Tag Archives: faith

How to Pray When Life Doesn’t Make Sense? (Part 2)

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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

 -Romans 8:28 NIV   

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If we choose and pray to live in God’s will, we must understand that sometimes God allows us to struggle and suffer not only to change us, but also to prepare us for His future plans.  In Matthew 26: 36-42 (Refer to Part 1 of How to Pray When Life Doesn’t Make Sense [Part 1]), Jesus went with his disciples to the Gethsemane to pray. Jesus knew it was God’s will for Him to lay down His life to pay the debt for our sins. Jesus “… prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  -Matthew 26:39 NIV When Jesus prayed this prayer, He awaited the greatest pain and suffering to ever exists, the crucifixion (the ultimate sacrifice for humankind). Twice, Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done and not His own will. In the same way, we are to pray. The lyrics to a song sang by Hillary Scott are as follows: “I’m so confused I know I heard you loud and clear/ So, I followed through/ Somehow I ended up here I don’t wanna think/ I may never understand/ That my broken heart is a part of your plan/ When I try to pray/ All I’ve got is hurt and these four words/ Thy will be done…” When we pray for God’s will, we must have the right attitude.  “We could pray this prayer in an attitude of defeat. You don’t say it because you want to but because God is stronger than you. You can also say it with bitter resentment and in smoldering rage towards God. However, God wants us to pray it in complete love and trust because we know God only has our best interests at heart…. Before we can be in perfect harmony with God’s will…, we must be tuned to His perfect will in loving submission.” ((Solly Ozrovech, A Season of Hope, p. May 14)

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” -Romans 5:1-5 NIV 

Romans 5:1-5 reminds us that there is purpose in suffering. Suffering not only gives us more compassionate hearts for those around us, but teaches us to trust God more and remind us of the hope of eternal life we have in Jesus Christ. Just as God allows the caterpillar struggle on it’s own to emerge from the cocoon a butterfly, He also allows us to endure hardships to emerge the people, that He predestined us to become. 

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“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” -C.S. Lewis

“People often draw up their own agenda for Jesus and then expect nothing more from Him. His work extends far beyond what any one of us could think or dream of.” -season of Hope  But, we need to be willing to allow God to take away our simple plans and supplant His divine plans, even if means sacrificing our dreams and/or taking a more difficult path.

Here are more of the lyrics to Thy will sang by Hillary Scott: “I know you’re good/ But this don’t feel good right now/ And I know you think/ Of things I could never think about/ It’s hard to count it all joy/ Distracted by the noise/ Just trying to make sense/Of all your promises/ Sometimes I gotta stop/ Remember that you’re God/ And I am not/ So/ Thy will be done… I know you see me/ I know you hear me, Lord/ Your plans are for me/ Goodness you have in store..Like a child on my knees all that comes to me is/ Thy will be done…”

Dear Lord Jesus, please give us hearts that are always willing to submit to Your will. Amen. 

 

Solly Ozrovech, A Season of Hope. Vereeniging: Christian Art, Print.

Will 2017 Be Your Best Year Yet?

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

 – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

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As we approach 2017, we may be finding ourselves reflecting on 2016 and thinking about how to make 2017 better. Maybe you hated 2016 or maybe 2016 was an awesome year for you? Regardless if you had a great 2016 and now find yourself in your best spot yet, there’s still always room for improvement.
As followers of Christ, we always need to be willing to allow God to transform us into the people that He wants us to become. Romans 12:1-2NLT says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Acts 1:19 refers to Apostle Paul as a “chosen vessel.” On the day of our Salvation by Jesus Christ, we became vessels of the Holy Spirit, who came to dwell in us as our comforter and guide. As His vessels, God will continually transform us, as long as we are willing to allow God to use us. As we approach 2017, what are some ways we can become better vessels for Jesus Christ? Perhaps, we could strive to read the Bible and pray more to enrich our spiritual lives and draw closer to the Lord? Maybe we need to be more open with our faith and share God’s Word with more people? We could resolve to live holier lives, that are more set apart for God? We could resolve to spend more of our physical energies in service work to those in need? We could resolve to become better stewards of our vessels (bodies) by eating healthier and exercising more? After all, we need our bodies (vessels) to do God’s work. May we take this time to consider all of the ways we can become better vessels for Jesus Christ in 2017.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”  -Philippians 1:6 NLT

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for all of the wonderful blessings, that You have bestowed upon us in 2016. As 2017 approaches, please give us hearts and minds that are willing to follow Your lead. Please continue to transform us and make us in the people You want us to become. Please help us to use 2017 to not only please You, but to bring you glory with our lives. Also, Lord Jesus please fill 2017 with Your amazing love, joy, peace, guidance, wisdom, protection, and blessings. Amen.