Too Little, Too Late - The Danger of Unbelief

God will always forgive the repentant sinner. But there are consequences to sin that we sometimes cannot wheedle ourselves out of, or make up for. Similarly, at times our disobedience and lack of faith will cause us to miss a God-thing and no amount of crying, pleading, begging God will move Him to give us a 'second chance'. We've essentially missed the time of our visitation, or missed an appointed time. A Bible example of this is evident in the account of the Israelite nation after they were led out of Egypt and being prepared to enter their Promised Land.

In Numbers 13 we are told how a representative group of twelve chief men were sent to spy out the land they were to enter and possess, and were charged with bringing back a report of the territory, including details of the agricultural produce and the people occupying the land. Ten of the men returned and because they lacked faith in God, shared a discouraging report with the thousands of Israelites - from their skewed perspective. Their unbelieving report struck terror into their hearts of the people who then denounced Moses and the God who had led them out of Egypt with unprecedented signs and wonders. They refused to enter Canaan and to do battle with the people living there although God promised to give it to them. They set their hearts to choose another leader and make their way back to Egypt where they had been slaves. But God interrupted their uprising.

After Moses interceded for them, God quickly decided to pardon them. Nevertheless, there would be severe consequences. Pronouncing judgment upon them based on the words of their own mouth, God informed Moses that none of those people twenty years and older, who had rebelled against God would ever see the Promised Land. They would wander for forty years, each year representative of each day that the unbelieving Israelite spies had been viewing Canaan. The whole group would occupy the wilderness till the time of the death of the rebels, and finally, those who were then children would be allowed to enter the Land promised.

After Moses shared the judgment determined for Israel the group was terrified and remorseful. They finally decided they would believe and obey God. By that time, it was too little and too late.

Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned! And Moses said, Now why do you transgress the command of the Lord? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the Lord, the Lord will not be with you. But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop. Nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed from the camp.Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah (Numbers 14:39-45).

Notice the line that says 'they presumed...' - even after being warned by Moses that they would not be successful. In the same way, we can't presume to continually, deliberately, do our own thing and then just pick up where we left off in obeying God when we feel like it, or when we see the avalanche of consequences coming our way. There may be a high price to our waywardness. Sometimes, we are forgiven and able to continue without life-altering repercussions; sometimes (though forgiven) we are not. And we can really never tell which it is going to be.

The sin of the rebellious Israelites was clearly diagnosed in Hebrews 3:12 as an "evil heart of unbelief" that led to their departure from God. God is merciful, but let's be reminded from this account that both disbelief, and subsequently disobedience, are sins against God. Mercy keeps us standing in grace, but mercy does not necessarily trump the negative consequences, delays, and detours caused by unbelief along the narrow path we are traveling. Instead, let's make use of the grace of God which will enable us to lead obedient lives, and conduct us safely into His promises to us.

I Knew What I Was Getting Into - All Men Are Broken

I feel strongly that somebody needs to hear this.
Please listen this to the end. Ponder it. Take it to prayer. Let the Holy Spirit minister to you.
Believe.
Let God love you.

Pour On the Oil and the Wine

In Luke 10:30-36 Jesus tells the story of a man who showed practical love and kindness to a stranger.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’"

Just like this man that we now know as the Good Samaritan, you and I are to going to come upon wounded people along our path. Their wounds are not bloody and gaping on the outside. Instead, their hearts are broken. They have forgotten how to smile, for real, from the inside. They are insecure, lonely, and they wish they could trust again. They carry unseen loads of guilt, shame, self-loathing. They never feel comfortable in their own skin. They feel different although they don't quite know what 'normal' is. Broken hearts, oppressed spirits, mangled emotions, and tormented thoughts. Lying along the path you just happen to be traveling.

If you've met Christ, then you've met the Healer. You've been touched by the One who makes all things new, a perfect Redeemer. You are sealed with His Spirit. Spirit-filled believer you are a reservoir of living water which these people need to be saved, healed, revived. The Spirit of God is often prefigured in the Old Testament Scriptures as holy anointing oil, and compared in the New Testament Scriptures to heart-gladdening new wine. Draw out and pour on the oil and wine to the hurting and broken. Your tongue is the ladle, and the spout. Speak kind words. Speak healing words. Proclaim truth. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray and intercede with faith. You are meant to be more than an occasional Good Samaritan. You are always on duty, an ambassador of Jesus Christ and a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-20). You are drawing on a never-ending supply, so go on, pour on the oil and the wine.

Put God's Name On Yourself

This morning while spending some time with God I found myself overcome with emotion, with awe, and gratitude as I thought of one of my very favorite readings in the Old Testament:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’ “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:22-27 (emphasis mine)

Amazing. Utterly amazing. That God who made the heavens and the earth and all that fill them would teach us to ask for His blessing. There could be no way to measure the value of a blessing from an Everlasting God, an Almighty Creator, a Holy God. There is nothing greater that can be bestowed on us apart from His name. For His name embodies all He is. For some time now I've loved this prayer that Moses was taught by the LORD, and commanded to teach to those charged with the priestly ministry of that day. I especially love to hear it prayed in the original Hebrew language. It's a prayer for leaders before the LORD in their God-given sphere...congregations and families...to put the name of the LORD on His people. But make no mistake about it. You, Christian, are now a member of a holy priesthood and royal nation unto God through Christ. You can pray this blessing over yourself. You can ask God to bless you, keep you, shine on you, be gracious to you, favor you, and grant you His peace. You have this privilege to put His name on yourself. And He has already promised His blessing.

Only Believe

Here we are in 2012! Standing at the beginning of a new calendar year, I am personally more excited about this year than I can recall being excited about any other for a long time.

Did you know that God has appointed times and seasons for His global purposes, as well as His purposes in your individual life? When these times arrive He will do whatever is necessary (in accordance with His righteousness and power) to perform the word that He has already spoken (see Matt 1:18-22). We don't have to try to make anything happen in our own life. All we have to do is ensure that we are filling ourselves with His word, deepening our relationship with Him by giving ourselves to prayer, and being diligent to trust and obey. What I'm saying is that cultivating a real, personal, relationship with God takes care of everything else.

As the year unfolds tragedies and difficulties will continue. Darkness is growing darker and sin and deception is ripening in the earth. We are in the last days. Jesus is returning soon. And since He's coming for a Bride without spot or wrinkle, you better believe that the Saints are going to continuing being in a wash, rinse, spin and press cycle. Take heart. He will be with us and can strengthen us to overcome! And what's wonderful about this time that we live in is that the true, overcoming Church will shine like never before. I believe that if you spend any amount of time observing different congregations you can begin to spot the ones with hearts hungry to know God more, to speak His word and do His will, and to be holy as He is holy. It has already begun.

Christ's kingdom is going to be shared with overcomers. Those who by faith and patience, endure to possess the promises. They are those who bear up under tests because they hide the word of God in their heart and treasure it. They seek to know Him above all else.

In 2012, as in any other year, situations are going to arise that will shake those who don't have a solid faith in God and His word. But this does not mean that the year is going to be a bad one for you. Starting today you have an opportunity to choose to give God and His word first place in your life. Determine to chase Him down, to know Him more. Let your soul follow close behind Him (Psalm 63:8). As you do this, what He has planned for and through your life this year will come to pass, despite anything else that could happen in politics, the economy, or religious, social and moral debates. Take Jesus' words to heart: "Do not be afraid; only believe" (Mark 5:36).

This year, may God's kingdom come in and through your own life in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!

Finishing Well

I remember my latter high school years. Night after night of hearing the muffled sounds of the TV as all my family watched sitcoms and movies, while I sat at my desk pouring over text books, and resisting the temptation to join everyone else. Over a couple years I lost track of what was new at the cinema, or the latest at the top of the adult contemporary charts on radio. I had to forego the novels that caught my attention at the library. I made an actual list of movies and books I decided I would have to go find after I graduated, when studies were out of the way. Yes, I determined I would catch up with it all later on, but that my studies were my priority at that moment in time. I disciplined myself in practical ways, using schedules, methods, rest periods and intermittent rewards to achieve my goal. It was hard, but every round of examination met in this way, did not find me with regrets when results came out.

I believe that this willingness to weigh present perks against future rewards, and to choose with the long term in mind, is one of our greatest daily struggles in keeping first things first. Yes, it is a daily uphill climb. It's known as discipline. And its rewards come in no other way. In a Christian's life enduring to the end and finishing well requires a lifestyle of temperance.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Hebrews 12:1-3

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

How important is discipline in the Christian life? Even Paul who lived a set-apart life to God, knew that the consequences of losing vigilance, diligence, and discipline could be deadly to his chances in the race of faith.

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27

The thing about disqualification, as everyone knows, is that nothing achieved before that point is rewarded. Neither is there an 'honorable mention' given to a disqualified participant. What do you need to lay aside and get out of the way to keep growing in God? What good thing do you need to delay to make time for what's better? What temporary pleasure do you need to forego for what will last forever? It costs something to finish well. If your heart is determined, God's grace will enable you to pay what it costs ... The truth is I never got around to catching up with that list of movies and books I made all those years ago. I still don't know who's singing what out on most of the secular radio stations. But I no longer have that gnawing sense of 'missing out', and the temptations to let myself indulge complacency are tempered by greater understanding and experience. I keep before me the truth that at my last breath in this age, before seeing the face of my Redeemer, I won't be thinking of a movie, book, or popular song. No, I won't even care if I had never known what those were. With fear and awe I know I'll wish I'd spent more time getting to know Him and being transformed into the image of Christ, so that I lived this life fully pleasing to Him. I believe you would too.

The God of Wonders At Work: Functional and Beautiful

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Psalm 138:8

I watched a documentary video called God of Wonders several months ago that examined various facets of creation, with commentary from intellectuals relating everything directly to the God who made it all, and what it tells us about Himself - His love for us, and His care for all He has made. I was at a place of trial in my life and started to watch this video as mere distraction when I found myself being ministered to by the Holy Spirit. As I watched the vastness and intelligent design of the cosmos being expounded; the detailed mechanics of the skeleton, wing and lungs of birds; the care of God in giving us an innumerable species of plants and herbs for food, medicine, and sheer enjoyment; and the incredible and unmatched design of the human body and DNA, one of the biggest realizations I came away with was that God is not merely about functionality, but He is a God of beauty. He didn't just give us an Earth to live on with the things necessary for our physical sustenance, no, He also added color, fragrance, things for our enjoyment. Functionality and beauty. I serve a God of wonders. I trust a God of wonders. I came away being refreshed and having my faith stoked to continue waiting and trusting God to work out the details of my life.

Our God is a God who defines beauty, who creates beauty, who enjoys beauty. He really does all things well. As my mind turned to the awesome works of the Creator, a truth sank down into my heart: How God works in the things that are seen is not more awesome than how he works in the abstract, unseen, or intangible issues of life. He will take a bleak situation and not only work it out your survival, but give you joy and gladness. Functionality and beauty. I see this principle in the lives of the Old Testament saints that we get glimpses of such as Ruth and Joseph. Functionality and beauty are interwoven in the outcome God worked for their lives.

Ruth turned her back on the grief of the death of a spouse. She was childless and penniless and in a strange land.  She trusted the God of Israel as her refuge and at the appointed time didn't just get a place to live, or a husband for practical purposes. Instead, she got a God-planned outcome, an honorable, kind husband, a child in the lineage of the Messiah, a good reputation among an entire town, and no doubt, much gladness that her history could not predict.

Similarly, Joseph's dark years of betrayal, false accusation, and imprisonment ended with not just a deliverance for Israel from famine by his gifts of wisdom and interpreting dreams; but God also granted him personal wealth and honor; a family of his own and a dramatic reunion with his beloved father followed by gladness and peace.

These two lives display what we may say are storybook endings but this is just how our God works. He loves us and He does all things well! Trials will come, great storms will assail, but the life that is built on the Rock - the life that turns to be obedient to God's word and to believe Him in every season of life - will always be triumphant. I have no doubt that, in Eternity, if those who have so trusted God should review the lives they lived on the earth in this age, they will see not just functional deliverances and provisions accomplished by the LORD on their behalf, but also the God-kind of beauty in the way He worked things out because they steadfastly clung to Him.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11

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Bubble Forth!

Psalm 145 is all about the splendor, greatness, power, and majesty of God. It shows how that knowledge turns into the only reasonable response of praise to God. I love this Psalm. The last time I read it recently, I read it three times back to back, just trying to soak it in better, and more and more. One little verse especially thrills me when I think of the part I get to play in making His greatness known:

Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
Psalm 145:7-8

In verse 8 above, the phrase translated 'utter' (some translations include 'abundantly utter' or 'eagerly utter') literally means to "bubble forth" the memory of God's great goodness. I just love that. I see that. It fits perfectly.

It's the picture of an excited kid coming home from school and practically gushing all the exciting tale of the day's events to a parent. It's a girl talking to her best friend on the phone after a particularly thrilling experience and leaving none of the details out. It's an intimate and detailed heart to heart with your special someone when things are finally falling into place and plans you've made are shaping up.

Walking with God through the thick and thin, we have opportunity after opportunity to experience His greatness and His power to deliver, to heal, to save, to comfort, to guide, to provide and more. We are to keep the memories of these events fresh in our mind and be ready to bubble forth all that He has done. It brings glory to God, it refreshes your intimacy with Him, and it adds grace to the hearer!

Bubble forth!

Psalm 145

1 I will extol You, my God, O King;

And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless You,

And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

And His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,

And shall declare Your mighty acts.

5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,

And on Your wondrous works.

6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,

And I will declare Your greatness.

7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,

And shall sing of Your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,

Slow to anger and great in mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all,

And His tender mercies are over all His works.

10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,

And Your saints shall bless You.

11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,

And talk of Your power,

12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,

And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholds all who fall,

And raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

And You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways,

Gracious in all His works.

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and save them.

20 The LORD preserves all who love Him,

But all the wicked He will destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,

And all flesh shall bless His holy name

Forever and ever.

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House Rules

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
1 Peter 1:22

Below are a few of the "one-another" commands in the Bible that are the 'rules' for our conduct as members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
[From the webpage, place your cursor over the Scripture references to read the Scripture verses. It's important!]

* Accept one another - Romans 15:7

* Be hospitable to one another - 1 Peter 4:9

* Be of the same mind with one another - Romans 15:5-6

* Be patient with one another - Ephesians 4:2

* Build up one another - Romans 14:19

* Be devoted to one another - Romans 12:10a

* Be kind and forgiving of one another - Ephesians 4:32

* Be honest with one another - Colossians 3:9

* Care for one another - 1 Corinthians 12:25

* Carry one another's burdens - Galatians 6:2

* Comfort one another - 1 Thessalonians 4:18

* Confess your sins to one another - James 5:16

* Embrace one another - Romans 16:16

* Encourage one another - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

* Fellowship with one another - 1 John 1:7

* Honor one another - Romans 12:10b

* Live in harmony with one another - Romans 12:16

* Love one another - Romans 13:8

* Pray for one another - James 5:16

* Serve one another - Galatians 5:13

* Show mercy and compassion to one another - Zechariah 7:9

* Spur one another on to love and good works - Hebrews 10:24

* Submit to one another - Ephesians 5:21

* Teach and admonish one another - Colossians 3:16

* Worship with one another - Ephesians 5:19  Facebook
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Waiting It Out

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV

This is a popular scripture, particularly verse 11, but many of us are missing the big picture that God wants us to grasp from His comparison in verse 10. Believing God's word, doing God's word, praying God's word, confessing/declaring God's word, waiting on God's word are all critical. Yet these do not change the fact that, sometimes, seeing God's word come to pass in a particular situation entails a season of seeing nothing visibly happening, or of seeing what seems to be stops and starts, and really slow growth.

I recall viewing an interview with Germaine Copeland, the author of the popular Prayers That Avail Much series of books (they are good aids to effectual prayer because the prayers are paraphrased from Scripture and therefore based upon God's will). When asked how the books began to be written, Germaine Copeland shared how she started to write these prayers when her son began the downward slide into drugs and crime at the age of 15. She started to write these prayers out as a mother desperately seeking God's deliverance for him. She spoke of times of emotional distress but testified that her faith grew increasingly stronger as the years passed. It was 28 years before her son finally got off drugs, and this year marks 12 years that he has been sober, saved, and growing in Christ. During those 'praying years' she learned to let go and let God - by continuing to pray and wait for Him. Many of her prayer books were written within that time which also transformed her life, and produced a ministry of global prayer and intercession.

Verse 10, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater," shows a process that God's word undergoes. The process over an extended period of time means that:

•     something is being watered
•     something is being brought forth
•     something is budding
•     something is being brought to fullness so that it goes on to provide 'bread' for the NOW
•     something is growing to the point of maturity to enable it to produce 'seed' for the FUTURE

We thank God for the instant and quick manifestations of promises, help, and deliverance - but not all will come in that way. We can be encouraged though. Don't give up. Don't stop. Don't let what has already been accomplished in the earth, under the cover of soil and moonlight be aborted now. Keep on watering it with the word of God. Mix the seed with faith. To faith, add patient endurance. Faith and patient endurance will inherit what God has promised. Continue to trust and obey Him. Cultivate a heart of praise and thanksgiving.

When we are in agreement with God's will on a matter about which He has spoken, God says to us that His word will never return to Him without accomplishing His purpose. That settles it.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth

2 Chronicles 6:4

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The Prayers Of Jesus

This is the 18th and final post in a series on Praying Effectively. In the last related post we looked at prayer with fasting. Today we will sum up by turning our focus to prayer in the life of Jesus Christ when He lived as a man here on Earth.
If you are just joining me, please see the end for a special note before continuing!

• Jesus’ powerful ministry on earth was fuelled by intimate relationship with His Father. He made communicating with His Father His priority

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Mark 1:32-35

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 5:15-16

• Jesus prayed for instructions and guidance from His Father. He made no decision without seeking and waiting for the counsel of His Father.

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.
Luke 6:12-13

• Jesus life of prayer was an example to His disciples. It’s interesting that He didn’t make it a requirement for them to have a lesson on prayer. He prayed and taught them when they asked Him after observing Him.

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
Luke 11:1

• Jesus met with God the Father and interacted with the spiritual realm when He prayed. In the following text, as He prayed, He was visibly transformed. In the same way, when we live prayerful lives we also are transformed in such a way that the spiritual and eventually physical realm will see. We are transformed into the image of Christ, from glory to glory, the more time we spend with God. (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18).

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.
Luke 9:28-29

• Jesus intercedes for His disciples, then and now.

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Luke 22:31-32

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
Hebrews 7:24-26

• Jesus prayed for the strength of God in His greatest hour of testing and an angel was sent to Him. He prayed in acceptance of and obedience to His Father’s will. His prayers were desperate with strong crying and even so that His sweat were as great drops of blood.

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Matthew 26:39-44 [See also Luke 22:41-46]


Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
Hebrews 5:7-9

• Jesus prayed and committed His disciples into His Father’s care, that they may be kept from the evil of the world, dwell with Him in eternity and be one with He and His Father and one another.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17:1-26


What a prayer. What a pray-er. What a Savior!


[This is the final post in a series on the subject of prayer. In the previous installment we looked into adding fasting to prayers.
These posts are interspersed among other blog topics so for the easy identification of related posts, look for the label 'praying effectively - series' in the sidebar. If you are just now joining in I recommend that you read the first post where I shared my reason for doing this series. My intention has been to share practical keys and insight into praying effectively. Nothing here is intended to be viewed as exhaustive. However, in acting on any lessons you may have learned I am confident that the Holy Spirit will take you beyond what you could have imagined towards knowing God more and seeing His will done on Earth as it is done in Heaven.]

Prayer With Fasting.

This is the 17th post in a series on Praying Effectively. We have talked about what elements can be found in effective prayers and in the last related post we looked at what it means to pray in the Spirit.
If you are just joining me, please see the end for a special note before continuing!

Prayer with Fasting

Fasting appears in both the Old and New Testaments and always referred to abstaining from food and/or drink for a period of time. It was also accompanied by a general withdrawal from self-pampering or special adornment, and sexual relations with spouses. We have to be careful on this aspect though, because Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, who purposefully made their appearance haggard enough to practically proclaim, "Look at me! I'm fasting...I'm so holy!" The main point is to turn our focus to God - not to indulge self, and not for the praise of others.

I highlighted that biblical examples of fasting always involves denying food/drink substances because that is the reality. This is not to say that modern trends to include fasting from well-loved things and activities is not also beneficial. Any sincere turning to God, forsaking other things, will have benefits. He has promised that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8).  Furthermore, myriad health issues now prevent some people from fasting safely without medical opinion and guidance. However, for the purpose of this short lesson, I will be referring to fasting in accordance with the biblical examples we have been given.

Fasting goes hand in hand with prayer. If we are withdrawing from our regular way of living to seek God, then we must seek God!


Old Testament examples:
- Moses fasted during a time of intercession for Israel and deep communion with God.
- Nineveh's people (and animals!) fasted in repentance to turn away God's wrath and humble themselves before Him.
- David fasted in mourning and intercession for his sick baby.
- Ezra and Nehemiah fasted for God's direction, help, and guidance.
- Daniel fasted for wisdom and direction from God.
- Esther fasted for God's favor, intervention and deliverance to turn the heart of her husband, the king of Persia, towards her for good when she decided to break kingdom law.
- God's people and the nations' kings fasted for God to deliver them from their enemies in times of war.

New Testament examples:
- Anna the prophetess could be found ministering to the Lord by prayer and fasting night and day in the Temple when Jesus was just a baby.
- The disciples of John the Baptist fasted.
- The disciples of Jesus fasted in the book of Acts before making decisions. 

As we can see from the relatively few examples above, the needs often differed, but those who fasted all had a need to get near to God; for Him to act on their behalf, usual in times of urgency and great risk, or when direction regarding major concerns was needed.

An interesting statement by Jesus also reveals that fasting is important for specific demonic strongholds to be broken. The context of the statement indicates that fasting is important to bolster our faith to ask for and access the power of God.

And Jesus rebuked the demon, and he departed out of him. And the child was cured from that very hour.  Then the disciples came to Jesus apart, and said, Why could we not cast him out?  And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:18-21 

Some problems that people have are not/not only medical or psychological by nature but have to do with the active operation of evil spiritual beings which can be resisted and overcome in the authority of Jesus' name. Prayer and fasting prepare us to be the vessels through which such deliverances can take place, or to be set free ourselves.

Fasting is a useful spiritual discipline if our motivation is pure and faith-filled. As a discipline, it may not at first be easy, but the effort which may be required is not to be confused with the weight and false foundations of a rigid, legalistic, self-imposed regimen of fasting. 

Many Christians who fast can attest to the benefits of seeking God with prayer and fasting. In my own life as a young believer, I fasted weekly for a period of time (my own decision that no one else was aware of). I did not see all that was being accomplished in the moment - indeed, I did not even expect the major changes that resulted - but in retrospect I looked back with amazement at how many invisible hindrances were conquered, how much refinement of my character occurred, and how much my thirst for the word of God and prayer increased. Fasting did not accomplish these things as a magical formula, but the God I was desperately seeking was working in me and on my behalf.

We are near the end of this series on Prayer. In our next and final installment we will take a look at Jesus' prayer life in the New Testament. 

[This is the 17th post in a series on the subject of prayer. In the previous installment we looked into what it means to pray 'in the Spirit'. 
These posts are interspersed among other blog topics so for the easy identification of related posts, look for the label 'praying effectively - series' in the sidebar. If you are just now joining in I recommend that you read the first post where I shared my reason for doing this series. I hope to share practical keys and insight into praying effectively, in bite-size blog posts which you can easily follow.]

Praying In The Spirit

This is the 16th post in a series on Praying Effectively. We have talked about what effective prayers are and in the last related post we looked at suggestions on what to pray for.
If you are just joining me, please see the end for a special note before continuing!

Praying in the Spirit

This is more than just praying in an unknown tongue, it has to do with flowing with the Spirit of God in sensitivity and yielded-ness, but is inclusive of these utterances which the Spirit gives. Praying in the Spirit is essentially about praying with the utmost precision according to both the will and knowledge of God.


• For self-edification:

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit
Jude 1:20

The following Scripture passage will show clearly that praying in unknown tongues, as the Spirit gives utterance, is a powerful gift to the Saints of God because it allows men to speak to God above the limitations of their knowledge or ability to comprehend. The emphasis of this excerpt, however, is that in public gatherings - without also having the gift of interpreting tongues in operation - it is not edifying to the church to use this precious gift of God. I included the entire passage so that we could consider the topic in a balanced way.

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
1 Corinthians 14:2-19

• In intercession/about the unknown:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel
Ephesians 6:18-19

In my own experience the Holy Spirit has many times given me clear mental thoughts and impressions of specific things to pray for/about and then let me come to find out from someone how my prayer related directly to something that actually occurred or threatened. This showed me just how critical it is to pray with specific dependence upon the Holy Spirit who knows all things. I now depend upon the Holy Spirit to direct my prayers, even without having this feedback or confirmation from others. The key is to come earnestly to God and esteem that time of prayer with Him, asking for the help of the Holy Spirit.


• For insight/wisdom of God:

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:6-16

• Testimonies of persons who spend time praying as the Spirit leads include:
- Faith for physical healing
- Inner healing of emotions, healing from traumatic experiences etc.
- Personal strongholds broken
- Increased self-control; increased ability to make choices to resist temptation
- Greater understanding of, and desire for the Word of God


In the next post in this series I will say a little about prayer with fasting.


[This is the 16th post in a series on the subject of prayer. In the previous installment we looked at what we should pray for. 
These posts are interspersed among other blog topics so for the easy identification of related posts, look for the label 'praying effectively - series' in the sidebar. If you are just now joining in I recommend that you read the first post where I shared my reason for doing this series. I hope to share practical keys and insight into praying effectively, in bite-size blog posts which you can easily follow.]

"Therefore I Felt Compelled"

When a decision needs to be made and circumstances are such that it needs to be made now, we find ourselves under incredible pressure. Human reasoning often gets the best of us at these times. We know we really should pray about it, but we don't have time. We know we have prayed for God's leading, but His answer hasn't come at our deadline. We know we should find out what God would want us to do at that moment, but we feel compelled to meet the expectations of people who are demanding a response. We've all been there. However, now as Christians, we need to break away, violently, from this need to respond now, without waiting and diligently following God's leading.

Acting when we feel compelled without waiting upon the LORD is one trait which will cause us not only to detour widely from God's will for our lives, but also to fall into His great disfavor. At the heart of acting because we feel compelled, is a lack of fear of the LORD and instead, the fear of man; as well as a lack of dependence upon God and a presumptuous, rebellious heart. It can lead to nothing but disobedience and irreverence towards God. King Saul, who started out well with the LORD, soon came to a pathetic end because He disobeyed God, for this very reason, on more than one occasion. I would ask you to take the time to study 1 Samuel Chapters 9 to 14 about his appointment to the throne of Israel as it's first king, and his downfall - a case study God has provided us as both an example and warning. Here is a snippet of just one such instance in Saul's life, taken from 1 Samuel 13:

Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
And Samuel said, “What have you done?”
Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”
And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
1 Samuel 13:8-14

Not long after Saul was strongly rebuked as you read above, his hasty decision-making again proved that he was more driven by a fear of man (that is, a regard for pleasing people and meeting the expectations of what others wanted and expected) and that he did not know his great need for the LORD. He was too self-dependent. The situation I am referring to from 1 Samuel 14 is even more telling of the true state of his heart.

And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel). Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.
1 Samuel 14:18-20

Notice that on this occasion he went so far as to command the priest to bring the ark of the LORD for inquiring of the LORD, however as the noise of the approaching Philistines increased, he commanded the priest to halt and instead went out with his own battle strategy. At a critical moment he stopped a priest from getting God's wisdom and instruction because he felt compelled. Is it any wonder that "there was very great confusion"?

Many times when our actions imitate what Saul did, we think of it too lightly, reasoning and excusing, deceiving ourselves that God will understand and accommodate our haste. However, the biblical records prove that this is not so. We cannot please God without faith in Him. It is simply impossible (Hebrews 11:6). At these moments when pressure mounts and we feel compelled to take action, we must have our faith in God alone and cast care of needing to act upon Him. Your present circumstances can be no more dire than Saul's was, with a vast murderous enemy army ("people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude") mounting against him and his people, and all awaiting his orders.

There is another young man in Scripture who also proves that true, trusting, humble dependence upon God is all the more earnest when we find ourselves at these critical moments of decision-making. David the young fugitive, unjustly hunted and accused of treason by king Saul, was the one anointed to fill Saul's place on the throne and he was tested by severe trials. He made his home with the Philistines for a length of time and in one instance, upon returning to his city Ziklag with his relatively small group of men, they found that all their possessions, wives and children had been taken captive by an Amalekite army. David's men turned their anger against David for what had befallen them while they were away, willing to fight with the Philistine army on his behalf. After they had "lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep", they were soon speaking of stoning him! Pressure was at an all time high for David. All were tired, hungry, and had lost their families and all their earthly possessions. His own life was on the line by those who had fought alongside him. What would David do? David "encouraged himself in the LORD", and then he called for the priest to bring the ephod that he might inquire of the LORD if they should pursue the army and if He would give them success (1 Samuel 30:6-8).

David's response is in stark contrast to that of king Saul. David did not assume he had God's mind on the matter. He did not reason with human reasoning. He did not even respond in haste to protect his own life. David needed God. And he knew it. He depended on God, feared God, loved God, and trusted God. And that's why He always inquired of the LORD. Note well: In all the records of Scripture, David never lost a battle to any army. I am convinced that His constant humility and dependence upon God has everything to do with His might as a warrior. It is now up to us to learn from the lives of these two men, King Saul and King David. Will we continue to be compelled, or will we trust and obey?


You may like to read these past posts related to today's blog entry:
Passing or Failing God's Tests
Forgetting God and Forging Ahead
Waiting On God Well

I Know It Hurts. Love Anyway.

After you've been hurt, betrayed, used, rejected, abandoned, or deceived in a relationship (whether by family members, friends, or significant others), it's common to want to protect yourself by withdrawing. You think it will protect you from future pain. However, if you choose that route you will lose more than the equivalent of whatever future pain there may be. You'll become a shell of a person, either avoiding or rejecting others; or hurting and using others cold-heartedly. As someone who has been there, I encourage you to keep investing in love, God's way. Because, you see, there is a beautiful paradox where true godly love is concerned. That same love that is implanted in the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit, and which is nurtured by sacrificial obedience to God's word, will make you vulnerable to heartache, but it is also a healing balm.

A commitment to godly love protects your heart from the defilement of bitterness or destructive tendencies. Such defilement usually accompanies heartache when the relationship that was broken was built only upon a worldly passion, or an unreasonable and self-centered devotion. True, godly, love even when met with heartache will draw out Christlikeness in your own character - a fragrance of mercy, forgiveness, and faithfulness. And it preserves tenderness and compassion in your heart to invest in other, or future, relationships.

Your heart will be wounded in this world. Christ's heart was wounded because He loved. He came to His own who did not receive Him. He was mocked, scorned and struck by those He was suffering for; despised and rejected by those He loved; betrayed by a friend; denied by a close companion (see John 1:10-11; Isaiah 53:1-12; Ephesians 2:4-7). But Jesus loved anyway. Even upon the cross, in the excruciating pain of the last moments of His earthly life, He made intercession for those who crucified Him. No, not all who He loves did, or will, love Him in return, but there are those who do. They love Him because He first loved them (1 John 4:19), and they have sealed and proved their love with their own blood, or have suffered the loss of all worldly things for His sake. His love paved the way for others to be able to love Him, and one another, with this other-worldly, overcoming love.

In the same way, despite the wounding you've suffered, if you keep looking to God to be your Source and Chief Joy, and stay committed to loving with His love, He will place others who are also being transformed by His love into your life. The richness you will experience from these new relationships will be amplified because of the depth of character you gained in your willingness to love, show mercy, compassion, and forgive even when others hurt you. Remember "love suffers long", and "love never ends". "And now faith, hope, love, these three remain; but the greatest of these is love" (see 1 Corinthians 13). I know it hurts now, but love will also be your healing balm. Love will reap eternal relationships, and rewards. Love anyway.

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. - Mother Teresa

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What To Pray For

This is the 15th post in a series on Praying Effectively. We have talked about what effective prayers are and in the last related post we learned that abiding in Christ is the key to a consistent experience of effective prayers. 'Abiding' in Christ necessarily includes prayer, but this prayer is first devotional and personal. Without these times with God, endeavoring to pray effectively in other areas (for example, intercession for others) will doubtless become a duty without joy and increasingly difficult to sustain.
If you are just joining me, please see the end for a special note before continuing!


What To Pray For

1. Self
Some people believe that it is selfish to pray for oneself first when praying. Or that it is selfish to spend a lot of time praying for oneself during times of prayer. I have found that it is not only not selfish but important to pray for oneself, especially if one is to go on to spend a lot of time interceding for the lives of others. It is important to be built up, and to spend time edifying oneself to be equipped and strengthened to serve others. The value is in spending time praying for our spiritual needs and about those things that affect our eternal purposes, more than for shallow, temporal, and insignificant pursuits.

2. Others – believers and unbelievers
Praying for one another is the main way in which we can access the supply of the Spirit of God for the strength, help, deliverance, grace, peace, joy, enlightenment of others. Even the greatest servants such as the apostle Paul depended upon and requested the prayers of the churches. The more that is to be accomplished for God, the greater the need for prayer.
Prayer to God is the lifeline of the members of the church of Jesus Christ, individually and as a whole; for personal maturity and for service to others.
It is important to make supplications and intercessions for others in the household of faith, including prayers for the strengthening, establishment and protection of young converts. It is also necessary to pray for those yet outside the family of God, including unsaved family members and friends, even strangers, and governmental authority figures.

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
1 Timothy 2:1-4

3. The global and eternal purposes of God
As we read the Scriptures and spend time abiding in Christ, the eternal purposes of God become more real to us. That is to say, the bigger picture comes into focus more clearly. We learn of God's purposes to conform men to Christ and to make us a holy nation unto Himself. In the letter to the Romans, Chapter 11 we learn of His plans to redeem ethnic Israel which has temporarily been allowed to remain in blindness during the present dispensation. We learn of the coming manifest kingdom of God, not only "in heaven", but right here on earth after Christ's return. These types of overarching divine purposes ought to have some place in our prayers as well. We should not only be informed by them in the spirit of the requests we make of God, but we should actually pray for such things as the maturity of the body of Christ to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, for the unity of the faith [see John 17:20-23; Eph 4:13]; for the peace of Jerusalem, for the salvation of Israel [see Psalm 122:6; Jer 50:20]; and for the coming kingdom and that God's will will be done on earth as it is done in heaven [see Matt 6:10].

Clearly, there are many, many prayer needs. We should be inclusive and intentional, but not rigid, and not dependent upon our own wisdom and strength to persist with these requests. The main thing is to be led by the Holy Spirit, to ask for His help, and to flow with His agenda for each prayer session. Yielding to the Spirit in prayer will be the focus of my next post in this series.



[This is the 15th post in a series on the subject of prayer. In the previous installment we looked at the foundational principle of abiding in Christ and briefly discussed what that means. 
These posts are interspersed among other blog topics so for the easy identification of related posts, look for the label 'praying effectively - series' in the sidebar. If you are just now joining in I recommend that you read the first post where I shared my reason for doing this series. I hope to share practical keys and insight into praying effectively, in bite-size blog posts which you can easily follow.]  Facebook
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