Yeshua tells us that he wants us to have life and have it more abundantly. He wants good things for us, but he desires us to seek those things that are worthy. Whereas it may be true that we can attract, by the law of attraction, what we think about or what we continuously focus our attention on, many focus on that which cannot fully satisfy their deepest needs.
We see many who seek wealth, fame and fortune, power and prestige. Many seek money as a means unto itself, mistakenly believing it can solve all their problems, or cure all their ills. Millions play the lottery each week, dreaming of what they would do with their winnings. Advertisers dangle visions of cars, boats, elaborate homes, the latest fashions, bigger and better TV’s, electronic devices, computers, on and on. We live in an extremely materialistic world and I fear it is going to one day rise up and destroy us, if we don’t get our priorities right.
Yeshua tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and all these “things” will be added unto us. Our relationship with our heavenly father should be our first priority. He will, in turn, take care of our needs. James 1:17 declares, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. He knows what we need and what is good for us, more than we do ourselves.
We are warned in 1 John 2:15-16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”. He is not saying that we should not desire good things. He is speaking of lust and covetousness, seeking those things that are earthly, transient. Nothing we can gain in this life is lasting. It is temporal, fleeting. Solomon tells us it is like chasing the wind. Mark 8:36 asks, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Titus 2:11-12 adds, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”.
Again, it’s a matter of priorities. What is most important to us? What is it we seek? What will lead us to our eternal rewards at the end of this earthly existence? We have many examples of those who have pursued the high life, the wealth, the power, the fame, only to be destroyed by drugs or alcohol, sexual perversion, meaningless pursuits and wild living. The more they sought after the world, the more unhappy they became. The more they achieved greatness, the lower they plunged into despair and hopelessness. Many, finding no joy in all they possessed, found suicide the only solution to their misery.
True peace and happiness is not found in the things we possess. It can only be realized in a relationship with our creator. It doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor, educated or not, live in a mansion or shack. Joy is found in the presence of God. This earthly life can be rewarding, but it is fleeting nonetheless. The question is, “What will we do in the day of judgment?”
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Chasing the Wind
We’re one month into the new year and so-called experts tell us that most new year’s resolutions have already been abandoned. I don’t put much stock in resolutions, per se, but I often judge my actions, words and intentions throughout the year that I may be ever more pleasing to my Lord. There is one good thing about the desire of many to look to a new year as a fresh beginning and a time to make improvements in their life. It reveals that we all sense we can be better, that we have some cleaning up to do and bad habits to break. The Bible encourages this kind of reflection.
However, many resolutions involve our preoccupation with the outside of the cup, so to speak. Each year brings the same hopes and dreams; lose weight, eat healthier, quit smoking, exercise more. We’ve all heard these same aspirations year after year and most fall woefully short of their goals.
In addition to improving our health, we also find our desires gravitating toward vanity. People want to look better at any cost. Millions flock to plastic surgeons and gyms, seeking the perfect body or face. Supermarkets contain several isles of beauty aids and cosmetics. Beauty parlors abound. Magazines and TV infomercials tout the latest discoveries to make us look younger or to get in shape. Everything from exercise equipment to pills to lotions and potions are purchased by those hoping to tap into perfect health or the fountain of youth.
Millions also seek material possessions as a means to happiness, purchasing bigger and better houses, cars, boats and clothing. We want non-stop entertainment, spending thousands on big screen TV’s, computers, fancy phones, all the latest technology. Let’s face it. We are obsessed with the body, including our appetites and desires. We covet everything we see. We covet that which makes us feel better, that which keeps us from stopping long enough to reflect, to look on the inside. We mistakenly believe that things can satisfy the nagging emptiness within.
They cannot! None of these pursuits is wrong in themselves, for the most part. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be healthier or to look better or have nice things. It’s just that the focus on these things as a means to happiness can never fully satisfy. We can learn a lot from Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. He tells us in the book of Ecclesiastes that he had it all. God blessed him with wealth beyond measure and he denied himself nothing. He had numerous wives and concubines at his beck and call, he ate and drank whatever he wanted, he oversaw great building projects and a glorious palace. Leaders throughout the known world came to Jerusalem to see for themselves this great king they had heard so much about and the glory of his kingdom. What does his life reveal to us? He tells us that it is all vanity, like chasing the wind! Why? Because life is not measured by the things we have. We will all one day leave this world and we can’t take it with us. When we stand before the judgment seat of God, he will be looking at the heart, at the inside. Our relationship with him is his primary concern. If we get that right, everything else will be supplied according to his will and purpose for our lives.
However, many resolutions involve our preoccupation with the outside of the cup, so to speak. Each year brings the same hopes and dreams; lose weight, eat healthier, quit smoking, exercise more. We’ve all heard these same aspirations year after year and most fall woefully short of their goals.
In addition to improving our health, we also find our desires gravitating toward vanity. People want to look better at any cost. Millions flock to plastic surgeons and gyms, seeking the perfect body or face. Supermarkets contain several isles of beauty aids and cosmetics. Beauty parlors abound. Magazines and TV infomercials tout the latest discoveries to make us look younger or to get in shape. Everything from exercise equipment to pills to lotions and potions are purchased by those hoping to tap into perfect health or the fountain of youth.
Millions also seek material possessions as a means to happiness, purchasing bigger and better houses, cars, boats and clothing. We want non-stop entertainment, spending thousands on big screen TV’s, computers, fancy phones, all the latest technology. Let’s face it. We are obsessed with the body, including our appetites and desires. We covet everything we see. We covet that which makes us feel better, that which keeps us from stopping long enough to reflect, to look on the inside. We mistakenly believe that things can satisfy the nagging emptiness within.
They cannot! None of these pursuits is wrong in themselves, for the most part. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be healthier or to look better or have nice things. It’s just that the focus on these things as a means to happiness can never fully satisfy. We can learn a lot from Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. He tells us in the book of Ecclesiastes that he had it all. God blessed him with wealth beyond measure and he denied himself nothing. He had numerous wives and concubines at his beck and call, he ate and drank whatever he wanted, he oversaw great building projects and a glorious palace. Leaders throughout the known world came to Jerusalem to see for themselves this great king they had heard so much about and the glory of his kingdom. What does his life reveal to us? He tells us that it is all vanity, like chasing the wind! Why? Because life is not measured by the things we have. We will all one day leave this world and we can’t take it with us. When we stand before the judgment seat of God, he will be looking at the heart, at the inside. Our relationship with him is his primary concern. If we get that right, everything else will be supplied according to his will and purpose for our lives.
Bondage
The exodus was one of the most awesome events in history. Never before or after has an entire nation been called out of the world to be a set apart people for the glory of God, to be in covenant with their maker. God broke the back of Egypt, the most powerful nation on earth at that time, to free his people from bondage.
Israel’s experience was a type of the bondage that holds all mankind captive. Pharaoh was a type of Satan, Egypt a type of sin. As Pharaoh kept the children of Israel in slavery to him, so Satan’s goal is to keep God’s children under his power and control. He has successfully influenced the majority of mankind to believe that keeping God’s Torah is bondage, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is Satan’s ways that are bondage, destroying lives, stealing dreams, leaving people empty, destined to pursue that which can never result in happiness.
What keeps you in bondage? Is it alcohol, drugs, nicotine, food, gambling, pornography, prostitution, illicit sex? Are you a slave to anxiety or depression, have you been abused, ridiculed, bullied, the victim of rape, incest? Are you controlled by unhealthy emotions, such as anger, lust, greed? Are you a murderer, thief, rapist, child abuser?
We’re all in bondage to something, whether we’re willing to admit it or not. No matter what your particular situation or how far down you have fallen, there is good news. God loves you. Nothing you have done is so horrendous, so cruel, so beyond comprehension, that God’s love can’t reach you. Nothing that you have endured at the hands of another can keep you from experiencing freedom. You just have to accept it. He offers his love freely through his son, Yeshua, and it is available to all.
When Yeshua walked this earth, he met people where they were….steeped in sin, those that the religious leaders of his day spurned; publicans, tax collectors, thieves, prostitutes. He had mercy on the sick and diseased, the poor and needy, the less fortunate, the illiterate. His love healed all who reached out to him, whatever their need may have been. His loved changed lives and gave people hope. He broke the bonds of Satan and offered newness of life to all who believed upon him.
He does the same today. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done. It doesn’t matter where you are at this very moment. You can pray to him right now and ask him to heal you, clean you up and set your feet on solid ground. You can pray as King David did in Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.“ You can ask Yeshua to come into your life and give you the strength and courage to overcome the past and walk with him into a future of hope and freedom. You can turn to his word and learn his ways, ways that lead to joy and happiness, and above all love. He will give you the ability to love yourself and others, and to accept his love for you.
It is never too late to turn your life around. The apostle Paul persecuted the church of God and had believers imprisoned or murdered before God converted him and called him into his service. If anyone knew the power of forgiveness, it was Paul. What does he reveal to us about God’s love? Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Israel’s experience was a type of the bondage that holds all mankind captive. Pharaoh was a type of Satan, Egypt a type of sin. As Pharaoh kept the children of Israel in slavery to him, so Satan’s goal is to keep God’s children under his power and control. He has successfully influenced the majority of mankind to believe that keeping God’s Torah is bondage, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is Satan’s ways that are bondage, destroying lives, stealing dreams, leaving people empty, destined to pursue that which can never result in happiness.
What keeps you in bondage? Is it alcohol, drugs, nicotine, food, gambling, pornography, prostitution, illicit sex? Are you a slave to anxiety or depression, have you been abused, ridiculed, bullied, the victim of rape, incest? Are you controlled by unhealthy emotions, such as anger, lust, greed? Are you a murderer, thief, rapist, child abuser?
We’re all in bondage to something, whether we’re willing to admit it or not. No matter what your particular situation or how far down you have fallen, there is good news. God loves you. Nothing you have done is so horrendous, so cruel, so beyond comprehension, that God’s love can’t reach you. Nothing that you have endured at the hands of another can keep you from experiencing freedom. You just have to accept it. He offers his love freely through his son, Yeshua, and it is available to all.
When Yeshua walked this earth, he met people where they were….steeped in sin, those that the religious leaders of his day spurned; publicans, tax collectors, thieves, prostitutes. He had mercy on the sick and diseased, the poor and needy, the less fortunate, the illiterate. His love healed all who reached out to him, whatever their need may have been. His loved changed lives and gave people hope. He broke the bonds of Satan and offered newness of life to all who believed upon him.
He does the same today. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done. It doesn’t matter where you are at this very moment. You can pray to him right now and ask him to heal you, clean you up and set your feet on solid ground. You can pray as King David did in Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.“ You can ask Yeshua to come into your life and give you the strength and courage to overcome the past and walk with him into a future of hope and freedom. You can turn to his word and learn his ways, ways that lead to joy and happiness, and above all love. He will give you the ability to love yourself and others, and to accept his love for you.
It is never too late to turn your life around. The apostle Paul persecuted the church of God and had believers imprisoned or murdered before God converted him and called him into his service. If anyone knew the power of forgiveness, it was Paul. What does he reveal to us about God’s love? Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Daniel - A Mighty Man of Prayer
I want to share one of the most awesome responses to prayer I have ever heard. It involved Daniel, a man of unwavering faith in God, and is recorded in the biblical book named after him.
Da 9:1-4 "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;"
His prayer to God included heartfelt confessions on behalf of himself and his people, for the sins they had committed. He admitted their rebellion against the prophets and acknowledged that their captivity in Babylon was the result of their disregard for the commandments of their creator. While he continued praying in this manner, something remarkable happened.
Da 9:21-23 "Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."
Can any of us imagine such an awesome answer to prayer, so immediate? Do we understand the full scope of what happened here? As Daniel began praying, even before he had barely begun, the angel Gabriel was dispatched from heaven by God to go to him and reveal the meaning of the prophecies spoken by Jeremiah, the prophet. Later, Daniel was the recipient of one of the greatest prophecies recorded in scripture, one that spanned the ages culminating in the return of our Lord.
If ever we had assurance that prayer changes things, this would have to be at the top of the list. Can we have such an experience today? Yes, I think we can, if we are as dedicated in our obedience to God as was Daniel. If we read the entirety of the book of Daniel, we see a man whose faith never wavered. His prayer was one of praise, humility, confession, repentance and a call for understanding. It was not a request for personal gain. His focus was exclusively on knowing God and his will. He acknowledged God’s power and awesome glory.
Also, he was known to be a man of unceasing prayer, entering his chamber three times a day, bowing before his creator with his face toward Jerusalem. Even after the king’s decree that all petitions made to any god for thirty days other than himelf, Daniel openly continued his daily prayers to his God. Although his dedication to prayer did result in his being thrown into a lion's den, the same dedication ultimately saved his life and brought glory and honor to God..
Daniel 6:25-26 “Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.”
His great faith remains such an example for all of us. May we emulate Daniel’s dedication to God and reap the kind of relationship with him that he was blessed with.
Da 9:1-4 "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;"
His prayer to God included heartfelt confessions on behalf of himself and his people, for the sins they had committed. He admitted their rebellion against the prophets and acknowledged that their captivity in Babylon was the result of their disregard for the commandments of their creator. While he continued praying in this manner, something remarkable happened.
Da 9:21-23 "Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."
Can any of us imagine such an awesome answer to prayer, so immediate? Do we understand the full scope of what happened here? As Daniel began praying, even before he had barely begun, the angel Gabriel was dispatched from heaven by God to go to him and reveal the meaning of the prophecies spoken by Jeremiah, the prophet. Later, Daniel was the recipient of one of the greatest prophecies recorded in scripture, one that spanned the ages culminating in the return of our Lord.
If ever we had assurance that prayer changes things, this would have to be at the top of the list. Can we have such an experience today? Yes, I think we can, if we are as dedicated in our obedience to God as was Daniel. If we read the entirety of the book of Daniel, we see a man whose faith never wavered. His prayer was one of praise, humility, confession, repentance and a call for understanding. It was not a request for personal gain. His focus was exclusively on knowing God and his will. He acknowledged God’s power and awesome glory.
Also, he was known to be a man of unceasing prayer, entering his chamber three times a day, bowing before his creator with his face toward Jerusalem. Even after the king’s decree that all petitions made to any god for thirty days other than himelf, Daniel openly continued his daily prayers to his God. Although his dedication to prayer did result in his being thrown into a lion's den, the same dedication ultimately saved his life and brought glory and honor to God..
Daniel 6:25-26 “Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.”
His great faith remains such an example for all of us. May we emulate Daniel’s dedication to God and reap the kind of relationship with him that he was blessed with.
Prayer - Accepting God's Will
Oftentimes people think of prayer as something you do in an emergency, an S.O.S. Prayer is meant to be so much more to the believer. It should be as much a part of daily life as breathing. We should be in a constant state of prayer and it should be multi-faceted. It is not only asking for something for ourselves. Our prayers should contain thanksgiving and gratitude, repentance, requests for other's needs, a desire to have a closer relationship with our creator, and they should parallel a life well lived and pleasing to God.
We should never grow weary in prayer. In the banking world, investments have various dates of maturity. When we invest in prayer, we need to accept that each prayer has a date of maturity as well. Some prayers might be instantly answered while others may take weeks, months, even years. Then there are those that are not answered according to God's wisdom. He always knows what is best for us and will not grant us anything that is not beneficial. In our limited knowledge, we cannot see the future ramifications of what we ask for today. That's where complete trust in God is so much an important part of prayer.
We've all heard the phrase, "For everything there is a time and season." That definitely applies to prayer. Sometimes, we need to trust that we may not be ready to receive what we desire in the now, but may receive in a future season. We love our children and desire to share with them all good things. However, we don't give our ten year old a new car. When he/she is seventeen and headed off to college, a new car would be an appropriate gift.
Also, while we are waiting for an answered prayer involving a present need, we may be required to gratefully accept what is in our power to handle while we wait. Never despise the day of small beginnings. Sometimes, answered prayer comes in stages. Perhaps you are unemployed and desperately need a job. Maybe your skills are not yielding the position you truly desire, but are you willing to take what you can get? Even if the pay is not what you think you can live with, you may be surprised. When you are willing to do what you can, God can multiply your efforts in ways you may never have imagined. I have experienced this in my own life and God has many times blessed my humble efforts with an amazing yield. There have been times when I absolutely did not even make enough to pay our monthly bills, yet God always supplied the balance in ways that I could not have brought about myself and we always had enough.
If you are struggling with something right now, don't lose faith. I am proof that God does hear and will answer according to His will. I have been the recipient of so many answered prayers .Some came sooner than others, some were years in the making but well worth the wait. Never give up. Never stop believing. Your next breakthrough may be only a prayer away!
We should never grow weary in prayer. In the banking world, investments have various dates of maturity. When we invest in prayer, we need to accept that each prayer has a date of maturity as well. Some prayers might be instantly answered while others may take weeks, months, even years. Then there are those that are not answered according to God's wisdom. He always knows what is best for us and will not grant us anything that is not beneficial. In our limited knowledge, we cannot see the future ramifications of what we ask for today. That's where complete trust in God is so much an important part of prayer.
We've all heard the phrase, "For everything there is a time and season." That definitely applies to prayer. Sometimes, we need to trust that we may not be ready to receive what we desire in the now, but may receive in a future season. We love our children and desire to share with them all good things. However, we don't give our ten year old a new car. When he/she is seventeen and headed off to college, a new car would be an appropriate gift.
Also, while we are waiting for an answered prayer involving a present need, we may be required to gratefully accept what is in our power to handle while we wait. Never despise the day of small beginnings. Sometimes, answered prayer comes in stages. Perhaps you are unemployed and desperately need a job. Maybe your skills are not yielding the position you truly desire, but are you willing to take what you can get? Even if the pay is not what you think you can live with, you may be surprised. When you are willing to do what you can, God can multiply your efforts in ways you may never have imagined. I have experienced this in my own life and God has many times blessed my humble efforts with an amazing yield. There have been times when I absolutely did not even make enough to pay our monthly bills, yet God always supplied the balance in ways that I could not have brought about myself and we always had enough.
If you are struggling with something right now, don't lose faith. I am proof that God does hear and will answer according to His will. I have been the recipient of so many answered prayers .Some came sooner than others, some were years in the making but well worth the wait. Never give up. Never stop believing. Your next breakthrough may be only a prayer away!
Prayer - Intimacy With God
Prayer to our Father, I believe, should be conversational. The examples in the Bible indicate that. He doesn't want us to be awkward or uncomfortable speaking with him. We don't have to use flowery language or be in a certain position each time we want to pray. It is certainly a sign of worship to pray with lifted hands or bended knee, but not necessary. We don't have to save our prayers for church. He is everywhere and is always accessible. Believers can approach the throne of grace boldly through the blood of our Messiah. If we go to him humbly and sincerely, he will gladly receive us. It is his greatest desire to fellowship with us and we bring him joy when we choose to spend quality time with him.
Relationships are so important. I know how happy I am when my daughter calls me just to talk. I love coming home after a long day's work and spending time with my husband. He always wants to hear about my day and what I accomplished. I was delighted when my sister called me recently to tell me she got the new job offer she was hoping for. As dear friends come to mind, I often stop and give them a call to see how they are doing. Then there are the times when a friend will call or email me to see how I am. This is what gives life meaning. We all know how wonderful it is to share our lives with family and friends and to talk with those who care about us.
Why do we find it so hard to imagine that our heavenly Father wants the same things? We are made in his image. He is the one who placed within our hearts a desire for fellowship. He created the family structure as a pattern of the family he wants to have for all eternity. He calls us his children. Certainly he is interested in us and everything we experience. He wants us to come to him and tell him our thoughts and desires, our needs. He is there anytime we call upon him We don't need an introduction. He knows us inside and out. Nothing is hidden from his sight. Before we even ask, he knows our needs.
Why then do we pray? Because he loves us and wants to hear from us. He doesn't want us to neglect the most important relationship we can have. He wants to spend each and every day with us. If we truly love him, we should find ourselves thinking about him often. We should be eager to spend quality time with him and feel his presence in our lives.
We don't need formality when we are with those who are closest to us. We love those most with whom we can just be ourselves. This applies even more so with our creator. Next time you pray, just be yourself. Begin a conversation with God, open yourself to him honestly and sincerely, the way you would approach a loving parent. You will find, as you become more at ease, you will long for these special times and count them as the most rewarding fellowship you could ever have.
Relationships are so important. I know how happy I am when my daughter calls me just to talk. I love coming home after a long day's work and spending time with my husband. He always wants to hear about my day and what I accomplished. I was delighted when my sister called me recently to tell me she got the new job offer she was hoping for. As dear friends come to mind, I often stop and give them a call to see how they are doing. Then there are the times when a friend will call or email me to see how I am. This is what gives life meaning. We all know how wonderful it is to share our lives with family and friends and to talk with those who care about us.
Why do we find it so hard to imagine that our heavenly Father wants the same things? We are made in his image. He is the one who placed within our hearts a desire for fellowship. He created the family structure as a pattern of the family he wants to have for all eternity. He calls us his children. Certainly he is interested in us and everything we experience. He wants us to come to him and tell him our thoughts and desires, our needs. He is there anytime we call upon him We don't need an introduction. He knows us inside and out. Nothing is hidden from his sight. Before we even ask, he knows our needs.
Why then do we pray? Because he loves us and wants to hear from us. He doesn't want us to neglect the most important relationship we can have. He wants to spend each and every day with us. If we truly love him, we should find ourselves thinking about him often. We should be eager to spend quality time with him and feel his presence in our lives.
We don't need formality when we are with those who are closest to us. We love those most with whom we can just be ourselves. This applies even more so with our creator. Next time you pray, just be yourself. Begin a conversation with God, open yourself to him honestly and sincerely, the way you would approach a loving parent. You will find, as you become more at ease, you will long for these special times and count them as the most rewarding fellowship you could ever have.
Prayer - Seeking God's Face
Prayer changes things. Indeed it does! I was recently meditating on these words and was inspired to share an aspect of prayer that many may overlook, but one that is a necessary part of a successful prayer life.
You see, God wants a relationship with us. When Yeshua gave the parable about those who would claim to worship him, only to be told, “Depart from me, I never knew you”, he was actually saying, “I never had an intimate relationship with you”.
Think about it. Think about your relationship with your sweetheart, your spouse, your children, parents, your best friend. What makes these types of relationships good? It is sharing, love, communication, being together. When people love one another, they want to spend time together. They want to share their lives with each other, they communicate often, in person, on the phone, through email or texting. They think about one another when they are apart.
Sadly, many of us have a better relationship with total strangers on Facebook than we have with our heavenly Father. The things we enjoy about Facebook are the same things that we should be eager to enjoy with our Father in heaven. Facebook allows us to keep in touch, share pictures, hear the latest news about our friends and family who are far away, yet near and dear to us. Isn't this the kind of relationship our heavenly Father wants with us? We are his children and he wants to spend eternity with us. We are admonished in the Bible to "Seek his face". Prayer is an essential aspect of our relationship with him, but it should be in conjunction with “family time”. We should feel close enough to share everything with him in a familial atmosphere, We should be comfortable enough to tell him everything, to discuss our thoughts, problems, successes, fears, needs, whatever is on our mind. He will listen and, if we will receive it, he will help us and guide us. I say “if we will receive it” because often we will not. His way may, and most often does, require change in us. We cannot choose to walk disobediently before him and expect him to be there for us. We can’t just cry out to him when we need something, when we never talk with him on a regular basis.
Don’t get me wrong. There are many who have never been religious, who have never given God a second look, who find themselves at the end of their rope and suddenly realize their need of his help. They cry out in desperation and he immediately comes to bring them peace and a hope of salvation. That is the first step. The bible teaches that he will accept us just as we are, but we can’t stay just as we are. Repentance must follow. We must be sorry for our sins and turn from them. We must begin building a relationship with our Father and learning from his word, growing in understanding, becoming more and more like him every day.
If we want a successful prayer life, then we need to seek that intimate relationship with the one to whom we pray. He loves us more than we could ever know and reaches out to us daily through his Spirit. He doesn’t want to see us suffer. He wants us to enjoy abundant lives. He wants to bless us with all things, but he will not bless disobedience. Even our earthly parents will not tolerate such behavior. If we love him and believe in him enough to go to him in prayer, then certainly we should love him enough to desire a father-child relationship with him. Surely we will want to have that intimate, loving family time with him, allowing him to share in our triumphs, our failures, our daily concerns. He says in Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”.
Do you want God to hear and answer your prayers? Then seek a meaningful, intimate relationship with him. Seek his face. Repent of your sins and turn to him with all your heart, mind and body. He has great plans for you, wonderful gifts he wants to share with you. An abundant life awaits those who choose to come to him as “Abba”, Father.
You see, God wants a relationship with us. When Yeshua gave the parable about those who would claim to worship him, only to be told, “Depart from me, I never knew you”, he was actually saying, “I never had an intimate relationship with you”.
Think about it. Think about your relationship with your sweetheart, your spouse, your children, parents, your best friend. What makes these types of relationships good? It is sharing, love, communication, being together. When people love one another, they want to spend time together. They want to share their lives with each other, they communicate often, in person, on the phone, through email or texting. They think about one another when they are apart.
Sadly, many of us have a better relationship with total strangers on Facebook than we have with our heavenly Father. The things we enjoy about Facebook are the same things that we should be eager to enjoy with our Father in heaven. Facebook allows us to keep in touch, share pictures, hear the latest news about our friends and family who are far away, yet near and dear to us. Isn't this the kind of relationship our heavenly Father wants with us? We are his children and he wants to spend eternity with us. We are admonished in the Bible to "Seek his face". Prayer is an essential aspect of our relationship with him, but it should be in conjunction with “family time”. We should feel close enough to share everything with him in a familial atmosphere, We should be comfortable enough to tell him everything, to discuss our thoughts, problems, successes, fears, needs, whatever is on our mind. He will listen and, if we will receive it, he will help us and guide us. I say “if we will receive it” because often we will not. His way may, and most often does, require change in us. We cannot choose to walk disobediently before him and expect him to be there for us. We can’t just cry out to him when we need something, when we never talk with him on a regular basis.
Don’t get me wrong. There are many who have never been religious, who have never given God a second look, who find themselves at the end of their rope and suddenly realize their need of his help. They cry out in desperation and he immediately comes to bring them peace and a hope of salvation. That is the first step. The bible teaches that he will accept us just as we are, but we can’t stay just as we are. Repentance must follow. We must be sorry for our sins and turn from them. We must begin building a relationship with our Father and learning from his word, growing in understanding, becoming more and more like him every day.
If we want a successful prayer life, then we need to seek that intimate relationship with the one to whom we pray. He loves us more than we could ever know and reaches out to us daily through his Spirit. He doesn’t want to see us suffer. He wants us to enjoy abundant lives. He wants to bless us with all things, but he will not bless disobedience. Even our earthly parents will not tolerate such behavior. If we love him and believe in him enough to go to him in prayer, then certainly we should love him enough to desire a father-child relationship with him. Surely we will want to have that intimate, loving family time with him, allowing him to share in our triumphs, our failures, our daily concerns. He says in Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”.
Do you want God to hear and answer your prayers? Then seek a meaningful, intimate relationship with him. Seek his face. Repent of your sins and turn to him with all your heart, mind and body. He has great plans for you, wonderful gifts he wants to share with you. An abundant life awaits those who choose to come to him as “Abba”, Father.
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