"Serious Prayer"

"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God".  Luke 6:12

The majority of the Christian community knows little about how to "really" pray.  Oh, we pray, but our prayers are so shallow and hurried.  We don't do what I call "serious praying".  This kind of prayer is called, "praying until you pray through".  It is called "tarrying" until the answer comes. 

We throw up prayers on the run- as we are leaving the house, while we are brushing our teeth, when we are in bed and our eyes are getting heavy with sleep.  There are times when we pray a "quick" prayer because we are in a situation and need help from the Lord at that moment.  But most all Biblical examples of prayer involved praying until you have the answer-- no matter how long it takes. 

Jesus often prayed all night.  He prayed for three hours in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Hannah prayed for a child until she appeared to be "drunk" because of the intensity of her prayer.  David prayed for his child until the answer came.  Jeremiah prayed ten days for an answer from the Lord for the people.  Jacob wrestled in prayer with the Lord all night.  These are only a few examples. 

Am I suggesting that we won't get our prayers answered if we don't tarry in prayer for hours or days?  No, but I am saying that if we would learn how to get serious about our prayers and spend whatever time it took to get an answer, we might see more answers than we do.  If we would take prayer seriously things might be a lot different than they are.  After all, isn't the need and the answer worth doing whatever you need to do to see the Lord answer?  Isn't it important enough?

Have a great day.  Is the answer you need important enough to get serious about your praying and spend whatever time it takes in prayer until you get the answer? 

"Starting Point"

"Pray without ceasing".  1 Thessalonians 5:17

There are times in all our lives when we feel as though we have to "regroup".  There are times when we don't know what to do.  There are times when we need guidance and direction.  There are times when we need a "word".  There are times when we need a "fresh start".  We feel as though we have grown weary, negligent and cold.  But how does that happen?  What do we do to get it?  We go back to the "starting point".

The starting point is the foot of the cross.  It is at the foot of the cross, when we humbled ourselves in prayer, that our Christian life began.  In other words, we go back to the Lord in prayer.  Prayer is what got us started-- we prayed to the Lord a prayer of repentance and acceptance of Him as our Savior and Lord.  Now, we have to do the same thing.  We have to go to prayer. 

There are no short cuts.  There is no "quick fix".  There is no alternate route.  Prayer is your answer.  Prayer got you "in".  Prayer will keep you in.  Prayer will direct you.  Prayer will guide you.  Prayer will lift you up.  Prayer will re-align you.  Prayer will give you clarity.  Prayer will give you a fresh start again.

What is your answer?  What do you do?  How do you get refreshed?  How do you get revived?  How do you get direction?  How do you get answers?  You pray.  Sounds simple, but it is the answer and solution.

Have a great day.  Your answer is:  pray!

"Choose Your Priorities"

"But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her".  Luke 10:42

Life is made up of choices.  Choices are based on priorities.  If something is a priority to you then you will more than likely chose to do that. 

Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus.  She made being in His presence her priority.  She chose it first above being in the kitchen working to prepare a meal for Him. 

I am in no way saying that we should neglect our responsibilities.  But we must make sure that when it comes to spiritual things we have our priorities in correct order.  The Lord will not force our priorities on us.  He will not make us chose what is best.  He let Mary and Martha both chose their own priorities when He was in their house.  He will, however, tell us what our priorities ought to be.  He tells us to "seek first His kingdom" and to "love Him" first with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.  But it is up to us whether we do so or not.

Look at your life and assess your priorities.  Is living for self your priority or living for the Lord?  Is following His plan your first priority or following your own plan the priority of your life?  Is it more important for you to seek His will first or do your own thing?  Would you choose to spend time with Him first as opposed to spending time working for Him?  Are you like Mary, choosing the good part first-- being in His presence-- because that is your priority.  His presence should be our first priority.  Then everything else will flow in its proper order from that.

Have a great day.  What is your number one priority?  Is it the Lord's presence? 

"Listen To The Spirit"

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches..." Revelation 2:7

If you listen to the news, if you look at Facebook, if you watch the reels, watch YouTube or are on the internet very much, you have heard plenty of end time words, thoughts on world events and prophecies. Do you feel like you are being bombarded with so much information, theories, prophecies, teaching, educated guesses? I have been hearing everything from the rapture will take place this week or this month, to who the anti-Christ is, to quotes from the Book of Daniel, Revelation and other Bible interpretations. Explanations of how this is playing out, what this will turn into, what to do when it happens. It is getting overwhelming! Who has the truth? Who understands it tall? Just who are we to listen to? 

As I was pondering this, the Lord spoke to me and said--- He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying.  (Let me preface what I am about to say with this-- God does use people, their voices and gives them understanding, but He is not the author of confusion.) He told us to listen to the voice of the Spirit; not the voice of the prophet, the teachers, the politicians, the leaders, the prognosticators, the theologians, the pastors, or anyone else who has a "word" about what is going on. They are not our SOURCE of information. They only make guesses, put puzzle pieces together, try to figure it out, lean to their own understanding, get in the flesh, trust their education. They don't know it all, they don't understand or comprehend it all. They are still seeing through a dark glass. They only know in part.

If we really want to know the truth about what is going on in the world, we are going to have to listen to and give our ear, our whole ear, to hear what the Spirit is saying. He is the Spirit of Truth and He will lead us into ALL truth. He knows the end from the beginning, He knows how the dots are connecting, He knows who's who and what is going to happen next. He is our source to truth and understanding. 

The Book of Revelation deals with the end time events prior to the return of our Lord. In the first few chapters Jesus spoke to seven churches concerning what was to come and what they were to do in light of it. He told each of the seven churches...  "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith." We are those that He was talking to. (The end time church.)  Therefore, this is our instruction in a world that is trying to persuade us that they have it all figured out, all the answers and know what is going on. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit!  

Have a great day. You can't give your ear to everyone. But it is imperative that you give it to the Spirit and listen closely to what He is saying.   

"A Memorial Of Pain"

This morning I have another word from the Lord for someone-- a more specific word.  The Lord says-- somebody used you, abused you, took advantage of you or mistreated you and as a result you have made a "memorial" out of your pain. 

A memorial is: something, especially a structure, established to remind people of a person or event.  Instead of letting what was done to you go and leave it in the past, you have continued to hold on to it.  Instead of forgiving the person and what was done you wear your pain and hurt like a "badge of honor". 

The problem with memorials is that they will dictate your actions, feelings and emotions.  They will take control of your life.  They will never allow you to move forward because you keep visiting and revisiting them.  Each time you do they pull you a little further away-- from everything and everybody, including God and His plan for your life.  Each time you revisit it-- when you think about it-- you rehearse what was done and a stronghold is being set up in your life.    

You are at a standstill spiritually.  You can't seem to move any further with the Lord.  You are constantly going backwards.  You have prayed about it and prayed about it seeking an answer from the Lord but just can't seem to put your finger on what the problem is.  The Lord "sent" me to tell you that this is your problem.  You have made a "memorial" out of your pain. 

When you make a memorial to your pain, you are in fact "worshipping" it.  You give it your time, your attention, you let it hold you back, you let it stop you from moving forward, it basically runs your life.  It calls the shots.  When you say you "can't" let it go, you are really saying two things.  You are saying, "I won't let it go because of the attention it brings me".  Secondly, you are saying that God is not big enough to take care of your pain and hurt.

You have your answer.  Now it is up to you.  Either continue to worship your pain and feel sorry for yourself.  Or let it die-- pull down the "memorial".  Go to God, repent of holding on to it.  Then let Him help you have a funeral for it and bury it once and for all in His love and grace.

Have a great day.  You have made a memorial out of your pain; it is time to stop worshipping it.