by Carol Roberts | Nov 29, 2016 | Encouragement
There are times when we pray for things or situations and everything works out very quickly. There are other times when situations seem to linger for years. Depending on the particular request and how it fits into God big picture will determine the time, place and way the answers come.
When praying for a person with a hardened heart to be saved and turn his life around, we must realize that another person’s will is involved. We may be fully ready to experience the results yet the person being prayed for is not ready to give up habits yet.
Results can be seen more quickly from prayers for a sick person to be healed or the safety of a missionary because they are ready to receive answers also.
The most empty times in our prayer life are when we pray and it’s like praying to a ceiling or to a wall. We walk away feeling we were not heard. We feel no more peaceful after praying than before. It’s time to take an inventory of our own lives at that point. Are we secretly doing things that are not pleasing to God while giving an appearance of having things in order? Are there grudges being held against somebody or jealousy in our hearts? Is there unbelief or disobedience we need to make right? There are numerous things that can slow the progress of answered prayers.
A garden hose full of holes doesn’t make a very powerful water stream. Yet for each hole that is plugged, the water stream is even stronger. It’s the same way in our lives. Prayers are stronger for each thing we overcome that is distancing us from God. Even though God hears and answers a sincere prayer, He still desires that we draw nearer to Him.
When times come that we have done all we can do and we are still feeling that our prayers are not heard, it’s time to rejoice in the love of Jesus Christ. Many times it means that He has taken over completely our request and it’s in His capable hands.
As we wait for that sought after answer to a special prayer we can renew our spirit with God and seek after a clean heart. Jesus never forgets us. Never give up.
Psalm 51:10-12 New Living Translation
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 28, 2016 | Hope
Today we enjoy a universe of God’s beautiful creation. Even though we were not here when it was created we see the results of God’s mighty hand and know that no man could create such beauty. This very fact is evidence that we can have faith in God for all things. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Noah listened to God and built an ark even though he saw no rain. The people of Israel walked across the Red Sea on dry ground. The woman touching the hem of Jesus’ robe was healed. All these things were accomplished through faith in Jesus Christ and not their own ideas.
As we pray for things that come up in life it’s normal to ask God to bring us through or deliver us out of. We want to see obstacles disappear, loved ones come to Christ and hardships not be there.
Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of our Father. He prays for us. What may surprise us is how Jesus prays. Jesus prays that our faith will not fail, not that the obstacles go away or things will fall into place. Yes, Jesus still performs miracles, instantly heals the sick and works things out at the proper time. However, it’s the obstacle or the hardship that grows faith. Faith is what pleases God.
Jesus gave a warning to Peter just before He went to the cross that the devil came and asked for permission to sift him like wheat. Jesus also said He prayed for Peter. As for us, the devil always has to get permission to send certain things our way but these are the things we use as tools to grow our faith. One of the choicest tools of the devil is the wait time for answered prayer. We can praise God for the opportunity to grow our faith in the school of adversity. The answer will come. God will not disgrace anyone who trusts Him to act.
Luke 22:31-32 New Living Translation
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
by Carol Roberts | Nov 27, 2016 | Salvation
The Bible is very clear that in the last days there will be warning signs. In fact we live in a time where those signs are here. Technology is beyond human imagination, people and nations are against nations and the gospel is being broadcast by satellite all over the world. There are earthquakes more often and bigger than ever before. Seasons are more intense. Weather patterns are extreme.
How sad that most people think nothing of this. If the truth is pointed out to them we are viewed as crazy. Many will turn their backs on us because the truth is not the cool thing for them. Some who have always said they love our Lord will become distant toward us because they were never of us.
Anything that has anything to do with Jesus Christ is being removed because people cannot emotionally handle the convictions of doing wrong. Unfortunately removing the convictions does not remove the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and all people will face Him sooner than later.
The word repent means a change of heart but people would rather remove the tugging at the heart than to make things right. This is what’s going on today. People do not want to get things right because the darkness of lies is more appealing. It offers a passing pleasure that can be irresistible. These are sad days yet for a repentant heart these are days of rejoicing because the day of our Lord is very close. If the Apostle Paul thought time was short, then even more so should we be prepared at all times. Time is short yet there is still time for people to get things right. Jesus Saves. Jesus is the only Savior.
Matthew 13:15 New Living Translation
For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.
Matthew 3:2 New Living Translation
“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
by Carol Roberts | Nov 25, 2016 | Hope
THE SOFTEST PILLOW
Pillows stuffed with foam or down will be soft and comfortable but do not guarantee a good night’s sleep. If the mind is not at rest there will be no true comfort at night.
It’s time to blow the cover, so to speak. The many years of telling one lie after another to cover for the last one needs to be brought to the true facts. Weeks of not speaking to somebody who may have purposely or accidentally said something offensive needs to be confronted or forgotten. Months of excuses to avoid doing an undesirable task needs to be put aside and the task completed.
It’s much easier and takes less time to face up to the facts than it is to continue on in misery. The softest pillow is a clear conscience. Now go and have a restful night.
1 Peter 3:16 New Living Translation
But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 23, 2016 | Salvation
In the book of John chapter 18 verse 38a Pilot asked Jesus, “What is truth?” The dictionary refers to truth as real facts about something.
How do we really know the truth about something when so many people can give a separate account of the same thing.
One person explains it this way. Several people can stand around an elephant. One person explains the trunk in fine detail while another one describes the foot yet another one tells about the magnificent tusks. While each person is giving an accurate description the others can disagree.
When we look at truth as a philosophy there is room for lots of confusion. When we see truth as The Man…….. Jesus, we can be set free.
John 8:31-32 New Living Translation
Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”