It is easy to praise GOD when everything is going well. Many long term believers have an issue praising GOD in tough times, the times when we actually need to draw closer, not pull away. They feel abandoned for some reason so sometimes prayer is not enough. We can talk to GOD, we can read the word and seek what he has to tell us but sometimes we just need to be still in his presence.
.
Psalm 46:10a "Be still, and know that I am God; ” NIV
As Christians it is important sometimes for us to just “Be Still”, or as another translation puts it, “Cease striving” and then try to listen to what GOD is trying to tell us.
If we just meditate on his word, his holiness, his provision, his mercy, his salvation plan carried out through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, many of our problems will be put in perpective. This is fine but how about after we meditate on these things, can we just be still and listen? Ever try it?
I came to realize that being still also means to surrender ALL of our problems to him. We need to cease striving and lay our troubles at the foot of the cross. GOD is in control of everything. We need to surrender and not just one time but every day, every minute, every second we start to waver. Easier said than done I know. I still struggle with this concept myself. However, whenever I think back and recall all the answered prayer in my life, all of GOD provision during the tough times, all of his comfort he gave me when I needed it most, I am convicted and confess that I am but dust.
We need to practice this more often; Be Still and KNOW he is GOD!
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Lord Teach Me, Help me to “Fear Not”
Have you ever been to a place where things look extremely bleak, you are at the end of your rope, or you think life is about to pass you by or even end? These are the times to pull out the Bible and look for those passages that contain some sort of “Fear Not” exhortation. There are many but let’s take a look at some of the better known scriptures. These verses are commonly used to help people faced with dire circumstances.
Isa 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. NIV
Isa 41:13 “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you”. NIV
There are times though when we need to be reminded to hit our knees and fully surrender our problems to the LORD. It is difficult, easier said then done but this is when we need to pray something like this: “LORD GOD, Heavenly Father, I lay my life and all my problems at your feet, please LORD teach me to fear not, in the name of Jesus I pray”.
Here is one of my favorite verses for troubled times:
Psalm 121: 1,2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”. NIV
Remember, we all need to pray at all times: Good times, Bad Times, in between times, it doesn’t matter.
I hope this has helped somebody today. Until the next time may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Isa 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. NIV
Isa 41:13 “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you”. NIV
There are times though when we need to be reminded to hit our knees and fully surrender our problems to the LORD. It is difficult, easier said then done but this is when we need to pray something like this: “LORD GOD, Heavenly Father, I lay my life and all my problems at your feet, please LORD teach me to fear not, in the name of Jesus I pray”.
Here is one of my favorite verses for troubled times:
Psalm 121: 1,2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”. NIV
Remember, we all need to pray at all times: Good times, Bad Times, in between times, it doesn’t matter.
I hope this has helped somebody today. Until the next time may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Is the Bible Relevant Today? Yet Another Case in point
Isaiah 5:20
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” NIV
This sounds like today doesn’t it? Who said the Bible isn’t relevant? Consider this, all the errors in judgment and morality that Israel and Judah made that led to their downfall, we as a nation are making today. What, you don’t believe it? I challenge you to take the time and read Isaiah and Jeremiah and then come back tell me no.
Take a look around us and see what people are getting away with and then compare these indiscretions with those of ancient Israel and Judah. If you can’t see the correlation, you may indeed be part of the problem.
Infanticide passed off as a woman’s right to choose, homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle, running up debt in order to acquire material objects (Idolatry), government corruption run amok with an approving electorate, etc. How can all of this be anything but the onset of the closing chapters of this once great nation?
There is but one way out, Prayer. There is a movement currently going on where Christians from across the nation, from all denominations have pledged to pray for this country everyday from now until Nov. 2. I pray for this country daily anyway but I believe that a concerted effort across denominational lines is what is required. Go to this website and join this effort.
http://www.leadingtheway.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GodSaveAmerica
Keep the faith, there may still be time.
Joel 2:13
“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Jeremiah 33:3
“Call on me and I will answer you and show you
great and mighty things which you do not know.”
Psalm 50:15
“ Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and you will glorify me.”
Psalm 145:18
“The LORD is near to all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” NIV
This sounds like today doesn’t it? Who said the Bible isn’t relevant? Consider this, all the errors in judgment and morality that Israel and Judah made that led to their downfall, we as a nation are making today. What, you don’t believe it? I challenge you to take the time and read Isaiah and Jeremiah and then come back tell me no.
Take a look around us and see what people are getting away with and then compare these indiscretions with those of ancient Israel and Judah. If you can’t see the correlation, you may indeed be part of the problem.
Infanticide passed off as a woman’s right to choose, homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle, running up debt in order to acquire material objects (Idolatry), government corruption run amok with an approving electorate, etc. How can all of this be anything but the onset of the closing chapters of this once great nation?
There is but one way out, Prayer. There is a movement currently going on where Christians from across the nation, from all denominations have pledged to pray for this country everyday from now until Nov. 2. I pray for this country daily anyway but I believe that a concerted effort across denominational lines is what is required. Go to this website and join this effort.
http://www.leadingtheway.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GodSaveAmerica
Keep the faith, there may still be time.
Joel 2:13
“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Jeremiah 33:3
“Call on me and I will answer you and show you
great and mighty things which you do not know.”
Psalm 50:15
“ Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and you will glorify me.”
Psalm 145:18
“The LORD is near to all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
Friday, July 2, 2010
Hypocrisy in the Church? Say It Isn’t So!
I hate to say it but yes, the church abounds with hypocrites and we are all guilty of hypocrisy at some level. It is when we recognize this fact that we can truly address the problem, but, we need to start with ourselves first. Don’t talk about the spec in your brothers or sisters eye but remove the beam from your own eye first. (Matt 7:3)
I can’t tell you how many people use the excuse that “the church is full of hypocrites” to stay away and not attend.(Heb 10:25) I say to those folks, “don’t let that stop you, come and join the party, you are in good company”.
To those who say the hypocrisy is too much for them to take and leave a given congregation I suggest to you that if you do find the perfect church that you not go there and ruin their perfect record. :-)
None of us are perfect, we all sin. (Romans 3:23). Just because we are saved but still struggle with sin means we are still in the flesh to varying degrees, not necessarily hypocrites. Remember, we are nothing but wretches saved by grace. Romans 7: 22-24. Eph 2:8-9.
The thing to look for is our moving forward, progressing further from the flesh day by day, month by month, year by year. Stay in fellowship, stay in prayer, and stay in the word. I would worry less about all of the hypocrites in the church and worry more about all of the erroneous teaching and “ologies” and “isms” that foster the myriad of false gospels that abound today.
Until the next time: May the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
I can’t tell you how many people use the excuse that “the church is full of hypocrites” to stay away and not attend.(Heb 10:25) I say to those folks, “don’t let that stop you, come and join the party, you are in good company”.
To those who say the hypocrisy is too much for them to take and leave a given congregation I suggest to you that if you do find the perfect church that you not go there and ruin their perfect record. :-)
None of us are perfect, we all sin. (Romans 3:23). Just because we are saved but still struggle with sin means we are still in the flesh to varying degrees, not necessarily hypocrites. Remember, we are nothing but wretches saved by grace. Romans 7: 22-24. Eph 2:8-9.
The thing to look for is our moving forward, progressing further from the flesh day by day, month by month, year by year. Stay in fellowship, stay in prayer, and stay in the word. I would worry less about all of the hypocrites in the church and worry more about all of the erroneous teaching and “ologies” and “isms” that foster the myriad of false gospels that abound today.
Until the next time: May the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)