Prayer

Pray it Before you Okay it!

4 Comments / Prayer, Relationship with God /

“The men believed the evidence they were shown, but they did not ask the LORD about it.” Joshua 9:14 (God’s Word Translation)

Have you ever regretted not asking God’s guidance for an important decision that ended up going bad? Truth be told, most of us have had to face the stark reality that a bad decision might have been avoided if we had only taken time to first pray about it.

Those who have made prayerless decisions can totally identify with the glaring oversight Joshua and the Israelites committed in not inquiring of the Lord before they made a commitment of peace and protection for the Gibeonites. The story of the Gibeonite deception early in Israel’s campaign to conquer Canaan is a benchmark warning about the danger in making important decisions without first asking the Lord about it. (Joshua 9)

I learned a similar lesson early in my ministry as a youth pastor. I had this great idea to do a youth event with my group of about 50 students. An assistant and I planned a kite flying contest for an upcoming Saturday. We put quite a bit of work into designing various awards and into promoting the event. We advertised prizes for the highest flying kite, the biggest and smallest kites, and the grand prize was going to be for the best designed kite utilizing scripture.

Pray it Before you Okay it! Read More »

How to pray for nations like Libya

Prayer /

As political unrest and cries for freedom from oppression are sweeping across the nations of North Africa and the Middle East what is our responsibility as Christians? And more specifically how should we be praying? Several days ago I happened to be reading Psalm 94 and was deeply impacted by its relevance for the present uprisings sparked in Tunisia and spreading to Egypt, Bahrain, Libya and the likes. I found it providing very specific ways to pray and empowering my faith to join in the fray through prayer.

As Christians we believe that the God whom we serve is the Lord of the nations. Nothing escapes His notice or happens without the unfolding of His plans and purposes. It is important to note that the prophecies of the Old Testament dealt with the fate of many nations and not just Israel. “It is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.” we are told in Psalm 75:7.

Throughout the ages God has invited His people to rule and reign with Him from a place of prayer. The great John Wesley once said “God does nothing except in answer to prayer.” We are therefore as followers of Christ, who are seated with Him in His throne in the heavenlies, privileged and empowered to join Him in effecting His will in the earth through prayer. (Ephesians 2:6)

Psalm 94 begins by declaring that God is an avenger and invokes Him as the judge of the earth to pay back the proud and the wicked.“How long” the psalmist asks will the wicked “pour out arrogant words . . . full of boasting?” (vs 3-4) Sounds like some dictators we know does it not . . .Gaddafi et al.? The ensuing verses continue to chronicle the cruelty and oppression suffered at the hands of such cruel regimes.

How to pray for nations like Libya Read More »

A prayer at the pump

3 Comments / Overcoming, Prayer /

With the advent of yesterday’s big jump in gas prices and the fear of increasing costs for everything as summer approaches, I offer this prayer and confession of faith:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of freedom from fear about gas prices; I will say of the Lord He is my transportation provider, My God in Him will I trust. Surely He will save me from snare of lack and from the deadly pestilence of sticker shock. (Psalm 90:1)

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He makes my car to rest more in the garage and leads me to drive more sensibly. He guides me to the cheapest filling stations. Even though I drive through the valley of $4 and $5 gas marquees, I will fear no evil. He is with me. His wrench and his tire iron keep my car running. He anoints my automobile with oil and my tank runneth over. Surely His goodness and mercy will propel me down the road all the days of my life. (Psalm

A prayer at the pump Read More »

Shut in to faith

1 Comment / Prayer, Relationship with God /

“Then the Lord shut him in.” Genesis 7:16

Imagine what is must have been like for Noah and his family to finally board the ark. It was like moving into a barn chocked full of animals. There was nothing exotic about it at all. It was a three story, windowless monstrosity. It’s only source of natural light and fresh air was an eighteen inch gap at the very top just under the eaves of the roof that extended all around the perimeter of the ark.

And the ark had not been constructed to sit placidly on a plain. It was built to weather a natural catastrophe and the storm of the ages. Within hours of God’s all-aboard call, the underground waters would erupt from the depths of the earth and mighty torrents of rain would be loosed from the heavens. The Bible tells us that God himself closed the door in the side of the ark after everyone was on board. And with that He literally shut Noah and his family in to faith.

Do you know what being shut in to faith is like? Remember the last time you went on a scary ride at the amusement park? How did you feel when the attendant closed the door and cinched the safety bar across your lap? That was the point of no return and like it or not, you were shut in to faith. Within seconds you were about to be whisked away on the ride of your life. And there was nothing you could do but trust God that those maintaining the mechanics and operation of everything were doing their jobs.

Being shut in to faith is both exhilarating and terrifying. When God shut the door of the ark and all hell broke loose outside, what must have been going through the minds of Noah and company.

Shut in to faith Read More »

One parable we all misinterpreted

3 Comments / Prayer, Relationship with God /

I say to you, although he will not get up and give them to him because he is his friend, because of his shamelessness, at any rate, he will rise and give him as many as he wants. (Luke 11:8)

Here is something to think about. What if the manner in which we have been interpreting this passage of Scripture is wrong? What if we have all missed the point Jesus was really making in this parable about a midnight request for bread from a neighbor? As a teacher of the Word of God, I am embarrassed to admit that I may have missed this one completely. And sadly, so may have every other teacher I have ever heard teach on this parable.

The key to the parable is the word shamelessness.

One parable we all misinterpreted Read More »

Scroll to Top