IMMEASURELY MORE

Prayer is a vitally important part of our Christian walk, but it is often greatly misunderstood. Prayer is how we talk with our Heavenly Father. It can never be used to manipulate God or cause Him to do anything outside His perfect will. God is not ours‘ to command; He is not obligated to grant our wishes!

Our attitude toward prayer reveals much about how we view God and the closeness of our relationship through faith in Jesus. If we continually wait for a crisis before we pray, we actually demonstrate a lack of love. A man may say he loves his wife, but if he only occasionally talks with her he reveals a shallow relationship. True love will always be reflected by a desire to spend time together. And if we lift our problems to God in prayer but also give Him our expected solutions, we demonstrate a lack of trust and reveal a misunderstanding of His sovereign nature and limitless ability.

Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”

The consistent message through all of scripture is that God is calling us to a closer relationship – calling us to love Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). Therefore, our prayers MUST begin from a position of love. He wants us to continually know Him more and understand the true meaning of “My God will meet all your needs” (Philippians 4:19), and “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). He wants us to love Him and trust Him to provide!

It’s foolish for us to limit God to our own understanding. He created the Universe and knew the end of time before the beginning. He can, and will, “perfectly” solve our problems. He is working all things together for the good and using all situations to conform us to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:28-29).

Through a proper attitude of prayer, we acknowledge and submit to God’s sovereignty. We praise Him because we know He is able to do much more than anything we ask, and we submit because we know His understanding and purpose is perfect; “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Our prayer is not a matter of “working things out” with God – not of wrestling until we obtain OUR solution – rather, prayer simply becomes submission to His direction and trust in His plan.

We must present ourselves as empty vessels and allow God to work through us each and every day. Let’s love Him enough to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Let’s make our requests known, but then let’s submit and humbly acknowledge that He can do more.  ~Steve Troxel

E-V-A-L-U-A-T-E

‘Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?’ Amos 3:3 NKJV

A successful marriage is based on two things: ‘finding’ the right person, and ‘becoming’ the right person. And the second thing is harder than the first. Just because two people share the same bed and the same name, it doesn’t guarantee harmony. Here are some practical suggestions based on the word E-V-A-L-U-A-T-E:

Enjoy. Do you enjoy the same things? Maybe it’s not a big deal now, but later when your husband is glued to the big match on TV and you want a little conversation, it will be.

Values. The Bible asks, ‘Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?’ Are you able to agree on major issues such as intimacy, parenting, finances, in-laws, goals and your relationship with God? You may disagree over many things, but these are make-or-break issues.

Accessibility. Are you both emotionally accessible, or is he the strong silent type who doesn’t communicate – or understand your need to?

 Love. Do you really love each other? Not the Hollywood version but the kind that listens to your spouse’s opinions and concerns, overlooks their faults and failings, values them and expresses itself through kindness?

Understanding. As surely as God doesn’t make two snowflakes alike, He doesn’t make two people alike. So, can you understand and handle each other’s differences?

 Appreciation. Your partner can’t read your mind, so get into the habit of expressing your appreciation for one another.

Temperament. If you’re naturally upbeat but they’re moody and introverted, you may have an oil-and-water mix. How will you handle this?

 Environment. If you’re from different backgrounds, are you comfortable in the same social and spiritual settings?

 If you want a happy marriage, E-V-A-L-U-A-T-E  these things.   Bill & Debby Gass

A Mother’s Beatitude

Leonora Zearfoss

Is there anyone God is asking you to sit with today….?
In grace….?
In love…..?
In understanding….?
In trust…..?

EPITAPH OF FAITH

by Katherine Bevis

A godly old man asked that on his tombstone be carved the legend–

“The Inn of a Traveler

on His Way

to the

New Jerusalem.”

He looked on this life as a journey toward the heavenly city where REAL life would begin. Having set his course toward the full enjoyment of the presence of God, the grave became merely a stopping place on the way.

In my Father’s house are many mansions:

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2

~~~~~~~~~~

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me Home. (John Newton)

Almost Right

I guess it’s no wonder that the world is so easily confused and sometimes fooled regarding religious matters.

A preacher writes: A friend of mine took her 4 year old daughter to a baptismal service at her church. Later that night, her daughter took all of her dolls into the bathtub with her and held her own “baptism.”

As she dunked each doll under the water, she repeated, “Now I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and hold your nose.”

She almost had it right, but not quite! Now, hopefully if you are reading this you are a little wiser than a 4 year old child. But then I guess there are different levels of wisdom and different levels of maturity aren’t there.

I’ve known some people who have been Christians for years, yet they still don’t know many of the basic teachings we read about in the scripture. The apostle Paul wrote about the change that should take place in Christ in 1 Corinthians 13:11. He says there: “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

There needs to be some growth in our spiritual lives. There comes a time where each of us are accountable before God for knowing what his Word says. I understand that we will never know everything, but God does expect growth from us. If we had a child who never grew mentally or in maturity we would know they had a problem. If we don’t grow spiritually in our understanding, there is a problem.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.” (Hebrews 5:11-12)

Yes, “in the name of the Father, the Son, and hold your nose” is cute for a 4 year old to say, but where are you in spiritually maturity and understanding. Getting it “almost right” just may not be enough when you stand before God.  ~Russ Lawson

The Authority of Your Words

Precious one, do you have any idea of the authority you carry, and of the power that is released through your spoken word?

You were given authority because you are Mine, and that authority echoes in your spoken word. I have given you the power to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all of the power of the enemy. I have given you authority to command demons, then to watch them flee. I have given you the power to speak forgiveness of sins in My name; setting people free from the bondage and oppression of guilt. I have given you the power to proclaim blessings, then to see that blessing
tangibly materialize in a person’s life.

All authority on Heaven and earth belongs to Me. I have given you a piece of My authority, and that authority is released through your spoken word. Yes, the spoken word carries great power when it is backed up by My authority. Remember that I spoke the world and all creation into existence. My spoken world literally caused it to come into being, for My word carries great authority. I have loaned a measure of My authority to you, so that you can accomplish My Father’s purposes on this earth. That means that your spoken words carry My authority and they release great power.

That is why you must be careful of what you say and of how you speak. If you curse a person who annoys you, a force for harm is released against them, and the enemy of their soul is given a measure of authority to come against them for harm. Yes, dear one, spiritual authority is released from your lips when you speak forth. Because
of that, it is important for you to learn to bridle and corral your tongue–it has the power to do harm when you speak amiss.

That is why I have commanded you, saying, “Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” [Matthew 5:44]. I want you to bless and not to curse, no matter how provoked you may feel. Do not misuse My authority, but learn to use it wisely, so that I may give you the full measure of your reward in Heaven.

When one of My own curses an unsaved person by saying “Damn you!” to them, they increase that person’s resistance to the gospel. When one of My servants utters those words, they have cursed this person. They have given the enemy an increased power to blind that unsaved person to the gospel. They did not intend to do this, but they have just made it harder for that one to hear and receive the good news of salvation. In a brief moment of anger, you can release curses that do damage against those who I have died to save.

Therefore, become intentional in how you speak. Learn to release blessings and learn to hold your tongue instead of speaking curses. Understand that you carry My authority. Understand that authority releases a measure of spiritual power when you speak things forth. Do not allow yourself to speak amiss and misuse the authority that I have given you. Instead, learn to speak what My Father is saying. Learn to release life and blessing. Speak forth healing and freedom from oppression.