Mark 11:22-25
Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace
this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you.
This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no
shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I
urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large.
Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s
everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that
it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only
then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean
of sins.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Sunday in the church nursery,
an almost 2-year-old named Stella lost her shoe. I retrieved the sandal and
handed it to her. She wanted to put it on by herself. There was an
ankle strap with a buckle, and she fussed at me as I took the shoe from
her to unfasten the buckle. When I tried to help her put it on her
foot, she would kick and squeal.
This little red-headed “ginger
snap” got so frustrated as she worked to put on her shoe…but she would
not accept any help in buckling the strap or getting it on correctly.
She finally just walked around with one shoe on and the other foot
bare! She would rather do that than allow someone to help her…to trust
that we grownups knew more than she did about how the shoe should go on
her foot and fasten!
Stella will figure it out. But when it
comes to our prayer life and faith in God, a lot of us are still walking
around wearing only one shoe! We still don’t fully understand that we
need to pray about everything…and believe that God hears us and
answers. Does this mean that we will all drive Maseratis and be
dripping in diamonds and furs…that we will never have to work another
day in our lives and God will make every single second hunky-dory
forever, just because we asked Him to do so? Absolutely not!
What this scripture tells us is that God will meet all of our needs…all the time and in every way. It also tells us that God knows
what these needs are…and how best to meet them. So when we pray and
ask God for help and guidance, we can relax and rest in the confidence
that He will answer… that whatever He gives us will be perfect. So if
you tell God you need a car to get to school or work or wherever, and He
provides you with a clunker that looks horrible but runs fine, you can
trust that this is what you need to be driving.
If you ask God to
bring you a soulmate, and the person who comes into your life doesn’t
exactly look like a model from the pages of Victoria’s Secret or one of
the men in GQ Magazine - but he/she loves Jesus and treats you
royally – consider that God has chosen the perfect companion for you,
based on His plans and not your selfish desires. When troubles come and
you ask God to help you through them…yet the road is rough and
rocky…don’t ask “Why me, LORD?” Instead, ask, “What are You showing me?
How do You want me to handle this? How can I glorify You in my
reactions and responses?”
It’s time for us to accept God’s
help…to trust His answers…and to let Him show us how to “put on the
other shoe” and live fully in His plans and abundance. This seems like a
pretty good day to get started…wouldn’t you agree?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label confidence in prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label confidence in prayer. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 3, 2014
James 5:13-16
Is anyone among you suffering? He should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually be singing praises to the Lord.
Is anyone sick? He should call for the elders of the church and they should pray over him and pour a little oil upon him, calling on the Lord to heal him. And their prayer, if offered in faith, will heal him, for the Lord will make him well; and if his sickness was caused by some sin, the Lord will forgive him.
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I pushed my 3-year-old friend Isaac across the floor of the church nursery as he rode a four-wheeled scooter of sorts. When I stopped, he said, “Do it again!” I told him that I needed to rest. “Why?” he asked. “Because I’m tired!” “But why?” he protested. “Because I’m old!” Again he asked, “But WHY?” “I just am, Buddy,” I told him...”I just am.”
“Why?” is one of the most frequent questions we ask.
Hear the words of James: “...pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest power of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.” Does it say anywhere in this passage that God will give us exactly what we prayed for – specifically as we asked for it? Does James tell us that God is selfish and answers where, when and how He wants – just to feel superior? While God would have every right to do this, He simply doesn’t operate that way!
God loves you. He wants you to be well...healthy...whole...complete in every way. But God has a grand plan for all of us...and even though it might not seem so, His designs are always perfect. So when you feel like you can’t catch a break, God may be building your strength and character. When your relationships don’t work out, God may be grooming the perfect friend or partner for you – and teaching you the art of patience. When you want to “skip steps” and move on to another phase of your life, God may be slowing you in order to prevent some sort of unfortunate or disastrous outcome.
When you can’t find a job or feel unhappy or unfulfilled in the one you have, God may be preparing you - for a better one. When you or someone you love is sick or injured - and healing doesn’t seem to come as you asked - know that God IS at work. Healing comes in many forms...and God will choose what is best for His purposes - and for your situation.
When you feel that God is not answering your prayers, examine HOW you are praying. Do you place conditions on Him? Do you pray specifically – and expect only that outcome? Or do you ask God to meet your needs and the needs of those for whom you pray – but always according to HIS will and the plans that He has prepared? Do you really TRUST God to do what is best...do you petition Him in prayer and then allow Him room to work?
Believe me, I know this is hard. Timothy loves to watch the old classic “Frosty the Snowman.” In the story, the magician tells the children and Frosty, “I want that [magic] hat...and I want it NOW!” I think of this phrase often when I am talking to God, because so often, we pray for the “magic hat”! We want Him to answer us exactly as we asked...and we want it NOW! This is simply not how God operates...and with good reason. But I cannot underscore enough how much He loves you and wants to hear from you...how much God wants to give you the very best. And He will do exactly this, if we will only call on Him in faith to answer our prayers and heal us in every way.
How will you talk to God today? Will you allow Him to answer you in His way...to heal you according to His will? Are you ready to trust in His love completely and believe that He has your best interest at heart? Will your prayers be filled with “Whys”...or with praise for the answers He will surely give? What perfect healing will God accomplish in your life today? Aren’t you ready to find out?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Is anyone among you suffering? He should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually be singing praises to the Lord.
Is anyone sick? He should call for the elders of the church and they should pray over him and pour a little oil upon him, calling on the Lord to heal him. And their prayer, if offered in faith, will heal him, for the Lord will make him well; and if his sickness was caused by some sin, the Lord will forgive him.
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I pushed my 3-year-old friend Isaac across the floor of the church nursery as he rode a four-wheeled scooter of sorts. When I stopped, he said, “Do it again!” I told him that I needed to rest. “Why?” he asked. “Because I’m tired!” “But why?” he protested. “Because I’m old!” Again he asked, “But WHY?” “I just am, Buddy,” I told him...”I just am.”
“Why?” is one of the most frequent questions we ask.
- “Why can’t I catch a break?”
- “Why can’t I find a mate – or maintain a relationship?”
- “Why can’t I skip college and get on with my life?”
- “Why can’t I find a job?”
- “Why can’t I – or someone I love – get well?”
- “Why won’t You answer my prayers, LORD?”
Hear the words of James: “...pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest power of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.” Does it say anywhere in this passage that God will give us exactly what we prayed for – specifically as we asked for it? Does James tell us that God is selfish and answers where, when and how He wants – just to feel superior? While God would have every right to do this, He simply doesn’t operate that way!
God loves you. He wants you to be well...healthy...whole...complete in every way. But God has a grand plan for all of us...and even though it might not seem so, His designs are always perfect. So when you feel like you can’t catch a break, God may be building your strength and character. When your relationships don’t work out, God may be grooming the perfect friend or partner for you – and teaching you the art of patience. When you want to “skip steps” and move on to another phase of your life, God may be slowing you in order to prevent some sort of unfortunate or disastrous outcome.
When you can’t find a job or feel unhappy or unfulfilled in the one you have, God may be preparing you - for a better one. When you or someone you love is sick or injured - and healing doesn’t seem to come as you asked - know that God IS at work. Healing comes in many forms...and God will choose what is best for His purposes - and for your situation.
When you feel that God is not answering your prayers, examine HOW you are praying. Do you place conditions on Him? Do you pray specifically – and expect only that outcome? Or do you ask God to meet your needs and the needs of those for whom you pray – but always according to HIS will and the plans that He has prepared? Do you really TRUST God to do what is best...do you petition Him in prayer and then allow Him room to work?
Believe me, I know this is hard. Timothy loves to watch the old classic “Frosty the Snowman.” In the story, the magician tells the children and Frosty, “I want that [magic] hat...and I want it NOW!” I think of this phrase often when I am talking to God, because so often, we pray for the “magic hat”! We want Him to answer us exactly as we asked...and we want it NOW! This is simply not how God operates...and with good reason. But I cannot underscore enough how much He loves you and wants to hear from you...how much God wants to give you the very best. And He will do exactly this, if we will only call on Him in faith to answer our prayers and heal us in every way.
How will you talk to God today? Will you allow Him to answer you in His way...to heal you according to His will? Are you ready to trust in His love completely and believe that He has your best interest at heart? Will your prayers be filled with “Whys”...or with praise for the answers He will surely give? What perfect healing will God accomplish in your life today? Aren’t you ready to find out?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 20, 2012
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was 29 years old, I was diagnosed with endometriosis… a disease in which pieces of the uterine lining “go rogue” and migrate to other parts of the body, attach and grow. This is very painful… and in my case, some of this tissue attached to my colon. The solution was a hysterectomy – removal of my reproductive organs. Doctors don’t like to perform this procedure on otherwise healthy women of child-bearing age. But in my case, there was no other option. In fact, I went into surgery knowing that part of my colon might have to be removed, as well… and thankfully that was not necessary.
This was a scary time for me and my family. It was also a time of calm and peace. Yes, I was nervous about major surgery. But I was so anxious to feel better… to be rid of the thing that caused me daily discomfort and distress. I still remember lying in the pre-op room while a nurse administered the first medications before anesthesia. My surgery had been delayed several hours because of some emergencies, and as the medication hit my system, my blood pressure bottomed out, and I was “gone!” When I came to, the nurse was frantically working to get me to speak. I think she thought she had killed me!
After determining that I was okay, the medical team continued their work, and I remember thinking, “I will either wake up in the recovery room… or in heaven… and either one is okay.” I was not the most mature Christian at 29, but I trusted God… and He carried me safely through that – and many scary days since!
You may have Philippians 4:6-7 before… it’s the “peace that passes all understanding” passage. But what does that mean? In this translation, we see this phrase explained as “a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good to settle you down.” In my case, God washed over me with a sense that everything was coming together as He wished… and I truly was settled down. More times than I can count, I have poured out my frustrations, fears, anxieties and distresses to God, and He has settled me. And the more I practice this… the easier it becomes.
I have told you that I have momentary times of panic…days when I am shrouded in worry, and the devil really does a number on me. But they are becoming more infrequent as I learn to walk more in the wholeness of God. I have to remind myself often that God is in control… because the devil is always right there shouting, “Yeah, but what about such-and-such? Shouldn’t you be upset about that?” If you ever pass me and I’m mumbling, “Go away, devil!”… you’ll know I am not talking to YOU!
I think it’s time we all had a “devil-ectomy!” Let’s remove the offending thing that causes us worry, pain and distress! Let’s shroud ourselves in the wholeness and operate in the inexplicable “peace that passes all understanding.” Haven’t you had enough? Aren’t you ready to settle down in the LORD? Isn’t today a great day to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was 29 years old, I was diagnosed with endometriosis… a disease in which pieces of the uterine lining “go rogue” and migrate to other parts of the body, attach and grow. This is very painful… and in my case, some of this tissue attached to my colon. The solution was a hysterectomy – removal of my reproductive organs. Doctors don’t like to perform this procedure on otherwise healthy women of child-bearing age. But in my case, there was no other option. In fact, I went into surgery knowing that part of my colon might have to be removed, as well… and thankfully that was not necessary.
This was a scary time for me and my family. It was also a time of calm and peace. Yes, I was nervous about major surgery. But I was so anxious to feel better… to be rid of the thing that caused me daily discomfort and distress. I still remember lying in the pre-op room while a nurse administered the first medications before anesthesia. My surgery had been delayed several hours because of some emergencies, and as the medication hit my system, my blood pressure bottomed out, and I was “gone!” When I came to, the nurse was frantically working to get me to speak. I think she thought she had killed me!
After determining that I was okay, the medical team continued their work, and I remember thinking, “I will either wake up in the recovery room… or in heaven… and either one is okay.” I was not the most mature Christian at 29, but I trusted God… and He carried me safely through that – and many scary days since!
You may have Philippians 4:6-7 before… it’s the “peace that passes all understanding” passage. But what does that mean? In this translation, we see this phrase explained as “a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good to settle you down.” In my case, God washed over me with a sense that everything was coming together as He wished… and I truly was settled down. More times than I can count, I have poured out my frustrations, fears, anxieties and distresses to God, and He has settled me. And the more I practice this… the easier it becomes.
I have told you that I have momentary times of panic…days when I am shrouded in worry, and the devil really does a number on me. But they are becoming more infrequent as I learn to walk more in the wholeness of God. I have to remind myself often that God is in control… because the devil is always right there shouting, “Yeah, but what about such-and-such? Shouldn’t you be upset about that?” If you ever pass me and I’m mumbling, “Go away, devil!”… you’ll know I am not talking to YOU!
I think it’s time we all had a “devil-ectomy!” Let’s remove the offending thing that causes us worry, pain and distress! Let’s shroud ourselves in the wholeness and operate in the inexplicable “peace that passes all understanding.” Haven’t you had enough? Aren’t you ready to settle down in the LORD? Isn’t today a great day to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 13, 2012
Luke 1:11-17
All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. But the angel told him:
Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John. His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad. Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.
John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. That is how John will get people ready for the Lord.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Few, if any of us have experienced a miracle – or a turning point – on the scale of what happened to Zechariah! But I would be willing to bet that God has heard your prayers at some point and answered you in a way you never expected… done something for you that you had imagined was pretty nearly impossible.
How did this make you feel? How did it affect your attitude toward God? Did you become more determined to serve Him? Was your faith increased as a result?
My point is twofold:
Never give up on God! He most certainly has not given up on you! Your blessings may not be as profound as those He gave to Zechariah… but they will be no less significant in your own life – or toward furthering His kingdom. Stay awake and alert… ready to be blessed… and always, always, trust in the LORD’s ability to use you!
©2012 Debbie Robus
All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar. Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. But the angel told him:
Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John. His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad. Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.
John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. That is how John will get people ready for the Lord.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Few, if any of us have experienced a miracle – or a turning point – on the scale of what happened to Zechariah! But I would be willing to bet that God has heard your prayers at some point and answered you in a way you never expected… done something for you that you had imagined was pretty nearly impossible.
How did this make you feel? How did it affect your attitude toward God? Did you become more determined to serve Him? Was your faith increased as a result?
My point is twofold:
- While this is human nature, we really shouldn’t have to be dumbstruck by God in order to truly serve Him or believe in His promises, and
- Never stop praying and believing, because God will answer… often when you least expect it.
Never give up on God! He most certainly has not given up on you! Your blessings may not be as profound as those He gave to Zechariah… but they will be no less significant in your own life – or toward furthering His kingdom. Stay awake and alert… ready to be blessed… and always, always, trust in the LORD’s ability to use you!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 22, 2012
James 1:5-8
If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our niece went shopping for a rug for her new house. She found two she really liked at a great price, so she bought them both. She was worried that the rug she chose might not be right, so she kept her options open by purchasing two. She reasoned that she would either find a use for the one that didn’t work as well… or she would return it. In other words, she had doubts.
There is probably little to no harm in doing this with a rug purchase. But when we lack confidence in our prayers… when we fail to trust God to do what He has promised and cannot make up our mind, we can’t expect God to be front and center with answers. Am I saying that God will withhold answers from us? Not necessarily. I am saying that what we expect and what God grants us may be two completely different things… and rightly so!
Think of it this way… suppose you want a family member to help you with something. You know that he/she will gladly do this… but you don’t want to ask them. So you sit at home and wait… expecting this person to read your mind or have some sort of magical mental telepathy and know that, “Hey, So-and-So needs my help!” When no help arrives, do you have a right to be upset? What if you did ask for help, and then you decided, “He/she won’t really come through,” so you went off and did something else and weren’t where you said you would be at the appointed hour? Would you be entitled to be upset with the person you asked to help you? Do you think he/she would be interested in agreeing to help you again? Would you blame them?
This is what we do all the time with God. We ask Him for help – or guidance – or some sort of answer or miracle. Then we “leave home.” We decide that there is no way God will really come through for us. We doubt His ability to deliver and His promises… and we doubt our own ability to hear and believe His answers. We don’t really give God a chance to answer. And then we wonder why things are not going so well in our lives.
Read this passage again, and really let its message soak into your heart and mind. Don’t have doubts. Don’t second guess or hedge your bets when you pray. There is only one option. You can’t ask God to help you and then develop a “back-up” plan. God is all you need! He is always the right choice, and He stands ready, willing, and more than able to meet your needs. The question is… will you let Him?
©2012 Debbie Robus
If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our niece went shopping for a rug for her new house. She found two she really liked at a great price, so she bought them both. She was worried that the rug she chose might not be right, so she kept her options open by purchasing two. She reasoned that she would either find a use for the one that didn’t work as well… or she would return it. In other words, she had doubts.
There is probably little to no harm in doing this with a rug purchase. But when we lack confidence in our prayers… when we fail to trust God to do what He has promised and cannot make up our mind, we can’t expect God to be front and center with answers. Am I saying that God will withhold answers from us? Not necessarily. I am saying that what we expect and what God grants us may be two completely different things… and rightly so!
Think of it this way… suppose you want a family member to help you with something. You know that he/she will gladly do this… but you don’t want to ask them. So you sit at home and wait… expecting this person to read your mind or have some sort of magical mental telepathy and know that, “Hey, So-and-So needs my help!” When no help arrives, do you have a right to be upset? What if you did ask for help, and then you decided, “He/she won’t really come through,” so you went off and did something else and weren’t where you said you would be at the appointed hour? Would you be entitled to be upset with the person you asked to help you? Do you think he/she would be interested in agreeing to help you again? Would you blame them?
This is what we do all the time with God. We ask Him for help – or guidance – or some sort of answer or miracle. Then we “leave home.” We decide that there is no way God will really come through for us. We doubt His ability to deliver and His promises… and we doubt our own ability to hear and believe His answers. We don’t really give God a chance to answer. And then we wonder why things are not going so well in our lives.
Read this passage again, and really let its message soak into your heart and mind. Don’t have doubts. Don’t second guess or hedge your bets when you pray. There is only one option. You can’t ask God to help you and then develop a “back-up” plan. God is all you need! He is always the right choice, and He stands ready, willing, and more than able to meet your needs. The question is… will you let Him?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 3, 2012
James 1:5-8
If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My sister was approached recently by someone who asked, “Does God answer your prayers?” The answer was “Yes.” The person asking questions followed with, “Well, just how long does it take?” My sister tried to explain that some prayers are answered right away, while some answers take longer… even days/weeks/years. The lady asking the questions said something to the effect of, “Oh! I can’t wait that long! I need my answer within fifteen minutes!”
I’m afraid we are all like this much of the time. We ask for what we think we can get - or feel we desperately need. We hesitate to ask God for some things, fearing He will think less of us for asking. And in all prayers, we are often impatient for an outcome. When we don’t get instant answers, we “worry our prayers” … repeat them… stew about whether – or how – God might be planning to answer. And I have to believe that all the while, God is just shaking His head in frustration.
I am still often confounded by God’s timing – because I am impatient. But as I learn to trust His answers and outcomes, I am no longer surprised them. I am still occasionally caught off guard by His delivery. Let’s just call these “pleasant surprises.” It’s not that I didn’t expect God to answer. But as I release my worries to Him, I give them to Him in faith. So when He does deliver, I feel like, “Oh! That’s great!” I knew an answer was coming…but I had stopped trying to orchestrate the arrival time and date!
Understand this… no prayer or thought is too big or too small for God. Trust Him in all things – in all sizes. Never hesitate to talk to God about anything. There is a difference between bringing concerns and praises before God over and again… and brow-beating Him in an effort to get an answer. In other words, praying for someone who is ill on a daily basis is not the same as saying, “LORD, I asked You to heal Tom… did you HEAR me?” The former speaks to what – and who – is on your heart. The latter reveals our impatience and lack of faith in God to answer. Believe me… HE knows when and how the outcome should be delivered!
The best summary I can offer for this passage today is to calm down and rest in the LORD. Talk to God about everything, without any fear of retribution or ridicule. Then trust Him to answer… when the time is right… in the most perfect way. As this passage says, stop “worrying your prayers.” Never give them a second thought. Assume that God heard you the first time… because He did… and move forward in confidence that His answer is on the way.
©2012 Debbie Robus
If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My sister was approached recently by someone who asked, “Does God answer your prayers?” The answer was “Yes.” The person asking questions followed with, “Well, just how long does it take?” My sister tried to explain that some prayers are answered right away, while some answers take longer… even days/weeks/years. The lady asking the questions said something to the effect of, “Oh! I can’t wait that long! I need my answer within fifteen minutes!”
I’m afraid we are all like this much of the time. We ask for what we think we can get - or feel we desperately need. We hesitate to ask God for some things, fearing He will think less of us for asking. And in all prayers, we are often impatient for an outcome. When we don’t get instant answers, we “worry our prayers” … repeat them… stew about whether – or how – God might be planning to answer. And I have to believe that all the while, God is just shaking His head in frustration.
I am still often confounded by God’s timing – because I am impatient. But as I learn to trust His answers and outcomes, I am no longer surprised them. I am still occasionally caught off guard by His delivery. Let’s just call these “pleasant surprises.” It’s not that I didn’t expect God to answer. But as I release my worries to Him, I give them to Him in faith. So when He does deliver, I feel like, “Oh! That’s great!” I knew an answer was coming…but I had stopped trying to orchestrate the arrival time and date!
Understand this… no prayer or thought is too big or too small for God. Trust Him in all things – in all sizes. Never hesitate to talk to God about anything. There is a difference between bringing concerns and praises before God over and again… and brow-beating Him in an effort to get an answer. In other words, praying for someone who is ill on a daily basis is not the same as saying, “LORD, I asked You to heal Tom… did you HEAR me?” The former speaks to what – and who – is on your heart. The latter reveals our impatience and lack of faith in God to answer. Believe me… HE knows when and how the outcome should be delivered!
The best summary I can offer for this passage today is to calm down and rest in the LORD. Talk to God about everything, without any fear of retribution or ridicule. Then trust Him to answer… when the time is right… in the most perfect way. As this passage says, stop “worrying your prayers.” Never give them a second thought. Assume that God heard you the first time… because He did… and move forward in confidence that His answer is on the way.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 14, 2012
Nehemiah 1:5-11
Lord God of heaven, you are great and fearsome. And you faithfully keep your promises to everyone who loves you and obeys your commands. I am your servant, so please have mercy on me and answer the prayer that I make day and night for these people of Israel who serve you. I, my family, and the rest of your people have sinned by choosing to disobey you and the laws and teachings you gave to your servant Moses.
Please remember the promise you made to Moses. You told him that if we were unfaithful, you would scatter us among foreign nations. But you also said that no matter how far away we were, we could turn to you and start obeying your laws. Then you would bring us back to the place where you have chosen to be worshiped.
Our Lord, I am praying for your servants - those you rescued by your great strength and mighty power. Please answer my prayer and the prayer of your other servants who gladly honor your name. When I serve the king his wine today, make him pleased with me and have him do what I ask.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For several weeks now, I’ve been seeing ads for a new 90-day workout plan devised by my favorite fitness trainer. Honestly, I’ve been ready to push the button several times and order these DVDs… but I’ve yet to do so. For one thing, I am not sure I am fully committed to this level of physical exertion. I am also not sure exactly how much of it I could actually accomplish! So for now, I opted to order a less intense – yet still strenuous – workout tape to add to my library.
Let me be clear… I’ve got quite a few workout tapes that have probably become brittle in their box. Having the tools at your disposal to become physically fit does not automatically ensure results! You have to USE them! And I have actually used the last few I’ve purchased… with surprisingly good results. I feel more confident… healthier, and much better physically and mentally.
I’m no athlete, but I’ve learned that when I work at it, I can actually do things I never dreamed possible… like pushups and lifting weights while balancing on one foot! The trainer pushes me to do things I feel inadequate to perform… she knows better than I that I have the “stuff” to do this. She will say things like “I’ve got 400-lb. people who can do this… and so can you!” And she is right!
So often, we lack confidence in our faith walk. We have the God-given tools for success… He has given us the “stuff”… but we fail to put this to work in our own lives. It’s not that we lack confidence in GOD… we lack confidence in ourselves. God would not allow us to go through some of the things that challenge us if he didn’t know we what it takes to accomplish them and persevere. He may be telling us and showing us that we have what it takes to get surmount our problems and obstacles, but we have to believe Him and become people of action!
In this passage, we learn about one man, one prayer, and one cup. In the King James Version, Verse eleven ends with “For I was the king’s cup bearer.” Nehemiah recognizes he is only one man – and a mere servant at that! But with God’s power behind him, he knows that he can accomplish the work of many. And so he asks God to forgive him and his people for their sin, lack of faith and failure to be bold people of action. He reminds God of His promise to step in and care for His children as soon as they turn back to Him. And then He asked God for His help… to answer His prayers and meet his needs – and to make the King receptive to his requests.
Can I tell you something? We are a lot stronger than we think we are… mentally, physically, and spiritually. Never underestimate your abilities in any arena… most certainly when God is in the mix. If God allows you to have a workout of any kind, trust that things will work out! Recognize that even though you are one person, God can use you to accomplish big things… starting with your own health and wellbeing! You may be “just a cup-bearer”… but in God’s eyes, you have the capacity for great things.
What is your confidence level? Do you believe in yourself? More importantly, do you believe in God’s ability to use you to accomplish whatever He desires…in your own life and the lives of others? Remember… one man, one prayer, one cup. Examine your own life today and see where God is applying this principle. Are you rising to the occasion?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Lord God of heaven, you are great and fearsome. And you faithfully keep your promises to everyone who loves you and obeys your commands. I am your servant, so please have mercy on me and answer the prayer that I make day and night for these people of Israel who serve you. I, my family, and the rest of your people have sinned by choosing to disobey you and the laws and teachings you gave to your servant Moses.
Please remember the promise you made to Moses. You told him that if we were unfaithful, you would scatter us among foreign nations. But you also said that no matter how far away we were, we could turn to you and start obeying your laws. Then you would bring us back to the place where you have chosen to be worshiped.
Our Lord, I am praying for your servants - those you rescued by your great strength and mighty power. Please answer my prayer and the prayer of your other servants who gladly honor your name. When I serve the king his wine today, make him pleased with me and have him do what I ask.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For several weeks now, I’ve been seeing ads for a new 90-day workout plan devised by my favorite fitness trainer. Honestly, I’ve been ready to push the button several times and order these DVDs… but I’ve yet to do so. For one thing, I am not sure I am fully committed to this level of physical exertion. I am also not sure exactly how much of it I could actually accomplish! So for now, I opted to order a less intense – yet still strenuous – workout tape to add to my library.
Let me be clear… I’ve got quite a few workout tapes that have probably become brittle in their box. Having the tools at your disposal to become physically fit does not automatically ensure results! You have to USE them! And I have actually used the last few I’ve purchased… with surprisingly good results. I feel more confident… healthier, and much better physically and mentally.
I’m no athlete, but I’ve learned that when I work at it, I can actually do things I never dreamed possible… like pushups and lifting weights while balancing on one foot! The trainer pushes me to do things I feel inadequate to perform… she knows better than I that I have the “stuff” to do this. She will say things like “I’ve got 400-lb. people who can do this… and so can you!” And she is right!
So often, we lack confidence in our faith walk. We have the God-given tools for success… He has given us the “stuff”… but we fail to put this to work in our own lives. It’s not that we lack confidence in GOD… we lack confidence in ourselves. God would not allow us to go through some of the things that challenge us if he didn’t know we what it takes to accomplish them and persevere. He may be telling us and showing us that we have what it takes to get surmount our problems and obstacles, but we have to believe Him and become people of action!
In this passage, we learn about one man, one prayer, and one cup. In the King James Version, Verse eleven ends with “For I was the king’s cup bearer.” Nehemiah recognizes he is only one man – and a mere servant at that! But with God’s power behind him, he knows that he can accomplish the work of many. And so he asks God to forgive him and his people for their sin, lack of faith and failure to be bold people of action. He reminds God of His promise to step in and care for His children as soon as they turn back to Him. And then He asked God for His help… to answer His prayers and meet his needs – and to make the King receptive to his requests.
Can I tell you something? We are a lot stronger than we think we are… mentally, physically, and spiritually. Never underestimate your abilities in any arena… most certainly when God is in the mix. If God allows you to have a workout of any kind, trust that things will work out! Recognize that even though you are one person, God can use you to accomplish big things… starting with your own health and wellbeing! You may be “just a cup-bearer”… but in God’s eyes, you have the capacity for great things.
What is your confidence level? Do you believe in yourself? More importantly, do you believe in God’s ability to use you to accomplish whatever He desires…in your own life and the lives of others? Remember… one man, one prayer, one cup. Examine your own life today and see where God is applying this principle. Are you rising to the occasion?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 11, 2012
James 4:1-3
Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Apparently everyone has an agenda! In our present political climate, we have people on all sides who claim to make decisions in the name of God. For a nation who believes in separation of church and state, we surely do hide behind religion a lot in order to make our point or have things go our way. So we have political candidates who run for office based on a platform of “family values” and their particular stance on abortion, gay marriage, the right to bear arms, and much more – yet I wonder if many of them can truly explain their position and the meaning they place behind it.
Some will declare themselves pro-war and pro-life in the same breath! In the end, people who claim to hear from God - again, on every side of every issue – cannot seem to get along with each other for five minutes! We would all do well to ask the question asked in James 4:1 – “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen?”
We know this isn’t right. We know that many of our troubles boil down to selfishness. And hopefully, we realize that it would be beyond ridiculous to ask God to support us in many of our desires and endeavors… because clearly we are not entitled to the things for which we are asking. If we ask God to do things for us at the expense of someone or something else, we have to realize this is selfish and wrong.
Asking God to choose our team over another at a sporting event makes no sense. Calling on God to look the other way when we cheat on a test or our taxes… to “give us a pass” this one time… doesn’t benefit us – and it surely doesn’t glorify God! We can’t ask God to help us make it to class and do well in school – or continue to hold down a job – while we are drinking and partying and/or doing drugs every night and weekend. Claiming the name of God and cloaking ourselves in Christian faith so that we can “win friends and influence people” – in any life situation – does not please God. Asking God to bless us and help us to prosper while cheating and backstabbing our friends and neighbors seems preposterous! And while the scripture says we would never think of asking God for things to which we have no right… sadly, many of us are doing exactly this. Yet, we wonder why our prayers are not answered as we expect!
The time has come for us to “come clean.” We must humbly come before God and seek His wisdom… and expect answers according to HIS will – not ours. We must take our emotions out of the equation and rely solely on the Word of God… because often, what we want and what God wants are two very different things. When we start to operate in what God wants… to desire His will and expect His answers accordingly, everything changes.
When we begin to ask God to give us the desires of His heart… the things that bless and benefit all of His children (not just us or a select few), amazing things begin to happen. Results and blessings flow in abundance. We operate in harmony, because we have checked our selfish desires at the door. There is no room in our hearts for ego, deceit, manipulation, argument, gossip, pettiness, and a whole host of other negative attitude builders, because we are filled with the word and wisdom of God. We are confident in God’s decisions and His ability to work in and through us.
Lately, God has shown me in several ways that what many of us need is a big ole dose of humility... followed by an attitude adjustment. If we could only begin to be still and listen for His voice… to develop an attitude of humble, unselfish, expectant, confident prayer for HIS will instead of our own… a lot of positive change could start to occur. But we have to take the first step. We have to examine our own hearts and motives… and start the ball rolling by surrendering to God. We must follow the protocol of prayer – pray the Word of God, enter into covenant with Him, and expect His perfect answers. Will this be the week where the “faith rules” of prayer begin to change things for you? Shouldn’t it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Apparently everyone has an agenda! In our present political climate, we have people on all sides who claim to make decisions in the name of God. For a nation who believes in separation of church and state, we surely do hide behind religion a lot in order to make our point or have things go our way. So we have political candidates who run for office based on a platform of “family values” and their particular stance on abortion, gay marriage, the right to bear arms, and much more – yet I wonder if many of them can truly explain their position and the meaning they place behind it.
Some will declare themselves pro-war and pro-life in the same breath! In the end, people who claim to hear from God - again, on every side of every issue – cannot seem to get along with each other for five minutes! We would all do well to ask the question asked in James 4:1 – “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen?”
We know this isn’t right. We know that many of our troubles boil down to selfishness. And hopefully, we realize that it would be beyond ridiculous to ask God to support us in many of our desires and endeavors… because clearly we are not entitled to the things for which we are asking. If we ask God to do things for us at the expense of someone or something else, we have to realize this is selfish and wrong.
Asking God to choose our team over another at a sporting event makes no sense. Calling on God to look the other way when we cheat on a test or our taxes… to “give us a pass” this one time… doesn’t benefit us – and it surely doesn’t glorify God! We can’t ask God to help us make it to class and do well in school – or continue to hold down a job – while we are drinking and partying and/or doing drugs every night and weekend. Claiming the name of God and cloaking ourselves in Christian faith so that we can “win friends and influence people” – in any life situation – does not please God. Asking God to bless us and help us to prosper while cheating and backstabbing our friends and neighbors seems preposterous! And while the scripture says we would never think of asking God for things to which we have no right… sadly, many of us are doing exactly this. Yet, we wonder why our prayers are not answered as we expect!
The time has come for us to “come clean.” We must humbly come before God and seek His wisdom… and expect answers according to HIS will – not ours. We must take our emotions out of the equation and rely solely on the Word of God… because often, what we want and what God wants are two very different things. When we start to operate in what God wants… to desire His will and expect His answers accordingly, everything changes.
When we begin to ask God to give us the desires of His heart… the things that bless and benefit all of His children (not just us or a select few), amazing things begin to happen. Results and blessings flow in abundance. We operate in harmony, because we have checked our selfish desires at the door. There is no room in our hearts for ego, deceit, manipulation, argument, gossip, pettiness, and a whole host of other negative attitude builders, because we are filled with the word and wisdom of God. We are confident in God’s decisions and His ability to work in and through us.
Lately, God has shown me in several ways that what many of us need is a big ole dose of humility... followed by an attitude adjustment. If we could only begin to be still and listen for His voice… to develop an attitude of humble, unselfish, expectant, confident prayer for HIS will instead of our own… a lot of positive change could start to occur. But we have to take the first step. We have to examine our own hearts and motives… and start the ball rolling by surrendering to God. We must follow the protocol of prayer – pray the Word of God, enter into covenant with Him, and expect His perfect answers. Will this be the week where the “faith rules” of prayer begin to change things for you? Shouldn’t it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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