Sunday, April 27, 2014
Stop, Pray, and Trust God
Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV) Says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) Says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
Romans 8:28 (KJV) Says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
The above verses of scripture taken from the book of Isaiah tell us that God's thoughts are not our thoughts and that He doesn't do things in the same way that we would do them. He makes it clear that His ways and his thoughts are higher than ours as He is above us in all things just as the heavens are above the earth. It is for certain that He knows far better than we do what is best for us. The above verse of scripture taken from the book of Jeremiah makes it clear that the Lord wants us to live in peace, and that he doesn't sit around thinking about various evil He can bring upon us. He wants us to have divine peace and joy, and to live joy filled lives here on earth. The final verse of scripture listed above is taken from the book of Romans, and it makes clear that all things come together for good to those who love God, and are following him.
At one time or another, most if not all of us, have found ourselves in situations that are difficult and that we can't understand the reason for. When we do, we don't need to begin whining and complaining. When we are in a tough situation, facing difficulties and hardships, or we are unhappy with where we are in life, we need to stop, pray, and trust God. If we are living our lives in a manner that is pleasing to God and are following Him, then we need to pause long enough to remember that He has a purpose for us to be going through whatever it is we are facing, and that it will all work together for good in the end.
A great example of this can be found in Philippians 1:12-14 (KJV) where Paul says, "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."
In this passage of scripture taken from the book of Romans Paul is in prison. Now take a moment to consider that the prison was cave like with dirt floors, and was far from comfortable. Many people in prison are quite unhappy and find nothing positive about it. Paul, however, makes it clear that he sees the purpose for which God has placed him where he is, and the good that has come out of it. He tells us that the things that have happened to him including landing in prison have served to further the gospel of Jesus Christ. He goes on to tell us that his imprisonment has afforded him the opportunity to spread the gospel in Caesar's palace, and that many Roman Christians were stirred to preach the gospel during his bondage. He states that they became able to do so more boldly, and without fear. So Paul having a close personal relationship with God saw the good in his situation, and the purpose behind him being in it. Paul didn't see the negative and begin whining and complaining about prison conditions or his plight, but rather he trusted God, and continued to spread the gospel from within those prison walls seeing the positive results that were coming from him doing so.
What a great example Paul set here for us to follow, when we find ourselves in situations that we don't understand or see a purpose for. If Paul had adopted a poor, pitiful me attitude the moment he was incarcerated and focused solely on his own discomfort, then he would have missed the opportunity afforded him to spread the gospel throughout the palace, and the opportunity to stir up many of the Roman Christians to be bold in preaching the gospel without fear. Paul knew and trusted that God had a plan, that God knows best, and that the end result would be good.
When you find yourself faced with a difficult situation, I encourage you to trust God. I urge you to remember that his thoughts and ways are not ours, and that he knows what is best for us. We have two choices we can make difficult situations about us, see the negative in them, whine, complain, and miss the good that God intended to come from them; or we can do as Paul did and trust God acknowledging that he knows what is best for us, and that whatever we're facing or going through He will work out for our good.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
God Never Changes
Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."
As we see from the above verse of scripture, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We all face changes in our lives which require that we go through periods of adjustment as we grow accustom to where these changes land us.
Some of the changes we face come suddenly, and have a major impact on our everyday life. A few examples of change that can make a major impact on our life are the death of a loved one, losing a job, starting a new job, getting a divorce, getting married, the birth of a child, children growing up and moving out, and as we all know there are many more that can and do occur. All major changes that come along in our lives require that we go through a period of adjustment. As Christians, we can find comfort in the fact that God will be with us during the adjustment periods that come along in our lives. God loves us and he will never leave us or forsake us.
Unlike God, people do change as does the world that we live in. As soon as we are born we begin to age, and as we age and go through various stages in our lives, we face multiple changes. With new inventions and growth in technology being a constant, the world we live in is also constantly changing. Some of the changes we face can be very difficult on us. We can experience sadness and great pain as we work to adapt, and move forward with our lives. God understands that these periods of emotional adjustment are necessary before we can move forward, but it is important to note that he does want us to move forward. One example of this can be found in the Word of God when we read about the death of Moses. Deuteronomy 34:8-9 tells us that the people mourned the loss of Moses for 30 days before moving forward following Joshua as God directed them to.
God knows we are only human and he understands our emotions completely because he experienced all of them firsthand, when he came to earth in the flesh. He has compassion and sympathy for us, and he loves us tremendously.
When you go through changes that have a major impact on your life, I encourage you to remember that you are not going through them alone. I encourage you to remember that God promises he will never leave nor forsake you, and that he has not, nor will he ever break a promise. I urge you to remember that God is right there holding your hand, and that he loves you tremendously. I urge you to allow God to be your anchor. He never changes, and he is steadfast, and immovable. I urge you to rely on God not only as you walk through periods of adjustment in your life, but throughout each and every second of every day.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
As we see from the above verse of scripture, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We all face changes in our lives which require that we go through periods of adjustment as we grow accustom to where these changes land us.
Some of the changes we face come suddenly, and have a major impact on our everyday life. A few examples of change that can make a major impact on our life are the death of a loved one, losing a job, starting a new job, getting a divorce, getting married, the birth of a child, children growing up and moving out, and as we all know there are many more that can and do occur. All major changes that come along in our lives require that we go through a period of adjustment. As Christians, we can find comfort in the fact that God will be with us during the adjustment periods that come along in our lives. God loves us and he will never leave us or forsake us.
Unlike God, people do change as does the world that we live in. As soon as we are born we begin to age, and as we age and go through various stages in our lives, we face multiple changes. With new inventions and growth in technology being a constant, the world we live in is also constantly changing. Some of the changes we face can be very difficult on us. We can experience sadness and great pain as we work to adapt, and move forward with our lives. God understands that these periods of emotional adjustment are necessary before we can move forward, but it is important to note that he does want us to move forward. One example of this can be found in the Word of God when we read about the death of Moses. Deuteronomy 34:8-9 tells us that the people mourned the loss of Moses for 30 days before moving forward following Joshua as God directed them to.
God knows we are only human and he understands our emotions completely because he experienced all of them firsthand, when he came to earth in the flesh. He has compassion and sympathy for us, and he loves us tremendously.
When you go through changes that have a major impact on your life, I encourage you to remember that you are not going through them alone. I encourage you to remember that God promises he will never leave nor forsake you, and that he has not, nor will he ever break a promise. I urge you to remember that God is right there holding your hand, and that he loves you tremendously. I urge you to allow God to be your anchor. He never changes, and he is steadfast, and immovable. I urge you to rely on God not only as you walk through periods of adjustment in your life, but throughout each and every second of every day.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Questions
Leviticus 19:31 (KJV) Says, "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 20:6 (KJV) Says, "And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people." Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (KJV) Says, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee." Isaiah 8:19 (KJV) Says, "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: Should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
In the above verses of scripture taken from the book of Leviticus we are instructed not to consult mediums or sorcerers. The above passage taken from Deuteronomy instructs us that we are not to use divination. An example of divination can be found in Ezekiel 21:21(KJV) where arrows where whirled around in a quiver and the answer to a question was decided by the first arrow thrown out. We are also advised to avoid astrology, an observer of times such as one that reads the clouds, and not to seek after an enchanter, a witch, or a wizard. We are further instructed not to seek after a necromancer. The Hebrew term for necromancer is "one who asks of the dead." All these practices are clearly condemned in the word of God. These practices are considered abominations. In the verse of scripture taken from the book of Isaiah, the prophet warns the people about seeking witches, wizards, and soothsayers in lieu of taking their questions and issues to God in prayer.
We all have questions that we would like answered, and each of us desire advice, when faced with important decisions that occur periodically throughout our lives. There are several worldly avenues made available to us in which to seek answers. We can draw straws, flip a coin, seek a medium, go to a psychic, read our horoscope, seek a witch, wizard, palm reader, or take some other worldly route in search of guidance. As Christians, however, why in the world would we do any of these things which God's word makes clear are abominations? Why in the world would we do any of these things, when we have the privilege to go to God in prayer, and talk to him day or night about anything and everything?
You might say well I go to a palm reader, but I don't believe anything they tell me, or I read my horoscope daily, but I don't put any faith in what it says. You might say I go to a psychic, but only about twice a year more or less just for fun. The truth is seeking answers or help with decisions from any of these sources or by any of these means is an abomination in the eyes of God. It matters not the frequency of use or how much faith you put into any of these sources. What is important is the fact that you go to them instead of taking your problems and questions to God in prayer.
When you have a question or you're faced with a problem of some sort, where do you turn? When we honestly consider the power and knowledge of Almighty God, both of which are unlimited, I think we can agree that there is no go to source greater than Him for any and all questions, issues, problems, and worries we may have. The next time you have a need or want of any sort, and desire to seek an answer take your questions to God in prayer. You can go to God in prayer having faith in Him, knowing without a doubt that He understands you, that He has all the answers, He knows what is best for you, and that He loves you tremendously. I encourage you to remember that you can talk to God whenever you choose because He is always available to you. Seek God when you have a decision to make, a question you need answered or help with a problem you're faced with, and remember Psalm 46:1 (KJV) which tells us that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
In the above verses of scripture taken from the book of Leviticus we are instructed not to consult mediums or sorcerers. The above passage taken from Deuteronomy instructs us that we are not to use divination. An example of divination can be found in Ezekiel 21:21(KJV) where arrows where whirled around in a quiver and the answer to a question was decided by the first arrow thrown out. We are also advised to avoid astrology, an observer of times such as one that reads the clouds, and not to seek after an enchanter, a witch, or a wizard. We are further instructed not to seek after a necromancer. The Hebrew term for necromancer is "one who asks of the dead." All these practices are clearly condemned in the word of God. These practices are considered abominations. In the verse of scripture taken from the book of Isaiah, the prophet warns the people about seeking witches, wizards, and soothsayers in lieu of taking their questions and issues to God in prayer.
We all have questions that we would like answered, and each of us desire advice, when faced with important decisions that occur periodically throughout our lives. There are several worldly avenues made available to us in which to seek answers. We can draw straws, flip a coin, seek a medium, go to a psychic, read our horoscope, seek a witch, wizard, palm reader, or take some other worldly route in search of guidance. As Christians, however, why in the world would we do any of these things which God's word makes clear are abominations? Why in the world would we do any of these things, when we have the privilege to go to God in prayer, and talk to him day or night about anything and everything?
You might say well I go to a palm reader, but I don't believe anything they tell me, or I read my horoscope daily, but I don't put any faith in what it says. You might say I go to a psychic, but only about twice a year more or less just for fun. The truth is seeking answers or help with decisions from any of these sources or by any of these means is an abomination in the eyes of God. It matters not the frequency of use or how much faith you put into any of these sources. What is important is the fact that you go to them instead of taking your problems and questions to God in prayer.
When you have a question or you're faced with a problem of some sort, where do you turn? When we honestly consider the power and knowledge of Almighty God, both of which are unlimited, I think we can agree that there is no go to source greater than Him for any and all questions, issues, problems, and worries we may have. The next time you have a need or want of any sort, and desire to seek an answer take your questions to God in prayer. You can go to God in prayer having faith in Him, knowing without a doubt that He understands you, that He has all the answers, He knows what is best for you, and that He loves you tremendously. I encourage you to remember that you can talk to God whenever you choose because He is always available to you. Seek God when you have a decision to make, a question you need answered or help with a problem you're faced with, and remember Psalm 46:1 (KJV) which tells us that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
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