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How Should You Live in the Present?

Text:

1 Peter 4:7 (NLT)

7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.

Observation:

How do we spend the present? In reality, we only have the present; the past is gone, and tomorrow is not promised.

Therefore, it behooves each of us to think seriously and soberly about the present.

Life may be difficult, but we still have a charge to keep and a purpose to fulfill. The time to do that is today and not tomorrow.

We would do well to be earnest and disciplined in our prayer life. Through prayer, we are able to see God’s perspective on our problems. When we read and meditate upon God’s Word we get a new perspective on our problems.

In the midst of our problems, we take them to God in prayer. Our prayers bring us into the presence of the Lord. In God’s presence, we receive His power and His peace.

As we are more earnest in prayer we go deeper into the Word and we are able to see God’s perspective and God’s purpose begins to be revealed in the midst of our problems.

In spite of our struggles and suffering, we begin to experience the unfailing love of God and God’s sufficient grace for our current circumstances.

As we look higher and go deeper with God our pain and suffering are transformed into praise and thanksgiving to God. The Word of God and prayer changes everything, and most of all it changes you and me.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for being the God of the present. We are so grateful that when we live in the present, and in Your presence, we get a new perspective on life.

Father, infuse our lives with a burning desire to be earnest and disciplined in our prayer life. O how we need to live in Your presence continually. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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How Important Is Prayer In Your Life?

Text:

Psalm 55:1-3 (HCSB)

1 God, listen to my prayer and do not ignore my plea for help.

2 Pay attention to me and answer me. I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,

3 because of the enemy’s voice, because of the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster on me and harass me in anger.

Observation:

Notice in our focal passage for today how common, and universal are the things that David prayed about.

David needed someone to listen to him.
David did not want to be ignored.
David needed someone to help him.
David wanted someone to pay attention to him.
David wanted someone to answer him.
David was restless, in turmoil, and he needed to voice his complaint.
David had enemies who were oppressing him, and he felt his life was in danger.

David expresses his frustration in these words.

Psalm 55:6 (HCSB)

6 I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.

Have you ever said to yourself what David said? Have you considered running away from your problems?

There is a better way than running away from your problems. The truth is that your problems will go with you. Rather, what we really need are wings like an eagle so that we can fly above our problems.

David did two things that enabled Him to fly above his problems.

First, David called upon the Lord.

Psalm 55:16 (HCSB)

16 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.

Second, David cast all of his burdens upon the Lord.

Psalm 55:22 (HCSB)

22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

God enabled David to overcome his problems, and He will do the same for you. God is waiting to hear from you.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for being a loving, and caring heavenly Father who knows our needs, and who cares about us personally.

Father, give us a burning desire to call upon You for all of our needs, and to cast all of our cares upon You.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

Father, I pray that You would hear the cry of every one of Your children who calls upon You, and puts their troubles in Your hands. In the might name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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Where Do You Go When You Need Help You Can Trust?

Text:

Psalm 31:1-3 (KJV)

1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.

Observation:

I love to read the Psalms because I find in them all of the human conditions that we face living in a fallen world.

This Psalm was written by David when he faced an enemy that was persecuting, lying, and seeking to spread a net to catch him. He tells us in this Psalm where he turned for help.

Psalm 31:7-8 (KJV)

7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

The help that was available to David then is available to you and me today if we do what David did.

Psalm 31:14-15 (KJV)

14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Prayer:

Father, in You alone I put my trust. Father, like David I gladly say that You are my God, and the Shepherd of my life; that in You I lack nothing.

Father, my faith looks up to You, and I trust in You with my whole heart. Father, I pray that all of us would live in Your presence, ask for help, and enjoy Your favor. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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What is the Most Dangerous Weapon in the Hands of Man?

Text:

James 3:5-8 (ESV)

5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,

8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Observation:

The most common answer to the question asked in the title is nuclear weapons; especially in the hands of people with evil desires to kill and destroy innocent people.

However, our focal passage for today describes a weapon that has destroyed more lives than all the wars of the world. It is the tongue, and we all have one.

In my reading today, I read Psalm 5. In this Psalm David talks about the enemies he was facing, and he knew that they could destroy him, but he also knew that God could deliver him.

In times like these there is great profit in looking to the Psalms for encouragement.

Are you a child of God? Then why not turn to the Lord in prayer, and put your troubles, and worries in His hand. David turned to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 5:1-3 (ESV)

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.

2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.

3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Prayer:

Father, we love and adore You. Father, if we ever needed You, we sure do need You now. Father, we associate ourselves with David in the final words of his lament before You.

Psalm 5:11-12 (ESV)

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Father, we look to You for protections and deliverance. Father, we rejoice not in winning, but we rejoice in You. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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Seeing Beyond Our Weaknesses#

Text:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV)

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Observation:

When trouble, trials, difficulties, and disappointments come in our life we should cry out to God. However, we should not lose hope when God does not give us everything we ask.

We should allow what happened in Paul’s life to inform our lives when we pray for deliverance from our thorn in the flesh. Could it be that what we are going through is for God’s glory, and for our good?

2 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NLT)

27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

There is something about thorns in the flesh that bends us toward humility. Additionally, the recognition of the weaknesses in our humanity bends us toward bowing the knee, looking up, and recognizing the greatness of God.

The recognition of the sovereignty and greatness of God, and the goodness and grace of God gives us peace, and contentment in knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for all of our needs.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, it is such a blessing to know that our weaknesses, even when they are painful, are working to bring about a higher goal, and that Your amazing grace is sufficient for all of our needs.

Psalm 46:1 (HCSB)

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

Father, we love You, and can’t get enough of You. Father, thank You for always being present, and on time. Father, I am so glad that the things that matter are things that are eternal. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

—

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How Are You Doing Today?

Text:

Hebrews 10:36 (ESV)

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Observation:

Are you tired of life in this world? I read this CS Lewis quote on Twitter yesterday, and I thought of it when pondering the question I just asked.

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is…we were made for another world.”

Our world is filled with trials and temptations; they are the common lot to all of humanity. Let’s look at some of them, and then look to a Word from the Lord that speaks to them.

pain
sickness
separation
cheating
lying
stealing
immorality
disease
divorce
emptiness
poverty
death

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

In the midst of our trials and temptations those who know the Lord, and have put their trust in Him have within them the power and patience to overcome the troubles we face living in the world.

James 1:12 (NLT)

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Yesterday I attended a monthly meeting of senior adults at our church, and we had a time of testimony and prayer. Our leader started calling on different members asking them to sing a song. This morning I woke up with this song on my mind prompted by something I read recently.

The song said in part, “I believe I’ll run on, see what the end will be. At the end there is something waiting for me”. Then, it said, ” I will toil on, pray on, and sing on”. My, my how those old songs of the church feed your soul, and encourage you to endure.

Hallelujah! All my troubles will be over. My soul is singing, “Soon and very soon I’m going to see the King”.

Romans 12:12 (NLT)

12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so grateful that You are always near to Your people.

Father, I pray that we would learn to lean on the power of God that is alive within the hearts of all of Your dearly beloved children.

Father, I pray for transformation and renewal in the lives of Your people. Father, I pray for patience and endurance. I believe and declare that You are able to get us through all of the trials, temptations, and troubles we are facing living in the world. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Where Do You Turn When You Are Desperate?

Text:

Psalm 105:1-4 (ESV)

1 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Observation:

If you feel that we are living in desperate times this Psalm is for you. If you live in a place where you feel you don’t have any good choices, then this Psalm is for you.

This Psalm is one of my favorites. When deciding on what to write about today, this Psalm came to my mind. It contains my life verse.

Psalm 105:4 (ESV)

4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

It is from this Psalm that I reduced my mission statement to two words.

Please God.

If you are struggling with issues in your life, this Psalm is for you. If you have exhausted all of the alternatives to relieve health issues in your life, and nothing has worked, this Psalm is for you. This Psalm was written to a people who were facing extremely difficulty challenges in their life, and in their world.

The Psalmist wrote to remind them of God’s faithfulness. I want to add my voice to the voice of the Psalmist in agreeing that God is faithful. I delight to join him in singing praises to God. This Psalm will lift the burdened, and the broken by the troubles of this world. Will you join me in praise and prayer.

Psalm 105:2 (ESV)

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

My soul sings:

“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

there is no shadow of turning with thee;

thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;

as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Refrain:

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided;

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Father, thank you for being sovereign above all, and that you look low, and value man; male and female you created them, and that you love us with an everlasting love.

Father, I declare that You are a great God, and that You are a good Father. So, my heart overflows, and my soul sings, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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How to Live In A Fallen World

Text:

1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

Observation:

Are your circumstances, and the cares that you have weighing you down, and causing you to have anxiety in your mind and soul?

Do you have trials and temptations in your life that are wearing you down? Are the trouble within you, and the circumstances surrounding you robbing you of your peace and security?

Are there things, and people that are robbing you of your peace and joy? There is song that is ringing in my heart, and it provides the answer to all of our cares and circumstances.

“There is a place of full release,

near to the heart of God,

a place where all is joy and peace,

near to the heart of God”,

Author: Cleland Boyd McAfee, Near to the Heart of God

The place that I go, and the person who I turn to when troubles vex my mind and soul is to my God; the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When doubts, discouragement, disappointment, and the devil knocks on my door, I go to God. I open my Bible, and begin to pray. Do you realize that you have in your hands TNT (The New Testament), and that TNT is dynamite?

When troubles come knocking at the door of your heart, use dynamite to knock the devil, and his devices out of your life.

You don’t have to live under the circumstances in the world. You can rise up, look up, speak up to God, and watch the Lord as He fight the battle against all of your foes and cares.

Don’t forfeit your peace or your joy. Cast all your cares on the one who is able to help you, strengthen you, and keep you.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, help us to remember to always take all of our cares to You in prayer. Why try to fight the battle in our strength when we can hold in our hands TNT to destroy the enemy of our minds, body, and soul. Jesus used prayer and the Word, and so should we. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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Are You Facing Problems Beyond Your Strength?

Text:

Matthew 19:26 (ESV)

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Observation:

Do you ever get the feeling that life is just one problem after another? As long as we live in this fallen world we will have problems. The question then becomes how to deal with the challenges we face in living in this world.

As I focused on our text for today, I was reminded of a thought from a teaching I did many years ago on the topic of prayer.

“Our problems are God’s raw materials for a miracle”. God is bigger than any problem you will ever encounter.

Let’s look at the context in which Jesus spoke the words of our text, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”.

Matthew 19:24-25 (ESV)

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

What problems are you facing in your life today that are posing as mission impossible?

Why not give those problems to God in prayer, and have faith in Him that He can turn your problems into solutions; your defeat into victory.

What A Friend We Have in Jesus – John Scriven

“What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I praise and thank You for being a God in whom we can trust with our whole heart, and that nothing is too difficult for You.

Father, help us to learn to lean hard of You, and not try to carry on our shoulders burdens that we are not able to bear. Father, You invite us to cast all of our cares upon You.

Father, give us the faith to release our problems to you, and receive the blessings that You want to give us from Your tender heart, and powerful hands. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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Is Your Cup Running Near Empty Today?

Text:

1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Observation:

My community has been through a tough time with the floods claiming the lives of a few, and over 20,000 have been displaced from their homes because of the water that is filling the neighborhoods, and homes.

In times like this we need strength, but for many their strength is almost gone. You may be in that position, and I have good news for you.

The Lord put this thought into my heart this morning. I heard the Lord speak into my heart in His still small voice saying, “Be humble” and “Be still”.

Psalm 46:10-11 (ESV)

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

It times like these we need a wisdom that is greater than ours, we need a strength that is stronger than ours, and we need a deliverer who has the power to make something out of nothing. Now is the time to look to God.

If we will come to God, in faith, with the expectation that He is able and willing to help us; He will do it. If we lift up to Him our empty cups of needs, He will fill them with blessings from above.

Think about this promise from the Word of God. I’m praying for you, and believe that God has a blessing with your name on it.

James 1:17 (ESV)

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Prayer:

Father, I lift up and exalt Your name today above every name on earth, and in heaven.

Father, we come with humble, and still hearts to Your throne room of grace and mercy. Father, we lift up our cup that is near empty, and we ask You to fill our cup with an abundance of what our lives need the most.

Father, we come in faith, and our hearts are tuned to say, “Yes, Lord”. We come in humility and faith trusting in You, and saying yes to your will, and yes to your way. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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