Prayer (part 1)

Matthew 6:5-8

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:5%20-%208&version=NIV)

Prayer is a very sacred and precious time with the Lord.  I love to pray and have sweet communion with my Lord but I haven’t always wanted to pray out loud.  I believe these verses are the reason why I sometimes hesitate.  I have found that if I am more nervous about the people around me than I am about going to the throne of Grace, I probably should just pray silently.   We should pray because that is what God expects of us not because of what people expect of us. 

Have you ever visited with someone who talks on and on and never gives you a chance to say anything?  Dentist are really good at this, they put their fingers in your mouth and then start talking!  You can’t say a word but just sit and listen and then they ask you a question, now how are you going to answer?  Sometimes I feel that is what we do with God, we sit and talk and talk and talk, all the while we have our fingers in His mouth and He can only listen.  Do we take the time to sit and listen to what He has to say?  You say, how can I do that, I have never heard His audible voice?  One way is to read His word.  So many times when I am seeking Him I pick up my Bible and His words are right there for me.  I don’t believe it is a coincidence, I don’t believe in them.  I believe the Lord directs me to the scripture that I need to read.  I have found that sometimes you can pick up a hymnal and start reading the words to those wonderful hymns of old and God can speak to you.  I believe the key is seeking Him, not just talking to Him.

Our Father in Heaven loves for us to come to Him alone, not for show but to be genuine with Him.  Take a close look at verse 8, He already knows what we need.  If He already knows what we need why should we pray?  That is a simple answer because He loves for us to commune with Him.  God is a God of relationships, He wants us to seek Him and put our trust in Him and Him alone.   

Next time you pray, go to Him in secret.  Ask Him to reveal His words to you.  Then, take the time to stop, look, and listen for He has something to tell you.  Seek Him and He will draw near to you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

When He Comes

Before beginning our study today I want to share with you a little of how I have been feeling lately.  I had to call unemployment yesterday which is always a frustration and makes me feel terrible.  I feel as though I am worthless in the money sense of things, and my purpose, my love and my passion have been taken away.  That is why I blog, it brings the purpose of sharing the Gospel out in me and gives me a reason to keep on going.  Anyway, I have had the jitters and just some unease and when that happens I just don’t like it.  I know God is in control so I don’t understand why I have to feel this way.  I just want to be at peace and have contentment in whatever situation I am in.  Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”  It isn’t the money I miss but the feeling that people value me and my opinions that I miss.  I miss being needed and I get so frustrated by that.  So today the Lord gave me this scripture found in Philemon 4 – 7, it wasn’t written to me but I think today, it was written for me and it reads, (4)I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, (5)because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.  (6) I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. (7) Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.  Father, today, will you speak through me to share your Word to those around me.  May you find me faithful in my walk with you.  I ask that you help me to be content because I do know you are here with me.  Help me Father to have the purpose and drive to serve you and you alone.  I love you and I praise you for Who you are and I thank you for whose I am.  In Jesus Precious and Holy name I pray, AMEN.

When He Comes

Revelation 10:6b “There will be no more delay!”  So many times we ask for the Lord to not delay.  We asked that the Lord bring His judgment towards our enemies.  Although we want revenge we know that vengeance is the Lord’s and He will repay as He says in, Deuteronomy 32:35-36, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.  In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.”  Now, in Revelation 10 we see that there is no more delay.  As I began to read Chapter 10 a peace came upon me in the first part of the chapter,  Revelation 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven.  He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.  Verse 7, “But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as He announced to His servants the prophets.”  I am jumping around a little today but I want us to look back at verse 2, “He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand.”  John was told to go and take the scroll in verse 8 and then in verse 9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll.  He said to me, “Take it and eat it.  It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”  John did as he was told and it happened that it is so sweet but soured his stomach.  I wasn’t sure what that meant and I didn’t go to any commentary to find out but it hit me today, could that be the revenge that we have all wanted?   We have heard the term, “Sweet revenge” and I have used it in my blog.  But, as I read on and the last trumpet is sounded that revenge turns my stomach sour.  I don’t want people to have to suffer, yet that will be what happens.  Those who do not believe will go through so much pain and suffering, the third woe, Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!  But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!

What is our lesson in all of this today?  Hebrews 2:1-3  We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.  (2)For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, (3)how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?  This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.  (4) God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Sprit distributed according to His will.

Are you paying close attention today?  Have you heard what He is saying?  Focus today on seeking Him with all your heart and knowing that He was, and is, and is to come.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila