Stephen Covey has written numerous books, but is most famous for his study of "effectiveness," especially with respect to time management. In his book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" he presents a principle on time management that is more relevant today than ever before.
You can classify all activities in your day using a two-pronged approach on urgency and importance. The vertical axis of the "Time Management Quadrant" are things that are Important and Urgent; and horizontal are Urgent & Not Urgent. So in the four boxes, you have top left represented as Urgent and Important; top right as Important, but Not Urgent; bottom left, Not important, but Urgent; and bottom right; Not Important and Not Urgent.
So it looks like this:
Urgent Not Urgent
---------------------------------------------------------------
Important ----- Important
Crises ----- Prevention
-----
----- Planning
Emergencies -----
----- Improvement
-----
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----
-----
-----
Interruptions ----- Time Wasters
-----
-----
Not Important ----- Not Important
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Urgent Not Urgent
The point of using this as a reference on "time management" is again about focus. And not just focus, but being able to filter the noise of the urgent, identify the important and by determining what is truly important and focusing on that, we can therefore not waste our time.
Does Prayer represent something that is both Important and Urgent in your life?
Time is an invaluable commodity. You may think you can determine, "Well, this time in my life was worth...," but can you really place a value on time and complete the statement?
We are all allotted a specific amount of time, to the millisecond. In your last breath, are you going to be able to say, "It is finished." as Jesus did? If that is a personal desire, you need to focus on the important with respect to your time. Agreed?
Prayer needs to be both important and urgent for us as Christians. So how do we do that?
Think about the Muslim community for a minute. The people who practice the Islam faith pray five times a day, every day. There are certain times that they pray. Prayer is not just another item on their calendar. It is protected time that they give freely, and willingly, in reverence, service and in prayer. As a community, they do not have to be reminded when to prayer. It is a part of their DNA. It is a part of their faith. It is an important and urgent part of their lives.
What would happen in the Christian community, if we were as dedicated to protect our time each day, in prayer? "Faith" can move mountains. "Prayer" can move mountains.
Mark 11:23 says, "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea, ' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them."
Another great point of reference is Matthew 17:20
Matthew records as it was said by Jesus, "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
In Mark 11:23, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about the fig tree Jesus cursed, and he had also cleared the temple courts. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus healed a demon-possessed boy. The disciples had asked Jesus why they could not drive out the demon? In both of these verses, the answer is about faith.
As sinners, we will nearly always have a faith that is wavering. They goal is to do everything in your power to make your faith represent what could be defined as unwavering. Prayer, is a not only an urgent and important part of the entire equation; it is our equalizer. The solution to "move the needle of our faith" from wavering to a more unwavering manner; by definition, can only be accomplished by prayer + faith.
We will all waver, but here are a few tips as we spend more time in prayer, that we may grow our faith.
1) Have a "running conversation" with God.
It is equally as important as Christians, to have "protected time" in prayer. Perhaps for you it is first thing in the morning, or when you lay your head on the pillow at night after the day has come to a close. Challenge yourself not to prayer once, or twice or even five times daily on a schedule. What I mean by having a "running conversation" with God is that you take whatever time you can carve out throughout the entire day, and use it to pray. My time is early in the morning; outside and by myself, as I am drinking coffee. I enjoy my coffee and pray outside, as I like to pray out loud. It gives me a sense of connection. God hears my voice and I can listen for His. It is relational, in the same manner as you would have a conversation with a colleague, a friend or your spouse. God is your best friend, and your Savior! Should we not be having a "running conversation" daily; and throughout the day, with Him?
2) Embrace the fallacy of "control"
I recently had a conversation with the officiant of my wedding. I shared with him that I am beginning to realize more and more each day, how little I can "control." Control is deceptive. It is an illusion. It is a "never-ending mirage" in the desert of life.
Men; it is even harder for us to embrace the idea of reliance--by giving up control--but that is exactly the reason for the words of faith, prayer, submission and trust.
Let's ask ourselves just four questions:
1) Would you rather trust in yourself, or in God?
2) If you were to submit to the will of anyone, would you not choose God above all others?
3) How about faith? How many people on earth, do you have faith in?
4) How many mountains do you believe prayer can move?
For me, it is a struggle to keep a running conversation with God, but I am working on it.
I also know and understand, intellectually, the fallacy of control, but it is hard work to employ
faith + prayer + submission + trust.
I too, need to be asking myself these questions. While the answers are clear as mud, I must still put in the work to increase my faith.
I would rather trust in God, than myself. I would rather submit to God, above all others. It is great to have faith in others, but are we not all sinners? Do we not ALL fail? And while I do believe that faith can move mountains, do I really employ--with all it's power and ability--prayer and faith enough to move them.
Many of you would agree with my answers, but are you "working on it?"
Remember the song from Bible school or Bible camp, realize your inability to control even the full power of yourself, in light of your personal answers to the questions above, and remember...
"He's still working on me..."
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Friday, September 28, 2018
Prayer: Part V
In Part IV we looked at three key verses that can help us focus on, and improve, our prayer life.
Take a moment to review Matthew 6:6 and Matthew 7: 7-8. In short, respectively, the practices are
1) Go to a secret place, and 2) ask, seek and knock.
A valuable takeaway from these verses are two principles that will help you as you offer prayer(s) to the Father. Focus and Persistence.
It is becoming increasing harder to do both of these things in a world that runs exponentially; via technology, at the speed of light. Do a quick Google search. Having conducted one just now using the word focus, the resulting information available to me was 1.45B results in .55 seconds. Just a few results on the first page was a Catholic collegiate outreach organization, the new song Focus by Ariana Grande, the trailer from the movie of the same name starring Will Smith (Warner Brothers, 2014) and the definition per Merriman-Webster. My point: there is so much information available within milliseconds, that focus is a word that arguably, could be seen as becoming as irrelevant--at an exponential rate no less--or more so; in a one hundred-eighty degree direction as technology moves forward. Focus and the Speed of Technology are therefore polar opposites, with speed on the opposite end of the vertical line increasingly pulling away from focus.
How many times each day are you interrupted--when you are trying to focus on something important--by things that you feel need to be addressed immediately, when they really could wait? And probably for a while. That incoming text message, email, phone call, Facebook notification (insert any other "app" here,) and you can easily see why this entire country is both confused and distracted by the day, by the hour, by the minute and even the second and milliseconds of time.
When are we (read: you) as a country and culture going to realize--not only theoretically, but also in practice--how to manage our time? Can that text message not wait until after hours; or least till after lunch? Is that phone call from a friend important to take when you are in the middle of a company meeting? Must we comment on that post, picture, article, etc, at this very second?
When does time become important enough to us that we become consciously cognizant and aware of how precious our time really as; and therefore make a second, conscious decision, to use focus to our advantage? Many of us, sadly; would have to spend a good amount of time focus(ing), on the true meaning of the word itself--at the level of which it is defined--and apply with discipline and persistence, so that focus could have a chance at becoming a habit; and then honed with additional, daily practice, allowing the art of focus to become a tool that you can use to your advantage.
Please forgive the use of italics in that last paragraph, but it was important to draw your attention to the key words. It takes a lot these days (by way of practice, it seems) for people to focus on the important.
Take just a moment and ask yourself: What are the things in my life that I place the highest level of importance? Above all others? What are my core values, and how do they drive my decisions?
And perhaps the most important question: Do I allow things that should not be defined as important effect my decision making?
I'll continue with this thought tomorrow citing a few studies, some personal thoughts and verses from the Bible. I want to help us identify how and when we should evaluate, re-frame and adjust our thinking toward focusing on the important, not the immediate, and how we can use this thought process to our advantage as we strive to elevate our prayer life.
Do you desire to have a more effective Prayer Life?
Take a moment to review Matthew 6:6 and Matthew 7: 7-8. In short, respectively, the practices are
1) Go to a secret place, and 2) ask, seek and knock.
A valuable takeaway from these verses are two principles that will help you as you offer prayer(s) to the Father. Focus and Persistence.
It is becoming increasing harder to do both of these things in a world that runs exponentially; via technology, at the speed of light. Do a quick Google search. Having conducted one just now using the word focus, the resulting information available to me was 1.45B results in .55 seconds. Just a few results on the first page was a Catholic collegiate outreach organization, the new song Focus by Ariana Grande, the trailer from the movie of the same name starring Will Smith (Warner Brothers, 2014) and the definition per Merriman-Webster. My point: there is so much information available within milliseconds, that focus is a word that arguably, could be seen as becoming as irrelevant--at an exponential rate no less--or more so; in a one hundred-eighty degree direction as technology moves forward. Focus and the Speed of Technology are therefore polar opposites, with speed on the opposite end of the vertical line increasingly pulling away from focus.
How many times each day are you interrupted--when you are trying to focus on something important--by things that you feel need to be addressed immediately, when they really could wait? And probably for a while. That incoming text message, email, phone call, Facebook notification (insert any other "app" here,) and you can easily see why this entire country is both confused and distracted by the day, by the hour, by the minute and even the second and milliseconds of time.
When are we (read: you) as a country and culture going to realize--not only theoretically, but also in practice--how to manage our time? Can that text message not wait until after hours; or least till after lunch? Is that phone call from a friend important to take when you are in the middle of a company meeting? Must we comment on that post, picture, article, etc, at this very second?
When does time become important enough to us that we become consciously cognizant and aware of how precious our time really as; and therefore make a second, conscious decision, to use focus to our advantage? Many of us, sadly; would have to spend a good amount of time focus(ing), on the true meaning of the word itself--at the level of which it is defined--and apply with discipline and persistence, so that focus could have a chance at becoming a habit; and then honed with additional, daily practice, allowing the art of focus to become a tool that you can use to your advantage.
Please forgive the use of italics in that last paragraph, but it was important to draw your attention to the key words. It takes a lot these days (by way of practice, it seems) for people to focus on the important.
Take just a moment and ask yourself: What are the things in my life that I place the highest level of importance? Above all others? What are my core values, and how do they drive my decisions?
And perhaps the most important question: Do I allow things that should not be defined as important effect my decision making?
I'll continue with this thought tomorrow citing a few studies, some personal thoughts and verses from the Bible. I want to help us identify how and when we should evaluate, re-frame and adjust our thinking toward focusing on the important, not the immediate, and how we can use this thought process to our advantage as we strive to elevate our prayer life.
Do you desire to have a more effective Prayer Life?
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Prayer: Part IV
Let's recap where we ended yesterday. In Matthew 7: 7-8 we see some critically important words. We also need to heed and embody Matthew 6:6 so that we can receive the promises.
Matthew 6:6 says, "But when you pray, go into your room, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
And then in Matthew 7: 7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened for you."
It is not by coincidence that the order is such. Matthew 6:6; praying in secret, and then Matthew 7: 7-8; asking, seeking and knocking.
Matthew is recording these principles, that our prayers to the Lord will be effective.
Going to the Father in secret is about reverence. It is about getting alone with God the Father. It is about aligning yourself, vertically, in an undisturbed environment. Full respect for the relationship; just you and God.
Then we ask. We seek. We knock. Asking here is the first step after we go to our secret place.
Seeking is about heart. What is on your heart? What should we do when we bow before the Lord, as a measure and practice of humility. This is why you should be on your knees. It implies respect. The posture represents humility. And it represents submission. We as children of God have far less control than we can ever imagine, ever fathom, ever understand. This is a problem for all Christians, but especially challenging for men. We are called to be the Leaders of our household. We are also called to develop our vertical relationship, so that we might find favor and blessings in our prayer life.
Think of knocking as the second door. A room implies that there is a door that we can close behind us. It can be a room in our house, the door of our car, the privacy of the garage; wherever a door might be. But, we also need to use imagery. There is so much capacity in the brain and mind that goes untapped; unused, underdeveloped. So, can and would that be another important compartmentalization that we can ask for? Can we find and develop a specific compartment of the brain designed specifically; and only, for our vertical relationship with the Holy Trinity? God, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? What I am trying to present is an idea of having a room reserved, both on earth and in the unseen, by imagery and imagination, that creates in the mind; a reserved tunnel that is a Holy place; a tunnel that begins with a door closed behind us, a door that is opened where we have found and knocked, that it might be open. That tunnel is yours and yours alone; and it begins with you--a door closed behind--and ends with God. A vertical tunnel reserved only for you!
Spend time in reflection today. Real reflection. Imagery and Imagination. Build a tunnel; one reserved only for you for your own vertical relationship, private to you, and between only "you and God."
What does your "Tunnel" look like?
I challenge you to build yours today. Internalize that special place. It is reserved only for you. Use it daily.
Develop. Compartmentalize. Repeat.
Matthew 6:6 says, "But when you pray, go into your room, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
And then in Matthew 7: 7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened for you."
It is not by coincidence that the order is such. Matthew 6:6; praying in secret, and then Matthew 7: 7-8; asking, seeking and knocking.
Matthew is recording these principles, that our prayers to the Lord will be effective.
Going to the Father in secret is about reverence. It is about getting alone with God the Father. It is about aligning yourself, vertically, in an undisturbed environment. Full respect for the relationship; just you and God.
Then we ask. We seek. We knock. Asking here is the first step after we go to our secret place.
Seeking is about heart. What is on your heart? What should we do when we bow before the Lord, as a measure and practice of humility. This is why you should be on your knees. It implies respect. The posture represents humility. And it represents submission. We as children of God have far less control than we can ever imagine, ever fathom, ever understand. This is a problem for all Christians, but especially challenging for men. We are called to be the Leaders of our household. We are also called to develop our vertical relationship, so that we might find favor and blessings in our prayer life.
Think of knocking as the second door. A room implies that there is a door that we can close behind us. It can be a room in our house, the door of our car, the privacy of the garage; wherever a door might be. But, we also need to use imagery. There is so much capacity in the brain and mind that goes untapped; unused, underdeveloped. So, can and would that be another important compartmentalization that we can ask for? Can we find and develop a specific compartment of the brain designed specifically; and only, for our vertical relationship with the Holy Trinity? God, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? What I am trying to present is an idea of having a room reserved, both on earth and in the unseen, by imagery and imagination, that creates in the mind; a reserved tunnel that is a Holy place; a tunnel that begins with a door closed behind us, a door that is opened where we have found and knocked, that it might be open. That tunnel is yours and yours alone; and it begins with you--a door closed behind--and ends with God. A vertical tunnel reserved only for you!
Spend time in reflection today. Real reflection. Imagery and Imagination. Build a tunnel; one reserved only for you for your own vertical relationship, private to you, and between only "you and God."
What does your "Tunnel" look like?
I challenge you to build yours today. Internalize that special place. It is reserved only for you. Use it daily.
Develop. Compartmentalize. Repeat.
Monday, September 10, 2018
Prayer: Part III
As a continuation from Part II, I promised to dig a little deeper into Ephesians 6:10-18, the passage by Paul written to the Ephesian church, and better known as "The Armor of God."
Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV):
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."
There are many applications and many pieces of wisdom in these 9 verses, perhaps as many as grains of sand on any beach you might pick. Theologians and Biblical scholars the world over can find different and unique ways to find intricate and relevant details within this passage, that can help you understand a situation or situation(s) where the strength of these verses, would be beneficial; and in some cases, critical.
Here are just a few immediate thoughts that come to mind, at a very basic level.
Paul uses the imagery of a Roman soldier. Six different and important parts of a warrior prepared for battle are mentioned: 1) The helmet of salvation, 2) the breastplate of righteousness, 3) the belt of truth, 4) the feet (prepared and filled with the gospel) , 5) the shield of faith, and 6) the sword of the Spirit.
Paul advises us in verse 11 to put on the "Full Armor of God," so that we can--from verse 10--be "strong in the Lord and in his mighty power," and the result of donning the "full armor of God," so that we can "take your stand against the devil's schemes," in verse 11.
The helmet guards your head against potentially deadly strikes. If you cannot think, you cannot fight; cognition and awareness of your surroundings are paramount. But we also need to see the importance within the imagery of the two parts: helmet and salvation. A soldier's helmet protects the entire face. The eyes, the ears, the nose, the mouth and of course the brain. Every sensory ability necessary to be effective in peace, and especially in war; can be found on the face. With our mouths, eyes, nose, ears and our mental ability, we can look up as if we are searching for God in reverence, speak to Almighty God asking Him to forgive our sins; praying for his hand of blessing to be upon us and keep us safe, breathe in and out from the nose as part of our reflection, listen for His response; be it visual or auditory and use the focus that we have given by our mental ability to praise and worship Him.
And those are just a few thoughts for the "helmet of salvation." But I digress...
Prayer is one of the basic practices and values that should be present, in a relationship with God the Father. It is our "direct-line." My mother always believed that my grandfather had a "direct-line" to God in prayer. Her opinion was biased, of course, but I too, saw the prayers that were answered as a result of his relationship with God. And God gives us a few promises in Matthew. Two examples are in Matthew 6: 5-8 and Matthew 7:7-12
The first says,
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
And Matthew 7: 7-12,
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Here are just a few things to note in the verses above. First and foremost, what follows Matthew 6: 5-8 is "The Model Prayer" in verses 9 - 13, "Our Father..." Jesus tells us that we should pray alone, in secret, to God the Father; "the unseen" (verse 6.) He tells us to be direct, and he tells us that "your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (verse 8.) He then tells us how to pray as recorded in Matthew 6: 9-13.
What do we notice in Matthew 7: 7-12? If we are asking as we have been taught, the we can "ask, and it will be given," "seek, and you shall find," "knock, and the door will be opened," (verses 7 and 8.) Notice that id does not say maybe, it does not say might, it does not say perhaps. Just as God calls us to be direct in promises, His promises are as well. They are definitive.
Jesus than shares with us the analogy of our innate understanding of caring for our children as an example, in a parable. We would not give our children a stone, or a snake, when they have asked for a piece of bread or a fish. Once again, look at the imagery and representation in verses 9 and 10. The bread ban be a reference to what keeps us nourished and strong. It is also what Jesus broke at the table and shared with his disciples at the Last Supper, as He prepared them for His sacrifice for all of us. Stones were used to kill. I
n verse 10, we see a fish and a snake as items of imagery; and representation. Jesus fed over 5,000 with 5 loaves and three fish. The snake has many applications; the devil, the snake in the Garden of Eden, Satan. I think here Jesus is referencing sin. In verse Matthew 6: 11, we see the following statement that can complete the reference, of the snake versus a fish, going back to Genesis 3. "If you, then, though you are evil..." seems to be a direct reference to sin. We know how to care for our own flesh and blood, so how much more does the "One Who Shed His Blood" for the entire universe able, desire and want to care for you?
Finally, in verse 12, we see Jesus conclude with the basic statement of what has been called, "The Golden Rule." Matthew 6: 12 reads,
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Quite a bit to ponder--with the curiosity of a child--and reflect on.
Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV):
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."
There are many applications and many pieces of wisdom in these 9 verses, perhaps as many as grains of sand on any beach you might pick. Theologians and Biblical scholars the world over can find different and unique ways to find intricate and relevant details within this passage, that can help you understand a situation or situation(s) where the strength of these verses, would be beneficial; and in some cases, critical.
Here are just a few immediate thoughts that come to mind, at a very basic level.
Paul uses the imagery of a Roman soldier. Six different and important parts of a warrior prepared for battle are mentioned: 1) The helmet of salvation, 2) the breastplate of righteousness, 3) the belt of truth, 4) the feet (prepared and filled with the gospel) , 5) the shield of faith, and 6) the sword of the Spirit.
Paul advises us in verse 11 to put on the "Full Armor of God," so that we can--from verse 10--be "strong in the Lord and in his mighty power," and the result of donning the "full armor of God," so that we can "take your stand against the devil's schemes," in verse 11.
The helmet guards your head against potentially deadly strikes. If you cannot think, you cannot fight; cognition and awareness of your surroundings are paramount. But we also need to see the importance within the imagery of the two parts: helmet and salvation. A soldier's helmet protects the entire face. The eyes, the ears, the nose, the mouth and of course the brain. Every sensory ability necessary to be effective in peace, and especially in war; can be found on the face. With our mouths, eyes, nose, ears and our mental ability, we can look up as if we are searching for God in reverence, speak to Almighty God asking Him to forgive our sins; praying for his hand of blessing to be upon us and keep us safe, breathe in and out from the nose as part of our reflection, listen for His response; be it visual or auditory and use the focus that we have given by our mental ability to praise and worship Him.
And those are just a few thoughts for the "helmet of salvation." But I digress...
Prayer is one of the basic practices and values that should be present, in a relationship with God the Father. It is our "direct-line." My mother always believed that my grandfather had a "direct-line" to God in prayer. Her opinion was biased, of course, but I too, saw the prayers that were answered as a result of his relationship with God. And God gives us a few promises in Matthew. Two examples are in Matthew 6: 5-8 and Matthew 7:7-12
The first says,
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
And Matthew 7: 7-12,
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Here are just a few things to note in the verses above. First and foremost, what follows Matthew 6: 5-8 is "The Model Prayer" in verses 9 - 13, "Our Father..." Jesus tells us that we should pray alone, in secret, to God the Father; "the unseen" (verse 6.) He tells us to be direct, and he tells us that "your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (verse 8.) He then tells us how to pray as recorded in Matthew 6: 9-13.
What do we notice in Matthew 7: 7-12? If we are asking as we have been taught, the we can "ask, and it will be given," "seek, and you shall find," "knock, and the door will be opened," (verses 7 and 8.) Notice that id does not say maybe, it does not say might, it does not say perhaps. Just as God calls us to be direct in promises, His promises are as well. They are definitive.
Jesus than shares with us the analogy of our innate understanding of caring for our children as an example, in a parable. We would not give our children a stone, or a snake, when they have asked for a piece of bread or a fish. Once again, look at the imagery and representation in verses 9 and 10. The bread ban be a reference to what keeps us nourished and strong. It is also what Jesus broke at the table and shared with his disciples at the Last Supper, as He prepared them for His sacrifice for all of us. Stones were used to kill. I
n verse 10, we see a fish and a snake as items of imagery; and representation. Jesus fed over 5,000 with 5 loaves and three fish. The snake has many applications; the devil, the snake in the Garden of Eden, Satan. I think here Jesus is referencing sin. In verse Matthew 6: 11, we see the following statement that can complete the reference, of the snake versus a fish, going back to Genesis 3. "If you, then, though you are evil..." seems to be a direct reference to sin. We know how to care for our own flesh and blood, so how much more does the "One Who Shed His Blood" for the entire universe able, desire and want to care for you?
Finally, in verse 12, we see Jesus conclude with the basic statement of what has been called, "The Golden Rule." Matthew 6: 12 reads,
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Quite a bit to ponder--with the curiosity of a child--and reflect on.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Prayer: Part II
Do you pray "globally" or specifically?
While it is interesting enough--in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way--to think about God having a "30,000-foot view," it is we who need to maintain the direct line of communication. That is our job. Let's build the foundation for effective prayer.
In the gospel of John; John 15:5 to be exact, the apostle records the following,
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Nothing is a strong word. Nada, Zilch, Zip, Zippo, Fugghetabouitit! I am admittedly no preacher from Brooklyn, NY, but I can read and comprehend clearly. Nothing means; well, nothing. It scares me enough to desire not only to "remain in Him," but to foster that relationship, grow and strengthen my relationship with God and learn how to tap into the resources of the entire Trinity. I want to experience the full abundance of God's blessings.
As a leader in my home and in yours, we are called to be the foundation, the rock, the face of stability and the warrior of faith. Your family needs to trust you implicitly in all you do, so that you can "drive the family bus." Rain, no problem? We will wade through it. Snow, no problem? Our tires have chains for safety. Extreme heat? God provides us with air conditioning and water. And last and not least, remember the windshield and the windows. Think of your car as a hedge of protection. If you have already put on "The Armor of God," you are protected from the inside; your body is safe. You have a windshield you can see through and can even see the sky to pray as you travel. You have the steel barrier around you--albeit, aluminum mostly these days--that protects you from other cars that don't have "Jesus at the wheel." And you have windows. God will always provide a way out when trouble comes your way.
To recap: You have the "Armor of God" on you. The windshield for seeing the heavens above. The exoskeleton of the car (think of this as the bubble or hedge of protection around you, better known as as the Holy Spirit.) And finally, windows for which to escape.
Despite what the insurance companies say, your car might be the safest place on earth you could be; theoretically. Perhaps I should have been a bus driver instead of a writer. Time will tell, I suppose.
Where can you find the passage that defines "Putting on the 'Armor of God' ?" None other than in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. In Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) Paul writes,
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of God's people."
Tomorrow we will dive in a bit more into the "Armor of God" passage from Paul to the Ephesian church. It bears noting that there are specific words and actions that Paul uses. Think of the imagery and the symbolism of each part of the Armor and what it represents. This also will require quite a bit of reflection on my part, so I am going to take time to do my own reflection. I will prepare for the ways that these symbols, pictures and principles can be learned; and therefore the resources we can tap into from this short, but extremely powerful, nine verse stanza.
We will reconvene with an analysis--the best I have, that is--and take a closer and more pin-pointed and precise look before continuing on the principles of, and for, effective prayer.
Are you prepared to dissect Paul's writing with me?
While it is interesting enough--in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way--to think about God having a "30,000-foot view," it is we who need to maintain the direct line of communication. That is our job. Let's build the foundation for effective prayer.
In the gospel of John; John 15:5 to be exact, the apostle records the following,
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Nothing is a strong word. Nada, Zilch, Zip, Zippo, Fugghetabouitit! I am admittedly no preacher from Brooklyn, NY, but I can read and comprehend clearly. Nothing means; well, nothing. It scares me enough to desire not only to "remain in Him," but to foster that relationship, grow and strengthen my relationship with God and learn how to tap into the resources of the entire Trinity. I want to experience the full abundance of God's blessings.
As a leader in my home and in yours, we are called to be the foundation, the rock, the face of stability and the warrior of faith. Your family needs to trust you implicitly in all you do, so that you can "drive the family bus." Rain, no problem? We will wade through it. Snow, no problem? Our tires have chains for safety. Extreme heat? God provides us with air conditioning and water. And last and not least, remember the windshield and the windows. Think of your car as a hedge of protection. If you have already put on "The Armor of God," you are protected from the inside; your body is safe. You have a windshield you can see through and can even see the sky to pray as you travel. You have the steel barrier around you--albeit, aluminum mostly these days--that protects you from other cars that don't have "Jesus at the wheel." And you have windows. God will always provide a way out when trouble comes your way.
To recap: You have the "Armor of God" on you. The windshield for seeing the heavens above. The exoskeleton of the car (think of this as the bubble or hedge of protection around you, better known as as the Holy Spirit.) And finally, windows for which to escape.
Despite what the insurance companies say, your car might be the safest place on earth you could be; theoretically. Perhaps I should have been a bus driver instead of a writer. Time will tell, I suppose.
Where can you find the passage that defines "Putting on the 'Armor of God' ?" None other than in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. In Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) Paul writes,
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of God's people."
Tomorrow we will dive in a bit more into the "Armor of God" passage from Paul to the Ephesian church. It bears noting that there are specific words and actions that Paul uses. Think of the imagery and the symbolism of each part of the Armor and what it represents. This also will require quite a bit of reflection on my part, so I am going to take time to do my own reflection. I will prepare for the ways that these symbols, pictures and principles can be learned; and therefore the resources we can tap into from this short, but extremely powerful, nine verse stanza.
We will reconvene with an analysis--the best I have, that is--and take a closer and more pin-pointed and precise look before continuing on the principles of, and for, effective prayer.
Are you prepared to dissect Paul's writing with me?
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Prayer: Part I
The "Model for Prayer" was given to the disciples (and to us) during Jesus' teachings in Galilee. It can be found in two Gospels, written by Matthew and Luke. The first, recorded by Matthew is thought to have been shared with the disciples in Judea, and in Luke at the "Sermon on the Mount."
Examine both, as this has been more often identified as "The Lord's Prayer," and could just as appropriately be called, "The Model Prayer." The outline of thoughts both shifts and defines how Jesus taught the disciples to pray; and by example, how we ought to pray. Carefully study the format, cadence, parts and how the "sum of the parts" make the "whole" extremely instrumental; leading to a more successful prayer life with daily and fervent practice; with purpose.
The following are the two Gospel versions:
In Matthew 6: 9-13 (NIV)
"Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your name,
Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one."
Amen. (capitalization emphasis mine, "Amen." added)
and in Luke 11: 2-4 (NIV)
"Father,
Hallowed be thy name,
Your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread. this day,
Forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation."
Amen. (capitalization emphasis mine, "Amen." added)
I purposely picked to write on the topic of Prayer this week. Two weeks ago Sunday, my Pastor called our congregation to pray, with purpose, for 21 days, consecutively; without fail.. Topics were sent via text message at 6:30 AM each morning. As of this writing, today is day thirteen. The question behind this "call to action," was the following:
"How many of you can honestly raise your hand, by personal acknowledgment, saying that you have prayed--with purpose--for 21 days straight?"
with the next question being:
"How do you think your life would change, if you prayed for the individual struggles within your life would change, if you made a commitment and completed successfully, 21 consecutive days in prayer; with purpose?"
My personal experience-- and I would make the claim in faith--that the results of, and blessings following, will flow like raging waters for each and every person individually, and for those who we lift up in prayer.
While I will know only the results that I experience personally--which I should purposely share as a testament to others--the masses undoubtedly experience extraordinary blessings, that have the chance to flow exponentially in perpetuity, for generations to come.
That is the singular idea for this chapter. To give you arrows within your spiritual quiver, that you can use repeatedly and daily, to improve your prayer life, the prayer life of others you teach and to become a stronger person while allowing your prayer to also strengthen and provide extraordinary, exponential and perpetual blessings to those you love.
In Luke, it does not mention which of the disciples asked for Jesus to "teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples" Luke 11:1.
How do you think your life would change; by examining your prayer life, asking God to teach YOU how to pray and fervently making it a habit in your daily life?
Examine both, as this has been more often identified as "The Lord's Prayer," and could just as appropriately be called, "The Model Prayer." The outline of thoughts both shifts and defines how Jesus taught the disciples to pray; and by example, how we ought to pray. Carefully study the format, cadence, parts and how the "sum of the parts" make the "whole" extremely instrumental; leading to a more successful prayer life with daily and fervent practice; with purpose.
The following are the two Gospel versions:
In Matthew 6: 9-13 (NIV)
"Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your name,
Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one."
Amen. (capitalization emphasis mine, "Amen." added)
and in Luke 11: 2-4 (NIV)
"Father,
Hallowed be thy name,
Your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread. this day,
Forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation."
Amen. (capitalization emphasis mine, "Amen." added)
I purposely picked to write on the topic of Prayer this week. Two weeks ago Sunday, my Pastor called our congregation to pray, with purpose, for 21 days, consecutively; without fail.. Topics were sent via text message at 6:30 AM each morning. As of this writing, today is day thirteen. The question behind this "call to action," was the following:
"How many of you can honestly raise your hand, by personal acknowledgment, saying that you have prayed--with purpose--for 21 days straight?"
with the next question being:
"How do you think your life would change, if you prayed for the individual struggles within your life would change, if you made a commitment and completed successfully, 21 consecutive days in prayer; with purpose?"
My personal experience-- and I would make the claim in faith--that the results of, and blessings following, will flow like raging waters for each and every person individually, and for those who we lift up in prayer.
While I will know only the results that I experience personally--which I should purposely share as a testament to others--the masses undoubtedly experience extraordinary blessings, that have the chance to flow exponentially in perpetuity, for generations to come.
That is the singular idea for this chapter. To give you arrows within your spiritual quiver, that you can use repeatedly and daily, to improve your prayer life, the prayer life of others you teach and to become a stronger person while allowing your prayer to also strengthen and provide extraordinary, exponential and perpetual blessings to those you love.
In Luke, it does not mention which of the disciples asked for Jesus to "teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples" Luke 11:1.
How do you think your life would change; by examining your prayer life, asking God to teach YOU how to pray and fervently making it a habit in your daily life?
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Faith: Chapter Summary
In Chapter I, I started with the premise that we have all been given a certain measure of Faith.
The great thing about faith, is that God calls us to stretch and grow our faith. It is like a muscle. It can grow. It is our responsibility, individually to allow God to help us grow that muscle through submission. If you have never asked for God's help to intervene in your life, start with something small. Think of it as rolling a snowball toward heaven. At the outset, it is small. As it grows larger, both the size and the incline make it harder to keep moving, keep going; making it larger. That increasingly larger snowball can represent your faith.
Luke 16:10 says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."
Focus on the positive in the first part of Luke 16:10. Be honest with little, and watch the rewards and the responsibility begin to grow.
I also shared in Chapter I about the difference between faith and hope. While hope is a much more common word in our society, there is a very distinct difference between the two. Both have a natural component of expectancy. Instead of hoping for something, learn to trust in Almighty God, and be committed to trusting him with loyalty. God should be the first, and the last, person we go to. Both in times of great favor, and in time of great trouble.
Therefore, faith is about conviction. I caution you, and urge you, to learn to grow your faith.
In Chapter II, I proposed a question for examining if you are truly leaning on faith:
"How can you have faith without proof?
That question identifies an element necessary for a correct definition of faith. The absence of any burden of proof. How we can crossover to faith without proof? With belief. I have heard some Christians talk about faith by claiming the righteousness of God. God always has our best interests on His heart. There will be outcomes in life for which we don't understand. Our immediate question to God will be "Why?"
Think of the absence of truth as the bridge in front of you (which is not there,) necessary to cross from one place to another place. Imagine that gap as invisible; the absence of that bridge being belief. Go back and reference Mark 11:24.
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours."
Not might be, not may be, but will be!
Prayer combined with belief becomes the invisible bridge that allows us to cross. No proof necessary.
In Part III, everything relates to having confidence in the God we serve, and then by default, having confidence in the mission that God has for us. God finished His mission when Jesus died on the cross. Remember the last words of Jesus as he hung on the cross at the very last breath on the day of His crucifixion. John records it in his Gospel this way. John 19:30 says, "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
Go back and review the verses that I referenced. Romans 1:8, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:18 and 21-22, 2 Corinthians 23:24, Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 4:16, and finally Romans 8:28.
Paul writes in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Because Jesus fulfilled His mission, Paul understood, by default, that God a) had a purpose for his life, and b) that his mission too would be fulfilled.
Be certain. Have that unwavering compass of confidence with respect that God is leading you and will fulfill the mission He has, according to His purpose.
In Part IV, I shared how we can believe in our purpose. That our "faith muscle" can be strengthened.
John 14:12-17 tells us about some eternal promises, but we must believe. When we do, we receive immediate help. See these promises:
John 14:12 - Very truly I tell you
John 14:12 - whoever believes in me
John 14:12 - will do the work that I am doing
John 14:12 - they will do even greater things than these
John 14:12 - because I am going to the Father
An entire book could be written on John 14:12. Look at the first and last points. Let's call them the bookends. "Very truly I tell you," and, "because I am going to the Father." We are being told. We are being promised. Jesus is saying, without doubt: that if you believe in Him, you will do the work He is doing, and they [collectively] will do even greater things that these.
Not many of you would even begin to think, that you personally, can do things [even collectively?] that are greater than what He did. Jesus, under God's plan, gave everyone who would speak His name in faith as his/her Savior, repent, and ask Jesus in his/her heart the option for eternal life. At that point, we are a child of God.
So once more review the promise and the "why?" They will do even greater things than these (call to action,) and "why, and how," because I am going to the Father.
In Part V, I weaved trust into the conversation of this principle on faith.
There can be no trust in your relationship with the Lord--and others for that matter--without faith. Therefore, we must trust in ourselves, place trust in others that we have a relationship, and most importantly; that trust has to be rooted in faith.
Remember Proverbs 3:5 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." Trust has to be given and it must be earned. It is the idea of allowing yourself to believe in another person, with a certain measure of faith.
Trust is quite different when we place our trust in God. We are the ones who are called to act. We place our tithes in the offering, with the faith and understanding that our bills will be paid. We pray despite the answer (we always have one we are looking for.) Our trust must be rooted in belief, and then we trust, so that we may have increasing measures of faith. Some things require little faith, while others a lot. It's not always going to be easy, and it shouldn't be.
Here is an equation: Belief + Trust + Submission = Faith.
We first have to have a relationship with God - Belief
We must believe that God's will for us is better than our own could ever produce - Trust
To trust in Him, we must give up control - Submission
The following three steps will result in faith, and with time greater levels of belief, trust and submission: greater Faith.
Remember in doing this that 1) God wants us to believe, 2)God wants us to trust Him (in all things), and 3) God wants us to submit to His will for us. Why? Because God knows b-e-s-t!
Jeremiah 17:10 says, I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve."
Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
And Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
I Part VI, I made a statement which also happened to be the title of an article that I wrote for the local newspaper.
"It's hard to have faith!"
Simply put, ladies and gentleman, the above is an understatement!
Despite those who are revered in biblical stories such as Abraham, Elijah, David, Job and Paul (just to name a few,) as having great faith, I am here to tell you that it was not easy for them, and it will not be easy for you. Faith calls for mental patience, emotional stability, mental fortitude, perseverance with respect to time (waiting,) and of course, the proper foundation of:
Belief + Trust + Submission
You have to give your all, by giving up your all. You can't have faith in God solving a part of your problem, or some of your problems. Almost all of you have heard it, "Let Go, and Let God!"
Easier said than done, my friends.
Here is what I do propose. Start with the small things, and work bigger. You can't wake up in the morning when you have yet to develop your "faith muscle" and believe that you can embody Proverbs 3:5-6, which says:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Granted, we would all like to have a faith such as this, but the reality remains, "It's hard to have faith."
Start by finding some verses in the Bible that will motivate you toward building faith. One that immediately comes to mind for me is Matthew 6: 25-34. It can also be affectionately called the "Do Not Worry" passage. Let's look at just the first few verses.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life; what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
If you continue to the end of Matthew 6, you will see that verses 25-34 have many applications. But from this verse, I can have faith that God will feed and clothe me. Why? Because I am more valuable than the birds of the air. And why is that? Because even before I was conceived, the Heavenly Father set out a mission, just for me, that I will complete on His behalf. Just like Abraham. Just like Paul.
Here are a few others to start with:
Luke 17: 5-6
2 Corinthians 10: 15-17
2 Thessalonians 1:3
2 Thessalonians 2:8
and there are countless others.
Start small and build on your faith. We are not only called to have faith, but you can also grow your faith. "It's hard to have faith," but the rewards for having, building and remaining in faith are as immeasurable as the stars in the sky...which--by the way--God put in place.
The great thing about faith, is that God calls us to stretch and grow our faith. It is like a muscle. It can grow. It is our responsibility, individually to allow God to help us grow that muscle through submission. If you have never asked for God's help to intervene in your life, start with something small. Think of it as rolling a snowball toward heaven. At the outset, it is small. As it grows larger, both the size and the incline make it harder to keep moving, keep going; making it larger. That increasingly larger snowball can represent your faith.
Luke 16:10 says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."
Focus on the positive in the first part of Luke 16:10. Be honest with little, and watch the rewards and the responsibility begin to grow.
I also shared in Chapter I about the difference between faith and hope. While hope is a much more common word in our society, there is a very distinct difference between the two. Both have a natural component of expectancy. Instead of hoping for something, learn to trust in Almighty God, and be committed to trusting him with loyalty. God should be the first, and the last, person we go to. Both in times of great favor, and in time of great trouble.
Therefore, faith is about conviction. I caution you, and urge you, to learn to grow your faith.
In Chapter II, I proposed a question for examining if you are truly leaning on faith:
"How can you have faith without proof?
That question identifies an element necessary for a correct definition of faith. The absence of any burden of proof. How we can crossover to faith without proof? With belief. I have heard some Christians talk about faith by claiming the righteousness of God. God always has our best interests on His heart. There will be outcomes in life for which we don't understand. Our immediate question to God will be "Why?"
Think of the absence of truth as the bridge in front of you (which is not there,) necessary to cross from one place to another place. Imagine that gap as invisible; the absence of that bridge being belief. Go back and reference Mark 11:24.
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours."
Not might be, not may be, but will be!
Prayer combined with belief becomes the invisible bridge that allows us to cross. No proof necessary.
In Part III, everything relates to having confidence in the God we serve, and then by default, having confidence in the mission that God has for us. God finished His mission when Jesus died on the cross. Remember the last words of Jesus as he hung on the cross at the very last breath on the day of His crucifixion. John records it in his Gospel this way. John 19:30 says, "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
Go back and review the verses that I referenced. Romans 1:8, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:18 and 21-22, 2 Corinthians 23:24, Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 4:16, and finally Romans 8:28.
Paul writes in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Because Jesus fulfilled His mission, Paul understood, by default, that God a) had a purpose for his life, and b) that his mission too would be fulfilled.
Be certain. Have that unwavering compass of confidence with respect that God is leading you and will fulfill the mission He has, according to His purpose.
In Part IV, I shared how we can believe in our purpose. That our "faith muscle" can be strengthened.
John 14:12-17 tells us about some eternal promises, but we must believe. When we do, we receive immediate help. See these promises:
John 14:12 - Very truly I tell you
John 14:12 - whoever believes in me
John 14:12 - will do the work that I am doing
John 14:12 - they will do even greater things than these
John 14:12 - because I am going to the Father
An entire book could be written on John 14:12. Look at the first and last points. Let's call them the bookends. "Very truly I tell you," and, "because I am going to the Father." We are being told. We are being promised. Jesus is saying, without doubt: that if you believe in Him, you will do the work He is doing, and they [collectively] will do even greater things that these.
Not many of you would even begin to think, that you personally, can do things [even collectively?] that are greater than what He did. Jesus, under God's plan, gave everyone who would speak His name in faith as his/her Savior, repent, and ask Jesus in his/her heart the option for eternal life. At that point, we are a child of God.
So once more review the promise and the "why?" They will do even greater things than these (call to action,) and "why, and how," because I am going to the Father.
In Part V, I weaved trust into the conversation of this principle on faith.
There can be no trust in your relationship with the Lord--and others for that matter--without faith. Therefore, we must trust in ourselves, place trust in others that we have a relationship, and most importantly; that trust has to be rooted in faith.
Remember Proverbs 3:5 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." Trust has to be given and it must be earned. It is the idea of allowing yourself to believe in another person, with a certain measure of faith.
Trust is quite different when we place our trust in God. We are the ones who are called to act. We place our tithes in the offering, with the faith and understanding that our bills will be paid. We pray despite the answer (we always have one we are looking for.) Our trust must be rooted in belief, and then we trust, so that we may have increasing measures of faith. Some things require little faith, while others a lot. It's not always going to be easy, and it shouldn't be.
Here is an equation: Belief + Trust + Submission = Faith.
We first have to have a relationship with God - Belief
We must believe that God's will for us is better than our own could ever produce - Trust
To trust in Him, we must give up control - Submission
The following three steps will result in faith, and with time greater levels of belief, trust and submission: greater Faith.
Remember in doing this that 1) God wants us to believe, 2)God wants us to trust Him (in all things), and 3) God wants us to submit to His will for us. Why? Because God knows b-e-s-t!
Jeremiah 17:10 says, I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve."
Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
And Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
I Part VI, I made a statement which also happened to be the title of an article that I wrote for the local newspaper.
"It's hard to have faith!"
Simply put, ladies and gentleman, the above is an understatement!
Despite those who are revered in biblical stories such as Abraham, Elijah, David, Job and Paul (just to name a few,) as having great faith, I am here to tell you that it was not easy for them, and it will not be easy for you. Faith calls for mental patience, emotional stability, mental fortitude, perseverance with respect to time (waiting,) and of course, the proper foundation of:
Belief + Trust + Submission
You have to give your all, by giving up your all. You can't have faith in God solving a part of your problem, or some of your problems. Almost all of you have heard it, "Let Go, and Let God!"
Easier said than done, my friends.
Here is what I do propose. Start with the small things, and work bigger. You can't wake up in the morning when you have yet to develop your "faith muscle" and believe that you can embody Proverbs 3:5-6, which says:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Granted, we would all like to have a faith such as this, but the reality remains, "It's hard to have faith."
Start by finding some verses in the Bible that will motivate you toward building faith. One that immediately comes to mind for me is Matthew 6: 25-34. It can also be affectionately called the "Do Not Worry" passage. Let's look at just the first few verses.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life; what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
If you continue to the end of Matthew 6, you will see that verses 25-34 have many applications. But from this verse, I can have faith that God will feed and clothe me. Why? Because I am more valuable than the birds of the air. And why is that? Because even before I was conceived, the Heavenly Father set out a mission, just for me, that I will complete on His behalf. Just like Abraham. Just like Paul.
Here are a few others to start with:
Luke 17: 5-6
2 Corinthians 10: 15-17
2 Thessalonians 1:3
2 Thessalonians 2:8
and there are countless others.
Start small and build on your faith. We are not only called to have faith, but you can also grow your faith. "It's hard to have faith," but the rewards for having, building and remaining in faith are as immeasurable as the stars in the sky...which--by the way--God put in place.
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