Prayer Series ~ Day 5

Day 5

WHAT TO PRAY: That God's People May Be Kept From The World

John 17:11, 15, 16
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

In the last night Christ asked three things for His disciples: that they might be kept as those who are not of the world; that they might be sanctified; that they might be one in love. You cannot do better then pray as Jesus prayed. Ask for God's people that they may be kept separate from the world and its spirit; that they, by the Holy Spirit, may live as those who are not of the world.

HOW TO PRAY: Having Confidence Before God

I John 3:21,22
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Learn these words by heart. Get them into your heart. Join the ranks of those who, with John, draw nigh to God with an assured heart that does not condemn them, having confidence toward God. In this spirit, pray for your brother who sins (I John 5:16 ~ If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.). In the quiet confidence of an obedient child, plead for those of your brethern who may be giving way to sin. Pray for all to be kept from the evil, And say often, "What we ask, we receive, because we keep and do."

Prayer Series ~ Day 4

Day 4

WHAT TO PRAY: For the Spirit of Holiness

God is the Holy One. His people is a holy people. He speaks: I am holy: I am the Lord who makes you holy. Christ prayed: Sancify them. Make them holy through Thy truth. Paul prayed: "[God] stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness." God of peace, sactify you wholly!

Pray for all saints--God's holy ones--throughtout the church that the Spirit of holiness may rule them. Specially for new converts. For the saints in your own neighborhood or congregation. For any you are specially interested in. Think of their special need, weakness, or sin; and pray that God may make them holy.

HOW TO PRAY: Trusting in God's Unlimited Power

The things that are impossible with men are possible with God. When we think of the great things we ask for, of how little likelihood there is of their coming, of our own insignificance--prayer is not only wishing or asking, but believing and accepting. Be still before God and ask Him to give you to know Him as the almighty One, and leave your petitions with Him who doeth wonders.

Prayer Series ~ Day 3

DAY 3

WHAT TO PRAY: For All Saints

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Every member of a body is interested in the welfare of the whole and exists to help and complete the others. Believers are one body and ought to pray, not so much for the welfare of their own church or society, but, first of all, for all saints. This large, unselfish love is the proof that Christ's Spirit and love are teaching them to pray. Pray first for all and then for the believers around you.

HOW TO PRAY: In the Love of the Spirit

John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 17:20,21

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Romans 15:30

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

I Peter 4:8

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 

If we are to pray we must love. Let us say to God we do love all His saints; let us say we love specially every child of His we know. Let us pray with fervent love, in the love of the Spirit.

Prayer Series ~ Day 2

Day 2

WHAT TO PRAY: For the Spirit of Supplication

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Every child of God has the Holy Spirit in him to pray. God waits to give the Spirit in full measure. Ask for yourself, and who join, the outpouring of the Spirit of supplication. Ask it for your own prayer circle.

HOW TO PRAY: In the Spirit

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Jude20

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Our Lord gave His disciples on His resurrection day the Holy Spirit to enable them to wait for the full outpouring on the day of Pentecost. It is only the power of the Spirit already in us, acknowledged and yielded to, that we can pray for His fuller manifestation. 

REVIEW:

Pray for the Power of the Holy Spirit
Pray for the Spirit of Supplication

Prayer Series ~ Day 1

DAY 1:

WHAT TO PRAY: For the Power of the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 3:14,16

14) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Acts 1:4

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

The fuller manifestation of the grace and energy of the blessed Spirit of God, in the removal of all that is contrary to God's revealed will, so that we grieve not the Holy Spirit, but that He may work in mightier power in the church for the exaltation of Christ and the blessing of souls.

God has one promise to and through His exalted Son; our Lord has one gift to His church; the church has one need; all prayer unites in the one petition the power of the Holy Spirit. Make it your one prayer.

HOW TO PRAY: As a Child asks a Father

Luke 11:11-13

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Ask as simply and trustfully as a child asks bread. You can do this because "God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." This Spirit is in you to give you childlike confidence. In the faith of His praying in you, ask for the power of that Holy Spirit everywhere. Mention places or circles where you specially ask it to be seen.

Prayer Series ~ How to Pray?

How to Pray?

Not sure how to pray? Here's a couple of steps for you to go with:

Steps

1. 1
   Act upon your faith so you can believe whether or not you understand that God is the creator of the universe, is your Heavenly Father, and is an important part of your daily life. It is essential to develop effective, regular prayer habits so you can befilled with the Holy Spirit.
   
   
2. 2
   You can begin your prayer by saying "Dear God", "Dear Lord", "Heavenly Father". From here, begin thanking and praising God for all of the good things in your life, be specific.
   • Here is an example: "Dear God, Thank you for my family; that my Dad is doing better and will soon be out of the hospital and thank you for helping me make it on to the varsity volleyball team."
3. 3
   Say whatever is appropriate for you and your situation. There are no specific words or prayer that you have to say. You can thank Him, you can ask Him for things, but you do not have to say any specific words! Say what expresses your praise, your needs, desires and ask for the will of God to be done.
4. 4
   Ask God to forgive but first forgive others so God can forgive your sins. Unforgiving of others may prevent the Lord from honoring your prayers for forgiveness. First ask yourself, "Do I have anything against another that I need to settle?" Make it right, and confess the wrong deed. Again ask yourself, "Was I mean to anyone, did I lie, cheat, steal, or disobey my parents?" Ask God to forgive you for anything that you did wrong that day.
   • It is best to name the sins you know that you have committed, and then ask forgiveness for the ones you've forgotten or omitted. Ask the Lord to reveal your sins to you. Remember that confession is your agreeing with God that you are a sinner. So it is not just about saying, "Lord I am sorry or I confess that I stole such and such." It is also necessary that you confess that you stole because you are a thief. It is about putting yourself in a place of humility where God can change your character and make you like His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. His character is the one that satisfies the requirements of the Law of God.
5. 5
   Tell God how much you love and adore Him. If you are new to being a Christian, this may seem hard for you to do and will take time; it is OK to feel uncertain during this part of the prayer. You may sing a song of praise. Thank Him everyday for saving an undeserving person as yourself... Thank Him for the cross, thank Him for sending Christ to die for us and make us right with Himself.
6. 6
   Ask God to help you with things that may not be going well in your life (i.e., help Jane to stop fighting with Amy, and please help Joe to come and learn about your kindness and forgiveness." 
7. 7
   Ask Him for his guidance and protection throughout the day and night, thank Him for every day and you will start to recognize when He is blessing you, e.g. giving you more patience or supplying your daily needs.
8. 8
   Ask Him for wisdom and discernment. The Bible says "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:5-8 NIV) If you don't understand His word, the Holy Spirit will help you. Read the Bible in context; remember, our own personal interpretation doesn't matter... What matters is what the author intends for it to mean.
9. 9
   If you choose, you can end your prayers by saying, "Thank you God, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.", "In Jesus' name, Amen" "Thank you" or just any way you want to. He will answer them whether or not you end your prayer, i.e.: Pray without ceasing... Be in a spirit of prayer.
10. 10
    It is important to God for you to remember that you can talk to Him just as you would an earthly father. He is easy to talk to. He is Supreme and He is owner of all things, but He remains your Heavenly Father. "He is that He is!" Moses said that : "'I am that I am' has sent me."
    • Then you and your friends can tell unbelievers about the Christ and the Father to prove God is real to them by the Holy Spirit so that you yourself and they can preach the message of forgiveness in Christ and being made right with God by grace through faith, not of yourself. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one can come to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)
    • Most importantly, remember that God's will be done. Have the attitude of a servant, and desire God's will and not your own. He is not a "genie in a bottle".
11. 11
    Consider this acronym for prayer "A.C.T.S.": Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.
    
    So, ACTS means: Talk to him, telling him how much you love him; confess your sins, and thank him for what he has done for you that you could never repay, and pray for the needs of others.

Prayer Guide

Prayer Series

Prayer, in its simplest definition, is talking with God. And whether our prayers are happy, sad, angry, or loving, whether they're done while kneeling, standing or sitting, God is always listening, wanting to answer our requests in His perfect time.

During the time of this study you'll find a Prayer Guide---encouragement and inspiration for you own prayer life. First we will start with a 30 day Prayer Guide, where you will learn to "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17), what to pray for, and how to pray for it. Then we will go into some topics with a collection of prayers. These prayers will help you begin a vital prayer life of your own.

This study with the deeper and more meaningful prayers will lead you to a closer relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ. So apply them to your life and have fun talking to God through prayer.
_________________________________________________________________

~Pray without ceasing!~

Pray without ceasing. Who can do this? How can one do it who is surrounded by the cares of daily life? How can a mother love her child without ceasing? How can the eyelid withour ceasing hold itself ready to protect the eye? How can I breathe and feel and hear without ceasing? Because all of those functions of a healthy, natural life. And so if the spiritual life be healthy, under the full power of the Holy Spirit, praying without ceasing will be natural.

Pray without ceasing. Does it refer to countinual acts of prayer, in which we are to persevere till we obtain, or to the spirit of prayerfulness that should animate us all day? It includes both. The example of our Lord Jesus shows us this. We have to enter our closet for special seasons of prayer; we are at times to persevere there in importunate prayer. We are also all the day to walk in God's presence, with the whole heart set upon heavenly things. Without set times of prayer, the spirit of prayer will be dull and feeble. Without the continual prayerfulness, the set times will not avail.

Pray without ceasing. Does that refer to prayer for ourselves or others? To both. It is because many confine it to themselves that they fail so in practicing it. It is only when the branch gives itself to bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit, that it can live a healthy life and expect a rich inflow of sap. The death of Christ brought Him to the place of everlasting intercession. Your death with Him to sin and self sets you free from the care of self and elevates you to the dignity of intercessor--one who can get life and blessing from God for others. Know your calling; begin this your work. Give yourself wholly to it, and ere you know, you will be finding something of this "Praying always" within you.

Pray without ceasing. How can I learn it? The best way of learning to do a thing--in fact the only way--is to do it. Begin by setting apart some time every day, say ten or fifteen minutes, in which you say to God and to yourself, that you come to Him now as intercessor for others. Let it be after your morning or evening prayer, or any other time. If you cannot secure the same time every day, be not troubled only see that you do your work. Christ chose you and appointed you to pray for others.

If at first you do not feel any special urgency or faith or power in your prayers, let not that hinder you. Quietly tell your Lord Jesus of your feebleness; believe that the Holy Spirit is in you to teach you to pray, and be assured that if you begin, God will help you. God cannot help you unless you begin and keep on.

Pray without ceasing. How do I know what to pray for? If once you begin and think of all the needs around. you will soon find enough. But to help you this little tract is issued, with subjects and hints for prayer for a month, It is meant that we should use it month by month, until we know more fully to follow the Spirit's leading, and have learned, if need be, to make our own list of subjects, and can dispense with it. In regard to the use of these helps, a few words may be needed.

Here Comes The Judge

I recently read a story about an engineer who was giving evidence in court about an accident he had witnessed.

Judge: "How far away do you think you were from the crash scene?"

Engineer: "Twenty-seven feet, six-and-one-half inches."

Judge: "That's amazing! But how can you be so sure of that distance?"

Engineer: "Well, I knew some idiot would ask me. So I measured it!"

Wait a minute, who's the idiot here? Perhaps this would have been an amusing exchange between friends, but probably not such a great idea when talking to a person who has the power to throw you in jail without blinking.

Perhaps the engineer forgot that he was in a court of law- or maybe he spaced out what kind of authority a judge carries. Either way, this person definitely suffers from being what I would call 'consequence challenged': a condition where a person has no clue whatsoever of the potential results of his/her words and actions.

The Bible says that one day we will "all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies." (II Corinthians 5:10).

In other words, every Christian has an appointment to stand before the Judge of the universe. It would be a very smart thing to not be 'consequence challenged' that day, because the impact of our day in court will last for eternity.

If the engineer had realized what kind of person he was standing before, I'm sure he would have prepared differently...how about you? The difference is that you know what God is like, so start preparing today!

But just in case you need a refresher course- meet the Judge:

And standing in the middle of the lampstands was the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. (Revelation 1:13-17)

A little different than the wimpy white looking Jesus that Hollywood created-eh? Think you're going to run up to Jesus on Judgment day and jump in His lap? I seriously doubt it. As for me, I expect to do the same as the Apostle John: "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead".

Having an eye towards that that awesome event just may be one of the most motivating factors in the Christian life.

Want to be ready? Start by getting to know the Judge by talking to Him all day long and listening to His Word. Get out of bed each morning knowing that today could be your court date, and you certainly don't want to be caught 'consequence challenged'!

Questions:

1. What is one thing you can do to better prepare for Judgment Day?
2. Do you have any friends or family members who don't know that they have a court day?
3. Who in your life could hold you accountable to walking closer with Christ?

Help is on the Way

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. (Luke 22:31,32)

Unfortunately, just like in the days of Simon Peter and Jesus, Satan is alive and well on planet earth. Guess what? Just like he desired to sift Peter like wheat, he longs to rip us to shreds. You might say his plan is to make Christians into 'shredded wheat'! Fortunately for us, in the same way Jesus prayed for Simon Peter, He is also praying for all believers.

According to I John 2:1, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. When we sin, Jesus is praying for us. When we stumble, He is upholding us before the Father. When the devil shoots his fiery arrows or accuses us of wrongdoing, Christ is right there to defend us.

Do you think the prayers of the Son of God go unanswered? I don't think so! The Father hears the prayers of His Son on our behalf.

Think about that for a moment. There are times in all of our lives when we struggle. Like Peter, we stumble and fall in our relationship with Christ. Yet He will never leave us or forsake us! In fact, when we are at our worst, Christ is at His best. He is constantly pleading grace before our heavenly Father to help us.

Perhaps today you are going through a tough time. It could be the consequences of sin, a family struggle or a broken relationship. Possibly you're catching flak because of your witness for Christ on campus, or it might be that you're just plain discouraged.

Take courage in one awesome truth. Someone is praying for you. Someone is passionately upholding you before the throne of the King. Someone knows your struggle and is articulating it before the Father better than you ever could. Someone cares. That someone is Jesus: the Author and Finisher of our faith.So now you can pray with confidence and witness with passion, because you know that you are not fighting the battle alone. You are standing side-by-side with your Champion and Eternal Savior, Jesus Christ. He is petitioning the God of heaven and earth on your behalf.

As you bring worry, discouragement, and failures before God, remember that:

"We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have
one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the
throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of
need" Hebrews 4:15,16

Satan may desire to make us into 'shredded wheat', but Jesus is conforming us into solid rocks!

Questions:

1. How does it make you feel that Jesus is praying for you?
2. How will this change the way you pray?
3. Does the fact that Christ is praying for you give you more confidence in sharing your faith? Why or why not?

Hell is for Real

"If anyone's name was not found within the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)

Hell...the final frontier...the last stop on the voyage of the ship Humanity...the fiery melting pot of broken dreams, shattered hopes and seething rebellion. Here's one of the most important questions you could ever be asked: how do you picture hell?

Do you imagine it as a party atmosphere with sex, drugs and rock-n-roll? Or perhaps you have in mind a place of surreal mental anguish? Do you think of hell as having an almost cartoonish atmosphere where horned demons prod the inhabitants with pointy pitchforks? You might want to think again folks, because the Bible speaks of hell as a very different place than you might imagine. In the twelve times that hell is mentioned in the New Testament, Jesus mentions eleven. He paints a picture of hell with fire and brimstone, pain and torture. It is described as a very real place with very real torment.

The Bible also describes hell as being eternal. Speaking of its inhabitants, the Apostle John wrote:

"And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night..." (Revelation 14:11)

Notice the words "for ever and ever." Hell is an eternal torture chamber for those who refuse Christ. There is no bail, no parole, and no 'get out of hell free' card.

Stop right now and think of someone you know who hasn't trusted in Christ. Imagine them never hearing the gospel message. Picture them in the midst of the lake of fire, drenched in flame, immersed in despair, surrounded by hopelessness "for ever and ever."

Am I trying to scare you? Absolutely. There are some things we should be intensely afraid of, and hell is one of them. It represents the holy side of God's character, and the eternal destiny of those who rejected Him. Hell burns forever because God's absolute hatred of sin burns forever. I believe that it is easy to forget that the same God who fashioned the paradise of heaven also created an inescapable hell.

The biblical writer Jude (the half brother of Jesus) reminds us to "snatch others from the fire and save them..." You and I are on a life saving mission from God to grab people from the precipice of hell and bring them safely to the gate of heaven. Sound difficult? Not really. All we need to do is share with them the message of the cross, and the rest is up to them.

Remember, God is so holy that He made an eternal hell to pour out His righteous anger on those who sin. God is so loving that He sent His only Son to the earth to die on the cross and absorb His holy anger for our sin. God is so compassionate that He made us ambassadors of hope to a hell-bound world. Will you dare to share that message to your hell-bound friends? If not now, then when?

Questions:

1. Do you ever picture your friends suffering eternally in hell? Does that motivate you to share your faith with them?
2. What are some ways we can be more urgent about sharing our faith?
3. Who is someone you can start praying for today?

He Dropped The Ball

By: Jason Kilmore

I really can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't a Los Angeles Lakers fan. Of course when I was growing up everyone was either a Lakers fan or a Celtics fan- I'm pretty sure those were the only two teams in the NBA at the time.

Oh but I'm not a bandwagon kind of guy. I stuck with my team through all the tough years- and believe me, there were plenty. Especially in the 90's when a certain team from Chicago with a slightly talented player with the initials MJ pretty much mopped the floor with anybody who challenged them.

Then came "the change". Los Angeles picked up a modern day Goliath named Shaq and a hyper talented high schooler named Kobe. The results of this dynamic duo? Nothing shy of three NBA championships in three consecutive seasons.

The really cool thing is that Kobe represented what was great in a quickly degrading league. He worked hard at his game, held his temper, and generally showed a team player attitude.

Then came the "change". You pretty much need to be holed up in a cave near Botswana to not have heard about Kobe and his alleged 'mishap'. So in one weekend, the one guy who you could honestly point to as a legitimate role model becomes the center of what is going to be a mud-slinging nauseating legal battle complete with courtroom cameras and the media circus extraordinaire.

The question I have is this: how would God want His people to respond to this? Should we judge? Should we stay glued to the screen? Should we completely ignore it and act like we don't care?

I think the Bible clearly gives us some guidance here- and we would be wise to consider how God would weigh in on this subject.

First of all, we need to be careful not to let the upcoming coverage consume our time and thoughts. The Apostle Paul put it this way:

"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (Philippians 4:8)

To me, this situation reminds me of a train wreck. As you pass by you know in your heart that you should pray for the victims, look away from the scene, and be thankful that you weren't involved. Yet at the same time you have an instinctual urge to look at the wreckage- just so you can be more 'informed'.

Whatever...

This is the same kind of situation- and Satan would love to get your mind stuck on all the drama and details of Kobe's case. My suggestion would be to pray for the victims, look away from Court TV, and be thankful you weren't involved. Don't waste time trying to stay more 'informed'.

Secondly- I think that God would want us to be reminded that all of us could fall into sin at anytime, anywhere...especially when we are least expecting it. Here's what the Bible says about it:

If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. (I Corinthians 10:12)

Were you thinking that you couldn't fall into the same sin? That's right where the devil wants you. No, I'm not saying that you are likely to fly to Colorado and have an affair with a concierge- but I am saying that we all are tempted with sexual sin (or other types) everyday. Books, web sites, cable, movies, billboards, magazines, relationships, even our very thoughts are right on the precipice ready to tumble us into troublesome situations.

Finally, I think God would want us to use this event as a conversational lead-in to the gospel. What better way to get a person thinking about spiritual things than the example of moral failure? I believe we have a great opportunity here to use an event that is soon to be under the national spotlight to point people to the true Light.

I'm still a Lakers fan...but hopefully a fan that is much wiser, more humble, and better equipped to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around me.

Questions:

1. How tempted are you to waste time keeping close track of this case?
2. How close to you come to sin? Do you think you are 'standing strong'?
3. How many ways can you come up with to use this case in a witnessing situation?

Having a Bad Day?

The Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper. (Genesis 39:23)

Sometimes I think I have the perfect plan for my day. In my mind's eye I see everything coming together and working out in a precise and complete way.

Of course, those are usually the days that turn out the worst. Seems like oftentimes I try to do everything right, only to see it turn out all wrong. At those times there's a little nagging voice in my head that brings up questions like -

• "Am I out of God's will?"
• "Am I a bad person?"
• "Doesn't God care about my circumstances?"

Joseph must have had similar questions as he lived through the events recorded in Genesis 39. At one point, life was going extremely well for him. Yet in the matter of a few days, his world caved in. He woke up one day with a perfect plan, only to be kidnapped began and sold into slavery by his own brothers because of their jealousy. Talk about sibling rivalry taken to the extreme! Then for years to follow his life was one dreadful event after another. No matter what right move he made, trouble kept stalking him. For instance, despite his deep walk with God, commitment to obedience and ability to resist temptation, Joseph was falsely accused of committing a serious crime against the wife of Potiphar, his master. Surely Potiphar would recognize who was telling the truth, right? Or at least God would make it clear to him since Joseph had such a great relationship with Him.

Nope.

Potiphar responded by throwing Joseph into prison. There he was--a good, gallant, God-trusting man decaying in a dark, dank, dingy Egyptian dungeon.

Was he out of God's will? No. Was he out of God's favor? Don't think so. Did he not have enough faith? Hardly.

In fact, here's the really interesting part: smack dab in the middle of Joseph's terrible circumstances, the Bible says that "The Lord was with Joseph" (39:21). God had been and was still working out His plan, and for a while it called for Joseph to be in an Egyptian prison. What seemed to be bad was actually good, because it was part of God's perfect plan. After all those difficult years, Joseph easily could have turned bitter. Yet instead he had the "big picture" perspective. Here's what he told his brothers: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)

God used every detail of Joseph's circumstances to save an entire civilization.

Perhaps things don't seem to be going your way, even though you're doing your best to follow Christ. Don't throw a pity party for yourself, join the Joseph club and have full assurance that God will work things out!

Questions:

1. Are things "going your way" right now? Why or why not?
2. Why does God allow us to struggle through bad circumstances?
3. How would you be different if everything always went your way?

Happiness Is...

One is happy as a result of one's own efforts, once one knows the necessary ingredients of happiness - simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self-denial to a point, love of work, and above all, a clear conscience. Happiness is no vague dream, of that I now feel certain. - George Sand (1804 - 1876)

Are you happy? Are you sure? I'm pretty sure that most people want happiness, yet I'm also convinced that they are trying to gain it through all the wrong ways. It's almost as if their lives are like a long drive trying to get to a certain destination, but they keep taking mistaken turns and eventually are lost in a myriad of dead end streets.

Do you think that God wants you to be happy? I've heard sermons from both sides- and I find it fascinating that those who think God is against happiness are generally pretty sour faced themselves. Conversely those who preach a gospel of giddy glee are usually livin' la vida loca!

For me, I'd say yes and no. Yes God wants you to be happy, but not at the expense of being holy. Jesus actually gave us step by step instructions for inner joy- and the reason He took time to do that was because He really does care about the state of your personal being. He also delineates on delighting in life because He definitely wants you to watch out for the Devil's guidebook to happiness.

So let's take a look at the blueprint of Jesus (Matthew 5:3-11) and the bull of the Devil (stuff I made up):

Jesus: "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."

Satan: "You're happy when you get your own way. With more of you there is less of that ridiculous God stuff."

Jesus: "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."

Satan: "You're happy when you feel like you got everything you've ever wanted. Then you won't have to be embraced by anyone."

Jesus: "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

Satan: "You'll never be happy unless you are just like the beautiful people on magazines and in movies. That's the moment you'll find that everyone is jealous of you."

Jesus: "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat."

Satan: "You're happy when you get away from the silly Sunday School talk. God is smoke and mirrors and His way is the worst way to live life."

Jesus: "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being "careful,' you find yourselves cared for."

Satan: "You're happy when you only care about yourself. Those people out there don't deserve your concern."

Jesus: "You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."

Satan: "You're happy when you only concern is your outer world- looks, clothes, and toys."

Jesus: "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."

Satan: "You're happy when you get on the side of the powerful people in the world. That's when you make friends whom you can use later on."

Jesus: "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. "Not only that--count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable."

Satan: "You're happy when your beliefs don't offend anyone. Who are you to push your morality on anyone else? Stay happy by keeping everyone else happy."

I think you see the difference...happiness is all in the eye of the beholder. Just keep in mind the Eye that beholds you is the only One who can see you through to true contentment.

Questions:

1. What or whom are you looking to for happiness?
2. Does Jesus or the Devil make more sense? Why?
3. Which of Jesus' ideas are you willing to give a try?

Columbine Crossroads

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (II Timothy 4:7)

It was just another dry and sunny summer day in the Roman Empire. An outspoken Jew named Paul had been causing trouble among the local religious leaders. Here was another Jesus Freak proclaiming that Christ was the only way to God. Hadn't he learned his lesson? If you go against the flow, you may be swept under. Like so many other Christians in Rome, he was asked to deny Christ at the point of a sword. Did he listen? Absolutely not! In fact he looked straight at his executioners and proclaimed his eternal allegiance.

At the end of his life Paul penned these words to Timothy, his young protégé, "...I have finished the race..." In other words, he completed the course that God had prepared for him. His life may have ended during his prime, but he died without regrets.

It was also just another wet and overcast day in Littleton, Colorado. An outspoken student named Cassie had been boldly living out her faith among the local middle-class teenagers. Here was another Jesus Freak proclaiming that Christ was the only way to God. Hadn't she learned her lesson? If you go against the flow, you may be swept under. However, unlike most Christians in America, she was asked to deny Christ at the point of a gun. Did she listen? Absolutely not! In fact, she looked into the eyes of her executioner and pledged her eternal allegiance.

Just like the Apostle Paul and Cassie, you have a choice to make with your life. You can either waste it in earthly pursuits or invest it in heavenly causes.

My challenge to you today is to start strong, run steady and finish well.

Start strong by making a choice to be absolutely committed to your Lord. Eliminate the word "compromise" from your vocabulary.

Run steady by choosing to pace yourself over the long haul. Your service to Christ is much more like a marathon than a 100-meter dash.

Finish well by refusing to deny Christ through word or deed. Take responsibility day after day, month after month, and year after year.

Keep your eyes on the prize. Stay focused on Jesus Christ by making this verse your daily motto:

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

Questions:

1. What specific steps can you take to ensure that you'll finish well?
2. Is your faith so strong that you would proclaim Christ under penalty of death? Why or why not?
3. Are there friends or family that need to hear about a faith that is worth dying for?