Thanking God all the time is a prerequisite of the Christian prayer life. Philippians 4:6-7 educates us on this, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’. When we do this then a further promise is made in the verse that follows, ‘And the peace of God that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’. We should therefore thank God at all times, in good and in bad situations; in good because He is once again blessing us and in bad because He is growing us in faith.

In the book of Luke 17:11-19 we read about the account of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus Christ but only one came back and gave his thanks. When we look closely at this report, we see three things: 10 unclean men, 9 ungrateful men and 1 unique man. Is it not interesting to note that the higher the glory that can be found in thanksgiving the fewer the people who actually qualify for it?

On His way to Jerusalem, Jesus came across these 10 leprous men and from a distance they called out to Him, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us’. Lepers were outcasts in the society and their presence at the entrance of the village attests to this; they were out of normal habitation. They had to live away from the rest of the people. Leviticus 13:45 gives us a glimpse of the nature and extent of their ostracized existence, ‘The person of such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, “Unclean, Unclean!” As long as he has the infection he remains unclean, he must live alone, he must live outside the camp’

If one was found to have leprosy, his life immediately changed. If married, an immediate separation would be instituted and he would be cast outside the camp to live with his kind. This is because the camp had to be holy, yet, this person had now become unclean. Deuteronomy 23:14 says, ‘For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy so that He will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you’. Being a leper therefore even meant that one was not where the Lord dwelt! One could only relate to lepers like oneself. According to ancient writings, a 6ft distance had to be observed at all times when dealing with those who were not lepers. The lepers therefore stood at a distance as they spoke to Jesus.

Leprosy was a cruel disease. The name comes from a Greek word which means scaling. With patches of red skin on the nose, neck, cheek or head, it attacked the nerves rendering the person unable to feel. This was dangerous because the person was not aware when he hurt or burnt himself. The voice box could also be affected and produce a raspy pathetic semblance of sound. It would also cause blindness in some cases. A leper was therefore socially ostracized, economically disempowered and psychologically depressed especially where it was intimated that he deserved what had befallen him because of having sinned. It was against this backdrop that Jesus Christ met and healed these 10 lepers. When He saw them, He said,’ Go, show yourselves to the priests’. And as they went, they were cleansed. Levitically, it was the priests who could now give them a clean bill of health and declare them fit to live within the camp with the rest of society. The lepers were thus to be a testimony to the priests that indeed, a miracle had occurred.

Many other miracles had occurred through the Old Testament but it was hundreds of years since a Jew had been healed of this disease. Naaman had received his healing from the same and now these ten received theirs from our God. The implications of this healing were great; they could now finally engage in life, marriages would be restored and sanity would prevail. The stigma that had surrounded them would now be a thing of the past and whilst they had been uncomforted and untouched, they could now mix freely with the rest of the society. What Jesus Christ did for these men was only grasped and understood by one of the lepers, the other nine were the ungrateful ones.

In Luke 17:17:17 Christ asked, ‘Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no-one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ 90% of those healed did not return to give thanks to the Lord, they quickly forgot what had just happened and went their way. A lot like how we too behave sometimes. We may spend years asking the Lord for something but when the Lord God finally answers our prayers, we quickly forget Him and instead focus on the blessing whilst the blesser Himself ceases to have much meaning. The 9 ungrateful lepers were a covenant people, of the house of the Lord and should have understood the importance of thanksgiving but only one foreigner stopped and recognized what God had truly done for him. Are we like the ungrateful nine or like the unique one?

The unique man saw what had happened and did three things: firstly he came back praising the Lord in a loud voice. Whereas his voice may have been raspy from years of ravage by disease, he now had powerful, healed vocal cords-and he used them. Secondly, he threw himself at Jesus feet and worshipped Him. He recognized his God, he saw his Savior, he knew his Healer and from the depths of his heart, showed his gratitude. He knew that only God can and must be worshipped and although he had to present himself to the priests, first things had to be done first. Thirdly he gave thanks to the Lord-he knew where he had been before the Savior healed him and he did not let his restoration blind him to the mercies that Jesus Christ had shown him; He had made him whole!

As we look at our own lives we mostly see a similarity between ourselves and the 9 ungrateful lepers. The 10 lepers had said to the Lord, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us’. And He did. Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us, ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness’. Psalm 136 talks of God’s enduring love for us. How then is it that we fail to give Him thanksgiving for the things that He has done for us throughout the year and even in our lives? When we reflect on this, the appropriate response should be to fall down on our knees and worship the Lord for He has been good to us.

We should also give Him thanks for our salvation for where would we be without it? Would we not still be bound to the dark world of sin the evil one? Colossians 1:12-14 reminds us, ‘giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves. In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins’. God is deserving of our praise and thanksgiving for He has shown us great mercy and given us favor.

We also need to thank God for answered prayers for many are the testimonies around us. For some of us, business opportunities have been opened through the year, for others, relations have been restored while for many more still new liaisons have been forged. If it looks like nothing has happened for us, then we need to fall down and worship Him because we are still alive to await His appointed time. For many years the lepers had not had an opportunity to worship the Lord as they probably would have wanted but we see the one unique man falling to his knees and worshiping the Lord as if it were habitual. As a leper, he had never had this privilege to worship unrestrained by societal condemnation. We who know the Lord however, have slackened in our worship. We have become casual with Him. It matters not to us that we do not start the day in fervent worship of our King and in reading of the Word. The benefits of the Word resound in Psalms 19:7, The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making the wise simple’. All the 10 lepers received healing but I believe that the unique man received something extra, ‘Rise and go, your faith has made you well’.

Born again or not, God has done great things in the life of men; the unique leper was a Samaritan but he knew how to give thanks to the Lord. How much more, we who are of His house and who have been saved from darkness?

(word count 1534)

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Vs1.

Like a sponge that has long been dry

Like a deer runs to the water

Like a child to the mother cries

So my soul leaps for the altar

To be at the feet of my Lord

To eat and gulp all of His word

Though Jesus lives inside of me

I just can’t have enough of Him

Lord I’m hungry, come fill my heart

Chorus:

I love it that I’m hungry Lord

Hungry, thirsty for You Lord

Yes You touched me yesterday

Yet I need You everyday

Lord come in a fresh new way

Come Lord Jesus, don’t delay

Vs2.

Like a man on a long journey

Famished, worn out, longing for rest

Like the bees stick to their honey

Like a bird flies up to her nest

So my spirit thirsts for the Lord

To be with Him out of this world

To be wrapped in His Comfort arms

To stand up tall in His safe palms

Lord I’m hungry, come fill my heart

** ** ** * *** * ** **

Sixtus Onyeanusi is passionate about hymn writing, sharing God’s word, practically helping and simply being a FoolforGod…to please Him.

His vision is to see the hearts of youths, and all men filled with joy, love and power by the presence of Jesus.

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My name means “peace” but I am known for my great wisdom as well. I followed my father’s footsteps and became king of Israel after him. One of my greatest accomplishments was building the first Temple to the God of Israel in Jerusalem.

In addition to the Temple, I wrote three of the Books in the Old Testament. One of my famous verses is, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Who am I?

Here is a great way to share the stories and people of the Bible. This is a great conversation starter for reaching children as well. Pass it on to your family and friends to see if they know the answer. Have a great day!

Chris is the author of the inspirational book “Spiritual Basic Training” Learn more at http://www.spiritualbasictraining.com to complete missions for a Spirit-filled life.

God Bless

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An article in the Daily Oklahoman today (12/20/2011) should be an encouragement to Christians. It was written by Rachel Zoll and it was entitled, “Study Shows Shift in Christian Population”.

The article stated that, “Christians overall remain the largest religious group in the world, according to a new analysis released Monday.” Christians should rejoice over this information. The Gospel is reaching people. People are being changed, for the better. They are meeting and following the Lord of the universe.

The article goes on to say that, “Christians are still the world’s largest faith group, with nearly 2.2 billion adherents.” This is very positive and should encourage Christians to be even more involved in witnessing and evangelization.

The article says that, in most countries, Christians are the religious majority. Zoll tells us that, “Christians comprise nearly 80 percent of the U.S. population” Even taking into consideration that many ‘professing’ Christians have no real relationship with Jesus Christ, and are therefore ‘Christians’ by name only, these are still encouraging statistics.

However, what if this was not the case? What if there was only one Christian in the worldand you were that Christian? Do you have the kind of deep faith it would take to stand against every other person in the world and remain faithful? Could your beliefs stand the kind of persecution that Christians encounter in third world countries?

There are too many Christians whose faith cannot withstand the mocking of their friends or relatives. This ‘faith’ could never stand up to the criticism and ridicule of a skeptical world. Too many so-called believers do not take their relationship with God to be important enough to dedicate the time and energy it takes to maintain that relationship.

A new year is swiftly approaching. It is the prayer of this writer that Christians would ask themselves this question: “If everything was taken away from me and no one else on earth was a Christian, would I still have faith in Jesus Christ?”

If the answer to that question is a confident “Yes”, then praise God and continue what you are doing. However, if you are not sure that that Jesus, “is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (Jude 1:25 ESV), then it is time to reevaluate your walk with God and commit to doing whatever it takes to improve your relationship with Him.

While Zoll’s article contained some very encouraging facts, our relationship with God does not rest on how many others profess belief in Him. Our relationship with God rests on the basis of our trusting the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as being the payment for our sins.

May 2012 be the year of recommitment to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Seeking to introduce people to Jesus Christ and to help them become “transformed by the renewing of their mind.”

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God, the Powerful Originator,

The Alpha and Omega,

The Heavenly Architect,

God, the Universe Dancer,

The Cosmos Designer,

The Master Builder,

God, the Messiah and Savior,

The Wonderful Counselor,

The Earthly Carpenter,

God, the King of Jews,

The Author of Salvation,

The Biographer of the Bible,

Poured His enormity

Into Jesus, His son

And walked this earth

Among fallen humanity

Poured His mission

Into Jesus, the son

And sacrificed Himself

To save flawed human beings

Poured His compassion

Poured His forgiveness

Poured His mercy

Poured His grace

On Jews and Gentiles

Swallowed our sins

As He drank from death’s cup

And climbed on the life-giving cross

Swallowed the grave

As red blood flowed

And Jesus’ heart was resuscitated

There is no greater love than the Creator who laid down life for His treasured creatures, human beings. I cannot fathom the deepness of God’s affection. The cross was the way of redemption and salvation. Yes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Romans played a role in the death of Jesus, but God designed the plan. God who crucified Himself to save me, to love me, and to give me life.

Melissa writes about the God and human connection and condition.

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The birth of Jesus Christ.  Celebrate his birth with a visit to midnight services across the world, give thanks for his birth and life.

Open up your hearts to the Lord and thank him for giving us his wonderful son.

God Bless.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22:23.

It is God’s utmost desire for us to be first of all fruitful in life, that is, being full of the fruit of His Spirit in us as He detailed in the book of Galatians chapter 5. It’s important because those virtues depict His image and likeness in us; they vividly express the presence of Jesus living in us.

In Galatians 5, there were noted two main sources of fruit that a man must bear. They are:

1. The Flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).

2. The Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

The first is natural; it’s inborn in man while the second is super-natural; it’s imputed in a man when He’s born again of the Spirit of God.

The first which is natural is against the nature and life of God, while the second is the perfect will of God for His redeemed children.

As born again children of God, bearing the fruit of the Spirit instant in season and out of season marks us out clearly as the children of the Kingdom…children of light shining as stars in this dark world, and thus the Father is happy with us.

The beauty of bearing the fruit of the Spirit unceasingly is that it keeps us up above the law. Yes, the law in every sense. We would not be judged of no man for there won’t be any genuine reason or offense to lay hold and accuse us. And bearing the fruits opens up doors unto us, it positions us to succeed in every place, no matter the geographical location.

The right attitudes that stem from the fruit of the Spirit we constantly exhibit or express are priceless pearls in the world system, it’s wanton out there…they are very rare gems the world can’t buy!

They have it not because they have not the Holy Spirit. They know not the secret behind it because they know not the Holy Spirit.

The world may learn to cultivate some good attitudes and self-discipline, but only the Lord by His Spirit can impute the fruit-divine in a man inside his brand new heart.

Our Christian life is so sweet, admirable and enviable when the fruit of the Spirit effortlessly flow and manifest through us.

Imagine when people are being and speaking against you, yet you do not revile back but had long-suffering.

Imagine when people accuse and unjustly use you, yet you show them love, bless and pray for them.

Imagine when everyone expects you to be angry and impatient, yet you amazingly demonstrate meekness and patience with them.

ISN’T IT DESIRABLE AND ADMIRABLE? The normal attitude would have been the opposite, but the Holy Spirit, through our submissiveness helps our infirmities to maintain the right divine attitude and attributes.

Oh, Holy Spirit, help my life…give me the grace to show forth the right attitude even when everyone and everything is in the negative.

Oh, how we discourage people the more with our lives…when the people expect to see the beauty of Jesus in us as Christ followers, but they see the negative, they get discouraged!

Our lives ought to be changed indeed!

Our lives ought to challenge them really!

More souls are won over to the Lord Jesus than mere words. The Lord made it bare to our understanding in 1 Peter 3:1-2 ” Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, When they OBSERVE your chaste conduct accompanied with fear.”
The scripture says “the Kingdom of God is not just in words”, but in the demonstration of power (the power here means the express nature and overcoming life of Jesus Christ displayed by the Spirit in and through a born again child of God).

The world don’t think much of your faith or the big Bible you carry in your beautiful hands, even singing Hallelujah if you don’t back it up with the fruits of the kingdom life.

If you live the way they do, and are passionate of the same thing they are, you don’t have the wherewithal to turn them to Christ, there ought to be a clear difference.

Though the world is blind spiritually, yet they are not totally blind physically that they cannot differentiate between a hypocrite and a true lover of the Lord Jesus who’s truly standing for Him. Though they will hate those who oppose their devilish and worldly purposes, yet they know without a shadow of doubt that you belong to Christ, and have crucified the flesh and its passions…the life you live is clearly opposite theirs.

Oh, how many times we bring reproach to the Lord’s Name when our life is opposite what it should as people who call the Name of God, and are called by His Name.

Heaven mourns over the Christian who professes Christ, but denies Him in thoughts, in conducts, in reactions and in actions.

True Christians Are Wanted, Highly Needed in This Present World: apply in fruits. For personality description, see Galatians 5:22-23.

It’s not by power nor by might that you bear the fruit, but by the Spirit.

To really bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, it demands total yielding to the Holy Spirit. It calls for hunger and thirst for those virtues. Actually, we stop growing and becoming more and more transformed from one degree of glory to the other when we lose our hunger and thirst to go beyond.

If you are satisfied on this shallow level of Christian life, how can there be a change.

Change occurs when you are challenged and moved to act and persist until your earnest expectation of Christ-likeness be fulfilled. And when God sees this kind of desire in the righteous, he will never let it go unfulfilled.

Your present level of Christian life and ministry is not where it ends; there are still virtues and glory to experience, there are still much more the riches of God’s knowledge and grace to tap into.

HERE IS TOO SHALLOW TO STOP!

Go beyond, press beyond in prayer, cry out, pour out your heart to the Father,…God’s word says that we are being transformed from one degree of glory to another, that means how virtuous we are today ought to be greater than we were yesterday, and that’s the way is goes daily…from glory to glory. Insist on the word of God, take time to pray, fast, read the word….it prunes you from every natural inclinations, and positions you well enough to receive of the Spirit His fruit and express it effortlessly in season and out of season.

When the flesh has more ground than our inner man, we tend to respond more to the fleshly and selfish desires, and thus fall into temptations easily. But when the Spirit has upper hand, we triumph effortlessly over the flesh, and the glorious and victorious life and beauty of Jesus radiates through us.

God taught me one day that the Holy Spirit in a believer is the Divine nature in him. And when he chooses to live and walk in the Spirit, he shows forth the Divine nature…making a difference!

The reason the Spirit is in you is that you may live like Christ Lord all day long.

Don’t be satisfied with your present level of fruit-bearing. Intensely call on the Father to give you grace. He desires us to bear His fruit in full and that our fruits would remain. Be planted in Him, thus you would be fruitful forever more. The psalmist declared, “As for me, I can only be satisfied, when I awake in your likeness…”

Will that be the cry of your heart today?

Let your life be humbly changed and challenging to others inside and outside the household of faith. It’s possible, no matter how much virtues you’ve lost in the past!

** ** ** * *** * ** **

Sixtus Onyeanusi is passionate about hymn writing, sharing God’s word, practically helping and simply being a FoolforGod…to please Him.

His vision is to see the hearts of youths, and all men filled with joy, love and power by the presence of Jesus.

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Recently, I was preaching at one of our local churches. At the end of the service and as everyone was leaving, a lady walked up front to me and asked, “How do you get childlike faith?” I was somewhat taken aback by her question because that’s not what I had been preaching on that day. On the other hand, Jesus said, “Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). So the lady’s question was certainly relevant.

I am sure that she is not the only one who has asked that question so I decided to address it in this article. Mainly, I told her that it’s rather ironic, but we must first grow up to become as little children. Let me explain. You see, when a person first becomes a Christian, he knows very little about how to exercise faith in God. Not knowing what to do, he does what he knows.

When I first became a Christian, for instance, I studied the Bible, scrutinizing every Word. Not because I was trying to find something wrong with the Bible, but it was because I was an engineer, and engineers are known to be sticklers for detail. As I studied the Bible, I subjected what I read to human logic, and I always adding one plus one to see if I got two. With time, I learned that what God says does not always jibe with logic, and sometimes when you add one plus one you will not get two for the answer. This realization was a sign that I was growing as a Christian, and in the process, I was developing childlike faith.

Childlike faith requires that I understand what the Bible is saying to me, but it does not require that I understand how God will fulfill His promises. To illustrate this point, let’s say you have a three-year-old son, and also that you have been laid off from work the past six months. Now your son’s birthday is coming up next month. So you ask him what he wants for his birthday, and he tells you. You don’t know how you will, but you promise him that you will get it for him. Your son is ecstatic because you have promised him that you will get him that prized gift.

He does not consider that you don’t go to work like you used to. He understands what you promised, but he does not understand how you will fulfill the promise. He doesn’t try to. He has a simple faith in you that you will do whatever it is that you have promised. It’s the same kind of childlike faith that we must have in God. We are not born with that kind of simple faith in Him. It is not incidental to our relationship with Him. Rather, we must first grow up and become like little children before we can have strong but simple faith in God.

Copyright 2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Frank King is a former church pastor. He is currently an evangelist and an author. Frank holds a Master of Theology degree. Through the grace of God, Frank has been blessed to cross cultural lines in his preaching. Website: http://www.efrankking.com

Blog: http://wwwefrankking.blogspot.com/

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In so many ways, the 21st century church has failed to accomplish God’s plan for her. When we look at the early church in the Book of Acts, we can see so many areas where we have fallen away. Twelve times in the book of Acts, the phrase “one accord” is used, but unity and community had a different meaning then.

There is so much talk today about community–living in oneness and unity, in one accord as the New Testament Church did. Having fellowship with one another seems to be the emphasis in so many churches today, but true community is found only in communing with God.

I am presently reading a book entitled Talk Less/Pray More by Matthew Skariah.He quotes Jim Cambala in regard to the true meaning of church meetings. “Recently, I was discussing the need of our churches to return to simple prayer with a leading pastor of a large church in the area of the country where super churches abound.He told me that in his entire area, the prayer meeting was virtually extinct and mere lip service was being paid to the power of prayer.He honestly confessed that time was made for visiting speakers who will help mature us, gospel concerts, youth nights, fellowship nights, etc., but no prominent place at all given to the church collectively to seek God with all their hearts. He, very perceptively, and yet ashamedly, pointed out that he knew the main reason why most churches (including his own) did not schedule and advertise a true prayer meeting! Why? Because it would never draw the crowd and the turn out would be so pitiful! How could those embarrassed pastors explain their large auditoriums being mostly empty on prayer meeting night as a handful of hungry souls waited on God, when the very night before many hundreds had attended a gospel concert or heard a famous Christian speak.”

Think about it. This may describe your church–mega-church or not. We all want the fuzzy, feel good emotion of Christianity without paying the price. We are all about fellowship, programs, and methods to bring people in and keep them entertained. Since when has the purpose of church become that of entertainment? People want to talk about community, but community is nothing unless we commune around God Himself.

Yes, that fuzzy, feel good emotion has replaced the holy ground of the burning bush. We have traded the power of God for the programs of men. We would rather please carnal men than please the holy God of Heaven. My friend, something is wrong. Change has to start somewhere. It may as well be with you.

Jesus said of the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:16, 17 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” This is a true description of the 21st century church. We are so far away from true worship, but yet we are content to stay there, unmoved by the hand of God as He stands at the door of His own church and knocks (Revelation 3:20).

Mr. Skariah continues, “Where is the soul travail of yester years, the broken heart, the sleepless nights, the agony and tears, the awful conviction of sin,and the profound sense of godliness?”

When was the last time you spent a sleepless night in prayer?–no, not praying for God to intervene in a personal difficult situation, but just seeking the face of God, desiring Him and Him alone. When was the last time your heart was broken over your putrid sin? When was the last time you shed a tear for the lost?–no, not your husband or wife, son or daughter, but for those of a different race, a different color–for those that have never heard the Truth of the Gospel of Christ.. When was the last time you fell on your face in utter brokenness before God, helpless in your own might to do anything of lasting significance? When was the last time you cared enough to allow God to change you from the inside out?

I can hear someone say, “You’re judging!” I am not judging. I have no idea where you are at in your walk with God. I am simply bringing the truth of Scripture to bear on your life–and if the show fits…well, you know what to do!

I have been the pastor of Lifegate Baptist Church in Bellefonte, PA for the past ten years. I have always had a heart for revival. In the last year God called me to head up The Great American Fast, a national day of prayer and fasting for our country. See more at http://www.thegreatamericanfast.org

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“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”! (2Cor 5:17). But the New Creation is ONLY In Christ, nowhere else, and we MUST BEHOLD IT! From being found In Him, as Paul said in Philippians, we have Good News. In Him there IS Good News. The verse I am thinking of is Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful upon the mountain… .” This Mountain represents Mount Zion, and Mount Zion represents believers found In Christ, and here is where they are being changed into that same image from glory to glory/strength to strength, from one creation to an altogether Other “New Creation”! (2Cor 3:18; Ps 84:7). From being In Zion, In Christ, we have Good News, because Here (and only Here in Christ) there is only Good News, there is only the New Creation to behold. And this is what we declare, speak, publish, etc… .
2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Ps 84:7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

Jimmy Ned Collins is a bilingual Bible Teacher, writer, and editor at the C.M.I. Bible Research Center in Leslie, Arkansas. For more Christ-centered writings, audio and video teachings from Jimmy Ned Collins and fellow laborers in Christ, visit http://www.cmintl.org

email at: crosseyedned@gmail.com

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Some two miles from the village on a road that wound in among the hills stood a great white house. It was beautifully situated upon a gentle slope facing the south, and overlooking a most charming landscape.

Away in the distance, a mountain lifted itself against the clear blue sky. At its base rolled a broad, deep river. Nestling down in a valley that intervened, reposed the charming little village with its neat cottages, white church, little red school house and one or two mansions that told of wealth. Here and there in the distance a pond was visible; while farm houses and humbler dwellings dotted the picture in every direction.

Such was the home of three promising children, who for the last three months had been constant members of the village Sunday School. The eldest was a girl of some fourteen years. John, the second, was a bright, amiable lad of eleven. The other the little rosy-cheeked, laughing Ella, with her golden curls and sunny smile had just gathered the roses of her ninth
summer.

The father of these interesting children was the rich Captain Lowe. He was a man of mark, such, in many respects as are often found in rural districts. Strictly moral, intelligent and well read, kindhearted and naturally benevolent, he attracted all classes of community to himself and wielded great influence in his town.

But, not withstanding all these excellences, Mr. Lowe was an infidel.  He ridiculed in his good-natured way, the idea of prayer, looked upon conversion as a solemn farce, and believed the most of professing Christians were well-meaning but deluded people. He was well versed in all the subtle arguments of infidel writers, had studied the Bible quite carefully, and could argue against it in the most plausible manner.

Courteous and kind to all, few could be offended at his frank avowal of  infidel principles, or resent his keen, half-jovial sarcasms upon the peculiarities of some weak-minded, though sincere members of the church.

But Mr. Lowe saw and acknowledged the saving influence of the MORALITY of Christianity. He had especially, good sense enough to confess that the Sunday School was a noble moral enterprise. He was not blind to the fact, abundantly proved by all our criminal records, that few children trained under her influences ever grow up to vice and crime. Hence his permission for his children to attend the Sunday School.

Among the many children who knelt as penitents at the altar in the little vestry, one bright beautiful Lord’s Day, were Sarah Lowe and her brother and sister. It was a moving sight to see that gentle girl, with a mature thoughtfulness far beyond her years, take that younger brother and sister by the hand, and kneel with them at the mercy-seat–a sight to heighten the joy of angels.

When the children had told their mother what they had done and expressed a determination to try to be Christians; she, too, was greatly moved.  She had been early trained in the principles and belief of Christianity, and had never renounced her early faith. Naturally confiding, with a yielding, conciliatory spirit, she had never obtruded her sentiments upon the notice of her husband, nor openly opposed any of his peculiar views. But now, when her little ones gathered around her and spoke of their new love for the Savior, their joy and peace and hope, she wept.

All the holy influences of her own childhood and youth seemed breathing upon her heart. She remembered the faithful sermons of the old pastor whose hands had baptized her. She remembered, too, the family altar, and the prayers which were offered morning and evening by her sainted father.

She remembered the counsels of her good mother now in heaven. All these memories came crowding back upon her and under their softening influences she almost felt herself a child again.

When Mr. Lowe first became aware of the change in his children, he was sorely puzzled to know what to do. He had given his consent for them to attend the Sunday School, and should he now be offended because they had yielded to its influence? Ought he not rather to have expected this? And after all, would what they called religion make them any worse children?

Though at first quite disturbed in his feelings, he finally concluded upon second thought to say nothing to them upon the subject, but to let things go on as usual.

But not so those happy young converts. They could not long hold their peace. They must tell their father also what they had experienced. Mr Lowe heard them, but he made no attempt to ridicule their simple faith, as had been his usual course with others. They were HIS children, and none could boast of better. Still, he professed to see in their present state of mind nothing but youthful feeling, excited by the peculiar circumstances of the last few weeks. But when they began in their childish ardor to exhort him also to seek the Lord, he checked their simple earnestness with a peculiar sternness which said to them: “The act must not be repeated.”

The next Sunday the father could not prevent a feeling of loneliness as he saw his household leave for church. The three children, with their mother and Joseph, the hired boy, to drive and take care of the horse; all packed into the old commodious carriage and started off. Never before had he such peculiar feelings as when he watched them slowly descending the hill.

To dissipate these emotions he took a dish of salt and started up the hill to a “mountain pasture” where his young cattle were enclosed for the season. It was a beautiful day in October, that queen month of the year. A soft melancholy breathed in the mild air of the mellow “Indian summer,” and the varying hues of the surrounding forests, and the signs of decay seen upon every side, all combined to deepen the emotions which the circumstances of the morning had awakened.

His sadness increased; and as his path opened out into a bright, sunny spot far up on the steep hillside, he seated himself upon a mossy knoll and thought. Before him lay the beautiful valley guarded on either side by its lofty hills, and watered by its placid river. It was a lovely picture; and as his eye rested upon the village, nestling down among its now gorgeous shade-trees and scarlet shrubbery, he could not help thinking of that company who were then gathered in the little church, with its spire pointing heavenward nor of asking himself the question: “Why are they there?”

While thus engaged, his attention was attracted by the peculiar chirping of a ground sparrow near by. He turned, and but a few feet from him he saw a large black snake, with its head raised about a foot above its body, which lay coiled upon the ground. Its jaws were distended, its forked tongue played around its open mouth, flashing in the sunlight like a small lambent flame, while its eyes were intently fixed upon the bird. There was a clear, sparkling light about those eyes that was fearful to behold–they fairly flashed with their peculiar bending fascination.

The poor sparrow was fluttering around a circle of some few feet in diameter, the circle becoming smaller at each gyration of the infatuated bird. She appeared conscious of her danger, yet unable to break the spell that bound her. Nearer and still nearer she fluttered her little wings to those open jaws; smaller and smaller grew the circle, till at last, with a quick convulsive cry; she fell into the mouth of the snake.

As Mr. Lowe watched the bird he became deeply interested in her fate. He started a number of times to destroy the reptile and thus liberate the sparrow from her danger, but an unconquerable curiosity to see the end restrained him. All day long the scene just described was before him. He could not forget it nor dismiss it from his mind. The last cry of that poor little bird sinking into the jaws of death was constantly ringing in his ears, and the sadness of the morning increased.

Returning to his house, he seated himself in his library and attempted to read. What could be the matter? Usually he could command his thoughts at will, but now he could think of nothing but the scene on the mountain, or the little company in the house of God. Slowly passed the hours, and many times did he find himself, in spite of his resolution not to do so, looking down the road for the head of his dapple gray to emerge from the valley. It seemed a long time before the rumbling of the wheels was at length heard upon the bridge which crossed the mountain stream, followed shortly by the old carry-all creeping slowly up the hill.

The return of the family somewhat changed the course of his thoughts.  They did not say any thing to him about the good meeting they had enjoyed, and who had been converted since the last Lord’s day; but they talked it all over among themselves, and how could he help hearing? He learned all about “how good farmer Haskell talked,” and “how humble and devoted Esquire Wiseman appeared,” and “how happy Benjamin and Samuel were”; though he seemed busy with his book and pretended to take no notice of what was said.

It was, indeed, true then that the old lawyer had become pious. He had heard the news before, but did not believe it. Now he had learned it as a fact. That strong-minded man who had been a skeptic all his days, had ridiculed and opposed religion, was now a subject of “the children’s revival.” What could it mean? Was there something in religion after all?

Could it be that what these poor fanatics, as he had always called them, said about the future world was correct? Was there a heaven, and a hell, and a God of justice? Were his darling children right, and was he alone wrong? Such were the thoughts of the boasted infidel, as he sat there listening to the half-whispered conversation of his happy children.

Little Ella came and climbed to her long accustomed place upon her father’s knee, and throwing her arms around his neck, laid her glowing cheek, half-hidden by the clustering curls, against his own. He knew by her appearance she had something to say but did not dare to say it. To remove this fear, he began to question her about Sunday School. He inquired after her teacher and who were her classmates, what she learned, etc. Gradually the shyness wore away, and the heart of the innocent praying child came gushing forth. She told him all that had been done that day–what her teacher had said of the prayer meeting at noon, and who spoke, and how many went forward for prayers. Then folding her arms more closely around his neck, and kissing him tenderly, she added:

“Oh, father, I do wish you had been there!”

“Why do you wish I had been there, Ella?”

“Oh, just to see how happy Nellie Winslow looked while her grandfather was telling us children how much he loved the Savior, and how sorry he was that he did not give his heart to his heavenly Father when he was young. Then he laid his hand on Nellie’s head, who was sitting by his side, and said: ‘I thank God that he ever gave me a little praying granddaughter to lead me to the Savior.’ And, father, I never in all my life saw anyone look so happy as Nellie did.”

Mr. Lowe made no reply–how could he? Could he not see where the heart of his darling Ella was? Could he not see that by what she had told him about Esquire Wiseman and his pet Nellie, she meant HE should understand how happy SHE should be if HER father was a Christian? Ella had not said so in words–THAT was a forbidden subject–but the language of her earnest loving look and manner was not to be mistaken; and the heart of the infidel father was deeply stirred. He kissed the rosy cheeks of the lovely girl, and taking his hat, left the house. He walked out into the field. He felt strangely. Before he was aware of the fact he found his infidelity leaving him, and the simple, artless religion of childhood winning its way to his heart. Try as hard as he might he could not help believing that his little Ella was a Christian. There was a reality about her simple faith and ardent love that was truly “the evidence of things  not seen.” What should he do? Should he yield to thin influence and be led by his children to Christ? What! Captain Lowe, the boasted infidel overcome by the weakness of excited childhood! The thought roused his PRIDE and with an exclamation of impatience at his folly, he suddenly wheeled about, and retracing his steps, with altered appearance, he re-entered his house.

His wife was alone with an open Bible before her. As he entered he saw her hastily wipe away a tear. In passing her he glanced upon the open page, and his eye caught the words “YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!” They went like an arrow to his heart. “TRUTH,” said a voice within, with such fearful distinctness that he started at the fancied sound; and the influence which he had just supposed banished from his heart returned with ten-fold power. The strong man trembled. Leaving the sitting-room, he ascended the stairs to his chamber. Passing Sarah’s room, a voice attracted his attention. It was the voice of prayer. He heard his own name pronounced, and he paused to listen.

“Oh, Lord, save my dear father. Lead him to the Savior. Let him see that he MUST BE BORN AGAIN. Oh let not the SERPENT CHARM HIM! Save, oh, save my dear father!”  He could listen no longer, “_Let not the serpent charm him!_” Was he then like that helpless little bird, who fluttering around the head of the serpent, fell at last into the jaws of death? The thought shot a wild torrent of newly awakened terror through his throbbing heart.

Hastening to his chamber he threw himself into a chair. He started! The voice of prayer again fell upon his ear. He listened. Yes, it was the clear, sweet accents of his little pet. Ella was praying–WAS PRAYING FOR HIM!

“O Lord, bless my dear father. Make him a Christian, and may he and dear mother be prepared for heaven!” They came from their places of prayer, where they had lifted up their voices to God who had said: “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name He will give it you.”

Deeply moved, the father left the house and hastened to the barn. He would fain escape from those words of piercing power. They were like daggers in his heart. He entered the barn. Again he hears a voice. It comes from the hay-loft, in the rich silvery tones of his own noble boy.

John had climbed up the ladder, and kneeling down upon the hay WAS PRAYING FOR HIS FATHER.

“O Lord, save my father!”

It was too much for the poor convicted man, and, rushing to the house he fell, sobbing upon his knees by the side of his wife and cried:

“O Mary, I am a poor, lost sinner! Our children are going to heaven, and I AM GOING DOWN TO HELL! Oh, Wife, is there mercy for a wretch like me?”

Poor Mrs. Lowe was completely overcome. She wept for joy. That her husband would ever be her companion in the way of holiness, she had never dared to hope. Yes, there was mercy for even them. “Come unto me, and find rest.” Christ had said it, and her heart told her it was true. Together they would go to this loving Savior, and their little ones should show them the way.

The children were called in. They came from their places of prayer, where they had lifted up their hearts to that God who had said “WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME HE WILL GIVE IT YOU.” They had asked the Spirit’s influence upon the hearts of their parents, and it had been granted. They gathered around their weeping, broken-hearted father and penitent mother, and pointed them to the cross of Jesus. Long and earnestly they prayed, and wept and agonized. With undoubting trust in the promises, they waited at the mercy-seat, and their prayers were heard. Faith conquered. The Spirit came and touched these penitent hearts with the finger of love; and then sorrow was turned to joy–their night, dark and cheerless and gloomy, was changed to blessed day.

They arose from their knees, and Ella sprang to the arms of her father, and together they rejoiced in God.

Mimi Rothschild is the co-founder of Learning By Grace (http://www.LearningbyGrace.org) a Christian ministry that offers Online HomeSchooling Programs for PreK-12.

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“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you’” (Exodus 16:4). Pray for our daily basic needs because God will provide in abundance for us. Pray that our daily needs of food, drink, and shelter are provided to us. We forget how important these essential elements of our daily lives are sometimes. Also, be content with what we have been blessed with. For those of us who are fortunate enough to have enough food on our tables, water in our cups, and a home to sleep in, it is easy to overlook these necessities in life. Many of our brothers and sisters in the world pray sincerely for their daily bread every day.

The reality is that our daily bread verse is very important to many around the world. Do not take God’s gifts for granted. Acknowledge God’s blessings of the basic needs we have received by his grace and mercy. Be humble and thankful for his generosity to us because we are not lacking his provision. Pray that his children around the world will have their daily needs met as well. Prayer is a powerful tool when used by faithful believers. Express genuine gratitude, thankfulness, and joy for the many wonderful provisions the Lord has blessed us with today and every day.

MISSION: Give thanks for our daily bread
Start today and give thanks to God at every meal for his generosity. Humbly thank God for the wonderful provisions we have been blessed with. Make it a time for our families to get back together at the table to share in prayer and praise. Turn off the television and put away all distractions. Reflect on God’s gift of our daily bread with our loved ones every day.

Here is a opportunity to bless the less fortuanate of the world with a small donation to Compassion International. I am not affiliated with this organization but I donated a filter to help those in need.

http://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/wateroflifefilter/Default.htm?referer=120770
“Every day over 4,000 children are dying of water-related diseases such as cholera and typhoid that are easily preventable. Many more are suffering sickness, diarrhea and acute stomach pains illnesses that stop children going to school and growing up into healthy adults.

Compassion’s Water of Life, a safe water system goes to the heart of one of the greatest and most urgent needs in developing countries today providing safe drinking water to children and their families.

When you give to Compassion’s Water of Life program, you are not only giving safe drinking water, you are protecting a child from life-threatening diseases and allowing that child to go to school, to dream and reach their full potential.
Your donation of $55 provides:

Compassion’s Water of Life system safe water for life (over 1 million gallons) for a child and their family in developing countries.

Education on improving hygiene and sanitation

Support for improving community water sources where needed.

Each tax-deductible gift of $55 will provide a complete Water of Life system to a child and his or her family. Consider a gift of $55… $110… or even $165!”

Chris is the author of the inspirational book “Spiritual Basic Training” Learn more at http://www.spiritualbasictraining.com to complete missions for a Spirit-filled life.

God Bless

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You are the greatest healer

the physician

you see parts in me

no human eyes

have access to

you only spoke a word

and the whole world was created

not a shout

just a word

and what was formless

had shape

what was void

was filled

what was barren

had fruit

touch our shattered lives

fill our empty lives

make us whole again

make abundance to flow from us

again and again

just one touch

and we will be truly

HEALED.

I am working on publishing my first book.

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God is willing and available to explain our circumstances to us if we are willing to listen to Him. One such example in Scripture can be seen in Job 42 when the Lord finally appears and ministers to Job. We can see a conversation going on here. It is awesome to imagine that this great God, this omniscient presence, this Mighty one, is willing to listen to us. He is not averse to intellectually engaging us; in Isaiah 1:18 He invites us further, “Come now, let us reason together”, says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool”. Through Christ, our God is willing to listen to what is in our hearts and also forgive us our sins.

Whatever you are going through and are wondering how to get out of it, remember God is not the problem, you are the problem because you have failed to bring it to Him or if you have, then you have failed to hear His answer. To get out of your bewilderment you have to know how to talk to Him. But most importantly, you must learn to listen to what He has to say about your situation because He may say Yes! No! or Wait! Paul, a man who could really pray, took his thorn in the flesh to the Lord-three times! Twice God was quiet but finally He answered Him, ‘My grace is sufficient” and Paul learnt to live with his condition. You too must learn the times and know what to do, but you must be ready for God’s answer.

The Scriptures tell us that God’s people perish due to lack of knowledge. In our ignorance we may incur God’s wrath but this need not be the case if we engage in the Word and know what God is all about and how to access His blessings. The last word in the old Testament is ‘curse’ and it would indeed be a sad day if our dealings with God ended in a similar manner.

Job remained stable in the Lord despite all that he went through. His friends forecasted what he was going through as much as they could and gave their various predictions concerning his case but his faith remained in the Lord. This is the God you too should engage; the one who asks you, to come to Him, through Christ, with your heavy burdens and He will give you rest. This is God and you should know Him. If you go through the wilderness with Him, He will give you a testimony. No matter what you are going through, one of these days, He will come through for you because that is just who He is: faithful.

God has a plan for your life and His objectives and purpose concerning you must come to pass. The devil is the liar who comes to kill, to steal and to divert God’s purpose for your life. But you must remain upright and steadfast in the Lord and avoid sin which could make you lose your inheritance. Remember David could have built the Lord’s temple but his sin with Bathsheba stood in the way and this priviledge was granted his son, Solomon.

God is pulling us from the crowds and separating us from the rest for His name’s sake. When He wants to use you, He must process you; break you down and mould you until you satisfy His specifications. He is the author and finisher of your faith and therefore knows what is best for you. He breaks us up and cuts us down to size for His glory. God wants us to come to Him and repent our sins so that we are presented holy before Him. He wants to see us broken and contrite so that He may use us. This brokenness is what God admired in David. God knows the heart of man and how deceitful it can be, He is the observer of our thoughts and motives. In the book of Job, after God had ministered to Job, he turned to his enemy the devil and embarrassed him by blessing Job.

The enemy is the accuser of the brethren. In this courtroom, God is the judge, the devil the prosecutor and we are the accused; but thanks to God for Jesus Christ who steps in as our advocate and shows evidence of what happened at Calvary. Holding up His wounded hands he interjects. “Daddy’, look at me. Nails through my hands, thirty nine stripes on my back; a spear to my side as blood and water gushed out; a crown of thorns that dented my head. Daddy all for their sins!” And as the devil sees this, he flees from the courtroom

And the Father remembers that He who the Son has sets free, is free indeed! And the case is annulled.
Let Christ speak for you because the battle is really not yours. Romans 5:1 says, ‘Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’. 8:1 of the same book further assures you, ‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’. Let God deal with your circumstances but only access Him through Jesus Christ.

Bless those who curse you and pray for those who pursue or use you. Forgive those that hurt you because you are of the Lord. He has placed His special mark on you through the Holy Spirit and will therefore accord you a special protection. If you have hurt some people, then ask for forgiveness and stand blameless before the Lord. Ephesians 1:3 says ‘For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight’ When you accepted the Gospel of Christ, you became His adopted son through Jesus Christ. For you to access Him, your life must exemplify this. Job in 42:10 prayed for his friends who had misled him with their lack of faith; this was an act of forgiveness and we learn that after this, God blessed him twice as much as before.

God knows why you are where you are. Maybe you have not released some people with your forgiveness; you are holding onto a grudge which has now become a part of you. God knows your address and when you forgive, His mercies shall follow you all the days of your life; wherever you are. The journey of salvation is about forgiveness and you must constantly do this. God will restore you but you must do your part.

Like Job, people will come to celebrate with you when you are restored. When you were in the wilderness they avoided you but they will now come to see the testimony that God has given you. They may have left you out of their gatherings because you were single or because you had been down for so long that they did not know how to behave around you anymore. But when God restores you, you will see them flocking around you; embrace them for they knew not what they were doing. There is a time for everything, and there will be a time for you to rest from the calamities and adversities that you have gone through. You will not die in your pain. God will provide a way out for you. And this time round you will be stronger.

But when He blesses you, do not forget to serve and thank Him. Do not become too busy for Him. Remember His mercies and remember the wilderness that He has pulled you from. Remember the disease He has healed you from, or the husband He has now given you and covered your shame. Remember the child He has blessed you with after many years of childlessness or the debts He has removed from your life and restored your sanity. Remember the tears you shed at His feet. Remember His mercies and serve Him wholeheartedly and He will bless you much more. Because Deuteronomy 28 tells us that blessings are conditional and that curses follow disobedience.

God is accessible; you just need to know how.

(word count-1378)

My writing is my calling and I use it to honor God. More on:-

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It happens too often today with all of our problems locally, nationally and our daily issues that we forget about God. We forget to pray to God, thanking Him and praising Him. But when things get really bad then we turn to God. That is treating God as a god of convenience not a God you serve. I have caught myself sayingwell, I have tried everything else, I guess I’ll give God a try. God doesn’t want to be your last resort but your first answer. “But I don’t want to bother God. He is so busy with other more important things than my little problems.” God chose you before time began. God chose you for a time and place such as this. God who cares and loves you so much that He took the time and effort to know everything about you right down to numbering the hairs on your head. God knows you better than you know yourself. A God who loves you that much is a God who wants to be involved in every tiny thing and every big thing in your DAILY life.

Most people treat God as something that they keep in a box for a rainy day. When they need Him they take Him down from the top shelf of the closet blow the dust off of the box that they put Him in then ask Him for help. There are those who go to church on Sundays to pray, worship and hear a sermon then the rest of the week they forget about God almost altogether. Most Christians don’t feel comfortable or worthy praying to God. That becomes one of many excuses why they don’t pray much or at all. Jesus said “You have not because you ask not.” Luke 11:9-10 9″So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. The Lord’s Prayer is a great way to start your prayers. God isn’t interested in the flowery words or special “Christianese” phrases in your prayers, He is just happy that you prayed to Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you learn how to pray when you pray!

In a recent vision I saw a side view of a man standing in front of a door praying. He wasn’t certain what it looked like behind the door or who was listening to his prayers. Most of us have had a conversation with someone on the other side of a door. You hope that the other person on the other side is listening and that they will be receptive and responsive to your words. The door that the man was standing at was heaven’s door. What I saw on the other side of the door was a huge room and God, whose head was almost as big as the door, was bent down and had His ear pressed up against the door. God was eagerly listening to the man’s prayers. What love!

Prayer is God’s gift to us to communicate with Him. Does God hear everyone’s prayers both saint and sinner alike? No, there is only one prayer that God hears from sinners and that is the prayer of salvation. Even the saint’s prayers can be hard for God to hear clearly if they are living a sinful life. But “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” It’s like talking over a ham radio, if you don’t get the frequency or channel just right your message will not be heard clearly. When praying keep in mind to pray for others as the Bible directs, for both your brothers and sisters in Christ and for the lost. We are to pray without ceasing, that means praying beyond Sundays. Starting your day off in prayer, praying through out the day and finishing your day in prayer. Some religions have special times to pray daily. We are not required to do so because our prayers are to be honest, earnest and fervent prayers from our hearts not out of routine.

Declaring should be part of your praying. You pray and ask in Jesus name according to His Word and His will. Praising God for His promises, His faithfulness, His mercy and grace and blessing God for His everlasting love. Praise and thank the Lord every day in ALL things is part of your declaring. Declare the goodness of the Lord and His blessings in your life everyday. Give thanks for what you have learned through your problems and trials. Praise Him in the storm instead of blaming God for the storm. Sometimes you have to go though some storms to appreciate the clear sunny days. Christians often blame God for putting them in their problems as if it was all God’s fault. There are few things to keep in mind as you grow in the Lord. How you got into your problem and how long you stay there is totally up to you. How you got there was based on decisions that you made and the consequences for those decisions. EVERY decision you make both good and bad carries consequences. Those consequences can have an impact not only on you but on those around you and close to you. How long you stay in your problem is based on your ability to learn for your mistakes so as not to repeat them. For Israel, back in Moses day, when they were in the wilderness it was “one more time around the mountain” instead of going into the promise land. God has a way of turning those problem areas in your life into learning experiences that He will help you to grow out of. Declaring God’s Word should always be included in your prayers. Taking God’s promises and declaring them ties them to your prayers. There are over 77 promises in the Bible for prosperity alone!

Receive the answer to your prayers. Visualize your answer in your “spirit’s eye” that God has answered your prayer. Don’t try to visualize how God will do it just “see” the end result of your prayer. Let God work out the details. If a sinner can visualize the sin he or she is about to commit, why can’t a saint visualize God’s answer to their prayer? Too often Christians pray once for something then they assume, having done their Christian duty, it is all up to God to complete it. The Bible says that you are to keep praying and praising God until you receive your answer. Does God answer all of your prayers? Yes He does but sometimes the answer is no or not yet. Just as you answer your child’s request for something sometimes with a no. For your heavenly Father knows what is best for you. He has already seen ALL possible solutions to your prayers and answers them perfectly. What would you expect from a perfect God? Pray according to God’s will, declare God’s promises with praise and thanksgiving and receive your answer from heaven as you visualize the end result. Are you ready? It is time to stand!!!

My name is Steve and I was born and raised in a good Christian home in Phoenix Arizona. In 2004 God spoke to me to let me know that He would start sharing things with me that I would share with others. Little did I know how powerful and meaningful those things would be! Thank you Lord!!

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