Psalms 80:1
O Shepherd of Israel who leads Israel
like a flock; O God enthroned above the Guardian Angels, bend down your
ear and listen as I plead. Display your power and radiant glory.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
How often do you plead
with God about something? If you are like most people, the answer
is…”Pretty often!” Now here’s the bigger question…how often do you
trust Him to answer? I mean REALLY BELIEVE that God will hear your
prayer and act on it. Notice I didn’t say that He will hear and do
whatever you asked…because often what we ask for is not what is really
needed.
I don’t think I am all that different from a lot of people, and I know that there have been many times that I begged and pleaded with God to DO SOMETHING (translation: make this work out like I want it to, LORD!)…but I didn’t really expect any results.
The
time has come for us to stop offering hollow prayers. God may not
answer us immediately…or in the way that we expect or desire…but He will
answer. He does hear us, and if we earnestly call on Him to display
His power and radiant glory, He will do so!
I am learning to talk
to God about everything…to give Him my burdens and my desires…and to
WAIT on Him to answer. I know that He will…and that He will answer YOU,
also. Are you ready to pray expectantly - with faith and intention…or
will you just keep telling God your problems and hoping He fixes them?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label praying God's will. Show all posts
Showing posts with label praying God's will. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 15, 2014
October 15 ~ Mark 11:22-24
Jesus told his disciples:
Have faith in God! If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, I watched a certain televangelist’s morning program every week. In fact, I recorded his “sermons” and studied them each Sunday afternoon. Do not judge! I gained a lot of Bible knowledge from this exercise. That is not to say that I believed everything this man taught – or his interpretation of the scriptures he presented each day. He took the scripture promise of Mark 11:22-24 in a totally different direction – and he quoted other scriptures in an attempt to support his stance.
This man believed that God wanted us to all live in “McMansions”, drive an expensive vehicle (or own a fleet of cars), wear expensive watches and diamond jewelry, own private jets and more. He assured us that all of this was within our reach...if we would believe for it AND “sow seeds” of money gifts to the church – even when we couldn’t pay our light bill! This is called “prosperity teaching/preaching”, and it’s become quite popular in certain “Christian” circles. No apologies are made for having excessive wealth...this is considered God’s reward or “favor” for faithfulness and obedience.
One of the things I did learn from all of this was how to study the scriptures for myself...to dig deeply and discover what God intended me to glean from His word. And here’s what I feel He tells me about this particular set of verses...”the rest of the story”!
If you continue reading in Mark 11, verses 25-26 say, “Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.” Oh, but wait! You mean...I have to forgive others in order to “move that mountain”? Certainly! John 15:16 says “You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name.” So I have to ask for GOD’s will rather than my own? Most definitely!
In Isaiah 55:9, God tells us, “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.” Then we must not only have faith in God...but also in His ways – even when they are not what we expected or desired? Absolutely!
So while we may grow up wanting to be an architect or ballerina...believing with every fiber of our being that we will end up in the NBA or the NFL...or that we will marry the person of our dreams, have 2.5 children and the proverbial “house with the picket fence, two cars a dog and a cat” and live happily ever after...God may have far different plans. We can believe all day long that all we have to do is ask God for something, and He will give it to us...but if it doesn’t fit into His perfect plan, this simply will not happen. If we operate with anger, hatred, ill will or unforgiveness in our hearts and ask God to produce certain results, we’ve gotten it all wrong.
Understand this...God is in the business of miracles and moving mountains. He is ready, willing, and able to answer our prayers...to help us soar to heights beyond any we could ever imagine. But this only happens within His will and the parameters that He has outlined for us. We must have obedient faith...we must get rid of any ulterior or selfish motives...we must come to Him with a humble attitude and a genuine confidence that His answer is the best one. If all of these things come together as God desires, the “mountain” will be moved. If it is not...we must be ready to accept this and ask, “What did YOU have in mind, LORD?”
I don’t know what “mountains” you are asking God to move today. Perhaps you are asking for healing for yourself or someone you know. Maybe you are struggling at school or in the workplace...looking for a job...grappling with bills and a way to make ends meet...fighting for your marriage or resolution in another personal relationship...coping with the challenges of aging (your own or someone else’s)...seeking a deeper spiritual connection and/or grappling with relationships that involve fellow believers and/or your church family. Whatever your situation entails...God has a plan. He already knows what is best for us. But He wants us to ask for His help...in the right way, with the right attitude and expectations.
A lot of people want to tout the “power of positive thinking”...the notion that if we just believe strongly enough...if we just envision what we want with enough conviction...it will happen. Don’t leave God out of this equation. There is no “secret”, as some would have you believe. Everything is clearly spelled out in the scriptures...and everything you ask for in prayer – according to God’s perfect will – can indeed be yours. What are you asking for today...and how did you ask? There is faith...and then there is faith. In which will you choose to operate? How you answer may spell the difference in what happens to the “mountain”!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Jesus told his disciples:
Have faith in God! If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, I watched a certain televangelist’s morning program every week. In fact, I recorded his “sermons” and studied them each Sunday afternoon. Do not judge! I gained a lot of Bible knowledge from this exercise. That is not to say that I believed everything this man taught – or his interpretation of the scriptures he presented each day. He took the scripture promise of Mark 11:22-24 in a totally different direction – and he quoted other scriptures in an attempt to support his stance.
This man believed that God wanted us to all live in “McMansions”, drive an expensive vehicle (or own a fleet of cars), wear expensive watches and diamond jewelry, own private jets and more. He assured us that all of this was within our reach...if we would believe for it AND “sow seeds” of money gifts to the church – even when we couldn’t pay our light bill! This is called “prosperity teaching/preaching”, and it’s become quite popular in certain “Christian” circles. No apologies are made for having excessive wealth...this is considered God’s reward or “favor” for faithfulness and obedience.
One of the things I did learn from all of this was how to study the scriptures for myself...to dig deeply and discover what God intended me to glean from His word. And here’s what I feel He tells me about this particular set of verses...”the rest of the story”!
If you continue reading in Mark 11, verses 25-26 say, “Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.” Oh, but wait! You mean...I have to forgive others in order to “move that mountain”? Certainly! John 15:16 says “You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name.” So I have to ask for GOD’s will rather than my own? Most definitely!
In Isaiah 55:9, God tells us, “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.” Then we must not only have faith in God...but also in His ways – even when they are not what we expected or desired? Absolutely!
So while we may grow up wanting to be an architect or ballerina...believing with every fiber of our being that we will end up in the NBA or the NFL...or that we will marry the person of our dreams, have 2.5 children and the proverbial “house with the picket fence, two cars a dog and a cat” and live happily ever after...God may have far different plans. We can believe all day long that all we have to do is ask God for something, and He will give it to us...but if it doesn’t fit into His perfect plan, this simply will not happen. If we operate with anger, hatred, ill will or unforgiveness in our hearts and ask God to produce certain results, we’ve gotten it all wrong.
Understand this...God is in the business of miracles and moving mountains. He is ready, willing, and able to answer our prayers...to help us soar to heights beyond any we could ever imagine. But this only happens within His will and the parameters that He has outlined for us. We must have obedient faith...we must get rid of any ulterior or selfish motives...we must come to Him with a humble attitude and a genuine confidence that His answer is the best one. If all of these things come together as God desires, the “mountain” will be moved. If it is not...we must be ready to accept this and ask, “What did YOU have in mind, LORD?”
I don’t know what “mountains” you are asking God to move today. Perhaps you are asking for healing for yourself or someone you know. Maybe you are struggling at school or in the workplace...looking for a job...grappling with bills and a way to make ends meet...fighting for your marriage or resolution in another personal relationship...coping with the challenges of aging (your own or someone else’s)...seeking a deeper spiritual connection and/or grappling with relationships that involve fellow believers and/or your church family. Whatever your situation entails...God has a plan. He already knows what is best for us. But He wants us to ask for His help...in the right way, with the right attitude and expectations.
A lot of people want to tout the “power of positive thinking”...the notion that if we just believe strongly enough...if we just envision what we want with enough conviction...it will happen. Don’t leave God out of this equation. There is no “secret”, as some would have you believe. Everything is clearly spelled out in the scriptures...and everything you ask for in prayer – according to God’s perfect will – can indeed be yours. What are you asking for today...and how did you ask? There is faith...and then there is faith. In which will you choose to operate? How you answer may spell the difference in what happens to the “mountain”!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 5, 2011
Psalm 103:3-6
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.
God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
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.
I am on the list to receive prayer requests from my mother’s church, my Emmaus community, and my own church. I also see needs expressed on Facebook and receive requests from friends and family members as special prayer concerns arise. Some days, the list of expressed needs is quite lengthy, and the burdens can become rather daunting. So many people are hurting in one way or another… illness… grief and loss…the challenges of aging…the challenges of youth and being a teenager, heading off to college or becoming an adult…economic woes… sin… we all have a laundry list of things to talk with God about each and every day. And then we turn on the television and hear the news of incomprehensible suffering in Third World countries… and we can’t help but be overwhelmed at times.
The GOOD NEWS is that God has answers! Many of them are outlined in Psalm 103…and I really love how this translation enumerates them. He heals diseases… every one of them! He saves you from hell… wraps you in goodness…renews your youth. Best of all, He makes everything right! I don’t know about you... but for me, this is fantastic news! I am moved to tears to think of this incredible love and protection… to know that God really is listening to my prayers and meeting my needs.
I don’t know what you are enduring today. You may be ill or have family members who are sick… you may be facing major challenges, such as a new school, a new job, or moving to a new city. You may have suffered a major loss – a loved one, a relationship change, or even the death of a beloved pet. You may feel old and tired… discouraged, depressed, or disappointed. You may have a heavy burden of sin that you are carrying like a backpack filled with rocks. But all of this and so much more matters to God… and He is ready to make things right.
Will you get instant relief? Possibly… although God’s timing is not always as quick as we would like. Will you feel God’s presence? Yes… if you maintain close contact with Him and truly seek Him on a regular basis. Will things get better? Absolutely! It may take awhile…but keep praying and believing. Keep trusting God to meet your every need. Don’t hesitate to ask fellow believers to pray for you – and with you. It is an honor and a blessing to pray for others, and there is tremendous power in corporate prayer. Flood the “airwaves” today with prayer and praise… let God set you back on your feet – and make things right for you and those you love.
©2011 Debbie Robus
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.
God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
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.
I am on the list to receive prayer requests from my mother’s church, my Emmaus community, and my own church. I also see needs expressed on Facebook and receive requests from friends and family members as special prayer concerns arise. Some days, the list of expressed needs is quite lengthy, and the burdens can become rather daunting. So many people are hurting in one way or another… illness… grief and loss…the challenges of aging…the challenges of youth and being a teenager, heading off to college or becoming an adult…economic woes… sin… we all have a laundry list of things to talk with God about each and every day. And then we turn on the television and hear the news of incomprehensible suffering in Third World countries… and we can’t help but be overwhelmed at times.
The GOOD NEWS is that God has answers! Many of them are outlined in Psalm 103…and I really love how this translation enumerates them. He heals diseases… every one of them! He saves you from hell… wraps you in goodness…renews your youth. Best of all, He makes everything right! I don’t know about you... but for me, this is fantastic news! I am moved to tears to think of this incredible love and protection… to know that God really is listening to my prayers and meeting my needs.
I don’t know what you are enduring today. You may be ill or have family members who are sick… you may be facing major challenges, such as a new school, a new job, or moving to a new city. You may have suffered a major loss – a loved one, a relationship change, or even the death of a beloved pet. You may feel old and tired… discouraged, depressed, or disappointed. You may have a heavy burden of sin that you are carrying like a backpack filled with rocks. But all of this and so much more matters to God… and He is ready to make things right.
Will you get instant relief? Possibly… although God’s timing is not always as quick as we would like. Will you feel God’s presence? Yes… if you maintain close contact with Him and truly seek Him on a regular basis. Will things get better? Absolutely! It may take awhile…but keep praying and believing. Keep trusting God to meet your every need. Don’t hesitate to ask fellow believers to pray for you – and with you. It is an honor and a blessing to pray for others, and there is tremendous power in corporate prayer. Flood the “airwaves” today with prayer and praise… let God set you back on your feet – and make things right for you and those you love.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 21, 2011
2 Samuel 12:16-23
So David went without eating to show his sorrow, and he begged God to make the boy well. David would not sleep on his bed, but spent each night lying on the floor. His officials stood beside him and tried to talk him into getting up. But he would not get up or eat with them.
After the child had been sick for seven days, he died, but the officials were afraid to tell David. They said to each other, "Even when the boy was alive, David wouldn't listen to us. How can we tell him his son is dead? He might do something terrible!"
David noticed his servants whispering, and he knew the boy was dead. "Did my son die?" he asked his servants. "Yes, he did," they answered.
David got up off the floor; he took a bath, combed his hair, and dressed. He went into the LORD's tent and worshiped, then he went back home. David asked for something to eat, and when his servants brought him some food, he ate it.
His officials said, "What are you doing? You went without eating and cried for your son while he was alive! But now that he's dead, you're up and eating.
David answered: While he was still alive, I went without food and cried because there was still hope. I said to myself, "Who knows? Maybe the LORD will have pity on me and let the child live." But now that he's dead, why should I go without eating? I can't bring him back! Someday I will join him in death, but he can't return to me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever prayed for something specific, and God answered in a different way? How did you react? Did you pout… rant and rave… or mope around feeling sad and mistreated because God didn’t answer as you had wished?
We have clear examples in the Bible of God answering prayers… but not always in the way we want or expect. David had done some terrible things, and he was told that God would allow him to live… his baby boy would die because of his sin. David begged and pleaded with God not to take the baby… but that is exactly what God did.
In the New Testament, we read that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and asked God if there was any other way to accomplish His will without the crucifixion. Jesus prayed so hard he sweated blood! But in this case… as in the case of David… God answered differently… and both got up, dusted themselves off, and moved forward.
There is a great example here for each of us, and it has two components. First, we must always pray for God’s will… not our own. Beyond this, we must accept God’s answers – with dignity and grace. To do otherwise belies our faith. If we walk around saying, “I asked God to heal me, but I’m still sick,” we’re saying, “I don’t believe in God’s wisdom… I don’t trust His outcomes.” If we say, “I begged God not to let such-and-such happen, but it did anyway,” we are saying, “I know better than God how things ought to go. He should have listened to me!” Instead, we should be saying, “I prayed for God’s will. I will trust Him for the right outcome,” or “I asked God to heal me according to His will… and I know He will do just that!” The difference is a shift in attitude… operating in faith rather than specific requests and results.
There is nothing wrong with praying, “Lord, please dissolve this tumor,” or “Father, please protect my children.” But we must always follow with “… according to your will.” More than this, we must mean what we say. We must truly ask God to be present in our lives according to His will, and when He speaks, we must do as David did… dust ourselves off, dress and move ahead. We must look at Jesus’ example and put one foot in front of the other, regardless of what God calls us to endure.
I will be the first to admit that God has not always answered my prayers as I would like. In fact, He often answers quite differently. I’m learning to look at God’s answers and see that His outcomes are always better. Notice I didn’t say they were easier… but somewhere down the road, I can almost always see that He had a better plan. And honestly, it doesn’t matter whether I see the plan or not… what matters is that I trust God for His perfect outcome.
Think about what you are asking God for these days. Consider what you are expecting… is it His will – or your own? Where do you need to shift your attitude… and your level of trust? Have you dusted off your clothes and stepped out in faith for God’s answers lately? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
So David went without eating to show his sorrow, and he begged God to make the boy well. David would not sleep on his bed, but spent each night lying on the floor. His officials stood beside him and tried to talk him into getting up. But he would not get up or eat with them.
After the child had been sick for seven days, he died, but the officials were afraid to tell David. They said to each other, "Even when the boy was alive, David wouldn't listen to us. How can we tell him his son is dead? He might do something terrible!"
David noticed his servants whispering, and he knew the boy was dead. "Did my son die?" he asked his servants. "Yes, he did," they answered.
David got up off the floor; he took a bath, combed his hair, and dressed. He went into the LORD's tent and worshiped, then he went back home. David asked for something to eat, and when his servants brought him some food, he ate it.
His officials said, "What are you doing? You went without eating and cried for your son while he was alive! But now that he's dead, you're up and eating.
David answered: While he was still alive, I went without food and cried because there was still hope. I said to myself, "Who knows? Maybe the LORD will have pity on me and let the child live." But now that he's dead, why should I go without eating? I can't bring him back! Someday I will join him in death, but he can't return to me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever prayed for something specific, and God answered in a different way? How did you react? Did you pout… rant and rave… or mope around feeling sad and mistreated because God didn’t answer as you had wished?
We have clear examples in the Bible of God answering prayers… but not always in the way we want or expect. David had done some terrible things, and he was told that God would allow him to live… his baby boy would die because of his sin. David begged and pleaded with God not to take the baby… but that is exactly what God did.
In the New Testament, we read that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and asked God if there was any other way to accomplish His will without the crucifixion. Jesus prayed so hard he sweated blood! But in this case… as in the case of David… God answered differently… and both got up, dusted themselves off, and moved forward.
There is a great example here for each of us, and it has two components. First, we must always pray for God’s will… not our own. Beyond this, we must accept God’s answers – with dignity and grace. To do otherwise belies our faith. If we walk around saying, “I asked God to heal me, but I’m still sick,” we’re saying, “I don’t believe in God’s wisdom… I don’t trust His outcomes.” If we say, “I begged God not to let such-and-such happen, but it did anyway,” we are saying, “I know better than God how things ought to go. He should have listened to me!” Instead, we should be saying, “I prayed for God’s will. I will trust Him for the right outcome,” or “I asked God to heal me according to His will… and I know He will do just that!” The difference is a shift in attitude… operating in faith rather than specific requests and results.
There is nothing wrong with praying, “Lord, please dissolve this tumor,” or “Father, please protect my children.” But we must always follow with “… according to your will.” More than this, we must mean what we say. We must truly ask God to be present in our lives according to His will, and when He speaks, we must do as David did… dust ourselves off, dress and move ahead. We must look at Jesus’ example and put one foot in front of the other, regardless of what God calls us to endure.
I will be the first to admit that God has not always answered my prayers as I would like. In fact, He often answers quite differently. I’m learning to look at God’s answers and see that His outcomes are always better. Notice I didn’t say they were easier… but somewhere down the road, I can almost always see that He had a better plan. And honestly, it doesn’t matter whether I see the plan or not… what matters is that I trust God for His perfect outcome.
Think about what you are asking God for these days. Consider what you are expecting… is it His will – or your own? Where do you need to shift your attitude… and your level of trust? Have you dusted off your clothes and stepped out in faith for God’s answers lately? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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