PRAYER GUIDE

 God's Word has important promises for us regarding prayer.  As we walk with God in a trusting relationship with Him, we need to rely on what He has said in His Word. 

1. ASK, AND GOD WILL ANSWER:   Matthew 7:7   Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

 (Remember that God's answers do not always come in the way or time that we would expect. As someone has said, God's answers include YES, NO, and WAIT.  Also remember that prayer must be according to God's will, in order to be answered:   "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."  ( 1 John 5:14,15).

2. ASK, AND HE WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY:    Matthew 6:6   But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

 
 

3. ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE:

Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? (See Luke 11:9-13).

  

4. ASK , AND HE WILL GIVE YOU WISDOM:    James 1:5   But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without doubting......

  

5. DRAW NEAR, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU GRACE!   Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

  

6. DRINK, AND HE WILL SATISFY YOUR THIRST:   John 7:37   Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

  

7. PRAY IN FAITH:   Mark 11:24   Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will begranted you.

  

8. CRY OUT TO GOD WHEN IN DANGER, AND HE WILL TURN BACK YOUR ENEMIES:   Psalm 56:9   When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.

9. CALL OUT ON THE LORD IN DISTRESS, AND HE WILL BRING YOU OUT OF IT!   Psalm 50:15   Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.Psalm 118:5 From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place.

10. PERSEVERE, AND ANSWERS WILL SURELY COME:

Hebrews 10:35   Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. (See also Luke 18:1-8)

 
11. PRAY FOR UNITY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH:

John 17:21  That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

 
12. PRAY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS:  1 Timothy 2:1   First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and prayers of thanks for all people...

  

THE LORD'S PRAYER, AS A GUIDE TO PRAYER

Matthew 6:9-13 "Pray, then, in this way:

1. Pray unto a loving Father: "OUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN"

2. Pray that His Name may be honored and glorified in the earth: "HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME."

3. Pray that His kingdom reign will come into every situation: "YOUR KINGDOM COME"

4. Pray that His will may be done in each situation: "YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."

5. Pray for daily provisions, for yourself and others: "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD"

6. Ask forgiveness for any sins you have committed, and turn away from them:"AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES"

7. Forgive anyone who has wronged you: "AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE TRESPASSED AGAINST US."

8. Pray to be kept from temptations, both internal & external: "AND DO NOT LEAD US INTO TEMPTATION"

9. Pray to be delivered from all evil forces: "BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL"

10. Give God glory, in praise & worship: "FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN"

M. Erickson

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STEPS TO A HEALTHY AND USEFUL LIFE

* Jesus, Great Physician, is our Healer!

** The Surrendered Life Is Healthy & Is Christ-centered,

vs self-centered

1. CULTIVATE A GRATEFUL SPIRIT
A. IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS / I Thessalonians 5:18

B. SO MANY THINGS TO THANK HIM FOR!

C. THANKFUL = GOD-CENTERED vs SELF CENTER

D. AVOID A CRITICAL, COMPLAINING ATTITUDE


2. DON'T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW / Matthew 6:34
A. SURRENDER CONTROL OF THE FUTURE

B. WORRY ROBS YOU OF ENJOYING THE PRESENT


3. DON'T HARBOR GRUDGES / LET GO! / Ephesians 4:32

A. AVOID "BLAME GAME" / SPEAK WELL, OR SILENCE

B. FOCUS ON IMPROVING YOURSELF


4. ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS
A. VINEYARD / Isaiah 5:1-4 / GOD DID EVERYTHING FOR IT!

B. YOU GROW BY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, ASKING
FORGIVENESS, COMMITMENT TO CHANGE.

C. SELF CAUSES MOST TROUBLE


5. PRAISE & GLORIFY GOD IN ALL SITUATIONS
A. Ephesians 5:18-20 / SPIRIT-FILLED / YOU'LL PRAISE GOD

B. PRAISE GOD AS PART OF RELINQUISHING CONTROL

C. LIFE REVOLVES AROUND GOD: PRAISE HIM!


6. PRACTICE THE SURRENDERED LIFE
A. SURRENDER CONTROL OFTEN, TO GOD: Romans 12:1

B. DON'T CENTER ON PROBLEMS & CIRCUMSTANCES. 

C. BREAK OUT OF SELF TRAPS!


7. FOCUS ON MINISTERING TO OTHER PEOPLE! / PROVERBS 11:25
A. PRAY FOR OTHERS: INTERCESSION / Luke 6:38

B. SHARE GOOD NEWS

C. ASK: HOW CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?


CONCLUSION: 1. MAKE SPECIFIC DECISIONS: Take the Steps!

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THE CHRIST - CENTERED BOOK OF ROMANS

The book of Romans is as truly Christ-centered as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We see this in the fact that Jesus Christ is referred to over 40 times in the book of Romans. In the book of Romans, Paul mentions Jesus five times in the first six verses of chapter one, and he immediately focuses on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (Rom.1:4). This brings to mind the incredible encounter Paul had with the risen Christ, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). Blinded for three days after seeing the risen Christ, Paul was forever changed. This dramatic encounter changed Paul from an enemy of Christ, to His greatest proponent. The book of Romans is the unfolding of the reality of Jesus Christ, from the mind and heart of an incredible scholar and leader, the Apostle Paul.

Read each of these passages in their context in Romans, to understand the full dynamic of how Christ centered the book of Romans really is. 


1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ / Romans 1:1


2. The gospel is the gospel of God's Son. / Romans 1:2,3,9


3. Jesus was declared to be the Son of God, through His resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:4


4. Through Christ, Paul received grace and apostleship / Romans 1:5


5. You - are called to belong to Jesus Christ. / Romans 1:6


6. God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ / Romans 2:16


7. You receive righteousness, through faith in Jesus Christ. / Romans 3:21-22


8. You are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. / Romans 3:24


9. Jesus is the sacrifice of atonement / Romans 3:25


10. God justifies the one who has faith in Jesus / Romans 3:26, 5:1


11. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. / Romans 5:2


12. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. / Romans 5:7-8


13. We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. / Romans 5:10


14. We are saved by His (Christ's) life. / Romans 5:10


15. We rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. / Romans 5:11


16. The grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ have abounded for many. / Romans 5:15


17. Those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. /Romans 5:17


18. We have been baptized into the death of Jesus Christ. / Romans 6:3


19. We were buried with Him. / Romans 6:4


20. We walk in newness of life with Christ / Romans 6:4


21. We will be united with Him in His resurrection. / Romans 6:5


22. "Our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin." Romans 6:6 (ESV)


23. We are to reckon ourselves dead to sin, and alive to God in Christ Jesus. / Romans 6:11


24. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. / Romans 6:23


25. We died to the law through the body of Christ. / Romans 7:4


26. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. / Romans 8:1


27. Through Jesus Christ, the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death. / Romans 8:2


28. Christ is in you... If you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you do not belong to Him. / Romans 8:9,10


29. We are co-heirs with Christ, provided we share in His sufferings, that we may share in His glory. Romans 8:17


30. You are predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:29


31. "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" Romans  8:31 (ESV)


32. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. / Romans 8:34


33. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" Romans 8:35 (ESV)


34. Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38,39


35. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (ESV)


36. "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17 (ESV)


37. We are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4,5


38. Put on ("clothe yourselves with") the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:14


39. Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. / Romans 14:9


40. "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God." / Romans 15:7 (NKJV)


41. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me. / Romans 15:18


42. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known. / Romans 15:20


43. "I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ." Romans 15:29 (ESV).


44. Doxology: "Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." / Romans 16:25-27 (ESV)

 

The Most Awesome Journey

There is an awesome journey that no one reading these words has ever taken before. You may have traveled to foreign countries, you may have seen awesome scenery in your country or around the world, but there is a trip that is truly remarkable, that is different than any trip you've been on before. It is full of mysteries, and unknowns. The destination of this journey is awe inspiring and breath-taking.

As you may have realized, I’m speaking of the journey from this life into the next. Before you move on, or click to the next webpage, shouldn’t you consider the most important journey of all? No one reading these words has experienced this journey or reached this ultimate destination, yet all of us will at an unknown point in time. All of us will make this trip. But for some strange reason, human beings often do not consider this ultimate journey.

When you travel on a trip to a far away place, you do some careful preparation to make sure you are ready for the trip. Plans are made, bags are carefully packed, and maps and directions are stored away.

But many people have made absolutely no preparation for the ultimate journey, the journey into eternity. Many who are unprepared will end up at the wrong destination, with no way of retracing their steps or doing the trip over again. The Bible is clear: "It is appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27).

So how can you be sure that you're going to reach the right destination? How can you face this journey with confidence and peace in your heart? To answer that, first you must ask yourself this question: "What will I be holding onto when I step into eternity? There are three basic alternatives:

1. Some will be holding on to sin when they enter eternity (this is a tragic choice, with tragic consequences).

2. Others will be trusting and "holding on to" their own goodness or merit when they enter eternity. This will also fail, since no man can build a bridge to heaven by his own efforts or merit, or by hoping that his good deeds will somehow outweigh his bad ones. Heaven is far beyond what anyone can earn, or deserve by human effort. Heaven is absolute perfection, and our sins must be cleansed and forgiven in order for us to be ready for eternity.

3. Others will be holding onto the Savior, Jesus Christ. Only those who are holding to Jesus Christ are promised a safe passage to heaven. Jesus said it clearly: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6). Faith in the living Christ changes our eternal destiny! Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins when he died on the cross. Then he rose again, victorious over death, to give eternal life to all who truly believe.

So the question is, are you holding to Jesus Christ alone, as your Savior? He died to cleanse you of all sin, and then to guide you through this life, and into eternity. With Christ, it is a life-changing journey filled with his love, and nearness. Even through the challenges of life, Christ is there to give you strength. The peace of Christ will be a reality in your heart. To receive Christ you need to fully surrender your heart and life to him; genuinely turn away from your sins. Christ will come into your heart and life, and give you His peace, and His love.

When you sincerely turn from your sins and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you enter into life - life that is eternal: " And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life." (1st John 5:11,12a). Also in Romans 6:23b: "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." In John 6:47, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life."

God's love for us is the foundation for eternal life: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only- begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

God loved us before we had done anything to deserve His love: "But God commends His love to us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

When you truly trust Jesus as your Savior, He gives you a clean slate: complete forgiveness of your past sins, no matter what they may have been. You enter into a new, growing, and lifelong relationship with Christ. This means a genuine commitment on your part - to follow Him, and leave your old life behind. In other words, following Christ includes a commitment to do what is right, and a commitment to leave behind the things that are wrong. As you follow Christ you will discover more and more of the love and compassion of God.

You can pray a prayer like the one below, if you are ready to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord. What is most important is that you pray sincerely, meaning it from your heart. You can pray in your own words as well.

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A Prayer to Receive Jesus:

Lord Jesus, I receive you as my own Savior and Lord. I ask you to fill me with your loving presence, and guard me with your divine protection.

I ask you to strengthen me, and help me to live for you. Fill me with love so that I can truly love you in return. I ask you to fill me with love so that I can love other people with a pure love.

Lord Jesus, please wash away all my sins. I surrender my heart and life to you. I ask you to receive me and make me whole.

Thank you for dying on the cross for me, to cleanse me and forgive me. Thank you for dying for me, to make me a child of God. I turn away from my sins, with all my heart. Help me to do what is loving and right, and to live for you.

I surrender my worries and my fears, and my problems to you. I ask you to guide my life and provide for me. Help me to honor you always. Guide me in your ways. Amen.

Stress and Surrender

Many today are finding themselves under stress, and pressures they never thought they would encounter. Financial stresses, relationship stresses, job stress, health issues, emotional stress...... The tensions of life have been tough on many people. The tensions of life have led to breakdown, strained relationships, a lack of peace, and health problems.

But there is a way to come out from under the effects of  stress:  stress and the pressures of life can be released through surrender. "Letting go" is one of the most healthy things you can do. It leads to an inner peace, a release of pressure, a new freedom. "Letting go" ultimately leads to a peace and freedom beyond anything that you or I have yet experienced.

There is a great release in realizing that you do not have to "hold your life together." There is a great release in realizing that you do not have to scheme and strive and pull strings to keep your life manageable. There is a great release in realizing that the universe does not revolve around you or I. You do not have to hold the universe (or even your own life) together. The universe does not revolve around you or I, and so it would be unnatural, unhealthy, for you to try to run the universe or even your own life.

The problem is that many people live as if life revolved around them - their ideas, plans, or needs. Unknowingly, they fall into a trap, because if a person lives as if life and the universe revolves around himself or herself, then "self" will be at the center. When "self" is ruling a person's life, that person will find that happiness and peace escapes him.

This explains why so many rich and famous people cannot find happiness through money, power, fame or fortune. Because "self" is at the center of their life, they cannot find true happiness or peace - only temporary pleasures that lead to dead-ends, dissatisfaction or addiction.

Average people face the same issue of "self," but often it is the problems and difficulties of life that keep a person struggling to stay in control, to stay "in charge," and live life by one's own strength.

But there is a much greater strength, the Strength of Another - the one who truly does run the universe. The loving God who holds the universe together has a personal concern for you, and He alone has the power and love to manage and guide your life. The loving God alone has the power and wisdom to guide your life and bring you into peace.

This God of love comes to you in the person of Jesus Christ. So the only safe and right surrender is to surrender your problems to the One who gave His life for you: the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only true image of God, who has come to us in the flesh. He gave His life for you on the cross to cleanse you, and to lead you to the true center: the heavenly Father who truly does love you and rule over all things. Jesus said it clearly: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me." (John 14:6).

There are ultimately two great pulls in the universe;  one is the pulling force of self: this is a life that revolves around self in it's various forms. A life that revolves around self includes a life that is centered on selfish pleasures; but it can also include someone who is struggling to stay "on top of things," trying to stay in control, in this difficult and unpredictable world. We just weren't meant to be "in charge" of things here.

The other great pull is the God of love who created the universe, the living God who became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. God came to us to reveal Himself to us.  He revealed Himself as a loving and compassionate Savior. Only He is qualified to guide our lives. Only He is qualified to reign in our hearts. He leads us away from the reign of "self," and into the rule of love.

If you look to religious people for clues about a God-centered life, you will find some disappointments. Just because a person is "religious" doesn't mean that their life is truly centered on the God of love. Some people remain at the center of their own life, while they talk of God or religion. If a person has obvious moral flaws or wrong behavior, or distorted concepts of God, that person has not come to a true surrender to the God of love. Religious people who still have "self" at the center of their life actually turn many people away from the loving God of heaven.

Therefore, rather than looking to people and their failures, look to Jesus Christ. He died for us, not when we were good and noble, but while we were still trapped under the rule of "self." He died for us to cleanse us and forgive us and heal us. He did this while we were still preoccupied with "self," and sin. (All types of sin are just the expression of selfishness, in one form or another- so Jesus died to cleanse us from all forms of selfishness, and to restore our focus on the love of the Father). Believe in Jesus and allow Him to restore you to a life centered on love for God, and a genuine love for people.

"Letting go" is healthy, because it is based on the truth: God is the one running the universe, not you or I.  "Letting go" is when you allow God to be at the center of your life, rather than yourself. Letting go is also when you allow Him to be in control, in all the specific areas of your life. This takes your focus off of yourself, and places it on the God of love and compassion.

You and I were not meant to be at the center of the universe, or even to be at the center of our own lives. We were meant to have the loving God at the center of our lives. When He is truly at the center, everything else takes it's rightful place in our lives. Then we love God, and we love people, each in their rightful place and way.

ULTIMATE SURRENDER AND DAILY SURRENDER

The ultimate surrender is when you surrender your life fully to God. He becomes the center of your life, and you love people and use your talents and abilities for the glory of God. This is a once - and - for - all decision. Even after you make that decision, however, there are the many daily surrenders, where you turn your problems and burdens and concerns over to God, to let Him handle them. There are many daily reminders that God should be the one running the universe, not you or I. Surrendering, "letting go," allows the peace of God to rule in your heart during the daily challenges.

A comparison can be made with marriage: at the altar a man and woman exchange vows, and give their lives to one another. That is a decision, a commitment, a surrender of two people's lives to one another. But in marriage there are also many daily surrenders, when a man and woman seek to please each other, and set aside any selfishness.

It is the same way with our relationship with the God of love. There is the initial surrender of your life to Him. Then there are the daily surrenders, where you learn to walk with God and allow Him to guide your life. In this relationship of love God works with you and through you, to bring His love to people around you. In the challenges you face there is a new strength, and a deeper peace.

This does not mean life will be totally stress free - and actually, a totally stress free life would be boring. Following Christ is an adventure, compete with challenges, difficulties, and times of testing, as well as the growth of character, wisdom, and love. Jesus uses stress in our lives in a way that is similar to the way that a coach uses stress for athletes. Jesus uses stress in a positive way in our lives to build strength and endurance, and to enlarge our capacities for love, courage, and faith. But this still requires turning stresses over to Him, when they become unhealthy or impair the freedom we should have in our life in order to love God and love other people.

Talking with the God of Love

In your relationship with the God of love, it is crucial that you allow Him to be at the center of your life, guiding and directing you. This happens as you allow Him to rule and reign in specific situations. Praying includes asking Him into each situation, to guide and direct you. It also includes asking for wisdom, and believing that God will impart wisdom to you.


Growth as a Person

As you grow in a true relationship with the Lord, He will call you away from the path of self-centeredness, and He will call you into the path of genuine love: using your gifts and giving your life to serve others.

Releasing stress to God is one of the great privileges of the God-centered life. "Letting go" and letting God have control is simply the recognition of the truth - the truth that God is ultimately in control. And He has promised to guide and direct those who let Him have control of their lives. Not only that, but He has promised to take the burdens and cares of His people upon His own shoulders. Scripture says, "Cast your burdens upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7).

God comes to fill you with His presence, His precious Holy Spirit. This leads you away from self, and to the outflow of genuine love. The selfishness that is prevalent in the human race is obvious, and is the source of our problems.  God changes this by giving you a new nature when you surrender your life to Jesus Christ.

He then comes and fills you with His Holy Spirit, to lead you away from the trap of "self," into an outflowing of love from your heart.  This outflow of love and compassion is one of the sure signs of a child of God, who has been filled with God's love. 1 John 4:19 says, "We love because He first loved us." And in 1 John 4:7 it says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."  You must follow Christ, down the path of genuine love.

The Apostle John goes on to say, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested to us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the payment for our sins."

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit."

"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." (1st John 4:8-16). 


The following prayer is an example of a prayer of surrender. If you truly are willing to surrender your life, the important thing is to pray from your heart, in a genuine surrender.  Talk to the Lord until you are sure you have surrendered your heart and life to him.
   

A Prayer of Surrender:

I receive you, Lord Jesus, as the Lord and Savior of my life. I ask you to rule in my heart and life from now on.

I ask you to fill me with your loving presence, and guard me with your divine protection.

I ask you to strengthen me, and help me to live for you from now on. I ask you to fill me with love so that I can love other people with a pure love.   And  fill me with love so that I can love you, with all of my heart.

Lord Jesus, please fill me with your love, and wash away all my sins. I surrender my heart and life to you. I ask you to receive me and make me whole.

Thank you for dying on the cross for me, to cleanse me and forgive me. Thank you for dying for me, to make me a child of God. I turn away from my sins, with all my heart.

I surrender my worries and my fears, and my problems to you. I ask you to guide my life and provide for me.  Help me to honor you always. Guide me in your ways.  Amen.



The peace of God will come into your heart in an awesome way,  as you let God guide and direct your life.

God Wants to Strengthen You

 
 

The purpose of God is to make you stronger! The article below reveals how you can truly live in God’s strength. God wants you to have a deep assurance that His plan is to strengthen you, no matter what the circumstances. In these days it is a great secret to know the strength of the Lord!
 




This strength comes to those who desire to follow after Christ. This makes it so important to walk in faith, and forsake the things that would block God's presence in your life. By confessing and turning away from any sin, the door opens for God's cleansing grace to wash through you, restoring the strength of God in your life. 

 Strength from the Lord
 

"How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee."
Psalm 84:5 NASB

Strength, power for living, is needed by everyone in these challenging times. And God wants to give you His strength, in an abundant supply. But God's ways are higher than man's ways, and God's thoughts are higher than man's thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9). This is undoubtedly true, when it comes to the strength of the Lord. God's ways of strengthening you are different than man's ways.


God's purpose is to make you strong. In fact, "He is the One who gives power and strength to his people." (Psalm 68:35). God's purpose is to strengthen you, and to give you power in His ways. You are even commanded, "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might!" (Ephesians 6:10). God wants you to be strong. Strong in Him, strong in love, strong because you are filled with the Holy Spirit. You must have an unshakable confidence, that God's purpose is to make you strong in Him. When you face situations which you don't understand, or when you encounter obstacles, difficulties, or painful situations which you were not expecting, it is easy for you to lose sight of God's purposes.


God's thoughts are not like our thoughts. Our thoughts can become thoughts of fear or discouragement, anger or frustration. Thoughts like: "I'll never be able to get through this," or, "God must be punishing me for something I've done," or, "The Lord is against me," can become a part of our thinking.
 

But God's thought is to make you strong! His will is to make you stronger, not to tear you down. You must become strong in the ways of the Lord. "The way of the Lord is strength to the upright." (Prov.10:29 KJV) God says to you, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, NASB). The strength of the Lord is more than enough, to meet every obstacle.


God's Word says, "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim.2: 1 KJV). The Word says, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Rom.8:37 KJV). The Word says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil.4:13), and, "The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1 KJV). God's promise is, "In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30:15 KJV). Yes, God wants you to be strong!


David was a man who knew the ways of the Lord. He was a man after God's own heart. Yet he encountered a situation that from all appearances looked like a complete tragedy. He and his men were away from their camp, when the Amalekites came and raided the camp. They took all of the women and children, all of their belongings, and burned the town with fire (I Sam.30: 1,2). When David and his men came back to their camp and found it completely destroyed, "then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep." (I Sam.30:4 NASB). To make things worse, David became distressed because the people spoke of stoning him. They were embittered because of the loss of their loved ones in this terrible tragedy (I Sam.30:6).


David could easily have turned his back on the Lord in such a perilous situation. He could easily have thought that God was against him, or that God had forgotten him. He could have become bitter, like some of the people did. But David knew the Lord. He knew that the Lord was for him, not against him. He knew that God's purpose was to strengthen him in this situation. So, "David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." (I Sam.30:6 NASB). He received strength from the Lord; power to overcome and to conquer.


David inquired of the Lord, and received word from the Lord to pursue the Amalekites. He found them, eating and drinking and partying, spread over the countryside. They were celebrating over their plunder, unaware of any danger. David and his men completely surprised them, routing and defeating the Amalekites. All of the women and children were restored to David and his men. They recovered all that had been taken from them; they also recovered all of the plunder of the Amalekites. God had the final word.


Not long after this incident, David was made king over Judah. The Amalekite raid was one of the greatest testings David faced, and it happened shortly before he was made king. David could have walked away from God's plan, in the time of testing. But he knew God's purposes, and that his God wanted him to be strong. Do we realize that it is true, for us as well?


David strengthened himself in the Lord his God (I Sam.30:6). How can we receive more of the strengthening power of the Lord into our hearts and lives? Here are some of the ways you can receive strength from the Lord:


1. Those who WAIT ON THE LORD shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31). You need to spend time waiting before the Lord, thanking Him and honoring Him, and placing your situations in His hands; you need to spend significant, quality time with Him. The Spirit will surely come like the wind, to strengthen you.
 

2. CALL ON THE LORD, in earnest and believing prayer: "In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul." (Psalm 138:3).


3. BELIEVE that it is undoubtedly God's purpose to impart strength to you, and to make you strong, no matter what the situation may look like. God's promises are clear, that the will of the Lord is to strengthen you (Psalm 105:4, Isaiah 30:15, Psalm 68:35, Psalm 27:14 / Eph.6: 10,11, 2 Tim.2:1, Isaiah 41: 10, Isaiah 40:31).


Paul learned to delight in situations that revealed his own weakness, knowing that those situations were the exact time when God would step in to reveal His strength! God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Paul then said, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).


4. You must TURN FROM SIN, to be strengthened by the Lord. Sin is what can make you weak. The Psalmist said, "My strength has failed because of my iniquity." (Psalm 31:10 NASB). You must turn from sin, and receive cleansing and forgiveness through the blood of Christ. God will help you to make a fresh start, and to leave the past behind.


5.DRAW NEAR TO THE LORD. It is the Lord Himself who is your strength. Drawing near to Him insures that His strength will dwell in you, because His presence will be near you and in you. You are told to "seek the Lord, and His strength." (Psalm 105:4).


6.BE OF GOOD COURAGE. The Word of God says, "Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart." (Ps.27:14 KJV). If you have courage, God is able to strengthen you. You must have courage and faith when you draw near to God, knowing that it is His will to strengthen you, and to clear a path for you. David was of good courage, when he went out to face Goliath. We must also be of good courage, when we face our battles.


7.The WORD OF GOD strengthens your faith, and builds you up. The Word of God can be relied upon, with confidence. "Strengthen me, according to Thy Word." (Psalm 119:28 NASB). Meditate on, and rely upon, the Word of God. Saturate your mind and your spirit with the Word, and the promises of the Word, for your strengthening. As you do these things, God will impart His strength to you. You will be strengthened to walk in victory, and walk in faith. God will show himself strong on your behalf.


Being strong as a follower of Christ does not mean pushing other people around, dominating other people, or being otherwise obnoxious. Strength from the Lord makes you strong enough to love people, strong enough to be gentle with difficult people, strong enough to do the right things at the right times, with the peace of God in your heart. It is awesome, to have the strength of His love! We must remember that the strength of love is the opposite of the strength of selfishness.


At times God's people can begin to drift, and begin to coast along on their own strength. We can gradually begin to do things in our own strength, and not even realize that we are no longer walking in the strength of the Lord. That is why we must seek fresh strength from the Lord day by day and week by week. We must seek fresh strength in prayer, the Word, and waiting upon the Lord. The Israelites in the wilderness so often missed God's purposes. God wanted to make them strong - strong in faith, strong in trust, strong in the Lord. But when food and water began to run low, they didn't feel strong; they felt weaker. They missed God's purpose - He wanted to strengthen them, and provide for all of their needs. But they often doubted, or grumbled and complained. God's ways were higher than their ways.


But throughout the wanderings of the Israelites, Caleb had learned of God's strength. After forty years in the wilderness, he could say, "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out. I am just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day." (Joshua 14:11,12 NIV). Caleb knew that God's purpose was to make him strong. The blessing of the Lord was powerfully manifested in his life. He received the full measure of the blessing of the Lord.


As we are strengthened by the Lord, part of God's purpose is that we help others to find that same strength. We should be like Jonathan: during a difficult time he went to David, and helped him to find strength in God (I Sam.23: 16). When brothers or sisters in Christ, or others we love are passing through a difficult time, they need someone who can help them find strength from the Lord. We are to pray for one another, and bear one another's burdens. Then God will use us as His instruments, to bring His strength to those who need