Tag Archives: Prayer

Getting Back on Track with God

13 Tuesday Apr 2021

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Religion, Religious, Spiritual

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

We are all participants in this race that is called “life.” It is not a sprint, rather, it is a marathon that finds its destination at the finish line. However, as we all journey on our God given path, we are all meant to run in a lane designed just for us. You may notice that in a track race, you have multiple competitors or runners who are within a specific lane. The reason that there are different lanes is because each lane was created with the individual runner in mind. However, what would happen if one runner veered off their course, and into another lane? It would mean a disqualification of the runner, or it could also mean lost time as a result of not staying true to the course that the runner has been engaged in. It could also result in an unintended collision with another runner.

It is the same when it comes to one’s relationship with God through Jesus Christ. God has given each person a lane to run in which means that He has a purpose for you and I. However, there are times when we can lose our focus, and we begin to veer off the lane or track that God has given for us to run. There are a few things that can cause us to become off track, and also solutions as to how we can get back course.

Causes for Getting Off Track with God

  • Sin – Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Sin is what breaks the fellowship or relationship that we have with God. When we engage in unrepentant behavior, it takes a toll on us and our communion with the Heavenly Father. That is because God is Holy, and anything that is not Holy, it cannot remain in the presence of God. If you are in sin, then you cannot properly live out God’s commands or His purpose.

  • Distractions – Mark 4:19 (AMP) “ but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

While the above scripture is talking about how the distractions of life begin to cause one’s focus on embracing the Word of God to become fruitless, the principle here is that distractions impede our ability to truly focus on God. The above scripture makes it clear that the desires of the flesh or our sinful nature, it creeps in and it removes the individual’s attention on the Word of God, but also our focus on a steady relationship with Christ.

  • Influence from Others – 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

It is important to ensure that your circle of friends are individuals who have moral and even godly character. If those around you are persons who do not push you in the direction that God has for you, then they become blockades to your growth in Christ. How others influence you often determines your direction in life, as well as how you react. The Bible teaches us that bad company or those of immoral character, they have a negative impact upon good morals and Christlike behavior.

How to Get Back on Track with God

  • Commitment to a Life of Prayer – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The key part of the above verse is “pray without ceasing.” It is not meant to be literal in terms of praying without stopping. It simply means, one must be in a position of cultivating a lifestyle of prayer. When we pray, we invite the Holy Spirit and the presence of God into our lives. It is communication with God, and it is also an opportunity for God to communicate with us. Prayer fosters a relationship with God that only grows as we spend more time with the Lord.

  • Meditating on God’s Word – Psalm 1:2 (ESV) “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

To meditate upon is to find oneself in a mode of studying or thinking about a specific subject. It is to fix one’s position on the Word of God and to make a constant effort to study it. By incorporating God’s Word into your life, it becomes a part of your lifestyle and you are then able to apply His Word to every situation. You begin to live by the Biblical truths that God prescribes, therefore ensuring that your viewpoint is that of the Biblical worldview rather than the secular worldview.

  • Maintaining Key Relationships with Fellow Believers – Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV) “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Just as one should be mindful of negative influences in one’s life, it is important for every Christian to maintain good relationships with other believers. We should gather amongst ourselves and as the Bible says in the above scripture, to encourage one another. When we get together and we have community among other Christians, it leads us to a deeper relationship with God. That is because, we are being influenced and encouraged to grow in Christ as opposed to isolating ourselves or keeping friends in our lives who are not of the same mindset or belief system.

God wants to bring us all to a place where our focus and our reliance is solely upon Him. Every Christian experiences times in life when their attention is diverted and they are not seeing life or God as clear as they should be. This is why we have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to keep us accountable and to bring us to a place where we are re-focused on the things of God. If you have lost your way, you can get back on track by following the above steps.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, today is a great day to accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. God desires to have a relationship with you, and you can experience a life that is abundant and blessed. Get on track with God, for He has great plans in store for you.

Prayer – Understanding Its Purpose and Its Power

16 Friday Oct 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

People Praying WallpaperCommunication is the essential piece of life that provides stability within every civilization. As human beings, we are all social creatures which means that we communicate in order to be recognized and to gain an attachment to others. Sociology involves creating relationships with others, in addition to operating within a cultural norm with the intent to abide by a set of societal values. Part of such values is the incorporation of communicating and doing so effectively.

When one communicates well, they are able to express their thoughts and feelings which then means that those on the receiving end understand what is said. However, when there is a lack of communication or even poor communication between one or more individuals there is a loss in the relational aspect. For example, if you were to cease communicating with a family member or a friend then there is a loss in the relationship.

In the book of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 16-18 state the following:

(ESV) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The Apostle Paul was speaking to Christians in the church of Thessalonica in this particular chapter. Throughout the chapter, he admonishes Christians to be strong in the faith and to edify one another. In the verses above, however, Paul says that we as Christians are to ‘Rejoice always’ and ‘pray without ceasing’. Why does Paul tell us to pray without ceasing?

The Apostle Paul understood that prayer was and is essential to the life of every believer. To pray without ceasing in this context means to pray without a time-gap. It suggests that we who are in Christ must pray without an interval. This means that we are to pray regularly. When we pray consistently, we are making a connection to God in thanksgiving and also rejoicing in praise and in worship.

Prayer becomes a necessary part of the development of every Christian because prayer establishes the line of communication unto God. One of the main purposes of prayer is to create communication and ultimately a relationship between God and humanity. Paul concludes in verse 18 by saying that it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that we always rejoice, pray without ceasing and that we give thanks in all circumstances.

It is God’s will that you and I have a connection to God through prayer. Our world today is predicated upon seeing something to believe it. Many don’t believe in prayer because they don’t believe in God or His existence. So prayer to those in and of the world does not make sense. However, to the believer, it is prayer that builds our foundation in Christ. To understand why we should pray, we must understand the purpose at a deeper level. Here are a few considerations:

1. Prayer provides power – Aside from the relational aspect of prayer, it is power that is produced when we pray. In the passage of Luke chapter 18, Jesus teaches by giving a parable in verses 1-8. In this short passage, Jesus gives the parable of the persistent widow. The story involves a judge who is characterized as someone who did not fear God and did not have respect for humanity.

The judge was essentially a callous and cold-hearted individual who did not see the value of humanity or the importance of submitting to the authority of God. In this parable, there is also a woman who is seeking justice against someone who is her adversary.

Verse 3:

(ESV) “And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’”

In verse 3, this woman seeks justice from the judge but notice that the verse points to her persistence. Here is what happens in verses 5-6:

(ESV) “For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’””

The judge eventually concedes to this woman because she was so persistent. Here is the principle that Jesus wanted his listeners to grasp:

(ESV) “And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?”

The point of this parable was to suggest that when you and I pray, it produces the power for our circumstances and even our surroundings to change. If we are consistently praying, God not only hears us but he will eventually see to it that what we have prayed for (as long as it is in His will) will occur in our lives. The power of prayer is based on our earnest desire to see God’s will accomplished in addition to reliance upon Him for a change.

2. Prayer ignites faith – When you and I choose to pray, we are essentially saying to God with our actions that we are trusting or relying upon Him for what we need or desire. Think of it in the sense of a Father and a Child. A child asks what they desire from their Father because they believe that their request will be answered. Even if the answer is not satisfactory, there is a belief that what is asked can be addressed. The reason is because there is hope and a factor of trust in the parent/child relationship.

God wants us to approach Him in the same manner. Prayer ignites our faith in God because it pushes us beyond what we see with our natural eyesight. The spiritual is made more evident when we enter into the realm of prayer and reliance upon God. Through faith, we then receive revelation and manifestation of what God has to offer to us. By approaching God in prayer, we are surrendering our position and acknowledging that God is supreme.

3. Prayer produces a weapon against the enemy – 2 Corinthians 10:4 says:

(ESV) “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

Since the weapons that we use to fight satan are not fleshly or in the natural sense, it then means that our weapons must be spiritual. One of the ways that we as Christians can battle against satan is through prayer. By praying to God, we are invoking our relationship with God to battle against our foes. There are many battles that we cannot fight in our flesh because these battles are spiritual.

Satan desires to confuse those in Christ by promoting the idea that we can fight a spiritual battle in our flesh. Prayer is one of the many weapons that we as Christians have to not only defend ourselves but to expose the enemy for who he is. God will reveal to you who the enemy is and how to combat his forces when you seek God for direction. It is through prayer that our battle can be won because we are seeking God who then fights for us.

The point of prayer isn’t merely to talk to God but to talk to God in an effort to build a relationship with Him. The other part of prayer is understanding that God then desires to talk back to you. Prayer involves a constant dialogue between God and humanity. It is through this exchange of words or information that our Spirit is fortified for life’s journey.

However, for prayer to be effective there must be an acknowledgment and acceptance of Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord & Savior? You can have a relationship with Jesus by praying and confessing your sins to Him. There must then be a belief in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again. To take advantage of prayer in its purpose and its power, there must be a relationship with Christ. Find out what God desires to provide through a relationship with Him. Seek God and allow prayer to be the means to change your life and the life of others.

Spiritual Exercise – Working Out Your Salvation

25 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

ID-100179879Physical exercise is a part of life that is usually encouraged to all who have the ability of movement. It is physical movement that is responsible for the strengthening of one’s muscles, the burning of calories, in addition to increased blood flow throughout the body. The more that you exercise, the healthier that you will become. There are various types of exercises that are designed to concentrate on specific body parts.

Exercises can contrast between light and heavy with a special emphasis on improving bodily function. One type of exercise that is common is known as ‘weight lifting.’ Lifting weights are designed to enhance muscle expansion and overall physical strength. The greater number of repetitions, the greater one’s endurance will be when lifting weights. It is also true as it relates lifting heavier objects. The heavier the object, the greater one’s resistance becomes meaning more strength.

In one’s walk with Jesus Christ, there is also the element of ‘working out’ or ‘exercise.’ Such exercise is done spiritually in various ways. In the book of Philippians chapter 2 and verse 12, the Apostle Paul gives simplistic encouragement to Christians. Paul says the following:

(ESV) “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

In this chapter, the Apostle Paul is writing to the church of Philippi in which he is encouraging Christians not to be proud and to also have a love for each other. In verses 5-11, Paul also mentions that Christ exhibited humility which we as Christians should also seek to model after. However, verse 12 is a direct challenge to every Christian to work out one’s salvation in fear and trembling. What does Paul mean when he makes this statement?

To work out one’s salvation means that there must be an active process of engaging in spiritual activity. The point is to enhance your own life and the life of others through development in Jesus Christ. There are those who believe that one can receive salvation and that is the end of the process. However, the words ‘work out’ is meant to suggest that one is proactive in their own salvation or salvific experience. How do we as Christians work out our salvation? Here are a few considerations:

Reverence God daily – In today’s time there are those within Christianity who have allowed themselves to lose or not fully understand the fear or reverence of the Lord. God is a Holy God who demands that the creation worship Him and He alone. Many have taken the stance of living in religiosity with rituals but not truly seeking to revere the personhood of God. When you have a ‘fear and trembling’ as Paul says in verse 12 it means that you understand the authority of God. It also means that you are not apt to voluntarily sin which means that you abide by the set standard of Holiness and righteousness.

Paul says in verse 13:

(NLT) “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

Here Paul says that God works in us which means that if we reverence Him then we are automatically obedient unto God because God then gives us the desire to do His will. A Christian should never lose reverence for God or the things of God. Otherwise, a desecration of all that is Holy and righteous begins to occur which is displeasing unto God.

Seek God’s truth in His Word – The Apostle Paul gives Christians another nugget of truth concerning God’s Word in Romans 15:4:

(ESV) “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

The Word of God was written through men by the inspiration of God, but it was written for our instruction and our encouragement. When you and I begin to read God’s Word and allow it to guide us, then we will grow spiritually. The Word of God is also the hope and the only hope that we as humans have. Part of the reason why there is so much confusion in our world is because there has been a deviation from the Bible and its truth.

We are living in a time in which many don’t truly know how to rightly divide the Word of truth which has led to many being deceived. However, God’s truth does not change despite how humanity does. We who are in Christ must know God’s Word and look to it for absolute truth and encouragement. It is what will keep us from being led astray into deception. This is why it is important for you and I to constantly meditate on God’s Word and allow His truth to permeate our heart.

Daily prayer – 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:16-18 says the following:

(ESV) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The Apostle Paul is once again encouraging Christians through His letter to the church of Thessalonica in which he uses the phrase, ‘pray without ceasing’ which is meant as a directive. We as Christians are to always pray because it keeps the line of communication open to God. God desires that we have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. One way of doing that is through prayer because it invokes reverence and communication unto a Holy God.

When we pray, we are to recognize that our prayer enhances our connection to God and it also keeps us in the will of God. It is prayer that provides safety, change, power, and the ability to access the authority that we have as Christians. It is also important to understand that in our times of prayer, we should seek to listen to God because He will also speak back to us through the Holy Spirit.

Building relationships with those in the body of Christ – The Bible encourages us to build up one another as it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11. We are to edify each other in the body because when we do, it begins to invoke strength and unity. Walking in this life as a loner only leads to a life that is not vibrant or connected and it lacks accountability.

However, we should be accountable to someone else and we should also keep in mind that the struggle we have with sin is a burden that others can assist us with. We are to bear the burdens of one another according to Galatians 6:2.

The ultimate goal of every Christian should be to seek to be Christ-like which stems from one’s devotion unto God by considering and putting into practice each of these three methods. Active participation in one’s salvation is paramount to growth in God. Salvation does not stop at merely confessing your sins before Jesus Christ, but there is a process of salvation which involves seeking God to purify your heart and mind daily.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord & Savior? If not, today is a great day to receive salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and rose again so that you could be redeemed. Start the process by accepting this gift of salvation. After you have done so, the journey continues as you become a new person through Christ.

Tools to Equip Every Believer

11 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ID-100169199A toolbox is a container that houses various assortments of instruments used to repair broken items. Each tool is designed to address a specific need with the intent to incorporate a solution to a problem. For example, a hammer is used to drive nails into a particular surface. If you need to tighten a loose nut or bolt, then a wrench would be useful. Or you may need to turn or even remove a screw which would mean using a screwdriver. Every tool that is available provides efficiency for the task at hand. Without the appropriate tool, then the issue that you may be facing will be unresolved until there is an intervention.

In the life of every believer, there are various tools that God has given to you and I as we journey through this life. The world continues to show us just how sin and a lack of morality have become the culture that many have embraced. If you turn on your television or even if you visit a website dedicated to the latest news you will see just how wicked and perverse our world has become. The fact is, the times that we are living in require a keen focus into who God is and what He desires for our lives. It also means that there must be the utilization of the spiritual tools that God has made available to every believer. This is so that we can be equipped to battle against satan as he continues to attack God’s people every day.

In scripture, there are various verses that we can examine to show us what tools we have available and also how such tools can be used so that we will be armed against the enemy’s schemes. The following are at least five tools that we who are in Christ have at our disposal. These tools are also taken from key verses of scripture to show you that God’s Word gives us all of the answers that we seek regarding life and how to live.

1. The Holy Spirit – The role of the Holy Spirit is to be our comforter and our helper. John chapter 14 and verse 26 says:

(NLV) “The Helper is the Holy Spirit. The Father will send Him in My place. He will teach you everything and help you remember everything I have told you.”

In this scripture, Jesus is talking to His Disciples, and He gives them the promise that the Holy Spirit will be sent to comfort them after His death on the cross. Basically, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will be available once Christ leaves the Earth. Notice the key words in this scripture which are ‘teach’ and ‘helper.’ The Holy Spirit is available to every believer which gives you and I the ability to live triumphantly. The Holy Spirit which is one of the 3 in the Trinity (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) is here to teach us. With the increasing level of deception in our world, we need the Holy Spirit more than ever.

The role of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into all truth so that we would not be deceived and destroyed. Secondly, the Holy Spirit is here to help us. He helps us to avoid the snares of the enemy in addition to giving us the supernatural power to do battle against our enemy. We obtain the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit through seeking God’s presence in prayer and in worship.

2. Pastoral Leadership – Unfortunately, there are some who are in Christ who choose not to find themselves in corporate worship or under the leadership of any Pastor. We are living in a time in which church attendance has dropped precipitously which aligns with the ‘Great Falling Away’ that the Apostle Paul talks about in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. However, God has designed Pastoral care and leadership for the well-being of believers who are not called to serve in that capacity. Every Christian who can should find a Pastor who speaks God’s truth and can teach them the principles of God’s Word.

Titus chapter 1 verses 5-9 mention the characteristics that a Pastor should exhibit. The Apostle Paul encouraged the institution of Elders (which is also aligned with what Pastors are meant to do which is to oversee believers in Christ) within churches. Verse 9 of this chapter says:

(ESV) “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”

The role of a Pastor is to give instruction to believers. Someone who is in Christ who does not have a Pastor to teach them in the ways of the Lord is someone who is without protection. The role of the Pastor which is also mentioned in Ephesians 4 verse 11 is one that God put into place for the purpose of leading believers and furthering the discipleship process. It is the role of a Pastor that buffers the enemy so that one’s soul is not left unattended and without sound instruction.

3. God’s Word – We are living in a time in which deception is increasing every single day. While it is important that we who are in Christ have the Holy Spirit, we also need to know God’s Word. It is knowing His Word and taking it as absolute truth that will spare us from being caught in the web of lies that satan puts forth. So many are now accepting what satan has given as truth instead of seeing God’s Word as the truth that is infallible and immutable.

Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 says,

(NLV) “God’s Word is living and powerful. It is sharper than a sword that cuts both ways. It cuts straight into where the soul and spirit meet and it divides them. It cuts into the joints and bones. It tells what the heart is thinking about and what it wants to do.”

This scripture clearly states that God’s Word is ‘living and powerful.’ It is so powerful that the writer says that it is sharper than a sword that cuts both ways. Basically, it is God’s Word that convicts and brings the truth of God to our mind and our heart. It is the truth of God that cannot be changed despite how much the world around us changes. Using God’s Word as a filter allows you and I to avoid the lies that the world promotes to us daily. Knowing God’s Word and having it in your heart is what will give you knowledge and a baseline for conviction.

4. Prayer – Prayer is one of the most important weapons that we can use against the enemy. When we pray, we are establishing an open line of communication unto God which creates a relationship. Not only are we talking to God, but in prayer God talks back to us. It is like having a relationship with a person which is to say that constant communication builds the relationship. Through prayer, we have safety in addition to receiving the blessings that God desires for us.

Philippians 4:6 says,

(ESV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

God wants to know what is on your heart and He wants us to trust Him to the point that we rely on Him through prayer. Some may contend that if God already knows what we need or desire that there isn’t a reason to pray. However, when we pray it is the dialogue that we have with God that creates a closer relationship. Having daily times of prayer institutes a greater sense of who God is what He is able to do.

5. Fellowship with other believers – Knowing others who are also in Christ and having relationships with them establishes a mode of strength and accountability. In this individualistic society, it becomes so easy for us to be self-absorbed into our own thoughts and lifestyles. However, God created us to be relational which means to have relationships with others.

Hebrews 10:25 says,

(KJV) “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

The writer of this scripture wants us to understand that we must not take for granted that we can and should come together in the faith. Exhortation which also means to build each other up is an important part of the process. Weekly interaction with fellow believers gives you a sense of hope and also a sense of connection. This is also why it is important to be connected to a body of believers through regular church attendance.

The overall message is that we must be equipped through Jesus Christ. All of these tools are available to those of us who are in Christ, but to those who are not in Christ these tools cannot be manifested appropriately. If you don’t know Jesus, today is a great day to accept Him as your Lord and Savior. He wants to be your King and He desires that you have access to the tools listed above. In doing so, your life will be enriched and you will have the necessary means to address all of life’s circumstances. This is God’s promise to the believer and those who wish to know Him through Christ.