One Thing

 

Distraction.  The word for "distracted" in Luke 10:40-42  is from the Greek word, perispao.  It means to draw away, to be driven about mentally, to be over-occupied, or too busy.  

There are many distractions in this world that clamor for our attention.  Distractions can range from insignificant fun to dangerous detouring sin. But mostly, distractions are the everyday activities in our lives that keep us busy from sun-up to sundown until we crawl from exhaustion into the comfort of rest in our beds. 

Busyness can keep us from the feet of Jesus and severely hinder our relationship with the Lord.  Even good busyness.

"But Martha was distracted with much serving."   Sometimes the distractions in our life that keep us from the feet of Jesus as not necessary bad or amusing.  I know there have been times I have been so busy with serving that I didn't take the time needed to sit at the feet of Jesus.  I was too tired, too exhausted from much doing to spend the needed time just being. 

"Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."

Sometimes pressure is unwittingly or purposely put on us to serve beyond our capabilities or beyond healthy balances.  A friend told me yesterday how someone had asked her to serve in a ministry at church. She replied that she didn't have time.  Then the person asking began to tell her all the ways she was serving to attempt to make her feel guilty.   You can say no.

The second point of this line makes me laugh.  Martha was telling Jesus what to do!  She was demanding Jesus do something!  She must have really been stressed.  

"And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things." 

How about you?  Are you worried and troubled about many things?  Are you stressed because of all the busyness in your life?  

"But ONE THING is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

One thing.  Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.  Mary chose worship.  How long has it been since you just sat at the feet of Jesus in your bedroom and listened to worship music?  How long since you delved into His Word and let His Words soak into your Spirit and revive your soul?  Are you too busy?  Are you distracted?  The Almighty God of the Universe, Creator of all things, Your Creator is longing to spend time with you.

Only one thing is needed.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_1YliutzA

Happy Endings

 I am currently leading a facebook small group for Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies with Melissa Taylor.  We are on Chapter 5 of Stressed-Less Living by Tracie Miles. 

This book was God ordained for this time in my life.  Chapter 5 is no exception. There were so many treasures in this chapter, but if I had to remember only one point, it would be that the Lord remembers.  

In Chapter 5, Tracie explains the story of Hannah from 1 Samuel 1.  If you haven't read the story of Hannah, I encourage you to go and read it now. Hannah's heart desire was for a baby.  She was childless. 

"And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish." 1 Samuel 1:10

"...and the Lord remembered her."  1 Samuel 1:19

I love that..."and the Lord remembered her".

Do you feel as if the Lord has forgotten you?  Hannah may have felt like the Lord had forgotten her and her desire for a child.  He did not forget.  No doubt she had asked the Lord for a child before this day.  What was different about this request?  Desperation. 

There is something powerful that happens when we come to the Lord in desperation. 

Recently, I heard Karen Ellison, the founder of Deeper Still, explain that Jesus didn't go knocking on people's doors asking if He could heal them.  Everyone who received healing from Jesus was desperate and sought Jesus desperately!  When they sought Jesus desperately, He healed every single one who came to Him.  It wasn't even the healing they were seeking, they sought the Healer! 

Hannah was desperate.  Hannah sought the Healer and entreated Him to remember her.  He did. 

What are you desperate for today?  What part of your  life do you need Jesus to touch?  Your marriage?  Health?  Job?   Finances?  Children?  When we finally come to the end of ourselves and realize we cannot fix our problem, and we fall to our knees in desperation, He meets us and touches our lives and heals what only He can heal.

He has not forgotten you. 

Hannah's story has a happy ending and as Tracie wrote "I believe that our heavenly Father wants us all to have happy endings." (pg. 96) 

"As we make faith a priority and learn to trust in God's plans, even if we do not understand them or like them, the doors will be flung wide open for God to enter our lives and begin his mighty work.  During the wait we are called to fall on our knees just like Hannah and pour out our hearts to him.  We are called to live life in a state of dependency on Him, believing that His peace is available in any situation."  (pg. 97) 

The Lord wants us to seek Him.  I need Him to hold me, to protect me, to comfort me, and keep me shielded in His love.  When I curl up in His presence and seek His face, I feel safe, secure, and full of peace. He always guides me.  He always remembers my requests.  He remembers yours also. 

While we are waiting for the positive outcome, we can rest knowing He is working on our happy ending.  Even when the endings don't turn out exactly how we would have written them, we can trust that His ending is better.   We can trust Him for a happy ending.  He writes the best Books! 

Sound Your Trumpet

"And them I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, 'The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall.'"  Nehemiah 4:19

Yes, we are still in Nehemiah.  Oh, what a great book this is!   


Building is hard work.  Whether it is rebuilding the broken areas of your life or building the Kingdom of God, it takes work.

I know from personal experience rebuilding brokenness is something no one else can do for you.  Others can pray for you and perhaps counsel you, but only you and God can actually do the rebuilding.  The work can be great and extensive. 

As Christians, we are separated and spread out around the globe.  Missionaries in particular may go extended periods of time without fellowship with other strong believers.  In America, most of us have the privilege of interacting with other Christians on a regular bases, but even we are separated at times doing the work of the Lord.
 
In the next verse, an answer is provided for those who have been engaged in the exhausted work of rebuilding brokenness or busy in building the Kingdom of God.

"Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there, Our God will fight for us." Nehemiah 4: 20

Sound your trumpet.  Rally around others and ask for prayer.  Don't stay isolated, get with other believers who will stand in prayer with you.  Then, believe your almighty, ever-present, all-loving, all-knowing, never failing, always faithful God will fight for you!   

Sometimes when we are going through a difficult time, we pray and we pray and we fight and we fight.  I'm not saying we shouldn't pray and that we shouldn't use the Word of God as our weapon of warfare.  But, what I am saying is that it isn't up to us.  God is our defender. 

"The battle is not yours, but God's"  2 Chronicles 20:15

He will fight for us.  Surrender the battle to Him and He never fails.

"Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle." Psalms 24:8

Do you have a battle you have been fighting? A marriage issue?  A financial crisis? A hidden sin?  An area of bondage?

Sound your trumpet!  Rally and ask others to pray.   Give the battle to Him.  He is always victorious! 

If you would like me to  pray for you, I'd love to be someone who could rally around you in prayer.  Please feel free to contact me via email or facebook, I'd love to pray for you. 

The Last Key

We are reaching an end to the series on the "Keys To Receiving".

I just want to reiterate that I am a grace girl.  Legalism is just a long four letter word to me.  Some of these "keys" could be viewed as being legalistic, as saying you have to "do" certain things in order for God to hear you.  I just want to say that I am NOT saying that, otherwise, how could sinners ever come to Him? However, there are things we do that hinder our relationship with the Lord and  keep us from receiving from Him. 

If you have kids, it is easier to relate.  As parents, we want to bless our kids.  We want to give them the best we have to offer.  However, sometimes they hinder our ability to bless them by their actions.   It is hard to bless them when what they really need is a pat on their blessed assurance, if you know what I mean.

In addition, the keys I have mentioned are clearly stated in God's Word.  They are not taken out of context.  They are in fact and in reality written so that we will know how to pray and how to receive from the Lord when in need. They are not conclusive, but are guidelines. 

The last key I am going to share is found in James 4:3

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." 

The word "amiss" above in the Greek is kakos and it means "improperly, wrong".  Another definition given is "with bad intent."

Motive is key.  And so:

Key to Receiving #6:  Motive
"





Heart attitudes and motive are vital in receiving from the Lord.

God cares more about our heart attitudes and motives of the heart than our comfort.  I once went through a year and a half of misery due to a wrong heart attitude.  I couldn't see it until I went to the Lord and began asking why I was in the situation.  He showed me. It brought me to my knees in repentance.

Do you remember the other day when I addressed the "million dollars" example?  If you are asking God for a million dollars or anything else, why do you desire it?  What is truly in your heart?  He will not give us anything we are not ready for or anything that will hurt us or our relationship with Him.  Also, in that example and others, God may not just hand us what we ask for, we do have to work at times for it.  I have found that even our Christ given right of freedom takes some work on our part to acquire and maintain.  This work involves bible reading, bible study and prayer.  I would not be able to maintain my freedom in Christ without those habits. 

The key ring that binds all of these keys together is LOVE.  Faith works by love.  If you are not walking in love, it will be difficult to receive from the Lord. If the love of God abides in you, you will have no problem with a pure heart, keeping His commandments, asking and believing, and your motives will be pure.

In conclusion to this series, I have come up with a acronym (that I find humorous) for these keys:

PLABAM!

Key #1: Pure Heart(John 24:4-5)
Key #2: Living a life that pleases the Lord, Keeping His Commandments (1 John 3:21-23)
Key #3: Ask (John 16:24)
Key #4 Believe (Matt 21:22)
Key #5 Abiding in Christ (John 15:7)
Key #6 Motive

The next time feel your prayers are hitting the ceiling or that you cannot hear from the Lord, remember these keys and do a heart check.  Keep them all bound together on the key chain of love.  Study the love passage (1Cor 13).  God wants to give you, His children, your heart desires in His perfect timing.  Then, PLABAM!, you will see the Lord move in your life!

Keys To Receiving {Part 5: Abiding}

I remember the first time I ever read John 15.  I was SOOO excited!

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in  you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7

Whatever I ask!!  Really!!  It knocked my socks off.  I went to my friends...."Look at this verse I found!"

That is how the Word of God is...full of treasures!  I had found gold, however, I was not focused on the real treasure. 

See, I only focused on the last part of the verse...."you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."  There is one small conditional statement at the beginning of the verse..."If you abide in Me." 

The 5th Key to Receiving: 

Abiding in Christ


 


 Abide:  In the original Greek, it is the word meno, and it means "to remain", "to not depart", "continually".

If we "abide" in Jesus, we remain in Him continually.  If we truly are abiding in Him continually, then our hearts and our wills will be inline with His.  Therefore, what we ask will never be anything but His perfect will.  That is how this verse can say that the Lord will give you anything you ask.  

The treasure in this verse is not so much that God will do whatever you desire.  The real treasure in this verse is that we can abide in Jesus and His Word can remain in us!  Also, that we can know His perfect will.  Our desires being met is just an added bonus to a heart submitted to Him.

What is it you desire?  Peace, love, joy, security, stability, friends, money, job, better marriage, deliverance?  Something else unlisted?  All those listed above are in line with His will.  He wants you to have all of those and more! 

Abide in Him....Seek first the Kingdom and God.  The treasure you find in Him is more valuable than any earthly treasure that can be found.  However, when you abide in Him, your heart's desires will also be fulfilled (Ps 37:4).  He is always faithful. 

Keys to Receiving {Part 4: Believe}

In case you are just joining us, I have been writing a series on the keys to receiving answers to prayer. 

 Key #1 Clean Hands/Pure Heart (Ps. 24:4-5)

 Key #2  Keeping the Lord's commandments and obedience (1 John 3:21-23)

 Key #3  Asking (John 16:24)

And today I am introducing Key #4.

However, before I introduce Key#4, I felt led to write a disclaimer regarding these "keys"....

To be sure, we cannot manipulate answers to prayer.  God is not our genie in a bottle that will just answer if we rub Him the right way. 

This series is not a complete list.  Certainly there are times God graces us with blessings without us asking.  Certainly there have been times I have received only by God's grace.  Other times we do not receive because God has something better for us. 

This series began because I know there are some who feel like their prayers are bouncing off the ceilings.  Perhaps others are wondering why they are in the situation they are in and think that God doesn't care.  God doesn't want to withhold anything good from His children.  This list of keys is just a checklist to go over if you are praying for something and haven't received it yet.  You can go over the list just to be certain that God isn't waiting on you. 

There have been many times when I have been waiting for the Lord to answer a prayer, when God has really been waiting on me.

Waiting on me to have the right heart attitude.  Waiting on me to obey.  Waiting on me to ask.  Waiting on me to believe.


 

Key #4:  Believe







And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.  Matt 21:22

"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea', and does not not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."  Mark 11:23-24

You have to believe.  Faith is believing.  Doubting is the reverse of faith.  Fear hangs out with doubt.  These are two friends you don't want to be around.  When you fear, you are doubting that God will do what He said He would do.  Fear and doubt will keep you from receiving.  Imagine these two, fear and doubt, just holding hands enticing you to join them on their journey to keep you from receiving what God has for you.  Imagine it and flee from them! Run in the opposite direction to faith, hope and trust in the Lord. 

James 1:6 says:
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.  

We need to believe, dear friends.  We need to believe God is good.  We need to believe He has the best for us.  We need to believe His Word and we need to KNOW His Word in order to believe it. 

If you are thinking, "But, how do I know if what I am asking is God's will?"  Much of His will is in His Word. Read His Word and you will know His will in many areas.

Now, if you are "believing" God for 1 million dollars, ummmm.....I cannot say it will or won't happen.   "But, Sue.....I BELIEVE, I really do!!!"  Ok.    However....do you remember what I said about not treating God like a genie?  I will cover this more when I go over Key #6 hopefully at the end of this week. In the meantime, we have Key #5 (and it is a GOOD one!) that I will discuss next time. 

Clean heart, obey, ask, BELIEVE, and.....



Blessings to you,  I would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this series! 

Sue  : )
 

Answered Prayer: The Keys to Receiving {Part 3}

So far we have covered 2 keys to receiving answers to prayer.  To read the first two posts on "The Keys to Receiving" see: 
Answered Prayer: The Keys to Receiving {Part 1}
Answered Prayer: The Keys to Receiving {Part 2} 

Today, we are covering the third key to receiving. 


And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matthew 21:22 (emphasis added)

Until now you have asked nothing in My name.  ASK, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.   John 16:24

So I say to you, 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.  Luke 11:9-10

The third key to receiving from the Lord: You have to go to Him and ASK.


This third key seems so elementary.  However, Jesus said in His Word that we have not because we ask not (James 4:3)  We have to go to the Lord in prayer and ask.  

One time it took me over a year to realize I could ask God for my husband to have a better job with an increase in pay and a decrease in hours.  Some even told me that was ludicrous.  How could he get a job that paid more while he worked less?!  Nevertheless, I asked and believed.  He was working until 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening.  At that time, we had three kids ages 4 and under.  Many nights, the kids and I would not see him before the kids went to bed.  I felt like I was a single mom during those days.  Every night, I would pray and thank God that He was providing a job with "better hours and more money".  It may not sound eloquent, but those were my exact words.  

God doesn't care about our prayers sounding eloquent.  It doesn't matter if you are asking for something big or small.  God cares about all of it.  He wants us to pray.  He wants to be involved in every aspect of your life.   

My epiphany to pray and ask for a change took awhile (over a year!).  However, after I asked, He delivered.  It didn't happen overnight, but it did happen in His perfect timing.  I wish I would have asked sooner!  

Is there something you want changed in your life?  Ask! Don't wait another day! (Definitely don't wait a year!)
Ask. Seek. Knock.  God is waiting on the other side of the door. 

Answered Prayer: The Keys to Recieving {Part 2}

We are in part two of a series on unlocking the answer to prayer:  "The Keys to Receiving".  In Part 1, I mentioned the first key to receiving is having clean hands and a pure heart.  See this link to read Part 1.  
http://www.livingfreeinhim.blogspot.com/2012/01/answered-prayer-keys-to-receiving-part.html

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.  1 John 3:21-23

Again, we see the first key mentioned above.  To have confidence before the Lord, we need to have clean hands and a pure heart that does not condemn us.  Jesus paid the price for us to have a clean and pure heart. 

So often, we think we have to earn our way to a clean heart.  Beloved, we already have a clean heart if we belong to the Lord and have asked Him to forgive us of our sins!  We CAN have that confidence toward God it says above.  However, we cannot continue to live in habitual sin and have it!  We have to keep His commandments and do what pleases the Lord.  When we mess up, we then have to go to Him with a sincere heart that is sorry and a desire to live right.   

For too long, I lacked confidence toward God because I didn't believe I was forgiven!  I was forgiven.  I just wouldn't receive it from the Lord because I didn't feel I deserved it.  None of us deserve it, but that is the beauty of grace.     
 

We have to be vigilant in examining our hearts.  The heart can be deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).  It will condemn us when we are innocent and it will tell us we are fine when we are fallen.  The only way to be certain of the condition of our heart is to go to the Lord frequently for examination and cleansing.  If you abide in the Lord, you will be able to hear your heart correctly.  


Sin hinders us from receiving from the Lord.  Sin also hinders our relationship with the Lord.  Living right, obeying His commandments and pleasing Him allows for answered prayer. 

 
The second key to receiving from the Lord: Keeping His Commandments and living a life that pleases Him


It said in the verse above, "Whatever you ask you will receive from Him".  That is exciting!  We achieve a heart that pleases the Lord when we abide in Him.  When we abide in Him and His Word, we KNOW His will and His heart.  As a result, our prayer requests and His will line up.  It is so good to have a clean and pure heart and to know God is pleased.

The third key to receiving is.....stay tuned.... :  )

Answered Prayer: The Keys to Receiving {Part 1}

Several years back my husband and I shared a testimony at our church on how God had blessed us and provided for us.  That testimony emerged from truths God taught us over a length of time.  The truths we learned helped us get out of a dark time in our lives.  However, that testimony and story is one for another time.

At the end of the testimony, our Pastor called us up saying he had a Word from the Lord for us.  It was a prophetic Word.  Life altering.  We were blessed beyond words by what the Lord had to say.  Then, our Pastor said something I will never forget.  He looked straight at me with laser focus and said,  "Do you receive this Word?"

Did I?  Did I believe it?  Did I believe that what he said the Lord was saying would actually happen?  Did I believe I was worthy of it?

Of course, I nodded.  It was a timid nod, but nevertheless, a nod.  I suppose I nodded in faith.  The truth in my heart was that I did not feel worthy of the blessing he spoke over me. 

Receive.  What did it mean to receive?  It led me on a search of discovery.  How could I make certain I could receive?  How important was it to receive?  I mean, if God wanted me to have it, wouldn't I just get it?  Did I have to receive it?

The answers were found in God's Word.  Unlocking the answer to prayer, the keys to receiving.....

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive blessing from the Lord.   Ps 24:4-5

  
The first key to receiving from the Lord: Clean hands / pure heart



We see above we need to have a clean and pure heart.  That is easy enough.  Jesus paid the price for us to have a clean and pure heart.  

So often, we think we have to earn our way to having a clean heart.  Beloved, we already have a clean heart if we belong to the Lord and have asked Him to forgive us of our sins! However, it is up to us to continue to keep our hearts clean and pure.  One way to do this is to frequently (at least daily) ask the Lord to forgive your sins.  Come clean with Him.  He already knows anyway.  Ask Him to cleanse your heart and renew a right spirit within you (Ps 51:10).  You are on your way to unlocking the doors to answered prayer.

There are at least six keys to receiving from the Lord.  I was going to try to cover them all in one post, but that would be one looooong post!  I will share the remaining 5 over the next week. 


Have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate all of you.  I really do.  Thank you for joining me here.  : ) 

Answered Prayers

I was flipping through one of my old prayer journals yesterday.  Pages became unhinged from the binding separating after years of age.  Answered prayers after answered prayers leaped off the loosely bound pages.

I thumbed through years of ink inscribing my deepest desires and struggles.  My heart.  My cares.  My passions.  My hurts.  My every heart's desire. 

I thought, "Wow, look at all God has done."  There are changes in my life now that I asked for back then.  I didn't even remember asking in some cases, but I am living those answers out in live form today. 

Prayer Changes Things


If you are struggling in your marriage...

Prayer Changes Things

If you are having difficulty with a child....

Prayer Changes Things  

If you are struggling financially...

Prayer Changes Things

If you need a job or a better job...

Prayer Changes Things

If you need friends or different friends...

Prayer Changes Things




Whatever you need, take it to the Lord.  Get a journal.  Write it down.  Give it to Him.  Then, watch Him work while you believe.  If you need to build your faith for the answer, get a verse or two to stand on.  Thank Him for the answer. 


So shall My word that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please.  And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:11


So I say to you, 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.  Luke 11: 9-10


Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.  Matt 21:22

If you are thinking, I know all this, but I have been praying and nothing has happened.  I don't see any changes....

There are some key elements that God says are needed to get prayers answered.  Come back on Friday and I will share what God revealed to me about receiving answers to prayer. 

It isn't hard, it doesn't take work.  It is all about the heart.