Tag Archive | prayer

Problem With The World

Mar12

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions  and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. — 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Yesterday’s devotional spoke of obeying, submitting authority to our leaders — politicians of our country. It told of the grumbling and verbal dissatisfaction we have with them. My question is (actually two) — Am I praying for my leaders? Am I being a good witness before men in my verbiage and actions toward the leaders of my country?

The problem with the world today is too much focus on what our world leaders are doing wrong instead of praying for them. The answer for a quiet and tranquil life? Jesus Christ. Salvation and knowledge of Him and in obedience He can change the condition of the hearts of world leaders, those in authority and even the hearts of those who vote.

The problem is not our politicians. The problem is we have left our first love and obedience to Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Bless, Not Curse

Mar5

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. — Romans 12:14

Bless (Eulogeo: Greek): to invoke blessing upon a person.

It’s right there, in black and white, in my Bible. Bless those who persecute? Really? I must have read that wrong. No, there it is. Bless and do not curse.

I thought, how can I bless someone who is mean, evil, wrong doing, harsh and many other such words? As I thought on these Words of God I saw a different picture.

If I dwell on persecutors I get angry and my mind wants revenge, for them to suffer as they have made others suffer and pretty soon I find myself enraged and bitter. What does that do to me? That’s my selfish view although justified as I need to dwell on Jesus and “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise”. (Philippians 4:8) Which way is most effective for the Kingdom of God?

My other thought is what better way can I bless someone than to pray for them. All day long I can hear, read, see persecution everywhere — news, T.V. in general, the internet, Facebook, conversations everywhere — but I wonder how many are praying for the persecuted and especially the persecutors. Just maybe if we started praying for them and our leaders — instead of mocking them, ridiculing them, pointing out all their faults — the earnest prayers of faithful believers just might see God move in miraculous ways in others and in us.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Be Devoted

Mar4

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. — Romans 12:10-13

I don’t know about you but these words are pretty convicting. Reminds me of the verse, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”. I have sinned and fallen short but that gives me no excuse to give up, quit trying. I must devote, be diligent, fervent (passionate), serving, rejoicing, persevering, contributing and practicing everyday these Words of God.

They are all action words that demand I participate in my walk with Jesus. It begins with loving the Lord with my whole being, with all I’ve got. That enables me, by His love, to love others. By loving others I am motivated to serve them, pray for them, contribute to their well-being. In serving I honor others but also our Lord. In Him we find hope and persevere because of that hope.

So honor God today by practicing His Word. His Word is wisdom for life. May God bless your endeavors to serve Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Conformity

Feb27

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. — Romans 12:2

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, — 1 Peter 1:14

so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. — 1 Peter 1:2

Conformity to the world or conformity to God?

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. — 1 Peter 4:7-11

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Heart’s Desire

Feb23

Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. — Romans 10:1

What are the desires of your heart? Are they eternal desires? Are there people in your life that have no eternal hope?

Pray for them and ask God to give you an opportunity to share the gospel. Be ready and watch for God to open the door, the Holy Spirit to move and Jesus to be proclaimed from your very lips.

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. — 2 Timothy 4:2

 sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; — 1 Peter 3:15

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Weakness

Feb17

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. — Romans 8:26-27

Oh how great our need! Our need for God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to fulfill His great purpose. We are weak but He is strong. We do not know how to pray effectively but the Holy Spirit does. Jesus, who knows our hearts, intercedes with the Father on our behalf to fulfill the will of God, just as Jesus did when He was in the flesh.

To God be the glory for the things He has done and has yet to do in our humbled weakness.

For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. 2 Corinthians 13:4

Exchanging Truth?

Jan28

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. — Romans 1:25

Are you settling for the lie? Do you KNOW the truth?

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. — John 14:6

that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. — John 14:17

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.”

39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus *said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40 But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.”42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? — John 8:32-46

Truth or lies. The choice is yours. Do you know the truth? If you do you hear and accept the truth. If not you are settling for a bunch of lies. To know the truth, seek Jesus in His Word and through prayer.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Honor God

Jan27

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. — Romans 1:21

“did not honor Him as God or give thanks” – Isn’t that where it all begins? The deterioration of mankind. When we begin to neglect the very source and power of our existence. We speculate on unimportant, useless, and pointless things that are ineffective for all mankind. The more we neglect our God, disregarding His glory, provision, salvation, the darker our foolish hearts become.

Let today be different. In every endeavor give God the glory and thank Him in your heart, prayer and with praising song.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

The Whole Truth

Jan15

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” — John 31-32

How many times have I heard verse 32 quoted, “and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. How quick we are to cling and quote the promises of God and miss the warnings.

Don’t get me wrong I love verse 32 because it is God’s Word and it is a verse of hope. But . . . God’s Word is only effective to those who hear, respond and obey. To those who seek Him continually through His Word.

How many of you “saved” Christians — done the prayer thing, went forward at church, were baptized — open the Word of God, study it and obey it? If we are going to accept the truth of God’s promises, we need to accept the whole truth.

Are you a disciple of Christ?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

New Year’s Resolution

Dec27

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
The hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked perishes.
The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright,
But ruin to the workers of iniquity. — Proverbs 10:27-29

Time to make those New Year resolutions.

Don’t we go into a new year with expectations of how things will be different from the year we are finishing? What happened to last year’s resolutions? How long did they last?

Well here is a resolution that will change your new year forever. Fear the Lord and hope in Him. As New Year expectations crumble for some, your hope will turn to gladness. Choosing the way of the Lord will be your stronghold so your New Year’s resolution will be one that, at this time next year, as you look back over the past year you will see the handiwork of God all over it.

Let your New Year’s resolution be to choose Jesus and follow Him. Dust off your Bible and read it. Talk to God everyday. I truly believe a heart that resolves to seek God will not be disappointed.

Jesus is a hopeful resolution.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon