1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
Today is the National Day of Prayer. It is such an honor to live in a nation that still allows us to pray without fear of reprisal. There are those among us who would like any mention of God forbidden but I am thankful that, at least for now, we can still pray openly. I saw a T-shirt once that said "as long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools." It seems somewhat funny but the saying bodes much truth. We humans have a way of calling on God when we need him and pretty much ignoring him at other times.
Now on to my daily thought:
We so often hold to the fact that God will answer "if we have faith" or "if two of three agree it will be done". The Apostle John gives us some oft overlooked instruction in the above verse. If we ask according to his will, he hears us. The word hear means "to pay attention to"; it can be translated as "to have respect for". So God has respect for our prayers when we pray according to his will.
Many times we are frustrated when we think that our prayers are not being heard. But God simply will not give us something that goes against his will no matter how hard we beg. He does know what is best for us, but in the end he is also sovereign. He is a king, and though he is approachable, we must remember that he owes no man anything. It is only through his grace that sinful man is allowed to approach unto a Holy God.
The quickest way to get our prayers answered is to pray for the will of God no matter what it is. I have been guilty so many times of praying for the will of God but holding out for what I wanted. When the will of God turned out to be something other than what I wanted, I was upset. The good news is that if we pray earnestly for the will of God we can have peace that God's will is going to be done. I once heard a man of God say, "if you pray for the will of God, then whatever happens is the will of God."
Now, we know that people can do things that are against God's will because of free choice. But I am convinced that if I pray for the will of God, he will turn everything for my good. He has a way of intervening when we give him permission to do so. He is sovereign but I am thankful that he is also merciful. Will you join me today, instead of bringing your want list to God, to thank him for the privilege of prayer. Ask him to have mercy on our country and forgive us of our sins. Ask him to let his will be done in our country. I believe that will move his heart. Who knows? He may just be moved enough to give us something that we wanted but didn't really need all because we sought his will first.
Prayerfully,
Sullivan Jones
5/2/13
5/1/13
A dime a dozen
I Corinthians 12:15 - If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
Have you ever felt like you weren't needed? valueless? unappreciated? Consider with me the difference between a dime and a thousand dollar bill. The dime seems almost useless in today's economy. And who wouldn't like to have a few thousand dollar bills lying around?
The major difference between a dime and a thousand dollar bill is the insertion of a few zeros at the end. The zeros may not have any value on their own but they make a big difference once attached to another number. The role of the zeroes is of utmost importance.You may feel like that zero. Let me encourage you. The thousand dollar bill could not exist without three zeroes behind the one. If even one was not present, it would not be a thousand.
No man ever built a multimillion dollar corporation on his own. The finest chefs in the finest restaurants must have servers and dishwashers. The highest paid CEO needs a janitor to keep the office clean. In fact, the janitor is the first one missed if he doesn't show up for work.
God has given all of us something to do. It may not seem like the most important job but it is necessary. You may think no one would notice if you weren't doing your job, but they would. If the young man pulling the trash would work like he owned the building, one day he may own it. If the young lady waiting tables would greet her customers as if she owned the restaurant, one day she may.
Do you feel like a zero? Keep working as if you were the thousand dollar bill. I promise you, God sees all, and other people do too. People are usually observing us the most when we think no one is watching. Give it your all and one day you'll see you weren't such a zero after all.
Thoughtfully,
Sullivan Jones
Have you ever felt like you weren't needed? valueless? unappreciated? Consider with me the difference between a dime and a thousand dollar bill. The dime seems almost useless in today's economy. And who wouldn't like to have a few thousand dollar bills lying around?
The major difference between a dime and a thousand dollar bill is the insertion of a few zeros at the end. The zeros may not have any value on their own but they make a big difference once attached to another number. The role of the zeroes is of utmost importance.You may feel like that zero. Let me encourage you. The thousand dollar bill could not exist without three zeroes behind the one. If even one was not present, it would not be a thousand.
No man ever built a multimillion dollar corporation on his own. The finest chefs in the finest restaurants must have servers and dishwashers. The highest paid CEO needs a janitor to keep the office clean. In fact, the janitor is the first one missed if he doesn't show up for work.
God has given all of us something to do. It may not seem like the most important job but it is necessary. You may think no one would notice if you weren't doing your job, but they would. If the young man pulling the trash would work like he owned the building, one day he may own it. If the young lady waiting tables would greet her customers as if she owned the restaurant, one day she may.
Do you feel like a zero? Keep working as if you were the thousand dollar bill. I promise you, God sees all, and other people do too. People are usually observing us the most when we think no one is watching. Give it your all and one day you'll see you weren't such a zero after all.
Thoughtfully,
Sullivan Jones
4/29/13
Quiet Time
Quiet time! That is not something we get much of in the world in which we live. Everywhere we go there is noise and distraction. From TVs in every lobby and waiting room to the constant presence of a cell phone, our time is full of bustling energy. Some would call it chaos. I'm sure the mother caring for small children and the corporate executive alike would love some quiet time now and then.
I read one time about a man who got up two hours early in the morning just to practice quiet time. It was a time where he could read, pray or just sit and meditate. I decided to try it. On the days that I make myself get out of bed early enough, it is well worth it. I find that things are much clearer in the quiet of the early mornings. I sit, clear my mind and talk quietly to God. Whatever comes to mind, that is what I pray about.Sometimes God reminds me of things I have long forgotten about - sometimes there is even understanding that I didn't have before. On some days God brings people to mind and I pray for them. More than anything it is a time to let God refresh me before the chaotic bustle of the day begins.
Many of us are not comfortable with quiet time. It reminds of things we do not want to think on. It is much easier to fill the mind with entertainment or than to search the soul. I am a Pentecostal and come from a church tradition that stresses jubilant, noisy worship. We are taught to pray loud and hard. Indeed some do not even think they are praying if they are not saying something. But prayer is two-way communication with God. Naturally we need the times of "crying aloud" to God. We need the joyful foot stomping, handclapping praise that we love so much. But we also need the quiet times when we allow God to do the speaking.
For God does indeed speak. How? He speaks in a myriad of ways, depending on the situation. One way that he speaks to me is through my thoughts. When I have been praying about something and suddenly I know what to do, he is speaking. When I have been puzzled over a problem and the answer comes unbidden to mind, he is speaking. I find these "sudden knowings" come most often in the quiet of early morning when I clear my mind and allow God to speak.
If you are needing some answers I challenge you to try some quiet time this week! It will be well worth it.
I read one time about a man who got up two hours early in the morning just to practice quiet time. It was a time where he could read, pray or just sit and meditate. I decided to try it. On the days that I make myself get out of bed early enough, it is well worth it. I find that things are much clearer in the quiet of the early mornings. I sit, clear my mind and talk quietly to God. Whatever comes to mind, that is what I pray about.Sometimes God reminds me of things I have long forgotten about - sometimes there is even understanding that I didn't have before. On some days God brings people to mind and I pray for them. More than anything it is a time to let God refresh me before the chaotic bustle of the day begins.
Many of us are not comfortable with quiet time. It reminds of things we do not want to think on. It is much easier to fill the mind with entertainment or than to search the soul. I am a Pentecostal and come from a church tradition that stresses jubilant, noisy worship. We are taught to pray loud and hard. Indeed some do not even think they are praying if they are not saying something. But prayer is two-way communication with God. Naturally we need the times of "crying aloud" to God. We need the joyful foot stomping, handclapping praise that we love so much. But we also need the quiet times when we allow God to do the speaking.
For God does indeed speak. How? He speaks in a myriad of ways, depending on the situation. One way that he speaks to me is through my thoughts. When I have been praying about something and suddenly I know what to do, he is speaking. When I have been puzzled over a problem and the answer comes unbidden to mind, he is speaking. I find these "sudden knowings" come most often in the quiet of early morning when I clear my mind and allow God to speak.
If you are needing some answers I challenge you to try some quiet time this week! It will be well worth it.
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