“Behold God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he is become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2
I grew up with please and thank you as part of my everyday language. Consideration of others and gratitude for kindness was embedded in my upbringing. Admittedly, there have been times when I forgot to say the words. That’s when to ask if it’s a polite courtesy or true gratitude.
Gratitude is a matter of the heart. Our sinful nature directs us to feel entitled to the actions and attention of others. Unfortunately, that carries over to our relationship with God. The Lord, however, owes us nothing but judgment for our sin. He has freely offered His grace, love and, mercy and paid the cost for our sin Himself.
Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have the gift of salvation. Even though He hates our sin, He offers comfort and mercy for those who seek Him. The Lord alone is entitled to our devotion and praise.
An attitude of thanksgiving, as we go through each day, will discourage the feeling of entitlement.
Dear Lord, thank you for Your mercy and the gift of Your salvation.
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Selfish Prayers
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
James 4: 1-3
Prayer should be a part of a Christian’s daily life. It is, after all, direct communication with God. He loves us and wants us to ask for our needs and wants – even though He already knows what they are.
Have you ever wondered if your prayer might cross the line and become selfish? I think of my dogs and their dependence on me. In return for my care, they give me unconditional love, but at times, they also have selfish demands. Am I guilty of such demands of God?
Philip Yancey, a Christian author, has shared five signs of selfish prayer.
1) Focusing on your own comfort – Usually when trying to get out of a tough situation, you make a desperate plea to the Lord.
2) Focusing on what makes your life easier – You treat God as “the genie in the bottle” who grants wishes.
3) Focusing on things – You look at material things as the solution.
4) Focusing on status – You look at how it impacts your social or church status.
5) Focusing on fear – You concentrate on things you can lose rather than what you can gain by giving God control.
Remember that it’s not selfish to ask for needs or wants, as long as your request doesn’t interfere with your walk with God. He must have preeminence as your first love. He wants us to ask and trust Him for provision. When we desire Him first, doors are open to so much more because we have our priorities right.
Dear Lord, I want to thank You for Your love and praise You for Your glory. I know that by trusting You, my needs will be met according to Your will.
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
James 4: 1-3
Prayer should be a part of a Christian’s daily life. It is, after all, direct communication with God. He loves us and wants us to ask for our needs and wants – even though He already knows what they are.
Have you ever wondered if your prayer might cross the line and become selfish? I think of my dogs and their dependence on me. In return for my care, they give me unconditional love, but at times, they also have selfish demands. Am I guilty of such demands of God?
Philip Yancey, a Christian author, has shared five signs of selfish prayer.
1) Focusing on your own comfort – Usually when trying to get out of a tough situation, you make a desperate plea to the Lord.
2) Focusing on what makes your life easier – You treat God as “the genie in the bottle” who grants wishes.
3) Focusing on things – You look at material things as the solution.
4) Focusing on status – You look at how it impacts your social or church status.
5) Focusing on fear – You concentrate on things you can lose rather than what you can gain by giving God control.
Remember that it’s not selfish to ask for needs or wants, as long as your request doesn’t interfere with your walk with God. He must have preeminence as your first love. He wants us to ask and trust Him for provision. When we desire Him first, doors are open to so much more because we have our priorities right.
Dear Lord, I want to thank You for Your love and praise You for Your glory. I know that by trusting You, my needs will be met according to Your will.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Prayer and Thanksgiving
I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth thy marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
Psalm 9: 1, 2
It’s hard to believe that the calendar has turned another page and we are in November. This time of year always brings childhood memories of Thanksgiving holidays spent with family. It meant cold weather had hit and we might get snow, gathering at a family member’s home for fellowship and turkey dinner, and parades followed by football all day on the television. Fond memories of a simpler time, unmarred by the concerns of adulthood.
Life is different now. Many of my family members will celebrate the holidays in heaven and the remaining ones have family commitments or live too far away to allow us to come together to share the holiday.
As a Christian, I would like to turn my thoughts of thanksgiving to the Lord. Just as King David wrote in his Psalm, I will praise Him with my whole heart. He deserves and desires no less. He has blessed me beyond measure.
Yes, I am blessed materially with shelter, transportation, and food. But the blessings overflow – I am loved – by family, friends, and even my dogs. Most importantly, the Lord loves me.
Let’s begin this holiday season by counting our blessings. Start each day this month by naming one. Don’t forget to thank the Lord for it in prayer. By December 1st it will be a habit and easy to continue as holiday stress melts into praise.
Dear Lord, thank you for Your many blessings. Help me to remember that all I am comes from You and to be glad and rejoice.
I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
Psalm 9: 1, 2
It’s hard to believe that the calendar has turned another page and we are in November. This time of year always brings childhood memories of Thanksgiving holidays spent with family. It meant cold weather had hit and we might get snow, gathering at a family member’s home for fellowship and turkey dinner, and parades followed by football all day on the television. Fond memories of a simpler time, unmarred by the concerns of adulthood.
Life is different now. Many of my family members will celebrate the holidays in heaven and the remaining ones have family commitments or live too far away to allow us to come together to share the holiday.
As a Christian, I would like to turn my thoughts of thanksgiving to the Lord. Just as King David wrote in his Psalm, I will praise Him with my whole heart. He deserves and desires no less. He has blessed me beyond measure.
Yes, I am blessed materially with shelter, transportation, and food. But the blessings overflow – I am loved – by family, friends, and even my dogs. Most importantly, the Lord loves me.
Let’s begin this holiday season by counting our blessings. Start each day this month by naming one. Don’t forget to thank the Lord for it in prayer. By December 1st it will be a habit and easy to continue as holiday stress melts into praise.
Dear Lord, thank you for Your many blessings. Help me to remember that all I am comes from You and to be glad and rejoice.
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