Continue Praying, Watch, and Give Thanks

Continue Praying, Watching and Giving Thanks

Barbara Henderson

Colossians 4:2, ‘Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving:’.

Am I correct in guessing that you personally have been praying for the same thing for some time now?  Your prayer hasn’t been answered, and you are tired. 

 If that is correct, you may be asking yourself, ‘What am I supposed to do when a prayer hasn’t been answered?’

 You are supposed to keep on praying in obedience to the teachings of the Bible.  The Bible doesn’t tell us for how long.  It just says to continue.  The encouragement to keep on praying is that you hope to eventually get the desired answer.  You hope to reach the desired haven. (Psalm 107:30)

 The Lord may give you exactly what you are want.  You can trust God to definitely have your best interests at heart.  However, there aren’t any guarantees regarding exactly how long it will be before the Lord answers.  While you are waiting, you may feel like you will faint, give up, or be tempted to forget the matter entirely.  Obedience to the Lord compels you to continue to pray regardless of impatience or discouragement.

 Then, as you continue in prayer, you are to watch. 

You are to watch for:

Discouragement

Worldliness creeping in

Unsound doctrine leading you astray – which requires you to learn sound doctrine

Ungodly distractions (King David let one of those ruin his life – so beware)

Doubt

AND

Watch for your answer! 

 Remember Micah 7:7 which says, ‘Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.’  Write that on the palm of your hand and read it every time you are discouraged or doubtful!

 In the midst of all this praying and watching, there should be an element of thanksgiving not dependent on the circumstances in which you are living, nor the length of time between when you begin to pray and when you receive your answer,

 Thanksgiving is important for many reasons.

First, the Lord tells to be thankful so it is a matter of obedience.

Second, the Lord deserves our thanks. 

Third, thanksgiving is a mighty tool, a gift from God.  Through thanksgiving, people are able to ‘change the video playing in their heads’.  I mean, they can take their minds off of some event or sorrow and concentrate on something else. 

Thanksgiving is a path to sanity.  A story of overwhelming sorrow is that of the first Christian settlement on the continent which would one day be contain the United States of America.  These were people who loved the Lord so much they wanted to live in a country where God was the indisputable King.  So they set out on a tiny ship called the Mayflower; sailed to America; went ashore; and suffered approximately 50% casualties in their first year in the new land.  So what did they do in the midst of such sorrow? 

They set up their first thanksgiving on the shores of their new land.  It is a very remarkable event because of the magnitude of sorrow and suffering that they had endured just prior to the thanksgiving.

 They thanked God for His mercy in the 50% who survived.  They thanked Him for His providential care of them in the new land.  I believe the realized that in order to survive, they had to do something drastic to turn their thoughts away from the losses they had just suffered.  They looked away from their losses and thanked God for His goodness.  It was by the mercy of God that all had not perished.

 They went on to lay the groundwork for building a nation founded on the principles for living given to us in the Bible.  Yes, the United States definitely has a wonderful and strong Christian heritage.  There is no way anyone who is even slightly honest can edit our Christian heritage out of our history.

 The future of any person, family, church, nation, or economy is always uncertain at best.  Sometimes it is much more obvious that perils are looming ahead, but it really is always the same.  To face such a time as this, there is no better preparation than to continue in prayer, and watch with thanksgiving.

 Being obedient to God through continued prayer is a path to getting prayers answered.  Continued prayer does have additional benefits in addition to having your petitions answered.  A main benefit is that your life is changed for the better.  The more you pray, watch, and give thanks, the more you consider the ways of the Lord and His goodness.  Your heart will be changed for the better. 

 Consider Luke 6:45 which says, ‘A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.’

 If you would be that good man/woman who brings forth good from the heart, then continue in prayer, watchfulness, and thanksgiving.  Remember that what God instructs us to do is what is good for us to do. 

 I would like to personally encourage each reader to continue in prayer.  No matter how long you have been praying for something, no matter how discouraged you may be – take heart.  The Lord will hear you.  The Lord will help you. 

 Remember Galatians 6:9 which says, ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’

 
Take My Hand Precious Lord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNrVed6dP6s

 Precious Lord, take my hand

            Lead me on, let me stand

            I'm tired, I’m weak, I’m lone

            Through the storm, through the night

            Lead me on to the light

            Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

 

            When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near

            When my life is almost gone

            Hear my cry, hear my call

            Hold my hand lest I fall

            Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

 

            When the darkness appears and the night draws near

            And the day is past and gone

            At the river I stand

            Guide my feet, hold my hand

            Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

 

            Precious Lord, take my hand

            Lead me on, let me stand

            I'm tired, I’m weak, Lord I’m worn

            Through the storm, through the night

            Lead me on to the light

            Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Who Will Stand Up For You In Time of Need?

Plead My Cause Oh Lord

Have you ever been in a situation where you had no idea of what to say or do?  Or perhaps you did know what to say or do, but no one would listen or pay attention.  What you need is a barrister, an orator of supreme skill and cunning, to speak up on your behalf.  Someone skilled in diplomacy and tact combined with an uncanny ability to get the job done in the clients favor.  It would be nice to invite such a barrister to all the family get assemblies where you wind up looking like an idiot for one reason or another.  Or, to the meetings at work, or to the lunch breaks where everyone makes jokes about someone – usually you.  A Christian has such a Barrister.  It is Jesus Christ.  He will plead your cause with those who strive against you. 

To take full advantage of your Barrister, your Orator, your Counselor, you need to do a few things yourself.

First, figure out who is the main adversary you face on a daily basis.  Who strives against you the most, and keeps you from achieving what you want to achieve?

 

The answer is ‘yourself’.  Like the Apostle Paul, most Christians can say, ‘What I want to do I don’t do; and, what I don’t want to do – that I do.’  It is frustrating.  Fortunately, Christ will plead your cause with you yourself.  He is the one who will help you overcome the doubts, fears, and worries in your life.  There is a line from an old hymn that says, ‘When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living word of God I shall prevail,’  When your mind is assaulted with the howling storms of doubt and fear, or with simple  boredom and impatience, then is the time to pray.  Pray, ‘Plead my cause Oh Lord with them that strive against me – even if the one striving against me is me myself.’ 

 

Your second adversary is the world.  We live in a fearsome land.  Truly we are strangers in a strange land.  The people that we love can be those who strive against us.  The people with whom we work can be those who strive against us.  How can you strive against those you love?  You are hurt when they don’t understand what you are trying to do.  You are hurt when they don’t try to help you.  They may even hinder you.  Yet, how can you strive against those you love?  It is God who can help you.  He can plead your cause much more eloquently than you personally are able. 

 

In the world you will have tribulation, but in Jesus we can have peace.  There is a rising tide of hatred toward Christians.  We cannot turn the tide.  We can only speak the truth of Jesus Christ.  If you want to impact the world for Christ, the just proclaim the truth.  Jesus Saves, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.  And for telling the truth there are many who will strive against you.  For them pray, ‘Plead my cause oh Lord with them that strive against me.

 Your third adversary is the devil and his followers.  They will take advantage of all the others who strive against you, and seek to put a knife through your heart when you are the weakest.  Pray, ’Oh Prince of Peace, plead my cause with them that strive against me.’  Christ has the power to rebuke the evil ones who are seeking to destroy you. 

 I am tired today.  I need the Lord to plead my cause.  I am just too tired to plead or reason with anyone.  Honestly, my family and my life are in good standing at this moment – thanks to the wonderful goodness of my God.  But the world hates me because I am a Christian.  The devil hates me because I belong to the Lord.  I pray, ‘Plead my cause oh Lord.  You do it for me today and always.  I will never be strong enough or smart enough to plead my own cause.’

How about you?  Are you weary?  Are you tired of pleading your own cause?  The Lord will plead for you.  We know that He will stand for our defense on judgment day, but he will also plead our cause today.  He will plead for you right now.  He loves you.  He is pleading with you to put your burdens on his shoulders and let Him plead your cause.  What Christians need to do is to turn our hearts to do the things that please Him.  Let Him handle the outcome of our efforts.  Let him plead for you.  He will do it.

My Pet Died - Did It Go to Heaven?

My Pet Died - Will I See Him in Heaven

                  
Recently one friend almost lost a pet to a snake bite, and another friend lost a cat to liver cancer.  People who own pets all face loss of a pet eventually.  Because the animal has become such a part of their lives, the loss is tremendous.  And, Christians especially want to be comforted knowing that they will see their pet again in heaven.  So – will they or won’t they?

 To answer that question, we need to be on the same page regarding exactly what and where heaven is.  So, let’s start with first defining heaven.  According to the Bible, heaven is the home of God Almighty, the God of creation, the God who wrote the Bible.  It is a specific place.  It is a perfect place. 

 Second, what people will be in heaven?  Jesus clearly says no one gets to God the Father except through Jesus Christ the Son.  Some people find this offensive.  They feel that God should make a number of ways into heaven.  God did make ONE very expensive way into heaven. 

If you chose heaven through Jesus Christ, then you know exactly where you are going. 

And through Jesus Christ you get to

enter into the Kingdom of Heaven through the front door,

go up the throne of God Himself,

and you will be a joint heir with Jesus Christ. 

Also, one way into heaven is sufficient. 

Everyone gets an invitation – Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.  Everyone gets the same first class invitation.  

No one is invited to enter in through the back door and spend eternity working as kitchen help.

 In order to get to heaven, an individual must make a specific choice to accept Jesus Christ.  That guarantees that person entrance into heaven.  The heaven of the God of the Bible is the place I mean when I talk about heaven.  It is important that if you want to see a pet in ‘heaven’ that you first make sure YOU personally are going to heaven.

 Mankind is different than the animals. 

God formed man with His own hands. 

 Man was created for more than the animals. 

Christ did not die for animals. 

He died for human beings.  He died for you and me. 

But, does God have a plan for the animals?  I believe He does.  The important things is that animals are just that – animals.  They wouldn’t have to do anything to enter heaven.  (People enter heaven through grace by faith, not of works.  They just have to make the choice to go through Jesus Christ.)

 Here are some reasons I believe animals will be in heaven.

 When animals were first created they did not die.  When Adam and Eve sinned, death entered in.

 Noah built an ark.  Noah and his family chose to obey God and go into the ark.  They had to make a conscience decision to follow God or not. God sent the animals into the ark.

 Animals will be in the Millennium Kingdom.

 Another way to look at it is, ‘Why wouldn’t animals be in heaven?’ 

 In today’s world, families are smaller and more fragmented than ever before.  People often don’t have many or even any family to show them love that is unconditional and unselfish.  In a way, that is what they get from pets.  Pets give unselfish and unconditional affection to their owners.  They are interested in everything the owner does.  In the absence of family and friends showing the love of God to others, God can use even an animal to show love. 

A pet can be used by God to fill a gap for a human being.

 People may have a view of God corresponding to their view of their own father, or parents, or someone with a strong influence during their upbringing.  If their father or father figure was harsh, they may view God as harsh.  If he was a pushover, then they may view God as a pushover.  If he was absent, then they may view God as absent and uncaring.   But, in a pet there is a creature that just loves its owner.  (For a correct view of God, go to the Bible and study it.  Even people with godly loving parents will see the perfect Father through learning about the God of the Bible.)

 The loss of a pet can also cause people to consider heaven and what happens when they personally die. They want to know they personally can be sure they will go to heaven.  What would be the point of your pet going to heaven if you personally went somewhere else?  Pets can be an evangelism tool!

 When I think of heaven I think of my sister, my dad, my granddad, and other family members and dear friends.  There are people who have no such happy thoughts or reunions to which they look forward.  No one will be lonely in heaven, but knowing some of the people you will see there does it make for wonderful anticipation that those without people in heaven may not have.  I also think of pets, but I don't think of them first.  Although I must confess when looking forward to seeing them again, I often picture them with a specific pet.

 We don’t know exactly what we will be like in heaven.  1 John 3

¹Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Based on these verses, it seems to me that if we can't even know what we will be like, we can't really understand what animals will be like either.  Surely they had a larger capacity for everything before the fall.

 We don’t exactly what heaven will be like.  1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us, ‘ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.’   So, based on the word of God, we can know that heaven will be wonderful.  It is so wonderful, that it is beyond our capacity to understand just how wonderful it is.

The truth is we can't prove it either way from the bible. anything we say is speculation.  we can only have a strong opinion.  We can be positive that animals have no requirement to trust Jesus Christ.  They have capacity to understand anything about how to be saved
 They were mot created with the same capacity as human beings. they don't have the same capacities as human beings 

 As Christians, we trust our eternal destination to Jesus Christ. 

It is definite that we can trust Him with the animals of creation as well. 

God will do what is right.