I am pleased to announce the publication of my new book: IGNITING AN IMPASSIONED PRAYER LIFE – How to Develop the Energized, Extended, and Sustainable Life of Prayer You’ve Always Wanted. Do you wish you were more motivated to pray? Is your prayer life sporadic and...
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...
“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.
“As for you, you meant evil against me, BUT GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Genesis 50:21 NAS
In Joseph’s story, summed up here in his reply to his brothers who feared his reprisal for what they had done to him, we see an amazing testimony to God’s sovereignty and redemptive grace.
His “but God” revelation, a refrain of faith and hope used repeatedly in the Bible, promises that no matter what evil may befall us, God can redeem and use it for good in ours, and the lives of others.
The truth is, for the child of God whose utter dependence is upon Him, “no weapon formed against you will prosper!” (Isaiah 54:17)
“Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?” And she answered, “IT IS WELL.” 2 Kings 4:26 NAS
The Shunamite women’s answer to Elisha’s inquiries is both a remarkable and inspirational confession of faith and trust in God given her son had just died.
This expression “It is well” is taken from the Hebrew “Shalom” and reminiscent of the hymn penned by Horatio Spafford as his ship passed over the spot in the Atlantic where his four daughters had perished in a naval accident.
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea
billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well, with my
soul.”
MY BOOK ON PRAYER! Available on Amazon, Kindle and from this Website. Go to Prayer Resources tab above for Info & Links to Order it!
Twitter