A Prayer

Lord, I am not satisfied with where I am when there is so much more of You that I can receive and You can give. I am asking You, out of an intensity of spirit that You have given me,to come upon us, Lord. Don't let us just talk about the revivals of old and what You have done in the past to bring reconciliation. For this is the day that You have made. Don't let us compare ourselves any longer to other Christians whom we know, those whom we may even perceive as being serious. But let us see Your face and get Your approval and get Your rebuke and Your intentions, so that You can bring the transformation necessary for us to do the job in this hour, through the help of the Holy Spirit.

Break the yoke of all distractions. Help us to become masters of self-control. Where cities have been known for negativism in the past, restore the places that have become desolated. Let the stumbling blocks of the past become stepping stones to a new move of God and to a new intensity to see You move.

Raise up the churches. Give them the spirit to be serious. In these latter days, let them be the latter rain, my Father, that comes upon the earth before the harvest of souls in this generation. Open the floodgates of heaven. Pour out Your Spirit upon us. There is something in the heart of the Lord. There is something in the Holy Ghost. There is a move coming. Don't let us talk about running away from the trouble, but let us talk about something that You are stirring inside of us to go to the trouble.

Let every person say with conviction "Lord, use me." Let them not just look to someone else who is being used, but let them say in their own hearts, "Use me even if no one else will be used." Grant that, Lord, I pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.


"The Low Road to New Heights" Wellington Boone

Trials

So...I'm sure this is going to a ramble of things. Things happen, good and bad, and we have no idea why. I know God has a plan for each one of us and yes, there will be bumps along the way.

James 1:2-6, 12-14 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind...Blessed is the man who perseves under trial, because he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed."

When faced with a trial or temptation in life, you might want to give up or take the easy path. God's road is not always the easiest path to take but it is the most rewarding. Wellington Boone's book The Low Road to New Heights says "there is only one road to true success and this (God) is it." Along this road we need to learn how to practice Christian views (a few are humility, obey Him, spiritual maturity, serve others, help lead others to Christ). Even along this road we will go over potholes and have to climb mountains and we might question why we are presented with this. However, God already has a plan which is mapped out perfectly and we need to do our best to stay focused on Him through all the road blocks. Life is not always a happy go lucky path (which I'm sure we all would like it to be), but in some cases we stumble and fall and not want to get back up. In these cases, we need to look to God for strength and perseverance.

Isaiah 40: 29-31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength..."

I know I ask God the question "why?" more than I should. Why did this happen? Why can't it go this way? Why this and why that? I may never know the answer to a lot of my questions, but I need to have faith that what has happened is because of God and in His great plan. Sometimes the trials and temptations I face in life get my mind wondering in a direction that it should not go...negative thoughts, feelings, emotions and even actions. This is not a way to live for Christ and show him to other people. But I do thank those that have let me divulge these issues and help me get back on the right path again.

It is hard when you think you or another is doing good for yourself and others then God presents a BIG trial for you to climb over. Sometimes they even cause tension and turmoil in other's lives and it is hard not to jump to radical conclusions. I pray that all of those who are facing some sort of trial that they cry out to You that much more for guidance, strength, and comfort. Itis in Christ that all things are possible.

Psalm 18:1 "I love you, O Lord, my strength."

Psalm 25:1-5 "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my god. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me...Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in your all day long."