May 10, 2018

Does Satan Know You?

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of that house naked and bleeding. – Acts 19:11-16

Does Satan know who you are? That was the question posed in the Battle Plan for Prayer workbook. You’re probably thinking, “I hope not!” None of us wants to face an attack from Satan. But if Satan isn’t worried about what we might do for God, then maybe it’s past time we looked in the mirror and asked ourselves why not.

Spiritual warfare is all around us. That’s true whether we recognize it or not. What’s also true is the harder we push forward to serve Jesus and bring God glory, the more Satan wants to stop us. It’s just an unfortunate fact.

One primary way Satan attacks us is in our minds. Satan wants us to believe that God isn’t trustworthy, that He isn’t good, that God wants to deny us all those things we deserve. The devil will twist God’s words and dangle lots of stuff in front of us. His primary purpose is to make us turn away from God.

Don’t do it. Just don’t. Yes, God wants good things for us but that doesn’t mean He gives us everything we desire. It’s not good for us. Think about it this way: Would you let a two-year-old eat chocolate until he got sick? Of course not! You would let him have pieces in moderation so that the chocolate gave him joy and not a sick tummy.

God knows what is best for us, even though we might not always see it that way. He’s trying to mold us into the image of His Son. Sometimes that hurts.

It also forces us to come face-to-face with our total reliance on God. We want to do it all by ourselves. We give something to God – and then we take it back because God isn’t doing it the right way or isn’t completing the task quickly enough to satisfy us. Then our plans fail and we give it back to God. It’s an endless cycle.

We can do all things through Christ. It’s through Him that we accomplish the tasks God has placed before us. It’s not enough to claim faith; we have to believe and live that belief out loud.

Do you know why the sons in this passage couldn’t do anything to the evil spirits? Because they didn’t believe in Jesus. They said all the right things but their heart wasn’t filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s not words that save you. It’s genuine belief in our Risen Lord. We are cleansed by the blood of Jesus. There is no other way.

Satan knows that his time is limited. Jesus has already won the war. Satan is out to do as much damage as he can, while he can. It’s up to us to keep fighting in the Spirit.

I’ll ask you again: Does Satan know who you are? I hope he does because that means you’re living a life focused on bringing God glory.

April 10, 2018

God Is Waiting

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. – Acts 1:14

How important is prayer on your daily “to do” list? Is it an afterthought or is it something you dedicate specific time to? Is prayer something you do out of obligation or is something you look forward to doing? And is prayer a once-and-done kind of thing or is it something that carries you through the day?

Several years ago I lead a study titled The Battle Plan for Prayer. I always knew God would call me to do it again and He has. It’s been a wonderful refresher course in being specific in my prayer life.

This study, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick and based on the movie War Room, leads us into a more strategic prayer life. How many times do we pray in generalities so that we never really know if our prayers are answered? How many times do we hold back because we’re afraid God will let us down, that He’ll say no, or, worse, that He’ll ignore us and our request?

What shallow faith we have. We’re so intent on doing it ourselves, on counting on ourselves, that we leave God out of the equation until all of our options are done. We have no where else to turn. We have nothing left to lose. Then we turn to God, who was waiting there all along, eager to help us and longing for a relationship with us.

That’s what God wants. He wants our hearts. He wants our devotion. He wants us to turn to Him, to run to Him, with all our joys and sorrows, our needs and our celebrations. He wants that relationship. We’re a bit leery. He is God, after all. He is Almighty. Powerful. Our Judge. The Creator of our world and the One in charge of it all.

What if He says no? What if He doesn’t heal or provide for us? What if He sends us on a journey we’d rather not take to a place we’d rather not go?

God has good plans for us. God provides for us. God loves and sustains us. These are His promises. He wrote them down for everyone to see. He is a God of truth. We can count on Him when we can’t count on anything or anyone else.

What would happen if you were as devoted to prayer as you are to your cell phone or to your kids’ ball schedule or your job? What would happen in your if you made prayer a priority rather than an obligation or something that was an option?

Schedule your prayer time and keep it. Then learn to pray spontaneously throughout the day. Is it a beautiful day? Thank God for it. Did your meeting god well? Thank God for that too. Are you stressed over finances? Turn it over to God and thank Him for handling it – before He does. Whatever it is, learn to include God in the moments of your day. He cares and He wants to be included.

May 6, 2016

Pray Specific Prayers For Others

 

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. -- Romans 1:9-12

We’re coming to the end of The Battle Plan for Prayer Bible study. It’s been a wonderful journey and I’ve grown a lot.

I was going to say I’ve learned a lot but, honestly, I don’t think that’s the case. It’s more than I’ve grown bolder in the truths that I knew in my mind but wasn’t practicing in my heart.

I’ve become more deliberate, more focused in my prayers. It’s no longer just about asking God to bless people. It’s more about specifics. How do I want God to bless someone? What does this person need? Comfort? Financial help? Guidance?

My timing has changed too. I still have my main prayer times but throughout the day I’m lifting prayers up. I’ve always been one who likes talking to God. Now it’s more about other people and less about me.

I let things trigger specific prayers. For example, sweet friends desperately want to adopt their foster child. Every time I think of them, every time I see a van their color, every time I see something unrelated that one of them posts online, I say a prayer for this child and for them.

I’m also using prayer for others as a way to redirect my thoughts away form myself and my own needs and toward someone else. When I sense my mind going to my own drama, I start praying for someone else. That way I don’t dwell on myself and I lift up someone I care about.

It’s not that I don’t talk with God about my own issues. I just don’t dwell on them anymore. I don’t want to be self-focused or whiney. There are far too many people and things to pray about.

What about you? Do you focus your prayers on yourself, your family and close friends? Or do you pray for others? Do you get specific or are someone who just does the general thing and trusts that God knows all the specifics?

God cares about those details. Think about it: God numbered the hairs on our head. He cares about the little things just like He cares about the big things.

So get specific. Pray frequently. Include the lost, your co-workers, your pastors, right along with your family and friends. Don’t just say you’ll pray and forget about it. Pray. Always, always pray. God hears us every time.

April 10, 2016

Remember God’s Faithfulness

4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” -- Joshua 4:4-7

How specifically do you pray? Our class has been studying The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. This week’s lesson is on praying strategically and specifically.

That’s always been difficult for me. I want to be vague about it. Please, God, help me. Please, God, guide me. But I never say how I want Him to help or guide me. I want His will, of course, but I’m also a little bit intimidated by asking God Almighty for anything else.

I am so blessed. Totally. I know that. Mostly, I am blessed by His Presence. I am never alone to face whatever happens, good or bad. He has met all my needs. All of them. So I feel guilty when I want more.

Yet God gives me more. He answers my prayers. I am always amazed at how good He is to me.

Yesterday I desperately needed to talk with someone about a first aide issue. I had done all I knew to do and still blood would not stop flowing from the wound. I called a friend who is a medic, but he wasn’t home. I called the doctor’s office and was on hold waiting to speak to a person for what seemed like forever. I finally hung up.

I asked God what I should. I barely got the words out of my mouth when the phone rang. It was the doctor’s office calling to give me test results from earlier in the week. I needed to talk with a nurse and God had one call me. How amazing is that!

I immediately told her she was an answer to my prayer and, after I explained the situation, she told me what to do. It worked. Crisis averted and no trip to the ER for us.

I want to remember this. All the times in the future when I wonder where God is, I want to remember how He helped me. All the times when I don’t think God hears me, I want to remember how He answered my prayer.

We could all use stones to remind us of God’s faithfulness. And we should share our stories with others, so that everyone will know how good God is to us all. What an amazing illustration of just how much God cares.

　

　

February 21, 2016

How Vulnerable Are You?

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

Where do you think you are most vulnerable to an attack by the enemy? What is your button, the one issue where you are most likely to fall into sin?

Not sure? You’re at a great risk of falling into the enemies hands because I can guarantee you Satan knows where you are most vulnerable.

Our Sunday school class has been studying The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. This is a question they posed. It’s one I’ve honestly never thought about.

Don’t get me wrong. I know my buttons. I do. What that really means is that I know my fears. I know what I am most afraid of and that is the area where I am most vulnerable to an attack by the enemy.

We all have vulnerable areas, whether we recognize or admit it or not. When we understand where we are vulnerable we can create a battle plan.

Most of us would prefer to ignore the enemy but that is just so dangerous. He is real and he will do all that he can to stop us from serving God.

It’s hard for me to grasp, this invisible foe that we all face. I don’t like horror films. I’m not into the supernatural. I like things cut and dried, to borrow a well-worn cliché. I don’t like games of subterfuge. There’s just been too much of that in my life.

But I also don’t want to be Satan’s victim. So I take those vulnerable areas to God and ask for protection. I realize that I am not strong enough, smart enough or mighty enough to take on Satan or his minions. God is all powerful, all knowing and mightier than anything or anyone, in this world or in the spiritual realm.

So let me ask you again: Where are you most vulnerable to an attack for Satan? Think about it. Seriously. And create a battle plan that involves taking it to God. Satan will come after you. Be prepared.

February 8, 2016

God Always Answers

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. -- 1 John 5:14

Do you believe God answers prayers? Do you believe God answers your prayers?

Sometimes. That was the consensus this morning. The thing is God answers all our prayers. Maybe He doesn’t answer in the way we want, or in the timeframe we would prefer, but He answers just the same.

In the book The Battle Plan for Prayer for Stephen and Alex Kendrick, the writers give five general ways God answers prayer. The first is an immediate yes. We love those, don’t we? We’re usually so excited that we don’t realize that God might have anticipated our request and been preparing His answer for years in advance.

The second way is when God says yes but not right now. Our instant society has programmed us to want everything right now. It’s hard to wait. But patience is sometimes what God wants to teach us.

Another way God answers prayer is by saying yes because you’ll learn from it. Those are generally not pleasant because lessons usually mean we needed God to redirect us. Ever experienced one of God’s lessons? Yeah. But usually the end result is worth it, especially since He never leaves us to walk through it alone.

The fourth way God answers prayers is to say no because our heart isn’t right. Why are you wanting what you’ve asked for? Is it for your glory or God’s glory? Is it to build yourself up, to put someone else down, or to fill a hole inside with stuff?

The last way God answers prayers is awesome: God says no because He’s got something better in mind for us. Sometimes we ask too little of our great God and He amazes us with His answer.

Even though sometimes it seems God doesn’t hear us, He does. Every single time. And He always answers. Always. So if you aren’t hearing His voice, ask again. And again. Open your Bible and read. Pray. Quiet your heart and listen. And wait. When the time is right, God will answer.