How Powerful Are Prayers to Almighty God?

How Powerful are Prayers?

Barbara Henderson

Today there are dilemmas, traumas, and terrors happening to the people of God and the people of the entire world.  There are prayers going up all the time, but it often seems our prayers go unanswered or barely answered.  What is going on in your life today that needs an answered prayer?  What is going on in a friend’s life, or even a nation’s existence that needs answered prayers?  The fact is that God does answer prayers.  Often He uses people to answer prayers.  Occasionally He steps in and answers prayers personally.  Many times God answers a prayer in a way that is unexpected.  If we aren’t paying attention we might miss God’s handiwork. 

The truth is that the prayers of a repentant Christian are powerful. Prayers change the lives of those praying for the better.  When prayers are answered other people’s lives are changed for the better as well. 

Let’s start with:

·         Confess your sins

·         Repent of your sins

·         Turn from you sins

·         Continually and passionately pray

·         Watch for results.

     ‘Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’  James 5:16

I personally take that verse to mean we are to pray for forgiveness and to be ‘healed’ of our own sins.  It may also mean physical healings.  Either way confessions of sins and turning from sin is required.  Then the continued passionate prayer of someone living according to God’s rules gets results!

Elijah and Elisha are interesting characters to say the very least.  You know the stories.  Elijah was a mighty prophet for God Almighty. He trained Elisha to take his place when his time on earth was over.  Then Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.  Elisha was broken hearted to see Elijah leave to go up to heaven. He was going to miss his friend and mentor.  He was also afraid for Israel.  Elijah’s prayers were more powerful than the horsemen and chariots of Israel.  Elisha knew the battles all belonged to the Lord.

    ‘And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.’  2 Kings 2:12

Regarding this verse Matthew Henry says, ‘Elijah was to Israel, by his counsels, reproofs, and prayers, better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, and kept off the judgments of God.’

Years later Elisha also died.

      ‘Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.’  2 Kings 13:14

Elisha had asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit when Elijah went up to heaven. Years passed. By the time Elisha was an old man the King of Israel called Elisha more powerful than the horsemen and chariots of Israel. 

There you have it.  Two men of God each called more powerful than horsemen and chariots because of their prayers during their lifetime.

Now, here we are today.  Where is the Elijah or Elisha for today?  I am not talking about prophets as of old, but people willing to do God’s work with their entire heart.  In the Bible we are told of Isaiah.  He saw the need for someone to do the Lord’s work.  And he said,

     ‘Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.’  Isiah 6:8

Today, most of us are not called or even going to be called to go out anywhere beyond or normal physical boundaries. We are all called to surrender to the Lord and wait to see what He calls us to do for the most part. We can all know we are called to be obedient, thankful, kind, and to pray for one another.  We are called to fill a need for our brothers and sisters in Christ if we able. 

A need we are able to fill in almost every instance is to take a minute to pray for those in need.  It needn’t be a long prayer, or a prayer filled with fancy words heard by others.  Our prayers need to be prayed with a repentant and sincere heart.

Today in addition to the turmoils and traumas going on in our own lives and the lives of those around us, there are Christian brethren who are literally fighting for their lives, their families, their homes, and even the place where they have lived for generations.  We need to pray for them.  The governments of the world have utterly forsaken them.  ISIS is slaughtering Christians without even any comments from world governments.  The only thing I have heard from governments is the lie that Islam is a religion of peace.  Apparently those in political power cannot read history books. Islam is only a religion of peace until they are strong enough to go out and slaughter those who tell them the truth that Islam is one way to hell.

Seriously, it appears hopeless for the brethren in Islamic terrorties.  This is the time for Christians to remind themselves that:

·         The ‘effectual fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much’.

·         The prayers of Elijah were more powerful than the horsemen and chariots of Israel

·         The prayers of Elisha were more powerful than the horsemen and chariots of Israel

·         The battle belongs to the Lord

And

·         Prayer changes things.

There is no time like the present to plead with our God to help the brethren in need.

Now is the time to pray sort of like Isiah,

‘Here am I Lord.  Strengthen me to pray for those in need.’

For a better idea of those who need your prayers read this article.

Christian army begs Obama for help crushing ISIS

http://mobile.wnd.com/2015/11/christian-army-begs-obama-for-help-crushing-isis/

How Powerful are Prayers?

How Powerful are Prayers?

Barbara Henderson

Today there are dilemmas, traumas, and terrors happening to the people of God and the people of the entire world.  There are prayers going up all the time, but it often seems our prayers go unanswered or barely answered.  What is going on in your life today that needs an answered prayer?  What is going on in a friend’s life, or even a nation’s existence that needs answered prayers?  The fact is that God does answer prayers.  Often He uses people to answer prayers.  Occasionally He steps in and answers prayers personally.  Many times God answers a prayer in a way that is unexpected.  If we aren’t paying attention we might miss God’s handiwork. 

The truth is that the prayers of a repentant Christian are powerful. Prayers change the lives of those praying for the better.  When prayers are answered other people’s lives are changed for the better as well. 

Let’s start with:

·         Confess your sins

·         Repent of your sins

·         Turn from you sins

·         Continually and passionately pray

·         Watch for results.

     ‘Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’  James 5:16

I personally take that verse to mean we are to pray for forgiveness and to be ‘healed’ of our own sins.  It may also mean physical healings.  Either way confessions of sins and turning from sin is required.  Then the continued passionate prayer of someone living according to God’s rules gets results!

Elijah and Elisha are interesting characters to say the very least.  You know the stories.  Elijah was a mighty prophet for God Almighty. He trained Elisha to take his place when his time on earth was over.  Then Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.  Elisha was broken hearted to see Elijah leave to go up to heaven. He was going to miss his friend and mentor.  He was also afraid for Israel.  Elijah’s prayers were more powerful than the horsemen and chariots of Israel.  Elisha knew the battles all belonged to the Lord.

    ‘And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.’  2 Kings 2:12

Regarding this verse Matthew Henry says, ‘Elijah was to Israel, by his counsels, reproofs, and prayers, better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, and kept off the judgments of God.’

Years later Elisha also died.

      ‘Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.’  2 Kings 13:14

Elisha had asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit when Elijah went up to heaven. Years passed. By the time Elisha was an old man the King of Israel called Elisha more powerful than the horsemen and chariots of Israel. 

There you have it.  Two men of God each called more powerful than horsemen and chariots because of their prayers during their lifetime.

Now, here we are today.  Where is the Elijah or Elisha for today?  I am not talking about prophets as of old, but people willing to do God’s work with their entire heart.  In the Bible we are told of Isaiah.  He saw the need for someone to do the Lord’s work.  And he said,

     ‘Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.’  Isiah 6:8

Today, most of us are not called or even going to be called to go out anywhere beyond or normal physical boundaries. We are all called to surrender to the Lord and wait to see what He calls us to do for the most part. We can all know we are called to be obedient, thankful, kind, and to pray for one another.  We are called to fill a need for our brothers and sisters in Christ if we able. 

A need we are able to fill in almost every instance is to take a minute to pray for those in need.  It needn’t be a long prayer, or a prayer filled with fancy words heard by others.  Our prayers need to be prayed with a repentant and sincere heart.

Today in addition to the turmoils and traumas going on in our own lives and the lives of those around us, there are Christian brethren who are literally fighting for their lives, their families, their homes, and even the place where they have lived for generations.  We need to pray for them.  The governments of the world have utterly forsaken them.  ISIS is slaughtering Christians without even any comments from world governments.  The only thing I have heard from governments is the lie that Islam is a religion of peace.  Apparently those in political power cannot read history books. Islam is only a religion of peace until they are strong enough to go out and slaughter those who tell them the truth that Islam is one way to hell.

Seriously, it appears hopeless for the brethren in Islamic terrorties.  This is the time for Christians to remind themselves that:

·         The ‘effectual fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much’.

·         The prayers of Elijah were more powerful than the horsemen and chariots of Israel

·         The prayers of Elisha were more powerful than the horsemen and chariots of Israel

·         The battle belongs to the Lord

And

·         Prayer changes things.

There is no time like the present to plead with our God to help the brethren in need.

Now is the time to pray sort of like Isiah,

‘Here am I Lord.  Strengthen me to pray for those in need.’

For a better idea of those who need your prayers read this article.

Christian army begs Obama for help crushing ISIS

http://mobile.wnd.com/2015/11/christian-army-begs-obama-for-help-crushing-isis/

Developing A Thankful Attitude

An Attitude of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving – It Ain’t That Easy!
By Barbara Henderson

Well, here we are again. Thanksgiving is coming. Then it will be Christmas. Then we will start a new year. We will hope for a new year filled with joy and good things. In fact, we hope for a joyful holiday season. I know, the term ‘holiday season’ is now thought to be offensive, as it puts Christ out of the season. However, when I was growing up, the phrase ‘holiday season’ was meant to include the three holidays beginning with Thanksgiving and ending with New Years. Christmas was practically a ‘holiday season’ all by itself. Each particular holiday was an occasion to celebrate God’s love and mercy. The culture of that time pre-supposed that Jesus Christ was the reason for all three days of celebration.

Last week’s article covered the tendency of some people to spoil everyone’s holiday season by reliving past grief to the point that it seems the holiday season is spent in mourning. The article encouraged people to consider their grief well prior to the onset of the holiday season, and mourn as they feel the need; but, with God’s help, set aside their grief for the holiday season, beginning with thanksgiving. The Bible itself tells us there is a time to mourn. So, I am not saying that grief should be ignored, but that at some point, grief should not control your seasons of joy.

The spirit of thankfulness is a tremendous gift from God. It is the beginning of change for the better. It is the beginning of a new and better way of living. But, thanksgiving is also hard work. It leads the thankful heart into an unknown future. To be truly thankful, requires that one launch out into the wilderness without really knowing where they are going, or what they will actually be doing. I think that is why people hang on to grief. Grief is a known element. Everyone knows how to grieve and mourn. You just bawl your eyes out, or keep a pained look on your face while you go about your daily life. You focus on the past, another known element, and shield your eyes from an unknown future.

Thanksgiving, on the other hand, requires courage. Here’s why.

First, thanksgiving acknowledges your own inability to achieve or gain anything without help from God. Thanksgiving tells you that the things you have were not gained by your own hard work and perseverance. If you had gotten things on your own, then why the need to give thanks in the first place? Thanksgiving is a tool by which a believer may rid his or her self of pride. Thanksgiving leads to humility.

Somewhere in between thanksgiving and humility is repentance. As you begin to give God the credit for all your blessings, you become aware of more blessings that you have taken for granite in your life. You have a glimmer of understanding of how blessed and favored you are with God. Humility begins to grow in your life. From the extreme advantage point of a humble heart, you begin to see how pride has crept into your life. You begin to feel the weight of burdens you are carrying that you don’t have to carry. At some point, you begin to repent of thought patterns and a life style that thanks yourself for all your hard work and success. You become sorry for your sins. You come to an understanding that the measure of success or failure is not what is visible to the eye. It is not in the measure of what you have or don’t have. This requires a paradigm shift in one’s thinking.

This attitude adjustment, this change in your way of thinking, is not easy. In fact, it is so hard that many and even most people turn back. They set their shoulder to the plow and start out with their eye on the prize at the end of the row. But then, all the changes that thanksgiving brings become frightening. They would rather go back to the known elements of an unthankful life.

For those who persevere in developing an attitude of thanksgiving and praise, there is a tremendous reward. That reward is meekness of spirit. Meekness is the most powerful tool a Christian can have. Here is an exert from an article that I wrote on meekness some time ago.
‘Meekness - Meekness is reliance on God instead of yourself.
A mighty man of God was Moses; yet Moses was meekest of all men. Now how can that be? Simple. Moses, a former prince of Egypt, came to understand that through God working in him, he could accomplish more than all the mighty armies of Egypt. That is the meekness that we should seek. It leads us to understand that 'I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me'. (Philippians 4:13)
So, meekness does not mean 'I am a door mat. Come stomp on me!' It means that you have begun to understand that your success in any endeavor is not based on YOUR own abilities. Remember that Moses had plenty of natural abilities and talents. Yet, he set those aside in favor of reliance on the Lord.
Moses did spend 40 years in the wilderness caring for sheep between the time he rejected the power of Egypt and chose instead to be counted with the people of God. Like Moses, we may grasp the concept of meekness, but be slow to be able to fully implement meekness as a way of life. That means we should all get started working on fully relying on God instead of ourselves right away.
Right now, are you on the path to meekness; or, are you still trying to do all things through your own ability, wealth, or authority? Or have you set these things aside and chosen to rely on the ability, wealth, and authority of God Almighty?
No matter how great your personal talents and power, the arm of flesh will eventually fail you. If you were even greater than Alexander the Great, you would still eventually meet his fate. You would die, and your kingdom and possessions would be given to another mortal.
The inheritance God has for the meek is eternal. Reliance on God instead of your self is the path to success.’ (end quoted article)
This is just a simple explanation of the benefits of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a process, not a holiday. Thanksgiving brings changes. Some of the changes will be hard. You can bet that some of the changes will be very hard. They will be so hard, than many will turn back from thanksgiving, and go back to living on their own. These people may be saved, but the joy of their salvation will be overshadowed with the cares of the world. Meekness will elude them all their lives. No matter what their earthly success may be, it will pale in comparison to what it could have been through meekness.

Perseverance in thanksgiving is somewhat like Peter walking on water. When he kept his focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, he stayed above the water. When he looked at the water, he began to sink into the sea. If a Christian gazes on the things of earth such as material wealth, hurt feelings, genuine grief, or bitter disappointments, they are going to be overwhelmed by these things and fall back into grief and things of the past. Their only option for help in their distress is to keep their eyes fixed on the Lord. And, I will be the first to admit that it really ‘ain’t that easy’. In fact, it is well night impossible sometimes. Thankfully, nothing is impossible with God. (Matthew 19:26, Mark 9:23, mark 10:27, Mark 14:26, Luke 18:27 )
So, there you have it. The question is, are you one of the few who will be willing to set a course of thankfulness in your daily life? Or, will you be one who finds the road of thanksgiving to hard and difficult

Thanksgiving is a Process - Not a Holiday

Thanksgiving Requires Courage

By Barbara Henderson

The spirit of thankfulness is a tremendous gift from God.  It is the beginning of change for the better.  It is the beginning of a new and better way of living.  But, thanksgiving is also hard work.  It leads the thankful heart into an unknown future.  To be truly thankful, requires that one launch out into the wilderness without really knowing where they are going, or what they will actually be doing.  I think that is why people hang on to grief.  Grief is a known element.  Everyone knows how to grieve and mourn.  You just bawl your eyes out, or keep a pained look on your face while you go about your daily life.  You focus on the past, another known element, and shield your eyes from an unknown future.

Thanksgiving, on the other hand, requires courage.  Here’s why.

First, thanksgiving acknowledges your own inability to achieve or gain anything without help from God.  Thanksgiving tells you that the things you have were not gained by your own hard work and perseverance.  If you had gotten things on your own then why the need to give thanks in the first place?   Thanksgiving is a tool by which a believer may rid his or her self of pride.  Thanksgiving leads to humility.

Somewhere in between thanksgiving and humility is repentance.  As you begin to give God the credit for all your blessings, you become aware of more blessings that you have taken for granite in your life.  You have a glimmer of understanding of how blessed and favored you are with God.  Humility begins to grow in your life.  From the extreme advantage point of a humble heart, you begin to see how pride has crept into your life.  You begin to feel the weight of burdens you are carrying that you don’t have to carry.  At some point, you begin to repent of thought patterns and a life style that thanks yourself for all your hard work and success.  You become sorry for your sins.  You come to an understanding that the measure of success or failure is not what is visible to the eye.  It is not in the measure of what you have or don’t have.  This requires a paradigm shift in one’s thinking. 

This attitude adjustment, this change in your way of thinking, is not easy.  In fact, it is so hard that many and even most people turn back.  They set their shoulder to the plow and start out with their eye on the prize at the end of the row.  But then, all the changes that thanksgiving brings become frightening.  They would rather go back to the known elements of an unthankful life. 

For those who persevere in developing an attitude of thanksgiving and praise, there is a tremendous reward.  That reward is meekness of spirit.   Meekness is the most powerful tool a Christian can have. 

‘Meekness - Meekness is reliance on God instead of yourself.

A mighty man of God was Moses; yet Moses was meekest of all men. Now how can that be? Simple. Moses, a former prince of Egypt, came to understand that through God working in him, he could accomplish more than all the mighty armies of Egypt. That is the meekness that we should seek. It leads us to understand that 'I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me'. (Philippians 4:13)
So, meekness does not mean 'I am a door mat. Come stomp on me!' It means that you have begun to understand that your success in any endeavor is not based on YOUR own abilities. Remember that Moses had plenty of natural abilities and talents. Yet, he set those aside in favor of reliance on the Lord.
Moses did spend 40 years in the wilderness caring for sheep between the time he rejected the power of Egypt and chose instead to be counted with the people of God. Like Moses, we may grasp the concept of meekness, but be slow to be able to fully implement meekness as a way of life. That means we should all get started working on fully relying on God instead of ourselves right away.
Right now, are you on the path to meekness; or, are you still trying to do all things through your own ability, wealth, or authority? Or have you set these things aside and chosen to rely on the ability, wealth, and authority of God Almighty?
No matter how great your personal talents and power, the arm of flesh will eventually fail you. If you were even greater than Alexander the Great, you would still eventually meet his fate. You would die, and your kingdom and possessions would be given to another mortal.
The inheritance God has for the meek is eternal.  Reliance on God instead of your self is the path to success.’  (end quoted article)

This is just a simple explanation of the benefits of thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is a process, not a holiday.  Thanksgiving in your heart and daily life brings changes.  Some of the changes will be hard.  You can bet that some of the changes will be very hard.  They will be so hard, than many will turn back from thanksgiving, and go back to living on their own.  These people may be saved, but the joy of their salvation will be overshadowed with the cares of the world.  Meekness will elude them all their lives.  No matter what their earthly success may be, it will pale in comparison to what it could have been through meekness. 

Perseverance in thanksgiving is somewhat like Peter walking on water.  When he kept his focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, he stayed above the water.  When he looked at the water, he began to sink into the sea.  If a Christian gazes on the things of earth such as material wealth, hurt feelings, genuine grief, or bitter disappointments, they are going to be overwhelmed by these things and fall back into grief and things of the past.  Their only option for help in their distress is to keep their eyes fixed on the Lord.  And, I will be the first to admit that it really ‘ain’t that easy’.  In fact, it feels impossible sometimes.  Thankfully, nothing is impossible with God.     (Matthew 19:26, Mark 9:23, mark 10:27,  Mark 14:26, Luke 18:27 )

So, there you have it.  The question is, are you one of the few who will be willing to set a course of thankfulness in your daily life?  Or, will you be one who finds the road of thanksgiving to hard and difficult?

Barbara Henderson

What Does Your Christian Duty Demand of You?

Duty Demands it

Barbara Henderson

‘Rescue the Perishing, duty demands it,’ is a line from a Christian Hymn.  Of course it is speaking of telling people headed for hell that they can change course and go to heaven instead through Jesus Christ.

But, is that all Christian duty demands of Christians?  Hardly.  Our duty is far more. 

The Bible says that someone who is faithful over a little will be made faithful over a lot – or something close to that. We often think of it as someone who is faithful in doing a good job in a work environment will get a promotion. That may well be a good interpretation.  But, the scope of this teaching is far greater than one’s work environment.

The duty of every Christian is to be obedient to God.  That requires self-disciple and responsibility.  I read about a man who was very rich and had a loving family.  The next day he was taken prisoner by the Nazis, his family was murdered, his wealth confiscated, and even his clothes – the clothes of rich man – were taken.  He found himself dressed in thin prison clothing, eating starvation rations, and treated brutally by his prison guards.  Years of captivity and torment went by.  He survived to see the end of the war, gain his freedom, and begin a life entirely different than he had ever lived before.  When he was asked for his secret of survival he replied, ‘I realized that the only thing that was truly mine was my attitude.  My captors could not take that from me.  They could not tell me what my attitude must be.  That is how I survived.’  (paraphrased –and I can’t give the source of this story since I don’t have it anymore.)

It is the duty of every Christian to have an attitude that pleases God.  If your attitude doesn’t please God in the little things then you aren’t going to please him in the big things.

Duty demands that you have a good attitude.  There are no escape clauses due to circumstances.  Circumstances obviously can bring great sorrow, tribulation, poverty, illness, mocking, boredom, and more unpleasantness than could be written down in a ten volume set of books on that particular subject.  Determining to have a good attitude in trying circumstances does not trivialize your current situation. It does determine how you will handle it.  I can’t imagine what the man in the concentration camp went through. I don’t actually know his definition of a good attitude.  But I always think if people in a situation that horrible can manage a good attitude then I must try.

A good attitude is truthful.  It doesn’t mean facing the day pretending everything is perfect and lovely even though it obviously is not.  It does not face the day pretending that everything is far more horrible than it actually is.  A good attitude faces reality, does its best to get through the day in a way that is honorable and helpful, and doesn’t complain.

The fertilizer for a good attitude is thankfulness. There is no way an unthankful heart can develop a consistently cheerful positive attitude.  Remember that when the disciples were facing a fearsome storm Jesus came to them walking on the water. And he told them to be of good cheer, and confirmed that it was Jesus Himself with them in the midst of the storm.  Jesus is with us in the midst of our storms as well. He won’t leave us.  He won’t betray us.  I can almost guarantee that we won’t understand what is going on most of the time, but we will not be alone.  We are to be of good cheer.  I think that means at least in part to be hopeful. 

It is our duty to love others as Christ loved us.  That doesn’t automatically spring up in the midst of persecution and trials.  Pray daily, ‘Help us to love others the way you love us.’  That doesn’t mean you condone their wicked actions.  To love others the way Christ loves them is to hope for their salvation through Jesus Christ.  There may be opportunities to show others the love of God through your actions, but the first act of love is to pray for their salvation.

It is our duty to be obedient to the teachings of Jesus Christ as given to us in the Bible.  There is nothing that can be added to His word.  There is nothing that can be taken away from His word.  Charismatic prophecies and papal writings are false teachings when they contradict with God’s word. Anything that contradicts with God’s word is a false way.  It is our duty to hate every false way – because false ways lead people directly to hell.  The way to show our hatred of false ways is to love people enough to tell the truth regarding how to get to heaven.  It is to tell the truth about sin even when society claims something is not sin. 

Remember the blessings and promises of God written in the Bible.  Remember His blessings to you personally beginning with the blessing of life and salvation.  God’s promises are still good.  They may not come in the timeframe that suits us, but they will be fulfilled. Then we will understand God’s timeframe. Right now in America and in the world people have forgotten the blessings of God on nations.  The Bible tells us that while the Hebrews were in Egypt they were first well thought of due to Joseph.  Then as many years went by Joseph was forgotten and great sorrow came to the Jews and then to the Egyptians.  Forgetting God is always path to sorrow and woe. Currently the Christian foundation of America is being rewritten to suit a man centered philosophy.  The indisputable fact that the hand of God was on the start of this nation is being pushed aside.  It is being erased from history.  Tragedy of overwhelming proportions will come and is already beginning.

While we don’t know exactly what is coming, we do know our duty will change.  To keep that good attitude Christians are to be:

Thankfulness:

Two verses give the benefit of thankfulness and the curse of an unthankful heart.

Thankfulness – gets the peace of God in your heart.

‘And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.’ Colossians 3:15

An unthankful heart brings on vanity and a heart filled with darkness instead of light.  It is foolish to not be thankful.

‘Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.’  Romans 1:21

Cheerful/hopeful

‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.’ Psalm 42:11

‘A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.’ Proverbs 15:3

Loving toward others the way Christ loves us

‘But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.’ Luke 6:35

Obedient to the teachings of the Bible

Obedience has a blessing for obedience and punishment for lack of obedience.

‘Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.’  Isaiah 42:24

‘If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:’  Isaiah 1:19

Remember

‘Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.’  Psalm 20:7

‘I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.’ Psalm 77:11

And remember the good things that God has done for you and your family.

But this is not the end of the story. These things are the duty of a Christian.

‘So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.’  Luke 17:10

We should not expect a reward for doing our duty or what is required of us.  Don’t become puffed up or proud for doing what is required of you.  We need to go beyond what duty demands.  Do your best to do at least a little more than is required of you.

An interesting parable in the Bible speaks of profitable an unprofitable servants.  One buried his money in the ground and did nothing. The others invested the money and made a profit.

‘His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’ Matthew 25:23

The servants who received the promotion had different amounts of money to invest.  Both made a good effort.  Both received what looks like the same reward. 

I would guess that the unprofitable servant here was not profitable in anything, doing only enough to get by.  He was fearful and lacking in courage.  He was probably also lazy.  These are things that are overcome through learning to rely on the Lord.  In studying the Bible we notice that the big success stories are about unimportant people who were simply obedient.  Joshua probably wondered what was going on when he was told to march around the walls of Jericho daily.  Then he was told to blow the trumpets.  Did he have any idea of what was going on?  I don’t know.  But he was obedient.  He was action based.  He did what the Lord told him to do.  Then boom!  The walls fell down.

Did Moses know God was going to part the Red Sea?  I don’t know.  He was action based.  The outcome wasn’t in his hands.  He did what the Lord told Him to do.

How about Gideon who wound up with an army of a few hundred men to fight a giant army?  Was he shaking in his boots?  Maybe.  But he went forward doing what he was told to do.  He was action based.  He left the outcome to the Lord.

I think that is where Christians often drop the ball.  We are looking for a particular outcome with our work.  When that outcome does not materialize we start to question what we are doing.  It never hurts to question when things aren’t going well.  It is not right to base our decisions on how things are going at the moment.  Nothing would ever get done if feelings ran the world. 

Remember your ‘talents’ or ‘things entrusted to you by God’ begins with yourself. Be faithful with the life God has given you regardless of circumstances.  If you attitude needs and adjustment – then give it a good one!

Proverbs 23:7a says, ‘For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.’  Read in context this is referring to an evil person being nice to get you to join him.’   However, it is true of a committed Christian as well.  Or, as my mother in law used to say, ‘What’s in the well comes up in the bucket!’  If you do not have an attitude of thankfulness and cheer, your attitude will be bitterness and sorrow. 

If we cannot learn to be content today, we will not be content tomorrow no matter how much our circumstances may change for the better.  If our circumstances change for the worse our attitude will become even worse!

To do our duty for our God is not a heavy burden to bear.  Matthew 11:28-30 says,

‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Come Unto Me – I will give you rest!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIHP77a73gk

1. Hear the blessed Savior calling the oppressed,
   “Oh, ye heavy-laden, come to Me and rest;
   Come, no longer tarry, I your load will bear,
   Bring Me every burden, bring Me every care.”
• Refrain:
  Come unto Me, I will give you rest;
  Take My yoke upon you, hear Me and be blest;
  I am meek and lowly, come and trust My might;
  Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.
2. Are you disappointed, wand’ring here and there,
   Dragging chains of doubt and loaded down with care?
   Do unholy feelings struggle in your breast?
   Bring your case to Jesus—He will give you rest.
3. Stumbling on the mountains dark with sin and shame,
   Stumbling toward the pit of hell’s consuming flame;
   By the pow’rs of sin deluded and oppressed,
   Hear the tender Shepherd, “Come to Me and rest.”
4. Have you by temptation often conquered been,
   Has a sense of weakness brought distress within?
   Christ will sanctify you, if you’ll claim His best;
   In the Holy Spirit, He will give you rest.

Dear PZ Readers,

I have a new youtube channel.  It is called ‘The Silver Lining’.  My first video is about how to wear a wig during chemo.  I know that isn’t a subject that will interest most of you – and I thank the Lord for that.  However, it would help me get started if you would visit the page, watch a few minutes, and give it a thumbs up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eqdhsegKv0

If you have the time to tweet it or anything that would help in getting more views I would sincerely appreciate it.  Also if anyone has a use for the video or would like to link to a cancer web site that is fine. 

I am hoping to be well enough to make videos of my articles soon.  I also have plans for just everyday things.  Some of it will be very light hearted like the video on ‘How to get people to like you’.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iEYBfc_Tw8

It is a work in progress. I am hoping to improve lighting and the background.  It is nice to be doing something besides vomiting and groaning in pain.

Thank you again for your prayers. God truly bless you and guide you.

Barbara