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Do We Always Get What We Ask For When We Pray?

Faith is an essential component of prayer. You don’t believe? Don’t expect to receive anything when you pray. It’s as simple as that.

“Without faith, it is impossible to please God because he who comes to him must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).
“Let him ask without doubting, for he who doubts is as a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6).
“A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways; he should not expect to receive anything from God.” (James 1:8).

However, faith doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get everything you ask for, if you pray outside the will of God. Yes, the Bible says “ask and you will receive…” (Matt 7:7) but it also says “you do not receive because you ask amiss, to consume it upon your lusts…” (James 4:3) There is always danger in taking verses of scripture in isolation, because then you only get partial truth. Even Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane asked for the cup of his suffering to be taken away from him, if it was the Father’s will. He prayed, “not my will but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42).

We have this comforting verse in the book of Jeremiah: “I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of good and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11). God loves us, and His will for us is good. It may not be something we understand, and it may not even be something we particularly want right now, but it’s what’s good for us in the long run.

The Bible also says, you do not have because you do not ask. So it’s clearly not the answer to just keep quiet and be fatalistic about life. We do have to ask; we are encouraged, no, exhorted to ask!

I therefore end up with the following suggestions:

1. Always pray and believe that God is able to answer you, if your prayer is in His will. Realise that He is Sovereign, meaning, He makes decisions which nobody can question, but that He is good. (See Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.. “Our God is able to deliver us… but if not, we will not bow down…”). (Daniel 3: 17-18). Trust in God’s ability and in His goodness.

2. Ask God for his will to be done above yours. (See Gethsemane prayer, also The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 22:42) “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”).

3. Keep praying. Pray all the time. Keep bringing up the matter until it’s resolved (Luke 18:1-8) or until you get a clear sense that God’s will is for it to remain (II Cor 12:7-10).

May God help us, increase our faith and align our desires to His so that we increasingly pray Spirit-led prayers, asking for things within God’s perfect will for our lives.

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Expect to Succeed, But Don’t Fear Failure

I love to succeed. I mean, I REALLY love to succeed. However, life had taught me some brutal lessons – despite your best efforts, you are unlikely to do well at everything you touch. How do we reconcile this reality of life against the promises in the Bible?  How do we deal with failure?

“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/psa.27.1.niv

“The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/deu.28.13.niv

“no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/isa.54.17.niv

“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.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/rom.8.28.niv

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/psa.1.1-3.niv

As ever, Scriptures must be read completely and in context. You cannot pick one segment of one verse and doggedly build your life’s theology around it. That is a quick path to disappointment, heresy and even falling away. God loves for us to succeed. But even more than that, God loves US. “Success” – as we understand it – is not always the right or best outcome for us. An example would be where “success” would lead to pride, which would lead to more sin, and ultimately to a fall. Another is where success would reinforce a belief or path that would ultimatley lead us to less than the best God has for us.

We are not to chase or expect failure. However, we should not fear it. Failure has no power over the soul who sincerely trusts that God is working all things together for his or her good.

Have you ever tried to rescue an insect from your bathroom and set it free? Have you watched that insect struggle, fly or crawl away from you in an attempt … to be free? You see, that insect doesn’t know what you’re trying to do. It’s beyond its understanding. You can see the big picture and understand the consequences if it stays in your bathroom. Sooner or later, it’s going to get squished. Out of your compassion for life, you struggle to capture it, or gently lead it out of the danger it had no idea it’s in. If that insect could pray, it might ask for deliverance from you. It might ask for a successful escape from your clutches. In this circumstance, its failure to escape you would be a good thing. While the insight might bemoan its capture and temporarily mourn its fate, it would eventually be transported to greater freedom as a direct result of that apparent failed escape attempt.

We are God’s creatures, well loved and very intelligent. However, the entire scope of our understanding pales in comparison to God’s, so scripture makes very clear. Therefore, all we need to do is trust and obey Him. The results may not always be what we expect, but there’s no need to fear. The Father sees, the Father knows and the Father is in control.

Nicky Gumbel,  Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton (England) and pioneer of the Alpha Course, recently said that he had never met a strong person who’d had an easy life. This is probably because strength of character and conviction are forged in the fires of adversity. The process is tough, but the fruit is beautiful.

Let us not seek failure, but let us not fear it. Our disappointments may be signposts pointing us towards a goal and destiny greater than we originally envisioned for ourselves.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/php.4.11.niv

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/1co.13.12.nlt

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Turn Your Worries Into Prayers

Philippians 4:4-9 is one of my favorite portions of Scripture and I often turn to it when worries try to dominate my thought life.  When reading the Bible, I love to read various translations simultaneously, in order to give myself the best chance of getting the full meaning of the original script. It would be better if I could understand Hebrew or Greek, but that’s a whole other level.

Enjoy with me the various translations of Philippians 4:4-9 and let the truth sink in that in order to access the peace of God in all circumstances, there are steps to follow:

1. Always Praise God.

The power of praise is amazing.  It can shift your focus right off your problems to the One who can either solve them, or give you the strength you need to walk through them.  Praise God for who He is; the all-sufficient One.  Thank Him for what He’s done.  Remembering past interventions is a great way to build faith for the challenges ahead.  Thank Him for all He’s promised, knowing that the One who has promised is faithful to fulfill His word.

2. Instead of Worrying About Anything, Pray About Everything.

I know, it’s easier said than done, but it’s true. In the darkest periods of my life I’ve found the deepest solace in just hiding myself away and speaking to God in prayer – simply, candidly, talking to Him about my feelings, hopes, fears, worries and desires and letting him replace them with His inexplicable peace. Some of us are prone to worry because we think we can control the world and its outcomes if we just work a little harder at it. We can’t control everything though, and we need to cede control to the one who can. We need to stop worrying and start praying – about everything. We need to pray in faith, because a double-minded person will receive nothing from God. If we lack faith, we can pray about that too!

3. Meditate on Positive Things.

This isn’t just a self-help mantra or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, useful as both of those can be.  This is scriptural.  In fact I would argue that a lot of self help and CBT principles can be gleaned directly from Scripture.  Paul exhorts the Philippians to meditate on excellent and praise-worthy things – things pure, lovely and admirable.  Focusing on the negatives can really pull us down, but making a decision to think on the bright side of things – to focus on the good – can give us a real boost.  It’s Biblical to be a “glass half full” person!

Living in this way, we will increasingly recognise how God’s peace which we can’t explain will sink into our hearts and begin to govern our thoughts and actions.

Simple, but hard. I know.  We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Here are excerpts from my favorite translations of these verses:

“Do not be anxious about anything…” -v.6 (NIV)

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (v. 6-7‬ ‭MSG‬)

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything” (v.6, CEVUS06)

“Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.” (v. 8‬ ‭CEVUS06‬‬)

“Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (v6, NLT)

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Life More Abundantly – An Awesome Promise

“I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). What an awesome promise this is. Being a Christian does not mean being sour, sad and deprived of every good thing that life has to offer. It does not mean that we can or should no longer enjoy life. Quite the contrary; the pursuit of Jesus is supposed to bring true fulfillment, true life – life more abundant than what we had before.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Galatians 5:22). If we are lacking these them we are deficient in our journey. We are lacking the essentials of our walk. Perhaps sin has snuck in through the back – or front – door and robbed us of our joy and peace. Perhaps it’s a lack of faith that has taken our eyes off the Master and placed it on the billowing waves at our feet. It’s no wonder then, that we sink. (See Matthew 14:22-33).  If we can only learn to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, then we can learn to run this race, walk this walk, and do so with a hop, a skip and a jump.

I’m not too naive as to think that true devotion to Christ will not bring its share of suffering, because it will. Blessed are you when people persecute you and say all manner of evil against you for falsely for His sake. Rejoice because they did the same to the prophets before you! (Matthew 5:11-12)

And there you have the full truth; following after Christ does not eliminate problems from our lives, but faithfully following Him unlocks the ability to be joyful and at peace in the midst of whatever life may throw at us.

Worry about nothing. Pray about everything. Turn your worries into prayers, and then the peace of God which is greater than we can understand will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Philippians 4: 6-7)

Life more abundant – not based on how much is in the bank, or how well our relationships are going, or how healthy or comfortable we feel, but based on the faith that God is in control no matter what, and will work it all out for our good. The circumstances become less important, and trust in the One who holds it all together takes center stage.

Derek Tidball told the story of a young boy who trusted his father was good, despite everyone telling him his father was a Frankenstein who cut people up. He knew his father cut people open at work and but he also knew that his father was good. It was only after he grew up a bit more that he full understood that his father was a surgeon, and he cut people up to heal them.

I have always loved that story. We can’t understand everything God does or allows now, but we know that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) This is the source of our joy, our strength and our peace. Our God is good, our God is in control and He’ll make it alright in the end, on this side of eternity or the next. (I Corinthians 13:12)

Rest, trust, and begin to live life more abundantly.

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Choosing To Love Though We Disagree

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” – I Corinthians 13:1-3, The Message Bible.

It amazes and saddens me to see and hear about how many hateful acts are perpetuated in the name of religion. Looking closely at the teachings of Jesus Christ, you see that the central tenets of his message revolve around love.

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” (John 3:16)
“Love the Lord your God with all you heart, all your soul and all your might..”
“Love your neighbor as yourself..” (Matt 22:37-39)

The gospel message is birthed in, drenched in and fulfilled in love. We can never spread that message authentically, nor can we expect to see long lasting fruit, if we speak out of hatred, pride, superiority or any sort of disdain for our fellow humans.

If one holds true to the tenets of one’s faith, if one is not to compromise based on the social norms of the day, then it is inevitable that doctrinal conflicts will arise between proponents of different religions, and between the religious and the secular-minded folks. How you and I handle these conflicts ought to show who we are, and whether or not we truly follow Christ.

“By this men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”, said the Lord Jesus. (John 13:35)

Does this mean that I have to agree with, or approve of things that are contrary to my faith or my sincere convicted interpretation of scripture? No, a thousand times no. To love someone is not necessarily to agree with them. It is to decide, despite the disgreement, to show kindness; to endure wrong; to be humble; to seek the well being of the other person.

There is much for us to debate about in our society today: religion, politics, race, sexual orientation, immigration, and so on. You will find committed Christians on many different sides of the respective arguments. Not everyone is right, but the result does not have to be hatred and strife.

I choose to love you, though I disagree with you. That sentence, sincerely lived, can change our world for the better.

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We All Need to Be Saved – From What?

The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  You must have heard people talk about being “saved”.  Saved from what?  Saved from our sins. Saved from the Law of Moses, which placed a heavier burden on us than we can bear.  Saved from the curse which condemns all mankind to an eternity of separation from God.

We all need salvation, no matter how good we think we are.  We are born with sin within us.  Made in God’s image, but tainted by the original sin of Adam and Eve, we are cursed to walk the earth in separation from God, toiling the earth, suffering sin’s consequences and raging at the skies.

It’s a cliche, oft spoken, that we each have a God-shaped hole inside of us.  I find this truth to be self-evident.  We as humans need to worship something.  We make carvings of wood and stone and bow down to them; we exalt singers and athletes and pour out our adoration upon them; we acknowledge “the universe” or “mother nature” or all manner of spirits; we continually seek out objects of worship because we are made to worship.  Sadly, so many of us miss out on the one who were were originally made to worship.

Who Were We Made to Worship?

The Bible tells the story of how the apostles went to a Greek town and found a plaque dedicated to worshiping “the unknown god”.  They proceeded to make known to the people who this unknown God is.

So who is this one we were originally made to worship?  How do we find Him in the midst of all the noise of this world?  We can find Him because he first found us.  He revealed Himself to mankind in many ways over thousands of years, and finally through His own Son, Jesus Christ.  How do we know? We know because Jesus said so.  His words are recorded in numerous historical accounts, the most important of which are collected in what we now call the “Gospels” in the first part of the New Testament.  How can we trust what Jesus said? Because He proved himself.   Not only did he heal the sick, raise the dead and open the eyes of the blind while on earth, but he predicted his own death and his resurrection!  (See John 2:18-22,  Matt 12:39-40, Matt 16:21, John 10:17,18).

The Resurrection of Jesus is the Ultimate Proof

God had sent many great prophets before Jesus.  Even Jesus himself had warned his contemporaries that if they would not believe Moses and the prophets, then they would not believe even if someone came back from the dead.  This sadly has also been proved true.  Jesus was very publicly executed.  He was buried in a tomb, a huge stone rolled in front of it, and guards placed at that tomb to deter grave robbers.  Despite all this, the body vanished on the third day. The third day.  Just like Jesus had foretold.  Afterwards, hundreds of people testified to having seen him alive. They held fast to their testimony,  despite persecution, threats, and ultimately, martyrom.  All but one of Jesus’ closest companions were killed because of their testimony – their assertion that Jesus had risen and they had seen him.   It has been said that scarecly would someone die for something they know to be a lie.  Pretty much all of them gave their lives spreading the good news. Why? Because they knew it was true.  They had seen Him, known Him, and bore faithful witness to His resurrection.

I believe

I believe the words of the Apostles.  I believe their record of the words of Jesus.  I will therefore seek to follow His, and their words faithfully.  Having believed, I have felt the impact of God’s Spirit on my heart, on my life, such that I could not walk away even if I tried.  I am a believer for life.

What will you do with Jesus?

The evidence is there, laid out for generations and generations, and many have believed through the years.  What will you do with all this?  What will you do with Jesus?  God loves you. He sent His Son to die for you, so that all who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins which had separated us from God.  All you have to do is believe in your heart, and then confess with your mouth that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.

What will you do with Jesus?

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Let Us Walk Together

I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ from a young age, and have sought to follow him for the last 30 years.  Sometimes I’ve done so faithfully, and sometimes I have not.  I am not yet perfect – far from it, but I do have a lot to say, a lot to share, and a lot to teach.  As I teach, I hope to be taught, as I speak I hope to be spoken to, by you, by God’s Holy Spirit, and by my own God-inspired conscience.

I plan to write freely from my heart, as the Spirit leads, baring my thoughts, feelings, doubts and fears, being strong and weak openly with you and hoping that all this inspires someone.  In return, I hope and expect open and honest responses, wherever you are on your faith journey.

Come, let us walk together.  If you have not yet started your journey, come, hear about the path, and consider taking your first steps.