Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks

Are you going about your daily routine while your heart and mind are rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks as you’re spiritually walking in tune with Him? You can and you should.

March’s Awakening, Day 28

Prayer consists of:

P-etition: “Daniel made his petition three times a day” (Daniel 6:13)

R-everence: “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28)

A-doration: “My lips will praise thee” (Psalm 63:3)

Y-earning: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6)

E-xpectation: “Elijah … prayed fervently that it might not rain” (James 5:17)

R-equests: “Let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6)

 —Author Unknown  

The reason why Paul enjoins, “Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:17–18), is, because he would have us with the utmost assiduity, at all times, in every place, in all things, and under all circumstances, direct our prayers to God, to expect all the things which we desire from him, and when obtained ascribe them to him; thus furnishing perpetual grounds for prayer and praise.

 —John Calvin

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Godʼs will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV     

            If we as believers would rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances, can you imagine how powerful and fulfilling our lives could be? And yes, this is well within our reach. Even if we don’t audibly speak the words, rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks with our thoughts and in our heart can be accomplished on a regular and continual basis. It all becomes an attitude of the heart and a discipline of the mind. The more we do it, the easier and more natural it becomes, just like breathing in and breathing out. Let your mind be ever focused and cognizant of Him and the spiritual realm around you. Make those moments of illumination be powerfully effective—rejoice, pray, and give thanks. It is amazing how much you can accomplish spiritually while going about your daily living. Make it a reality in your life. Make it be the norm. 

Ask, Seek, and Knock

First thing in the morning, do you hit the floor running or hit the floor praying? Unless you can run at the speed of light, the praying is most effective.

March’s Awakening, Day 27

I got up early one morning

And rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I didn’t have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

And heavier came each task;

“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered.

He answered, “You didn’t ask.”

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

But the day toiled on gray and bleak;

I wondered why God didn’t show me.

He said, “But you didn’t seek.”

I tried to come into God’s presence;

I used all my keys in the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

“My child, you didn’t knock.”

I woke up early this morning,

And paused before entering the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray.

 —Author Unknown

Though I forget to say my prayers or lose my words because life has taken me toward other things, I am grateful dear God, for your constancy within my life and although I may not show the same commitment, believe that my heart intends to strive always to give back that same constancy that you, in your Grace, have offered me.  

 —Sheryl Withers, “Prayer”

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7–8 NIV 

            Our lives are filled to the brim with busyness. Much of that busyness is constructive and necessary but some of it is non-productive. The more we need to do, the more priorities we need to establish and adhere to. It is easy to put time with God and prayer on the back burner, but the spiritual reality of that is an eventual loss of effectiveness, direction, satisfaction, and connection with the One who holds the keys to everything. The time that we believe we are gaining is actually an increase in time we are losing, for our overall ability and productivity will suffer. Time spent with God and in prayer will never be a loss of time. We will become better focused, more effective, stronger, and will complete tasks more excellently having been in God’s presence.

            Pray first. Ask, seek, and knock. He has much waiting in store for you, and guidance that you should never overlook. If you truly want to be the most successful in every endeavor, then make sure you include the One who can orchestrate it all for you. It will be the absolute best use of your time.

Spiritually Wise

Are you spiritually wise? Are you asking God for His wisdom? Are you displaying the godly fruit of wisdom? Are you aware of and discerning the invisible and deep spiritual truths all around you? Do you have and continually walk in the mind of Christ?

March’s Awakening, Day 26

A man may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant.

 —Stephen Charnock

Believers who have most knowledge, are not therefore necessarily the most spiritual.

 —John Newton  

Lord, teach me to know Thee, and to know myself.

 —Augustine of Hippo 

Modern mankind can go anywhere, do everything and be completely curious about the universe. But only a rare person now and then is curious enough to want to know God.

 —A. W. Tozer   

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:5–8 NIV 

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13–18 NIV 

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12–16 NIV 

            Intelligence, knowledge, theological knowledge, and worldly wisdom do not by themselves bring spiritual wisdom. It is helpful to have access to all of that, but true spiritual wisdom can only be obtained by being in the presence of the One who has it. True spiritual wisdom is obtained directly by praying and asking God, meditating on His Word, and being frequently in His presence through adoration and praise and thanksgiving. Gaining spiritual wisdom requires a close connection with God. Nothing is more important. Seek it at all cost.

"RENEW MY HEART, O GOD" IS AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE PURCHASE

RENEW MY HEART, O GOD Is Now Available for Online Purchase!

My Book is available on both the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites!

The retail pricing for the Hardcover is $30.95 and for the Paperback $19.95.

When the eBooks are available, they will be $9.99. (I’ll keep checking.)

On barnesandnoble.com I saw the Hardcover at a slightly reduced price, $27.83, but discount pricing seems to change rapidly! The Barnes and Noble website does not have a picture of the Book up yet, but that should be updated in a few days.

When you search for the Book— “Renew My Heart, O God” —should bring it right up.

God is Great!

Prayers and blessings to you all!

Jeff

Do You Know What Wisdom Knows?

Does “I, wisdom” dwell within you? Are you eagerly seeking it? Are you earnestly giving it away?

March’s Awakening, Day 25

He that knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool: shun him.

He that knows not and knows that he knows not is a child: teach him.

He that knows and knows not that he knows is asleep: wake him.

He that knows and knows that he knows is a wise man: follow him.

 —Arabic Proverb  

When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me.

 —John Wesley  

“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. Proverbs 8:12–21 NIV  

            Godly wisdom and being connected to God in that way may be the most powerful attribute that anyone could possess. Possessing the power of that knowledge and appropriate decision making can go a long way to a life of success, honor, and joy. Being able to impart wisdom into another is a blessing upon a blessing. Great satisfaction comes from pouring yourself into someone and seeing in them the fruition of your labors. One thing is certain—we and this world we live in will constantly change and our understanding and knowledge will change—but God and God’s Word is timeless and transcends all and is ever powerful and pertinent. If God has revealed the deep truths of life and of Himself to you, rest assured, that wisdom will always be valid and true. Invest your heart and mind and time in His eternal wisdom, and give it away as earnestly too.

Let Not Wisdom Become Bitter

Life’s tough. Sometimes it’s impossible to understand. Don’t let it make you bitter.

March’s Awakening, Day 24

By three methods we may learn wisdom:

First, by reflection, which is noblest;

Second, by imitation, which is easiest;

and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

 —Confucius  

Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too full of self to seek other than itself.

 —Kahlil Gibran 

and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:7–11, 13–14 NIV

            Life’s lessons are extremely difficult and sometimes it’s impossible to comprehend the meaning of it all. The elderly King Solomon, the man of wisdom who had no rival, the Teacher in the Book of Ecclesiastes, ponders the meaning of life and in a bit of despondency concludes that all in life is meaningless.  All, that is, except to fear God and keep His commandments. Maybe it’s a bit depressing to hear the man of wisdom speak in this light, but it may be comforting in one sense to know that even the wisest man who ever was, struggled with understanding the meaning of all that life is. The lesson is that only God sees and knows the whole picture and we just get glimpses.

             It takes a lot of faith and trust in God to follow through in this life and know that there truly is a plan and reason for it all. Don’t let life’s experiences make you bitter and don’t lose focus that there is a bigger picture yet to be known. Let God’s wisdom guide you and know that it’s okay to be despondent at times, just don’t let life make you bitter.

It’s Finally Here!

“Renew My Heart, O God - Daily Devotions for Healing Your Heart,” has finally been released and will be available in about 1-2 weeks online and in retail bookstores. I have just received my first copy of the hardcover and the paperback. The book is 6" x 9" and 466 pages. It will be available on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and other retail bookstore outlets. The eBook versions in Kindle, Nook, and iBook should also be available soon. I will be checking Amazon regularly and let everyone know when it is officially available for purchase. 

Thank you once again to everyone for your continued prayers and support! May God use this book to bring hope and healing to all who would come, and may many find Him in its pages.

Here’s your first look at the hardcover!

Prayers and blessings,

Jeff