Philippians 4: 6-7
Note: For the Summer we are reprinting some devotions that ran back when we were getting this site up and running. Hopefully this is new content to you, and we will get back into writing fresh devotions as our schedule allows.
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When I was younger we used to always say "Pray through for the Breakthrough!" God wants us to come to Him with our problems. If there's something that's bothering you, take it to Him. And not just one time, but continually until you get your answer. What you'll find is that after you've prayed enough God will send you His peace, and you won't be able to understand what happened, but you're just not worried like you were 10 minutes ago. The Bible calls that faith, and it calls faith a shield, and a shield is a piece of armor that you use to protect either your heart or your mind. So if you learn to pray through, the enemy won't be able to assault you with worry, because your heart will be protected.
Are there areas in your life that need protection?
-Jeff-
The Parables of Jesus: Luke 18: 1-8
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Have you ever been to the grocery store and seen a toddler with their parents? Having two kids myself (Soon to be three!) I can tell you that there may be nothing more annoying than when you're kids won't stop asking for things at the store. Usually after the second or third time asking, my jaw starts to clench, and my blood pressure goes up, and I set myself up against them getting anything at all! So when I read this I can feel what the judge is going through (if you don't have kids, try to imagine when your little brother or sister won't stop harassing you). Imagine that you are that judge, and that this person won't stop bothering you. Ever. Until they get what they want. No matter how strong you are, you will finally end up giving in to them, just to make them go away.
In the same way, Jesus says, we need to go after God like that in prayer. And then He calls that faith. If you want mercy, or anything else, go to God with persistence and passion. Drag your heels and stomp your feet if you have to, like a toddler who wants a new toy. And in the end, God says that He will bring about justice for you.
-Jeff-
2 Samuel 23: 11-12
2 Samuel 23 NIV
11. Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them. 12. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
I love the stories in the Old Testament, the ones like this story in 2 Samuel.
In this story Shammah, one of King David's
"Mighty Men" When the Philistines came down about 300 to 800 men and were about to raid Israel's crop of lentils all of Israel's troops fled except for Shammah. He stood his ground. He said "NOT TODAY!" and killed them all!
Sometimes you simply have to stand your ground and beat back the enemy from your place of abundance.
Your place of abundance today is your life in Christ. Satan wants to come down and steal it away from you through sin, temptation, hardships, all kinds of ways.
But we need to stand firm in our faith and the power Jesus has given us. Two of the most powerful weapons we have is God's word and prayer.
To be perfectly honest with you I don't always use them I get Lazy and comfortable and when I'm attacked through temptation, hardships', etc. I flee what I mean by flee is I sin. Other times when I'm reading God's word and in Prayer everyday I have great Victory in my Christian walk, like Shammah I have the power to fight the power to say "NOT TODAY!" to temptation or if something tragic happens I have the Faith to get through it.
I encourage you to stand your ground today! be in prayer and into God's word and fight for what Jesus has given us!
Later,
DJ Jackson
James 5:17-18
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of seeing Benny Perez in person. He is the reason I'm in youth ministry, and a spiritual mentor of mine. Growing up under his ministry I saw God do some amazing things, yet he's just a man. It's easy to fall in love with a person, because we see God moving through them, and forget about the God that is moving. Here in James the Bible says that Elijah was a man just like us, yet when he prayed things happened. Jesus said in John 14: 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
He was talking to all Christians who put their faith in Him, so what are you asking God for today?
-Jeff-
James 5:15-16
15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
When we pray, God wants to move. So what stops Him? It says here the prayer offered in FAITH will make the sick person well. What is faith? Heb 11:1 says 1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. When we pray, we need to believe that what we are praying will actually happen. But it's not enough just to think it in your head, you need to KNOW it deep down inside you. I remember a few weeks ago praying for someone and God brought back to me all the times that I had prayed and seen healings. I started speaking some of those things out and then said something like "You're the same God whose used me to see people healed in the past, and I believe you're going to do it today." That statement was God's way of building faith inside of me, so that when I prayed I KNEW He was going to move.
-Jeff-
James 5: 13-14
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
This is a great passage, and it comes alive when you look at it alongside 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. James says that we should pray continually. If you're going through a tough time, pray. If you're doing good and things are going your way, pray. If you're sick, have people pray for you. If we learn what it means to pray and give thanks in all circumstances, we'll become the people that God wants us to be.
-Jeff-
James 4:13-17
13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.
17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
So should we stop planning? Is the Bible saying that you shouldn't say you're going to college? Or that you are going on a Missions Trip this Summer? Absolutely not. God wants you to plan, but to do it with Him in mind. To keep Him at the front of your thinking. Instead of asking which college has the best nursing program, look for the college that God wants you to get involved in.
If we take pride in our own abilities, that is evil. And it's also a sin to find out what God wants you to do and then not to do it. So, to wrap it up, pray that God would show you what you're supposed to do, then do it.
-Jeff-
James 4:1-3
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Have you ever wanted something REALLY bad? Enough that you were willing to do anything to get it? Even pray about it? God, if you'll just give me that ___________, I'll serve you forever. The Bible says that seeing your prayers answered isn't hard to understand, ask for the things God wants you to ask for and you'll receive them. It may not be hard to understand, but it is hard to follow through with.
How do you know what God wants you to ask for? I remember in the past I would pray for people to be healed, so that the testimony might benefit God's kingdom. That seems noble, right? And yet rarely did God answer those prayers. The reason is I didn't know what God wanted, because I hadn't spent enough time with Him to know His will. Sometimes God directs me to pray that way now, but I do it to follow His will, not because it sounds good.
-Jeff-
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