asleep and God sends him a message through a dream. The message was for the God of his fathers to become his God-the God of Jacob. Anything else you pass on to your kids will be to their hurt and not to their good without Christ.
You may spend scores of dollars and hours of time giving your kids piano lessons, soccer games, or horse riding lessons. But you are ruining your kids if do not give them God. And you must give them God intentionally-that is, on purpose, by design. It will not happen by accident, nor will it happen just by taking them to church or bringing them to the Bill Rice Ranch.
Nothing is more important than leaving your kids God's inheritance. Jacob told Joseph, "Behold, I die: but God shall be with you . . . ." Jacob saw God as his God when he came to the end of himself and claimed God for himself. And this was the God he passed on to his son . May God help us, both with our own kids and the "kids" we may work with in ministry, to make sure we give them God's inheritance.
Psalm 127:3 "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
A common bumperstick on the back of RV's traveling across America reads: "I'm spending my kids' inheritance." Often when it comes to any spiritual inheritance for our kids, we would be better off if we did! Conflict and concern over an inheritance has always been the case. The Old Testament is full of examples: Jacob and Esau, Isaac and Ishmael, Manasseh and Ephraim.God's inheritance is what informs any other inheritance you may leave your kids. In Genesis 28, Jacob was alone and scared. With a rock for a pillow, he falls asleep and God sends him a message through a dream. The message was for the God of his fathers to become his God-the God of Jacob. Anything else you pass on to your kids will be to their hurt and not to their good without Christ.
You may spend scores of dollars and hours of time giving your kids piano lessons, soccer games, or horse riding lessons. But you are ruining your kids if do not give them God. And you must give them God intentionally-that is, on purpose, by design. It will not happen by accident, nor will it happen just by taking them to church or bringing them to the Bill Rice Ranch.
Nothing is more important than leaving your kids God's inheritance. Jacob told Joseph, "Behold, I die: but God shall be with you . . . ." Jacob saw God as his God when he came to the end of himself and claimed God for himself. And this was the God he passed on to his son . May God help us, both with our own kids and the "kids" we may work with in ministry, to make sure we give them God's inheritance.
The Last Temptation Jesus Faced
Labels:
From My Bookshelf
"Save thyself, and come down from the cross." (Mark 15:30)
The last temptation Jesus faced is the ONE temptation we face constantly: "Save thyself, and come down from the cross!"
Inasmuch as the cross is the place where Self is executed, Sin's power power broken, and Satan's defiance humiliated — it stands to reason that in a last ditch effort to reverse the curse which the cross has brought upon his head, the devil will thrash about endlessly with one goal in mind: to get you and I to abandon our post of trusting in Christ alone, and take up our own cause in our own power. "Save thyself, and come down from the cross."
The devil cannot touch us when we are on the cross, nor can sin's power sway us to pursue its many vanities while we abide in the Crucified One. And even our very selves are subdued in a submissive surrender, as the Lord puts to death all things within us that otherwise disqualify us for the Heavenly City. He is transforming us into His likeness. First there is death, and then, O blessed truth, there is resurrection! But, to experience it we must stay upon this Cross.
"Save thyself, and come down from the cross," the devil derisively taunts at us in those moments when we are slighted by someone, offended by another, or devalued yet by others. Someone does something, whether substantial or petty, and the devil jumps on the moment — "Are you just going to hang there and take that?" he asks with surly sarcasm; and then quickly adds his own suggestion of what we should do, "Save thyself, and come down from the cross!"
Defend yourself, justify yourself, advance yourself, exalt yourself, promote yourself, save yourself, pamper yourself, satisfy yourself, indulge yourself, prefer yourself — and the list goes on and on and on. This is the devil's plan for your life; he wants you to to be like him — a self-absorbed and self-deceived being.
Jesus, by contrast, has only one thing He would say to you in this regard — "Deny yourself," and then He adds, "Take up your cross daily, and follow Me."
Practically speaking, this simple truth has far-reaching implications. The Bible says that it is only by pride that contentions come. Pride is the citadel of Self, the throne room of our own selfish preoccupations and adorations. By embracing the cross of Jesus, and abiding thereupon — our affections are relocated away from our Selves, and placed rightfully upon our Savior. The peace of His presence then extends not only to us, but through us to others. And thus, slowly but steadily, His Kingdom increases in the earth.
For this cause alone you will hear ten thousand times in a day, the devil bringing his case in hopes of finding yourself a willing dupe for his dark employment — "Save thyself, and come down from the cross!"
Don't you dare do it!!
The last temptation Jesus faced is the ONE temptation we face constantly: "Save thyself, and come down from the cross!"
Inasmuch as the cross is the place where Self is executed, Sin's power power broken, and Satan's defiance humiliated — it stands to reason that in a last ditch effort to reverse the curse which the cross has brought upon his head, the devil will thrash about endlessly with one goal in mind: to get you and I to abandon our post of trusting in Christ alone, and take up our own cause in our own power. "Save thyself, and come down from the cross."
The devil cannot touch us when we are on the cross, nor can sin's power sway us to pursue its many vanities while we abide in the Crucified One. And even our very selves are subdued in a submissive surrender, as the Lord puts to death all things within us that otherwise disqualify us for the Heavenly City. He is transforming us into His likeness. First there is death, and then, O blessed truth, there is resurrection! But, to experience it we must stay upon this Cross.
"Save thyself, and come down from the cross," the devil derisively taunts at us in those moments when we are slighted by someone, offended by another, or devalued yet by others. Someone does something, whether substantial or petty, and the devil jumps on the moment — "Are you just going to hang there and take that?" he asks with surly sarcasm; and then quickly adds his own suggestion of what we should do, "Save thyself, and come down from the cross!"
Defend yourself, justify yourself, advance yourself, exalt yourself, promote yourself, save yourself, pamper yourself, satisfy yourself, indulge yourself, prefer yourself — and the list goes on and on and on. This is the devil's plan for your life; he wants you to to be like him — a self-absorbed and self-deceived being.
Jesus, by contrast, has only one thing He would say to you in this regard — "Deny yourself," and then He adds, "Take up your cross daily, and follow Me."
Practically speaking, this simple truth has far-reaching implications. The Bible says that it is only by pride that contentions come. Pride is the citadel of Self, the throne room of our own selfish preoccupations and adorations. By embracing the cross of Jesus, and abiding thereupon — our affections are relocated away from our Selves, and placed rightfully upon our Savior. The peace of His presence then extends not only to us, but through us to others. And thus, slowly but steadily, His Kingdom increases in the earth.
For this cause alone you will hear ten thousand times in a day, the devil bringing his case in hopes of finding yourself a willing dupe for his dark employment — "Save thyself, and come down from the cross!"
Don't you dare do it!!
Keeping Track
Labels:
From My Desk
Matthew 20:15 "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?"
Have you been keeping track? Do you know someone who is always watching the clock, counting the minutes of overtime? Do you think God ever pays overtime? Does He know what you are doing today?
Matthew 20:1-16 is a parable about hired servants. The master hires workers, and he repeats to each group that he will give them "whatsoever is right" (20:4,7). So the servants had the same pay, but some of the workers angry because the workers hired later received the same pay. The master in the parable has some searching words for the angry servants: "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?"
By way of application, our Master-the Lord Jesus-can do what He wants with what belongs to Him. If we were the ones keeping track, we would keep a different record than God, both in salvation and daily work. Think of the thief on the cross: at his last moment of life, he prays what is really an incorrect prayer, and yet he received what he did not deserve! Can you hear the attitude of the hired servants coming out? The truth is, the thief on the cross received what he did not deserve, and you and I get the same thing at salvation. God can do what He wants with what is His.
God's goodness should never be reason for your jealousy. Romans 12:15 tells us to "weep with them weep" and "rejoice with them that do rejoice." It is much easier to weep with the weeping because it looks big-hearted. To rejoice with someone rejoicing is a horse of a different color. We think he is the last person who needs our help.
God's goodness should be reason to trust Him. The hired servants in Matthew 20 were equally faithful to the opportunities given, although the opportunities varied. Is God a Righteous Judge? Yes, God is a Good God; He is a Righteous God. Hebrews 6:10 reminds us that "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love . . . ." The fact of the matter is, anything we get beyond Hell is grace. We do not deserve salvation, and everything beyond Hell that God gives is grace. Are you keeping track, or do you think that you could trust God with that? Are you keeping track? Remember there is a God in Heaven Who is!
Have you been keeping track? Do you know someone who is always watching the clock, counting the minutes of overtime? Do you think God ever pays overtime? Does He know what you are doing today?
Matthew 20:1-16 is a parable about hired servants. The master hires workers, and he repeats to each group that he will give them "whatsoever is right" (20:4,7). So the servants had the same pay, but some of the workers angry because the workers hired later received the same pay. The master in the parable has some searching words for the angry servants: "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?"
By way of application, our Master-the Lord Jesus-can do what He wants with what belongs to Him. If we were the ones keeping track, we would keep a different record than God, both in salvation and daily work. Think of the thief on the cross: at his last moment of life, he prays what is really an incorrect prayer, and yet he received what he did not deserve! Can you hear the attitude of the hired servants coming out? The truth is, the thief on the cross received what he did not deserve, and you and I get the same thing at salvation. God can do what He wants with what is His.
God's goodness should never be reason for your jealousy. Romans 12:15 tells us to "weep with them weep" and "rejoice with them that do rejoice." It is much easier to weep with the weeping because it looks big-hearted. To rejoice with someone rejoicing is a horse of a different color. We think he is the last person who needs our help.
God's goodness should be reason to trust Him. The hired servants in Matthew 20 were equally faithful to the opportunities given, although the opportunities varied. Is God a Righteous Judge? Yes, God is a Good God; He is a Righteous God. Hebrews 6:10 reminds us that "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love . . . ." The fact of the matter is, anything we get beyond Hell is grace. We do not deserve salvation, and everything beyond Hell that God gives is grace. Are you keeping track, or do you think that you could trust God with that? Are you keeping track? Remember there is a God in Heaven Who is!
Don't Count God Out
Labels:
From My Desk
Genesis 45:8 "So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt."
Do you know how you got here? I mean-literally-how did you arrive at this blog today? "Through facebook or an "IE favorite" shortcut," you may say; or perhaps, "I just goggled a subject and this blog showed up with a bunch of others and I randomly chose it, it was an accident!" No matter what the case is, you could tell me how you got here, right? More than likely you may be wrong, because none of these answers actually "answer" the question. Let's try another route...
How did Joseph get to Egypt? You could say, "He was a slave"; or maybe, "He got there because of his jealous brothers and they punished him for doing what was right." An important lesson in the life of Joseph, as given to us in Genesis, is to not count God out. In Genesis 45, Joseph's brothers are scared silly because the little brother they sold into slavery was now a powerful ruler to whom they were appealing. Was Joseph sold into slavery? Yes, but God was behind it. He was not sold-he was sent. He was not taken-he was sent by God. Joseph emphasizes this in Genesis 45:8, and Psalm 105:17 reemphasizes it: "He [God] sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:"
Do you feel that life is conspiring against you? Don't give "life" that much credit...It is God! Do not count God out of today! I have been in a church where I did not know of problems in the church, but God did. And the message that Sunday morning about unity was as specific and direct as if I did know. How? God knew! He was not ignorant-He even used an ignorant-of-the-problems preacher!
You do not know what is in the hearts of those around you today-you do not need to. Trust God and do not count Him out. God has a track record; His record is consistent. And you can take that to the bank. Don't count God out of what is happening today. Perhaps you don't really know how you got here, but God does!
Do you know how you got here? I mean-literally-how did you arrive at this blog today? "Through facebook or an "IE favorite" shortcut," you may say; or perhaps, "I just goggled a subject and this blog showed up with a bunch of others and I randomly chose it, it was an accident!" No matter what the case is, you could tell me how you got here, right? More than likely you may be wrong, because none of these answers actually "answer" the question. Let's try another route...
How did Joseph get to Egypt? You could say, "He was a slave"; or maybe, "He got there because of his jealous brothers and they punished him for doing what was right." An important lesson in the life of Joseph, as given to us in Genesis, is to not count God out. In Genesis 45, Joseph's brothers are scared silly because the little brother they sold into slavery was now a powerful ruler to whom they were appealing. Was Joseph sold into slavery? Yes, but God was behind it. He was not sold-he was sent. He was not taken-he was sent by God. Joseph emphasizes this in Genesis 45:8, and Psalm 105:17 reemphasizes it: "He [God] sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:"
Do you feel that life is conspiring against you? Don't give "life" that much credit...It is God! Do not count God out of today! I have been in a church where I did not know of problems in the church, but God did. And the message that Sunday morning about unity was as specific and direct as if I did know. How? God knew! He was not ignorant-He even used an ignorant-of-the-problems preacher!
You do not know what is in the hearts of those around you today-you do not need to. Trust God and do not count Him out. God has a track record; His record is consistent. And you can take that to the bank. Don't count God out of what is happening today. Perhaps you don't really know how you got here, but God does!
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