Sometimes the best things have already been said... - 08:53, Tuesday, August 28, 2007 |
| As a writer I'm always looking for new ways of saying things. But sometimes I come across something that is exactly what I was looking to say. This is true today. My daily Bible study includes reading a devotion from Oswald Chambers' book My Utmost for His Highest. Originally published in 1935, this book has stood the test of time as a tool for encouraging Christians to grow into worthy Image-bearers. Today's devotion speaks right to what is going on in my family and I found such blessing in it that I wanted to share it with you. The Purpose of Prayer
August 28 Key verse: "...one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray...'" Prayer is not a normal part of the life of the natural man. We hear it said that a person's life will suffer if he doesn't pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him,which is nourished not by food, but by prayer.When a person is born again from above, the life of the Son of God s born in him, and he can either starve or nourish that life. Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished. Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is the we may get to know God Himself. "Ask, and you will receive..." (John 16:24). We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to HIm, but we actually ask Him for very few things. Yet a child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Our Lord said, "...unless you...become as little children..." (Matthew 18:3). Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at his wits' end. When a person is at his wits' end, it no longer seems to be a cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems--the very things that have brought you to your wits' end. But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything. To say that "prayer changes things" is not as close to the truth as saying, "Prayer changes me and then I change things." God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person's inner nature. Just a few of my own closing thoughts: Life on earth is full of trial, since that day in the Garden when Eve thought that one taste of the forbidden was worth disbelieving the word of God. Nothing here will ever be like that beautiful time before the Fall. But God did not leave us without comfort and strength for the trials. Let me share a word of rest for the hurting straight from the inspired Word of our loving, heavenly Father: From Philippians 4:6-8 (NASB): "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." What will God do when we reach our hand up to Him through our trouble or pain? He will pour out His peace like a waterfall over our hearts and minds. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." What can we do to keep hold of the rest He gives? Focus on Him and the words He gives. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true (His Word, His Love, His Presence), whatever is honorable (the work He gives us to do), whatever is right (living our life as a reflection of Christ), whatever is pure (the life of Christ in us), whatever is lovely (the very face of God), whatever is of good repute (the faithfulness of God), if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise (Jesus Christ and His perfecting work and activity in us), dwell on these things." (All emphasis was added by me.) Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our Blessed Redeemer! |
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 Trying to be like the original example of a homesteading woman: "She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family, and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden." Proverbs 31:15-16 (The Message) CategoriesCooking Crafting Gardening Organizing Small Space Homesteading Studying the Word that you forget to make a life. Recent EntriesPlease Pray for the families of Joshua, Shawn, & ShelleyNever too young to start learning the Word! Baby Wipes are Wonderful!! Joyful Chicken Farmers UNITE!! Whole Grain Storage question
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