Pray Expectantly

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Concerning prayer, Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly. Others give but an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might."

I believe in prayer! I hope you do too. When a Christ follower prays, he/she should do so expecting for God to bring the answer! Why can we pray so expectantly, you ask? There are many reasons, not the least of which is His faithfulness. He is faithful—and just and loving—with an everlasting love!

Raise your voices dear saints. And expect great things from God. There is an old gospel hymn titled, Prayer Bells of Heaven. The refrain goes like this:

Prayer bells of heaven, oh how sweetly they ring,

Bearing a message unto Jesus, our King.

If you are burdened down with troubles and cares;

Ring on and on for God will answer your prayers!

Therefore I say to you, Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. Mark 11:24 

We Have A Task

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

There is an legend about a man who tried to save the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorra from sure destruction. He went from city to city shouting and screaming, trying to awaken the people, to warn them of the coming judgment if they didn’t turn from their sins. But, alas, the people didn’t respond. They ignored him. 

One day a citizen said to the man, “Why do you do this? Why bother everyone? There’s nothing you can do or say that is going to change them.” “Well, you may be right,” he responded, “but I also do it to prevent them from changing me!” 

There is a profound truth there. We live in a fallen world filled with Christ haters, which is only increasing. And like the man in the legend, we must do everything we can to keep from being sucked into it! 

So let it rip! One of the benefits of being a warner is that it keeps us focussed on the task we have—furthering the kingdom of God. 

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. Ezekiel 33:6

Eyes Ahead

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Two things happened to me yesterday that are the catalyst for this eDevotion. 

1) I had ANOTHER conversation [one of MANY] with someone who seems to live in the past. The person rarely speaks about anything else, consequently the person is in a continual tailspin—spiraling downward, despite all attempts to minister to him/her. It is literally heartbreaking.

2) While driving home I looked into my rearview mirror. Now, you may be asking, What in the world would that have to do with anything? Well it caused me to think how difficult it is to drive a car to your destination if you only look in the rearview mirror. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that that is a surefire way to crash and burn. 

While it is important to learn from our past, there is no reason to focus on, or live in it. How is it possible to move forward unless we take our eyes off the past and focus on what is ahead—to the great things God has ahead of us! 

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 

A Matter of Choice

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

I once read about a man who was beginning to lose his memory. He was sent to a specialist and after a careful examination the doctor told him there was a possible surgical solution. However, it was extremely risky; one so delicate that the slightest mistake would result in total blindness.

The surgeon asked, "So, which would you rather have, your sight or your memory?" The man pondered the question for a while and replied, "My sight, because I would rather see where I am going than remember where I have been."

That story reminded of every Christ follower’s enemy. He constantly digs up our past and reminds us of our failures and our sins. He wants to keep us so wrapped up in them that it hinders our progress in maturity towards Christ.   

Today and every day we have a choice to make! We can choose to be bound by our past failures and the sins that so easily beset us, or we can keep our sight on Jesus, the Author and Finisher [the Perfecter] of our faith. 

Free yourself from the shackles of the past! Keep your eye on the prize! 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 

He Intercedes for Us

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

In times of stress and difficulties, when the cares of life seem overwhelming,  I can’t think of anything more comforting than having a friend—someone who “has your back,” as people say today. That concept is right at the heart of the Holy Spirit’s role as a “Helper” [NASB], “Comforter” [KJV], “Counselor” [NIV], “Advocate” [NLT-SE] in John 14:16.

I find great comfort in this passage; the Holy Spirit comes alongside, helping, comforting, counseling, advocating for us all the way to heaven, as well as interceding for all believers, just a Jesus does [Luke 22:31-32; Hebrews 7:25]

And what would our lives be like without the interceding ministry of the Holy Spirit? He understands and knows how to pray for us even when we don’t. His intercession is with groanings—unutterable words. Those groanings [sighs in the original language], is communication between the Father and the Spirit. While we can’t possibly know what they are saying, we can be absolutely sure He is praying for us!

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, A. W. Pink wrote, “Only by His strengthening of the heart are we delivered from being engrossed in the things around us, and our earthbound affections are drawn to things above.”

But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26

Wrestling in Prayer

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

There are probably more memorable men in the New Testament than Epraphras, but you will be hard pressed to find anyone who did anything more important than he did. He was from the church in Colosse, and obviously a dear saint in the Lord. At one point in his life, he even suffered imprisonment with Paul. But the thing that really stands out in my mind is that he wrestled in prayer.  

Working behind the scenes, wrestling in prayer really is hard work. It is the silent ministry that resounds in heaven and unleashes power from above that makes demons tremble!

Clearly the apostle knew of his zeal in prayer from personal experience. But notice what Epaphras prayed for; that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. That was Epaphras’ prayer for the Christ followers in Colossae, and my prayer for each of you, my readers!

As you continue your walk with the Lord, your faith will be tested—to the max. You need prayers, and you need to pray that you will stand perfect and complete in the will of God. Dear Christ follower, never neglect the power of prayer. A silent ministry? Yes. A needed ministry? Absolutely! Prayer matters—on earth, and in heaven! 

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. Colossians 4:12-13 

A Christ Follower after God’s Heart

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

It was said of Israel’s King David that he was “man after God’s own heart.” Considering his lust for, and adulterous affair with Bathsheba, and the murder of her husband, the Lord's description of him is remarkable. How is that description of him possible? A man after God’s heart, really! 

The answer is as simple as it is profound: God did not regard David according to the actions of his sinful nature, but according to the deepest motivations and disposition of his heart. When the prophet Nathan confronted David with his sin, his response was immediate; total confession and repentance—a broken and contrite heart. No excuses, no rationalization, no resistence, no self-justification, no self-righteousness; only the realization of his absolute need for God’s mercy. 

The immediacy and completeness of David's confession qualified him for the Lord's forgiveness and mercy while saving and restoring him to that most treasured relationship of his life, his relationship with the Lord God of Israel.

Neither will God define you, dear Christ follower,  by your failures. It's our love for Him and our honesty before Him that reveals a true walk of faith. So if and when you fall, when you really mess things up, when sin gets the best of you, then come clean. Confess. Take full responsibility for your sin without complaint. Allow the Lord to forgive and restore you completely and then continue on your journey with Him. That was David's heart. And yours? 

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalms 51:10-12