Psalm 46:10 : "Be still and know that I am God."
"If we keep praying, our relationship with God will grow and deepen into a rich union of hearts, allowing us to be still and know that He is God. We begin our life of prayer with words, our own and the words of others; in particular, the Word of God. When choosing material to pray with, it is important to choose carefully...sacred scripture, the inspired word of God, is always the best source for texts for prayer. If we allow the words of Scripture to soak into our hearts and minds, we will be able to say with the prophet Jeremiah, 'When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart' (Jeremiah 15:16)" (Spirit of Caramel Fall 2009, pg 15).
I love that - be still and know that I am God. He does not say, "Busy your minds with prayers and petitions for me." While there is a time and a place for petitions and thanksgiving, our relationship with God is deepened when we listen because it is just that - a relationship. It goes two ways. It requires our listening to the Lord and responding to Him as God.
And this should be done ALWAYS. Constant mental prayer. That is what we strive for! That is what Paul preached to the Thessalonians ("Pray without ceasing..."), and it is the essence of a fruitful, rich relationship with Christ.
Psalm 1:
"(1)Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked,
Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers.
(2)Rather, the law of the Lord is their joy;
God's law they study day and night.
(3)They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season;
Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers."
I broke it up by verse on purpose. First, "Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked." Sorry, but who you hang out with DOES matter. A lot. Are they leading you towards Christ and encouraging a life of prayer?
The second verse is critically important, saying, "The law of the Lord is their joy; God's law they study day and night." Day and night! Constantly! Another version uses the word "delight" instead of "joy." We should delight in the law, which is the Word of God (also Christ - John 1); it is our source of joy. What do we delight in?
The third verse is probably the most unbelievable: "They are like a tree planted near streams of water...whatever they do prospers." Whatever they do? Well, yeah if their entire life is founded on Scripture and if every prayer comes straight from the Word of God! To be like a tree planted near streams of water sounds wonderful to me. Never thirsty, never dry, never in want of anything...Scripture often uses water symbolism when referring to the Holy Spirit, and I can't help but recognize that here as well. Judge a tree by its fruits, right? Well if the tree is one founded on the Word of God, constantly being fed by the Spirit, will fruits not be born? If you are constantly praying in the Spirit, who is God, will not whatever you do prosper? It says so in Psalm 1. And the Word is Truth.
Study it. Delight in it. Pray it. Claim it.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Fear.
Have you ever noticed that when you resolve to do better, to pray more, to make a change, things get harder? Suddenly praying those 5 minutes every morning are a lot tougher than you originally planned, and it's difficult to stay focused.
Do not be discouraged.
It's actually fairly common, as frustrating as that is, but most people think it means something is wrong. They are told that they must be doing something wrong. They think that they aren't good enough or holy enough.
That's a lie.
I am reading a book called Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. It's actually a book on manhood written from a Christian perspective (the one for women is Captivating), and I definitely recommend it. The reason I mention it is because there is a section where Eldredge really hits the nail on the head in regards to this, our efforts to move forward in faith:
"That is the next level of our Enemy's strategy. When we begin to question him, to resist his lies, to see his hand in the "ordinary trials" of our lives, then he steps up the attack; he turns to intimidation and fear. [...] Satan will try to get you to agree with intimidation because he fears you. You are a huge threat to him. He doesn't want you waking up and fighting back because when you do he loses. 'Resist the devil,' James says, 'and he will flee from you' (James 4:7, emphasis added). So he's going to try to keep you from taking a stand. He moves from subtle seduction to open assault. The thoughts come crashing in, all sorts of stuff begin to fall apart in your life, your faith seems paper thin" (page 166).
Sound like a familiar story? That sure is the story of my life. Something really good comes into my life, I form a good habit (or try to), meet a person who needs my help, start a bible study or praise and worship group... What happens? Satan tries to attack it -- and me -- at all the weak points.
Face it -- he knows our weaknesses, our wounds. He constantly goes after them. What do you struggle with the most? Try to grow closer to Christ and see where you begin to hit road blocks. Probably in the most vulnerable, wounded areas of your life.
But God is with us. To the very end! And perfect Love casts out all fear. The Lord is that perfect Love. He is with us, and in Him we have nothing to fear. Standing firm in our faith in Christ, we have been given the same Spirit as the apostles on Pentecost. The same Spirit! The same Spirit that guided them across nations, that gave them power to heal, that gave them power to cast out demons, that gave them power to preach the gospel of Christ, that gave them the courage to die for their faith. This Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, which is Christ, and he is with each one of us.
So do not lose heart. For although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed every day. For this momentary slight affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Fight the good fight.
Do not be discouraged.
It's actually fairly common, as frustrating as that is, but most people think it means something is wrong. They are told that they must be doing something wrong. They think that they aren't good enough or holy enough.
That's a lie.
I am reading a book called Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. It's actually a book on manhood written from a Christian perspective (the one for women is Captivating), and I definitely recommend it. The reason I mention it is because there is a section where Eldredge really hits the nail on the head in regards to this, our efforts to move forward in faith:
"That is the next level of our Enemy's strategy. When we begin to question him, to resist his lies, to see his hand in the "ordinary trials" of our lives, then he steps up the attack; he turns to intimidation and fear. [...] Satan will try to get you to agree with intimidation because he fears you. You are a huge threat to him. He doesn't want you waking up and fighting back because when you do he loses. 'Resist the devil,' James says, 'and he will flee from you' (James 4:7, emphasis added). So he's going to try to keep you from taking a stand. He moves from subtle seduction to open assault. The thoughts come crashing in, all sorts of stuff begin to fall apart in your life, your faith seems paper thin" (page 166).
Sound like a familiar story? That sure is the story of my life. Something really good comes into my life, I form a good habit (or try to), meet a person who needs my help, start a bible study or praise and worship group... What happens? Satan tries to attack it -- and me -- at all the weak points.
Face it -- he knows our weaknesses, our wounds. He constantly goes after them. What do you struggle with the most? Try to grow closer to Christ and see where you begin to hit road blocks. Probably in the most vulnerable, wounded areas of your life.
But God is with us. To the very end! And perfect Love casts out all fear. The Lord is that perfect Love. He is with us, and in Him we have nothing to fear. Standing firm in our faith in Christ, we have been given the same Spirit as the apostles on Pentecost. The same Spirit! The same Spirit that guided them across nations, that gave them power to heal, that gave them power to cast out demons, that gave them power to preach the gospel of Christ, that gave them the courage to die for their faith. This Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, which is Christ, and he is with each one of us.
So do not lose heart. For although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed every day. For this momentary slight affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Fight the good fight.
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