Were you expecting to find it?

 

Many years ago, I came across this short piece of writing, and it sits in the recesses of my memory coming to mind quite frequently, especially when I’m praying for something that seems impossible.

“Many a ship passes in the night,

touching at our wharf with the precious freight

which we have been praying for,

but we are not there to receive it.

Many a dove comes to our window from the

weltering waste of waters;

but we are too immersed in other things to notice its light tap.

We pray, but we do not wait;

we ask, but we do not expect to receive;

we knock, but we are gone before the door is opened.”  F.B.Meyer

How many times are we guilty of praying a specific prayer, then walking away and forgetting all about it? We don't stay at the foot of the cross, holding out our hands expectantly, waiting for God to grant the request with his abundance. Instead, we get discouraged, we doubt God's goodness, his provision, his protection. We go our way and while we're gone, the answer comes, but “we are gone before the door is opened.”

The story is told of a little girl who announced to her mother one sunny morning, “I’m going to pick some flowers in the woods. Do you want to join me?” It was an unlikely time of year for there to be any wildflowers in the woods, but this mother realised the importance of spending time with her daughter, and so, with basket in hand, off they went in search of the brightly coloured blooms.

As they walked through the woods, they spotted moss and mushrooms, vines and leaves. But not a single flower.

The mother assuming that there were no blooms to be found casually began picking up acorns instead.

The daughter, on the other hand, was undeterred. She looked under every bush, peered around trees, peeked under logs and searched through the leaves on the forest floor.

But her basket remained empty.

Just as they were nearing the trail’s end, the mother heard an excited squeal. She turned to see her little girl gleefully skipping through the grass and dropping to her knees in a beautiful spray of purple wildflowers.

“How did I walk right past these?”, the mother wondered aloud as her daughter filled her basket with the fresh blossoms.

With the insight and wisdom of someone much older, her daughter calmly replied, “You didn’t see the flowers because you weren’t expecting to find any.”

How often do I find myself in this mother’s shoes? Guilty of not finding anything because I wasn’t expecting to find anything. Guilty of praying without expectation of an answer.

I stand on the wharf, gazing out into the darkness of the sea, lifting up a prayer to God, and then I turn and walk away. With a shrug of my shoulders, and a sigh, I think to myself, “God won’t answer that prayer. It’s too small. It’s too large. It’s too hard. It’s not worth his time.”

And away I walk, not content to wait a little longer, to pray a little harder, to persevere in holy desperation, crying out to God for his mercy, kindness and love.

Often, we pray, but we don’t wait. We ask, but we don’t expect anything to come of it. We knock, but we turn away, not expecting the door to be opened.

And when the answer comes, we are not there to receive it and we don’t recognize it as the answer to our prayer. Sometimes it’s because it arrives in a different form then we imagined.

God often wraps things in unlikely packaging, and we don’t realise that his gift is the gift we longed for. In our waiting we have lost the enthusiasm we once had and when the answer comes we are surprised as we weren’t expecting it, and our lack of expectation blinded our eyes to the blessing.

We have fallen prey to the seed of doubt. And possibly unbelief.

In the book of James, we are likened to something when we waver in our faith.

James 1:5-7 KJV - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

We are likened to a wave of the sea.

I love the ocean. I love to stand at the water’s edge, with my toes digging into the sand, watching the waves roll in, and feeling the coolness of the water lap at my feet. I watch the wave as it comes in, then goes out, then in, then out. Over and over.

It’s the wind that is driving the waves onto the shoreline. The force of the wind blows over the surface of the water, and as it transfers its energy, it causes the water to move in a circular motion. The rise and fall of water molecules create a wave that moves in the direction of the wind.

Why are we likened to a wave when we pray without faith? When we waver and doubt it is because the ‘winds’ in our lives are causing this in out motion. Faith. Doubt. Faith. Doubt.

What is the wind in your life that drives you? Is it a wind of doubt? Is it a wind of anxiety? Is it a wind of fear?

Our expectations affect our vision.

This verse in Jeremiah holds a beautiful promise.

Jeremiah 29:13 KJV - And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

The searching in this verse is not a casual glance or a hurried hunt. No. It’s a searching with passion and expectation, like the little girl unwaveringly, persistently, determinedly seeking for her precious blooms.

And because she expected to find them, she did. And her efforts were rewarded.

When we search for God, when we look for him with our whole heart, when we cry out to him in sincere desperation, knowing that only he holds the key to unlock the heavy case of burdens we carry, when we seek him, we WILL find him.

We WILL have the answers we need.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We don’t please God when we waver in our faith. We have to believe. And he will bless. But notice that is says he will reward the diligent? Those that diligently seek him. There has to be some earnestness about our prayers. Some care, some steadfastness. Some expectation.

God loves us and wants to give good gifts to his children, but he has an expectation as well. He expects us to ask. And to keep on asking. To seek. And to keep on seeking. To knock. And to keep on knocking.

He doesn’t want half-hearted prayers. He wants us to be all in.

He wants us to pull up that deck chair, hat in hand, coat to the ready, nourishment handy, sitting on the wharf in eager expectation and anticipation of his answers.

Now, that doesn’t mean we don’t put feet to our prayers. We need to be busy doing the work of the Lord, but in all our busyness, we need to remember God’s goodness and we need not forget that nothing is too hard for God.

No need, no hurt, no wound, no request is beyond God. With God, ALL things are possible.

We have to remain prayerful, persistent, expectant, obedient and trusting. God expects us to pray with a heart of faith and hope. He wants us to bring our requests to him continually and pray over and over, impressing upon him the importance of our particular request.

It’s not wrong to pray for something consistently until God opens the floodgates of Heaven and grants our desires and we see the mighty hand of God work and we are able to give Him all the glory.

How many souls have been saved because a faithful Christian wouldn't give up on praying for that one to come to Christ? They weren't content to pray once, and walk away, not waiting for the answer. No, they were ready and waiting at the wharf, continually begging God and interceding on someone else's behalf until God answered. 

I don't want to be so busy in life, that I don't notice those little answers to prayer. We often ask a small request of God, then don't even see the answer arrive because we're so busy doing other things, and our expectation was so small that the blessing comes and goes by unnoticed. 

I want to be like the little girl, persistent, expectant, full of hope and wonder, excitement and anticipation, eager to find what she’s searching for and not giving up until she finds it.

 

“Ask great things of God

Attempt great things for God

Expect great things from God”

Hudson Taylor

Matthew 7:7-8 KJV - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You won’t change the world by just going to church

 

Did you know that you can praise God anywhere, at any time?

Did you know that you can worship him anywhere, at any time?

Yes, churches are a great place to praise God. But they’re not the only place to praise and worship him.

Not only are churches a good place to worship, but so are coffee shops, showers, late night car rides, conversations with friends, viewing the sunset alone from a rooftop, hours spent lying awake on a restless night.

“Don’t let a building confine your faith, because you will never change the world by just going to church, we need to BE the church.”

I’m sure you’re all aware of the term ‘corporate worship’? This term has gotten a bad rap in recent years because some associate it with a ‘band-like’ atmosphere of many of the mega churches we read about.

But corporate worship is Biblical. In simplest terms, corporate worship involves Christians coming together in one place, to pray, sing, learn and worship together. (Psalm 95)

Corporate worship brings together God’s word, prayer and fellowship and helps to rekindle our spiritual fire, especially when dark days loom and we rely on each other for support.

We read over and over in Scripture that the church is a body (Romans 12:5) and we are members of that body. Being involved in a local church is so beneficial to our spiritual health.

But you are never going to change the world, and reach the lost, simply by going to church.

We, as individuals, need to BE the church.

I just want to talk a bit about this idea of corporate worship, and then I’ll come back to my previous statement.

Often, we come into our worship services in somewhat of a spiritual fog. We’ve had a hard week; things haven’t gone to plan and we feel in need of fellowship and spiritual nourishment. (Just a note here: don’t forget, it’s not up to the Pastor to feed you. You need to be daily in the Word of God, feasting on the truths you find there and sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning from him).

In Psalm 73, we read of Asaph despairing over the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 73:2-3 KJV - But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

He’d been experiencing hardship and was frustrated over the way things were going.

He was in a fog. He was despondent, and probably the last thing on his mind was getting together with others in the context of worship.

But then we come to a pivotal moment.

Psalm 73:16-17 KJV - When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

He states that it is all too painful, UNTIL…..

He makes a choice to enter the sanctuary. The church. He gets up off his couch and makes the effort to meet with others, and then he understands. The fog lifts. And he is able to lift his voice in praise.

Psalm 73:25-26 KJV - Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

When our hearts feel it least, is when we need it most.

When you are discouraged, lonely, hurting and you don’t ‘feel’ like worshipping, that’s when you need to pick yourself up, and go and fellowship with other Christians.

Psalm 122:1 KJV - I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Christianity was never meant to be a solo operation. All the biblical metaphors are always plural. A body. A flock. A holy nation.

We have a beautiful example of Christian fellowship in the book of Acts, and it should be the model for our churches, small groups, Bible studies and fellowship today.

Acts 2:42, 46-47 KJV - And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ... And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Did you notice the use of they and their? Plural. And what were they busy doing? They were being taught, they were sharing meals, they were praying together, they were practicing hospitality, and they were glad!

Yes, true worship is fundamentally an experience of the heart. And it is individual. But as we come together, with other like-minded Christians, all intent on worshipping God in a corporate setting, something beautiful happens. Or it should.

We are drawn together through our love for God and as the Word is preached, the songs are sung, the prayers are prayed, the Holy Spirit reaches into our hearts and helps heal the wounds, sooth the troubled soul and speak directly to us, as we stand surrounded by fellow Christians, similarly broken and hurting, in need of God’s touch.

Now, getting back to my point.

You are never going to change the world, and reach the lost, simply by going to church.

We, as individuals, need to BE the church.

It’s not enough to just go to church. As the saying goes, “going to church isn’t going to make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a cheeseburger!”

We need to be the church. We need to be the light the world sees. Not just as a body of believers, but as individuals, with our own personal relationship and walk with Christ.

Some reading this won’t like what I’m about to say, but can I remind you that going to church every time the doors are open, to every event, involved in every ministry and on every committee, doesn’t make you any more spiritual than the man who only attends once a week because his work commitments don’t allow him to be present more than that?

It doesn’t make you any more spiritual than the young mother, with little ones who is not able to make it to every service because of sick children or simply because she has no more energy left to give.

It doesn’t make you any more spiritual than a missionary on a foreign field, struggling along with only a handful of converts that meet for a Bible study in a grass hut on the side of a mountain, weather permitting, to learn from God’s Word together.

Do you get my point?

We really can praise the Lord at any time and in any place. We really can worship God and draw close to him without killing ourselves to make it to every gathering when it just isn’t a possibility.

Our Christianity is not based on how often we attend church. It’s based on a relationship. It’s not about rules. It’s about relationship. It’s about our walk with God and what our priorities are and what we do in private.

A church is not a building. It’s a body of believers. All over the world. Not just in your town or city. It’s Christians from all walks of life, living through differing seasons, at different maturity levels in their relationship with Christ. We are the church.

We are often deceived by thinking that our personal walk with Christ is not as important as the services we attend. But one of Satan’s most effective attacks against the church is getting us to believe that the more programs, the more services, the more gatherings, the more events, the more ministries we have determines our closeness to God.

Often, they are nothing but a bunch of loosely connected individuals, trying to operate as a body, but with no unity, no passion, no burden for the ministries we’re involved in, coming together for the required time allotted and then parting ways, having no contact with each other until the following week, when we do it all again. Week in. Week out. Month after month. Year after year.

Don’t get me wrong, we need each other. We need fellowship. We need community. We need to get together for corporate worship, but if our hearts are not in it and we are not where we should be spiritually, then we are not pleasing God and we are certainly not bringing glory to his name.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this. You have to focus on your own, personal relationship with God. You have to prioritize time alone with him. You have to be willing to read and study the Word of God for yourself and apply the truths to your lives before you will ever be effective in reaching the world for Christ.

Don’t let a building confine your faith.

God is everywhere and he will meet you where you are. As you draw close to him, he will draw close to you. Only then will you be used of God.

James 4:8a KJV - Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you...

You’ll never reach others if you yourself are not walking in step with God, pursuing his perfect will, content with whatever he sends your way.

Make it a priority to work on your relationship with God. Put him first. Make him the centre of your life.

Not the programs. God.

Not the church. God.

Yes, be in fellowship. Yes, participate in the ministries of the church that God impresses upon your heart.

But don’t confine your faith to a building.

Let God’s light shine from you. As an individual. Be the reason others want to know more about God.

1 Peter 3:15 KJV - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Let your praise and worship of him be something you do on a daily basis. Don’t wait until the Sunday morning service to lift your voice in song. Praise him today.

Psalm 150:6 KJV - Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy Desperation

Word got around that Jesus would be passing through the town on Jericho one day, and a disliked tax collector, small of stature, but rich in wealth, a man named Zaccheus was desperate to see Jesus. (Luke 19)

His desperation was so great, that he hitched up his skirts and ran ahead of the crowd, climbed the branches of a sycamore tree and perched there waiting for the crowd to pass below, bearing Jesus along with them.

Jesus, knowing all things and knowing the heart of Zaccheus, stopped below the tree and called up to him, “….make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house”.

His desperation saw the Saviour not only come to his house but do a work in his heart. 

An outcast, blind and begging, Bartimaeus was also passionate about “seeing” Jesus. He didn’t have sight to be able to run ahead of the crowd. He sat by the road hoping to receive something from a compassionate soul on their way out of Jericho. (Luke 18)

Not knowing what the commotion was all about and why the crowds were passing him by, he asked the passersby the reason for such a great number of people. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, his holy desperation took over and he began to cry out desperately, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me”.

The townspeople were embarrassed and tried to quieten him. But his persistence caught the ear of Jesus, and another miracle was performed, bringing sight both to his eyes and to his heart.

In the Old Testament, God became fed up with the complaining, unthankful Israelites and threatened to abandon them in the desert. But the desperate pleading of Moses on the people’s behalf ensured God’s continued presence among the Israelites.  (Exodus 33)

Moses didn’t want the promise land without the promise giver. He wanted the presence of God every step of the way and his holy desperation drove him to intercede on the behalf of an ungrateful, rebellious nation.

Maybe what we need today is the holy desperation that these 3 men had.

God has responded in miraculous ways over and over to desperate cries to him. He longs for us to grow in our relationship with him so that his continued presence is a consuming passion and that we desire nothing more than experiencing his closeness and his leading in our lives.

He wants us to have a holy desperation for him and a longing for deeper fellowship with him day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

These men didn’t let their obstacles become excuses to back down and quit seeking him.

Zaccheus didn’t let his height or reputation stop him from seeing Christ.

Bartimeus didn’t let his blindness stop him from calling out and seeking mercy.

Moses didn’t let a rebellious nation, headed for destruction, angry at him, ungrateful for God’s goodness, stop him from pleading for God’s mercy on their behalf.

They didn’t let their obstacles become excuses.

What is it that God is ready and willing to give to you if only you will seek him, and cry out to him, desperately, passionately, wholeheartedly?

Jeremiah 33:2-3 KJV - Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

God is ready to show us his might and power. He stands ready to answer. Ready to give. Ready to heal.

“Desperation becomes holy when we humble ourselves, release control and desperately seek God for a new future.”

We have to determine to seek God with our whole heart. We have to choose humility and we have to release control, letting God write our story, letting him answer the way he sees fit.

We have to let go of our will and place ourselves in his capable hands.

We have to be so set on seeking God that we won’t let anything stand in our way.

If you set out to seek God, he will meet you where you are.

Whether it’s up a tree, or by the wayside. It’s not about your position, or reputation, it’s about your heart.

Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV - But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We need a holy desperation for God that drives us to our knees and to his feet, crying out to him, letting go of our pride, seeking only him.

We need some of the resolve that numerous men and women of old had. We need to be unashamed of our need for God. We need a humility that realises we will never be enough on our own. It is only with God’s strength and enabling grace that we enjoy his endless mercies.

Let go of your pride. Humble yourself. Seek God. Desire him above everything else. Let his praise be on your lips continually. Desperately come to him wanting his will above everything else. And the blessings of God (not our own interpretation of them), will fall down, like the rain from heaven.

Seek him. He will answer.                                                    

 

Do you know the difference? 

I recently heard a very good explanation on 3 words that we find used together in 9 verses of Scripture.

These words are: knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Over the past couple of months, I have been busy studying for a Ladies conference to be held in March. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Study’.

Myself, and 2 other speakers, are hoping to impress upon the attendees the importance of being in the Word of God, not only in the reading of the Bible, but also in studying, meditating on, striving to learn what the Scriptures say, applying what we learn to our lives, and more importantly, obeying what we read.

I am so excited for this conference as being a student of the Word of God, digging deeper and trying to make sense of what I read has become a passion of mine. The goal of my blog is to encourage women to become more like Christ and to get passionate about the Word of God and not be content to simply read their Bibles like a short devotional, but to chew over the harder passages of Scripture and learn their meanings, developing a desire for God’s Word and a hunger and thirst not only for the Word but its author also.

I long for women to read their Bibles, totally engrossed in every little detail, utterly absorbed in the stories, amazed and astounded at the truths they find there, hanging on every word and pouring over God’s Word with intense curiosity and interest, wanting to know what each passage means and how it applies to their lives.

We have to come to the realisation that our spiritual growth is directly proportionate to the amount of time and effort we put into the study of our Bibles.

Our spiritual growth can be stunted because of our spiritual diet. If we don’t feed ourselves, we won’t grow. It’s as simple as that.

There is so much more I would love to say on this subject, but you’ll have to come along to the conference to hear more!

Let’s get back to these 3 words. Knowledge. Wisdom. Understanding.

Read this passage found in the book of Colossians, written by Paul and Timothy to the church at Colosse.

Colossians 1:1-6, 9-12 - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: ... For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

We see these 3 words in this passage. And in 8 other passages in Scripture, we see them again, used together. I think the mention of these words together only helps to reinforce the connection they have.

Paul prays that the Colossians will have knowledge and wisdom and understanding. He longs for them to have these things so that they can walk worthy of their calling and that they would produce fruit, be strengthened in Christ, and experience patience, longsuffering and joyfulness.

What a beautiful prayer Paul prays for these beloved Christians. Oh, that we would pray this prayer over our fellow believers and ourselves.

But what does it mean to have knowledge, wisdom and understanding?

The explanation I heard recently seemed to sum it up perfectly. Here is my very brief overview and personal take on it. This is not an exhaustive summary and I encourage you to do some searching yourselves on these very important subjects.

Let’s look at knowledge first.

Knowledge is the ‘what’. It is simply information. It is information learnt through Scripture or other resources. Knowledge can also be gained through experience.

It is basically the facts and information.

But knowledge is not enough. We can have all the knowledge in the world, but if we are unaffected by what we learn, then it is of little benefit.

There are entire commentaries written by unbelievers who in some cases, have an exceptional grasp of Scripture, but they know nothing of true love for God and obedience to Biblical truth. They have no wisdom or understanding.

So, what about wisdom?

What is wisdom? Wisdom is the discernment to be able to judge whether the information you are taking in is true and right. Wisdom is the ability to be able to use that information at the right time, in the right circumstances, with the right judgment. Wisdom enables us to put into practice the knowledge we have, judging correctly and taking the appropriate course of action.  

There are so many verses in the Bible on the subject of wisdom that we could spend a lifetime digging into them all. But I love the verse in James 1:5 that reminds us that we can come to God and ask him for wisdom at any time.

Our wisdom comes from God.

Proverbs 2:6 KJV - For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

It is God that imparts wisdom to our hearts and helps us to become discerning.

We need the Holy Spirit’s help to shed his light on the Word of God for our understanding and to gain wisdom.

John 14:26 KJV - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Here’s an important thought to remember.

Knowledge can exist without wisdom, but wisdom cannot exist without knowledge.

We all know people who have a lot of knowledge and yet they lack discernment, practical skills, understanding and the ability to judge correctly.

But if we are to have wisdom, we have to have knowledge. There has to be some knowledge of the facts and information to be able to use wisdom in relation to them. Our knowledge is worthless without wisdom.

Now, onto understanding.

Understanding is the extent to which we comprehend something.

I’ll give you an example. I have very little understanding of the workings of a diesel engine. I know some facts about it. I could point out a few things on one and explain where the oil or water goes etc. But, compared to a qualified diesel fitter, my understanding is very basic. I could read a book on the subject and boost my knowledge but without some wisdom and understanding, it will probably be worthless.

In order to grow in our relationship with Christ and in our spiritual walk, we not only need head knowledge, the facts of what we read in the Bible, but we need wisdom and understanding.

And the way we get this is through reading, study and prayer.

We read in the book of Daniel how that God gave Daniel and his 3 friends knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Daniel 1:17 KJV - As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

I think that the clue to why God gave them these things lies in verse 8.

Daniel 1:8 KJV - But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

The reason for God’s gift to them was because of their strength of purpose.

They were determined to honour God and obey his commands. They were undeterred in their loyalty to Christ, and I think God rewarded them for this.

And I firmly believe that if we desire to obey God, and walk in his truth, never content with only head knowledge, but always wanting to learn more from his Word in order that we can grow in Christlikeness, seeking God’s wisdom and understanding, then we will be rewarded for our diligence.  

Hebrews 11:6 KJV - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The goal of Bible reading and study is not how much you read or how fast you read. It’s not about how many Greek or Hebrew words and definitions you know. The goal is growing in your relationship with Christ and getting the Word of God into your life, so that it will change the way you live.

We need to read our Bibles with an eager desire to learn. We need to read with passion and interest. We need to develop a fervent, excited, engaged mind, always wanting to read more, know more, study more, learn more, obey more.

If we want to be filled with the knowledge, wisdom and understanding of God’s truths, we have to spend time in the Word. We have to walk close to Christ, spend time talking to him, listening for his voice, pouring out our hearts to him and obeying his words of instruction.

We have to read and reread the Bible. We have to pour over every word. We have to look for the meanings behind each passage. We have to diligently seek him. We have to meditate and examine the Word, giving attention and care and thought into all we read. We have to desire to become devoted students of the Word and have a great love for the Saviour of our souls.

It's not about rules. It’s about relationship.

Don’t expect to know God better if your Bible is closed.

Don’t expect to hear from God if you are not in communication with him.

Open your Bible.

Read and study the Word.

Talk to God daily.

Don’t be satisfied with the milk of a newborn babe. Move onto strong meat, ‘having your senses exercised to discern both good and evil’. Hebrews 5:13,14.

If there is no change in your life, there has been no learning.

James 1:25 KJV - But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

 

 

Fighting on Your Knees

Me and my Grandmother

 

It’s been almost 9 years since my Grandmother, Tonita Mozelle Tonne, went home to be with the Lord.

My Grandmother was one of the Godliest women I have ever met. This beautiful lady was a woman after God's own heart. She lived her life, one day at a time, trusting the Lord to lead and guide her every step of the way and she was a prayer warrior, connected to God in a real and intimate way. She really knew how to bring her requests to the Lord and lay them at His feet. She knew how to fight her battles in prayer, looking to the Lord for wisdom.

She didn't always have an easy life, trials often came her way, but she trusted the Lord and held to His promises without doubting them.

I know I owe her a debt of gratitude for all the prayers she offered up on my behalf. I'm sure that my life would have been very different without her intercessory prayers. She prayed for our family faithfully for much longer than I've been alive. She consistently read God's Word. She was regular in attending church and served in every way possible. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother to her family and all who knew her were touched by her beautiful and gentle spirit.

As I was digging through a drawer this morning, in search of a list of Bible verses I had noted down, I came across a slip of paper that brought my Grandmother back to mind.

On this paper was a list that had been discovered, by my mother after her passing. On it were a list of 10 principles to live by that my Grandmother had written down.

I was once again reminded of why it was that she was such a blessing to our family. The reason was because of the priorities in her life and her devotion to God and service to him.

Read over these 10 principles and see if you are not convicted, stirred and encouraged by them also.

1.     God alone is sovereign. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and my final authority.

2.     My purpose is to seek God with my whole heart and build my goals around His priorities.

3.     My body is the temple of God and must not be defiled by love for the world.

4.     I will attend a strong, fundamental, Bible preaching church.

5.     My children and grandchildren belong to God, and it is my job to teach them the principles of His Word.

6.     My behaviour must never weaken the convictions of other Christians.

7.     My marriage is a lifelong commitment to God and to my marriage partner.

8.     My money is a trust from God and must be earned and handled according to biblical principles.

9.     My words must be in harmony with God’s Word especially when restoring a Christian brother.

10.  My affections must be set on things in Heaven and not on earth.

As I mentioned before, my Grandmother was a powerful prayer warrior. We were always careful what we asked prayer for, because when she prayed, things happened. Mountains were moved. Chains were broken. Lives were changed. Prayers were answered.  

And if she were here, she would tell you that it was all God. She wouldn’t take any of the credit. She would tell you that it wasn’t her strength, it was her faith and trust in God. She was just a weak person with a very strong God. And because she faithfully walked with God and listened to and obeyed him, the fellowship was such that the door was open, and the prayers were not hindered and God worked mightily and touched many lives because of her intercession on the behalf of others.

After she passed, it began to sink in that never again would her prayers be lifted up to heaven on my behalf. Never again would she cry out to God, interceding for others. I wondered how God would work without such a prayer warrior in our family. A determination set in, that I needed to step up and become more dedicated to making prayer a priority in my life. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the place she was in her relationship with God, but I definitely aim to try!

My sister, Joye, was able to explain something along the lines of the prayers of my Grandmother, that helped allay my fears.

“Our prayers are not deleted when we leave this life. Prayers have a lifespan that exceeds ours immeasurably. God does not have a room set aside for ownerless prayers, dusty envelopes fluttering abandoned to the floor. There are no lost, returned or unopened mailrooms in Heaven, for thrown away, expired and purposeless prayers. One thing I am certain of, that even though my Grandmother’s current prayers for us have ceased, God remembers the prayers that she has prayed. Those prayers are still coming up before the Lord, as urgent and useful as the day they were first prayed! God has a whole roomful of prayers that are pending. God doesn’t work within our time frame. Some of our prayers may not come due to be answered until after we are with the Lord.”

Don’t despair when you pray and pray and it seems as if God is silent, or not listening. He hears. He cares. He is answering in ways that you may not understand. Remember, your prayers don’t have an expiration date.

I want to work on becoming the kind of God- fearing, praying, loving, serving, compassionate woman that my Grandmother was and carry on her legacy of love for my children's children. It's going to take a lot more than just me to become the kind of prayer warrior that she was, but Lord willing, there will be many that take up the challenge and become faithful women of God. Devoted to serving him. Dedicated to study of the Scriptures. Lovers of His Word. Fighting their battles on their knees.  

 

Lord, we need a generation of believers

who are not ashamed of the gospel.

We need an army of believers, Lord, that hate to be lukewarm

and will stand on Your Word above all else.

Raise them up, Lord. Raise them up.

I pray for unity among those that love You.

I pray that You open their eyes so that they can see Your truth, Lord.

I pray for Your hand of protection and guidance!

Raise up a generation, Lord, that will take light into this world.

That will not compromise when under pressure!

That will not cower, Lord, when others fall away!

Raise them up, Lord, that they will proclaim

that there is salvation in the name of Jesus Christ!

Raise up warriors, Lord, who will fight on their knees,

who will worship You with their whole hearts, Lord.

Lord, call us to battle, that we may proclaim You

King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

I pray these things with all my heart!

Raise them up, Lord! Raise them up!
From the movie War Room

 

 My Grandmother's hands were gnarled and wrinkled with age, and yet, they were beautiful. Toil and hardship had aged them but the tears that fell on them as they folded in prayer only helped to soften them. They were the hands of a true servant of God. They were the hands of Godly prayer warrior. 

Although I miss her presence on this earth, Heaven rejoices and the Godly legacy she has left lives on for generations to come. 

xx