“God has determined that certain expressions of His power will only be exercised in response to prayer.”

A thought by Mark Batterson (2011-12-13) from his book Be a Circle Maker: The Solution to 10,000 Problems (Kindle Location 128). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

I was reading in my quiet time this morning in John 5.30 (NLT) that Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own…” Jesus said that about His dependency on His Father while He was here on Earth. And that is where His power came from. He showed us and told us the power that is available to us through asking His Father.

I am right now sitting in a coffee shop at the Roosevelt Field Mall just after I have walked for 1 ½ hours. The last part of my walk I have been praying for Ashlyn, Addison, Marissa, Brett, Stefanie, Andrew and Margaret, my family. I spent time in bringing specific needs that each of them has to God through prayer because I believe that certain expressions of God’s power can only be exercised in response to prayer.

It is in prayer that I show my dependency on God and His wisdom and His power. Because He is my Father I ask Him for specific things. That’s what my kids did and that’s what He wants me to do. There are certain things that I provided that they didn’t need to ask for but then there were other things that I gave them when they asked me specifically for them. As a father I wanted to provide for their needs but I also wanted to give them those things they went out on the limb to ask for. I trusted them so when they asked it meant they really wanted or needed them.

Some things we don’t need to ask for. He just provides them but there are other things that we need to ask Him specifically for. He wants to use His power on our behalf because He loves us but it comes through prayer. What could happen this year if we really understood this?

Now it may mean He gives us sustaining power through difficult times. He doesn’t change the situation but He changes us in the situation. He may also provide a way out but it comes through prayer. Prayer shows our dependency, our trust, our faith, our humility. God’s power is only a prayer away.

So what do you really need? Have you prayed, really prayed specifically and believed?

Comments

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle? Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life. It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed. Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life. Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you. You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good. Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because G...

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident. In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose. In other words you are not an accident. I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth. In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man. And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ” Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like? Like that characteristic is a curse or something. Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God. Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Je...

Just Continue That Thought...

Search This Blog