Pray Right

Recently I had a conversation with an elderly lady who shared her medical history and health problems with me.

I was amazed by 2 things in the conversation, which challenged me as well:

1)  Her mind-set
2)  Who exactly is Daddy in her life?

Being created in His image for His purpose is a high calling, no matter who you are and no matter what your rank is.  That points out responsibility as a Christian.
You don't have to be a pastor to be extra blessed by the Lord Himself.  You don't need to perform a certain amount of "acts of kindness" before He decides to grant you the desires of your heart.  He simply longs for a relationship with you, so that you can understand the plans He has for you.

After being told about her medical history, I questioned her choice as to how she's made a difference in her life since finding out her diagnosis.  Not much changed on her part, she has chosen to continue in her old lifestyle and not make a difference to her health, even by a tiny margin and she knows she's chosen wrong and doesn't really care about it.  Okay Lord, why am I in this conversation?  People, health and vitality are my passion - it totally breaks my heart when people have the capacity to make the right choices but choose not to.
 
I was then told by her, "pray for God to heal me from this."
I stood dumb-founded as I heard her request.  As I let her words sink in, the Holy Spirit prompted me in a different way (now this is me stepping way out my comfort zone).  That's when I realized, that's not the prayer she needs right now.

I ended the conversation asking myself:  Why is it that people harbor their sickness in their bodies and decide not to change their lifestyle or attitude or even attempt to make the most out of their situation, despite it being a sickly one, and choose to make small decisions daily, which impacts them on a bigger scale and for the long-run?

It doesn't have to be drastic or expensive changes, it simply starts from the heart and mind = choice.

I decided to pray instead for wisdom for this dear lady, not healing, as instructed by the Lord.  Wisdom to know the difference and courage to make the right decisions.  Oh and boldness for her to step out and choose to make a difference in her life.

Psalm 119:33 - 40 quenches the 2 things that amazed me from this conversation.
"Teach me, Lord, the meaning of Your statutes, and I will always keep them."

I am really challenged!  Am I diligently seeking the Lord in my days in my current situation?  Do I pray right, knowing my situation?  Or is it all blaze?
Aimless prayers are easy to pray.  There's just no faith attached, no feeling, no acknowledgement and definitely no intensity in praying, like I've been reminded since changing my game plan.

My struggle is to not do things on my own accord, but allow the Lord to accompany me, in everything.
We have to pray right - it proves our spiritual maturity as brothers and sisters in the Most High.  I know healing will come, but first we need to achieve what the Lord needs us to in the present situation we are in.

Stand bold in prayer - it's a powerful weapon in your life - pray right!

Why Endurance?

The word "endurance" really gripped me from last week's quiet time.
To dig in a bit more, Romans 5:1-5 highlights this beautifully.
vs 3 + 4 "but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope."
Endurance produces proven character - let that sink in for a bit.
In hardship we are really tested from all sides.  We fail in some areas and totally excel in others.  At times it is so easy to just throw in the towel and not care - that's when I ask myself:  What does it prove about me as a person?
I can easily be blindsided and forget that endurance doesn't only test character and refines it but also says a lot about who I really am as a person.

Character displays my personal morals, values, beliefs - endurance simply enhances just the type of person I am.
Once again, Daddy teaches me why I can endure all things.  "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2
Finding that I constantly remind myself of just how He wants to help me is more reassuring than idolizing my situation and hoping an answer is going to pop out and embrace me.

The very Maker of heaven and earth is here to help me endure.  Say what?  We talking about Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
This very fact can't just sink in for me because it's so vast to even fathom.  This is the BIG MAN we are talking about - that's how intimately and personally He takes us - we haven't been created for a joke or comic session!

These days I realize more and more that Daddy isn't in the disappointing business.  He's more in pouring out His love to us and wanting us to know Him more.  Unfailing He is.  That perfect love casts away all fears, which I am finding each day.
The endurance phase is so tough but like Ephesians 6:10 says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and His might power."

The Maker knows, He provides, He chips and chissels away.  He allows me to prove myself so that I can grow and take on more and become His ultimate best.
How can He trust me if I keep giving up?  How can He trust me to keep going no matter what the cost?
More room for Him to work....

Keep enduring.  The Maker is here...

Steps Towards A New Game Plan

This morning I woke up feeling a lot different, knowing that changing my game plan also means changing my attitude towards things, I feel that I have a better and fresher perspective on things.
Fresh is always needed……being stagnant just isn’t my scene!

My first question to Daddy this morning was, “So, what’s the next step?”
I know what needs to be done but how do we get there?
It’s so easy to say that you are doing something but then end up actually doing nothing not because you gave up because you just didn’t tap into the start of something great.

I am not saying that this season is going to allow me to never face situations like this in my future but my character needs to be molded and my spiritual growth needs to be fed.  I probably will handle the next season a lot different than this one, why?  Simple.  Prayer.
Remember yesterday I shared on Proverbs 30:8?  Well, when you ask Daddy to feed you with the food He knows is best for you, then, all I can say is open up and chew every single bite He gives you.

James 5:7-20 was my quiet time scripture this morning and steps towards changing my game plan.

A few steps are found in this over-read book but I certainly didn’t find them steps before.  It was more encouraging scriptures.

1)  Waiting on the Lord
Patience and strengthening of our hearts.  What exactly goes down in our waiting period?  For me it’s keeping busy to not waste an opportunity.

2)  Endurance through every season
It highlights Job’s situation and also Daddy’s character:  He is VERY compassionate and merciful.  Do I show endurance through my seasons?  For me, it’s not always a yes.

3)  Effective Prayer
Praying in faith, praying for one another, so that healing may happen (in every area of your life, not just being sick) and pray intensely!
Verse 16 highlights that the intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful, not just powerful but VERY.

I easily find myself waiting on Daddy but in the wrong way.  Not edifying patience but impatience and not strengthening my heart but trying to be busy so that I feel I haven’t wasted a day or moment.

When last have I ever focused on the word “endure”?  Not in a long time until this morning.  What an amazing trait to tie with your journey, endurance. 
This then took me down memory lane since I first became a Christian and I embraced myself with Daddy’s compassion and mercy in these last 15 years – it’s endless and He continues to be who He is! Amen.

My prayer life did take a back seat, I won’t lie.  Yeah, I’d pray but intensely?  No.  And what about faith?  Sure. 
This fed my spirit as warfare is all around me and how I go about praying for it is a bit too relaxed, I won’t lie.  I got to admit, this is almost like an energy drink for my spirit.  I am pumped to give it another shot! 
There’s just so much to share on His discipleship. 

Yesterday Daddy highlighted the importance of how to use my time and simply seeking His provision in this area has just grounded me even more in His capability of knowing what’s needed for me in this very moment.

As a newly married couple, I strongly encourage you to pray for one another, in faith, with intensity and allow Daddy to heal, restore, revive and renew.

I usually run between 2km – 5km a day and the one thing you need, especially when it’s been a tough day, is endurance.  You know you almost done but you need to endure and keep the pace.
When you are competing as an athlete, you focus on the prize, the finish line.
Embrace to endure your situation and seek His good and pleasing will for your life.

Praying for the persecuted, it’s easy to let emotion and sympathy flood our minds and question Daddy on this harsh reality but the more I tap into it I know that my life isn’t my own anymore and neither is there’s. A life of edifying His love is what it’s all about and allowing His scriptures to come to pass, which is evident physically in this day and age and not just some myth in an old book.

I know where I am headed, I have no doubts…….this time on earth will pass but how I live this time on earth is the important part.

My game plan is being mapped out.  All I need to do is equip myself and keep training.

Armor yourselves & continue to love…..

What's Your Game Plan?

“Don’t give up at half time.  Concentrate on winning the second half.”
Coach Paul “Bear” Byrant

I recently decided to pick out the God’s Game Plan Bible from my book-shelf.

It’s an Athlete’s Bible I purchased over a year ago but didn’t really give it much thought when having my quiet times.  I guess this season Father wants me to dig into a different translation as I begin to tighten up my gym schedule for a future mission trip. 
On the cover it’s got a powerful verse attached, Romans 12:2 and the caption is “Change your game plan”.  I love it!  What’s your game plan?
If that doesn’t already interest or motivate you then I am afraid the rest of my story wouldn’t really interest you either.

Lately it’s been a bit stressful.  Yip, ministry can be stressful.  Many people I chat to think it is a walk in the park, easy, no stress, always surrounded by “godly” people, we have the best job in the world – where can it go wrong?
How about often and in every situation, depending on how we view it that is.  It could be a complete wrong or a stepping stone of failure to learn from and better one’s self.

Conversations are extremely important in my business I need to be constantly aware of this.  At times, I won’t lie; it’s easy to forget why I am doing what I am doing.
The following questions have been plaguing me recently.
Are my speeches seasoned?  Do I speak on behalf of the Holy Spirit?  Am I careful not to let emotions get the better of me?  Do I speak to build up or break down?

Studying Proverbs 30 this morning was truly inspiring and humbling.  Verse 8 stood out for me:  “Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.  Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need.”
Jesus sustains us, no matter what, He sustains us as He promised and we all know that He has never broken a promise to us and is faithful in every aspect. 
I’v asked the Lord to feed me with the food I need and right now it’s a lot of prayer time, submission and reflection I taste. 

It’s not about the money.  It’s not about the people.
This is His way of sustaining me but the battle inside me is go go go….keep busy, make money to reach out, help, give, be here, be there, serve, make a difference, impact, change, inspire…..
It took me a while to silence this voice called busyness. 

Off-course I feel like throwing in the towel.  Why?  Because I’v decided to do it my way and not leave room for the Holy Spirit to do it His way.  I am seeing through my earthly eyes because I am in a tough situation, and the human thing to do is walk away or give-up but spiritually, it’s a lot different.  You dig your heels right in and stand your ground!

I need to change my game plan and focus on the second half, which is the latter months to come.  It does take a lot of endurance, renewing of the mind and transformation.  Discernment for me in this season is to know the good, pleasing and perfect will of Daddy for my life.  Once that’s achieved, the rest follows….

I’v got this task in my hands that at times I want to give up but I know that gold is refined with intense fire and so I remain in the Potter’s Hands.

He off-course sees this and I know that running this race right now is testing my endurance and mental state.  I will remain faithful, no matter what darkness overshadows my game.  There’s no giving up when He’s sustaining you.

Be encouraged…onward march saints!