(Psalms 55:1617 MKJV) I, even I, will call to God, and Jehovah will save me. Evening and morning, and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud; and He shall hear my voice.
What does praying mean to you? The Pharisees used it as an opportunity to show how much knowledge they had of the law but were their prayers effective? (Matthew 6:5 MKJV) “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.”
Some pray only when faced with great opposition, like the student who prays right before a test is handed out but does it change the outcome of the test? Prayer is meant to be so much more! The ability to come before the Creator of all life and offer our thoughts, concerns, and requests is mind-blowing! Jesus said, he is the only way to the Father! (John 14:6 MKJV) “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.”
If you know Christ, if you have relationship with the Savior of mankind then you have a friend in God. In this life there will be opposition and heart-ache. We all face these things some will fill the emptiness with stuff, some will be brought to their knees, and some still will find hope beyond all of their hopes and dreams. Prayer isn’t a “have to” it’s a “get to”. It is an honor to walk out your days here on earth with the One who has redeemed your soul, knowing that one day all of God’s children will be called home and on that day you will be able to say I know Jesus and then to see him face to face will be overwhelming and the reward of all that you have endured will be met in that moment!
When Jesus went up in the clouds, after His resurrection, He told how He must return to the Father but He said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.”
(John 14:12-19 NIV) “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”
Sometimes prayer is pouring out your heart to God, sometimes it is being silent in His presence but know this He is with you! Draw closer to Him and He will draw close to you. Walking with Christ is not for the weak but I say for the strong for it is in Him true strength is found!
Sure missed church today!
ReplyDeleteRom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Rom 1:19 because the thing which may be known of God is clearly revealed within them, for God revealed it to them.
Rom 1:20 For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.
God reveals his awesome power and presence to us because he put it in us. And if we choose to supress it, detain it, deny it, turn our backs to the unfallible fact that he created earth and all that can be seen and not seen, then without excuse we develope unexplained fear. Fear of death, Pain, persecution, slavery. We are afraid because God is inside us and we don't except it. He reveals all that he has done not us on our own. This bothers the body yet pleasures the soul. As believers in Christ we are excepted from the fear. The more we believe the less the fear.
Fear comes from the the flesh, bones and blood of the body which God smiles upon as he does all his other creations and wonders of the universe. But from the spirit and soul that can not be seen which God also created he gives his undivided attention and love. Our souls are his chief aim and plan to reunite with.
Gods greatest plan, the adventure of being without fear and being with him.
His is the true aspect: the gospel is never rightly understood until it is to us the gospel of God, the activity and revelation of His nature, and of His will in grace towards man.
Hi Carl I really like your Friday devoyional!
ReplyDeletePaul said: (Rom 5:7) ForG1063 scarcelyG3433 forG5228 a righteous manG1342 will oneG5100 die:G599 yetG1063 peradventureG5029 forG5228 a good manG18 someG5100 would evenG2532 dareG5111 to die.G599
My Baptism-An unnatural ceremony, it is by grace which it has been extended to me without any merit or valor. The spiritual affinity contracted by God, which entitles me to partake in his estate, to be adopted by testament, by his will and appointment. An heir to his protection and care. An intimate relationship without any conditions but to believe and defend him. All this presented to me.