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Believing that God Has Something More

February 6, 2012 in Answering God's Call, Discipleship with 2 Comments

Have you ever been at a point in your life that you really doubted that God really has something in store for your life? I don’t really mean just life in general, because of course he has great things for you…in the form of salvation through Jesus Christ. I mean — do you really believe that God has something that he is calling you to do with your life?

In a recent sermon, my pastor related part of his journey to where he is today. He talked about how he and his wife were serving in a previous ministry and embarking on exactly what they had been dreaming of. Then, they lost the ministry and many of their friends and found themselves sinking lower and lower. With each passing month, they found what they had thought of as rock bottom. They were really questioning God, questioning the things that they had been through. They poured themselves out until they were really just empty, crying out to God to move on their behalf. I can’t tell you the entire story, but I can tell you that God has moved greatly on their behalf and called and is currently using them beyond their wildest dreams.

Believing that God has Something More

Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”

I began to think of my own journey and the journey of many of those close to me. We find ourselves called to something by God, really unsure of how that will play out. At least for me, the calling that God has for me has long been something mysterious. It has had moments of clarity, but really God just told me to go and I did. Here we are several years later and God is beginning to move on my behalf (for his own glory, of course!). But the thought that I had while listening to this sermon was if in fact I actually believe that God has something more, not only for my life in general, but specifically for my ministry. Between you and I — I don’t think this is always the case. I don’t think I always have the faith to stand in this truth.

Believing That God Has Something More -- Even More Than More! (HT abhi_ryan on FlickrCC)

The good news — God is smarter than I am. God gives me glimpses of the ‘more’ that He is going to do eventually. Most often, I think that God doesn’t give me the whole picture because either my mind would be totally blown or I would wimp out and walk away. For now, I’m walking in confidence that even if I don’t believe God is wanting to do something mighty in me and through me, He will still have his way.

What about you? Do you have faith issues? Where can you see God moving and asking you to move in turn?

Teach Me How to Pray

January 31, 2012 in Discipleship, Prayer with 0 Comments

Teach Me How to Pray, Jesus

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’ -Matthew 6:9-13

How often have you found yourself really not knowing how to pray? Prayer is, at it's heart, conversation with God. Undoubtedly, our approach to prayer should not be flippant, but rather in the serious nature of which God deserves. Throughout Scripture, we find many examples of God's people entering into conversation with him. I've found that having Jesus teach me how to pray has been greatly beneficial to my daily walk with God.

Teach Me How to Pray, Jesus. Help me develop this man's posture! (HT chrisyarzab on FlickrCC)

Having Jesus Teach Me How To Pray

Many years ago, I found myself at somewhat of a crossroads in my life. I'd spent many years going to college for a few different specialities, wandering across the country in search of 'meaning', and bascially found myself at a loss. It was then that I got out of some the books that I used during College. I found a book on prayer. I read through it in about a day. What I really kept coming back to was Jesus' prayer found above in Matthew 6:9-13. It really is simple, isn't it? What Jesus really is saying is, "God, You're holy and awesome, may you kingdom and will be done in my life. God, just give me what I need to survive today. Forgive me, please and help me forgive those who need it from me. Lastly, help me not to sin and get me away from Satan."

How, When, and Why to Pray

Prayer really knows no time or place. If you're read much about prayer in Scripture, you have undoubtedly read about people praying in all kinds of places including battle, in the streets, on dousetops, in prison, in the stomach of a big fish, in the wilderness, and on the Cross. Personally, I spend about an hour a day in my car commuting and I find this to be an excellent time to pray. I'm all alone, as Jesus instructs in Matthew 6. No one else really knows what I'm doing or probably think I'm on bluetooth with my homies or something. Additionally, I've created a conversational approach to Prayer. Why? It really helps me stay connected to God. I just keep an ongoing dialogue and thereby keeping the lines of communication open. Why should we pray? Really there are endless reasons to pray. I'd venture to say that if it is important to you, it is worthy of prayer. That is not to say that whatever you say or ask will be answered in the way that you'd like.

So, are you still asking, "Teach me how to pray"?

Follow Jesus' model of praising God for who he is and what he has done and will do, asking God to provide for your needs, asking for forgiveness and ability to forgive others and protecting you from temptation and Satan. Pretty simple. Then, develop your own style, but these elements are really important in prayer.

How do you pray? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

If you're looking for a great resource, I'd recomend Richard Foster's Book Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home (aff. link). This really is one of the most seminal works on Prayer. Foster is a master of Spritual Disciplines is no exception.

I Am Who He Says I Am

January 18, 2012 in Discipleship with 0 Comments

I am Who He Says I Am (HT ramsd on FlickrCC)

And so are you.

Maybe it is just me, but I get caught up in listening to a number of other sources that want to tell me who I am. Maybe it is the kid on the playground from my youth making fun of me. Maybe it is the relative that told my mom that I would be dead or imprisioned by the time I was 18. Sometimes it is my own voice telling me that I've failed again and God cannot use me because of that. Other times it is the voice of "the world" telling me that I need to be more focused on the career ladder. This is really not an all inclusive list, but just a small sampling of the voices that try to speak into my life. What about for you? What sources are you listening to that really have no business speaking into your life?

I am who HE says I am. So are you. I am a child of God. So are you. I am a branch of the true vine. So are you. I am a friend of Jesus. So are you. I have been justified and redeemed, just like you. I have been crucified with Christ so that sin no longer reigns in me. So have you. I have wisdom, righteousness, santification, and redemption in Christ Jesus. So do you. The Holy Spirit makes his dwelling inside of me and you. I am a new creation in Christ. You are, too. I am the righteousness of God through Christ. You are as well. I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God. So are you. I am God's workmanship to do good works and so are you. Because of God's mercy and love, I've been made ALIVE with Christ. My friend: you have too! I used to be darkness, but now I am light in Christ. You are too. I am a citizen of heaven. Christian, you are also. The peace of God guards my heart and mind, and your's, too. I have been made complete in Chirst. You are, too. I have been chosen of God and am Holy and beloved. So are you. Christ is my life, and I will be revealed with Him in glory. So too, are you.

If you're ever in a place where the outside voices try to beat you down and speak deception into your life, think upon all the truths here. YOU ARE WHO HE SAYS YOU ARE! I am who HE says I am.

Tony Wheeler dot Net