B2B Concert of Prayer – How Much More #766

Posted on October 24, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 766

“How Much More”

Matthew 7:11 (NLT) If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

————————————————————————————

You may have heard people in Christian circles say: “Be careful what you ask for in prayer, you just may get it”.  This is a common saying heard among church folk and it is wrong, wrong, wrong!  This type of saying belies a deep rooted attitude of distrust and a lack of faith in who God is.  It speaks of an attitude of heart that desires the temporal comforts of the flesh and of this world over the eternal best that our Father in Heaven has for His children.  Such words indicate a lack of heart knowledge of the true character of God.

Various cults and mythology have false gods that are seen as toying with mankind for their amusement or just wreaking havoc in our lives for the fun of it.  Is this your view of the one, true God, our creator and Father in Heaven?  Is this your view of God, who loves you so much as to suffer and die for your sins?  Is this the view of God you want to portray to those who are in need of salvation through Jesus Christ?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. – John 3:16

The Word of God does not teach us to approach God in prayer like a lawyer seeking to manipulate a favorable decision with carefully chosen words.  Rather we are exhorted to come to Him like a child to their Father.  We are encouraged to ask, seek, and knock.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. – Matthew 7:7

God’s Word teaches us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and not to worry about the things of this world that we need because God already knows that we need them and like a good Father, He will provide for His children.

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. – Psalm 37:25

When our heart’s desire and motive is to seek first a personal relationship with God and His righteousness our prayer life becomes more worshipful and intimate like a child comforted in their daddy’s arms.  We see God as ‘Abba’ and not as a genie in a bottle to do our bidding.  Our motive in prayer must be based upon a sincere, loving relationship with Father God.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. – James 4:3

Resolve to remove sayings from your vocabulary that place stumbling blocks in your path as well as the path of others.  Seek to go beyond an intellectual understanding of God’s character and gain a heart knowledge of how much more Father God loves you and cares for you.

I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Business as Mission, Faith, Hope, Peace, Prayer, Priorities, Trust | Leave a comment

B2B Concert of Prayer – Comfort #765

Posted on October 16, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 765

“Comfort”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)     Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

————————————————————————————

Many of us are going through or know someone who is going through some very trying times.  On any given day we encounter and cross paths with the unemployed, the working poor, single parents, hungry children, the homeless, the addicted, the elderly, people trying to deal with dwindling fixed incomes, loss of pensions or retirement income, widows and widowers adjusting to life alone after decades of marriage, those battling cancers or other debilitating illnesses and the list goes on and on.

It is difficult for some people in such situations to receive comfort from others who cannot relate to their situation.  It is also difficult to know how to give comfort to others experiencing these trials unless we have ‘walked a mile in their shoes’ ourselves.  I believe God allows His children to face such trials in this life for the express purpose of preparing us to reach out to others in His Name, with His comfort that we ourselves received from Him.

We sometimes talk about being under great pressure as Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and we use the phrase ‘it brought me to my knees’.  In a way, being brought to our knees in such periods of our life is a good thing.  It is from that ‘prayer perspective’ that we can call out to God in praise and worship.  That is when the God of all comfort will come near and comfort us as only He can.

… We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God …He has delivered us…On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. – 2 Corinthians 1:8-11     

It is also when we are ‘under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure’ that the enemy of our souls is quick to prompt us to curse God and question His love as he did when Job was going through a difficult time.  This is where the prayers lifted up on behalf of others are a powerful weapon against the enemy.  Never underestimate the power of ‘prayer cover’ for those who are at their most vulnerable moments of despair and sorrow.

If you are being brought to your knees under the pressure of life, call out to God and know that He will be there to wrap you in His love, peace and comfort.  If you know someone going through a difficult time that you yourself have been delivered through, pray for them and be there to bring them the comfort that the Lord brought to you.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. – 2 Thessalonians 2:16

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Business as Mission, Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Peace, Prayer, Purpose, Relationship, Trials, Workplace | Leave a comment

B2B Concert of Prayer – Pray, Trust & Wait #764

Posted on October 10, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 764

“Pray, Trust, and Wait”

Psalm 37:7 (ESV)  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

————————————————————————————

Have you ever experienced God’s silence?  Time and time again you have prayed to the Lord about a particular situation seeking His guidance, deliverance or provision and it seems that His silence is an indication that He has not heard your prayers.

If you are like me, waiting is not your strong suit.  Time, however, is irrelevant to God.  He loves us and has our long-term eternal well being in mind as well as the well being of those whose lives we affect and interact with.

Look at the biblical account of Joseph who was sold into slavery and unjustly imprisoned for years.  Although he was elevated to be second only to Pharaoh he remained estranged from his family in a foreign land.  During his difficult trials, it seemed to Joseph and to his family that God was distant and uncaring yet all the while God was orchestrating circumstances to provide for the greater good of the nation of Israel in the long term.

David pleaded with God to not remain silent or forget him during his times of difficulty.  Note that however long God was in responding, David did not despair.  He remained a man of prayer.

…O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent… but I am a man of prayer. – Psalm 109:1

David trusted in God’s unfailing love.

…How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?…But I trust in your unfailing love… – Psalm 13:1

David’s prayer and trust in God gave him the confidence and the strength to wait for the Lord to act.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.  Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. … Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. … I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. – Psalm 27:8

Are you willing to be used in God’s perfect plan?

Can you persevere in prayer remaining confident and trusting in His unfailing love for you and for those in whose life you play an important role?

Learn to be patient and pray, trust and wait on the Lord.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Business as Mission, Direction, Encouragement, Faith, Peace, Perseverance, Prayer, Trials, Trust | Leave a comment

B2B Concert of Prayer – Craftiness #763

Posted on October 3, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 763

“CRAFTINESS”

Job 5:12 (ESV) He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.

——————————————————————————-

In the Road Runner cartoons, Wile E. Coyote is the epitome of craftiness as he attempts to capture the Road Runner.  While humorous and entertaining as a cartoon, such wiliness in people is far less of a laughing matter.

By definition, a crafty person’s character is notably skilled in or marked by underhandedness, deviousness, or deception.  Such people manipulate others for their own personal gain.  This is the way of the world and it must not be the way of Christians in this world.

In political circles it is common practice to put deceptive ‘spin’ on a topic to avoid dealing with the issue directly or to show it in an artificially positive light.  We see craftiness at work in the political mudslinging sound bites prevalent during an election year.  We should expect that a political candidate for office that proclaims to be a Christian would not exhibit a wily, crafty character.  If you are a Christian seeking political office place your trust in God and not in worldly methods of manipulation in order to win the election.

Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength. – 1 Chronicles 29:12

When shopping for a home, car, or other major purchase, do you find that you are on guard against the craftiness of the salesperson?  Lies can be as much about what is not revealed as to what is spoken of falsely.  A Christian in a commissioned sales job must always be on guard against the temptation to close the deal by compromising and manipulating the truth.

…the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning… But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning…2 Corinthians 11:3 & 4:2

Craftiness has permeated many church denominations causing the gospel truths of the Bible to be watered down and spin doctored to create mass appeal in an attempt to increase numbers and to improve the ‘business bottom line’ of the church.  It behooves all Christians to study the Word and seek discernment such that they will not become victimized by false doctrine.

…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. – Ephesians 4:14

In all relational aspects of our lives, as Christians we must avoid resorting to craftiness in order to achieve particular desired results.  Whether we are in a courting or marital relationship, parenting, teaching, selling, supervising, or managing others, our character must be defined by the integrity and truth of the abiding presence of the living Word of God in our hearts.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Authority, Business as Mission, Character, Marriage, Morality, Relationship, Temptation, Words, Workplace | Leave a comment

B2B Concert of Prayer – Perspective #762

Posted on September 26, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 762

“PERSPECTIVE”

1 CHR 29:11 (NLT)   Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength.

———————————————————————————-

An article in the ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2009) dealt with power and the illusion of control.  A university study of international scope was done which showed that power can literally “go to one’s head,” causing people in a position of power to think that they have more control over outcomes than they actually do.  Throughout history and in to the present day, we see world leaders, CEO’s, elected officials, pastors, teachers, supervisors, and managers in power positions fall because of poor choices made as a result of their illusion of control and invincibility.

The antidote for the illusion of control is a proper biblical perspective.  This perspective is summarized by King David in our reference Scripture from First Chronicles.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty… We adore you as the one who is over all things. Perspective begins with worship and acknowledgement that all honor and glory belongs to God.  If we receive accolades and recognition for our accomplishments we must guard against letting it go to our head.  We must always give God the glory and praise.

Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom… Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything.  Perspective is shored up with the acknowledgement that we are His stewards.  We are servants in His kingdom.  We own nothing. Let me say it again: we own nothing.  As God entrusts us with greater stewardship responsibility over people, property, businesses, and the like, we must guard our hearts from becoming possessive over what is rightfully His.

 …if riches increase, set not your heart on them. – Psalm 62:10

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper…and began to wash the disciples’ feet…- John 13:3

We must guard against the pridefulness of heart that says ‘I accomplished this!’  Greater power and responsibility equates to a call to greater and more humble service in God’s economy.

Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength. Perspective is underscored with the acknowledgement that it is God who placed us in a position of power and it is He who can remove us from it as He deems necessary.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Phil 4:13

A proper perspective brings peace and joy.  A proper perspective allows rest and comfort in the ‘shadow of His wings’.  May you guard your heart against the illusion of control such that power does not ‘go to your head’.  May you obtain and nurture a proper biblical perspective as you seek first His kingdom and righteousness each day.  May you have a joyful servant’s heart as you serve God and serve others in His Name.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Business as Mission, Service, Stewardship, Workplace, Worship | Leave a comment

B2B Concert of Prayer – Heart Sick #761

Posted on September 19, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 761

“Heart Sick”

Proverbs 13:12 (ESV)  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

————————————————————————————

Do you ever get ‘bummed out’ when things hoped for just don’t seem to be happening fast enough?  The calls for a job interview just don’t come.  You get passed over for that promotion at work – again.  Everything used to be on a growth curve until the bottom fell out.  You strive to stay afloat but circumstances just don’t seem to want to turn around any time soon.  All that you hope for seems to be on indefinite delay and you feel depressed, discouraged, and generally sick at heart.

God’s Word contrasts ‘hope deferred’ with a ‘desire fulfilled’.  It is interesting to note that a desire fulfilled is equated to a tree of life. We first see the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and then again in the book of Revelation.

He drove out the man, and at the east of the Garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. – Genesis 3:24

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ – Revelation 2:7

Jesus is the ‘Tree of Life’.  As Christian believers He is our desire fulfilled.  If you are heart sick because of hope deferred, consider the possibility that your hope, that is your heart’s desire, may be misdirected to something or someone else instead of Jesus Christ.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matthew 6:33

From the time Adam and Eve were separated from the Tree of Life God has been calling each of us to return to Him and to grow into a deeper and closer relationship with Him.  God made a way for us to be righteous through Jesus Christ.  He once again placed the Tree of Life before mankind as He had in the Garden of Eden.  It was made freely available once again to all who would come and choose its fruit over the fruit of sin or the perishable fruit of the things of this world.

Jesus came for you and me.  Jesus came so that we can be redeemed and declared righteous, not by what we do, but by what He did for us.  Jesus is the only cure for a sick heart.

May your heart’s foremost desire be for a closer, more intimate personal relationship with Jesus.  May you be filled to overflowing with the joy of His presence no matter what your circumstances look and feel like.

May the Holy Spirit empower you to share the joy of the Lord through the truth of His Word with those who are heart sick.  May His abiding presence in you be a source of courage and hope to others.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Business as Mission, Encouragement, Faith, Hope, Priorities | Leave a comment

B2B Concert of Prayer – Asked to Leave #760

Posted on September 12, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 760

“Asked to Leave”

Matthew 8:28-34 (ESV) And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. … Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

————————————————————————————

Have you ever been on a well established and marked hiking trail and decided to go your own way and leave the path to cut through the woods on your own?  When we choose to wander from established paths we leave guidance, direction, and protection behind and rely on our own ability to find our way.  Apart from the path, we are tortured by every thorn bush and tripped up by vines.  Brambles and burrs attach themselves to our clothing and torture us with their needle point thorns.  Apart from the path, we subject ourselves to attack by the wild things of this world.

In our reference Scripture the Gadarenes had wandered from the path of the Law of God.  They were herdsmen of pigs which is a forbidden and unclean animal according to the Law of God for Israel.

Note that when we willfully leave the path of God, we move into the tortuous arms of Satan.  The Gadarenes were plagued by the two men possessed by legions of demons.  Note also, that the Gadarenes preferred their life of sin apart from God’s path.  Jesus got in the way of their profitable business as pig herders and so they asked Him to leave their region.

Does Jesus get in your way?  Like the angel that blocked the path of Balaam and his donkey is the Lord standing in your way to oppose the path you are on?

…the angel of the Lord said to him, “… I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. – Numbers 22:32

What is your response to the correction of the Lord?  Will you ask Him to leave?  Is the mammon of this world more important than your relationship with God?  Does satisfying the lusts and desires of the flesh outweigh the benefits of obedience to God’s Word?

God’s Word is a light that leads us along His path for us.  Even if we have wandered off on our own, it is not too late to get back on God’s path.  It is in God’s presence that we can begin the process of removing the burrs, ticks, and brambles that have become embedded in our lives.  This is however, a choice we have to make.  We asked Jesus to leave us when we wandered off.  He remains ready and willing to forgive and welcome us back.  When Jesus approaches you and confronts you with the evidence of your sin as He did to the Gadarenes, will you ask Him to leave or respond as the Psalmist did?

You have made known to me the path of life…Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path …Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. – Psa 16:11; 27:11; 119:105

May you return to the narrow road, the way and the truth and the life that is Jesus Christ.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Business as Mission, Forgiveness, Obedience | Leave a comment

B2B Concert of Prayer – Choke Hold #759

Posted on September 5, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 759

“Choke Hold”

Matthew 13:22 (ESV)  As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

————————————————————————————

Kudzu is called the plant that ate the South.  It has been named one of the 100 worst alien invasive species on Earth.  This fast growing plant quickly blankets the land and trees, effectively blocking out the light such that the underlying vegetation and trees eventually die.

The ‘cares of this world’ mentioned in our reference Scripture are the things we worry and are anxious about.  How will I pay the bills?  Will I be in the next round of layoffs?  Will I be able to find work?  Is it cancer?  Worry is like a dark cloud that hangs over us and overwhelms us.  Just as Kudzu prevents sunlight from reaching the vegetation it has overtaken and chokes the life out of it, so also worry blocks the light of Jesus Christ and effectively suffocates the life out of the truth of the Living Word of God planted in our heart.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life … which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? … Therefore do not be anxious … But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matt 6:25

The cure for worry and anxiety is to make your relationship with God and Christ your number one priority.  Seeking first and foremost His kingdom is to seek to walk closely with Him every moment of every day.  It is as if every breath we exhale is exhaled in prayer and worship.  Seeking His righteousness is to make it a priority to live a pure life, obedient to His Word.  It is as if you are so close to Jesus that His righteousness is wrapped around you like His cloak.  Seeking first is to have an intensity of desire like the thirst of a deer that has been fleeing hunters.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. – Psalm 42:1

In seeking first the kingdom and righteousness of God you invite in the power and presence of His Holy Spirit, who like a mighty wind will blow the cloud aside and let the comforting warmth of the light of Christ shine upon you and give you peace.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you …” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” – John 20:21

Sometimes we think that more money is the cure to all of life’s problems. ‘If only I could win the lottery, then I would have nothing to worry about.’  This is the deceitfulness of wealth.  It promises what it cannot give.  Our security, our trust, hope, and faith in this life and for eternity must be founded upon Jesus Christ.  An abundance of greenbacks in this world, like the lush green of Kudzu belie the truth that they choke out life.  Don’t seek first the wealth of this world.  It will choke out of the Living Word of God in your life.

People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich are always worrying and seldom get a good night’s sleep. – Eccl 5:12

May you always walk in the light and presence of Father God.  May His peace always flood your soul.  May your life be abundantly fruitful for the Kingdom of God and may the Lord provide for all your needs as you seek Him first in your life.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Business as Mission, Faith, Peace, Priorities, Trust | Leave a comment

B2B Concert of Prayer – Discipline Over Desire #758

Posted on August 29, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 758

“Discipline Over Desire”

1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)  But I discipline my body and keep it under control…

————————————————————————————

Is your body a spoiled rotten child?  Do its cravings nag you like a child’s tantrum until you give in?  If you have ever tried going on a diet or entered into a time of fasting and prayer you have probably experienced the ‘wrath of the flesh’.  My wife started a healthy, lifestyle changing eating plan nine weeks ago and I have lost 10 pounds just by being in the same household environment.

One observation made during this time of lifestyle change is how powerful a force our body’s desires are and how tough it is to exercise discipline over our fleshly desires.

…all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.  – 1 John 2:15

Our bodies crave much more than it needs for proper nutrition and health.  Such ‘junk’ foods are not necessarily bad, immoral, or sinful in and of themselves.  They can even be eaten occasionally and in moderation without undo harm to our bodies.  The core issue is our ability to discipline our body and keep it under control as Paul wrote in our reference Scripture from 1 Corinthians.

Food is only the tip of the iceberg concerning the desires of the flesh.  The crux of the matter is that if we are unable to discipline our body’s desires for junk food, how will we be able to discipline it in its other passions and lusts?

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.  – James 1:14

An undisciplined lifestyle is poor stewardship over what God has entrusted into our care which includes our bodies.  As born-again Christians we must exercise Spiritual self-control and maintain discipline over all the desires, lusts, and cravings of our bodies.

… walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh …the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. – Galatians 5:16

As children of God we must approach daily life in this world recognizing that we are only short-term visitors here.  Our citizenship is in Heaven and life in this body is temporary and fleeting when compared to eternity with Jesus.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. – 1Peter 2:11

We cannot live a disciplined life in our own strength.  Our bodies will not discipline themselves.  It is only by the power of the indwelling presence of God that we are able to live self-controlled, godly lives.

For the grace of God has appeared …training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age… So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace … – Titus 2:11; 2 Tim 2:22

May you live a disciplined life in the power and grace of God.  May you be able to say as Paul did that you will not be mastered by anything that your flesh desires.

“Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything. – 1 Corinthians 6:12

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Business as Mission, Character, Holiness, Morality, Obedience, Perseverance, Priorities, Stewardship, Temptation | Leave a comment

B2B Concert of Prayer – Door of Hope #757

Posted on August 22, 2011 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER 

Pray Week 757

“Door of Hope”

Hosea 2:15 (ESV)      And there I will … make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.

————————————————————————————

In our reference Scripture from Hosea, the word ‘Achor’ means ‘trouble’ and the Valley of Achor was so named because of the trouble encountered there by the children of Israel.  It was in this valley that Joshua’s men, fresh from their victory at Jericho, were soundly defeated by the men of Ai because of the sin in their camp.  God did not help them in their battle with Ai as He had done at Jericho because of the sin of Achan and his family.

The Lord said to Joshua … Israel has sinned; … Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. – Joshua 7:10

We will encounter valleys of trouble in life.  There is no escaping that fact.

… In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Sometimes, our valley of trouble is a consequence of our own actions brought upon by our stubborn refusal to repent of sin and obey the Word of God.

Because the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you. – Deuteronomy 23:14

Other times the valley of trouble is a time of testing allowed by God in order to shape, mold, and equip us much like the time spent in boot camp to prepare our troops for battle.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2

The good news of the Gospel is that God loves us so much that regardless of the reason for our being in a valley of trouble, He is faithful to provide a door of hope in the person of Jesus Christ.  If we are steeped in trouble because of sin, Jesus is our door of hope.  He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:9)

…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

If we are experiencing difficult times and trials as children of God, Jesus is our door of hope.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep”; And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – John 10:7; Romans 8:28

Are you looking for a ‘door of hope’?  Look no further than to Jesus Christ.  Are you in need of a job?  Seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.  Do you need a financial miracle?  Seek Him first.  Do you need healing in body, mind or relationships?  Seek Jesus first.  Make Him your door of hope.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. – Psalm 16:8

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.

Posted in Business as Mission, Faith, Forgiveness, Holiness, Hope, Obedience, Peace, Trials | Leave a comment