Tag Archives: Prayer

God’s will

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Everyone of God’s people want to know His will for them.  Classes are taught.  Spiritual gifts are explored.  Examples from God’s people in the Bible are exploded before our minds.  The teachings of the Apostles are illustrated with all diligence. And personal testimony is given that we might excel.  We search and search.  Still we are all but lost.

I have found, personally, the help of men to be useless in discovering God’s will for me.  Though no aspect of known sound doctrine is useless in itself, there is an end to its usefulness if we do not connect ourselves to the sovereign God.

Though all the things I mentioned are extremely useful and should never be put out of the way, they are like studying the scriptures and believing that by our study we are saved.  But salvation comes from God.

Jesus has taught me over and over again to “Consider what is.”  By this, I look at all possible views of my situation .  By His grace I consider all possible repairs.  Then when I go to prayer I strive hard to listen to my thoughts.  If something appears in my thoughts that is noteworthy, while in prayer, I ask about it.  He has been faithful to clearly point to the answer.

Yet I will mention here that there are times when all possibilities have not arrived.  It is quite possible that we need to go.  Simply move in faith and God sometimes brings completion to our request.  In all things I have been taught to carefully consider what is.

All things are by faith from first to last.  But we should not hold too tightly to the instruction of men.  The best of intentions can sometimes lead us horribly astray. The truth resides in the living God through Christ Jesus. 

I testify that he is willing and able to lead us clearly.  We go to him with everything.  We expect every possible scenario.  We receive what is.  And in that, it is our rightful place to be thankful.

Holy Father, I ask you to bless these words with understanding.  Millions have tried to help in this regard.  I suspect that few have succeeded.  I cannot hope to succeed unless you intervene.  By your grace and mercy then, may your people find direction.

By His Grace

I Set Sail

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I stood on the shore.  A boat with sail was there.  Anxiety was upon me and I looked for escape.

Into the boat I lept.  With all my strength and quickness I raised the sail.  With knowledge of direction I headed out.

But I did not go toward Tarshish.  I sailed for three miles out.  Let the sound of crashing waves dim the onslaught.  Let their sound not reach me.  Let no bug or bird see me.  I have had my fill.

I pulled the sail down.  Let the great current pull me.  My knees slammed to the bottom of the boat.  And my soul set sail for God.
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Back on shore I write these things.  Refreshed and strong for battle.  But now perceiving the war is not mine.  The Holy One of Israel is my shield.

In him we live and move and have our being.  What then is assailed at us?   It is he who protects.  It is he whom they hate.  Who am I to stop my ears?

From atop the sea

His wisdom found me.

And all my anxiety

Has proved not but folly.

By His Grace

Give? Give What?

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Christian Cross

Christian Cross (Photo credit: freefotouk)

Could I give my all I would still feel inept.  All I have is what has been given.  What should I give that belongs to me?

Ah, I will give my desire.  But I will get hungry soon.  Thirst will come to me.  And what good is it if I die in my desire to give Him what is mine?

I will give Him my words.  Evidently, I have plenty of those.  But He already has The Word.  And one was enough to satisfy the Living God.

How about I just give Him thanks.  And put down any thought that I can offer Him something He doesn’t already own.

How about I give Him my ear.  Let me strive to hear what the Lord has already said.  Then, perhaps, I will be allowed to hear what He is ready to say to me now.

How about I give Him time in prayer.  Yeah.  That’s a good idea.  I’ll make it my desire to sit before Him and lift up my soul to His Holy Throne.  And while I’m there, how about giving Him the troubles of others.

What can I give Him?   I can give Him my very life.  From now to the end of my days in this place of testing.  Isn’t that what He has already told us He desires?

Learn for keeps

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The Holy Spirit depicted as a dove, surrounded...

The Holy Spirit depicted as a dove, surrounded by angels, by Giaquinto, 1750s. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I understand the need to learn.  And some are fast learners while others are slow learners.  I understand this. But I am perplexed.

Can someone tell me why, with the Holy Spirit as our teacher, we continually look too man for answers?

“Should I do this or that?  Is it acceptable to think this way or should I think that way?  When should I pray?  Why is it necessary to pray at all?”

The questions abound.  But such people are not looking for answers.  They are looking for someone else to “Christian” for them.

Now see that’s what I don’t get.  When it is so much easier to eat from the stock of your own kitchen then to walk 6 miles to get a cup of sugar from a neighbor.  Far too many are engaged in the labour of irresponsibility.

If you are one of those that reads this I urge you to get out of that occupation.  Don’t be lazy with your mind.  Instead enhance your curiosity.  The joy we will have can not belong to another.

He

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Before he sinned, He saw the truth.

As he prayed, He watched in silence.

God gave way to sins of youth.

Then came morning and found him silent.

What could possibly be spoken?

Over time a tear develops.

God stood near, that tear a token.

The Lord’s his God because He cares.

Not just for the sake of religion.

The Living God lives within.

That’s why the man is called a Christian.

While You Slept (a prayer for help)

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While you slept I could not.  But my waking was not as it is in the city that never sleeps.  For there they plot to maintain their wealth.  There they plot to cheat, murder, rape, and gain what does not satisfy.  Their waking is to flesh.  Not so with mine.

My heart has heard the warning of demise.  The words come from Holy lips.  But the sound is softer than the landing of a feather.  It is a whisper.  Yet the gravity of their sum is like the sounding of a cannon.  So I do not sleep.

Perhaps to pray, a sufficient response and expected.  But does prayer require bent knee?   How, then, could we obey what is spoken to us, “pray without ceasing” ?   No.  Prayer is here with you now as you read this.  Our hearts are bent together in unified terror for the losses most certainly to come.  As reeds in a wind storm, let our hearts bend toward The Holy Throne.

This I will offer.  “Amen” if you agree.  Then, if the burden finds root in your soul also, leave your own words to Him here that we might mutually agree.

“O’ Holy Father in heaven,  Yours is might of might.  It is said of Your Holy Son that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  So it is.  For this He is worthy.  For He is the exact representation of You, His Father.  What we see in Him is that of You.

You teach us to love as You love Your Son.  So be it!  This is good and right.   You teach us to care for the weak.  We watch You raise up help for all men in need.  You show us how to be kind to our enemies, for we witness how you provide food, clothing, shelter and strength to those who abhor Your Holy ways.  We witness these things and stand in awe Your Majestic heart.

Father, our nation is willingly killing itself.  Your people are to blame.  We shut up Your perfect words behind closed doors on Sunday morning.  We said little or nothing as the nation around us began to decay.   Now, You have allowed liars to lead us the rest of the way to destruction.  We did not keep Your word.  We counted Your mercy as if You would shelter our sin.  May that NEVER be!

Now, I present these words of truth to You and all who will read them.  We ask that we be shown if there is anything that can be done to save this place from what is beginning to take shape.

“Horror approaches.  Godless days among the godless!”

Yes.

You rightfully ask, “Do you love Me more than these”.  Yet when asked if fire should be called down on the wicked, we were told we do not know the God we serve.

Holy Father, You are mercy!   Kick Your people awake as was done to Peter.  Open the steel bars over our sleep encrusted eyes.  Show us our sin and folly.  We have neglected what is our duty before You.

Lord, You are tender.  Your touch is life and precious.  Please touch us.  Your name is Jesus.  You are the God who saves.  We ask, humbly and with understanding, please wake us.

By Your Grace.  Amen.