Not many will reach the mark as long as in prayer we just pour out our hearts in a multitude of petitions, without taking time to see whether every petition is sent with the purpose and expectation of getting an answer.
If, as in silence of soul we bow before the Lord, we ask such questions as these: What is really my desire? Do I desire it in faith, expecting to receive? Am I ready to place and leave it in the Father's bosom? Is it a settled thing between God and me that I am to have the answer?
We should learn so to pray that God would see and we would know what we really expect.
The “will” rules the whole heart and life; if I really will to have anything that is within my reach, I do not rest till I have it. When Jesus says to us, “What wilt thou”? He asks whether it is indeed our purpose to have what we ask at any price, however great the sacrifice. Do you will to have it even when He delays it long? Do you hold your peace until He hears you? How many of your prayers are wishes, sent up for a short time and then forgotten, or sent up year after year as a matter of duty and not resting content with the prayer until it is answered?
The very essence of the prayer is faith. Jesus trained His disciples to not just make known their desire and then leave the decision to God. That would be the prayer of submission, for cases in which we cannot know God's will. But the prayer of faith, and finding “God's will” in the promise of the Word, pleads for our petition until it comes.
Matt 28 tells us as we read that Jesus said to the blind man: “Believe ye that I can do this”? In Mark, He says: “What wilt thou that I should do”? In both cases He said that faith had saved them.
He said to the Syrophenician woman, “Great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt”.
Faith is the purpose of the will resting on God's word, and saying: I must have it. To believe truly is to will firmly.
True humility is in company with strong faith. It only seeks to know what is according to "the will of God". It boldly claims the fulfillment of the promise: “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you”.
Lord Jesus when we come to you in prayer please give us the boldness to do so expecting in faith and to have patience to hear your voice as you reveal to us “your will” for the petitions that we bring before you. Amem.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
A Busy Christian Is Not A Spiritual Christian
It’s easy to get caught up in being busy for God. God wants the fullness of life for us. But what does that mean? Does it mean? God I did this for you today. I went to work and I did a good job. I helped out with the junior high today, and I managed to fix a bike today too. God, I’m doing a lot for you now. I’m busy teaching Sunday school, and on weekdays I coach hockey. I see that we have this need here and what about meeting with my friends? God, I need to be there for them and I feel like I should get in shape so I will and, God what about the children?!?! God I’m really tired but I was super busy. I’ll spend time with you tomorrow. While we’re trying to fill our lives with activities, we miss the point. God wants us to pray to Him and meet with Him in order for us to have a relationship with Him. It is then that our days get the most full. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God”. God will not ask us on judgment day, “Well, how busy were you?” As Christians, we need to be able to take several steps back, push the activities aside, and wait on God first. Then act only when He tells us to move. We are not a rotary club, busy in its activities. We are a body of Christ, who should be looking to God in our daily walk first before anything else. We need to take time each day to be still and exhault God.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Trust Doesn't Come Easy
"Ah, Soverign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you".
Trust doesn't come easy. Does it?
It wasn't easy for Jeramiah to publicly purchase land captured by the enemy. He trusted God. Jer 32:6-17
It wasn't easy for David to believe that he would become king, even after he was anointed. He trusted God. 1 Sam 16:31
It wasn't easy for Moses to believe that he and his people would escape Egypt, even after God spoke to him from the burning bush. Ex 3:1-4:20
It isn't easy to believe that God will keep His "impossible" promise to us either. We must trust Him. The same God who touched lives during biblical times will impact our lives too, if we will open our hearts, trust Him, and allow Him to do so.
Trust doesn't come easy. Does it?
It wasn't easy for Jeramiah to publicly purchase land captured by the enemy. He trusted God. Jer 32:6-17
It wasn't easy for David to believe that he would become king, even after he was anointed. He trusted God. 1 Sam 16:31
It wasn't easy for Moses to believe that he and his people would escape Egypt, even after God spoke to him from the burning bush. Ex 3:1-4:20
It isn't easy to believe that God will keep His "impossible" promise to us either. We must trust Him. The same God who touched lives during biblical times will impact our lives too, if we will open our hearts, trust Him, and allow Him to do so.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
In Times Of Restlessnes Don't Loose Your Faith In God's Promises - Meditation for Today - Ex 32:15 - 24,30-34
It had been forty days since God summoned Moses to go up Mount Sinai to
receive his commandments for the people of Israel. That's a long time to wait for your leader to return-especially when he disappeared in a cloud of smoke and left you at the base of a mountain in the desert (Exodus 19:18-20). It's no wonder the people became restless! In their restlessness, they lost their faith in God's promise to be with them always, to protect them, and to care for them in their need. They wanted something to hold on to in Moses' absence, so they asked Aaron to
build a god who would be their leader. For the people, the golden calf Aaron
built was a symbol of God's strength and fertility, and gave them something
to help focus their worship and to help them feel safe and secure in Moses'
absence. So in a sense, the people had not stopped believing in God. They had lost
their faith in his kindness and provision. If God was going to make himself
absent, they reasoned, we'll just try to conjure him back again by creating
an image of him and worshipping it. Maybe he'll be so impressed with our
ingenuity, they thought, that he will show up again. Let's try to apply this reading to our own lives. None of us would seriously consider building a physical idol to replace Jesus. But we can lose our focus and let our trust in God slip away. We may still believe in God but lose sight of God's faithfulness to his promises-even of his faithfulness to us. So while we are waiting for God to respond, we try to lure him back bybeing extra good or making grand promises or deals with him. And as a
result, we end up creating a "false God" out of the true God-a God who bends
to our wills rather than one who forms us according to his love, compassion,
and infinite wisdom. Don't get caught off guard! Instead, test your faith. Challenge yourself to believe, even if God seems to be absent. You can be sure that if you do,
you'll find a great reward when he "returns"!"Lord, help me to have the faith that you are with me always, even when you seem to be absent. Lord, help my unbelief!"
Psalm 106:19-23; Matthew 13:31-35
Today's meditation was forwarded to me by my dear niece Teresa.
receive his commandments for the people of Israel. That's a long time to wait for your leader to return-especially when he disappeared in a cloud of smoke and left you at the base of a mountain in the desert (Exodus 19:18-20). It's no wonder the people became restless! In their restlessness, they lost their faith in God's promise to be with them always, to protect them, and to care for them in their need. They wanted something to hold on to in Moses' absence, so they asked Aaron to
build a god who would be their leader. For the people, the golden calf Aaron
built was a symbol of God's strength and fertility, and gave them something
to help focus their worship and to help them feel safe and secure in Moses'
absence. So in a sense, the people had not stopped believing in God. They had lost
their faith in his kindness and provision. If God was going to make himself
absent, they reasoned, we'll just try to conjure him back again by creating
an image of him and worshipping it. Maybe he'll be so impressed with our
ingenuity, they thought, that he will show up again. Let's try to apply this reading to our own lives. None of us would seriously consider building a physical idol to replace Jesus. But we can lose our focus and let our trust in God slip away. We may still believe in God but lose sight of God's faithfulness to his promises-even of his faithfulness to us. So while we are waiting for God to respond, we try to lure him back bybeing extra good or making grand promises or deals with him. And as a
result, we end up creating a "false God" out of the true God-a God who bends
to our wills rather than one who forms us according to his love, compassion,
and infinite wisdom. Don't get caught off guard! Instead, test your faith. Challenge yourself to believe, even if God seems to be absent. You can be sure that if you do,
you'll find a great reward when he "returns"!"Lord, help me to have the faith that you are with me always, even when you seem to be absent. Lord, help my unbelief!"
Psalm 106:19-23; Matthew 13:31-35
Today's meditation was forwarded to me by my dear niece Teresa.
Monday, July 27, 2009
God's Protection In Times of Affliction
God’s protection is in the midst of our suffering. God does not promise a world free from affliction, but He does promise He will be with us whenever we face pain in our lives.
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
Surely I will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling –
even the Lord, who is my refuge –
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
“Because he loves me,“ says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Isn’t it comforting to know that God watches over us even in times of stress and fear? In times such as these we need to be even more thankful and offer our praises to the Lord. It is when our valleys are the darkest that He is doing the most powerful work in us. When thanking and praising becomes an integral part of our life in times of trouble, we can find that our attitude towards our circumstances changes. Even through the distress we are experiencing we can become more positive, gracious, loving and humble while facing our adversities.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Prayer and Fasting - A Definition
Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, but this is not always the case. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two activities are combined and dedicated to God's glory that they reach their full effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire. Rather, it is simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, and wisdom you need.
By taking our eyes off the things of this world through prayer and biblical fasting, we can focus better on Christ. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Spending time in prayer and fasting is not automatically effective in accomplishing the desires of those who fast. Fasting or no fasting, God only promises to answer our prayers when we ask according to His will. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." In the prophet Isaiah's time, the people grumbled that they had fasted, yet God did not answer in the way they wanted (Isaiah 58:3-4). Isaiah responded by proclaiming that the external show of fasting and prayer, without the proper heart attitude, was futile (Isaiah 58:5-9).
By taking our eyes off the things of this world through prayer and biblical fasting, we can focus better on Christ. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Spending time in prayer and fasting is not automatically effective in accomplishing the desires of those who fast. Fasting or no fasting, God only promises to answer our prayers when we ask according to His will. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." In the prophet Isaiah's time, the people grumbled that they had fasted, yet God did not answer in the way they wanted (Isaiah 58:3-4). Isaiah responded by proclaiming that the external show of fasting and prayer, without the proper heart attitude, was futile (Isaiah 58:5-9).
Saturday, July 25, 2009
A Message From Me
My mission to create Prayer shawls is a traditional form of expressing praying for others in a tangible, physical way. It is my way of saying "I'm praying for you," and to be able to hand someone a physical object that constitutes an entire process of prayer for them. Many of the prayer shawls I’ve made have been given to people who are experiencing a time of suffering or have a specific need in their life. The recipients have been people I know, and have also been given to total strangers.
Patterns for prayer shawls I have created differ, but many of them have been worked in patterns of three, and many have used three or more colors. The number three has a great deal of significance to me as it represents to me our Heavenly Father, Son and Holy Spirit.The seeds of prayer sewn through the Prayer Shawl Ministry and Prayer Worrier Blog are not to pump me up but are for God’s glory and honor not mine. With the need for prayer and some of the responses I have been receiving I listed some of the reasons I feel it is so important to keep these outreaches flowing. The cries of prayer listed on the Prayer Link, and testimonies below show how God is impacting so many lives. This season God joined us together in a journey as intercessors to witness the fruits of our labor, and to support others as He answers our petitions for them in prayer. He has given me the mission to serve Him as I encourage and pray for people so that they may find a more intimate relationship with Him. I learned that prayer is a way of giving others “hope” when they seem to find it impossible to see beyond the circumstances they are going through.
Here are some of the responses I have been receiving:
You are a wonderful loving caring person. I am so proud to have been able to work with you. Even though we never met in person, I feel a warm bond with you. Thank you so much for your prayers. Sharon – Little Rock, Arkansas
Thank you for the Blog. –Yvonne- New Orleans, Louisiana
Bonnie, you are an inspiration in your faith! – Gwen – Kenner, Louisiana
Each one is lovelier than the next. I’m sure they will be
appreciated. Thanks. – Margaret – Kenner, Louisiana
Thank You, I always need God's love and protection over me and my family. - Larry – Mandeville, Louisiana
HOW BEAUTIFUL!!! HOW UNIQUE!!! HOW DO I GET ON HER LIST? – Debbie – Louisiana
Bonnie.....I don't even know what a "blog" is. I assume it is like having a web site just as you have created and you post a new message every day. If that is correct, my feeling is that you have created a wonderful vehicle through which to serve the Lord. It is inspirational and gives the feeling that someone cares about us and is helping to get/keep people on the correct path to also be God's servant. Bill – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
THANK YOU – Dr. Wayne Lyerlry – Metairie, Louisiana
Thank you so much for the link to the blog. I like to start my day with a spiritual breakfast! Thanks again for the link to the blog. I especially liked seeing the photo of Grandmommy wearing the prayer shawl. She looked so happy. I also really liked the photo of the cross in the sky on your moving day. I see these little signs occasionally, too. They help me to move forward knowing I am moving in the right direction. Terrie – Brandon, Mississippi
Your blog is very good. It is very inspirational to all of us. I am glad to see the Lord has you right where He wants you...listening to Him. Cathy – Kenner, Louisiana
Please continue to pray for me and every intercessor in prayer so that we will edify God while praying for and making a difference in others lives.
You are in my thoughts and in my prayers today and always,
Bonnie
Patterns for prayer shawls I have created differ, but many of them have been worked in patterns of three, and many have used three or more colors. The number three has a great deal of significance to me as it represents to me our Heavenly Father, Son and Holy Spirit.The seeds of prayer sewn through the Prayer Shawl Ministry and Prayer Worrier Blog are not to pump me up but are for God’s glory and honor not mine. With the need for prayer and some of the responses I have been receiving I listed some of the reasons I feel it is so important to keep these outreaches flowing. The cries of prayer listed on the Prayer Link, and testimonies below show how God is impacting so many lives. This season God joined us together in a journey as intercessors to witness the fruits of our labor, and to support others as He answers our petitions for them in prayer. He has given me the mission to serve Him as I encourage and pray for people so that they may find a more intimate relationship with Him. I learned that prayer is a way of giving others “hope” when they seem to find it impossible to see beyond the circumstances they are going through.
Here are some of the responses I have been receiving:
You are a wonderful loving caring person. I am so proud to have been able to work with you. Even though we never met in person, I feel a warm bond with you. Thank you so much for your prayers. Sharon – Little Rock, Arkansas
Thank you for the Blog. –Yvonne- New Orleans, Louisiana
Bonnie, you are an inspiration in your faith! – Gwen – Kenner, Louisiana
Each one is lovelier than the next. I’m sure they will be
appreciated. Thanks. – Margaret – Kenner, Louisiana
Thank You, I always need God's love and protection over me and my family. - Larry – Mandeville, Louisiana
HOW BEAUTIFUL!!! HOW UNIQUE!!! HOW DO I GET ON HER LIST? – Debbie – Louisiana
Bonnie.....I don't even know what a "blog" is. I assume it is like having a web site just as you have created and you post a new message every day. If that is correct, my feeling is that you have created a wonderful vehicle through which to serve the Lord. It is inspirational and gives the feeling that someone cares about us and is helping to get/keep people on the correct path to also be God's servant. Bill – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
THANK YOU – Dr. Wayne Lyerlry – Metairie, Louisiana
Thank you so much for the link to the blog. I like to start my day with a spiritual breakfast! Thanks again for the link to the blog. I especially liked seeing the photo of Grandmommy wearing the prayer shawl. She looked so happy. I also really liked the photo of the cross in the sky on your moving day. I see these little signs occasionally, too. They help me to move forward knowing I am moving in the right direction. Terrie – Brandon, Mississippi
Your blog is very good. It is very inspirational to all of us. I am glad to see the Lord has you right where He wants you...listening to Him. Cathy – Kenner, Louisiana
Please continue to pray for me and every intercessor in prayer so that we will edify God while praying for and making a difference in others lives.
You are in my thoughts and in my prayers today and always,
Bonnie
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