by David Brenneman
"And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31.
Have you ever chosen to pray for more involvement with Jesus?
Have you sought out a greater time of learning from your Bible?
Or are you coasting along in your walk with Jesus?
We're still here because in this here this now we have a time in which to grow in Christ set before us as well as His plans to use us to reach others for Christ.
We're not here, after receiving the free gift of salvation, because we have arrived and merely await His return. We aren't here to be all we can be for ourselves.
We are in a battle. It's not against flesh and blood as the Scriptures teach us. We're fighting our own bodies as well as the notions of this world.
Praying for more wisdom as James said is a good thing. Jesus said to pray in accordance with the will of God for us. Which is our sanctification. Our becoming more like Christ.
We probably don't pray enough, if at all, concerning growing in Christ.
Our Spiritual health is something we all should be concerned about.
It may not even have the appearance of happiness but rather painful growth spurts. It may be out moment in life to have spiritual surgeries. Times when we are being made to lie down in those green pastures when we don't want to. Times when we need to keep moving when we really want to rest.
We are prone to giving up when God doesn't want us to give up. He wants us to pursue a life in godliness in Christ Jesus.
We need to choose which side we're going to be feeding. Our Spiritual or our selfish side.
"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Who's plans mean the most to you?
His or yours?
Who's driving the car, steering the ship, guiding the tour in your life?
Is what Jesus desires for you what you desire for you?
Are you really interested in what Jesus wants you to be interested in?
What you are doing in Christ will someday be given back to Jesus...are you preparing for this day?
A hymn written in 1887 by E.E. Hewitt called More About Jesus
'More about Jesus would I know,
more of His grace to others show;
more of His saving fullness see,
more of His love who died for me.
More, more about Jesus;
more, more about Jesus;
more of His saving fullness see,
more of His love who died for me.
More about Jesus let me learn,
more of His holy will discern.
Spirit of God, my Teacher be,
showing the things of Christ to me.
More, more about Jesus;
more, more about Jesus;
more of His saving fullness see,
more of His love who died for me.
More about Jesus in His Word,
holding communion with my Lord,
hearing His voice in ev'ry line,
making each faithful saying mine.
More, more about Jesus;
more, more about Jesus;
more of His saving fullness see,
more of His love who died for me.
More about Jesus on His throne,
riches in glory all His own;
more of His kingdom's sure increase;
more of His coming, Prince of Peace.
More, more about Jesus;
more, more about Jesus;
more of His saving fullness see,
more of His love who died for me."
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:7-12.
Are you giving into fear of what Jesus MIGHT want of you?
Why be afraid of what He might ask you to do? Didn't you trust Him to save you? Is He not the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life?
My encouragement to you is to pray for more. Pray for more understanding, more boldness, more wisdom in Christ Jesus. Pray that what you are doing is going to be pleasing to Jesus even if it makes no sense to you.
Remove whatever is consuming your time and keeping you from the path of righteousness that the Spirit is trying to keep you on.
Dare to pray for more.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
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