I'm not a very daring person. Even if I'm not the first one to step out of the boat, I like to be where things are "happening". I must admit, I love Holy Ghost goosebumps. I like experiencing the manifestations of God's power first hand. Maybe I'm not the one that starts the activity but I sure like being on the edge of excitement.
Today God was teaching me about my fear of missing out. I had no idea how much of an issue it is for me. When I hear about what the Holy Spirit is doing in my absence, I feel like I totally missed out. Down deep in my flesh, I'm sorry to say, I actually get a bit resentful and jealous because others got to experience something with the Lord that I didn't. My face may look smiley but when I hear the words, "You missed a great service!", my heart sinks. (Isn't it amazing that the services you miss are always the great ones?)
Today I had a choice to make. On the calendar, there are two meetings scheduled for the same time 15 miles apart. One meeting is guaranteed to be full of revelation and Holy Ghost goosebumps. The other is most likely to be mundane and possibly even boring. Of course, I chose the prayer meeting. I had told people I would be there and I was all excited to go. Last night, the Lord woke me up and impressed on my heart that I needed to go to the other meeting. I tried to ignore Him, pray His urging away, and even sleep through it. Nothing worked. So today I was inwardly moping, thinking about all I would miss by begrudgingly obeying the Lord.
My attitude changed abruptly during prayer time this morning. I was praying for heaven and earth to move, yet I didn't allow God to move me! The Holy Spirit asked, "Do you really mean your prayers for My will to be done when you are more interested in satisfying your fleshly need for goosebumps than in obeying?" Of course, I was undone.
God has a bigger plan than I can imagine. He gave me the opportunity to be part of His plan. He said, "What if I want to attend the meeting through you?" Wow! I can't think of a bigger blessing than that. For the love of the flesh, I nearly missed out on the truly good stuff.
Lord, today I thank you for your loving-kindness and patience towards me. My fear is gone and I'm not missing a thing!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Prayer: More than a Privilege
Prayer is more than just an awesome privilege given from the Lord to His children. My thought for today is about the authority and responsibility that comes with that privilege. Whenever authority is transferred from one to another, responsibility goes with it. One could say, "I gave you the authority. Now you are responsible!"
The same is especially true in the Kingdom of God. Because God transferred authority, unless I fulfill my responsibility to pray, it is as if God's hands are tied. If I don't pray, God will not act to answer what I should have prayed. When I do pray, the spiritual powers in heaven are activated to answer the prayer. Praise the Lord that He doesn't require us to move heaven and earth on our own. He just expects us to pray and do the little we can and He will do the rest.
James tells us:
2 You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can't possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it. 3 And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong -- you want only what will give you pleasure. (James 4:2-3)
We get stuck trying to figure out whether we are praying amiss and never get around to praying. The reason we don't have what we want is that we don't ask God for it! Today I think of the prayers that God is waiting for us to pray. Do we dare sit idly, wringing our hands and flapping our jaws over changes that God could have made if we had only prayed?
The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy: 1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:1-4 Holman Christian Standard)
Jesus told us to pray "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven." (Matthew 6:10).
I wonder what would happen if all of Christendom prayed just those two prayers everyday. I don't think my mind is able to comprehend the changes that would occur. God has given us a part to play in His plan. It truly is a privilege to have open communication with the Creator of the Universe through prayer. Today I also see the authority and responsibility that come with it.
7 "Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks." (Matthew 7:7-8 NLT)
The same is especially true in the Kingdom of God. Because God transferred authority, unless I fulfill my responsibility to pray, it is as if God's hands are tied. If I don't pray, God will not act to answer what I should have prayed. When I do pray, the spiritual powers in heaven are activated to answer the prayer. Praise the Lord that He doesn't require us to move heaven and earth on our own. He just expects us to pray and do the little we can and He will do the rest.
James tells us:
2 You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can't possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it. 3 And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong -- you want only what will give you pleasure. (James 4:2-3)
We get stuck trying to figure out whether we are praying amiss and never get around to praying. The reason we don't have what we want is that we don't ask God for it! Today I think of the prayers that God is waiting for us to pray. Do we dare sit idly, wringing our hands and flapping our jaws over changes that God could have made if we had only prayed?
The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy: 1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:1-4 Holman Christian Standard)
Jesus told us to pray "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven." (Matthew 6:10).
I wonder what would happen if all of Christendom prayed just those two prayers everyday. I don't think my mind is able to comprehend the changes that would occur. God has given us a part to play in His plan. It truly is a privilege to have open communication with the Creator of the Universe through prayer. Today I also see the authority and responsibility that come with it.
7 "Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks." (Matthew 7:7-8 NLT)
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Bucket Loads of Prayer
Last week I got this picture in my mind while I was praying. I could see angels collecting my prayers in buckets and using them as the energy force needed to accomplish what I prayed for. As I prayed for myself, the angel poured a bucket of prayer over me. It was as if I was covered by a thick down blanket. As I prayed for families, their homes were covered with a thick blanket of prayer. As I prayed for my church, the church was filled with this prayer substance stuff.
The Holy Spirit was teaching me to look at prayer as the commodity used to do the will of God. Like any other commodity, prayer could be used up and run out. He showed me that angels were just waiting for substantive prayer so they could do the work they were called to do. The more prayer in the bucket, the more work the angels accomplish.
Then I got this interesting revelation about the showdown at Mount Carmel. (I Kings 18:20-39) The prophets of Baal did all kinds of works to have their "god" burn up their sacrifice. They screamed and hollered and cut themselves and their god never answered. Elijah, on the other hand, had people dump bucket upon bucket of water on his offering. Not only was the wood soaked, but there was a trench overflowing with water. Then Elijah spoke a word and the fire of God fell and consumed all of it.
The Holy Spirit told me that prayers are like those buckets of water. People will try all sorts of works to get their "god" to answer them. But one who truly prays will appear like Elijah. The situation may look impossible but when the trenches overflow with prayer, God will answer with fire. I may not know the perfect words to pray but today I won't be discouraged. I'm just going to keep filling those prayer buckets and watch as God answers by fire.
The Holy Spirit was teaching me to look at prayer as the commodity used to do the will of God. Like any other commodity, prayer could be used up and run out. He showed me that angels were just waiting for substantive prayer so they could do the work they were called to do. The more prayer in the bucket, the more work the angels accomplish.
Then I got this interesting revelation about the showdown at Mount Carmel. (I Kings 18:20-39) The prophets of Baal did all kinds of works to have their "god" burn up their sacrifice. They screamed and hollered and cut themselves and their god never answered. Elijah, on the other hand, had people dump bucket upon bucket of water on his offering. Not only was the wood soaked, but there was a trench overflowing with water. Then Elijah spoke a word and the fire of God fell and consumed all of it.
The Holy Spirit told me that prayers are like those buckets of water. People will try all sorts of works to get their "god" to answer them. But one who truly prays will appear like Elijah. The situation may look impossible but when the trenches overflow with prayer, God will answer with fire. I may not know the perfect words to pray but today I won't be discouraged. I'm just going to keep filling those prayer buckets and watch as God answers by fire.
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