‘SHARE EACH OTHER’S TROUBLES AND PROBLEMS, AND OBEY THE LAW OF CHRIST.’ GALATIANS 6:2 NLT

Everyone is hiding something, and it’s not because they’re deceptive. It’s just that some wounds are too private. When your husband is being insensitive and uncaring the pain can be too deep to discuss. When your wife wounds you with acid words you’re crushed inside but you can’t show it. So you both go off, lick your wounds and try to avoid the comments and questions of others. Is that where you are today, struggling with something too painful to talk about? If so, realise that others are too! Their anger is a symptom. Their aloofness just hides their fear of being known and maybe rejected because they’ve been hurt before. Jesus saw the best in the worst of people and went out of His way to be gracious to them. Do you remember how He treated the woman ‘caught in the act’ of adultery? (See John 8). Public exposure! Can you imagine the depth of her shame? Yet Jesus saw someone worth saving, loved her, lifted her and gave her the strength to do better. You are called to do that too! So remind yourself today that others are going through things you don’t know about. They’re crying tears you don’t see and feeling isolated in ways you can’t imagine. Don’t be a burden – be a burden-bearer! Indeed you may be the only one who crosses their path today. And when you help lift their burden – God will lift yours! ‘Share each other’s troubles and problems, and obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself’ (Galatians 6:2-3 NLT).

Thinking about cutting corners? (2)

‘…Set an example…in life...’ 1 Timothy 4:12 NIV
 

 In 1994 golfer Davis Love III called a one-stroke penalty on himself during the second round of the Western Open. He moved his marker to get it out of another player’s putting line and later he couldn’t remember if he’d moved his ball back to its original spot. Since he wasn’t certain he gave himself an extra stroke, and that one stroke caused him to miss the cut. He was eliminated from the tournament, (ironically, if he’d made the cut, even if he finished last he’d have earned $2,000 that week). At year’s end Love was $590 short in winnings to automatically qualify for the Masters and needed to win a tournament in order to get into one of golf’s most coveted events. Fortunately, the story ends well. The week before the big event he qualified by winning a tournament in New Orleans, and went on to earn $237,600 by finishing second in the 1995 Masters. Later when Love was asked how he’d have felt if he’d missed the Masters because of calling a penalty on himself, he replied, ‘The real question is how I’d have felt if I’d won and spent the rest of my life wondering if I’d cheated.’ It’s easier to maintain your integrity than to try and recover it. Paul instructed Timothy: ‘In everything set…an example by doing what is good…show integrity…and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say’ (Titus 2:7-8 NIV). It may cost you to do the right thing, but it’ll cost you more when you abandon your principles and do the wrong thing.

Thinking about cutting corners? (1)

‘…Set an example…in life...’ 1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

Writer Kathryn Lay learned about honesty when she was on holiday in Texas. She and her husband were having lunch at a little restaurant when a lady walked in, handed her a dollar bill and said, ‘I’m sorry, but I short-changed you earlier.’ Recognising her as a sales assistant from a store she’d been in earlier Lay asked, ‘How’d you know I was here?’ Amazed, she learned that the woman had gone from store to store looking for her. Lay also tells about another man who returned a TV to the store and got his money back. Later, after realising the amount had also been credited to his Visa he did nothing. Lay writes: ‘Does God want us to be just a little honest…or only in certain situations…or only when someone’s looking? How much dishonesty is too much? Sometimes I’m the only person who knows whether I’m being honest or not. Do I keep the extra change, cheat on my expenses, ignore the double credit on my statement? Do I tell my daughter a white lie is still a lie, but later tell the police officer my accelerator stuck? When did honesty become an endangered species? Somewhere out there is a man who’s proud of the £700 he cheated a department store of. He probably laughs about it with everyone, including his daughter. And somewhere in Texas there’s a truly honest woman, whose story I rejoice in sharing with my daughter.’ Dostoyevsky said, ‘When we lie we lose respect for ourselves and for others. And when we’ve no respect for anyone we end up yielding to our impulses and indulging in the lowest forms of pleasure.’ So, ‘…Be an example…in the way you live…’ (1Timothy 4:12 NL.

‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.’ JOHN 3:7 NIV

                     BE BORN AGAIN.’ JOHN 3:7 NIV

The Bible says 130 years after Adam first sinned, he was still fathering children ‘in his own likeness’ (Genesis 5:3 NIV). And as Adam’s descendants we have all been born with the nature of fallen man. Sometimes people say, ‘He’s just like his old man.’ Or we say, ‘My dad was an angry man, now I’ve got his temper!’ ‘My dad couldn’t stay with my mom, now I’m going through a divorce.’ ‘My dad was an alcoholic, now look at my drinking and drugging!’ ‘My dad was a workaholic, now I put in14 hours a day.’ ‘My dad wasn’t affectionate with us, now I don’t know how to be loving toward my children.’ History repeats itself over and over through our fallen nature. Here’s a fascinating example: ‘Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her’ (Genesis 20:2 NIV). Abraham was willing to sacrifice Sarah to save his own neck. What would you have done? Before you answer, notice that Isaac wasn’t even born when his father did this. Yet years later he did exactly the same thing in the same place (See Genesis 26:7). It’s genetic! It’s in our DNA. But there’s good news. When you receive Christ as your Savior He breaks that cycle. When you’re “born of the Spirit” you get a new Father and a new nature (See John 3:3-6). You don’t have to walk in the likeness of your earthly father any more; you can walk in the likeness of your Heavenly Father and become more like Him every day. Fed up with your old nature and ways? Ready for a new birth? Turn to Christ!

   Three reasons why you need Jesus...
1. Because you have a past.
You can't go back, but He can. The Bible says,” Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and for ever"(Hebrew 13:8). He can walk into those places of sin and failure, wipe the slate clean and give you a new beginning.

2. Because you need a friend.
Jesus knows the worst about you, yet He believes the best. Why? Because He sees you not as you are, but as you will be when He gets through with you. What a friend!

3. Because He holds the future.
Who else are you going to trust? In His hands you are safe and secure today, tomorrow, and for eternity. His word says,” For I know the plans I have for  you...plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray I will listen"(Jeremiah 29 11-013TLB) If you'd like to begin a personal relationship with Jesus today, please pray this prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I invite you into my life. I believe you died for me and that your blood pays for my sins and provides me with the gift of eternal life. By faith I receive that gift and I acknowledge You as my Lord and Saviour. Amen".

Dear Lord Jesus, I give my life to you as my Lord and saviour so that my joy will be full. Lord Jesus, I dedicate my soul, spirit and body to you. I know you have delivered and saved me. Amen."

Did you pray this prayer? YES NO

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!
By praying to receive Christ as Savior, you have become a member of God’s family. He calls you His child! The Bible tells us the angels in heaven rejoice every single time someone accepts Christ and our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).

The Bible in Ephesians 2:5 says "We are saved by grace through faith and not by works," and it is the promise of a relationship that lasts forever. This relationship grows as we learn more about God’s character and nature. God shows Himself to us through the Bible and we can talk to Him through prayer.

We want to help you get started. Please click the link below to begin learning more about our heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit, prayer and how to read the Bible.

www.LooktoJesus.com

Step: Be Sure
If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can be sure you are a Christian. You are not a Christian because you go to church, or because you do good things. The Bible says "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). Christ came to die for our sins, so that "To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12 ).

If you have made this commitment and would like to make contact with us or if you do not feel ready to make this decision and would like further help from a local christian,please call

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If you need serious prayers
deliveranceministriesllc@gmail.com

{ 7 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

We learn from the spider that: a) your size doesn't determine your potential, your spirit does b) no matter where you start, you can end up in the king's palace. What's the message of the spider? As long as you live, keep producing! You might not produce as much as somebody else but you've got to keep producing. You might not be able to produce what you used to but keep producing. Jesus taught that some of us produce thirty fold, others sixty fold and some a hundredfold (Matthew 13:8). We don't all produce at the same level, but we must all produce at some level. Don't get intimidated because the other guy is producing a hundredfold and you're only producing sixty fold. You're only accountable for what God gives you! The Bible says, 'They shall bring forth fruit in old age' (Psalm 92:14). Look out; retirement can be dangerous to your health! Keep your mind alert, your dreams alive, and your body moving. You might be old and less agile but you have to have a reason to get out of bed every morning otherwise, after a while, you won't be able to get out. Get up and get dressed, even if you're not going anywhere. If you can't fly, get in the car. If you can't get in the car, run. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, stand up. If you're lying down, sit up. If you can't sit up, wiggle your toes but let the devil know you're still in the game. By the grace of God, keep producing!

{ 6 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

Some spiders have so much venom in them that they can kill anything they come in contact with, simply by releasing what's in their mouth. What's the message of the spider? Check what's coming out of your mouth! Paul writes, 'Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' (Romans 10:17). What are you taking in? What are you giving out? Faith or fear, hope or discouragement, joy or sadness, truth or error, love or bitterness? The Bible says, 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof' (Proverbs 18:21). Notice two things in this Scripture: 1) this is a life and death issue 2) your words are like seeds; they always produce fruit. You can't believe God for His best then go around expecting and expressing the worst. When what you say consistently contradicts what God's Word says, you're sabotaging yourself. The words you speak have power and consequences. So begin to correct yourself. Instead of saying, 'I can't change,' or, 'I'll never get out of this mess,' start saying what God's Word says. Do what Jesus did in the wilderness: open your mouth and declare, 'It is written.' Jesus knew the Scriptures so well that He was able to tell satan, 'It's written that I don't have to bow to you. It's written that I don't have to come to you for what I need.' And what was the result? 'The devil left him, and angels came and attended him' (Matthew 4:11 NIV). When you're under attack open your mouth, declare God's Word and the forces of heaven will come to your aid!

{ 5 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

How come a spider can walk across the sticky threads of its web and not get stuck, yet those same threads will trap every predator that enters? The secret is oil! Its tiny suction-cup shaped feet exude fresh oil with every step so it glides through stuff others can't survive or get bogged down in. What's the message of the spider? You need to be continually anointed with the oil of God's Spirit! Looking back, you realise that's what kept you sane when you thought you were going to lose your mind. It's why you made it when others didn't and it's why you need to stay filled with God's Spirit every day. The Psalmist said, 'I shall be anointed with fresh oil!' (Psalm 92:10). There are four truths in Exodus, chapter 30, concerning the anointing oil, that we need to keep in mind if we're going to live an anointed life. 1) Without it, our ministry is ineffective. 'Thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons…that they may minister unto me' (Exodus 30:30) 2) Our children need to experience it. 'This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations' (Exodus 30:31) 3) God won't anoint our fleshly efforts and agendas. 'Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it' (Exodus 30:32) 4) We are in danger when we try to substitute it with other things. 'Whoever makes any like it…must be cut off' (Exodus 30:38 NIV). Before you leave home every morning get down on your knees and pray, 'Lord, anoint me with fresh oil!'

{ 4 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

The spider may have eight eyes, yet many spiders can barely see. What makes it an avid hunter is that the hair follicles on its legs are full of sensitivity and it can discern everything that's going on around it. What's the message of the spider? Use your God-given sense of discernment! You can discern more with your spirit than you can see with your eyes. 'Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things' (1 John 2:20). God will let you know things you can neither prove nor explain. Jesus said that he would show us 'things to come' (John 16:13). But He won't do it so that we can ego trip or run around acting flakey. No, 'He shall glorify me: he shall receive of mine, and shall [show] it unto you' (John 16:14). God gives 'inside information' to those who seek to glorify Him. So stop living beneath your spiritual privilege. The old country church folks used to sing, 'The Holy Ghost done told me, everything's gonna be all right.' That may not be good grammar but it's sound Bible truth. Can't you remember a time when your eyes told you, 'You're not gonna make it,' but your spirit kept telling you, 'Everything's gonna be all right?' A time when you met somebody who looked good, too good, and your spirit warned you that something was wrong with them. 'His anointing teaches you about all things…that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him' (1 John 2:27 NIV). The way to walk in discernment is to stay close to God.

{ 3 } 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS,AND IS IN KINGS'PALACES.'PROVERBS 30:28

The spider may have eight eyes, yet many spiders can barely see. What makes it an avid hunter is that the hair follicles on its legs are full of sensitivity and it can discern everything that's going on around it. What's the message of the spider? Use your God-given sense of discernment! You can discern more with your spirit than you can see with your eyes. 'Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things' (1 John 2:20). God will let you know things you can neither prove nor explain. Jesus said that he would show us 'things to come' (John 16:13). But He won't do it so that we can ego trip or run around acting flakey. No, 'He shall glorify me: he shall receive of mine, and shall [show] it unto you' (John 16:14). God gives 'inside information' to those who seek to glorify Him. So stop living beneath your spiritual privilege. The old country church folks used to sing, 'The Holy Ghost done told me, everything's gonna be all right.' That may not be good grammar but it's sound Bible truth. Can't you remember a time when your eyes told you, 'You're not gonna make it,' but your spirit kept telling you, 'Everything's gonna be all right?' A time when you met somebody who looked good, too good, and your spirit warned you that something was wrong with them. 'His anointing teaches you about all things…that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him' (1 John 2:27 NIV). The way to walk in discernment is to stay close to God.

{2} 'THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS, AND IS IN KINGS' PALACES.' PROVERBS 30:28

When it's time to lay eggs the spider produces a particular type of silk thread and spins it into a protective sac, then deposits them. When an enemy comes to steal the spider's offspring, it gets trapped on the sticky fluids that line the silk. Then the spider wraps the enemy in another kind of thread and turns it into food. What's the message of the spider? The battle is over your future! Don't let the enemy have your children. Don't let him rob you of your potential. Don't let him steal your destiny. When those with weak wills, weak knees and weak faith saw the giants in the Promised Land they wanted to go back to Egypt. Not Caleb. He said, 'Neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us' (Numbers 14:9). When you understand what the battle in your life is about, you actually begin to feed off the stuff the enemy throws at you and say, 'Bring it on, what does not destroy me will only make me stronger.' Be like Shammah. 'When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled…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' (2 Samuel 23:11-12 NIV). Shammah knew what he was fighting for. That lentil patch put food on his table. It represented his family's future. It was his legacy. And when Shammah stood up to the enemy, 'The Lord brought about a great victory.' And He'll do the same for you!

‘THE SPIDER TAKETH HOLD WITH HER HANDS, AND IS IN KINGS’ PALACES.’ PROVERBS 30:28

Everything a spider needs to survive and succeed in life, God put within it. Swipe it with a broom and before it hits the ground, its fall is broken. It just reaches inside, releases another protein-filled silk-like thread, slides down, finds a safe place, then comes back stronger than ever and builds a new web. What's the message of the spider? Everything you need, God has placed within you! The Bible says, 'His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature' (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV). What has God given us? 'Everything we need.' What has God made us participants in? 'His divine nature.' Wow! Your future is not determined by who you know and who you don't, who likes you and who doesn't. The power to fulfil your destiny is within you! The warfare over your life and the struggle you're in is about what you were born, called and gifted to do. So, 'Stir up…the…gift of God…that is in you' (2 Timothy 1:6 AMP). In other words, start producing! Life may have knocked you down but it hasn't knocked you out. What's at work within you will triumph over what's at work around you. Stand on God's Word, draw on your faith, hold on, and when the smoke clears, rise up and announce, 'By the grace of God, I'm back!' You say, 'But I've lost so much.' As long as you still have what God put within you, you can make it!

Identity crisis...‘ “…I KNOW WHERE I CAME FROM AND WHERE I AM GOING…“ ’ JOHN 8:14 AMP

A national news network recently reported on a man who was released from prison after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. A case of mistaken identity had stolen many of his best years. And unless you understand who you are before God, satan will sentence you to a life of worthlessness, fear and manipulation. Identifying somebody means having the ability to recognise and say exactly who they are; so when you identify with what people say you are versus what God says, you’re setting yourself up for problems. Jesus identified only with God’s opinion. ‘ “…I know where I came from and where I am going…“ ’ People said terrible things about Jesus, yet the Bible says, ‘The stone…the builders rejected has become the…Cornerstone’ (Psalm 118:22 NKJ). Sometimes we’re so busy telling people what to do, that we neglect to tell them who they are. Knowing who you are in Christ gives you the confidence to hold your head high! Paul says, ‘In [Christ] you have been made complete…’ (Colossians 2:10 NAS). ‘Complete!’ That means you lack nothing! Once you accept that, you stop feeling like you constantly fall short. When you’ve money in the bank and you need to withdraw it, you don’t feel pressured to. That’s because you know it’s there with your name on it. You don’t have to struggle to be right with people when you know you’re right with God. He loves you and has a plan for you; never lose sight of that! Instead of focusing on people, begin looking to ‘…Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…’ (Hebrews 12:2 KJV), because you already have His approval! I love you baby,i miss you so much Ejiroghene...proverbs 31v29

Choose to live!...‘Do you want to be made well?’ John 5:6 NKJV

He can’t walk, the pool isn’t easily accessible, and there are no motorised lifts. Then Jesus comes along and asks this man who’d been incapacitated for 38 years, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ What a question! Now, Jesus didn’t ask it because He didn’t know the answer; He did it to direct the man’s (and our) thinking along the right lines. He could just as easily have asked: ‘Are you ready to assume responsibility for your life? Do you really want that promotion, or is it easier to just gripe about money? Are you ready for marriage, for somebody who’ll share your life and make you reconsider your self-centred ways?’ Answers to our prayers often come with a price. For example, the family of an addict sometimes spends years praying for change, then when it happens they experience their own crises. Because their lives have centred around drama and dysfunction, they’ve never learned how to live any other way. At that point they have a choice to make: to keep blaming their problems on somebody else, or to accept that they have their own issues to work on. ‘Do you want to be made well?’ Like it or not, asking God for solutions often means new challenges. A child might solve his need for pocket money by delivering newspapers, but when he grows up, hopefully he’ll be solving bigger ones, like how to provide for his family. But the good news is, solving bigger problems brings bigger rewards. So ask God to stretch you today by helping you ‘take up your bed and walk’ (John 5:8 NKJV), burn your bridges of dependency and ‘learned helplessness,’ and move on to greater things. In other words, ‘choose to live!’

‘Say unto this mountain, Be thou removed...’ Mark 11:23

How to move the mountain How can you move the mountain in your life? By: 1) Using God’s Word: In the wilderness satan tempted Jesus in three ways: a) put your temporal needs ahead of your spiritual ones: ‘Turn these stones into bread’ b) use your power for the wrong reasons: ‘Throw yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple’ c) take the easy way, not the cross: ‘The world is yours, just submit to me.’ Each time Jesus overcame satan by saying, ‘It is written’ (Matthew 4:1-11). Your most powerful weapon is God’s Word – learn to use it! 2) Being persistent: Jeremiah said that God’s Word is ‘…like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces’ (Jeremiah 23:29 NKJV). Ever wonder how a hammer can hit a rock ninety-nine times, but on the one-hundredth blow it shatters? That’s because all the previous blows kept weakening it. Live in God’s Word; keep speaking it over your situation and it will work. 3) Forgiving: The story is told of a pastor who asked his congregation, ‘How many of you are willing to forgive your enemies?’ Everybody was except one old guy. ‘Why not?’ the pastor asked. He replied, ‘Because I have none; I’ve outlived them all!’ After speaking about mountain-moving faith and prayer that bring results, Jesus said, ‘Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses’ (Mark 11:25 NKJV). Your mountain can’t be moved or your prayers answered if you’re harbouring un-forgiveness. So ask yourself, ‘Is it worth it?’ Whether you think the offender deserves forgiveness or not, for your own sake, forgive it and let it go.

God’s indwelling Spirit interprets for us...Romans 8:26 NKJV

‘We do not know what we should pray for…but the spirit …makes intercession for us.’ Romans 8:26 NKJV
When you go to a foreign country you can feel uncomfortable and a bit lost, because you don’t speak the language. Everything is different from what you’re accustomed to. The language of the spiritual world is prayer and since the spiritual world is the source of our power, victory, peace, joy, and everything else we need, it’s essential that we learn to speak it. The good news is, we have the perfect teacher and interpreter; the Holy Spirit Himself. One of His jobs is to teach us the language of prayer and guide us when it comes to addressing God and He’s good at this job! The Bible says the Holy Spirit can interpret our prayers to God even when we don’t know what to say. ‘If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans’ (Romans 8:26 TM). Isn’t that wonderful? Prayer is the link between the physical and the spiritual world; and since the spiritual world controls the physical, getting connected to the world above affects our functioning in the world below. Because prayer is relational, the Holy Spirit will communicate God’s heart back to us by connecting with our human spirit so that we’ll hear God talk to us in the deepest part of our being. That’s why prayer cannot be rushed. It’s also why taking time to meditate and be still before God is so important. It allows the Holy Spirit to share God’s thoughts with us, so that we begin thinking His way. How valuable is that?

Don’t just pray, listen!...‘As I hear, I judge.’ John 5:30 NKJV

Ever wonder why Jesus never made a single misstep? He tells us: ‘The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does…I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me’ (John 5:19-20, 30 NKJV). Jesus often prayed all night, yet few of His prayers are recorded. Why? Because He didn’t just talk to His Father, He took time to listen and get instructions. Jesus prayed on mountaintops and in gardens. He even prayed on the street outside the house where He had slept the previous night. No doubt if He’d had a car, He’d have prayed driving to work. Prayer and listening to God were as natural to Him as breathing; it was the spiritual oxygen He thrived on. When the Bible says, ‘Pray without ceasing’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17), it means we are to stay in touch with God at all times, to be spiritually sensitive and attuned to the still small voice of His Spirit within us. That calls for having an uncluttered mind and heart. Thank God for the understanding of who we are in Christ, and our authority as believers. But there’s more to prayer than coming ‘boldly unto the throne’ (Hebrews 4:16). That kind of prayer is usually about what we want. This kind of prayer is about what God wants! Now, since God designed the plan for your life, don’t you think it’s wise to get quiet before Him, so that He can tell you about it?

‘Teach the older men [and women] to be…self-controlled.’ Titus 2:2 NIV

Dale Evans (wife of Roy Rogers) loved Jesus with all her heart and made sure folks in Hollywood knew it. Here’s one of her prayers: ‘Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself, that I’m growing older, and will someday be old. Keep me from getting too talkative; particularly from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Deliver me from the need to try and straighten out everybody’s affairs. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. I ask for grace to listen to the tales of others’ pains; but seal my lips when it comes to my own aches and pains, for they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them gets sweeter as the years go by. I ask not for improved memory, but for a growing humility and less cocksureness, especially when my memory seems to clash with the memory of others. Teach me that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet. I don’t necessarily want to be a saint – some of them are so hard to live with. But a sour old woman (or man) is one of the crowning works of the devil. Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it; but Thou knowest Lord, I want a few friends at the end. So give me, I pray, the ability to see blessings in unexpected trials and goodness in less-than-perfect people. And give me the grace to tell them so, in Christ’s name, amen.’

LOOK TO THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH; SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS. 1 CHRONICLES 16:11 NIV P-R-A-Y!

To help you remember the four parts of prayer, think of the acrostic P-R-A-Y: P – Praise the Lord! Not sure how? Think you’ll run out of words? Not if you use the Scriptures. David gives us a beautiful example in 1 Chronicles 29:11-13. It’s one you can use: ‘Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor…Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom…In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.’ R – Repent of your sins! Just as heat forces impurities to the surface so the metal refiner can remove them, your prayer time will reveal attitudes that must be changed, habits that must be broken, and barriers to blessing that must be removed. It’s not enough to tell God about your sins. He already knows them. You must ask Him to help you turn away from them. This is true repentance. A – Ask for yourself and others! Your prayers invite God into the situation, and your faith activates His power to change it. There’s no distance in prayer, no culture or language barrier it can’t overcome. It’s like throwing on a power switch – things begin to move when we pray. Jesus said, ‘I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven…whatever doors you open on earth shall be open in heaven’ (Matthew 16:19 TLB). Y – Yield yourself to God’s will! Declaring the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life is like signing your name to the bottom of a blank check, and inviting Him to fill in the amount.

Rivers and reservoirs...‘ “YOUR PRAYERS AND GIFTS TO THE POOR HAVE COME UP AS A [CONSTANT REMINDER] BEFORE GOD.“ ’ ACTS 10:4 NIV

 The things you do for others don’t go unnoticed. God is keeping track of every single one. He ‘doesn’t miss anything. He knows…the love you’ve shown…by helping…’ (Hebrews 6:10 TM). God heard the kind words you spoke to that person who was hurting. He saw your sacrificial giving when you could least afford it. By doing what you did you paved the way for God to help you. He’s storing it all up so that in your time of need you’ll have a rich account to draw on. The Bible speaks about a Roman soldier named Cornelius, a ‘…good man…always helping people in need…’ (Acts 10:2 TM). And what happened to Cornelius? His family became the first Gentile household to hear and receive the gospel. What a payoff! Why did God pick Cornelius? Because of his generous spirit, ‘…an angel…came to him and said…“Your…gifts…have come up as a [constant reminder] before God.’’ ‘ A lady was praying about starting a pet grooming business but couldn’t afford to advertise. So she went to her local animal shelter and volunteered to groom the pets in order to help increase their chances for adoption. Interestingly, the harder she worked the more her own business grew by word of mouth. Finally she ended up with more clients than she could handle! Does that mean if you don’t help others God won’t help you? No, thankfully His love is unconditional. But a missed opportunity to give is a missed opportunity to receive, because when you are generous with others God promises to be generous with you.

Mind prayers...‘…THROUGH FAITH IN HIM WE MAY APPROACH GOD WITH… CONFIDENCE.’ EPHESIANS 3:12 NIV

Did you know that you can pray in your mind without having to speak a word out loud? All of us know the power of unspoken communication. Many of us grew up with parents who didn’t have to say a thing to make their will known. It may have been the way they cocked their heads, a certain look in their eyes or some other signal; but whatever it was, we knew exactly what was being communicated and how we were expected to respond. Our goal in prayer should be to maintain such a close relationship with God that we can communicate back and forth no matter what the situation, the time of day, or anything else. And we don’t have to shout, or use the right words in the right order, because our hearts are in tune with God’s heart. It’s like the story of the little boy who wanted a bicycle for Christmas. He was praying one night at the top of his voice, telling God the kind and colour of bike he wanted. His mother said, ‘Son, you don’t need to shout for God to hear you.’ He replied, ‘I know, mummy, but I need to shout if grandpa’s going to hear me and buy me that bike!’ The truth is, we don’t need to shout for God to hear us – and we don’t need to try and make our own answers to prayer happen either. Jesus said our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask. He gives to us because of our relationship with Him, not just because we say it at a decibel level loud enough to be heard!

‘REMEMBER YE NOT THE FORMER THINGS, NEITHER CONSIDER THE THINGS OF OLD. BEHOLD, I DO A NEW THING.’ ISAIAH 43:18-19

Realise that it’s not God who’s bringing up your past! His Word says, ‘I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions…and remembers your sins no more’ (Isaiah 43:25 NIV). If satan is dragging up your past – it’s because he has nothing new to attack you with. All he can do is resurrect old memories and rearrange old pictures in an attempt to discourage you. Don’t let him! Focusing on tomorrow will help you move away from today. God’s Word says: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way’ (NIV). God is going to make a way for you! As surely as Pharaoh and Herod tried to wipe out every baby boy in order to get at Moses and Jesus, so satan will do whatever it takes to keep you from reaching your destiny. The battle is always over your future! No matter what your past is like your future is worth fighting for – so rise up and fight! ‘Where do I begin?’ you ask. Talk to God: ask Him to show you a ministry that can come from the misery you’re going through right now. He can bring healing to others through the pain you’re experiencing. So examine the things you’re going through, then ask Him what you’re being qualified for. It’s the broken, who become masters at mending! Start looking at ‘the joy set before you’ (Hebrews 12:2 NIV) and you’ll be able to endure the present circumstances!

PRAYER: OUR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE FATHER

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1)

Communication is probably one of the most important activities in life. There are different kinds of communication. We shall however, discuss the communication between man and God, which is established through prayer. In Luke 18, the Lord Jesus taught on the importance of prayer. Man is a spirit and his needs are essentially spiritual. This is why he always craves for that contact with God, who is described in Hebrews 12:9 as “the Father of spirits.”

What a blessing to know that you can communicate directly with your heavenly Father; that you can have His hundred percent attention through prayer: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1Peter 3:21) This is one reason you ought to always be excited to pray. Some people only pray when they need something. That’s wrong! The time The time of prayer ian’t just a time to ask God for things; it’s a time to commune or fellowship with Him. That’s the time to hear what He has to say and receive direction for each day’s activities and challenges.
The Bible says concerning Jesus that, “…in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). Jesus took prayer seriously while He was on earth, because He understood the importance of communing with the Father. On another occasion, it was recorded that He prayed all night (Luke 6:12). Though He was (and is) the Son of God, He didn’t take prayer for granted. He understood prayer for granted. He understood prayer as an effective communication with the father.

The moment you understand and embrace this truth, your life will become richer and you’ll be more productive in all your endeavors. You need that continual fellowship with God to function effectively, otherwise, everything you do will be meaningless, and will have no spiritual impact. Do you see why you should take your prayer life more seriously? Learn to rise up early to commune with the Lord and do this often as you should.

Prayer
Dear father, I thank you for the privilege of prayer. I’m blessed and humbled to know that your watchful and loving eyes are over me, and your ears are open to hear and answer my prayers. Therefore, I thank you, for my day is blessed, and I receive from you the wisdom and grace to deal excellently in all my affairs today, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Rhapsody of Realities August Edition