 |
| Insights From The Pastor's Wife Archived | ||||||
Insights from the Pastor’s Wife…The Love Fruit Happy New Year! What better way to start 2006 than to focus on the Fruits of the Spirit as described by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. Love is the first fruit on the list and I find Paul’s discussion in 1 Corinthians 13 interesting as he writes: “Love suffers long and is kind, love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, Love Never Fails!” Love is the quality instilled in us through Christ that enables us to seek the highest good in others. Its foundation is not built on emotions or feelings. Instead, it is a decision to be completely committed to the well-being of other people without any added conditions or circumstances. The only way we can attain the love that the Bible describes is through Christ dwelling in us. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Many times in my own life I have felt very unloved and unwanted. As a child I was never shown true love and as a result I never became skilled at displaying love to other people. It was not until I allowed Christ to change my heart and my life that I was able to accept love from others and demonstrate love in return. God’s love for us is marvelous; it is a love that mere words cannot describe. Jesus suffered the distance between us because of His unconditional love for us. We must accept this extraordinary love from God in order to truly develop a love for others. Graham Cooke says that we should love God and our neighbor; this is our destiny and our honor. I challenge you to pray for God to give you more of the “love fruit” in 2006 so that you will be able to mediate on what it really means to love God and love others with your whole heart. Our friendships, community, marriages, and church will be better for it! In Christ, Insights from the Pastor’s Wife… Joy Unspeakable Second on the “fruit list” in Gal 5:22, 23 is Joy; we all need more Joy. One of my favorite verses in the NT is Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all JOY…by the power of the Holy Spirit.” David writes is Psalm 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of Joy.” So what is Joy? To be specific, it is gladness that is not based on our circumstances. The English Dictionary affirms that Joy is great pleasure and gladness; cheerfulness and contentment. However, from a Christian viewpoint it is much more than mere happiness. We can’t base our Joy on financial success, good health, worldly status, or material possessions. Instead, true Joy is only experienced by believing in God, obeying His will, receiving His forgiveness, fellowshipping with believers, and ministering to others. Andrew Murray says that Joy is the evidence and condition of the abiding presence of Jesus within us. We have all heard the OT story of suffering in the life of Job, yet he remained content in the Joy of the Lord. James 1:2 instructs us to be satisfied no matter what our circumstances may be: “Count it all Joy.” I must admit that I have often struggled with Joy. The enemy is quick to remind me of my unfortunate childhood and the fact that both of my parents are addicts. He constantly whispers negative thoughts. Satan always points out the ugly realities and unpleasant memories as he tries to steal my Joy. However, I am always learning more about ways to fight his influence. I love the chorus that says, “I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my pain, I’m laying them down for the JOY of the Lord.” I often sing this to myself throughout the day. Thank God for Joy and hope. With God our sorrow can be exchanged for Joy, not just a momentary smile, but a deep new Joy. We all know that life is not constantly what you want, but it is in reality what you’ve got. So with God’s help, decide to be happy through the Joy of Christ, which is unspeakable and full of glory! In Christ, Insights from the Pastor’s Wife… Peace that Passes Understanding
Peace: the third Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23. James the brother of our Lord writes in 3:18, “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Peace is understood in a variety of ways: harmony, the lack of fear, freedom from worry and oppression, unity between people, being calm and tranquil in all situations. I love sitting on the beach, especially in the early morning hours or late in the evening, when all you can hear is the ocean waves and the seagulls. This is a very peaceful place for me in the physical world, which pertains to the outer realm; but, what about inner peace? If we are honest with ourselves at some point this can be a struggle. Not only does the enemy create turmoil all around us, but he also wreaks havoc in our inner spirit. I’ve been reading a book entitled “Making Peace with Your Past.” This has helped in discovering inner strength, which is the direct result of the “peace fruit.” After 23 years of not knowing Christ combined with a very abusive childhood the peace of God has been my personal sanctuary as my faith has developed. Knowing the peace of Jesus is what helps me reconcile my past; it is how I recognize the goodness of God. We can all discover inner peace through Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace. Jesus’ desire for us is peace and He offers it as we are obedient to the Holy Spirit. Jesus wants to implant the settledness of His rule in our hearts; Col. 3:15 states, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts…” At one time in my life I was very good at quarreling with my husband for no apparent reason. I later learned that this was a defense mechanism that I used to feel normal. The idea of “peace in our home” was contrary to what I had known as a child. Through obedience I have learned to submit to God and I now cherish the inner peace that only occurs when we surrender to God’s will through His Word. As my husband often says: “We must fight for our destiny…” Our destiny with the Lord involves peace that passes understanding and it is indeed worth fighting for. In Christ, Insights from the Pastor’s Wife… Hurry up! Let’s go! I can’t wait! Sound familiar? These are the echoes of our impatient society, which seldom waits for anything. This brings us to fruit number four: Patience (Gal. 5:22, 23). We can examine patience in a variety of ways: (1) what it means to be patient with others; (2) waiting in order to prevent conflict; or (3) relating to endurance during suffering, or even waiting on Christ’s return. Patience is actually a quality of restraint that prevents believers from speaking or acting hastily; it is the ability to tolerate pain or problems without complaining; it is being slow to anger and slow in avenging any wrongs. The Bible describes patience as a positive steadfastness that bravely endures. It is not a passive resignation; instead it is the element of our faith that recognizes that the end result of demanding situations will be maturity. It is faith that lacks nothing. We must recognize that our heavenly Father is a God of patience (Rom. 15:5). David speaks to God in Psalm 86:15 and says, “You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion and grace, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” The Bible commands us to have patience. James teaches, “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience; but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:3, 4). Why is patience so hard to nurture? Think about it; we don’t wait for anything and if we do it frustrates us. We live in a culture where everything is at our fingertips. We hate to wait in lines, so we now have self-checkout. We don’t want to wait for a paycheck, so we have direct deposit. We have fast food, e-mail, online shopping and the list goes on. However, even in all of this, God never hurries. It was forty days and nights before the rain stopped during the flood; it was forty years that Israel wandered in the wilderness; Jesus fasted for forty days; and even now a woman waits forty weeks for the miracle of childbirth. God is not in any hurry as He is doing His supreme work. We must cultivate patience in our daily lives with our families, co-workers, and fellow believers. We must do this as we patiently await the return of our Lord. Being patient during our hardships is always difficult, but not impossible. Remember we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Most of all, I’m glad that God is patient with us as He is working in our lives. Be patient; God is never late, nor is He ever early… He is always right on time. In Christ, Insights from the Pastor’s Wife… The fifth Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians chapter five is Kindness. There are many things to consider when speaking of kindness. Kindness is compassion, sympathy, understanding, thoughtfulness, and much more. There are many references in Scripture pertaining to kindness. Titus 3:4 reads, “When the kindness and love of our God appeared.” Nehemiah 9:17 states, “But you are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness.” Psalm 117:2 says, “For His merciful kindness is great towards us.” Kindness is a beautiful quality. It is goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, merciful, sweet and tender. It describes the ability to act for the welfare of others; it is a temperament that displays friendly regard toward others. I’ve been working in the nursing industry for 13 years now. Many of the patients I’ve met in the nursing homes have been 90 year old women who have the traits associated with kindness, which are also traits of a “wise woman” according to Proverbs 31. Have you ever been in a long line at Wal-Mart or the grocery store? I frequently end up in the long line every time I go. The clerk often looks stressed out and miserable, perhaps because of the way she is treated by the consumers and the employer. This coupled with the fact that she probably hates her job gives her every reason to be very unhappy. These are the situations where a kind word and a smile can go a long ways and make a big difference. I challenge you to go out of your way to be kind to someone, and when you need it the most God will send someone to express kindness to you. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must be indifferent in our extension of kindness to friends and enemies alike. The Bible teaches that kindness heaps coals of fire on the heads of those who dislike us (Rom. 12:20); kindness is also encouragement for the people in our lives who indeed love us. God does not withhold His kindness! Praise His Name! The example for us is set by the model of the Lord Jesus Christ; we live our lives through the life He has already given. And though we are not perfect, the Holy Spirit can remove our abrasive qualities as we allow Him to cultivate the fruit of kindness in our lives. In His Service, Insights form the Pastor’s Wife… Goodness Gracious! Moving right along! Goodness is the next fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians chapter five. Last week we discovered the meaning of Kindness: goodness in action. So, exactly what is Goodness? To the best of my understanding Goodness is the selfless desire to be open-hearted and generous to others above and beyond what they deserve. So in a real sense Goodness is Gracious… Goodness Gracious! When I think of goodness, I immediately think of all the times people have said, “You have really good children.” I only hear that statement when we are out with others and my children are behaving well. Therefore, we discover that it is one thing to be good for the sake of others, but it is altogether different to be good for goodness sake. As we grow in the grace of God we also grow in the goodness of God. As a result, works of righteousness bear fruit in our lives and goodness becomes the driving force behind our motivation. Thus, we are not merely good in the presence of others, but also in the absence of others. This is the realization of the continual work of the Holy Spirit and the constant presence of God in our lives. Goodness is the key to obedience. As we grow in our obedience to God the Lord grants His approval in deeper ways: that is grace. Psalm 31:19 states: “How great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear [respect] you.” Another aspect of goodness is in the way that we treat other people. Galatians six says, “Let us not grow weary while doing good… let us do good to all.” Our harvest will reflect the nature of the seeds we sow. Good seeds bring a good harvest, and of course bad seeds produce a bad harvest. Sometimes is hard to be good to others, especially if you feel like they do not deserve it. However, the Word says that it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, and that a good man or woman obtains favor from the Lord. Insights from the Pastor’s Wife… Faithfully Following Jesus! Faithfulness is the Fruit of the Spirit that produces firm devotion to God. Faithfulness enables us to be loyal in the greatest sense of the word. It is dependability that carries out responsibility. Faithfulness pertains to the conviction that even now God is working and acting on our behalf and in turn we respond to God’s blessing in our lives. The Bible speaks of Faithfulness often. In Revelation John sees a vision of a white horse, whose rider is called “Faithful and True” (Jesus). Proverbs teaches us to never allow love and faithfulness to depart from us. In Revelation Jesus calls us to “be faithful even to the point of death and He will give us a crown of life.” We understand the concept of God being faithful to us; in turn we are obliged to practice faithfulness in our lives as an expression of our trust in the Lord. We are to be faithful to the cause of Christ in the present world; we are called to be faithful in our service to the Kingdom of God. We are also to express authentic faithfulness toward our family, church, and friends. Pastor Brian and I try everyday to live by faith alone. Though it has been hard over the years, we have shifted from a mindset of independence, and from being career-driven, to completely trusting in the Lord and being faithful in our call to ministry. In turn the Lord has produced faithfulness in our lives, which enables us to completely depend on Him. Our situations have often varied with times of joy and sorrow, strength and weakness, prosperity and poverty; nonetheless, we have learned that regardless of our circumstances we live best by faith because faith produces the best in us. As God increases the fruit of Faithfulness He will take us far in life, especially as we develop a deep, intimate, relationship with our Heavenly Father. To grow in our dependability, loyalty, and trustworthiness will also take us a long way in our earthly relationships. To have faithfulness we must have faith. The spirit is the life of the body and faith is the life of the spirit and Christ is the life of faith. The Bible is clear that, “the way of faith is the path of hope and it leads to everlasting triumph.” We only partially know about God when we think, but we fully recognize His grace when we believe. To completely recognize God’s grace is salvation. Be faithful as you continue to faithfully follow Jesus! In His Service,
Insights from the Pastor’s Wife… Gentleness: Power Under Control Gentleness is the Fruit of the Spirit that enables us to be calm, non-threatening, and humble. The word “gentle” is best translated “meekness,” not as an indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control. The person who possesses this quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well. It is a demeanor that is useful in calming others; it is opposite of harsh, sarcastic, and cruel. There have been times when I felt like God was gently holding me in the absence of my earthly father. Jesus says in Matthew 11:29, “For I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” David says in 2 Samuel 22:3, “You have given me the shield of your salvation, your gentleness has made me great.” We are to be gentle with the people that God has placed in our lives. Proverbs 15:1 states, “A gentle answer turns away wrath…” Philippians 4:5 says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all.” Ephesians 4:1, 2 says, “Walk worthy of the calling, lowliness and gentleness, bearing one another in love.” Titus 3:2 states, “Speak evil of no one, be peaceable and gentle, showing humility to all men.” Gentleness is not a quality that comes naturally for me. Children learn to care by experiencing good care from their parents. They come to know the blessing of gentleness through the way in which they themselves are treated. There was nothing gentle about my upbringing. Instead, it was hard, abrasive, and anything but gentle. However, I have learned that the Holy Spirit does bear fruit in our lives. God has helped me to become meeker in my walk with Him and I have learned that through gentle dispositions we can influence others for good. This is how I get Pastor Brian to do whatever I want… just kidding! Most of my life I thought that gentleness meant passive and weak, which was opposite of my nature. For so long I was unwilling to give up my barrier and my strong will; I’m thankful that God “gently” changes things. My child, My gentleness makes you great; let My gentleness create In His Service,
Insights from the Pastor’s Wife… Self-Control: Inner Harmony In essence Self-Control is good behavior. To have self-control is to have the ability to restrain one’s emotions, actions, and desires. Self-control is to be in harmony with one’s self and the will of God; it is carrying out God’s will, not living for temporary satisfaction. The ultimate act of self-control is seen in the life of Jesus. 1 Peter 2:23 says, “When He was reviled, he did not revile in return; when He suffered, he did not threaten.” Proverbs 29:11 provides insight to the carnal response to opposition, “A fool vents all his feelings; a wise man holds them back.” Life is an ongoing battle with “self,” at least that is what it feels like to me. God can grant us the strength to overcome our “self will” so that we can be instruments of righteousness. Self-control is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that enables us to keep cool even when circumstances and people are making it extremely hot. We must not allow our carnal impulses and emotions to rule our lives, but rather we should learn to give ourselves to God continually. Learn to allow the Holy Spirit to empower you to live your life for Him. Of all the fruits this is probably the one that needs the most prayer and development. How often are we apologizing to people because of a lack of self-control? How often do our words, attitudes, expectations, and expressions cause us trouble? How often do we ask God to forgive us for a lack of self-control? I’ve never met a single person that reflects all the Fruits of the Spirit simultaneously. We may not master them all until we enter eternity. Jesus says in John 15:4, “No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain connected to the vine, I am the True Vine. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from Me you can do nothing.” I truly believe that there can be no real happiness if the things we believe are constantly different from the things we do. Let God change your life. Submit to His ways and He will transform you from the inside out and your life will bear much fruit! “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” In His Service, Full Armor of God: The Belt of Truth In the modern day that we live in we can be certain that evil is lurking around every corner and often times right in our face. The Bible is very clear about the battles that we will face as believers. However, we can rest easy because we know that God has not left us without armor and protection – Praise His Name! Even though we all fight different battles and from varying vantage points, the spiritual armor of God remains the same and has the ability to stand against anything that Satan throws our way. My focus over the next several weeks will be Ephesians 6:10-18, which begins by saying: “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…” and oh boy, does the devil scheme! The Belt of Truth was named after the leather belt that hung between the thighs and abdomen of the Roman Soldier. Part of the Soldier’s attire was small brass plates that were attached to his apron, which provided the greatest possible protection against attacks to his body. This belt would have been the first piece of equipment that the Soldier put on and it hung very close to the body. The call for believers to have “your loins girt about with truth” is a call to be prepared to defend yourself and the faith as needed. We all must realize that our warfare is not against flesh and blood; in other words we don’t actually fight against physical forces, but against invisible powers of evil and darkness. The first step we take according to Scripture in remaining victorious on the spiritual battlefield is by putting on the Belt of Truth, which is the Word of God. So our instruction is to attach ourselves to the truth discovered in God’s Word for protection against the evil strategies of Satan. With God’s help you can do it! In Christ, Insight from the Pastor’s Wife…
The Breastplate of Righteousness is the second piece of the Armor of the Lord as listed in Ephesians chapter six. Righteousness is the quality of being true for the sake of truth. Righteousness is the ability to do right just because it is the right thing to do. Righteousness also pertains to a right-standing before God because of what Jesus has accomplished by way of the Cross. In Isaiah chapter 59 God clothes Himself in the armor of a soldier to battle against His enemies. The Roman Soldier would fasten the breastplate around his chest to protect his vital organs. Without the breastplate an arrow or a sword could have easily pierced his heart or lungs, which could have resulted in immediate death. Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness in the spiritual sense means that we put our trust and faith in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, not our own fractured ability to do right. Righteousness enables us to stand firm against injustice and corruption; it strengthens our faith as we learn that God not only promises His protection, but He delivers us from evil forces. God extends His righteousness to every believer. It is not something that we can gain by doing good deeds; it comes by faith in Christ alone. “Breastplate of righteousness” in Ephesians 6:14 could be translated “breastplate which is righteous.” In this sense it represents a holy character and moral conduct. In essence obedience to the truth revealed in the person of Christ produces a godly life, which is righteousness. Jesus declares in Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” This verse indicates a constant and continual seeking of the holiness of God. It pertains to a “yearning” for more of God’s righteousness to be imparted into the believer’s life. The contrast is made between the spiritual things of God and the material things of the world. The idea is that believers are to seek first God and His righteousness, which is characteristic of God’s Kingdom, and then all things (material things) will be granted as needed. Therefore, when our priority is spiritual, God will take care of the material. When God guides, God provides! This is the reality of the Breastplate of Righteousness! In Christ, Insight from the Pastor’s Wife Paul writes in Ephesians 6:15 – “And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” This is the third time in this passage where Paul uses metaphoric language to describe the armor of Christ. “Preparation of the gospel of peace” literally indicates that there is an eagerness that stems from the gospel message into our lives. Marching was an essential part of the soldier’s life, and no soldier could (or can) march far without sturdy shoes. The studded soles in the soldier’s shoes enabled them to stand firm regardless of the pressing elements or situations. The Roman soldier of Jesus’ day wore special shoes called caligae on his feet; these shoes enabled him to advance against his enemy in a keen and eager way. So too, you and I must possess a sense of “eagerness” or “willingness” to advance against the Devil and fight intensely with all of our might. Such eagerness to contend with Satan comes from the “gospel of peace”. How? The gospel provides peace in the believer’s life, freeing us from all anxiety as we stand against such a powerful foe. The Scripture indicates in Ephesians 6:13 that the Armor of God is given to us so that we can firmly stand in the days of evil; I can’t think of a time where evil is controlling our world like today. However, that is not a scary revelation for us, because we stand in Christ on the firm foundation of the gospel of peace. May we continually be equipped by putting on the armor of God for the spiritual journey that we are all on together. The good news is that we can have peace with God and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Before Christ, we lived only for self gratification. However, we have now been reconciled to God through Jesus and the persistent work of the Holy Spirit. The armor enables us to not only avoid evil, but to stand firmly against it. Through the avoidance of wickedness and the tearing down of strongholds, the peace of God, which passes all understanding, comes into our lives in new and exciting ways. Put on the armor of God and experience the Holy Spirit at work! In His Service, Insight from the Pastor’s Wife… “I can do all things through Christ who is my strength…” Never in all my life have the words of Paul meant as much as the day when Brian answered the call to ministry. We had been married for six years and had been running as hard as we could away from God. We were searching for happiness, but were absolutely miserable. When Brian told me that he felt a “call” to ministry, I had a choice to make as well. YES, God wants us to choose Him. However, many other thoughts went through my head: I could stay married and become a “preacher’s wife” or I could leave and divorce my husband. My flesh wanted to continue running from God and pursue my own ambitious dreams. I was only 23 years old and I had not been raised in church (my family seldom attended). The only women that I knew were “preacher’s wives” were 60 years old with five kids and many grandchildren, several of which ran a day school and played the piano at church. These women taught Sunday School, cleaned the church, sewed costumes and cooked like crazy. It did not sound like anything that I wanted to do or become! On top of this stereotypical perception of the “pastor’s wife,” I had been the product of an abusive childhood that had wounded me for life. My early years had left me empty, sad, and fearful; I was a little girl in an adult world. HOW WOULD I EVER MEASURE UP TO THE STANDARD!? However, it did not take long to realize that God wanted to embrace me and shape me into the person that He desired. I accepted that God wanted me to step out on faith and become a better person; God wanted to restore my broken spirit. We have all been guilty of feeling like we weren’t “good enough” to play all the roles that life throws our way, but God doesn’t see it that way. We can all be encouraged because “In Christ” we are new creatures. God takes our tattered self-esteems and make great things happen. My life is a miracle, and it is a testimony of God’s love, mercy, and grace. One of my greatest surprises was to learn that God simply wanted me to be me. The ongoing battle in my mind of trying to meet perceived expectations has vanished. I leave you with a quote from Pastor John Hagee… “Be an original, don’t die a cheap copy of someone else!” In His Service, Insight from the Pastor’s Wife… It is amazing to think that the God of the universe, who created the mountains and the seas, who put the earth in motion, cares about every detail related to “little ol’ us.” This should create a desire to cry out to God and be ever mindful of our desperate need for Him in our lives. So often we don’t want to admit that we need anything. Too often we masquerade as “Mr. or Miss Spiritual.” Numerous people act like they have master’s degrees in “drama” and doctorates in “denial.” This is spiritual pride and the enemy wins when we stop admitting our faults and stop depending on the persistent help of our Lord. Satan wants us to think that we are “so perfect” in our sanctified lives; he tells us that there is nothing wrong with us… that we don’t need prayer or forgiveness. Must I remind you that PRIDE is top of the list as a deadly sin? Two weeks ago I found myself sitting on a mountaintop at the pastor & wives retreat looking at God’s beautiful creation. A verse was posted nearby: “I will lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from, my help comes from the Lord…. maker of heaven and earth” (Ps. 121).Mac Powell from the Christian group Third Day writes: “[In God] there is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, love for the broken heart, grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing that meets you wherever you are – cry out to Jesus.” While we were on the mountaintop Pastor Brian and I laid back and gazed at the beautiful artwork that God had created. At that moment the wind was blowing and it seemed like God was breathing on my face. The realness of God was so evident that it caused me to deeply contemplate the certainty of the Holy Spirit. I thought to myself, if God is this real, then why are so many people so phony? Then God spoke to my heart and showed me that people are afraid of life’s little unknowns and that is why they fake it. Don’t fake it! Be who God created you to be with boldness. Let Jesus mold you everyday. Don’t be afraid! Trust that God wants what is best for your life. My calling is no different from yours. I love God first and then I reach out to others, and I honor my husband as his partner in ministry. I am not afraid to be all God has called me to be! Remember, God will take you as you are and love you as He leads you to new places… That is as real as it gets… Don’t Fake It! Insight from the Pastor’s Wife…
There is so much to say about Prayer. When the word “Prayer” is mentioned, the first thought I have is how grateful I am that we have a God who wants us to talk to Him. We must always remember that prayer is a high and holy privilege. Webster’s dictionary defines prayer as, “Begging for something, or asking earnestly.” Many references in the Word of God instruct us to pray. One of the most frequently used references is from 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Notice the first part of the verse: “…humble themselves.” I recently asked my son, Jake, what comes to mind first when he thought of Prayer. He said, “Knees.” Then we discussed that a bended knee is a sign of humility and that is why it is associated with prayer. The verse also instructs us to “seek God’s face.” Psalm 55:17 says, “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud and He shall hear my voice.” One of my favorites is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 when Paul writes these three simple words, “Pray without ceasing.” This indicates that we have constant access to God. I talk to God in the morning as I’m getting ready for work, at my desk, in my car, and throughout the day. We all must constantly be seeking Him in our hearts and minds so that we remain in the continual flow of fellowship. Praying is our responsibility as Christians: without it nothing changes. As John Wesley said, “God does nothing except through prayer.” Jesus was always able to say the right words at the right time and He was so effective because He communicated with God continually and in turn heard from heaven. He knew and taught that prayer is the place where the human experience intersects with the heavenly Father. Aren’t you glad that we don’t have to meet God at a Tabernacle? We have instant access to The Lord of the universe at all times. As we mature in our Christian walk we must learn to always be prayerful in times of trouble, in times of sadness, and in times of joy. If you want the reality of God to touch your reality, PRAY! In His Service,
|