Fear: From Doubt to Dread

Do you know someone who circles back again and again to the same place of fear or anxiety, whether it relates to their health, their family, their finances, or whatever else may be troubling them? Some fear may be natural and acceptable. But when we say that, there is the danger of putting it in the category of a white lie, which is acceptable to many people. By doing that we are encouraging an open door policy, for the enemy to enter in and bring destruction. 

So then, living in fear because you refuse to move on is another matter:  it is sin. A person can have a sinful fear habit just as surely as an immorality habit or a drunkenness habit. Categorizing, in other words classify fear as a sin, we might as well say that it has been forgiven us, by grace through faith. Be that as it may. Should we then continue to fear? God forbid, lets rather choose to trust God.

When we are not trusting in God’s care for us, we naturally react to our circumstances by trying to figure out how we can meet our own needs. It is a kind of homegrown providence, and it will never do. We know inside that we will never be capable of anticipating all the situations we may face. If we attempt to cut our way out of all the problems that may entangle us, we get stuck in a round of anxiety and dread. When circumstances might naturally inspire worry, we need to renew our trust in God and move on in the confidence of His care.

If you have a fear habit, letting go of your fear and trusting God completely might seem like an impossibility. So let us assure you with Scripture that it is possible to substitute faith for the anxiety and the worry you are presently feeling.

Life is a day-by-day affair. We do not know all that will happen in the future—but we do not need to. God will be with us in the future just as surely as He is with us in the present. Our part is to develop our trust in Him, leaving fear and anxiety behind in the process.

Do you want more faith that the Lord is near to you for help? If so, you are not alone in that desire. A father who sought Jesus’ healing power for his son said to Jesus, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). The disciples likewise appealed to Jesus, “Show us how to increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).

The apostle John wrote, “We are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for” (1 John 5:14–15). Surely having faith is in line with God’s will. So if we ask Him for it, He will give it. We’ve got His Word on that. With the Spirit’s supernatural enabling, you can be a person of greater faith and you can shed your fear habit for good. Let the healing in this area of your life begin now

FAITH or FEAR / FAITH vs FEAR

                               FEAR OR FAITH / FEAR vs FAITH

WE  ARE FACED DAILY WITH MULTIPLE CHOICES, SOME OF WHICH HAVE TO BE MADE BECAUSE IT REQUIRES URGENT ATTENTION.

There is a choice to be made. With this type of emergency, nobody can be in between these two choices, because the one is for positivity in life and the other causes dilema (negativity). Positivity and dilema cannot co-exist.
They go in two different directions, therefore there have to be a breakaway from the one or the other. The presence of one corrodes the other one, and there is a strengthening of both, that accompany it, like an army that's its backup? In other words, each one has it's own source.

Feeling afraid? Is fear can keeping you in bondage? Do you want to change?

Fear’s family of behaviors includes disbelief, worry, and anxiety. These can be replaced with faith.

Discover how to overcome fear in its various forms through time-tested insights that really work!

Self-Test

Are You Fearful?

The following self-evaluation quiz will help you determine whether you have a tendency toward fear and worry.

• Are you scared of losing your health or wealth or of something bad happening to the one you love?
• Do you have trouble sleeping because you are up at night imagining all the things that could go wrong?
• Do you tend to have anxious thoughts about the same thing over and over?
• Do others ever kid you about being a worrywart?
• Do you have a nervous habit like tapping your foot or drumming your fingers?
• Have you ever sought treatment for stress-related symptoms?
• Do you hesitate to make plans because you are worried that things will not turn out well?
• Are your thoughts of the future filled with fear instead of hope?
• 
  
• I would advice you to take this self test, to determine in which of these do you need to work on to overcome and be free of such fear/s and worry/s? If these persist or don't go away. I would then further advice you to choose to pray on your own, or look for someone you trust to pray with you.
• Please don't decide to live with that fear for the rest of your life. Rather choose faith instead.

Jesus Christ vs the Cross

I've been plagued! Reminds me of the plagues the  Egyptians had to endure because Pharoh would not let the Israelis go. God through Moses told him to, "let My People go."
As now, when I come across an interesting topic or just a statement that catches my imagination, I go bosh, not leaving any stone unturned in my search of clarity and to the satisfaction of my spirit.
For the last month or so I've been harbouring on the issue of the cross, and the significance it carries in the religion of Christianity. 

To me it is undoubtedly one of the pillars of Christianity, in that it represents the end of the curse that God laid on Adam, Eve, The serpent, and the Land, in the Garden of Eden, because of disobedience. As is written in Genesis 3:10-19. Scripture says, Galatians 3:13; Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written,"cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree" 14) that the blessings of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. It is through faith and not through the cross, by this I mean, the cross as a symbol and putting it up as statues or hanging it around the neck or on the walls, that we receive.

This has been ongoing for me, and I'm sure people might've looked at me from a distance, in the same instance distancing  themselves from me. Just in case the plague is highly contagious. 
Well, I can't see how God in the one time tells us to not make images (idols) and not to make other gods. Then we as Christians can go ahead and make crosses and keep them as remembrances of what Jesus has done for us. Claiming even that it is the cross that brings us peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. I've found out that I'll be going against the whole of Christianity if I don't #havemyowncross.

There is a great believe on the issue of the Three C's of Christianity, it being Christ, Cross, Church.
Each having it's doctrinal explanations, What I've discovered that when reading through the cross' doctrinal's, that it puts more emphasis on the cross than on Christ.

2The Second C in Christianity Stands for the Cross

There are a number of religions that promote a variety of spiritual concepts and experiences

• The Buddhists emphasize mediation
• Muslims have a pilgrimage to Mecca

Even within so called Christian circles there are groups that focus their entire energies in promoting a certain day to worship or a specific name to use when referring to God.

There are others who live and die by being able to perform what they claim to be "miraculous" acts or healings. These may find their roots within Biblical Christianity but what they are focused on is not what Christianity is really about.

Christianity is about the cross of Christ.

This is why Jesus said He came - Matthew 16:21. The cross is the main topic of the Apostles preaching: In Acts 2:36 Peter finishes his sermon with this concluding idea.

"Therefore let the House of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ - this Jesus whom you crucified. And the number of references to the cross in Paul's preaching is as great, even to the point where he summarizes the nature of his preaching style and content with these words,

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
- 1 Cor. 2:2

Of course we, in the Church of Christ, have also been guilty of losing our focus when it comes to the essentials of Christianity.

For example, when people ask what church you go to and you answer the church of Christ, do they say, "Oh, the church that preaches about Jesus and the cross of Jesus!" or do they say, "Oh yes, you're the ones who don't use a piano; or you're the ones who think you're the only ones going to heaven!"

I think we're more famous for our stand on instrumental music in worship than our zeal for preaching the cross of Jesus.

Why should we focus on the cross, you may ask?

• Preaching the cross is central because it is the answer to man's greatest problem and destructive force - sin.
• Sin is mankind's disobedience to God's laws and the reason why we die physically and spiritually at judgement.
• Sin is the reason we are afraid to die and afraid to face God because:
  • We know that all have sinned - Rom. 3:23
  • We know that those who have sinned will be condemned to spiritual death - Rom. 6:23
  • We know no one has the ability to overcome sin and thus be right and acceptable to God - Rom. 7

This is where the cross comes in:

• Jesus, the divine Son of God became a human being in order to deal once and for all with sin.
• He did this by offering His perfect life on the cross in order to pay the moral debt created by our sin.
• The significance of this act is explained in great detail by Paul in Romans 4-6.

Basically what Paul says is that God has dealt with man's sins in an absolute and historical manner at the cross! For example, at one point in your life you are guilty of sin and face condemnation before God.

At another point in your life you are forgiven for all your sins and are guaranteed eternal life. And the point at which the difference occurs is the cross of Jesus Christ.

Peter the Apostle summarizes it this way,

...and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross...
- I Peter 2:24

The cross is an historical event that God prepared for several thousand years, and that has stood for an additional two thousand years. Your life is either the one you had before you knew about and accepted the cross; or it's the new life you now experience after you have received the forgiveness that flows from it.

Without the cross, Christianity is simply a religious self-help program steeped in Jewish history.

The fact that Christ died on the cross however transforms our faith into the only solution to the universal problem of sin:

• The cross wipes away our sins. We are no longer responsible for our moral debt before God; it's "Paid in full" → at the cross.
• The cross satisfies God's demand that we be righteous. God now confers upon us the righteousness (or the perfection) of Christ → because of the cross.
• The cross absolves us of punishment. Jesus suffered the punishment that was supposed to be ours - death.
• The cross brings peace. If God forgives me, I can forgive myself and I can forgive others.
• The cross gives me hope. No matter what happens in this life, the cross reassures me that I can look forward to heaven with confidence.

The cross of Jesus is the focal point of our religion and the heart and soul of our message (the gospel). 

All of these can be true, yet it doesn't give us the authority to make an idol of the cross. When making idols of objects and bowing and worshipping before it is an abomination to God. 
It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved, and that is not excluding of the cross, nor exclusively by the cross. I know that the article in this chapter is primarily written to lay emphasis on the cross, however, if somebody may just read this chapter, it will give the person a wrong understanding. The curse is upon Jesus Christ and not on the cross. 

God Has Spoken

God Has Spoken

God has spoken to you concerning Ex 25, especially verse 8.

To make Him a sanctuary. So that He can dwell among His people. It was here at Mount Sinai that God made Israel His people. Israel confirmed the covenant.

It is now the time for you whom God has spoken to, to make Him a sanctuary, because He wants to establish His presence among His chosen people.

1Cro 28:10
Consider this now, for I the Lord has chosen you to build a sanctuary; Be strong and do it.

There are people who have received this message, you are the Sanctuary Builders. You wouldn't have received this message if you haven't got a desire to do it. Remember you cannot do it on your own, the task is too enormous. I have been sitting with this for the last two years, not knowing what to do or how to start with it. That's why we need each other for this task, it will still be an enormous task, but, God will set everything in place for the running of the building of His Sanctuary.

Remember that the churches were built in the different communities to serve as gathering places for the believers, to draw the communities to the Church. Churches were built by pastors and they claim it to be theirs. It is rightfully so, and there are nothing wrong with that.

He wants to be among His chosen people.

Let's get talking

A Time To Talk To Your Mother

              A TIME TO TALK TO YOUR MOTHER.

John 19:25-27 (NKJV)

When Jesus saw His Mother , ... (26)
John draws our attention to the four woman who was standing at the cross of Jesus
His Mother, Mary
His mother's sister, Salome. #Salome:The Most Hidden Woman In The Gospels
The wife of Clopas, Mary
Mary Magdalene

1) The Wife of Clopas;

What about Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Mary the wife of Clopas?

Matthew identifies two Mary's in Matt 27:56, and adds in verse 61 that Mary Magdalene and 'the other Mary' sat watching the placement of Jesus body in the tomb. He has just mentioned Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of James the Less and Joses. Almost in the next breath he speaks of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, now sitting down to watch the burial of Jesus in the tomb.
Matthew here seems to tie the Other Mary to his previous mention of the Mother of James and Joses. Her children are clearly known and mentioned as the sons of Alphaeus (Matt 10:3, Luke 6:15).

John identifies this Mary, as the Sister of Jesus mother, and wife of Alphaeus in John 19:25. Alphaeus is mentioned several times in New Testament scripture. The Hebrew form of this name is Cleophas, or Clopas according to Easton's Bible Dictionary. He is mentioned as having been with the Disciples on the day of the resurrection, and after hearing the tales of Jesus body missing from the tomb and the women telling of Angelic beings saying Jesus had come alive again, he leaves to journey home to his house in Emmaus.

Luke 24:13 "Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. "
Luke 24:18 "Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?"

We can therefore identify Cleopas (Alphaeus) as one of the followers of Jesus. His wife had been at the Cross and the empty Tomb, and was the 'other Mary' who was Jesus Aunt! Cleopas was thus actually Jesus' Uncle.  When Jesus began his ministry He called a Tax Collector, (a Publican) to be one of His disciples.
Mark 2:14 "As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, 'Follow Me.' So he arose and followed Him."
Levi was another name for Matthew the writer of the first Gospel.
     The conclusion is that the 'other Mary' was Matthew's (Levi) mother, Alphaeus (Clopas or Cleophas) his father, and James the Less was his brother.

His Mother's Sister; 
SALOME NO. 2

The Woman Who Wanted the Best for Her Sons

Scripture References—Matthew 20:20-24; 27:56; Mark 10:35-40; 15:40, 41; 16:1, 2

Name Meaning—See Salome, No. 1. Mark alone gives her name. Matthew designates her as “the mother of Zebedee’s children.”

Family Connections—Legendary attempts had been made to connect Salome with Joseph by a previous marriage, and therefore link her up with the family of Mary; or to make her a daughter of Zacharias. Inadequate attempts have sought to identify her as the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, using John 19:25 as the basis of association. Scripture is silent as to her genealogy. All we know is that she was the wife of Zebedee, the prosperous fisherman who had hired servants. The only glimpse we have of him is in his boat, mending his nets when Jesus came upon him and called his two sons to follow Him. That Zebedee shared his wife’s devotion to Jesus is evidenced by the fact that there was no action on his part to detain his sons from leaving his fishing business to accompany Jesus. Reading between the lines, it is not difficult to detect the harmony in that Capernaum family, concerning the call and claims of Jesus (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19, 20).

Her Devotion

Salome, one of the saintly women who followed Jesus in Galilee and ministered unto Him, appears to have been one of His disciples from the outset of His public ministry (Mark 15:40, 41; Matthew 20:20-28). She had no doubt whatever as to His Messiahship, and faced no difficulty in persuading her sons, James and John, to accompany her in obedience to the Master’s word. Both Zebedee and Salome by their life and teaching prepared their children to follow Jesus. That they never forgot their home influence and instruction is seen in the depth of devotion, wide range of vision and a godly joyousness the writings of James and John, who became apostles, clearly reveal. Salome remained a faithful disciple of Jesus up to the very end. She was present at the crucifixion, beholding that grim scene afar off, even when her two sons had withdrawn.

Salome, along with the other women “stood afar off,” probably because of the malicious crowd, the rough soldiers, and the horrors of the cross, all of which was sufficient to make them timid. They were full of love and sympathy, even though they stood afar off. With tear-filled eyes with which they had shown their devotion on the way to the cross (Luke 23:28), they still beheld Him as He hung there in death. Salome was also with the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus, and shared in the glorious news of His Resurrection (Luke 24:10). They hastened to perform their last service for their Lord, but were not at the tomb soon enough to perfume His body with spices. Their devotion was rewarded by the revelation of the angel that He whom they loved and mourned was alive forevermore. They went forth to proclaim the blessed truth of the Resurrection—a miracle which Salome’s son, John, was to give emphasis to as he came to write the last book of the Bible (Revelation 1:17, 18).

Her Demand

Salome was ambitious for her sons, and ambition is commendable when it is in full agreement with the mind and purpose of God. Ambition, when divinely directed, can lead to the heights of honor but when selfishly pursued can cast one down to the depths of degradation. Salome knew she was an honored mother because her two sons, James and John, were two of Christ’s best-loved disciples and along with Peter formed the inner circle among the Twelve. On different occasions, Peter, James and John are grouped together. Salome knew that Christ was the Messiah, but as a millennialist could not separate Him from Israel’s temporal glory. Feeling that the kingdom would soon be established, she requested that her sons be placed one on Christ’s right hand and the other on His left when He inaugurated His kingdom. Although such a demand arose from maternal pride and jealousy, it did not arise from true faith. She knew not what she asked (Matthew 20:20-24; Mark 10:35-40) when seeking seats of honor for her sons.

In His rebuke of Salome for her misguided ambition Christ did not reject the request of the mother for her children, but corrected it, and accepted it in a way mother and sons did not anticipate. To be intimately near Him on His throne meant fellowship with Him in His sufferings. Our Lord did not treat Salome’s ambition as if it were sinful but he was compassionate because of the ignorance behind the request. Salome did not know “what manner of spirit” she was of (Luke 9:55). In effect, Jesus asked if her sons were prepared to drink the cup of martyrdom, and implied that James and John would share His throne of suffering. This they did, for James was the first apostolical martyr and John, the last. Salome’s dreams of the kingship of Christ with her sons sharing His rule were rudely shattered as she saw her much-loved Messiah dying as a felon on a wooden gibbet. Along with others she thought that it would have been “He who would have redeemed Israel,” but there He is, hanging on a cross in agony and shame. Salome came to learn that the only way to sovereignty is through sacrificial service. “Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:26, 27). The mother sought earthly crowns for her sons, but through losing their lives for Christ’s sake, they gained greater honor in heaven.

As we leave “the mother of Zebedee’s children,” it is with the realization of the influence of a godly mother in, and over, the lives of her children. So often it is from a mother’s tender affection that her child imbibes the love of God, so that it becomes almost part of the child’s nature. Further, there is no more potent antidote against sin within or without than faith in God generated by the holy life and teaching of godly parents. Salome and Zebedee were the Lord’s and both of their sons became His followers and died for His cause. Happy and grateful are those Christian parents who live to see their offspring wholly dedicated to the service of the Lord.

Mary The Mother Of Jesus

No one had ever paid unusual attention to young Mary.  She was born in a poor family from the insignificant town of Nazareth. She didn’t appear to stand out from her peers and would probably not have been voted ‘most likely to succeed.’ Eventually, however, she was engaged to a man named Joseph who could not promise her affluence but was a kind man with a stable reputation.

While Mary was growing up unknown by the outside world, God had taken note of her and was delighted.  One day, to Mary’s astonishment, an angel appeared to her.  “Greetings, favored one!  The Lord is with you,” the angel said.  “Do not be afraid for you have found favor with God.” The angel proceeded to tell her she would conceive and give birth as a virgin to the Son of God himself.  Instead of recoiling in terror or objecting stubbornly, Mary submitted completely to a pregnancy she had to know would give rise to the ugliest of rumors and accusations.

Then shortly after Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary took him to the temple to be dedicated.  That is when the godly Simeon told Mary, “This boy will be the greatest joy to some, but others in Israel will cruelly reject him.  And a sword shall pierce your soul…”At that time Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. The elderly Elizabeth was miraculously pregnant with a baby who was to become the mighty John the Baptist.  When she saw Mary she cried, “Blessed are you among women!  And blessed is the fruit of your womb.  What an honor that the mother of my Lord should visit me!”  Spontaneous joy overflowed from Mary’s heart in those days.

Perhaps this was Mary’s first omen of what was to come.  But she did not shrink from forebodings nor did she attempt to speculate to others of her son’s future.  As Jesus grew, and multiplied events pointed to his unique identity, his mother silently pondered and treasured up all these things in her heart.

As the Son of God reached manhood and launched out into his public ministry, Mary ushered Him onto center stage and faded into the background.  Little is mentioned of her throughout Christ’s public ministry, but we do detect a few cases in which confusion about Jesus’ words and actions appears evident.

And what was Mary to think when this great Messiah she had birthed came more and more under intense opposition and was finally railroaded to death when she knew he could have demonstrated his divine power?

We do know, however, that Mary was standing with John, the disciple, at the Cross as the sword of grief pierced her soul.  She was also with the select group of disciples when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. It would be wonderful if we knew more about this remarkable woman—if we could gaze into her soul and learn her most intimate thoughts and emotions during those astounding times.  Perhaps the deepest glimpse we have into that soul is in the words of her Magnificat:

My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden;
Behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,
For He that is mighty has done to me great things and holy is His name,
And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation,
He hath shown strength with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the imaginations of their hearts;
He has put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree,
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away,
He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to His seed forever.

Mary Magdalene
Who is she?

She is the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons. Her name was such because she hails from Magdala, a city on the Southwest Coast of the Sea of Galilee. She was one of the woman who supported Jesus' public ministry. Lots of speculations surrounds Mary Magdalene. 

1) She was said to be the woman in the city who was a sinner, who washed Jesus' feet,(Luke 7:37) Also because she was from Magdala and it had a reputation that many prostitutes lived there. Then, the fact that Luke mentions her immediately following the account of the sinful woman equates the two. Also being portrayed as such by popular portrayals. Yet with no Scriptural basis.

2) The woman whom Jesus saved from being stoned (John 8:1-11). The movie,"Passion for Christ", makes this connection It is possible but not likely, and certainly not Scriptural. 

3) Recent fictitious novel, "The Da Vinci Code", makes claim that Jesus and Mary Magdalene was married. Some heretical non-biblical early christian writings hint at a special relationship between Jesus and mary Magdalene. Again no Scriptural hints to this believe.

She witnessed most of the events around the crucifixion and the resurrection;

1) At the mock trial of Jesus
2) She heard Pontius Pilot pronounce the death sentence
3) Jesus being humiliated by the crowd
4) Stood close to Jesus  during the crucifix to comfort him
5) The earliest witness to the resurrection of Jesus
6) Sent by Jesus to tell the others
7) With the 120 in the upper-room, waiting for the promised Holy Spirit.

WHAT KIND OF WOMAN IS YOUR MOTHER?

It Is Time, To Talk, To Your Mother.
Jesus was nailed to the cross as a criminal. His mother could only stand there and stare at whst is happening to her son (child). Many questions flooded her mind.All the time they accused Him of doing certain things, but she didn't believe them. He was always just in the home whilst growing up. When I was looking for him, He was in the workshop helping his father. At the age of twelve, he astounded the priest in the synagogue with His knowledge of the Talmud and His wisdom. She remembers how He turned the water into wine, made the blind to see, healed the sick, made the lame to walk again. He raised Lazarus from the dead.
There were times that He called Himself the Son of God, or even that He is God Himself....That is blasphemy. One of the many things they have accused Him of. To them it was blasphemy, to us, we know, it was the truth He was saying.  He is my Son.(child)

Woman Behold Your Son!
It was one of the seven sayings of Jesus Christ while Jesus was hanging on the cross, before His death. What about it makes it so significant? Let me repeat those words that Jesus uttered and together we will the see significance of those words. 
Lu 23:34 Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.
Lu 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise
Jn 19:26  He said to His mother, "woman behold your son. And to His disciple, Behold your mother!"
Mt 27:46 Jesus cried out, ...My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"
Jn 19:28 "I am thirsty."
Jn 19:30 "It is finished".
Lk 23:46 "Father into Your hands I commit My Spirit."
The significance about those words were, it had nothing to do with the crucifixion. So Jesus in His agony, in His betrayal, in His pain, in His dying moments, talks to His Mother. He finds a time to have a conversation to His mother. Right after He gave his mother to one of His disciples, who was one of his cousins, His God, who is His Father, forsakes Him. What a lonely cross!!!
Jesus triumphed victorious over death. He arose from death, Oh! death where is your sting.
What is your relationship with your mother? with your child? Create now, make now the time to talk to your mother, to your child.

How to Pray for Your Daily Bread

Friday, March 13, 2015

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread.

As we read this prayer our Lord gave, remember it is the model prayer. The Lord did not say "Pray this prayer," but "Pray in this manner." He taught us something wonderful about prayer: it's not the length of our prayer, the logic of our prayer, or the language of our prayer, but the faith, the focus, and the force of our prayer that causes it to be heard in heaven.

"Bread" in this prayer is really symbolic of any need you have. Do you have a need today? God delights to meet your need.

Here are four important steps to follow when praying for "daily bread."

A Proper Priority

Notice the priority in this prayer:

Thy name
Thy kingdom
Thy will
First comes God's name, His kingdom, and His will. Only after that comes our need, "Give us this day our daily bread." If you don't get that priority straight, you'll never have power in prayer.

God is not a heavenly bellhop, running around to meet your needs. Prayer is not the way man gets his will done in heaven. Prayer is the way God gets His will done on earth. It's important we understand this. Jesus Christ summed it up in Matthew 6:33

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

If you don't establish that priority, you're not going to get your prayers answered.

Answered prayer is not for rebels. Why should God answer your request for daily bread if you're not going to use that strength to serve Him? You must pray "Thy will" before you pray "our bread." Give Him first place. The one place God will not work is second place.

Is the burning, consuming desire of your heart that His name be glorified, His kingdom come, and His will be done? Matthew 6:33 will remain only an unreached promise if you've not put it to practice.

Your Prayerful Petition

Another reason some people don't have their needs met: they don't ask. It's that simple.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?  Matthew 7:11

You simply say, "Lord I have a need." Many people have not because they ask not. (James 4:2) You deny yourself when you don't pray. Prayer is the key that unlocks heaven's treasury.

God answers prayer. The One Who created the universe, the great eternal God, says that I can call upon Him and He will answer me and show me great and mighty things. (Jeremiah 33:3)

A Proper Perspective

This doesn't mean you have the key to Fort Knox or you're going to get everything you want. It doesn't say God's going to meet our greed. God is going to meet our need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)   "Give us…our daily bread," may be also translated "give us this day bread sufficient for us." Our Lord taught us to pray for bread, not for cake. Sometimes we want things we don't need. And sometimes we need things we don't want. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and God will delight to meet your need.

Your Personal Part

Prayer is not a substitute for work or diligence. If you pray for bread, do you know how to say Amen? Work for it.

"In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread." Genesis 3:19
"…if any would not work, neither should he eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10
"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold. Therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing." Proverbs 20:4
"He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough." Proverbs 28:19

Too lazy to plow? Then you won't have anything to eat. God doesn't bless laziness and or indolence.

Don't sit back and say, "I'm going to show my faith by doing nothing." To the contrary! You will show your faith by doing something, for faith without works is dead.

Jesus is heaven's bread for earth's hunger. He became the Bread of Life so you and I could have our deepest hunger met.

Do you know Jesus? Friend, if you had bread to spare and died and went to hell, so what? If you don't have Jesus, there's a hidden hunger never satisfied until it's satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Man shall not live by bread alone." (Matthew 4:4) When you go to bed tonight, have that Bread in your heart. His name is Jesus. He'll be sufficient for tomorrow.

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Word of the Day

 

Word of the Day

fervency  Discuss
Definition:	(noun) Feelings of great warmth and intensity.
Synonyms:	ardor, fire
Usage:	She spoke about the shelter with so much fervency that you could not help but develop a similar passion for the cause.