God Will Bless You...If...

...we all want God's Blessings, but sometimes we must be in the proper context in order to receive them. We must remember what Galatians 6.7 tells us:

~ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows. ~

So here are two points James gives us in order to receive God's Blessings and to reap what we sow...

God will bless you, if you don't give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him. James 1.12 CEV

But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don't just hear and forget. James 1.25 CEV

God's Encore Through Your Persistence!

Bravo, God, Bravo!
Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!
In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.
Psalm 96.7 MSG

Persevering Persistence
According to dictionary.com, the word Persistent is defined as, "persisting, esp. in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.; persevering." What is so important about persistence? Well being persistent and persevering through trials leads to blessings. The Bible tells us the following:

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”- James 1:12

In Scripture, (see the parable of the persistent widow), in sports, and in all of life, we see that persevering and persistence can be the determining factor that brings victory.

For example, Thomas Alva Edison put it into perspective when he said, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

God's Encore
As Christ Follower's, I believe Persistent Prayer, Persistent believing, and persevering under trial are testimony's of our faith in God's Power. As long as we are living, breathing, and meditating through the filter of scripture, as long as we are in the sweet spot of God's Will, as long as we are delighting ourselves in The Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart. (Psalm 37.4)

Why or how do we believe with such persistent faith? Because we have seen how God has worked in our life in the past. Psalm 77.11-12 says,

"Once again I'll go over what God has done,

lay out on the table the ancient wonders;
I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished,
and give a long, loving look at your acts."

You see, we believe in God's Encore, that He will do it again! We shout Bravo, God, Bravo!

God's power in the past gives us faith for our future.

Listen, you may be in a situation right now where you feel there is no way out. Maybe God has taken you on a detour, or perhaps you have run from God...maybe circumstances of life have left you feeling out of control. There is no better time than right now to believe in God's Mighty Power and shout Bravo God! ...Plead for God's Encore... Be persistent in your Prayer and persevering in your trials, because God is The One who makes things happen! ...He is The One who pulls us out of the worst kind of trouble! (Psalm 77.13-15 MSG)

I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth.
Stay with God!
Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with God.
Psalm 27.13-14

God's Quarterback Academy, Part I

Split Right 787 check swing, check V...Right Slot 93...Left Slot 82 and Go...

The above "code" is known as football nomenclature. This code represents information for a play or plays in football that a quarterback tells to his fellow warriors in the huddle as they prepare for glory.

Along with the nomenclature, there are many things a quarterback must learn in order to become a champion. Over the next three post, I will highlight three aspects of what all great QB's understand and see how we can apply them in order to be Champions For Christ!

1. Take What The Defense Gives You
2. The West Coast Offense
3. Road Tested and Battle Ready

Take What The Defense Gives You (Acts 28)
Now I am firm believer in setting the pace and being on the attack. I believe that the best defense is a great offense, but I also know that sometimes we must, as a good football team does, "establish the run in order to utilize the pass."...In essence, sometimes we must take what the defense gives us and use that to our advantage.

In a big defensive battle, a team will pound and pound the defense with a running game, and then when the time is right, they will STRIKE with a HUGE pass play. And even on pass plays, the QB has anywhere between 3 and 5 receivers to throw to. He reads the coverage and takes what the defense gives him.

Where are you in life right now? Do you feel like you are having to establish the run in order to utilize the pass? Perhaps you feel like Paul and it appears that God has possibly led you on a divine detour. God used a shipwreck and a snakebite in Paul's life, took him off his original planned course in order to use him for a specific purpose (Acts 28).

If this is the case in your quarter of life right now, what you need to do is simply "take what the defense is giving you." Read your options...if option is A is covered, throw to option B, etc...But don't stop the path God has led you to...keep picking away at the defense and soon you will score...

...it does not matter how you get to the end zone for the big touchdown...What does matter is that you are following and trusting God to lead you there. What also matters is the person, the "QB" he is making you to be on your path for the "winning touchdown."

If God can use a shipwreck and a snakebite as a Divine detour to fulfill his purposes through Paul, perhaps he is having you "establish the run in order to utilize the pass." Keep gutting it out, persevere, and sooner than later, God is going to show you the path, He will give you the game plan for your success, which will bring Him all The Glory.

Trust In God To Make Something Of You!

...make something of me. You can do it;
you've got what it takes — but God, don't put it off
(From Psalm 40.16-17 MSG)

The Book of Romans says that "we call Abraham 'father' not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. (Romans 4.17-18, emphasis added)

I don't know where you might be in your life, but if you are ready for God to make something of your life, no matter what the circumstances, take some encouragement from Abraham...

Here is how it happened:
• Abraham and Sarah wanted a family, Abraham was old and Sarah was infertile...no worries though, because they believed and trusted in The Almighty God

• Abraham dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing.

• When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do.

*** We have the choice on what we believe...
we must DECIDE like Abraham
to live on the basis of what God WILL Do!***

• Therefore, God made Abraham father of a multitude of peoples

• Abraham was old and Sarah had decades of infertility...despite this, they never focused on their own impotence and said, "It's hopeless." Instead, God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!"

• Abraham did not tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions.
• Abraham PLUNGED into the PROMISE and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what He said.

• Listen to what The Bible says next: "Abraham was declared fit before god by TRUSTING God to set him right." (From Romans 4.19-25 MSG, emphasis added).

We must go through training in athletics, studies, work, etc in order to be declared fit for those specific endeavors...if we want God to trust us, we must trust Him...allow your current circumstances to put you "in shape" so that you can be declared fit before God, ready to PLUNGE into the PROMISE that God has for your life!

Final note: From this same chapter, The Book of Romans says, "It's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we EMBRACE and BELIEVE The ONE who brought JESUS to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God."

Our salvation is set, Praise Christ!...Jesus has made us fit before God...now, if we want to live the abundant life God called us to, we must trust and believe like never before...Hebrews 11.6 says, without faith it is impossible to please God...

Trust Him, Worship Him, Believe In Him, Praise Him...The same resurrection power of Jesus Christ is available to us today, it's time to resurrect, roll away the stone that has been keeping you locked up, take off the bandages, and become what God has PROMISED for you!

Trust in God, He will make something of you!

Holy Spirit Prays For Us

Want to start living with Holy Anticipation? All we have to do is realize two facts that blow my mind: The Holy Spirit Prays for us and that our life is God's Prayer! Drink it in!

He Prays for us in accordance to God's Will! Soak that up...what if we really believed what God's Word is telling us??...What would we dare to accomplish for His Glory if we really believed that The Holy Spirit is Praying for us...It's time to start living what we believe!

Christian has even mentioned to me that he has heard one preacher make an interesting point, "that Christians really don't believe the bible. If we did, our lives would look completely different...as would our obedience to God!"

Romans 8.27 says "for the Spirit pleads for us BELIEVERS"...

It does not say "the spirit pleads for us who would like to believe..."

My point is this...I think sometimes we can get 'lost in translation.' We read a powerful scripture, we hear a good sermon, etc, but then fail to connect God's Word to our living...we go back to living the same lives, going through the same routine, wishing that things were different, hoping that somehow things will change without any action on our part...we must translate Gods' Powerful Promises to our Faithful Living...it's not enough to hear a sermon or read Scripture but then never act on it...

It's time to have a whole new perspective on life knowing and BELIEVING that The Holy Spirit is PLEADING for us in accordance to God's Will!

Psalm 42.6-8
Then God promises to love me all day,
sing songs all through the night!
My life is God's prayer.

Romans 8.26-28
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them

Hear And Believe

"We must "hear The Word of God" and then we must "believe what we hear."

These are two points that Jentezen Franklin makes in his awesome Holy Spirit filled podcast about our 'Destiny.' In response to this, I would like to post Psalm 119.1-8 below in reference to our destiny with God.

Do you feel God pulling you in a certain direction but your mind has not caught up with your soul in order to know exactly what to do? Well stay on The Path God has put you on...be persistent...stay in constant communication with God and follow His directions...do your best to find Him...He will give you the ultimate prescription to life:

Psalm 119.1-8 MSG
1 You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.

2 You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.

3 That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.

4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.

5 Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;

6 Then I’d never have any regrets
in comparing my life with your counsel.

7 I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.

8 I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
don’t ever walk off and leave me.

Hear what God says, and then believe what you hear.

Five Stones

Then David took his shepherd's staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:40

In his "One Prayer" message, Jentezen Franklin spoke on the title "God Is Able." Cool thought about the David vs Goliath story. From the above Scripture, you can see how God provided David with FIVE smooth stones.

David only needed one.

God gave David Five Stones. Jesus gave 5000 people enough food to eat and even had 12 baskets of left overs from only FIVE loaves of barley and Two pieces of fish.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4.19

So What!

Read a cool article the other night...it was about the U.S. Woman's Softball team and how they incorporated Navy SEAL training to prepare them to win the Gold Medal...specifically the utilization of "Rugged Mental Conditioning."

They latched onto a few phrases they learned from the training that they continued to use throughout the Olympic Games...One of my favorites is:

"So What."

As the softball team and the SEALS went through their training, the woman of the softball team would routinely hear the Instructor's say, "So What," if one of the SEALS was complaining of being in the ocean for 24 hours straight or undergoing intense training to unbearable measures.

Unbearable Measures
I would love to have the mind of Christ as He was being so brutally tortured to unbearable measures. The flogging...the dehydration...the sleep deprivation...the shouldering of the cross up a hill...the crucifixion...

With each flogging, I can just about picture Him saying, "So What!" I can picture him taking the nails through His wrists and feet, feeling the pain and the agony, but saying "So What!" I can picture Him internalizing, "By My stripes, they will be healed!" How and Why could Jesus be so brutally tortured? Because Jesus had a purpose. He had a mission. He came to do The Will of God. Nothing would stop Him!

Jesus in His own way said "So What" and became the Savior of The World!

The SEALS say "So What" and become protectors of our nation.

The U.S. Softball Team said "So What" and brought respect and honor to our country.

Power From Within
The Holy Spirit lives with in us. We are The Temple of The Holy Spirit. And as Christian taught me, The Holy Spirit's Power with in us overpowers the external pressures outside of us. So we to can overcome any adversity and say "So What" and live the Victory that Christ calls us to live!

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

God's Masterpiece

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
~ Ephesians 2:10 ~

According to The Oxford American Dictionary, A Masterpiece is a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship ; an artist's or craftsman's best piece of work. We are God's best piece of work. And to know that The Carpenter of Creation has created us in Christ Jesus so that we can do good things, things that He has planned long ago, should give us a Holy Anticipation to live our lives with God-Ordained Passion!

The question is, do we "see" it? Do we see the reality that we are God's Masterpiece? Or are we focusing in on cultures perspective more that God's original design.

God's Plan
God had plans for Mary's life. He planned that she, a virgin, would give birth to The Savior of The World. Her response was, "But how?" Are we saying the same thing for God's plan in our lives? But how?

Holy Anticipation
We must believe that God has already planned for us to do good things, that He has a specific purpose for us to UNLEASH His Glory! We must keep our eyes open and "see" with a Holy Anticipation what God is doing and wants to do through us. Mary kept her eyes open and finally came around to "see" what God was up to:

And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me just as you say. ~ Luke 1.37-38 ~

Living Wide-Eyed In Wonder And Belief
What it comes down to is whether or not we live our lives in "Wide-Eyed Wonder and Belief" or whether we are living "squinty-eyed" in greed and distrust."

From Luke 11.33-36:
"No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It's put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they're going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room." (Emphasis added)

How are our eyes? Do we "see" what God has planned for us? Are we living in a Holy Anticipation with Wide-Eyed Wonder and Belief? Let's accept the fact that we are God's Masterpiece, and then say, along with Mary:

Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's...ready to serve.
Let it be with me just as you say.

There Are No Ifs

Cool passage in Mark 9.14-32 ...

A man brings his demon-afflicted son to Jesus for Healing. The man says, "If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!"

I love the response of Jesus...Jesus says, "If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen."

The man goes on to say, "Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!"

Jesus goes on to heal the boy...the disciples (who initially tried to heal the boy) asked Jesus, "Why couldn't we throw the demon out?" Jesus answers, "There is no way to get rid of this kind of demon except by prayer."

Like the the child in this story, we all have our "demons," whether it be the economy, temptations, etc...and like the boys father, we all have our doubts. But as Christ Followers, we all have Jesus who can heal us all...

The word "If" has just been eliminated from my Prayer life!


"...There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen."

Become What You Believe

Loving The Book of Matthew...it's a book of Faith! Chapter 9 has more examples from the last post about Jesus being "taken aback" and astonished by our faith...

In Chapter 9.1-3, some men carried their paraplegic friend to Jesus so that Jesus could heal him...The Scriptures say, "Jesus impressed by their bold belief..."

In Chapter 9.18-19, a local official approaches Jesus to come and save his daughter...the man says, "If you come and touch her, she will live."

In Chapter 9.20-22, a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years said, "If I can just put a finger on his robe, I'll get well."

In Chapter 9.27-31, two blind men cried out to Jesus, saying, "Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!" When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, "Do you really believe I can do this?" They said, "Why, yes, Master!"

He touched their eyes and said, "Become what you believe." It happened. They saw.

The Master is telling us, "Become what you believe." We must "Really believe." I want Jesus to be "impressed with my bold belief."

Go

"Go. What you believed could happen has happened."
Matthew 8.13

Jesus Astonished
I want to have Jesus "taken aback" by my faith. I want Jesus to be "astonished" by my faith. In Matthew 8.5-13, Jesus was "taken aback" by the faith of a Roman captain. The captain's servant was sick and needed healing. The captain knew that all Jesus had to do was give an order, that Jesus did not even have to be physically in the presence of the captain, and that he would be made well.

The captain goes on to say, "Just give the order and my servant will be fine." That is when Jesus was "taken aback." And then later Jesus says, "Go. What you believed could happen has happened." At that moment his servant became well.

At That Moment
Today could be your moment. Today could be the day that Jesus is astonished and taken aback by your faith. Today could be the day Jesus tells you to "Go. What you believed could happen has happened."

Where do we need Jesus to "Just give the order..." in our lives? Or maybe the questions should be, do we really believe? Is Jesus astonished by our faith? Where are we holding back?

Let's "Go" forward with the faith of the Roman captain...Let's live our lives from this point forward to where Jesus is "Astonished."

Prep For The Test

Do you work? Are you in school? Do you compete in athletics? If yes to any of these, odds are you will have a "Test" coming up soon. It could be an exam, a sale or idea to pitch, a deal to close, or a game to win. Well what about in the "game" of life? Are you being tested right now? Maybe the more important question is, "Are you prepared for The Test?"

In Matthew 4.1-11, Jesus was prepared for "The Test." The Spirit led him into the desert and the devil was ready to give the test. But like a winning quarterback for the 2-minute drill or the mind and hands of a gifted surgeon, Jesus was PREPARED!

Two Preparations
Jesus did at least Two things according to Matthew in order to prepare for the test.
1. He Fasted for Forty Days and Forty Nights
2. He knew God's Word forward and backward, up and down, inside and out

Three Test
Jesus was tested three times by the devil, and each time, Jesus quoted a passage from Deuteronomy. (I don't know about you, but this motivates me to want to study Deuteronomy :-)

Our Test
Are we prepared for the test that culture throws at us? Are we prepared for the test that the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life brings? Where is satan trying to pull you down? What temptations are you struggling with?

Jesus was prepared...Are We?

Start Living It!

As I am taking two chemistry and one biology course this semester, I am focusing on how important it is not to only study the material, but also how important it is to go and have hands-on experience by working in the lab. We learn and then we do. We practice and then we play.

It is the same way in our lives as Christ Followers. It is not enough to only read or even meditate on The Scriptures...we must live them as well. Look how Colossians 2.6-7 says it:

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

So like the chemistry lab where I donn my cool goggles and lab apron, I want to in all of life, Put on The Full Armor of God and start living! "Letting my living spill over into thanksgiving!"

Fear and Limits: A Solution

"Your Fears Determine Your Limits" ~ Erwin McManus ~

If we fear people, we will stay lonely.
If we fear going outside, we will stay inside.
If we fear heights, we will stay low.
If we fear of taking a shot, then we will never score.
etc, etc, etc

So what is Fear? Fear is phobia. A phobia is defined as an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. And this irrational fear or extreme fear is perhaps the main thing that keeps us from living our lives to the fullest.

Christ died so that we could live. He has already won the victory for us...there is nothing to fear.
1 John 4.18 says "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (emphasis added).

So the question comes down to this: do we love? For example, think of someone you love. You love them so much that no fear on the planet would stop you from taking care of them...your love drives out any fear that may exist...

If fear is keeping you from living or achieving, it could be that you do not actually love that which you are trying to obtain, care for, achieve, etc...

Take Home Message: Instead of trying to overcome your fear, start LOVING more!

Let's live the God-Ordained lives that Christ gave His life for...

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." ~ Joshua 1.9 ~

Revealed

You're blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
~ Psalm 119.1 ~

Wandering
Before I started seeking God, I wandered all over the place...I felt like the "blueprint" for Psalm 119.67 which says:

"Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place,
but now I'm in step with your Word.

What I needed was to be in "step with His Word..." What I needed was a Revelation from God. I like how Third Day puts it in their hit song: "Revelation"

"Give me a revelation, Show me what to do, Cause I've been trying to find my way, I haven't got a clue... Tell me should I stay here, Or do I need to move, Give me a revelation I've got nothing without You...I've got nothing without You."

That was my problem...I did not know what to do or where to go because I got caught up following culture and the urgency of life. But once I started seeking God, everything started to flow. In fact, it was the "broken road" of seeking and searching for meaning and purpose that led me to dig into God's Word...another song to illustrate my point, from Jeremy Camp's, "Walk By Faith..."

"Because This Broken Road Prepares Your Will For Me..."

Bottom Line: Are you wandering? Are you traveling a broken road? It does not have to be that way. God wants you living in the Sweet Spot for your life. The reasons are not for selfish motives...you need to be in God's Sweet Spot for you life so that you can be a benefit to others...remember, from John 10.10, Jesus came to give you the abundant life, so if you are wandering, you must seek God...as you do, His Revelation becomes crystal clear...

You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.

~ From Psalm 119.1-8 ~

Signs:Keep Your Eyes Open

In the last post about signs, we discussed how to go ahead and "jump in" and then signs will follow...now of course we need to make educated decisions and take calculated risks, but we must also understand that we can not always wait to have a sign from God before we take action. As Mark Batterson says, We must embrace "circumstantial uncertainty"...this builds our faith...this builds our relationship and trust in God! Sometimes we will only be 80% sure of anything, maybe only 40-70% certain...but if we wait until 100% certainty, we may miss our opportunity...

I like how Success magazine captures it from an interview with Colin Powell. It reads, "We do not have the luxury of collecting information indefinitely. At some point, before we can have every possible fact in hand, we have to decide," Powell writes, saying that he goes with his gut feeling when he has acquired 40 to 70 percent of the information about a situation."

Great ways to receive God's Confirmation, According to Scripture, will come through the following 3 ways:
1. Take a step
Go forth and seize the day knowing that The Lord is with us, then signs will follow. See Mark 16.20 and Joshua 3.14-17.

2. Keep Our Eyes Open
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;
be alert for signs of his presence. ~ Ps 105.1-6~ (emphasis added).

3. Record (post) The Signs We See
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post your road signs at every curve and corner. ~ Ps 119.30 ~

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”– Teddy Roosevelt

Signs

Awesome thought from Mark Batterson... The topic is about signs. We all want signs to help us take action and make decisions. But always having a sign probably means that our faith would not be very strong...there is a circumstantial uncertainty that strengthens our faith...That's what makes life so exciting...remember Hebrews 11:

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

So instead of waiting for a sign to help you make a decision, go ahead and jump in. Batterson mentions the importance of signs after we jump instead of waiting on signs before we take action. Take a look at this account from The Gospel of Mark:

"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." ~ Mark 16.20 ~ (emphasis added).

Notice when God confirms...He confirms with "signs following."

After we get in the game, the signs will follow. It makes me think of the quote by Wayne Gretzky, which says, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take." We must take the shot!

All we need, as Malcolm Gladwell says, is a "Tipping Point." One move in the right direction can make everything come together...small things make a HUGE difference. But we must take that step.

Joshua had to take the step in the water before the Jordan River would dry up (Joshua 3.14-17). But here is the cool thing...as Christian taught me, They had the Ark of The Covenant (Presence of God) with them...Joshua was not alone...God was with him...but God still wanted Joshua to take the step...once he did, the rest was history!

Take your step. Downlaod your application. Write your manuscript. Ace your test. Make the call. Send the letter. Take your step...

Once you do, then God will confirm your moves with Signs Following!

Persistent Prayer

So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will.
~ From Luke 18:1-8 ~

In Luke 18.1-8, we read how Jesus teaches a story on Persistent Prayer...a widow badgers a judge who cares nothing for God or people, but because of her consistency and her persistence, the judge finally grants the widow her desires.

From the quote above, Jesus tells us that if an unloving judge will give to this widow, how much more will our Heavenly Father give to us. We see the same type of teaching in Matthew 7.11, which says:

Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

So we know God will do His part, the question is, will we do ours? Going back to the verse above, the rest of Luke 18.8 says,

But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

James 1:5-8 goes onto say,

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Three things to ask ourselves about our Prayers:

1. Is our Faith in God Alone?
2. Do we really believe?
3. Are we persistent?

"The revelation of our spiritual standing is what we ask in Prayer; sometimes what we ask is an insult to God; we ask with our eyes on the possibilities or on ourselves, not on Jesus Christ.

~ Oswald Chambers ~