Confession

I Must Confess

James 5:16; 1 John 1:9

I went to a retreat this past weekend and there God revealed to me areas in my life that were becoming idols. One, food because I was turning to food when I was not truly hungry. I was eating for other reasons such as boredom, for comfort, and to be honest just because I wanted to eat. I was also not minding my body's signals when I was hungry or full. Second, Facebook games. I was spending too much time and money on the games. I was not limiting my time though I wanted to be able to do so. I was being neglectful of my responsibilities around the house and to my family.  I have since removed several game apps from my Facebook page.

My new course of action regarding food: I am going to make an effort to ask myself "why am I eating? Am I hungry or am I wanting to eat for another reason?" I do desire to journal about my reasons for wanting to eat when I am not hungry and find something else to do. 

My new course of action from playing games: One, renew my blogging and work on writing a Bible study. One other thing that God called my attention to was that I am not worshiping Him for who He is, for what He has done, and for what He has yet to do often enough. In this Bible study that He is leading me to write I am going to explore worship and how I (we) can worship Him anew. For worship hinges on honoring Him.

Confession is good for the soul and my relationship with God. Both of the reference scriptures above make it quite clear that confessing one's sins is vitally important. 

My Prayer: Dear God in heaven, forgive me for making these things idols and allowing them to rob me of my health and my time. Cause me to make better choices and to follow through on what You have called me to do. You alone have the power to help me to change. Amen.

Chew On This!

You Are What You Eat; 

Ever Thought of God's Word as Food?

You maybe be familiar with Psalm 34:8 which tells us to "taste and see that the Lord is good." But there are other places in the Bible that describe God's word as food. Even Jesus said that man cannot live on bread alone but the by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). The prophet, Jeremiah, ate God's words and they became a joy and a delight to his heart (Jeremiah 15:16) then he was called by God. Another prophet, Ezekiel, was instructed to eat a scroll given to him and it tasted sweet as honey (Ezekiel 3:1-6) and then he was called to prophesy to the house of Israel. The apostle John while in exile and in the spirit also received instructions to eat a scroll. He was told that it would be bitter on his stomach but sweet as honey in his mouth (Revelation 10:8-11). He, too, was then to prophesy about many people and nations and kings. King David found God's words to be sweet as honey to his mouth as well (Psalm 119:103). Taking in God's word, these men were sent to share it with others.

How can digesting God's word help one to share it with others? By digesting it, it becomes a part of me much like the food I eat. When the opportunity presents itself, I find that God's word comes to my mind and I am able to impart it to others. His words are in my thoughts and in my prayers. Yet, when I deprive myself of it I am prone to grumble/complain as well as be a bit self-centered in my thinking. I am thankful to have God's word so that I can spend time reading and digesting it. I am called to share what God has given me.

My Prayer: Lord God, give me a hunger and thirst for Your word so that I may take it in and make it a part of me. Forgive me for times when I am neglectful to read and digest Your word. Amen. 

Other Side of the Coin

Want to be Ineffective?

That's Easy 

Don't Pray.

What if the persistent widow in Luke chapter 18 did not persist in her request for justice? She would not have been heard and justice would not have been met. 

What if Elijah had not prayed as mentioned in James 5:16-18? The drought would not have been lifted and crops would not have grown.

What if Hannah had not prayed for a son in 1 Samuel 1:10-11, 19-20? Samuel would not have become the great servant of God that he was.

Had I not prayed to receive Christ and for Him to control my life, I would not be where I am today. God has made all that I have possible. I can honestly say that I have the desires of my heart and I know that God will do so much more because He is more than able to do all that I ask and more. 

The Apostle Paul encourages me to pray without ceasing and with thanksgiving 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. He also encourages me to rejoice always. I imagine it like a conversation with a close friend. I don't always get it right but if I were to put my best effort into it. I would pray upon rising giving thanks for a good night's rest and for the safety He provided. I would talk to Him as I go about my day with thanksgiving for safety in traffic. At night, I would ask forgiveness for the sins that I am guilty of and ask for the strength to do better the next day. So with this in mind I will seek to do this in my comings and goings.

So let me ask you, do you want to be ineffective or effective as a believer in Christ?

 My Prayer: Dear Lord God, help me to be continually in prayer with You and giving thanks in all circumstances. Forgive me when I fall short and do not make a point of talking with You especially first thing in the day. Amen. 

Spiritual Power Tool: Prayer

Want to See Lives Changed 

or

Miracles to Happen;

Then Pray!

James 5:13-16;  

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

I feel like a spoiled Daddy's girl by my heavenly Father. I have been praying for miracles in people lives that I know for two reasons. One so that they may know that God is real and two so that they know that God loves them. He has answered my prayers for a friend living in another state struggling with kidney troubles. I can tell He has answered my prayer from her Facebook posts. I prayed with a dear family member before surgery and asked others to pray for her also. She let me know that the surgery went well. Yeah God! They may not have fully comprehended God's love but I did. I am not the miracle worker I just pray to the One who is. I pray believing and knowing that He will answer.

There is a lot here in the passage above.

In trouble   Pray

Happy        Sing songs of praise 

Sick          Call the elders of the church to pray...in the name of the Lord.

Prayer offered in faith will make the sick well.

If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayers of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

A righteous person is one who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and because of what Christ has done has been made right before God. As believers our prayers are powerful and effective. 

So are you using your power tool of prayer?   

My Prayer: Dear Lord God, I sing praise to Your Holy Name for You are a good, good Father. You are worthy of all power, wealth, wisdom, might, glory, honor, and blessing. Thank You for answers to my prayers. Continue to show Your love to my friends and family. Amen.

More Spiritual Abundance

More of God's Gifts.

Supplies: Philippians 4:19,

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  

Entrance: 2 Peter 1:10-11,

¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (The qualities mentioned here are found in verses 5-7 of the same chapter. Read the first 15 verses. There is a lot of great wisdom here.)

God bids me to come and ask having the faith which is more than believing it is  knowing that He will provide. I have experienced His abundance and answers to many a prayer. I use scriptures to pray because all God's promises are yes in Him. There are many times when I have had to wait on God's timing and times when I have stepped out on my own only to fall on my face. God is more than gracious to forgive me and has taught me many valuable lessons from my wrong steps. There is a big difference between need and want. Philippians says that God will supply all my need not my want. I do want to use caution here and remind you that 2 Peter is not promoting works for salvation. Paul is pointing out the qualities that are desirable in a believer and that there is a reward in heaven for those who practice these qualities. There is to be fruit that bears witness to what I believe.

My Prayer: Dear Lord, hear my prayer, cause me to develop these qualities in my life that I may bring You glory and show others the way to You. Forgive me when I fall short and I will more times than not. Help me to forgive myself and show grace and mercy to others. Amen.

Spiritual Abundance

God's Gifts of

Joy: Psalm 36:7-9,  

  How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.

Life: John 10:10-11, Jesus speaking,

  ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Grace: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8,

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Power: Ephesians 3:20-21,

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

These are just a few of the many gifts that God gives to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. With these gifts I am better able to be a blessing to others and glorify God. God is indeed a good, good Father. He bids me to ask and keep on asking, to seek and keep on seeking, and knock and keep on knocking. It is an active relationship between Him and I. I have at times and I am experiencing these gifts in my life. He truly is able to do more than all I can ask or imagine.

 My Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, it is by Your mercy and grace that I have received Your many blessings and gifts. Help me to use them wisely and with discernment to be a blessing to others. I give You thanks and praise for them all. Amen.

Ask & You Shall Receive

Yet, God Does Require Something of Me First.

John 14:13; 15:7;  16:24; 1 John 5:14

Ask and I shall receive sounds great, however, I can't just ask for anything and everything I want. In God's word Jesus tells me that whatever I ask for I should ask it in His name that the Father may be glorified. It tells me further that I am to abide in Him and His words in me then what I ask for will be according to His will which is key to receive that which I ask. This way, too, I am asking for others and not just myself and seeking to glorify God and not myself. My heavenly Father wants me to ask according to His will and in the name of Jesus that in receiving my joy may be full. God is a good Father. All good gifts come down from the Father. It is out of His great love for mankind that He bids me to come to Him with my petitions and requests. Let me not forget to ask with praise and thanksgiving in my heart. According to Matthew 21:22, I am to have faith when I pray that I will receive what I ask and in God's timing not my own. However, Satan wants to fill my head with lies that my heavenly will not hear me let alone answer. For when I am not in prayer, I am defeated. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

My Prayer: Lord, hear my prayer, You are a good, good Father for You love me with an everlasting love. You are sovereign and there is none like in all the earth. Please give me wisdom and discernment in dealing with others that I may bring You glory. Amen.