Pray for your Pastor

Do you think about praying for your Pastor?  Do you realize that they need encouragement?  Do you see them as needing a friend?

They work long hard hours and they can get burned out and discouraged.  They visit people in the hospital, counsel people who need help, and minister to the people in the community who need someone to listen.  They are a blessing to the people they encounter every day.  Yet, do you hold them up in prayer?

Here are some ideas to use as you pray for your pastor…

Faithfulness – pray that he will continue to be faithful to God and to the church.  Pray that he is faithful in his commitments to his family.  Pray that he is faithful to proclaim the Word.  Pray that he remains faithful to the calling on his life.

Psalm 89:1 “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.”

Time for Bible Study and Prayer – pray that he will have uninterrupted time for Bible study and prayer.  Pray that he is immersed in the Word.  Pray that the Word fills his heart and overflows out to others.  Pray that he will seek God with all His heart and that He would be in tune with what the Lord is teaching him.  Pray that he will have the courage and the faith to share what God lays on his heart.

Psalm 1:1-3 “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.”

Rest and Health – pray that he is able to rest at night giving all his burdens to the Lord.  Pray for him and his family that they stay physically healthy.  Pray that he takes enough time for himself to stay mentally healthy.  Pray that he has good family time and that his family doesn’t take a back seat to his ministry.  Pray for his marriage that it will remain strong.

Provision – pray that God will abundantly provide for him and his family.  Pray that they lack for nothing but that they remain dependent on God for everything.  It is hard to minister to others if you are concerned how to provide for your family.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Wisdom and Direction – pray that he will desire the wisdom of God the way Solomon did.  Only God knows the future and so only God can direct our paths in the proper way. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 16:9 “ In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Psalm 27:23 “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;”

Fellowship – pray that he will have godly friends.  Friendships that will allow him to be himself and allow him to be accountable to another Christian brother.  Pray that they are able to talk about things of the Lord – both the good and the bad.  Pray that they would encourage each other to finish the race and keep the faith.

Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

Abraham believed God

I’ve had this verse stuck in my head for a couple of days and I don’t know quite why.  Obviously God is trying to teach me something.

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."  (Romans 4:3)

God promised Abraham that the Savior would come through his lineage.  Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children and then God gave them Isaac.  Then God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son on an altar (Genesis 22).  God never intended for Abraham to kill Isaac but was testing his faith.  Abraham passed the test. 

Noah believed God and built an ark. 

Because of Noah’s faith, his entire family was saved and 2 of every animal because he believed God and followed through with action.

Moses believed God and led the Israelites out of Egypt and to the Promised Land.

Moses trusted God to feed the people, part the Red Sea, defeat the Egyptians, and lead them to a land that would sustain them.  Moses acted on his faith.

Joshua believed God and guided Israel into many successful battles including the battle at Jericho. 

... and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat... (Joshua 6:20)

Joshua guided Israel in their victorious battles with the inhabitants of the land. When the walls of Jericho fell, it was because Joshua trusted God and His Word.

Paul and Silas believed God and praised him from their prison cell. 

They believed God; they prayed; they acted on their faith by singing praises for other prisoners to hear.  They didn’t look at their circumstances, instead they unashamedly proclaimed their faith by singing out loud for others to hear.

God was pleased with their faith and sent and earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison and the gates were thrown open.

Peter believed God and walked on water.

Peter called out to Jesus.  Then he trusted him and stepped out in faith.   Peter didn’t procrastinate.  He didn’t stop and reconsider his options.  He was eager to obey.

 

Examples of men and women who believed God and acted in obedience is evident all through Scripture. 

What have you believed God for?  What have you trusted Him with?  Have you eagerly acted on your faith or counted the cost first? 

Believe God.  Pray.  Act.

Trust and Obey – it is really that simple

Wow – I haven’t written in 2 months.  Where did the time go?  Since the last post, I’ve moved and changed jobs.  Lots of new stuff in my life.  In the midst of change, it is good to know that my relationship with Jesus does not change.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Placing my faith and trust in Him is the best decision I have ever made.  He gives me that confident assurance that in the midst of turmoil everything is going to be OK.

Our house in Georgia is for sale.  Probably the number 1 thing you don’t want to do in this economy is sell your house.  We had an investment property on Saint Simons Island that we are also selling.  Instead of making us money for our retirement, it is costing us money to “dump it”.  It’s a good thing I trust God to take care of me because if I trusted in money and material things, I would be very worried right now!

So what have I been thinking about lately …..

There are basically two types of people.  Those who obey God’s Word and those who don’t.  I think you can see that in the Scriptures.  Noah did.  The builders of the tower of Babel didn’t.  David did.  Most of his sons didn’t.  Zacchaeus did.  Pilate didn’t. 

Reading the book of Deuteronomy gives us insight into Moses’ life. Moses had a tough job. Leading the Israelites must have been really frustrating. What a fickle people! They begged to get out of Egypt and then complained about the free manna that God provided. When Moses stood at the edge of the Promised Land the second time, he reminded the people that he had stood there 40 years prior with their parents. He reminded them of their parents’ unbelief and disobedience. He reminded them that God cursed their parents to die in the wilderness. You can sum up what Moses said into these points. 1) Listen 2) Hear. 3) Write it down. 4) Obey.

In Deuteronomy 30:19, Moses sums up everything when he says “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”

The people chose to obey and God blessed them.

The New Testament gives more examples of this concept.

Luke 28:11 says - blessed are those that hear the Word of God and obey it.

In Acts 2:42 it says that the early church devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, to fellowship, and to prayer.

James says that we are not only to listen to the Word but we are to do what it says.  (James 1:18, 22)

2 John 6 says that “this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.” and then in 3 John 4 ‘no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

The Christian finds his purpose as he listens to the Word of God and attempts to live it out in his daily life.  Your primary objective is to listen to God and obey.  You don’t need to worry about being strategic, sensitive, or relevant.  If you simply Listen, Trust, and Obey, others will see that you are different.  Others will want to know your secret for living a happy and fulfilled life.  It is simply trust and obey God.

Stupid

Did you ever do something just really stupid and you look back on it and you think, “What in the world was I thinking?”  I’ve had that experience lately.

Afterwards, you can get so focused on the wrong and so wrapped up in guilt and frustration that you lose sight of the God who loves you more than anything.  You dwell on your stupidity and not on His love.  You struggle with forgiving yourself. 

Equate this to a large river.  It flows free and strong and is available to all who come to it.  The river is like God’s free and available love for us and what you are currently doing is building a dam. God still wants to reach you but it is you who are stopping him.

We’ve all messed up and made mistakes.  We all need forgiveness.  We are all unworthy of the saving grace of Jesus.  Yet, he took our sin on him when he died on the cross.  Our filthiness (and stupidity) have been covered with his blood.

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

If you seem to be focusing on how you don’t deserve God’s love and mercy more than focusing on what amazing love he offers you, stop building your dam and start letting the water flow freely.  Let it come over you and wash you.  It’s not about what you’ve done wrong or how unworthy you (and I) are, it’s about what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Obedience is Tough

I’ve been giving some thought to the idea of obedience.  This may take several days to get out all my thoughts – so be prepared. 

Oftentimes we are faced with decisions and we know what we ought to choose but there is another choice that doesn’t seem all that bad…. it just isn’t what we are supposed to do.  It is the “easy way out” of the situation.  It doesn’t require the effort that we should put forth.  It allows us to escape difficult circumstances.  However, we know it isn’t what we are supposed to do.

A couple of easy examples.  The handles keep coming loose on my pots in my kitchen.  I know I should use a screwdriver and tighten them properly.  However, a butter knife is often convenient and temporarily does the job fairly well.  Why would I want to get a screwdriver?  I am sweeping the kitchen floor.  There really isn’t all that much dirt.  The dust pan is in the closet in the other room.  Who is going to know if I sweep that little bit of dirt under the frig.  The problem with this kind of attitude is the “dirt piles up”.  Failure to be obedient in small things often leads to a larger and larger failure and can eventually ruin you.  God is concerned with the little things on our lives because He understands the impact they can make.

I believe that obedience should also happen instantly. It isn’t something to think about.  Years ago I had a colleague who taught her second graders that “slow obedience is no obedience.”  That saying has stuck with me.

Obedience isn’t about what you feel like doing.  If I tell my daughter to clean her room, I don’t mean if you feel like it, you should clean your room.  She should go and do what she is told because she is commanded to obey her parents.  (Ephesians 6:2-3)  If God tells us to do something and we aren’t in the mood, we need to change our mood quickly. 

If you love God, you will keep His commandments.  If you love God, you will obey Him.  (John 14:15)  We need to go where He leads us to go and do what he tells us to do.  It won’t always be easy but “broad is the way that leads to destruction”.  (Matthew 7:13-14)  If we love God, we show it by our actions.  To be disobedient to God would be a slap in the face of your creator.  Jude 1:25 says we are to give to God “glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore”.

What about when the choice is difficult to make.  Perhaps if makes you look bad in public.  Perhaps it will cost you a job opportunity.  I love the move “Chariots of Fire.”  Think of the choice that Eric Liddell had to make.  If you aren’t familiar with the story, Eric was an Olympic runner in 1924.  He also believed that Sunday was the Lord’s day and that it should be devoted to God.  When he found out that his Olympic heat was scheduled on a Sunday, he chose not to run. He was committed to God and determined to obey no matter what it cost him.  In a twist of events, Eric gets offered the chance to change races and run in the 400 meter race (instead of the 100).  No one gives him much hope of winning but Liddell goes on to win the gold medal.  The line most often quoted is “I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure."  I think the main theme here is that while he liked running, he loved God and chose obedience.  God then rewarded him with an unexpected opportunity and victory.

Why should I obey God?  How about because He loves you.  God wants the best for you.  When I make up my mind to obey, it doesn’t matter if it is a small thing that no one will notice or a large item.  Obedience is obedience.  You either obey or you don’t.  There’s no middle ground.

In Matthew 7: 24 – 27 Jesus said,  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

The God of the Universe who created you, loves you.  He alone can see into the future.  He knows where our choices will lead us; we do not.  We obey because we know that God causes all things to work for the good for those who love him.  (Romans 8:28)

Listen for His voice, trust Him, and obey ….  Let’s see where I go with this tomorrow …

Be a “Full Moon”

In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” 

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.”

Now I am confused.  I thought Jesus was the light ….

I think the best analogy for this is to think about the sun and the moon.  Jesus is the sun.  Light originates from Jesus.  He is the source of all light.  We are the moon.  We have no ability in our own strength to produce light.  We are a reflection of the light of Christ. 

How much of your life reflects Christ, reflects truth, reflects love for others, etc.. ? Just like sometimes only part of the moon is visible… reflecting the sun, there are times when only parts of our lives are reflecting Christ.  Therefore, our goal should be to be a “full moon” every day.  Every part of our lives should be reflecting Christ to others at all times.   While that is a huge goal, it is possible when we are fully committed to Christ and seeking His will daily in our lives.

So, what do you say …. want to be a “full moon”?

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I’m Busy Plowing My Field

Story ….  Two farmers were praying for rain.  One farmer went out and got busy plowing his field and the other sat and waited.  One of the farmers got the rain he prayed for.  Which one?  The one who plowed his field.  Why?  The farmer who plowed the field did so with faith that God would answer his prayer for rain.  The other farmer did nothing to show that he believed God would actually answer his prayer.

God is in the business of answering prayer.  What are you praying for?  Are you really believing God will do it?  Are you out plowing your field in expectation of his answer?

I am packing boxes believing we are moving this summer.  I am taking tests and gaining certifications in expectation of the job that I believe he will provide.  I am doing my best to plow the fields in expectation of what God is going to do this summer. 

 

Story comes from the movie “Facing the Giants”

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