Insanity

There is a popular workout series that's out right now called 'Insanity'.  My sister and brother-in-law did it and I have decided to start it.  As I sat there contemplating on when I was going to start my latest exercise routine, the Word of God begin to quicken my spirit.  I begin to think about all the insane things that I have done over the years.  Albert Einstein stated that the definition of insanity is 'doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results'.  I begin to think about how many times I have done just that.  The times when I attempted to take back control of my life from God, trying to do things in my own strength.  Each and every time achieving the same meaningless results. Often times taking the long way around to the blessing God had for me.  There were many reasons that I took back control (or at least thought I took back control), the primary one being that God was just taking too long.  In my opinion, 'I had been in the storm too long'.

But now that I look back on things, I have to ask myself where did it really get me?  To know better is to do better, I can hear my mom and dad and my second grade teacher, Mrs. Douglass say.  And I most certainly knew right from wrong.  I could clearly feel the Spirit speaking to me telling me to "But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory." II Chronicles 20:17  As I reflect on different relationships in my life and my need to get my point across when clearly the Lord was telling me to "Be silent. Pray my child."  Yet and still I insisted on speaking up for fear of being walked on.  Or what about when God clearly showed me that someone was not good for me and yet I continued participating in the negative activities that always seemed to come about in their company.  I have taken jobs without praying and have been miserable.  I have failed to read my  Bible regularly and pray regularly only to experience a period of drought, feeling like God had forsaken me.  Even when I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that 'God will never leave me nor forsake me'.  There are times that I have felt like a failure because I had not achieved certain goals so I would complain all the time.  I had forgotten the scripture that said  'God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns'. Philippians 1:6 

As a child of the King, we must remember that nothing that we do is about us.  It is all about glorifying God.  When we are at work, when we are at church, in our homes, at the grocery store, driving in our cars...someone is always watching waiting to see what your response will be and more times than not, some of them are hoping that you will fail.  But don't get discouraged.  There may be a lot of things that you and I have done over and over again hoping to achieve different results but there is one thing I know that will always achieve a positive outcome and that is PRAYER. Your own direct channel to the Almighty God.  Your access is not limited, call on Him anytime.  In fact the Bible tells us to  'Pray without ceasing'.  I Thess. 5:17  What does that mean to the saints?  Keep on praying.  And as you continue to pray, let your prayer become praise.  There is just something about knowing that I can talk to the Father and He hears me.  I used to hear the preacher say, "He's never to busy. He may not come when you want Him, but He's always on time."

Most Gracious Heavenly,

Help me to remember the spiritual discipline of prayer.  Before I move to explore any other avenues let me first turn to You.  Grant me sustaining power to make it through the storm.  Let me remember that no matter how dark the night, daylight is coming.  I will forever give You all the glory, honor and the praise You so richly deserve.  In Jesus' precious name I pray Amen. 

One, Two...Punch

'Pray continually'.  I Thessalonians 5:17

My Saturday's for the past month have been spent taking two of my daughters to basketball games.  This past Saturday while enjoying my youngest daughter's game, the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. (Thank God that I am in tune with the Holy Spirit and I can hear Him talking to me no mater where I am.)  This is her first year playing basketball. In spite of this she has picked up the game very well.  During this particular game I watched as she raced up and down the court.  On several possessions she played the roll of the point guard and like clockwork as she dribbled up and down the court looking for one of her teammates, she would pass the ball and SWOOSH a layup.  Her sisters' and I started saying, "Babygirl got that one, two, punch."  And as the Holy Spirit spoke to me I started thinking about how this relates to my prayer life.  Each and every time I pray I'm giving the assist up to God, giving Him total control to make the finishing move, scoring every time.  There was one unique piece of her point guard play. She only passed the ball to one particular teammate.  You see, she had confidence that this person was going to make the correct move.  She was not going to turn the ball over.  She was going to make decisions that was best for the team.  Isn't that just like God?

The problem arises when we decide to skip our quiet time with God.  We decide that our way is a much better way.  We don't pray.  And if we do pray, it's just about asking for something and not an attempt to build your  relationship with God.  There is no assist. Instead we take our lives in our own hands becoming a 'ball hog' by always driving to the basket and not seeking the help from the One who has proven to have a guaranteed return.  You see, my daughter has come to rely on her teammate.  She spends time with her in practice.  At this point in the season, she has played several games with her and her role in the game has been proven. And if you ask yourself hasn't God already proven Himself to you?  Hasn't he answered your prayer time and time and again? Proven Himself to be consistent in your life?  If we are to make it in this life we must do so by keeping God first in our lives.  Let prayer be the assist that takes us to the life we have always wanted and the life that God wants for us.  A life in line with the will of God.  A life that even when trials come we continue to shine and trust God to make decisions that our best for our life. During my daughter's season there will be times that my daughter dribbles down the court and passes the ball to her teammate and she misses.  But glory be to God, that when we pray we never have to worry about a negative result.  The mere fact that we know that God is always listening is a win-win for the believer. God is the one who has our best interest at heart.  He wants nothing but the best for us and will push us to become better if we let Him.  We must give up control and not be a 'ball hog'.  Pray always and allow God to make the difference. You and God together will have that One, Two...Punch. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the privilege of prayer.  Thank You for being a merciful God. A God of grace. I want to become a person of prayer, realizing that nothing happens when I don't pray and everything happens when I do pray. Father, I realize that in order for things to change in my life...for me to become the person You want me to be I must seek Your will.  Please forgive me for the times I have been disobedient, neglecting my prayer life. Those times when I have tried to do things on my own.  I submit to Your will and to Your way. Change me in the way You see fit. In Jesus' Precious Name I pray Amen.   

Just Pray!

Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.  Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or is he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father, who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! (NAS, Matthew 7:7-11)

Do you believe in the power of prayer?  If so, let me ask you a question.  "Have you prayed about it?" Whatever it is that has you stressing out and worried.  A negative report from the doctor.  The threat of downsizing.  A marriage at the end of its rope.  A child that won't act right.  Depressed?  Disillusioned?  Whatever the case may be, the Bible tells us that we can come boldly before the throne of grace that we may find mercy and grace to help us right when we need it. (Hebrews 4:16)  So why do so many of us, including myself, not pray as often as we should.  Instead we spend our time worrying, stressing, and complaining to people who can’t do anything about it.  I can’t speak for for any of you, but after doing some soul searching, I discovered what my issue was... Trust.  Maybe like me you sing the song "I will trust in the Lord. I will trust in the Lord. I will trust in the Lord...until I die, 'til I die."  At the end of the day I had to ask myself do I really believe that God can do exceedingly, abundantly above all I could ever ask or imagine or are those just words that I just say because it sounds good.

I thought about the life of Jesus and how while He was here on earth He spent a lot of time praying.  How many times He went off to a place alone and spent time communing with His Father, especially at the most difficult times of His life.  And I just know that each time He went was with confidence, believing that His Father had the situation under control and was working it out on His behalf.  I have decided that I want to get to that point in my relationship with God.  Instead of always just saying that I believe that God can, knowing in my innermost being that GOD CAN and WILL!  That's what it's all about. Some of the most recent circumstances in my life have left me wondering.  I know what the Bible says and all the right things to do BUT.  That little three letter conjunction causing my faith to waiver. I needed to be reminded that people on earth may let me down.  They may not live up to my expectations but God is not like man.  All of His promises are 'Yea and Amen'.  Now that is something to shout about! As a parent I do whatever I can to give my children what they need and my resources are limited.  However, my Heavenly Father's resources are limitless.  He not only has whatever I need, He wants to freely give it to me.  I learned a long time ago that everything I have comes from God and when my limited resources stop that is where God begins and because of this I never run out.  

In the verses above we see three different ways we can go before the Father to get our needs met. We should be diligent in our prayers.  We must seek Him with a proper spirit and with humility and sincerity.  Ask with confidence and humility. Seek with care and application. Knock with earnestness and perseverance.  A couple of years back I decided to lose some weight.  While there were many crash diets out there I made the decision that I needed to change my lifestyle in order to achieve he results that I wanted. The most important thing to me was to have lasting results.  So I did just that.  I developed a healthy lifestyle.  That is what prayer must become to the believer.  We must develop a lifestyle of prayer.  In the same way that we wash our face and brush our teeth everyday, we must pray.  Pray without ceasing. (I Thess. 5:17)  The Bible doesn't say, 'Pray just when times get hard'.  God loves to hear from His children. What is it that you stand in need of?  Whatever it is have you prayed about it? 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Looking back over my life I see your hand of mercy and your grace.  I thank You for all the things You have done for me, many things that I didn't deserve. I am so grateful.  Lord I come to you on this day making a commitment to pray more.  Instead of taking things into my own hands I am going to give them to You.  No more worrying or stressing out about things beyond my control.  I'm placing it all in Your hands.  Thank You Father for answering my prayers, for providing a calm in the midst of chaos, peace in the midst of a storm.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen. 

A New Outlook

Sitting here today in my quiet time I have made a decision.  My decision is to have a new outlook on life.  Instead of fighting so hard to get out of my bad situation, I have decided to seek God more so that I can learn the valuable lesson that He wants to teach me.  Not only that  but I have decided to follow the Word and 'Rejoice always' (I Thessalonians 5:16) This means that I will be joyful always especially in the difficult times, no matter how long they may last, knowing that a loving and gracious God is working on my situation.  The last thing that I want to do is move before God tells me and then have to suffer the consequences.  I've done that before and the results have not been the best.  Learning to hear the voice of the Lord requires being still and listening.  God doesn't necessarily speak to you in a booming voice waving a big stick.  He can. However, more often times He speaks in a whisper.  But how can you hear Him if you are in an uproar and complaining constantly.  You can't hear what He is saying.  You can't hear Him telling you that He loves you more than anyone you know.  Everything He does has your best interest at heart.  Now that is something to shout about!  I am sure that you have had an experience where someone who said that they loved you really didn't.  They said that they had your best interest at heart but you found out later that they were working against you the entire time.  God loves you so much that He began working on your behalf even before you were born.  Then you gave your life to Christ and He began working to meet your specific needs.  Isn't He awesome?  I will answer that for you.  YES HE IS! 

I don't believe that we are instructed to 'Rejoice always' because God is wanting us to think unrealistically.  In fact, it 's the total opposite.  Rejoicing always is about having the confidence that an All-wise and All-powerful God is not only capable but willing and able to meet your needs.  I don't believe that you can truly rejoice until you have acknowledged where you are and decided to give up control to God.  That simple, yet sometimes, difficult act is the reason you can rejoice.  When you are in need do you go to someone who might meet the need or do you go to someone you are confident will meet the need?  Seems like a simple question with an obvious answer.  So why do we spend so much time getting frustrated with individuals who are incapable of meeting your need to begin with.  When you submit your request to God, you are placing them in the most capable hands.  Your acknowledgement of your helplessness give regard to the will of God.  There are several things that I do not know how to do and so I have know problem picking up the phone and calling a specialist.  For plumbing needs I call a plumber.  When my car breaks down, I call a mechanic.  This same concept applies to my mental and spiritual ailments.  When I'm depressed, I call on Jesus.  When I need healing, I call on Jesus.  When I am lost, I call on Jesus.  When my money is funny, I call on Jesus.  He can work it all out.  What is His specialty....the impossible.  Situations are what they are but even in the midst you can rejoice knowing trouble don't last always.  You might be in the valley now but praise God for mountaintops.  God did not bring you this far to leave you.  If that were the case He would not be true to His Word.  And I read that 'all scripture is inspired by God' and God is not a man that He should lie.  If He said it in His Word, it will come to pass.

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

The battle may not be over but I am going to shout right now.  I know that victory is on the way.  I'm going to praise You for Your faithfulness.  If you said it in Your Word, it will come to pass.  I'm going to trust You Lord.  I am not going to move to my right or to my left without direction from You.  Lord if you decide that I need to stay in this situation a little while longer I am going to do just that and cherish the valuable lesson that you are teaching me so that I can be a blessing to others.  Through it all I am going to praise You.  In Jesus' precious name I pray Amen. 

Take Me Back

Are you ready for a change in your life?  Have you become disconnected from your own life?  Do you sit and wonder why it seems your prayers are falling on shallow ground?  Perhaps you need to go back to the basics.  One of my favorite gospel songs is "Take Me Back".  The lyrics of the song simply say, 'Take me back. Take me back dear Lord, to the place where I first received you. Take me back. Take me back dear Lord where I first believed'. 

You remember that time when you first felt the presence of God in your life.  Maybe it was sitting in church one Sunday.  Maybe it was driving in your car or sitting in your living room.  Wherever it was, you felt God's presence and for the next few days, weeks or months, you were on fire for the Lord.  You read your Word every day.  You had a regular prayer life.  You couldn't get enough of that feeling.  It made you feel good.  But for some reason that feeling didn't last forever.  Pretty soon it was back to your regular routine.  Going to work, getting the kids ready for school, caring for your loved one, after school sports, working out, etc.  All these things that take up so much of our time.  Who has time to spend with God?  When I get home I'm so tired.  This past Sunday my Pastor reminded me of a very simple fact.   Actually it was confirmation of what the Holy Spirit had spoken to my spirit earlier that week.  While so many of us are searching for new solutions to old problems, the Bible is still true.  II Chronicles 7:14 says, '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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land'. It's time to go back to the basics. 

Over and over in the Bible you read about individuals and groups alike who got down on their knees and prayed.  It didn't matter what the situation was or how difficult it may seem to the human eye, faith in God prevailed.  When their leader needed support they fasted as a unified body.  When the nation needing a change in direction, the people got together and prayed.  From the Old Testament to the New Testament, prayer was a tool that gave the Saint direct access to God.  So why is it the most neglected part of the believer's life.  I can't speak for you but I can speak for myself.  When I want immediate results to my problem, prayer sometimes seems like a waste of time.  I need to be doing something.  But it's not always about finding a new solution.  I remember seeing my mother and father pray.  I remember seeing my mom and her prayer partners pray....weekly.  I remember when our entire family fasted for a week, more than once.  I remember when the church I grew up in participated in a fast.  During this time there was a deeper dive into the Word of God.  It was a time of confession and repentance.  Prayer was made daily and sometimes three times a day as David prayed.  (Psalm 55:17)  David, too, was busy but yet he found a peace like no other when he prayed.  He found a joy simply in knowing that God was there listening to his every word.  That is what it is about.  God wants and needs to be our number one focus. Nothing should come before God.  The more you read the Word, the more change you will see.  The situation may not change but I am witness that you will change.  Satan may try to sneak negative thoughts in your mind but you have mastered the art of 'praying without ceasing' and have noticed the results.  If you are at a point were your life seems stagnant, I challenge you to go back.....back to the basics.  Prayer, fasting and reading the Word of God.  Oh what a difference it will make in your life!

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Please forgive me Lord for I have strayed away from the outline You set before me.  Too often I have looked for solutions that didn't include you and I am sorry.  Today I am making a promise that I am going back to the basics.  I am going to spend time nurturing my relationship with You.  I realize, more than ever, that I need You.  I can't make it without You.  Thank you Father for remaining faithful even when I was not faithful.  I will continue to give You all the glory, honor and the praise.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen. 

But Prayer

I have often heard many people say "But God".  I have a different concept that I want to share with you today..."But Prayer".  How many times in your life have things seemed all but lost but then you remember to pray.  A sea of emotions flood your mind. Overwhelmed, hurt, disgusted, afraid, angry, depressed, sad. Nothing seems to be going right.  You may be at a point of giving up.  I have often said that we use prayer as a last resort when it should be the very first this we do.  In fact we are told to "Pray without ceasing".  I Thess. 5:17  The new Living Translation says it this way, "Never stop praying".  I like that.  As a Christian we can't afford to stop praying. 

What does this mean?  It means that our prayer life should be consistent.  Nothing should come between you and your prayer life.  It also means that prayer should be uninterrupted.  You should maintain a constant spirit of prayer.  And when we do we acknowledge our dependence on God for everything.  Prayer is not about the eloquence of your words. It is more about sincerity of heart.  Don't you know that prayer is our direct communication line with God.  I recently took a class entitled "Creative Supervision".  The author of the book stressed the importance of two-way communication between the supervisor and the employee .  In fact he called it the bloodline of the relationship.  Without it, the relationship suffers.  Isn't that how it is with God?  Too often we use prayer life like my children do me.  There are days when all I hear is "Momma Can I?"  But there are times when I just want to sit down and share with them.  Just as God wishes to share with you.  He desires to be in constant communion with His children. 

Don't you recognize that power of prayer? Especially prayer made in faith.  There is no greater source of power for the Saint.  I can't help but think about that awesome time when Peter was in prison and the church prayed continuously.  The result?  The prison doors were opened and Peter was set free.  What a sequence of events all because someone prayed.  Whatever it is you may be facing in your life right now, I have to stop and ask have you prayed.  This seems to be the central theme God has placed on my heart right now. With so many things in this world that are out of whack.  From the White House to the poor house.  If you hadn't already noticed...things are out of order.  I can't help but wonder what would happen if all the saints of God PRAYED...on one accord.  We begin to PRAY for our country, our schools, our churches, our families.  I have seen what the power of prayer can do in my life so much so that my prayers are more for others now than for myself.  Yes I still use this time to thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon my life and to listen for direction.  I pray just to be in His presence.  There is no other place I'd rather be. 

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the privilege of prayer.  There is nothing more awesome than to dwell in your presence.  I realize how weak I am in my flesh and that I can do nothing without You.  O where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  No matter where I am I am so eternally grateful that You can find me.  You know my voice and are attentive to my needs.  I can't help but praise Your name.  Help me to always remember that whatever the situation I can come to You in prayer.  In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen.