My Toughest Prayer at My Current Life Stage

Back in 2019 I wrote a post in which I talked about my two toughest prayers: two prayers that were (and still are) difficult to say because both involve surrender to God. The first of these prayers is, "Father give me the day I need to grow in You." The second is even more difficult to say: "Father give my family the day they need to grow in You." A lot has happened since 2019 and at times God did choose difficult roads that I never would have chosen for myself, like a family health scare that was hard to stomach at the time but that prevented an even bigger health problem in the long run. These prayers are still difficult for me to say but I still say them, thanking God for what He is doing as He leads me along His chosen paths.

I’m at a stage now where the second question carries even more weight. My wife and I have successfully gotten both of our sons through high school with both moving on to “adult life.” One of my sons chose the more traditional path, going to college and then grad school and now he has his first “real” job. He is also married, with he and his wife taking on the challenge of owning a puppy. My other son chose a very non-traditional path with God opening doors and providing each step of the way. The path he has chosen will be difficult but he has embraced the challenge that lies ahead. In both cases it’s difficult to be on the sidelines and yet that is where I need to be: out of God’s way.

When the boys were in school I could fool myself into thinking that I had some level of control. Now they are both well beyond my reach. One thing that has not changed is my desire for both of them to know God and to grow spiritually, giving their hearts in surrender to Him. This means I still pray that same prayer for them now that I did back then, only expanding it to cover my daughter-in-law and my younger son’s girlfriend. "Father give my family the day they need to grow in You." It’s still a difficult prayer because I want to see them all succeed without the difficulties that I know are normal in life and I still have no control over seeing this goal achieved. Fortunately, the One who answers this prayer has not changed and I can rest assured that He will lead my family down the paths where they can enjoy His best, even if those paths are a bit difficult.

What Do Your Actions Reveal About Your Faith?

There they were, enjoying the view from their campsite along the shores of the Red Sea. But then something drew their attention to the opposite direction where Pharoah and the armies of Egypt were in hot pursuit. The people of Israel were understandably frightened and initially they cried out to the LORD (Exodus 14:10). Unfortunately what they did next was completely wrong and their actions revealed what they really believed about their God.

Instead of waiting for an answer from God, the people turned on Moses, their leader, accusing him of leading them to their deaths. They reminded Moses of how they had asked him to leave them alone in their bondage. At this point they were afraid and all they could see was the large and powerful army bearing down on their camp. Out of fear they forgot that their God was on their side and that He is able to deliver His people out of any negative situation.

Their actions revealed that they did not fully trust God. Faith in the LORD would have looked something like Moses’ response in verses 13 and 14 where he speaks of deliverance and of the LORD fighting on their behalf. He believed that God had a way out. They simply needed to wait and trust in Him. Moses’ response of faith was in direct contrast to the lack of faith demonstrated by the people.

How would you have responded? How do you respond today when life’s troubles pursue and threaten to overtake you? As Christians we know that we should call upon the Lord but how do you respond after you say the word amen? What do your actions reveal about your faith in our Heavenly Father?

Like Christ, Waiting for the Answer

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.

Hebrews 10:12-13

Sometimes waiting is hard. As a Christian it’s sometimes hard to maintain my faith as I wait for God to answer a prayer and/or to fulfill one of His promises. Yet, it is important that we all remain patient and wait on God, trusting in His perfect timing. And we’re not the only ones waiting for the Father to do His thing.

Hebrews 10:12-13 tells us that Christ, after offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, sat down at the right hand of God. There He waits for the Father to fulfill a promise that is first written in Psalm 110:1.

The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Hebrews 10:13 seems to imply that this promise was not yet fulfilled when the verse was written and I believe that it is not yet fulfilled today, at least not here on earth. So Jesus is waiting patiently for the Father to complete the work of making His enemies His footstool and He has been waiting at least since His resurrection. Now that's what I call being patient. Is it possible that we, as His children, can show that same kind of patience?

Random Thoughts for May 31, 2023

Memorial Day 2023

I’m writing this a couple of days after Memorial Day 2023 and as always, I thank God for those who served and died for the United States of America. I have a lot of family members who served in the various branches of our military and quite a few of them served in or near areas of conflict. Fortunately, they all made it back alive but many of their fellow soldiers did not.

This Memorial Day I want to thank all of the Gold Star Families out there for their sacrifice on behalf of our nation. I wish I could thank each of you face to face and give you a big hug. Above all I want you all to know that you are not forgotten.

If you don’t know about our Gold Star Families, please read What is a Gold Star Family? on the USO website.

Uvalde, Texas: One year later

It has been a year since a teenager walked into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas and killed 19 children and two teachers. 17 other people were injured that day and as mentioned in numerous news stories this month, many questions remain unanswered. While listening to NPR on May 24th I heard interviews with some of the parents of Uvalde as they shared stories of the children they lost. Each story served as a reminder that we lost 21 people that day and that we also lost their dreams and so much more. I heard the pain that is still there as these parents continue (I hope) to heal and as they ask if there is something that can be done to prevent the next school shooting. I also heard a reminder that there is a problem and I fear that in our current political and spiritual climate, we might not be willing to reach for the right solutions.

I do believe that we have a gun problem. We also have a mental health problem. We have a problem of people turning a blind eye, not wanting to look at the signs within their loved ones that they need help. We have a problem because our family units are quite often broken. We have a problem because we have lost our coping mechanisms. We have a problem because (in my opinion) our anti bullying programs seem to fail the very vulnerable populations that they claim to want to protect. But most of all we have a spiritual problem that leaves people feeling empty and hopeless, and (again in my opinion) the blame for that just might fall at the foot of the church.

I suspect there are many of you who disagree with that last sentence and that’s fine. I just ask one thing of you, especially if you are a Christian. Please pray! Seek God and ask His opinion. Let Him guide your heart in how we as the body of Christ should respond to the problem of gun violence in our nation. After all, the church should definitely be about protecting the lives of people in our country.

Do You Pray for People of Other Religions?

Over the next few weeks we will see an overlap of holidays from the three major world religions. From March 23rd until April 22nd Muslims will celebrate Ramadan. Starting on April 5th and running through April 13 Jews will celebrate the Passover. Catholics and many other Christians began celebrating Lent on February 22nd and will continue until April 6th. On April 9th Christians will celebrate Easter with Orthodox Christians celebrating Easter on April 16th. All of these celebrations are important to their respective followers.

Here is a question for you Christians who are reading this right now. Do you pray for people from other religions as they celebrate their respective holidays? I believe that only God can do the work needed to change a person’s heart. What better time to lift others up than during a time when they are focused on seeking a higher power. May God open their eyes that they can see the truth.

Let’s call upon God in Jesus’ name, asking that people around the world would see the truth.

When the Answer to Prayer is Not What You Expect

Over the last few years I have been praying for a family member who has been dealing with a chronic health issue, praying on and off for deliverance which seemed at times to be unlikely. This year I felt moved to begin praying for overall good health, not just about the issue at hand. I expanded the scope of my prayers, asking for the removal of all obstacles to good health. Little did I know that the biggest obstacle was hidden away: a small area of precancerous cells that would be discovered almost by accident.

I say by accident but the discovery was no accident. I believe God directed the search, leading doctors to find this very small patch of cells before they could become something else. I had been praying without knowing the real need, while thinking that changes in diet and other lifestyle changes would help along with a little divine intervention. The real need was surgery and God put us on the right path, leading us to doctors who (under God’s direction) made the right choices. The cells were found by a doctor who is the only one in the region who performs the procedure that led to the discovery and we know that it was God who took us to this doctor in the first place. Fortunately God sees all and His answer, while unexpected, uncovered a hidden issue and likely prevented a much bigger problem.

I could only see the obvious problem, which is what I was praying about. God saw the problem lying beneath the surface. I was asking for what I thought was the biggest health need but God saw an even bigger need. Seeing what we could not, God intervened  and I am thankful. From this I am reminded that while I think I know what I should pray for, God answers with what He knows we need. That’s the key thing we need to remember when God’s answer to prayer is not what we expect. God’s answer, though different from what we would do, is always what’s best.

Random Thoughts for November 11th, 2022

With this week’s midterm elections completed I thought it might be a good time to bring back something I used to do on occasion which I called Random Thoughts. This week I find myself chuckling at our two main political parties as they each put their own spin on the results. The party that lost ground is touting how successful they are in not losing as much as they thought they would. Meanwhile the party that gained ground is looking for a scapegoat to blame for not gaining as much ground as they thought they would. My spin on the results as well as on the way many of this year’s campaigns were conducted is that the only thing we’ve proven is that some people need to grow up.

I trust that everyone who won did so according to God’s will. This always brings me back to the question of why God allows certain people to serve in government, including people with whom God clearly does not agree. I touched on this back in 2017, asking “Did We Elect A Moses or A Pharaoh.” Even people we wouldn’t dream of putting in office serve the purposes of God. Our duty as Jesus’ followers is to pray for those who serve us in government, whether we agree with them or not.

As a Christian, it’s easy to talk a good game but what happens when life challenges our faith? I talked about this earlier this year in “When Faith Becomes Difficult.” Well, of late a number of things have worked together in my life to make faith become difficult. Several unexpected trials have threatened to trip me up in my Christian walk. Thank God for sending us “another helper,” as Jesus promised in John 14:15-16. This helper reminded me of what I should do during times of trial which boils down to praying and to trusting in the Lord with all of my heart (Proverbs 3:5). I do not understand all that is going on but that’s ok because God understands and is in full control.

When Faith Becomes Difficult

Have you ever really thought about the size of a mustard seed? Jesus tells us that with faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). He goes on to promise that nothing will be impossible for the person with this mustard seed size faith. So how big is that faith…I mean…seed? I decided to look it up and it seems as if they are 1mm to 3mm in diameter. That’s small and I imagine their size would make them hard to hold onto. Just imagine what would happen if someone slapped your hand. That tiny seed would likely fall out of your hand and get lost on the ground. To be honest there have been times when life slapped my hand, times when I found it difficult to hold onto my mustard seed size faith.

I recently wrote about having the faith to face a bear or a lion or even Goliath: those tough times when life threatens to tear us apart or to crush us under its weight. Those are the times when I find it most difficult to live by faith. It’s easy to talk a big game, that is until real life calls me out and challenges me to back up my words with real actions. It doesn’t help that so often other Christians make it sound so easy. “Just have faith.” “This too shall pass.” “It’s just a season.” Yes, those sayings are true but that doesn’t make it any easier when life puts you in the fiery furnace. And that’s where you and I must choose. We must choose to hold onto our faith by focusing on the object of that faith: Our God.

I believe that God keeps every one of the promises He makes to His children. But quite often the events of life seem as if they are designed to ask if I really do believe. It’s during those trying times when I find that if I have not established trust in God before the storm, my focus will waiver. It’s then that I find myself focusing on the waves instead of on my Lord. So the best thing I can do is to meditate on the Bible, learning those promises before I actually need them. I need to challenge myself to believe even before my faith gets challenged. Does it make life easy? No, but doing so makes me more likely to remember those promises when I need them most. It also makes it easier to hear the voice of the Spirit of God when He reminds me of those promises, as I learn to look for His hand no matter how tall the waves.

When it comes right down to it, faith is not about my ability to hold onto anything. It’s about building a relationship with God where I learn to trust Him to hold onto me. A relationship where I know He is with me and my trust is greater than my doubts. It’s about a change of heart and mind that comes with surrender to God and is forged while I’m down on my knees before, during and after the trial. As I get better at focusing on God, that mustard seed grows into something I can really hold onto as the power of God is released into my life.

The life of faith in Jesus Christ becomes difficult at the moment we need faith the most. Get to know God while the waters are calm. Continue to learn of Him and to focus on Him even when the going gets tough. As you get to know Him, learning His true nature, you’ll find it easier to hold onto faith in Him even when life threatens to slap your mustard seed sized faith out of your hand.

Yes, But Wait

It has been a few months since I received my diabetes diagnosis. Since then I have heard the word “No!” more often than I expected. Quite often I’ve heard it from my family who gently and lovingly remind me that my diet must change. At times it has also come from my church family, all of whom have my best interest at heart. I’ve also heard myself saying it. For example, I’ve had to tell myself “No!” when I feel the urge to eat seven or ten cookies. The most disappointing “No!” came from my health insurance provider who declined a request for a constant glucose monitor. Among the long list of reasons was something about me not demonstrating an understanding of the need to take glucose readings. (Why else would I want a constant glucose monitor?) But there is One who has not said “No.” Instead, He said “Yes, but you have to wait.”

I received this in answer to my first response after receiving my diagnosis. Okay, maybe it was my second response. My first response was asking myself how I could be so stupid. (For the record diabetes has nothing to do with intelligence.) My second response was to ask God for healing. I even wrote about my healing in my post “All Things Work for the Good: Even Diabetes.” I was ready for a quick turn around, looking forward to that day when I could brag about being healed. But then I “heard” God’s answer. It was not anything audible but God found a way to make His answer clear. As I said in the first paragraph, that answer was, “Yes, but you have to wait.”

In the meantime God wants me to learn to trust in Him as He helps me live in victory over the diagnosis. That’s a little different than being completely healed. It’s a recognition that I am a diabetic but I am not a slave to my condition. God’s grace is sufficient and by His grace I have access to His wisdom when it comes to how I should live. By His grace I am still enjoying life, just with fewer calories. In Christ I’ve been empowered to move my A1C from a 14 to under 7 in less than a year.

I still believe God will heal me of diabetes, if not while I am on this earth than later during the eternal life which He has promised me. Until then, God’s grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

All Things Work for the Good: Even Diabetes

It was not one of my best posts. I wrote it tongue in cheek but it just seemed to fall flat. In the post I gave myself (and my readers) a challenge. What was that challenge? I challenged everyone to stick to the serving sizes listed on bags of things like potato chips, mentioning how a 3.5oz bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos was supposed to be 3.5 servings. I spoke of developing the self discipline to only eat the listed serving size, instead of eating the entire bag in one sitting. Well, as it turns out, I’ve had to develop that self discipline almost overnight after a recent blood test showed that I have diabetes. That was not the diagnosis I wanted to hear but, as in all situations, God is keeping His promise:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

For the record, no I do not believe God gave me diabetes. That would just be weird. I am entirely at fault, having developed a love for Mega Stuffed Oreos: great taste but they can quickly put you over your daily limit of sugar. Chips Ahoy cookies were my second go to but only after they got soaked in a tall glass of almond milk. I won’t go into how many I would eat in one sitting. Let’s just say that some of that lack of self discipline I mentioned in the serving size article has been on full display. I take full responsibility and admit that I alone (perhaps with a little help from my genetics) am the problem.

But, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining or as we Christians say: Romans 8:28! Actually I guess God said it when He inspired the writer of Romans to put pen to paper but we Christians get the blessing of knowing that Romans 8:28 is true. All things do work together for good for those who love God. Why? Well because God has ordained it to be so and it is true even with my diabetes.

I needed a kick in the behind to get me thinking about my health and about a goal I set for myself years ago. I promised myself that I will do everything I can to get into and stay in good physical shape, in order to be able to serve God for many years to come without any physical hindrance. I also want to be able to do things with friends and family, without being short of breath or limited in any other physical way. Unfortunately I have not been doing a good job of keeping that promise to myself. There’s always that distraction keeping me from exercising or the fact that I am too lazy to bother checking the serving size of what I eat. With diabetes, I received the kick in the bottom that I needed to get me to exercise and, yes, to check and stick to the right serving size. (I haven’t had Flamin’ Hot Cheetos since the diagnosis. If I do. I will count out my 21 pieces.)

Here’s the biggest blessing that will come from this. You see, I believe that God still heals. One day I will get to testify of how my LORD healed me and of how He gives me the wisdom to live in His healing. I’ll always carry the diagnosis but I will do so in the light of Romans 8:28, looking forward to telling others of how He fulfilled what is said in His Bible. All things work together for good. This is true in my situation and, if you love God and are called according to His purpose, it will also be true in whatever situation you find yourself dealing with.

See also “One, Two or Three Servings?”

How God Blessed Us Since September 2020

Well...let’s see...A lot has happened since the last time I wrote about how God is blessing me and my family. Last year around this time we were dealing with the fact that my wife had just been furloughed and then offered another job at a significant pay cut. It was an unpleasant turn of events but God promised to provide for all of our needs and He continued to do so. Our bills were paid. We were still blessed and were able to be a blessing to others during Christmas. With God’s peace to sustain us we were able to move forward according to His perfect will.

I also mentioned in last September’s post that there were opportunities presenting themselves (thank you to those who answered my call for prayer). A friend reached out to my wife to tell her about a job opening at another company. We prayed but felt that this just was not God’s will, even though the salary would have been close to what she made before the furlough. Passing up a salary increase is never easy and this one came with the promise that we could go back to a way of life to which we had grown accustomed. But the more we prayed and listened for God’s guidance, the more we felt that this easy path was not the right path.

If you are a believer you’ve likely heard some variation of how God’s “No” means He has something better in store. I can’t explain how but God said this very thing to me, not audibly but in a way that I had no doubt that it was His voice. He was saying no to this job opportunity, with the promise of something better. He even gave me a glimpse of the future by naming a salary, one that would be a significant increase over what my wife used to make. I admit, at the time I was not sure if the number was from God or if it was just me wanting an increase in our household income but by faith I wrote the number in my journal and we moved forward waiting for God’s plan to unfold.

Early this year a recruiter reached out to my wife with another job opportunity. Her name had been suggested by a former coworker (and family friend)  who knew that my wife was qualified for the position and over qualified for the job she was working during the furlough. At about the same time, my wife’s old job was phased out, turning the furlough into something permanent. The interview process went smoothly and she was offered the job. We believed this was an open door but there was just one problem. The salary did not match the number I heard in my spirit. It was close but not the same. At this point I had not told my wife the exact number. I had only told her that I thought God had promised an increase.

Well, during the final salary negotiations this new company came back with a different salary proposal. Guess what! This number was what God said it would be, down to the exact cent. Had we jumped at the first opportunity, we would have missed out on what God had already promised. By waiting we got to see Him keep His promises: both His promise to provide during the furlough and His promise of something better at the end of the furlough.

As I wrote a year ago, Christians suffer loss just like everyone else but we are blessed with God’s peace to help us  endure. We also live knowing that God has it all under control. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Last year’s post can be found here: How God Blessed Us in September

They Were Outside in Prayer

How's your prayer life? How about your church's prayer life. I ask because it seems like time and time again when there is a life changing event there are also people praying. It's as if God orchestrates His timing in such a way that His biggest blessings are received when His people seek Him in prayer. So if your prayer life or your church's prayer life are off, you might be missing out.

I wonder if Zacharias and Elizabeth understood the blessings of prayer before John was born. I suspect that they did. After all, Luke tells us that "...they were both righteous before God." (Luke 1:7). I suspect anyone who is counted as righteous likely has a good prayer life. We know from the faith chapter (Hebrews 11) that faith factors in as well. So most likely Zacharias and Elizabeth were people of faith who, although left without a child, continued to believe in God and to lift up prayers of faith in their Lord God.

And so it was that while Zacharias was alone fulfilling His duties in the temple that he was surprised by the appearance of an angel (Luke 1:11-12). As exciting and impressive as this is, it's important that we don't overlook what was going on outside the temple while Zacharias was inside. The Bible tells us that while Zacharias was inside the temple the people were outside praying (Luke 1:10). Remember the chain of events that is about to happen. Zecharias sees an angel and learns that he will have a son. This son was to be unique and would prepare the way for the savior of the world. What are the people of God doing as God's plans are revealed by an angel? They are praying!

Furthermore the angel tells Zacharias that his prayer has been answered. Prayer was an important part of God's plan. It was important that Zacharias and Elizabeth be people of prayer even though his faith was not perfect. It was important that the people were praying. How do we know it's important? We know because the Bible mentions these prayers. Were they all praying for Zacharias to have a son? I doubt it and I doubt Zacharias and Elizabeth were praying for someone like John. But it was important that they were praying and their prayers put them all in position to witness God in action.

I do not think it a coincidence that the people were praying when the angel appeared. I believe that an individual and a church that are dedicated to prayer will get many chances to see God in action today. So I ask again, how is your prayer life? How is your church's prayer life? Are you missing out?

Remember to Call Upon the Lord, He Cares

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In my last post I described how God has blessed my family during the pandemic and how He is keeping both His general promise to provide as well as a more specific promise He has given to me. But the last month and a half has not been all peaches-n-cream. (Haven't heard that one in a while.) We lost a family member who contracted COVID-19 while living in a nursing home. Another family with whom we've been close also lost a person to COVID-19. With family and friends working in healthcare, we live with a constant threat of seeing others catch the disease and that's just the start of the stresses we have faced.

Some of those stresses have been both a bother and at the same time humorous. Before now I never had to try to plan when we would need to order paper towels or toilet paper. A miscalculation there could lead to days of...discomfort. But what I see on the news and in my region are no laughing matter. In both I see high unemployment. I see neighbors who are worried about paying for food. I hear and read reports of people who are afraid that they will not be able to pay their rent or their mortgage. I see people, real people, who are suffering as the coronavirus tries to destroy our land.

For the record I do not believe this pandemic is a punishment from God. Jesus bore our punishment on the cross, giving His life for the world (John 3:16). Based on these facts I believe this illness to be one of those unfortunate things that happens in a fallen world. I do believe that God is available to us all, ready to heal and to give hope. He is ready to join us in our struggles, to guide us forward in dealing with life. He empowers those who call upon Him, meeting needs both supernaturally and naturally through His church. We need only call upon His name.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)

Christians are not immune to suffering and this pandemic has something for everyone. We can try to deal with our troubles on our own but this is the path to failure. This is a time when we need to call upon our Lord knowing that He cares. He cares about your finances. He cares that you feel alone and/or overwhelmed. He cares about your physical health. Whatever it is, He cares. Don't suffer alone. Reach out to God and to His church through whom He works.

God's Second Goal: Testing Our Hearts

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I think it is safe to say that God's number one goal is the salvation of mankind. Achieving this goal is so important that God sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16) who died on the cross in order to achieve His plan. Every true follower of God represents Christ's success in fulfilling the will of the Lord. But once we are "saved," what is God's goal in our lives? What does He want to achieve when it comes to His children? I believe that once we are saved, God pursues the goal of testing our hearts in order to prepare us for heaven and that we might fully enjoy an intimate relationship with Him.

"The refining pot is for silver

and the furnace for gold,

But the LORD tests the hearts."

Proverbs 17:3 (NKJV)

For many of us the idea of being tested brings memories of school and perhaps even of filling in circles using number two pencils. But I don't think this is the type of test spoken of in this verse. Even if it is the same kind of test, I suspect It's not graded in the same way as an English or math test. Our normal definition of "testing" does not fit the context of the rest of the verse. From this context we catch a glimpse of God's goal during the day to day ups and downs of life as we compare our trials with what happens in the refining pot and in the furnace.

The refining pot serves one basic purpose: to purify a metal. It is used to melt the metal so that impurities can be removed. A gold furnace is also used to purify metal. It follows that the context of this verse is purification and the testing mentioned is the refining of the heart. It also follows that like the refining pot, testing involves an intense and sometimes unpleasant environment. But the goal is not to make you suffer or to harm you in any way. The goal is to purify the heart and to make us more like our Lord.

If you're alive there is a good chance you'll experience trials and hardships from time to time. In fact, with the world in the midst of a pandemic you may be experiencing some level of angst as you read this. While I don't believe God brings us trials, I do believe He allows them and works them for our good (Romans 8:28). He also uses them to test (to purify) our hearts, preparing us so that we are prepared for life ahead. Testing may be unpleasant. Just keep in mind that God is accomplishing His goal in you. He is changing your heart in order to align your’s with His. He is in the process of preparing you for a better future. Keep this in mind as you endure whatever falls onto your path.

God Wants to Hear From You: Pray Without Ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

I've heard this verse interpreted in a number of different ways. I've even heard debates over whether or not it is even possible. My own thoughts about this verse have changed over the years as I find it a hard concept to comprehend. How could God expect us to pray without ceasing with so many other things we need to do? And yet the verse is there in the Bible. It seems to me that if God wants us to pray without ceasing it means that He wants to hear from us without at all times, and that’s good.

Imagine that! You're so important to God that He wants to hear from you without ceasing, an endless conversation with your Creator. This isn't an invitation to stop in once a day (or once a week) for a chat nor is it a call to only lift up our cares. It's a reminder that our omnipresent God is always nearby and always available to listen to our concerns. He really wants to hear from you. So He asks that you pray without ceasing.

How will you respond? The “Alpha and Omega” is waiting right now with a listening ear. He'd like to hear from you. Will He?

Life in the Wilderness and Fasting

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Last year I spent some time researching and thinking about Lent, a journey during which I wrote two posts (A post about Ash Wednesday and one on Baptism). Observed by Catholics and Orthodox Christians, Lent is an annual event during which believers reflect upon the meaning of being a Christian as they prepare for Easter. It is a time to repent and for some a time of fasting in hopes of a growing intimacy with our Lord. Lent lasts for forty days (not counting Sundays) matching the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. But why did Jesus fast and is there any spiritual meaning in this for today's believer?

The Bible says the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He fasted for forty days and was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-2). Normally fasts were about repentance or about mourning. Jesus' wilderness trip was about neither, instead being about submission and about spiritual battle. I suspect that fasting helped Jesus stay centered and focused on His Heavenly Father. I also suspect that fasting helped Jesus battle from a position of strength even though we generally associate submission with weakness.

Ultimately that's what Lent is all about: focusing on our Heavenly Father and submitting to His rule. Through repentance the believer turns away from sin which interferes with true intimacy with God. I believe this should be more than just, "I'm going to stop doing this for a time." Repentance comes from the heart as we learn to align our thinking with God's. Fasting, though not required, becomes a form of submission as we put God first while trusting that He will meet our needs.

I do fast occasionally, though never for forty days. I also know others who fast and who testify of spiritual growth that follows their fasts. I find it amazing how God responds when I give myself over to seeking Him in full submission. I don't see fasting as required but I have found it beneficial to my spiritual journey, especially when I find myself in those wilderness moments of spiritual battle. It's during those times, when I find myself in the midst of the struggle, that I am glad that Jesus set an example of fasting and (as He did in the Garden of Gethsemane) of prayer. As I focus on and call out to my Father, I find that He always responds and always brings victory. I believe that if you call upon Him with an earnest heart, He will bring the same to you.

I Asked. God Answered. Lesson Learned.

How A Soldier’s Testimony Opened My Eyes

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I had just read Matthew 15:29-31 where Jesus goes up to the top of a mountain and heals a multitude of people. The people marveled at these healings, noting that even those who were maimed had been healed. Imagine, people with permanent injuries (some perhaps even missing body parts) were healed. That sounds amazing but it left me with a question which I asked of God. There was no point in hiding my question as He knew what was on my heart before I formed the thought. I asked, “God, why are some who are maimed not healed?” I did not expect an answer and I definitely did not expect God to answer in the way did.

A day or two after asking my question I was listening to a Focus on the Family program with an interview of a wounded veteran. This veteran shared how he was injured in battle and how God is using his injuries to help others. He spoke of how he even had the chance to show God’s love to a man who was nearby when he was injured but was wearing the uniform of the enemy. The two met many years after his injury and his one time enemy recognized him when he heard what happened during the war. The injury helped these two men becoming friends. It was a powerful testimony that left me praising my Lord.

Sometimes instead of healing the maimed, God uses their injuries to reach others for Christ. In so doing He offers people the opportunity to receive healing from something much deeper than physical injuries. No, I do not buy into the idea of God allowing or causing injuries just so He can use them and I am not writing this to give a one size fits all answer as to why God allows certain things to happen. I do believe He works all for the good of those who love Him and are called by His name (Romans 8:28). In this case He used this solder’s testimony to answer my question and to reach the lost for Christ.

Had I listened to this program a few days earlier or a few days later I likely would not have recognized that this was one of many answers to my question. I would not have recognized how God generally heals and when He does not it is because something big is on the horizon. (What I heard on the radio is just one way God can make something great out of what seems to us to be something bad.) God orchestrated the timing so that I would recognize His answer. I thank God, praising Him for answering and for making His presence known to me in this way.

Responding With Worship

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How would you respond? I mean it had to have been one of the most frightening and yet awesome experiences: seeing Jesus walk on water. You probably know the story but have you ever thought about how you would react? Would you react by joining the apostles in worshiping Jesus? Would you be indifferent, just another oh hum thing you've seen before on television? Would you move quickly to ask Jesus to do something for you, getting your prayer requests in before moving on to the next big thing? Or would you stand (or bow) in awe knowing you were in the presence of someone very special?

Matthew 14:25-33

Think about what the apostles had just experienced. They saw a man walk on water. How awesome was that. Jesus then invited Peter to join him, answering what amounted to a quick prayer, Peter seeing the desire of his heart fulfilled. Not being perfect in his faith Peter fell below the surface but Jesus pulled him up having only the water itself as His leverage. When the two got into the boat the storm stopped. The apostles had witnessed something miraculous and now the One who did those miracles was with them. They didn't take Him for granted. They worshiped.

As believers in Christ we know that God is always with us. We see and know that He answers prayers. We may even get to see a miracle from time to time. How should we respond? Like the apostles we should respond to God's presence with worship.

My Toughest Prayer

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By far they are my two most difficult prayers: the two where my faith faces its greatest test. These are not the usual bless this or bless that prayers I so often fall back on. They differ significantly from my usual, "Help me!" prayers that I really should say long before I reach the end of me. No, these prayers are different. These prayers are scary because they truly mean giving up control. The first is, "Father give me the day I need to grow in You." The second is even scarier: "Father give my family the day they need to grow in You."

What makes these prayers so tough? Well, they involve surrender, allowing God to move me out of my comfort zone. No longer can I stay on the smooth path, these prayers open the door to allowing God to put me on the path of His choosing. Sometimes He chooses a smooth path but often He chooses the difficult path. At times He chooses a path that's too steep for me to climb on my own. Always He chooses the path that is best for me. These prayers are my way of saying I accept His choice no matter how strong the urge to run in another direction.

These prayers are about surrendering my dreams for myself and my family. That's really difficult as so much of how I measure myself is based on my ability to achieve and to help my family achieve what I think is best. It's a tough pill to swallow to think that my plans fall short of the goals He has for us. I'd like to think I know best. It hurts my pride to think that I need to surrender my dreams because they fall short of His expectations.

You see, my path and holding on to my dreams are all about control. They are about doing things my way even if it's not in my best interest. Oh, I think my ideas are best but God sees the whole picture. From His viewpoint He sees where I am bound to come up short. He offers the path to real growth and real success. And yet I am unwilling to let go of my control, not even to gain the promise and hope of abundant life, and fulfillment of dreams. Even though I know God's goals for me are bigger than my dreams, turning over complete control of the navigation towards His goals scares me.

"God, give me the day I need to grow in you: to get to where you want me." That's a tough prayer to say and believe. For Christians, it's one of the most important things we can say. Are you willing to say this prayer? Perhaps you prefer Jesus' version, "...not my will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42 NKJV) Are you willing to say it AND mean it?

Fan, Fanatic or Christian?

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Can a Christian also be a fan of a sports team? A brother in Christ, whom I highly respect, once asked me this question. I suppose he asked because I wore a pair of headphones to a church business meeting so that I could keep up with a football game. Whose idea was it to schedule a meeting during an Eagles vs Cowboys game anyway? Obviously our church moderator was not a fan. But I am, rarely missing an Eagles' game and when possible watching and/or listening to the Bears.

I admit I was a little hurt by the question and its spiritual implications. I never thought of my sports fandom as an obstacle to my faith. My defense in the face of the challenge likely came more from my pride as opposed to an honest consideration of the facts. Only recently have I truly given any thought to the question, giving honest consideration as the 2019 football season approaches. Can I be a fan and still hold my faith?

I believe the answer is yes, Christians can be fans of sports and of teams as well as fans of movies and actors and other things. After all being a fan has more to do with enthusiasm and support and nothing (in most cases) to do with worship. I can be devoted to my teams just as I can be devoted to my family (more so devoted to family of course). The key is that my devotion to Christ is higher and I have never let team fandom become idolatry. God always comes first and He is the only one I worship.

It would be easy for me to dismiss this question but it was something that obviously bothered my brother in Christ. And if it bothered him, perhaps it bothers other believers as well. I'm not going to say they are wrong. We each must follow our conscience and our convictions in Christ. Above all we must remember Who's we are and we must live according to our high calling in Christ.