Go Away by Yourself to Pray

“Go away by yourself, all alone” to pray. Praying with others is good but when you “shut the door behind you” you are in relationship. You can say anything to God and he will answer you. You become more attuned to his presence and love as you spend personal time in prayer. 

Matthew 6:6 (TLB) 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly, and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you. 

5/31/2020

Abraham and Issac

A literal reading of God ordering Abraham to sacrifice his son begs the question of whether God will order a father to kill his son. The deeper meaning is that when, in faith, you submit your most precious relationships and beliefs to God, he will not let you down.

Genesis 22:16-19 (TLB) 16 “I, the Lord, have sworn by myself that because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son from me, 17 I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions, like the stars above you in the sky, and like the sands along the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, 18 and your offspring will be a blessing to all the nations of the earth—all because you have obeyed me.” 

5/24/2020

On the Ledge

Staying grateful and energized about the Lord has its challenges. “As Paul spoke on and on…”, this young man dozed off and the passage tells what happened. The enemy helps you to doze off or, long term, become complacent, so you miss what God has for you.

Acts 20: 8-12 (TLB)  8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps; 9 and as Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, went fast asleep and fell three stories to his death below. 10-12 Paul went down and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s all right!” And he was! What a wave of awesome joy swept through the crowd! They all went back upstairs and ate the Lord’s Supper together; then Paul preached another long sermon—so it was dawn when he finally left them!

5/17/2020

The Right Side of the Boat

In John 21:5-6 a few disciples were fishing, without success. Jesus told them to throw their nets out of the right side of the boat and with that they had too many fish to get on to the boat. If things aren’t working out for you, ask Jesus to show you the right side of your boat.  

John 21:5-6 (NIV) 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

5/13/2020

The Mind of Christ

When you enter into faith, you see and experience things differently than before you entered. Instead of blind faith, seek understanding, growth and God’s will. God doesn’t leave you fooled or intellectually helpless. You have a part of the mind of Christ working in you.

1 Corinthians 2:15-16 (TLB) 15 But the spiritual man has insight into everything, and that bothers and baffles the man of the world, who can’t understand him at all. 16 How could he? For certainly he has never been one to know the Lord’s thoughts, or to discuss them with him, or to move the hands of God by prayer. But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ.

5/10/2020

The God of the Old Testament

The God of the Old Testament, spoken through the prophets, is not subtle or mysterious. He boldly proclaimed his promises and desire for relationship with Israel. His repeatedly said it was dependent upon their worshiping only him, yet that is nearly always where they failed.

Isaiah 45:19 (TLB) 19 I publicly proclaim bold promises; I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner so that no one can know what I mean. And I didn’t tell Israel to ask me for what I didn’t plan to give! No, for I, Jehovah, speak only truth and righteousness. 

5/3/2020