Today’s devotional brings to mind a five-chaptered book written by Pastor Chris “Praying The Right Way” where he expounds on specific points on prayer. There is a sure way to pray and get results. If you’ve always wondered why your prayers are not being answered and things aren’t working right for you, well it’s time to realize the importance of praying by the rules!
“There are different kinds of prayers that we ought to pray in different situations, and they all have different rules, laws or principles that must be applied for them to be effective… These different kinds of prayer require faith for them to be effective, but the Scriptures show us there's also a definite prayer of faith with its own guiding principles” Pastor Chris said in today’s devotional.
Make up your mind today to learn how to ‘pray by the rules’ by studying God’s Word. The book “Praying The Right Way” will also give you a sure guide to pray rightly by the rules. Shun ignorance today and go for the Word!
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The proper prayerful attitude ought to be that of Job. He understood that God's will is sovereign, and humbly declared, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).
It's no use reading any of Pastor Chris' blogs if you don't believe in the victorious life Christ has given unto us who believe in His name. Christ has come to make us super-men. He's given us His glory (John 17) and the same Holy Spirit who lived in Him now lives in us. In fact the Bible declares, "As He is, so are we in this world!"
So what then? Why should we continue going about as though we are not sure of who we are. Jesus said when we pray, we should expect answers because God loves us. We're not hoping He'll answer us or not; He said, "Ask and receive that your joy may be full."
Look at the apostles in the scriptures; they became bold when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Paul say a sick man and said, "Jesus Christ makes you well." Peter COMMANDED a lame man to rise up and walk!
Christianity is the pulsating life of God in a human being. If that life is in you, you won't be able to keep to yourself. You'll be on fire for Jesus and everyone around you will know.
But God forbid that we should try to measure our victory by such worldly standards. Do we have victory in Christ? Yes, and praise the Lord for that! But bear in mind that the victory that we have is victory against sin, against the ruling powers of this world and against the Evil one who daily tries in vain to snatch us out of the Father's hand. It has nothing to do with materials possessions. It is not for no reason that the apostle Paul said that, "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need" (Philippians 4:12).
And we should expect to receive an answer from God, but we shouldn't expect Him to necessarily answer in the manner that we expect Him to, because He just might surprise you with what He will do next.
I know, because I've prayed, and God has answered in ways that I could never have possibly fathomed. Do I understand all that He does? No, not really. His ways are mysterious, but I still trust Him because He is infinitely wiser than we are. And because of this, we must wait upon His sovereign decrees.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Do you really think the Apostles were poor? I don't think so. Act 4:33 says, "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."
Do you think they suffered because they were victims and had not choice but to suffer? I don't think so. They knew they had the victorious life of Christ in them but CHOSE to suffer. Heb 11:32-35 says, "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, .... and others were tortured, NOT ACCEPTING deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection"
Do you think the victory Christ gave you is only spiritual? I don't think so. 3Jo 1:2 says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
Do you really think God's thoughts are not your thoughts and His ways are not your ways? This would have been true if you were living in the Old Testament. But if you're new man in Christ, the Bible says, you have "the mind of Christ."
1Co 2:16 "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
All I will say is this: The apostles had a form of wealth, but it isn't worldly wealth. Here was what Peter had to offer to the lame man in the temple:
“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6).
If you don't think sufferings and tribulations are a part of God's plan, then I shall let His word speak for itself:
"...through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
"...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope..." (Romans 5:3-4)
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
Praise God that He does not baby believers but passes them through the refiner's fire! When He lets the difficulties come our way, it is important to remember that it is God's way of furthering our sanctification and bringing us to more complete dependence upon His grace *alone* for all of our needs.
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26)
Why have so many faithful men and women of God passed through intense tribulations and hardships throughout the centuries?
Infact you have rightly mentioned, it is to make as endure and have God like charcater.This is what God means when he says we seek his kingdom fisrt.
But there are a number of other reasons why christians go through tribulations. i.e punitive reasons.
Infact the word of God very clear that life in the world will not be rosy and thats the very reason why we need Gods grace.We should also not pretend to be able to interpret all the things that happen in the world as we dont fit in Gods Shoes.
But in all this,it is the will of God that is important.
Note however, that persecution is different from suffering. Suffering in poverty, sickness and squalor is not God's plan for the Christian. I know of Christians who have sworn themselves to poverty. That's a personal decision for them and no one can fault them for doing that.
The actual life life God has called us into is a life of divine health, plenty, authority and life in abundance. Persecution comes because the devil runs the system of this world and he's all out against our faith and prosperity; but praise God, we continually triumph in Christ!
So persecution is an attack on your faith - your faith in the power of God's Word to make the victor God has made you to be. Suffering on the other hand is the inability to change your situation. That's not for us. The Bible says, "I CAN DO ALL things through Christ, which strenghteneth me!"
"...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope..." (Romans 5:3-4)
At the end of it all everything works for good to those who truly know the lord.