Intimate Prayer

Luke 18:10-14

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

We have a tendency to not pray as often as we should because we feel that our lives are not adequate enough to even talk to God. Surely we think about all the sin in our lives before we initially pray and agree that God doesn’t want to talk to us. Thus we don’t and the feeling of the absence of His presence grows further and colder. Without regard one day we when we can go no further (which seemingly has been on our own) we cry out “God help me Please”. In that moment we realize God has never left. That His only desire was for you to see that no matter what, nothing can separate His Love towards you. Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Simply put: Sometimes the simplest prayers are the most intimate.

What does being bless mean to you?

What does being bless mean to you?

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

The Lord’s blessings rest on those who are faithful to Him. His blessings bring forth righteousness, prosperity, life and salvation.  In such things He increases, and makes one rich in Spirit. Against such there is no burden attached Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

To be blessed is to have God’s divine favor in operation in your life. Blessings are a direct reflection of God’s love towards His creation. What the world defines as luck, or by chance, we as believers know it to be God’s favor.

Simply put: Allow God’s favor in your life (His Blessing) to in turn produce Fruit. Be blessed and magnify the Lord.

I got the hook up...

John 1:40-42

⁴⁰ One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

⁴¹ He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

If we heard about a good deal on something, more than likely we would be eager to share with someone else about that deal. So that they too can reap the benefits especially someone close to us. Likewise if were going out to party and hangout we would want to go with friends likeminded. Those wanting to have fun like yourself. But if that be a truth, a logical way of thinking, then why don’t we share the good news about Christ? How often do we reject Christ when we fail to acknowledge Him in conversation? How often do we fail to acknowledge Him on our jobs or around our friends and family?

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

This is not a prompt to re-share, but encouragement for you to not be ashamed. Don’t be ashamed of your Love for God for your relationship with the Christ. 

To Die is to Gain

Philippians 1:21

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

The pursuit of the tangible here in this life is no doubt inevitable. The pleasures and possessions of this world are geared and designed to attract your flesh, therefore appealing to your fleshly desires.

          Preachers are even preaching prosperity here in this life, as though money, house, and car is all that matters. I believe that true prosperity is living a life poured out for Christ. True prosperity has nothing to do with what you have gained in this life but what you were willing to do without.

          Paul says to live is Christ, as in to say life itself without purpose and meaning isn’t truly living. Walking in your purpose (the plan God has for YOU) is fulfillment in life, which is true living. To die is to gain, the more we sacrifice and abstain from the sinful desires of our flesh, the more we are able to gain of Jesus who is All Sufficient (EL SHADDAI).

Luke 9:23

 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

The cross here symbolizes the sacrifice that is made in order to truly follow after that which is pleasing to God.If you truly desire to gain then die to your old life, old habits, old friends that aren’t really friends. Die to your insecurity’s; to you low self-esteem, to that doubt which clouds your faith. Die that you may gain all the more, Life.

1 Corinthians 15: 31

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily

Study, Pray and Practice.

The road ahead can be ruff. But there are a few simple things that we can do to ensure that we make it through.

1)     Study the Word: There is nothing like diving into scriptures and discovering new found revelation. God shows Himself more clearly to us when we seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

2)   Pray for understanding: Because God is infinite, when we seek Him through His Word, we can become so overwhelmed with wisdom and knowledge that we can get discouraged by the vastness of Him which is El Elyon (The Most High God). Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

3)   Practice daily what the scriptures instructs and guides us to do: Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

If are already doing these things continue to do so. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. If you haven’t been doing so declare this day a day for change. Say aloud “no longer will I be held captive in my mind to be slave to my circumstances, but I will mediate and observe to do all that is written in my Bible. Then shall I be prosperous, and then shall I have good success. In Jesus name we declare it so. Amen”

Didn't you miss me?

Encouraging song of the day: Ruben Studdard - Running Back To Youhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWd5JNgSLI4

For the most part I call my wife every day at work. I usually talk to her sometime during the morning just to say “good morning”, “How’s your day going” or “I miss you”. From there we will have a brief conversation and I’ll let her get back to work. Some days I won’t call just to see how long she will let the day go by before she reaches out to me. Of course when that happens she will call and say “you didn’t miss me”, and I would say “of course I did but did you miss me? I will purposely do this from time to time because I don’t won’t to feel like our relationship is one sided. I want to see that I’m on her mind just as much as she is on mine.

          Sometimes we feel like God has stopped calling us. Sometimes we feel like He has stopped being active in our lives. In those moments God is simply seeing if you feel the same way to. What if He did stop answering your prayers, what if He didn’t bless you with what you ask for? What if the thing which you desired God blessed somebody else with, would you still seek after Him? God doesn’t want a one-sided relationship He wants you to Love Him with all your heart and mind. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Manna for thought: If ever you feel like God is absent in your life read this: Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

The acknowledgement of error

Encouraging song of the day: Jesus - Shekinah Glory Ministry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sSzgJb5TUQ

The Word clearly illustrates that we should confess our sins. The reason for this is because through confession we acknowledge our need for Him. Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

          Confession is made unto salvation, when we openly confess responsibility of our actions or our faults/sin. Then can forgiveness be initiated and the healing process begins. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

          We often feel as though our faults/sins are meant only to be discussed or even brought up in the privacy of our prayer life. But if that be so why would the Word of God clearly tell us to confess to each other? James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another” When we expose the intimate secrets sins of our heart, the prayer of faith heals wounds that sin has inflicted.

Manna for thought: If you were shot by an arrow, before treatment to repair and mend, we first would have to acknowledge the arrow is even there (confession). Despite how obvious, you have to acknowledge it. Then allow God to remove the obstruction (Forgiveness of sin). From there we expose our faults to each other to prevent the infliction of the same sin/arrow.