Monthly Archives: October 2024

Prayer Day 4 of 8??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #280

31 Thursday Oct 2024

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Prayer Day 4 of 8???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #280

Today, I’d like to return to Daniel to see a different aspect of prayer.  I want us to consider the outcome of faithful praying; not just answered prayer, but the effects of praying.

“Confess your faults one to another,

and pray one for another,

that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer

of a righteous man

availeth much.

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are,

and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain:

and it rained not on the earth

by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again,

and the heaven gave rain,

and the earth brought forth her fruit.”  James 5:16-18

Let me simply comment on part of this passage that many misunderstand.  When James says that “Elias (Elijah)” prayed for rain to stop, and then for rain to come, he didn’t do it on his own, he did it at God’s bidding.  See the context in 1 Kings 17-18, it’s an amazing story, but don’t get the idea that prayer is a heavenly slot machine!  It’s not!  It’s communion with God, speaking with Him and listening to HIM!  Jesus gives us the parameters in very simple terms, and our prayers are to ever to be measured by it!  Am I walking with God or dictating to Him?

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:9-10

Paul speaks to prayer as well; we are not to fret (be careful), but take all things before God, pursuing His will and not our own, yet understanding that wanting to know what to do, how to do it, and the when’s and where’s of our decisions are subjects that God wants us to share with Him! Even when we ask amiss, if we will but listen and heed, we will find ourselves in less stress and more of God’s peace!

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

Sometimes God is calling us to wait!!!  Oh, no, not that big “W” word?  Yes, if we will but wait on Him, HE will answer!

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

Let’s look at Daniel’s friends in the trial of the fiery furnace, in this account we find that their confidence was in the relationship they had with their God in prayer and faithful dependence on Him.  God heard, answered and displayed His glory amazingly!  We must know Him and His Word in personal confidence.

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so,

our God

whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.”  Daniel 3:16-18

Where is your confidence?  Are you willing, like these young men, to say God can—but even if He doesn’t deliver us out of the fire, HE will deliver us through it into His presence.  And my friends, if Jesus tarries, we may find ourselves facing the fire!  Are you prayed up?  Let’s pray diligently—oh how I long to see God move among us once again!

Amen and Amen!!!

Prayer Day 3 of 8??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #279

30 Wednesday Oct 2024

Posted by in Daniel Prayed--Do You?, Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's choices, Daniel's Prayer, Praise God Today!, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?

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Prayer Day 3 of 8???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #279

Our prayer for today is from Daniel, but also from his friends, not just a prayer but a testimony of the strength that dependence upon God provides.  And as I’m often wont to say, “We win!”  And that what Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said as well.  Let me preface this with a bit of context, Daniel and his friends were taken captive and carried to Babylon to serve in the king’s palace; but their commitment and devotion was totally in their God—Jehovah God Almighty.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart

that he would not defile himself

with the portion of the king’s meat,

nor with the wine which he drank:

therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs

that he might not defile himself.”  Daniel 1:8

Without going too deep, I do need to say that Daniel and his friends remained faithful to God, they had been put to the test at the beginning, and then in chapter 2 they had another crisis of life and faith.  They chose to pray together, and God heard and answered those prayers. (And just FYI verse 17 is their Hebrew names, not the names given them by the Babylonians! verses 1:16-17)

“Then Daniel went in,

and desired of the king

that he would give him time,

and that he would shew the king

the interpretation.

17 Then Daniel went to his house,

and made the thing known to

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

18 That they would desire

mercies of the God of heaven

concerning this secret;

that Daniel and his fellows should not perish

with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”   Daniel 2:16-19

Daniel and his friends heard from God.  And what did they do when they saw God’s answer?  What we should always do, they praised God and Daniel wrote down part of their praise; one of the most revealing and powerful passages in scripture.

“Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might

are his:

21 And he changeth

the times and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge

to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth

the deep and secret things:

he knoweth

what is in the darkness,

and the light

dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee, and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2:20-23

May we pray with this same confidence!

Amen and Amen!!!

Prayer Day 2 of 8??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #278

29 Tuesday Oct 2024

Posted by in PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?, Press ON!

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Prayer Day 2 of 8???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #278

Our prayer for today is from Paul, I would encourage you to study the prayers of the Apostle Paul in his letters to believers; they are a testament to truth, love and encouragement.  The one I am sharing with you today is from the letter to the Colossian believers, whom Paul had never met personally, but he cared for them and wanted to be a help to their faith and spiritual maturity.  His words are most apropos for us today.  May we join Paul in this prayer for those around us today, for our families, our churches, our nation and our world.

“For this cause we also,

since the day we heard it,

do not cease to pray for you,

and to desire

that ye might be filled

with the knowledge of his will

in all wisdom

and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful in every good work,

and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”             Colossians 1:9-14

So, as we consider this amazing prayer may we take it to heart for ourselves and then we can pray it over all those around us—starting at home, and then spreading out as God leads!

      Letting God fill you—through His Word—

      Letting God help us to walk worthy—through obedience—

      Letting God strengthen us with His power—finding His joy—

      Thanking God for all HE has done, is doing and will do—

           All through the blood of Jesus where we find

                 Redemption and forgiveness of sin!

And sin, my friends, is the issue—starting with me!

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

Amen and Amen!!!

Prayer Day 1 of 8??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #277

28 Monday Oct 2024

Posted by in Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?

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Prayer Day 1 of 8???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #277

I’m going to do something that I’ve not done before, I’m going  to post for eight days on the same subject, prayer.  I am asking you to join me in praying for God to move in our midst, in our communities, our states, our nation and our world; but especially I am asking that you join me in praying for America in earnest these next 8 days.  Won’t you join me in asking God to work in the hearts of His own children, in the hearts of those who know about Him, and those who have turned their backs on Him, and especially for those who are His enemies.  I simply want to start today with a brief portion of Jesus Sermon on the Mount.

May we take it to heart, look inside and ask God to make “me” what I need to be, to lead “me” where I need to go, doing that which pleases my Lord Jesus!  May we bow before our God and stop casting stones, when we are the one walking in disobedience, or rebellion, or willful sin, or just plain stubborn refusal to obey our God in the small things.

“Blessed are the pure in heart:

for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers:

for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted

for righteousness’ sake:

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye,

when men shall revile you,

and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil

against you falsely,

for my sake.

12 Rejoice,

and be exceeding glad:

for great is your reward in heaven:

for so persecuted they the prophets

which were before you.”  Matthew 5:8-12

I’ll make just a few comments, particularly about “peacemakers”, Jesus isn’t only referring to the absence of conflict, but the fact that without His salvation we are all enemies of God, and those who share the Gospel are spreading the peace of God that only Jesus can provide, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”!  When we have that “peace with God”, we will also have the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding”; and no matter the conflict around us we will be filled with the peace of our Lord!  Pray my friends, please pray, and share Jesus; and may our hands and our hearts be filled with grace and peace not rocks!

Amen and Amen!!!

Prayers Of Help For Parents??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #276

23 Wednesday Oct 2024

Posted by in Children, Parenting is a lifetime calling!, Parenting matters, Paying attention

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Prayers Of Help For Parents???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #276

When we see all the chaos around us, especially the chaos amongst our young, is there any hope?  Well, my friends, our hope—our only hope—is in Jesus and His Word.  That’s not just a cliché, but the truest of all truth; yet we must realize that it is not an easy solution but one that costs our all in all, and our bowing before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  And that seems to be a foreign idea to most, even many that claim to belong to Jesus!  But may I say, unless we’ve been to Calvary and been washed in the “blood of Jesus” which is the only thing that “cleanseth from all sin”, and Sin is the issue, our hope will wane!  Not a popular topic, but truth none the less.  God has extended His grace, mercy and love to us and sent Jesus to save us from sin!

“For all

have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say,

at this time

his righteousness:

that he might be just,

and the justifier

of him

which believeth in Jesus.”             Romans 3:23-26

What does all this mean?  It really isn’t difficult, God offers the sacrifice of His Son as the redemption (an act of atoning for guilt…an act or state of being rescued…) from our sin, to all who will believe; the same message that Jesus gave Nicodemus, the religious leader who needed more than religion!  Jesus told him that he must be “born again” by faith in what Jesus came to do—to die for our sin debt. And the Apostle John describes it in John 1.

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:10-13

Paul gives us an amazing picture of what Jesus does for those who come to Him.  What does all this have to do with parenting?  Good question.  Friends, without Jesus we cannot exercise wisdom, grace and love of a biblical sort to lead our children to the cross.  And without Jesus and His cross of sacrifice our children will be headed straight for hell—not popular but true!  Are we who know Jesus exercising biblical principles in the training, discipline and instruction in righteousness with our children and grandchildren.  Or are we allowing and even promoting the things of the world which are leading them in the wrong direction.  Jesus said there’s a broad way that “leadeth to destruction” or we can choose to lead others to the “straight gate” which leads “to life”!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself

more highly than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

There are a couple of things that I’d like to share in closing, things that aren’t always associated with parenting, and the last that is the ultimate biblical instruction for parenting.  Just remember God is the perfect parent, and we don’t always listen to or heed His directions.  Parenting is dependent on you and God, yet even our best efforts are sometimes received and heeded, sometimes not.  God has given your children free will as He has you!  When in doubt take it to the cross.

“I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”  Philippians 4:13

“But my God shall supply all your need

according to his riches in glory

by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God and our Father

be glory

for ever and ever. Amen.”  Philippians 4:19-20

And a passage that I believe is the ultimate plumbline on parenting says that you live before your children is way more influential than what you say.  Be sure you are “being” a doer of The Word, and not a “hearer” only (and as a parent a “speaker” only!)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them

for a sign upon thine hand,  (what you do)

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.             (what you see)

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house, (how you live at home)

and on thy gates…

…20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come,

saying, What mean

the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand:

22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:

23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.

24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes,

to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness,

if we observe to do all these commandments

before the LORD our God,

as he hath commanded us.”   Portions of Deuteronomy 6:4-25

Just remember that this passage starts out telling us that we, as parents must love God first!  It finishes with God’s command to have a testimony to share when our children ask—implying that when we live it in front of them, and hold them to biblical principles, the day will come when they will ask “why”; and when that day comes, we are to be able to share with them not just what God once did in our lives, but what HE is doing right now!!!  May you be blessed in your ministry of influencing others.

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30.

Amen & Amen!!!