Thursday, October 27, 2011

The "ABC"s of Prayer - "C" is for CONFIDENCE

The next letter in the “ABC”s of prayer - “C” stands for CONFIDENCE. At this point you are probably saying to yourself: “Didn’t we just cover confidence when we talked about boldness?” Although this may seem slightly confusing, the answer is no. Boldness is the outcome of confidence. Because we have confidence it is with boldness that we approach the throne room of God. Jesus said in John 14:14 “If ye ask anything in my name I WILL DO IT.” This statement by Jesus in and of itself should give us confidence in prayer. This confidence should be the center of everything we do. If we put our confidence in our own abilities we will fail. If we put our confidence in our pastor or other men, they will disappoint. In fact, God thought that this truth was so important that He inserted that message into the very center of the Bible. Psalm 118:9 is universally recognized as being the exact midway point of the Old and New Testaments and it says:  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in men.” So then our confidence in prayer should be based solely on the sufficiency of Christ. As Ephesians 3:12  declares: “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” Is that the basis for your confidence today? In the words of the old hymn: “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.” Let us thank God today for the confidence in prayer we have today based on our faith in Christ!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Carpe Diem
                I continue to be amazed how God intertwines the lives of believers.  Iron sharpens Iron” is a truth from the book of Proverbs that it seems I gain more appreciation for with the passing of each day. One of my dear friends of over twenty years – Jeff Noel is a five a day blogger, motivational speaker and fitness expert. His mantra is “Carpe Diem”! This Latin phrase literally means “seize the day”. An aphorism that; through my connection with Jeff, has become an important theme for my own life as well.  Today I realize more intimately than ever how God has woven Jeff’s life into the fabric of my own because of a poem left to me by my Grandfather and Mentor Harry Brooker. “Happy Harry” as my grandfather was known, had a poem that was very dear to him that he sent me in a letter one day years ago. This poem was the mantra of his life. I believe that living out the words of this poem was ultimately the reason that Grandpa earned his nickname.
Use the Day
Any day's worth living 
If all the whole day  through 
Just one someone' happier 
Because of knowing you 
No day is ever wasted 
If there's a happy song
If even one heart somewhere
Because YOU came along 
Each day's an opportunity 
So seize it - every minute. 
      And make the world a better place 
                       Because it has you in it!                
                  Today I am officially changing the name of Grandpa’s poem to “Seize the Day” because it seems much more appropriate.  The word “use” can carry with it either a good or bad connotation. The word “seize”; on the other hand, means to take something with vigor and to place it in a location where it wasn’t originally. I believe that is what Grandpa felt this poem meant to him. To take a normal routine day and to transfer it “with vigor” into a different place . . . a good place. A place that can only be reached by the passionate effort of the individual involved. I know also, that is the meaning my friend Jeff Noel has in mind. And now because God has bound the lives of these two Godly men through the words of the phrase “Carpe Diem”, the mantra of Grandpa and Jeff is now echoed for eternity in the words of a poem!
    

Friday, October 21, 2011

The "ABC"s of Prayer. "B" is for BOLDNESS

Boldness

”Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,” Heb.10:19

            B” is for BOLDNESS. Boldness is defined as a willingness to face uncertain circumstances with a sense of confidence and fearlessness. If we consider this definition in light of prayer, what is it that gives the Christian this kind of eagerness to approach the throne room of God?  Hebrews 10:19 says: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” It is the all sufficient blood sacrifice and mighty name of Jesus that should give each one of us a confident, self assurance in prayer.             

                As a child do you ever recall telling someone else “. . . cause my Dad said so!”? That innocent boldness came about because of the authority we felt we had in our father’s name.  Believer, we should have the same boldness in prayer because of the name of JESUS! As Paul told the church at Philippi: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Philippians 2:10  As
we go to prayer; even today, may we echo the words of the author of the book of Hebrews who confidently penned: “. . . we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:6

 The Praying MANtis

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The "ABC"s of Prayer - "A" is for Access

           Remember the excitement you felt when your children could first recite their “ABC”s? I can’t help but believe that our Heavenly Father is also thrilled when His children begin to comprehend the “ABC”s of prayer! Just as it is critical for a young child to know the alphabet in order to advance scholastically, so believers must master the fundamentals of prayer so that we can reach a place of spiritual growth, fulfillment and joy when it comes to prayer.

            First and foremost “A” stands for ACCESS. Before we can even approach God in prayer, it is essential to understand that we only have access to God in prayer through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Eph. 2:18) It is for this reason that the writer of Hebrews proclaimed that we can “come boldly onto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16) The veil that once prevented man’s access into holiest area of God’s temple has been torn in two and we now have access directly into the throne room of God the Father. We have ACCESS !

Saturday, October 15, 2011

The Prayer Dilemma

Many Christians become discouraged about praying because they feel like they can't discipline themselves to set aside a specific time and place to pray. The good news is that the Bible suggests that there is another option honored by God - the continual approach to prayer! That's right. Paul told the believers at Thessalonica to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and the Colossians to "continue steadfastly in prayer".(Colossians 4:2)In fact one of the first century Christians (Epaphras) was described as "always striving in prayers". (Colossians 4:12) So don't despair. When you have the time and a special place, lift your voice to God. When you're on the go or are suddenly reminded of a prayer need - call out to the Father. But the key is to pray. And soon you will find that the "Prayer Dilemma" will become the "Prayer Delight" to you and to the King of Heaven. (Proverbs 15:8)

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

"Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." (Lamentations 3:41)

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us favours without constraining us to pray for them we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities,a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust. Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labour of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God's young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer girds the loins of God's warriors, and sends them forth to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. An earnest pleader cometh out of his closet, even as the sun ariseth from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians. Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do! We thank thee, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of thy marvellous lovingkindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day! - Charles H. Spurgeon

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Side Benefits

Everyone likes to get a bonus! Especially when it is unexpected. Were you aware you get a bonus when you pray? Side benefits that are totally unexpected? That is what the Apostle Paul is talking about in the fourth chapter of Philipians when he says "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philipians 4:6)Who would have ever thought that the very act of prayer would give the petitioner a God given peace! And not only that, but a peace that defys human understanding. My favorite part of Philipians 4:6 comes next: "shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Yes, you will keep you mind when others are losing theirs. Keep your heart when others are being broken. All because we are faithful in prayer. King David said that God actually "loads" (Psalms 68:19)us with benefits! So what should we do in response to all of God's wonderful benefits? David said it should inspire us to pray all the more:"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD." (Psalms 116:12-13)

Monday, October 3, 2011

The Bank of Heaven

I love the analogies of Charles H. Spurgeon! In his book "Only a Prayer Meeting" he compares our going to God in prayer to making "withdrawals" from a heavenly bank account. His belief was that when you pray. . . "you take to God one of the many precious promises which he has given us in his Word, and expect it to be fulfilled as certainly as we look for the money to be given to us when we go to the bank to cash a cheque or a note. We should not think of going there, lolling over the counter, chatting with the clerks upon every conceivable subject except the one thing for which we had gone to the bank, and then coming away without the coin we needed; but we should lay before the clerk the promise to pay the bearer a certain sum, tell him in what form we wished to take the amount, count the cash after him, and then go our way to attend to other business. That is just an illustration of the method in which we should draw supplies from the Bank of Heaven. We should seek out the promise which applies to that particular case, plead it before the Lord in faith, expect to have the blessing to which it relates; and then, having received it, let us proceed to the next duty devolving upon us."

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