I have been thinking a lot about change...not like Obama's campaign slogan "Change we can believe in...." Not political change, but spiritual change.
I am talking about change in our walks with the LORD.
When Chuck and I were dating we would often go on a date to Chili's for lunch or dinner. I love soup so one of my favorite things to order is Chicken Enchilada Soup and salad. Their soup is soooo good. Even if on the rare occasion I decided to get a different meal, I would often get a "cup" of that soup because it's just so delicious.
I had this battle everytime I went to Chilis. I look at the menu (which I pretty much have memorized) and I would still get the soup and salad. It's my favorite and I just enjoyed getting the same thing over and over.
We can do this in our walk with the LORD.
We read our Bibles. We pray. We attend church services. We listen to Christian music...but we feel dry.
I challenge you that the reason may be it's time for a change.
We all know that trials stir us up. Trials make us fall on our faces in prayer like never before. Trials make us weep when we read our Bibles, when we ponder the Psalms because it's as if God is speaking to our hearts in a fresh way. We feel like David's words are our words. If you know someone who is righteous and has had trial after trial after trial, you read Job and the Bible comes alive. You see how Job was tested and either you, or someone close to you is tested too. The Bible offers great encouragement to us when we are going through trials...
Worship is heightened when we are in trials. You hear a song on the Christian radio and you cry or shout out loud because it's so moving...it ministers to the deepest part of your soul.
But what about when you aren't going throuh difficulty? What about when you aren't personally going through a major trial? You feel blessed. Your family is healthy. The bills are paid. Things are going great....but you might feel dry spiritually.
It's time for a change. (They sang as it were a new song before the throne...Rev. 14:3)
God has spoken to my heart that we can be proactive in stead of reactive in our walks with God. Instead of waiting for a trial to deepen our faith and strengthen our walk, we can (as the Holy Spirit leads) make a change, a decision of the will to NOT BE COMPLACENT. God is waiting for us to climb out of our box (or jump out!) and run to Him in a fresh and NEW way.
"He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD." Psalm 40:3
"Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You." Psalm 143:8
This is what I mean...
Change it up!!!
-Maybe you have read the New King James Version all of your life. Get a new version, or use a new Bible commentary during your devotional time.
-Maybe you always sit in the middle row back center at church. Sit somewhere else! You will meet some new people and it will change the experience at church (break your routine, once in a while).
-Maybe you always pray in a certain posture. Change it. I am not saying you have to be dogmatic about it. Try to lay totally face down to the floor, or take a walk and pray with your eyes opened thanking God for all the things in nature that inspire you to give Him praise.
-Change the words you use in your prayers. God is all about relationship. He loves when His people pray. But for OUR SAKE we need to change our routines in prayer. Use the psalms as a model and pray back God's promises to the LORD. Use different words than you usually do. Just think of it as a conversation with God and express your heart.
-Take some time each day to pray, just for the purpose of worship. Pray the names of God and thank Him for who He is. Praise Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do in the future.
-Fast for someone you love who is going through a heavy trial or for someone's salvation.
I believe there is nothing that increases and enhances our prayer time quite like fasting! (you can fast one meal a day or fast from something you enjoy like coffee, chocolate, shopping, tv, etc. there are so many ways to fast...)
-Hang out with a new friend and talk about what the LORD is doing in his/her life. Ask this friend how you can pray for them.
-Pray for missionaries.
-Think about the Holiness of God and how far from His standard we are. Ask God to work in your heart to make you holy, not in a self-righteous way, but in a way that honors Him. (But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:13-16)
We must fight against comfort. What I am advocating is this, if you feel "comfortable" in your walk right now, do something to make you uncomfortable. Do something out of the box. Fight against becoming luke warm-
""I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." Rev. 3:15-16
Listen to this from A.W. Tozer, "Fighting Complacency" -Be hard on yourself and easy on others. Carry your own cross but never lay one on the back of another. Begin to practice the presence of God. Cultivate the fellowship of the Triune God by prayer, humility, obedience and self-abnegation. Let any Christian do these things and he will make rapid spiritual progress. There is every reason why we should all go forward in our Christian lives and no reason why we should not. Let us go on."
Let's "practice the presence of God."
That's it friends!!!!! We all need to work on this. We all need to change our routines and begin to intentionally practice His presence and allow Christ to invade every area (and I do mean, EVERY area of our lives). Let's ask God to through His Holy Spirit allow us to worship Jesus in a new way, singing Him a new song.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
A.C.T.S.
-Prayer changes things
-The Power of Prayer
-God Answers Prayer
-Pray Hard
These statements have been printed or engraved on decorative pieces of art, t-shirts, bumper stickers or even tattooed on people (see the Whosoevers website :)
One of my favorites is the model of prayer given by Jesus and made into the acronym "A.C.T.S."
When we go before the LORD God in prayer we offer, A-Adoration, C-Confession, T-Thanksgiving, and S-Supplication.
I want to focus on T- Thanksgiving.
Unfortunately, we all can fall into this habit in prayer-- We offer a quick hello to God, forgive me quickly, now here is where I want to spend my time God, here are all the prayer requests I have... and we unleash a 20 foot scroll and go on for 10-20 minutes or longer with our petitions.
Please, please, please don't misunderstand me--- God loves us and He is all about relationships. Even a prayer, "Lord Help me" or "Lord Thank you" is like sweet smelling incense to Him. He wants us to come to Him with all our requests...
But what I want to share, what I was reminded of recently was the importance of praying...simple prayers just for the purpose of giving thanks.
Last night God reminded me of the importance of prayers of adoration and thanksgiving to honor our Father. God did an amazing victory and answered prayers in a wonderful way and I fell to my knees and all I could say was, "LORD thank you, thank you, thank you." It felt so good! No laundry list, no burdens, no distractions, just me....just Him and just two words I could offer, "Thank you."
One time I heard Pastor Chuck Smith mention that God loves the spontaneous praise and prayer of thanks we give the LORD. This is what I think he meant---
We are driving in our car and just "out of no where" from the depths of our soul we bless God for who He is and what He's done. I like that!!! We can simply praise Him and thank Him for being good. The loving thing about our God is that we will be refreshed too as a result.
I think sometimes we can feel burdened by our supplications and petitions. Again, I am 100% convinced we do not come to the LORD with our supplication and petitions enough, so I am not saying that we should stop...If anything, we need to come to Him MORE with our petitions and requests. We need to truly offer prayers without ceasing...all day, all the time. Prayer is like oxygen. It's vital and we can't grow as a believer without it. How can one have a relationship with another he doesn't talk to?
What I am encouraging you (and me) is to take in EVEN MORE good stuff, more vitamins- Taking time to offer Thanksgiving Prayers once a day, or more.
It could be a prayer of thanks like this:
"God you are too good to me. Although I fail you, you never fail me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for writing my name in your book of life. Thank you for doing exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask or think with my life and my testimony. Thank you for being the good sheperd and taking care of me your sheep, your precious lamb. Thank you for my spouse. Thank you for my family. Thank you for my friends. Thank you that I can see, hear, think, walk, dance, laugh, meditate on your Word and sing songs to you. Thank you that I have a roof over my head, clothes and shoes to wear, food in my fridge and cupboards and even extra resources to eat out! LORD you are too good. Thank you for my children. Thank you for the church I go to and the way you move there. Thank you for the ministry opportunites you give me daily. Thank you for my health. Thank you for my husband's job and my daily tasks you assign for me. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that indwells me. Thank you for being the Great I AM, the all sufficent one. LORD you are too good. LORD thank you. LORD thank you. LORD thank you for being you and for loving me. God, all I can say is thank you and ask you would use my life to be a blessing an offering poured out for you and your glory. In Jesus Name I offer thanks, AMEN."
(Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15; Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.Phil 4:6)
I am sure as you read this prayer you thought of 101 other things to offer thanks to God for. I bet you forgot what your petitions even were. What were you in need of again? At the time of utter surrender in thanksgiving to God we forget. We forget our worries and we just swim in the ocean of His amazing grace and love and provision.
Oh that we would give thanks more often to our Father!!!!!!
(Scripture References:
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinth. 9:15
We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. Rev. 11:17
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinth 15:57
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:2
We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.Psalm 75:1
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 1 Thess 1:2
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.Col 3:17
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, 1 Thess 2:13
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 1 Corinth 1:4
-The Power of Prayer
-God Answers Prayer
-Pray Hard
These statements have been printed or engraved on decorative pieces of art, t-shirts, bumper stickers or even tattooed on people (see the Whosoevers website :)
One of my favorites is the model of prayer given by Jesus and made into the acronym "A.C.T.S."
When we go before the LORD God in prayer we offer, A-Adoration, C-Confession, T-Thanksgiving, and S-Supplication.
I want to focus on T- Thanksgiving.
Unfortunately, we all can fall into this habit in prayer-- We offer a quick hello to God, forgive me quickly, now here is where I want to spend my time God, here are all the prayer requests I have... and we unleash a 20 foot scroll and go on for 10-20 minutes or longer with our petitions.
Please, please, please don't misunderstand me--- God loves us and He is all about relationships. Even a prayer, "Lord Help me" or "Lord Thank you" is like sweet smelling incense to Him. He wants us to come to Him with all our requests...
But what I want to share, what I was reminded of recently was the importance of praying...simple prayers just for the purpose of giving thanks.
Last night God reminded me of the importance of prayers of adoration and thanksgiving to honor our Father. God did an amazing victory and answered prayers in a wonderful way and I fell to my knees and all I could say was, "LORD thank you, thank you, thank you." It felt so good! No laundry list, no burdens, no distractions, just me....just Him and just two words I could offer, "Thank you."
One time I heard Pastor Chuck Smith mention that God loves the spontaneous praise and prayer of thanks we give the LORD. This is what I think he meant---
We are driving in our car and just "out of no where" from the depths of our soul we bless God for who He is and what He's done. I like that!!! We can simply praise Him and thank Him for being good. The loving thing about our God is that we will be refreshed too as a result.
I think sometimes we can feel burdened by our supplications and petitions. Again, I am 100% convinced we do not come to the LORD with our supplication and petitions enough, so I am not saying that we should stop...If anything, we need to come to Him MORE with our petitions and requests. We need to truly offer prayers without ceasing...all day, all the time. Prayer is like oxygen. It's vital and we can't grow as a believer without it. How can one have a relationship with another he doesn't talk to?
What I am encouraging you (and me) is to take in EVEN MORE good stuff, more vitamins- Taking time to offer Thanksgiving Prayers once a day, or more.
It could be a prayer of thanks like this:
"God you are too good to me. Although I fail you, you never fail me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for writing my name in your book of life. Thank you for doing exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask or think with my life and my testimony. Thank you for being the good sheperd and taking care of me your sheep, your precious lamb. Thank you for my spouse. Thank you for my family. Thank you for my friends. Thank you that I can see, hear, think, walk, dance, laugh, meditate on your Word and sing songs to you. Thank you that I have a roof over my head, clothes and shoes to wear, food in my fridge and cupboards and even extra resources to eat out! LORD you are too good. Thank you for my children. Thank you for the church I go to and the way you move there. Thank you for the ministry opportunites you give me daily. Thank you for my health. Thank you for my husband's job and my daily tasks you assign for me. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that indwells me. Thank you for being the Great I AM, the all sufficent one. LORD you are too good. LORD thank you. LORD thank you. LORD thank you for being you and for loving me. God, all I can say is thank you and ask you would use my life to be a blessing an offering poured out for you and your glory. In Jesus Name I offer thanks, AMEN."
(Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15; Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.Phil 4:6)
I am sure as you read this prayer you thought of 101 other things to offer thanks to God for. I bet you forgot what your petitions even were. What were you in need of again? At the time of utter surrender in thanksgiving to God we forget. We forget our worries and we just swim in the ocean of His amazing grace and love and provision.
Oh that we would give thanks more often to our Father!!!!!!
(Scripture References:
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinth. 9:15
We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. Rev. 11:17
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinth 15:57
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:2
We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.Psalm 75:1
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 1 Thess 1:2
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.Col 3:17
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, 1 Thess 2:13
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 1 Corinth 1:4
Friday, October 8, 2010
Wisdom with Words
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. Proverbs 15:2
LORD Jesus, give me wisdom. I have been putting my foot in my mouth a lot lately. Please give me wisdom when to speak and when to be silent. When to share and when to listen. Help me know Jesus that you are my best friend and I don't need to share all the details of what you teach me with people....You want to hear from me. You love talking with me. I don't understand it God, why you love me so much, such a sinner, but I thank you and bless you for your unfailing unconditional love for me. Help me Jesus. Give me wisdom over my words and help me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading and bind my propensity to talk too much. In Jesus name AMEN.
This has been my frequent prayer.
My precious husband and I had a great discussion a few weeks ago. He lovingly told me, "Laura, you need to be a better listener. You sometimes interrupt and you need to be careful about that."
I took this to heart. I prayed and I asked God to help me be a better listener. I asked God to give me wisdom.
My heart was so heavy over this. I didn't want to seem rude or like I was trying to be a Holy Spirit.
I felt confused.
When do I speak?
When do I just listen?
How do I know if I am talking too much and it's wrong, and how do I know when I am obeying the Spirit and offering encouragement?
I continued to pray through this struggle.
I emailed my husband, and shared with him that I knew he was right and I needed to "Preach the Gospel every day, if necessary use words." St. Francis Assissi
The very next day a pastor in our church said the SAME THING.
Two days later I went to Disneyland and a man with a long beard had a cool Christian shirt on. I couldn't read the text so I looked closer...it said, "Preach the Gospel every day, if necessary use words"
Wow LORD.
You are really speaking to me. You are speaking to my heart. I need to not just "talk" about the things of the LORD, I need to behave in a way that is loving and brings glory to God, even if it's without words.
I love it when God reveals Himself through His Word like this!!
I continued to struggle with this issue of feeling extremely low on discernment or "wisdom." I prayed and I even thought about buying books on wisdom and discernment. I know Proverbs is the book on wisdom, but I thought I might gain insight from a commentary on Proverbs or some other book on wisdom.
In my morning devotional reading from my one-year-Bible I came across Ecclesiastes. I started reading it and it took me a couple of days (duh!) when I realized I was reading one of the greatest books on wisdom from the greatest men who was endowed with wisdom, King Solomon and from the best book of all- God's Word.
I was blown away and I even chuckled with the LORD. I love His sense of humor. Here I am trying to find some additional reading material to help in wisdom and the Holy Spirit orchestrated the exact day, month and time when He knew I would need to read Ecclesiastes and learn about the foolishness of man and the wisdom that, we all know, begins and ends with the LORD.
I learned:
1) God was pruning me. God did want me to change. God wanted me to listen to my husband's loving correction (thank you Jesus for my husband) that I need to be a better listener and I need to let the Holy Spirit lead me, not just talk/share all the time, it could be the wrong timing. Communication tone and surroundings are both important. Exp: If your spouse just had a long day at work, that is not the best time to share things....Let him/her have time to breathe and settle in and wait to share until the timing is right. (John 15:5)
2) God created me with a desire and hunger to share and encourage other believers. You (and I) can't stop God's work. God created you with a purpose and we all have very specific gifts. We must use them, but remember, we bless God when we honor Him with our gifts and talents as HE LEADS. (There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.1 Cor. 12:4-6)
3.) I got spiritually attacked! The enemy was attacking me because he doesn't want us to encourage each other. He rather shut us up...that's what I started to do...be more quiet. But that was wrong. Forgive me Jesus. "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue." 2 Sam 23:2
4.) Practice this- If God is placing someone on your heart and you want to share something. PRAY FIRST. READ God's Word and ask Him to reveal the scripture to share, the way to share, the time and place and ask the Holy Spirit to direct a divine appointment. (See Colossians 1:9; also If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5)
5.) Remember the tongue is evil! We can use the same tongue to bless or encourage another believer or tear someone down. So be very cautious and PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. 1 Thess 5:17 (see James 3-But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8)
I hope and pray this encourages anyone who like me, has put her foot in her mouth when trying to share something of the LORD. This is important stuff and the enemy wants to muzzle us from sharing God's Truth. Pray and seek the LORD, then open your mouth, preach the Gospel, if necessary use Words.
The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. Isaiah 50:4
LORD Jesus, give me wisdom. I have been putting my foot in my mouth a lot lately. Please give me wisdom when to speak and when to be silent. When to share and when to listen. Help me know Jesus that you are my best friend and I don't need to share all the details of what you teach me with people....You want to hear from me. You love talking with me. I don't understand it God, why you love me so much, such a sinner, but I thank you and bless you for your unfailing unconditional love for me. Help me Jesus. Give me wisdom over my words and help me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading and bind my propensity to talk too much. In Jesus name AMEN.
This has been my frequent prayer.
My precious husband and I had a great discussion a few weeks ago. He lovingly told me, "Laura, you need to be a better listener. You sometimes interrupt and you need to be careful about that."
I took this to heart. I prayed and I asked God to help me be a better listener. I asked God to give me wisdom.
My heart was so heavy over this. I didn't want to seem rude or like I was trying to be a Holy Spirit.
I felt confused.
When do I speak?
When do I just listen?
How do I know if I am talking too much and it's wrong, and how do I know when I am obeying the Spirit and offering encouragement?
I continued to pray through this struggle.
I emailed my husband, and shared with him that I knew he was right and I needed to "Preach the Gospel every day, if necessary use words." St. Francis Assissi
The very next day a pastor in our church said the SAME THING.
Two days later I went to Disneyland and a man with a long beard had a cool Christian shirt on. I couldn't read the text so I looked closer...it said, "Preach the Gospel every day, if necessary use words"
Wow LORD.
You are really speaking to me. You are speaking to my heart. I need to not just "talk" about the things of the LORD, I need to behave in a way that is loving and brings glory to God, even if it's without words.
I love it when God reveals Himself through His Word like this!!
I continued to struggle with this issue of feeling extremely low on discernment or "wisdom." I prayed and I even thought about buying books on wisdom and discernment. I know Proverbs is the book on wisdom, but I thought I might gain insight from a commentary on Proverbs or some other book on wisdom.
In my morning devotional reading from my one-year-Bible I came across Ecclesiastes. I started reading it and it took me a couple of days (duh!) when I realized I was reading one of the greatest books on wisdom from the greatest men who was endowed with wisdom, King Solomon and from the best book of all- God's Word.
I was blown away and I even chuckled with the LORD. I love His sense of humor. Here I am trying to find some additional reading material to help in wisdom and the Holy Spirit orchestrated the exact day, month and time when He knew I would need to read Ecclesiastes and learn about the foolishness of man and the wisdom that, we all know, begins and ends with the LORD.
[there is] a time to keep silence, And a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:7b
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Prov. 9:10
I will always be a talker.....but now I will try more to be sensitive to the Spirit and to others and to discern when to speak and when to be silent.
I learned:
1) God was pruning me. God did want me to change. God wanted me to listen to my husband's loving correction (thank you Jesus for my husband) that I need to be a better listener and I need to let the Holy Spirit lead me, not just talk/share all the time, it could be the wrong timing. Communication tone and surroundings are both important. Exp: If your spouse just had a long day at work, that is not the best time to share things....Let him/her have time to breathe and settle in and wait to share until the timing is right. (John 15:5)
2) God created me with a desire and hunger to share and encourage other believers. You (and I) can't stop God's work. God created you with a purpose and we all have very specific gifts. We must use them, but remember, we bless God when we honor Him with our gifts and talents as HE LEADS. (There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.1 Cor. 12:4-6)
3.) I got spiritually attacked! The enemy was attacking me because he doesn't want us to encourage each other. He rather shut us up...that's what I started to do...be more quiet. But that was wrong. Forgive me Jesus. "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue." 2 Sam 23:2
4.) Practice this- If God is placing someone on your heart and you want to share something. PRAY FIRST. READ God's Word and ask Him to reveal the scripture to share, the way to share, the time and place and ask the Holy Spirit to direct a divine appointment. (See Colossians 1:9; also If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5)
5.) Remember the tongue is evil! We can use the same tongue to bless or encourage another believer or tear someone down. So be very cautious and PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. 1 Thess 5:17 (see James 3-But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8)
I hope and pray this encourages anyone who like me, has put her foot in her mouth when trying to share something of the LORD. This is important stuff and the enemy wants to muzzle us from sharing God's Truth. Pray and seek the LORD, then open your mouth, preach the Gospel, if necessary use Words.
The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. Isaiah 50:4
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