In All Your Ways . . .

Last Sunday's sermon was about how to know the will of God. The main passage was Proverbs 3:5-6, which I'm sure, we are all very familiar with. Later I did a little digging and found a treasure. I was really looking forward to sharing what I'd found in Sunday School this morning (we always discuss the previous sermon in S.S.), but it just didn't work out. So that leaves me with no other choice but to share it with you! ;0)

A Switch-Back

If you've been following my blog lately then you've probably noticed that I've been learning a lot about prayer and faith. There were a couple of things that I had felt like God wanted me to pursue . . . and so I did. Both of them looked very impossible, but that's where faith comes in. :0) About 3 weeks ago, someone very near and dear to me (who shall remain anonymous), told me that sometimes God has us pursue things just for the journey, and that He doesn't really intend for us to have them.

Like An Apple Tree

I was in special need of some comfort this morning . . . so where did I turn? It might seem strange to you, but I turned to the book of Song of Solomon. There I find not my mighty, conquering King, but the Lover of my soul. There I find a love and a Lover that surpasses all else. There I find . . . an apple tree. :0)

O For A Closer Walk With God

This morning's hymn was new to us, but I really liked it and thought I'd share it with you. It was written by William Cowper (1731-1800), a friend of John Newton. He was inspired to write this hymn after reading the verse that says, "Enoch walked with God."

Valiantly!

I really like Psalm 60:12 (and 108:13 ;0) . . .

"Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies."

I decided to look up the word valiantly yesterday and found that there are two words translated "valiantly". The one used in this verse is the one most commonly used. It has to do with strength, wealth, army, and influence. I also found that it is the same word that is translated "virtuous" in the books of Ruth and Proverbs. I knew that virtuous had to do with strength, but valiant adds a whole new dimension. :0)

The other word for "valiantly" is pretty cool too. It means to strengthen, to be strong, to be courageous, to overpower. It seems to be most often translated "be strong", as in "Be strong and of a good courage", Joshua 1:9. At least once it is translated "prevailed", as in when David "prevailed" over Goliath.

You are probably wondering where I am going with this . . . hang on, I'm almost there. ;0)

So with this word we have the idea of strength and courage, of prevailing and overpowering . . . Well, look at the verse I came across today as I read in "Mighty Prevailing Prayer" about wrestling with God . . .

" There is no one who calls upon Your name, who rouses himself to take hold of You..." Isa. 64:7

The word for "to take hold" is this same word for valiantly. What does it mean to be strong, to overpower, to prevail against/over God?? I'm sure this verse, this idea, contains an important secret to prevailing prayer. A secret that I want to discover. A secret that yields mighty results for His kingdom and His glory.

Oh may the Lord no longer be able to say that there is no one who calls on His name, no one who rises to take hold of Him!

Say What???

Before I get started, I must issue a disclaimer. :0) I have this question on my heart that I have to ask. I think it has something to do with my spiritual gift, which I am still trying to understand. Anyway, I hope that you will be patient with me, and maybe share your thoughts too. :0)

There is a particular word that has lately caught my attention. It's a good word . . . But I really wonder at the way it is thrown around. It is the word "holy". As an expression of exclamation this word is frequently thrown out, but it is always paired up with one of a multitude of other words. The thing that gets me is that the object it is paired up with is often anything BUT holy. This got me thinking about other words that we use to describe God that we might be causually throwing around . . . "awesome" came to mind . . . And the question that came to my mind is . . .

Does the flippant use of these words have any affect on the way we view our God, or the way the world views Him? In other words, have we lost the concept - or at least lowered it - of His holiness because we so casually use the word "holy" to describe so many other things? . . . or the word "awesome"?

Any thoughts?

Perseverance In Prayer

(part 4 of a continuing series of posts from reading "Mighty Prevailing Prayer")

"It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must pray patiently, believing, continue in prayer until we obtain an answer." ~ George Muller

It is all too easy to faint and lose heart, but if we faint not . . . that is when we reap our reward. At the same time, though, we don't want to persevere in prayer for something that God doesn't really want us to have, only for Him to give it to us and send leaness to our soul.

"One secret of prevailing prayer is the inner assurance that we are praying in the will of God."

It seems that the secret to knowing the will of God is to be COMPLETELY and utterly surrendered to Him, and to stay in communion with Him. But then you have to be active in your surrender . . .

"God's will is not done automatically by a surrendered person. It must become the passion of your soul to do and ratify God's will in everything."

This makes me think of Jesus, who's ONE passion was to do the will of His Father in heaven. God isn't trying to keep it a secret from us! He wants us to know. :0) I like this quote about discovering the will of God . . .

"Do not bother other people. Lay all questions naked before Him, and He will make plain to you what is His will. When God speaks, His speech is easily understood." ~ Samuel Chadwick

I don't think this is telling us to disregard our authorities, but I find it is all too easy to go to a human for advice instead of to God. Another reason that quote stood out to me is because it is easy for me to question whether I heard Him right. So ridiculous! :0) What a faithful, loving, and patient God we serve!

"Don't give up at the very time God's answer is nearing, at the very time the angels have almost delivered to you the answer for which you have been praying. Instead, your prayer then should be strongest."

"Prayer worth calling prayer, prayer that God will call true prayer and will treat as true prayer, takes far more time by the clock than one man in a thousand thinks." ~ Alexander Whyte

Lord, help me persevere! To see Your will done here on earth as it is in heaven.