Everybody’s Looking For Love & Meaning:

Currently in our world there is a lot of turmoil, confusion and fear. People are feeling uncomfortable with some of the decisions that the governments are making, especially in regards to the Syrians moving into our countries. There is controversy about that and a sense of precaution and hesitancy to open our cities and countries to them.  No doubt the reasons may be valid because we can’t judge their every motive, but what is the right thing to do? These people are strangers and have come from war-torn areas.  They are a people who want freedom and they believe that the western countries can give them that. In one sense they may be right but it also comes with a lot of change and possibly big surprises because we are not exempt of problems. Yet God’s word is clear that we are to love each other and take in the stranger and treat them appropriately.  

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” ~ Leviticus 19:33-34 

There are many other verses that talk about our conduct regarding strangers. The good news is that we have already heard from a number of Syrian’s who have already arrived in our country, and about the impact that the Christians are having on them as they show the love of Jesus. This is what Jesus would do.

In our own western cities we have people not only on the streets who are lonely, poor and desperately in need of love. They are all searching for the meaning of life if they haven’t already found it. People from all walks of life need to know and hear that Jesus is their friend and He longs to be their Savior. True peace and joy and love come from God our Heavenly Father, even when this world seems to be falling apart. 

Everyone has or is looking for love and meaning. We are all like strangers in this world but Jesus wants to be a part of our lives and He wants us to walk with Him and get to know Him because he already knows everything about us! There are different kinds of love but Jesus’s love is never failing, it is constant – It’s Agape Love. No matter what we can be assured that we can put our full trust and hope in Him, for the love He has for us and the love He shows us will bring meaning into our lives as we surrender to Him

“And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” ~ 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 

Because of Christ’s birth we celebrate Christmas and it’s because of God’s love for us that he sent his only son to be the Savior of the world. He came to die and take on the sin of the world and because of this we can experience His love, forgiveness and freedom through the gift of salvation. (John 3:16)

There is no greater gift that has been given to us, nothing compares to the love of Christ for us, and we just need to receive it!

I really don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for my relationship with Christ. He has given me the strength I need daily to stand guarded and faithful. He has given me joy, peace and love that I so long for. My life has become meaningful as I am living for Him!

In this holiday season may you find love and know the true meaning of Christmas. If you have felt alone and that no one loves or cares about you ..know this, Jesus does!  He cares about all that you go through in this life. His desire is for you to depend on Him in all your circumstances and grow in your relationship with Him.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
~ Proverbs 3:5

May you have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Jeannette

More Reading: The Real Reason You Need Christmas

Finding Joy

During this fall season I hope that you are finding joy! As we all have experienced at one time or other, life doesn’t always give us all that we want, all that we thought and all that we deserve or hope for. Even so, we can still be fulfilled and find joy in our journey.

In the experiences that I have had in life I can’t say that there have always been feelings of joy or happiness. However when I don’t experience happiness I cannot let myself get confused with joy because they are different. If there is something to be aware of it is that there is always another pathway parallel to happiness and that is sadness, depression, and sorrow.  There are painful and hurtful things that we experience every day because of situations at work, home or play. Is there a way for us to stay happy and have real joy in our lives?

There is no guarantee that things will be easy but happiness can happen when circumstances around us are great. For example when we go on a vacation, spend a beautiful sunny day at the beach, have chocolate,  purchase a new car, home or clothes, or maybe it’s that great post we read on Facebook… these things can make us happy!  However, happiness can change quickly when you lose your job, have a loss of money or stocks, your health is suffering, and you aren’t able to go on that trip or get and do the things you once loved.

Let’s look at the definitions of Happiness and Joy and understand what the difference actually is:

HAPPINESS: is the state of being happy…. a pleasurable or satisfying experience.

JOY: is an inner attitude, it is a settled assurance, a confidence that moves us to rejoice.
Happiness and Joy are very similar in many ways but as you can see happiness is a state of experience whereas spiritual joy is an inner attitude and an assurance. The word "happy" comes from the Hebrew root word ashar and means "to set right or be blessed." Joy goes much deeper than happiness. The word “joy” comes from the Greek root word chara and means "to be exceedingly glad." Regardless if things go sideways and we are not happy we can still find joy. No matter what we are experiencing we can know that there is more and that there is a hope. True joy is everlasting and not dependent upon circumstances. Joy is uncompromising. It’s a settled contentment and hope in our hearts. So where do we find this kind of joy?

Joy, is true contentment that comes from internal factors like our faith in the Lord.

James 1:2 says, “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials.” How could we ever consider that going through difficulties and trials would be a reason to feel joy? James 1:3-4 gives us a clue when it says, “Knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The deep, abiding joy comes as we persevere through trials, with God’s help, our faith matures and we are strengthened!

It’s a super natural delight that comes from God and in the person of Jesus Christ.  Joy is rooted and ground in Christ, it’s a relationship with him. It is foundational and the spirit of joy is manifest in our lives when we are remaining in Him.
Happiness tends to be fleeting and is dependent upon temporal factors like circumstances or other people, but that can change quickly. Happiness is external and Joy is internal. Happiness is also based on chance (luck) which is elusive. Whereas joy is based on choice as well as an inner attitude and it is a fixed state of heart, mind and soul. Joy is based on Christ and in Philippians 4:11 (NIV) Paul a disciple of Christ said:

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

These verses also share about the joy that Paul had regardless of what was happening in his life:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4: 16-18

In this life we have a lot of distractions that try to destroy our purpose and diminish our joy but through that we can discover the new opportunities that joy gives. No matter what happens we can be found in Christ.

Focus on what matters daily and seek to find joy in what you are doing and rejoice in everything that God is doing through you and others. Our joy isn’t found in other people or things it is in proclaiming what Christ has done and is doing, living with the right attitude and finding the ultimate joy that we can have through Christ.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” - Phil 1:21.

This is a profound word and we need to be a living examples of this. When you’re in a relationship with Christ it is a win win situation. You’ll never loose when you choose to live for Jesus because He is joy. Jesus is all you’ll ever need. When we surrender our lives to Him we can experience and find ultimate joy. Are you seeking and desiring to have that kind of joy in your life?

NOTE: For further study about spiritual joy read about Paul’s life in the book of Philippians and about the joy that he found, regardless of his experiences.

Autumn Awareness

What if the fall season didn’t happen and it just jumped from summer to winter? Would that make you sad? It would make me sad, because we would completely miss out on the beautiful transformation that takes place in nature every year. Specifically every autumn we see the colorful leaves on the trees as they change red, orange and yellow.

Life is like that, changes take place, and things come and go. Personally we engage with what we think is important and exciting, we get stronger and become better people while at the same time some transformation is not always as positive. At times we go through very dry times, or we may feel like we are in a farmers maze because life seems crazy and confusing and we feel like we are lost.  However, the vibrant colors of fall can get us excited just like the potential in our lives even if it means challenging incidents or a change in the next chapter of our lives!

The autumn season can be looked at as a season of spiritual restoration that brings us into a deeper awareness that we live in a continual cycle of dying and rising. Christine Valters Paintner shared in one of her articles that autumn’s gifts reflect this balance between two energies: the invitation to relinquish and to harvest. Autumn is a season of paradox that invites us to consider what we are called to release and surrender….what no longer serves us or what gets in the way of being present to the holiness of each moment. Autumn also invites us to gather in the harvest, to name and celebrate the fruit of the seeds of dreams we planted months ago. In holding these two in tension, we are reminded that in our letting go, we also find abundance.

Peter a disciple of God had an account of restoration that changed his life for the better. At first he denied knowing Jesus Christ but later he was remorseful that he had done such a thing and understood how frail we are and that as a human race we can easily fall. There is also the understanding that we can be beautifully restored just like when spring comes along…the beginning of new life starts and nature’s growth begins. We too can have our souls transformed and restored, if we are open to the changes that God wants to do in our lives. Paul was also a great example of a changed life (Acts 9:1-19 & Galatians 1:11-16).

The fall season can be busy, but it can also be a great time for reflection a slowing down and more meaningful times to give thanks and celebrate as the days get shorter and the nights get longer.

Will you take time to reflect and experience an autumn awareness in your own life?

http://www.gotquestions.org/life-Peter.html

http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-transformation.html

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a word we all struggle with. It’s not easy to forgive and sometimes it’s even hard to receive forgiveness especially if you can’t even forgive yourself.

It has been said before that not one of us is perfect, we all tend to do the things we don’t want to and we all have sinful natures. But spiritually, physically and emotionally we can deal with the implications that take us in those directions and find forgiveness.

We have all been hurt by the actions or words of another. Maybe your parents didn’t agree with your career plans. Or you have had a spouse mistreat you or worse you have had a close family member get abducted. Whatever tragedy that has struck you in your life you may feel like you have hit rock bottom. Wounds can leave you with lasting feelings of anger, bitterness, sorrow or even vengeance but somehow we need to crawl back out of the pit, grieve and being to heal.

If you find it hard and don't practice forgiveness, you might be the one who pays most dearly. By embracing forgiveness, you can also embrace peace, hope, gratitude and joy. Reflect on how forgiveness could lead you down on a pathway to physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
So how does forgiveness happen and how can we go on in life knowing we can be forgiven?

Forgiveness is a decision to let go of bitterness, resentment, thoughts of revenge and to stop holding a grudge. The act that hurt or offended you might always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness will loosen the grip on those betrayals and disappointments and help you focus on other, more positive parts of your life. Forgiveness can change and help you to understand, empathize and have compassion for the one who hurt you. As well it can lead you to understand and help others who are also going through the same.

Forgiveness doesn't mean that you deny the other person's responsibility for hurting you, and it doesn't minimize or justify the wrong. You can forgive the person without excusing the act. Forgiveness brings a kind of peace that helps you go on with life.

There's no single manual for forgiveness, but when we can forgive, we can continue on with life and believe in better things for our future.

Jesus came to forgive and He has asked us to forgive.

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”  Matthew 6:14 (NIV)

Here are a few steps that you could take to Forgive:

1. Make a Quality Decision

Think about what angered you and accept that it happened, how it made you feel and how you reacted. Then acknowledge the reality of it and how you were affected.  Forgiveness is a serious decision. It is not easy; it’s uncomfortable and could even be painful. However it will be rewarding and worth any of the pain you have experienced.

2. Understand Your Emotions and Acknowledge Growth:
Emotions can change but they can also prepare you for action. When somebody hurts you and you feel pain, the first thing you may want to do is tell them off. You may want to get them back or you want to get away from them.…your feelings will probably need time to catch up with your decision to forgive.

When you acknowledge the growth you experienced as a result of what happened. What did it make you learn about yourself, or about your needs and boundaries? Not only did you survive the incident, perhaps you grew from it.

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.” Micah 7:18-20

3. Depend On God

It is fortunate that we can depend on God to gain the strength needed to forgive. This means we live with a prayerful mindset and attitude.. Give me the grace to forgive them.  We will then be able to live in peace.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” Ephesians 4:32

PRAYER ABOUT FORGIVING OTHERS 

Lord, I bring to mind (name)
I bring him/her before You

I feel hurt by them
Right now I confess any negative feelings I have about them
I forgive the wrongs they have done towards me
For any deliberate or unintentional things they have done
That have caused me pain
In the best way that I know how, I fully forgive them

I release them to You

Now that I have forgiven (name)
I choose not to hold any grudges towards him/her
Thank you that as I am praying now
You are freeing my inner world to live again
Free from resentment, pain and bitterness
Filled with joy, freedom and love
Amen.

“I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency”. Philippians 4:13

4. Pray
Jesus instructs us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. This has got to be the hardest thing to when you would rather get even. But we don’t get out of something just because it’s hard. Whatever God asks us to do, it’s always for our benefit. Keep in mind where this person may be coming from and what are they going through and dealing with? Compassion is important.

“Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”. Roman’s 12:21

5. The Choice Is Yours

Today, you have the choice to overcome evil with good and find a new level of joy you didn’t know was possible by choosing to forgive. I want to encourage you to do yourself a favor and make the right choice. Forgive. If we need to forgive ourselves, the same steps would be appropriate and understand that God loves you.

”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

Also Read: Psalm 103

May you find forgiveness and give forgiveness.

Needed Armor

Every day of our lives you and I live in spiritual warfare. There is a battle of good and evil. As believers in Jesus Christ we are faced with opposition and a luring to evil temptations on a consistent bases. Satan is prowling around, he is trying to deceive us with his lies and move us in a different direction, away from all that Jesus stands for and the truth of his Word.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” ~ 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV).

It is not against flesh and blood that we battle (Eph.6:12), we are in a fight with Satan who is the Chief Enemy of God, the Prince of Darkness. He has his legion of fallen angels, the demons of darkness who attack us in every way that they are able.  Those that the devil (Satan) has misled he doesn't worry about but he is concerned about those who follow God.  When Jesus was here on earth Satan tried to tempt Him several times: When Jesus first started His ministry (Luke 4:2), as well as in the Garden of Gethsemane before He went to the cross (Luke 22:44).  Many like the apostle Paul who are Disciples of Christ were attacked in their ministry. So if we are living and serving our Lord Jesus we will also be attacked in major ways.

Preparation:
A lot of the choices we make are of our own making or choosing because God has given us freewill. However, we are also able to fight the evil that so easily entangles us. So how does a Christian believer fight off these attacks?  Where do we find the strength to do that?

It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit and the provision of essential truths that we can stand like soldiers and come against the “powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil" (Eph.6:12).  We need the Lords strength in this fierce war. As Christians we must depend on God, all other sources of strength will not get us through for God is more powerful than the enemy. Through the strength we receive through prayer, God’s Word, our obedience and faith we can win this battle. Paul said:

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength." ~Philippians 4:13

God has provided armor so that we can ward off the fiery darts that the devil throws at us. The Bible says that we are to:

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

 ~ Ephesians 6:11

What is the full armor of God? How can we be protected?

Full Protection:
The believer’s armor consists of 6 pieces, 3 of which we should have on permanently and 3 which we should take up when we are being attacked. These are all found in Ephesians 6:14-17:

Permanent Armor:

• The Belt of Truth – Gird yourself with the truth of the gospel “Jesus Christ is the truth, the life, and the way (John 14:6). Without knowing basic biblical teaching, we are subject to being "carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14). When you renew your mind (Romans 12:2) by committing yourselves to God's truth,  you will become "a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship" (v. 1). The truth will set us free, it will allow us to be on guard, to be courageous, and to be strong (I Cor. 16:13).  The world cannot buckle this belt because they do not have the truth.

• Breastplate of Righteousness – The mind and the emotions are the two areas where Satan most aggressively attacks believers. Knowing who you are in Christ because of His forgiveness and shed blood for you as well as the practical righteousness of moment-by-moment obedience to God's Word is genuine holiness, "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5) and setting our minds "on the things above, not on the, things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2). Those who are not saved through Christ do not have this breastplate to protect themselves from judgment.

• Feet Fit with Readiness – As a Christian we will have inner peace because “we have been justified through faith” (Rom 5:1) Before we were saved we were enemies of God as Paul attests to in Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”  In John 14:27 Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.“  Our feet need to be ready so that we are not stumbling and falling but ready to march, climb and fight to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. Be ready to step out knowing and seeing what Christ has done for you. This is the gospel of peace! The unsaved person is helpless, ungodly, sinful, and an enemy of God (Romans5:6-10). As a believer you are reconciled to God through faith in His Son (Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21).  Your feet are rooted firmly on solid ground, in God’s unfailing truth.

Take Up Armor: 

• Shield of Faith – extinguishes all the flaming arrows of the evil one. When you place your faith in Christ, you are placing your full assurance in Christ; you are fully reliant on and totally dependent on, having a complete trust in Christ Himself.  Unbelievers have only their own faith to protect them. Their faith is in their jobs, bank accounts, stocks or retirement funds. It is a hope-so faith and not a know-so faith that is only found in Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:20)

• Helmet of Salvation –  Protects your mind. As a Christian It is the knowledge that you have received through God’s gift of salvation, your acceptance of Jesus Christ, and the promise of eternal life. Because of this you have the confidence you need when Satan sets out with blows of discouragement and doubt that are directed at the security and assurance you have in Christ. To discourage you, he will point to your failures, your sins, your unresolved problems, your poor health, or to whatever else seems negative in your life. He wants you to lose confidence in the love and care of our heavenly Father. II Corinthians 4:16-18 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Isn't this an absolutely wonderful thing to know?  

• Sword of the Spirit – the Word of God. This is the best offensive weapon that we have at our disposal to fight off Satan and His demons. Jesus used the Word of God (Scripture) to resist and fight off the devil in the temptation in the wilderness (Luke chapter 4). The Word of God is the very power of God Himself. It is alive, active, and powerful. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” ~ Ephesians 6:13

Knowing the armor that we need as Christians and have available to us,  how can we win the battle and not fear the evil one as we live for God and serve in this troubled world?

New & Abundant Life

When we celebrate Good Friday and Easter we remember the historical happenings around Jesus’s death and resurrection so many years ago and His ultimate sacrifice for us. What makes his death so significant and how does that tie into new and abundant life?

• He was a man without sin yet He was sent by God into this world to die for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). 
• God loved the world and wanted to reconcile us to Himself . 
• It was because of the fall of the first Adam that sin came into the world. If Adam had obeyed this world would be without sin but because of his disobedience sin crept into the world. 
• God in His wrath wanted to defeat sin and sent His one and only Son Jesus to take the penalty for the sin of the world (John 3: 16). 
• God “crushed” His own Son (Isaiah 5310a ESV). 
• Jesus in His agony sweat drops of blood and asked God to take this “cup” from Him (Luke 22:42-44), meaning the judgement and wrath of God.

We have heard that other people in this world have died by crucifixion for the wrong that they did and others were tortured for their faith, so was this physically harder for Jesus? No, but it was in the context that He was beaten, tried and killed that was so horrifying. Jesus was pure, holy, and above all loving, He hates anything that is not worthy of love. Humanity has committed an infinite sin because we refuse to obey God. That is an offense that takes place every day against one who is perfectly holy and just, yet Jesus paid the ultimate consequence. As Jesus was on the cross baring our sin He cried “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)  In that moment Jesus experienced the death and separation of God that we all deserve. Then He said “It is finished”!! (John 19:30).

These are important words…our debt was paid. Christ died once for all!
Prior to His arrest by the Romans, Jesus prayed His last public prayer, asking the Father to glorify Him, just as Jesus had glorified the Father on earth, having “finished the work you have given me to do” (John 17:1-5). The work Jesus was sent to do was to “seek and save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10), to provide atonement for the sins of all who would ever believe in Him (Romans 3:23-25), and to reconcile sinful men to a holy God.

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). 

Nobody other than God in the flesh could accomplish such an assignment. Most importantly he defeated the power of sin and Satan's dominion and hold over man.

It is not the will of our heavenly Father that any should perish (Matthew 18:14), He came to give us life! Three days after His death Christ was raised (Acts 2:24) and He is alive today in heaven and sitting at the throne of God. (Acts 3:33, Mark 16:19). In dying He conquered sin and in rising He demonstrated His power over it!

Because of Christ’s death and resurrection we can have new and abundant life. When we choose to believe and accept that Jesus died for us and receive His forgiveness we die to our old self life and receive new life in Him! (Romans 6). We need to ask His Holy Spirit, our helper and comforter to fill us daily (John 14: 15-17, John 16:7,Act 19:2) ….When we obey God's word, changes begin to take place in our lives and we will begin to understand what is pure and holy even though on this side of heaven we will never be perfect.

Jesus promises us abundant life but what is an abundant life? As a believer there is an evidence of growth but more so it is knowing and doing what we read in God’s word that brings fullness to our lives (John 10:10). God’s Spirit living in us will show forth the “fruit” of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23) and our dependency on God will reveal God’s purposes for our lives as 1 Corinthians 2:9 says:

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”  

In living a new and abundant life we will have the power of God living through us!(Ephesians 3:20).


How can we be assured of our new life (salvation) and know that we have eternal life with Christ? In what Jesus said in 1 John 5:11–13:

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 

When Jesus returns to earth He will come to get His “bride”…His people, the ones who have believed in Him to be with Him for all eternity! That is awesome news, yet to us a mystery and unfathomable! As you contemplate the love that Jesus has poured out for you are you willing to reach out your hands and receive this new and abundant life that He desires to give you? If you have any questions I would love to hear from you!

May you have a blessed and joyous Easter!

Essential Prayer

Our greatest need as believers and followers of Jesus Christ is to understand the importance of prayer in our relationship with our Creator and with each other.  To see change in our lives and in the circumstances of this world we need to communicate our thoughts and deepest longings to a loving God who knows and cares about all that goes on in our daily lives. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” There are answers and blessings that God wants to share with us, but if we aren’t coming to Him and asking then why would He want to share those things with us. Prayer also needs to have a component of faith and trust, otherwise how we can believe that God would even take the time to listen and answer.

There are times in life that we don’t know what is right for us, sometimes it’s just the right timing and when we don’t wait for God’s timing it can bring trouble into our lives.  When God answers are prayers it can be yes, no or wait.  When we draw near to God in prayer we start to understand what His will is for us.


As ambassadors that carry on God’s work; prayer is the most necessary element so that we can be led by Him and know how He is directing us. It is the Holy Spirit that touches people’s lives. Without God and the power of prayer behind what we do leaves God out of the picture.

If we are too busy to take time to pray we need to ask what is important and what kind of relationship do we have with God? Even the legitimate and good things in life can take us away from a life of prayer. Take caution that those things don’t become more important than our conversations with God. It is God’s will and desire that we be devoted to prayer: Colossians 4:2, and in Romans 12:12. It is necessary for our spiritual life and being to give ourselves to prayer.

Ultimately God is in control of this world, He is not absent so why would we not want to give Him all the power and entrust everything we do to Him, instead of thinking that we know better? We are frail and stubborn if we believe that we have a better handle on life and all that goes on in this world.

When we pray and intercede for the things that are on our hearts and God’s, He will move in great and powerful ways. Because of prayer we will see God’s plans revealed.  We see this in His Word when Elijah was staying with a widow whose son who was dying.1 Kings 17:21-22 (ESV) “Then he (Elijah) stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.’ And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived." Another account of answered prayer is in Exodus 17:11 when Moses gave an appeal to God and needed to to keep his hands help up to win the war between the Israelites and the Amalekites.  These are only a couple examples of His faithfulness, again and again God hears His people and answers.

If we are to know who God is, His purposes and plans then prayer is essential and not secondary. God’s word and prayer go hand in hand with our relationship with Him. Prayer is adoration, confession, praise, thanksgiving, consecration, communion, and petition. God longs to hear and see His people in relationship with Him, that is why it is so vital that we live a life of prayer.

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:14-17)