My book on prayer can be purchased on Amazon or Barnes & Noble websites, plus a Kindle version is also available from Amazon. IGNITING AN IMPASSIONED PRAYER LIFE – How to Develop the Energized, Extended, and Sustainable Life of Prayer You’ve Always Wanted. Do you wish...
Prayer, like most spiritual practices, is subject to a spectrum of opinion and conviction as to how it is best practiced. Prayer in a word, means different things to different people. Typically we associate prayer with some form of communication and personal encounter with God....
When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD… Numbers 11:2 (NIV) Why is prayer often the great omission when it comes to discussion of spiritual leadership? In my humble estimation the topic of leadership is the most frequent focus of...
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 ESV
God uses water and fire throughout the Bible as necessary passages of faith which not only prove His presence with us but also usher us into new realms of spiritual life and blessing.
This promise reminds us of God’s miraculous provision and breakthrough for all who face seemingly overwhelming circumstances.
The Red Sea, Jordan River, Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, and Jesus’ baptisms of water and fire all testify He’s using it for good to give us a future and a hope.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 KJV
When we constructed our church building for Bridgewood Community Church in 2001 we met in the sanctuary before it was carpeted and had a prayer service.
Each person was invited to bring a top ten list of those for whom we were praying for salvation and write their names on the floor with felt tip permanent markers.
Since then many, including myself, have seen the names of those prayerfully written on that concrete floor come to faith, and their names, by God’s grace, also written in heaven.
Two, with whom I’ll one day stand shoulder to shoulder praising God, were hold outs. One finally accepted Jesus at age 91 just months before he died and the other on his deathbed with little more than an hour to spare. Never underestimate the power of prayer.
“But ONE THING I DO forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON TOWARD the goal for the prize of THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 ESV
In our relationship with God, He is always calling us higher in His purposes, where we discover our true nature and realize our better self.
Maintaining that “one thing” singleness of focus is only possible as we continually rely upon His grace in forgiveness to make peace with the failings of our past.
And so this day, “forgetting what lies behind” let us “press on toward the goal!”
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 NIV
When there’s shaking going on all around us; when it seems the foundations of our world as we know it are being removed, may God help us to cling to promises like this as an anchor for our souls.
The only constant in a day and age in which everything that can be shaken is being shaken, are God’s unshakeable love and compassion for those who are His.
Reminding ourselves of that reality can then guard our hearts and minds from anxiety, with the peace of Christ Jesus that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV
Facing the attack of a vast army, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, utters one of the great prayers of the Bible and a model for us whenever we are overwhelmed with fear and perplexity.
Ceasing to struggle to figure out a solution to our situation and simply acknowledging to God “we do not know what to do” can be very freeing.
It ushers us into a place of fully casting our cares upon Him and helps us to focus our eyes and expectation on Him as our promised, faithful deliverer.
MY BOOK ON PRAYER! Available on Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and from this Website. Go to Prayer Resources tab above for Info & Links to Order it!
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