Call to Him

Read: Nehemiah 1:1-11; 2:4; Psalm 18:6; Psalm 46:1; Ephesians 3:14-20; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7 – Do a word study on prayer. These verses only relate to this blog. Take the time and you will be so blessed.

“When we get things squared away vertically, it helps clear away the fog horizontally.” Charles Swindoll.

I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was a young child and was very troubled over a situation. I went into my bathroom, locked the door, sat down on the floor, placed my hands over my face, and prayed. I wasn’t raised in a Christian home and was never taught how to pray, but somehow I believed there was a God. So, as I spoke to God it was as if there was this protective bubble that came over me. I felt protected but the moment I finished and opened my eyes – the feeling instantly vanished. I only prayed occasionally, yet each time I did, I would experience the same sensation.

It wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I had school mates begin to explain to me their belief in God. They would invite me to church each Sunday and I would always decline. I even remember my orthodontist giving me a book about God’s love years before but I had never picked it up. I was intrigued by their lives. There was something different and I wanted to understand it more.

In May of my sophomore year I started getting sick. Then one day I collapsed in my bedroom in extreme pain. I was taken to the hospital but sent home with no diagnosis. In the middle of the night the pain returned so my mom took me to a different hospital. We learned that at the age of 15 I had a kidney stone. They would send me home only to have me show back up in the hospital because my pain was so severe. Finally, they decided to admit me into the hospital. On the 10th day of being in the hospital I was feeling so alone. I remember that evening that I cried out to God saying, “If you are real, and if you will take this stone away, I promise I will believe in you and go to church.” The next morning I woke up and went to the bathroom. When I stood up I looked down and there was a black stone the size of a #2 pencil eraser. I called the nurse immediately and she confirmed that I had passed my kidney stone. She then told me that she needed to call my doctor because unknown to me I was scheduled for surgery that morning – instead of having surgery I was going to get to go home.

I remember sitting in the hospital bed and saying, “OK, You’re real! You did your part – I believe.” I knew that day God was real but I still didn’t share about my prayer because I didn’t think anyone would believe me. I came home and looked for the book my orthodontist had given me and began reading it (I still have it 27 years later). The Sunday after my 16th birthday I went to a non-denominational church for the first time. The next three months I don’t think I missed a Sunday evening service. God began surrounding me with new friends at school who just happened to be Christians. They lovingly answered all my bizarre questions. Then one Sunday night I made the decision to whole-heartedly give my life over to God and ask Jesus into my heart. It was that simple prayer that changed my life. No longer was prayer this strange sensation that once I said Amen it was over. Once Jesus came into my heart He never left. I always feel I have that protective bubble over my life.

I’ve learned so much about prayer through the years and continue to learn. I’ve learned that prayer at times is about reverence, praise, and thanksgiving. Sometimes it’s a time of humbling myself and confessing my daily failures, and other times earnestly requesting something for myself or others. Many times though I’ve found that prayer is an informal conversation with a friend. There is one thing though I’m certain of - He longs to hear from each of us.

The Bible is filled with individuals who have demonstrated the gift and power of prayer. When I looked up prayer in my Topical Bible there were 14 pages of scripture references. Our church is going through a series teaching on prayer and I thought it would probably take a year to accurately go into all the details of prayer. Yet in my heart I know it’s just the simple truth of opening our hearts to Him and sharing with Him everything that is in there. That’s all He wants, and it’s the only thing that will bring peace to our hearts and minds that surpasses our understanding. (Phil.4:7)

I’ve learned that when I’m faced with life’s difficulties I have to go to God first. He is the only one who can bring peace in every circumstance. I can call friends but they don’t have the ability to do anything – unless of course they are going to pray (smile).

Hebrews 4:15 has become of one my favorite verses – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.”

As I lit a few candles in my house this evening I immediately thought that prayer can be like a candle. My candles are always sitting there, but until I light one I don’t have the benefit of its beauty. God is always sitting there but until we engage in prayer we don’t have the benefit of feeling His presence or peace in our lives. “Some rewards in prayer come only in proportion to the effort.” Selwyn Hughes.

I love how Ephesians 3:14-20 reads in The Message:
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

AMEN!

Overcoming Your Doubts

This morning I read this by Hannah Whitall Smith and just had to share it.

Read: Proverbs 3

"Do not give heed to your doubts for a moment. Put your will in this matter over on the Lord's side, and trust Him to keep your from falling. Telling Him all about your utter weakness and your long-encouraged habits of doubt, and how helpless you are before it, and commit the whole battle to Him. Believe He is faithful, not because you feel it, or see it, but because He says He is. Believe it, whether you feel it or not. Cultivate a continuous habit of believing, and never let your faith waver for any reason, however plausible it may be. The result will be that sooner or later you will come to know that it is true, and all doubts will vanish in the blaze of the glory of the absolute faithfulness of God!"


Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Time Is Not Wasted

Read: Psalm 90:12, 14, 17; Matthew 6:33; 1 Corinthians 15:58

When I was young I used to dream about the things I wanted to accomplish or do in my lifetime. Never did it occur to me that I might not fulfill these dreams or desires. I never thought age would come as quickly as it seems to now. I also thought I would never be the one to experience a life-threatening illness.

As soon as you’re struck with an illness such as Breast Cancer it instantly changes your perspective on many aspects of life. The fact that surprised me was how sad I felt that my dreams and desires might not be fulfilled. These thoughts have been rolling through my mind for several weeks. Recently I was reading in a devotional and a portion of the text jumped out at me. “The truth is that the time allotted to us on this earth is sufficient for all the Lord has planned for us to do.” Luci Swindoll Somehow it instantly clicked with me that I will be given the exact number of years, days, and hours that God has allotted for me on this earth. The truth that really resonated with me was this time will be sufficient for what He has planned for me.

I know we all have our list of things we want to do in our lives (maybe mentally but not actually written down). Lately, I’ve heard a lot about the “bucket” list. I think there is nothing wrong with any of those. What convicted me was that I didn’t have a very long list of the things I wanted to do for the Lord. Most of my dreams and desires were technically what would make me happy (or so I think).

The verse in Matthew 6:33 came to mind. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” I looked this verse up in The Message to see how it was worded. “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all everyday human concerns will be met.” The next verse says, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.”

I realize that my time on this earth really isn’t my own – it’s His. Now does that mean every minute is dedicated to service? I don’t believe so. I believe God has given us a perfect balance to enjoy the things He has created. I also have learned that when you are obedient in following His directions He blesses you with experiences that fulfill your deepest desires. None of us will ever have enough time to do the “things” we want, but we know that we will be given sufficient time to do exactly what He desires. This truth gave me great peace, and it also gave me the longing to be in tune with what He wants me to do.

To know that during the hardest and darkest year of my life He still gave me an avenue to minister to others by encouraging women to be in the Word, as He was fulfilling one of my desires to write. I have been blessed through a trial and it was used as something of purpose instead of only pain. Only God can accomplish this. “My dear, dear friends stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 – The Message

I know if I can keep my focus on what God is doing right now in my life, I will have all the time I need to fulfill my purpose on earth. Cancer is not in control – God is.

“ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17