“Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” Psalm 66:20

If we honestly look back on the sort of prayers we often pray, we will be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance, like the Pharisee did. But the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over their prayers, and if they could retrace their steps would desire to pray more truly, more earnestly. (Luke 18:9-14)

Think about how cold your prayers often are. When praying alone in your room (Matthew 6:6) you should wrestle as Jacob did. (Genesis 32:22-32) But instead, your petitions have been faint and few. They have been far removed from that humble, believing, persevering faith, which cries, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26)

Yet, how wonderful is it that God has nonetheless heard these cold prayers, and not only heard, but answered them!

Reflect also how infrequent your prayers are. Unless you’re in trouble, that is. That’s when people hasten to pray! When deliverance has come, where has been your constant prayer of thanks? Yet, even when you cease to pray diligently, God does not cease to bless. When you have neglected God in prayer, God has not deserted you. His bright glorious light continues to shine.

Oh Yet, how wonderful is it that God has nonetheless heard these cold prayers, and not only heard, but answered them! What a God He is to hear the prayers of those who come to Him when they have pressing wants, but neglect Him when they have received a mercy. He even hears those who approach Him when they are forced to come, but who almost forget to address Him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few.

Let His gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our hearts, so that we may “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Ephesians 6:18)

Questions: In what areas have you been “praying halfheartedly” lately? In what areas can you see that God has been at work despite your lack of prayer?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon,
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer,  2010.
used by permission

FURTHER READING

What Should Be Included in Prayer?

Continuous Partial Attention Is your prayer time undistracted?

How did Jesus Pray?

The post God Hears Halfhearted Prayer appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Keep on praying.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)

Corrie ten Boom asked, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”

My husband Bill was a man driven to pray frequently.

One morning he was awakened around 2am.  One of our staff associates faced a personal crisis.  That morning, God impressed upon Bill to pray for the man and to ask for God’s wisdom in how to respond to the needs of our friend.

God prepared Bill for a crucial meeting with that same man the next day.

Oh, but my husband would pray about everything!  (SMILE).  He would even pray about what clothes to wear.  He felt that the way he dressed, as well as his words and actions, should bring glory to God.

As Bill said, “The more frequently you share your thoughts and desires with your Lord, the closer you come to Him.”

Friend, make prayer your steering wheel.

“Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.” – E.M. Bounds

By Vonette Bright
used by permission

FURTHER READING’

Prayer: Continuous Partial Attention

Imbalanced Prayer

Foundational Core Truths about Prayer

The post Spare Prayer? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“And since, when we were his enemies, we were brought back to God by the death of His Son, what a blessing He must have for us now that we are His friends, and He is living within us!”
Romans 5:10

Marilyn had a very poor self-image. She hated the way she looked and felt that her personality was so bad that she could never expect to have true friends. She was concerned especially about marriage. How could she ever find a man to love her since she was so unattractive (in her thinking).

I was able to help her see how much God loved her, and how great was His blessing for her as a child of God. The supernatural life-style was available to her, and she was the one to determine whether or not she would measure up, as an act of the will by faith, to what God had called and enabled her to be. Her part was simply to trust and obey Him.

With God’s help, she determined to be that kind of person, the kind of person God created her to be.

We who are Christians can see ourselves as God sees us and through the enabling of the Holy Spirit become what we are in His sight. With the eyes of love, He sees us covered with the blood of Christ, which was shed on the cross for our sins, and, as expressed in Hebrews 10, He sees us as holy, righteous and totally forgiven. He holds nothing against us. The penalty for our sins has been paid – once and for all. There is nothing which we can add.

Now we have the privilege of becoming in our experience what we are already in God’s sight.

Bible Reading: Romans 5:11-15

Through the enabling of the Holy Spirit, I will begin to see myself as God sees me: loved, forgiven, holy, righteous, spiritually mature, aggressive and fruitful for the glory of God. Today I will live by faith the supernatural life which is my heritage in Christ.

By Dr. Bill Bright
Used by Permission

Learn more about how to be filled with the Holy Spirit

The post We are His Friends appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23

Giving thanks to God can be a hard thing to do,

….especially when things happen that make us more likely to say, “Why, God?” instead.

Thank offerings come easy some days. The sun shines and we feel the blessing of the Lord. Thanksgiving is our natural response.

On other days, thanksgiving is truly a sacrifice. In the middle of writing this devotional, our home was broken into. Thanksgiving was not my first response. Yet here in this verse, God tells us an amazing truth. He says that when we offer thanks and praise to Him, even when it’s a sacrifice to do so, we honor Him. This prepares the way for Him to work on our behalf. Thanksgiving is actually a door.

I pondered how to thank God in the midst of this violation. I was not thankful for the loss, but I discovered I could be thankful in it. As I intentionally shifted my gaze to God and not to the mess around me, I became aware of being thankful for several things: our personal safety, that certain items were not taken, the immediate help and care from family and friends, and the reminder that God is our Warrior, working, even fighting on our behalf. As a result, God’s peace settled over our hearts and minds and over our home.

Thank You, Lord God, that thanksgiving is so much more than a trite “attitude of gratitude.” Thank You for the truth of Your word that when we do give You our thanks, even when it’s hard to, we honor You and it opens a door for You to work and to bring Your peace and wisdom. Thank You that we can always offer thanksgiving for who You are and all You are to us — even in the midst of challenges. We praise You and ask this in the strong name of Jesus. Amen.

By Gail Rodgers
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Thanksgiving Day Sample Prayers

Thanksgiving Quotes

Let Thanksgiving be the Habit of your Life

The post Thank Offerings appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.  I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2

We are given amazing privileges when we trust in Jesus. Recalling these promises is a good way to maintain a thankful heart, even when facing challenges in other areas. Consider four such blessings:

1.    Christ’s gift of salvation. No matter what trial we’re facing, it is microscopic next to the enormity of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. The cross was a steep price to pay, but the Savior willingly took our place in order to offer us forgiveness and eternal life.

2.    Assurance of God’s love. The Lord cares for us unconditionally–that is His very character (1 John 4:16). Unfortunately, the storms of life can cause us to question this, but Romans 8:31–39 unequivocally tells us that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

3.    Answered prayer. We have the awesome privilege of talking to the Father about anything burdening us–and He never grows tired of listening to His children. Our omnipotent, omniscient God is not only able to help us in any situation; He also knows the best possible way to do so.

4.    A personalized plan. The Lord has a will, plan, and purpose for our lives that He will accomplish if we obey Him. No one is exempt from adversity, but we can trust God to bring good from everything He permits to come our way.

Hardships, temptations, and tests will touch us all, but the Lord allows difficulty for a reason–even when we don’t understand why (Romans 8:28). Therefore, submit yourself to the Father, thank Him for His wisdom, and be confident that He will accomplish His purposes for you.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission

https://www.intouch.org/

If  you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you can learn how to start one at this link:
https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws

FURTHER READING

Peace and Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in Our Hearts

Prayer of Thanksgiving

A Thought about Gratitude

The Cure for Ingratitude

The post Remembering God’s Blessings appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.”  Psalm 77:19

How often have you heard the comment, “I didn’t see it at the time, but now I recognize how God was leading me”.  When young Joseph, (eventually to become a Hebrew patriarch) was thrown into a desert pit by his brothers and later sold into slavery, observers could rationally have argued that God was not in the picture. Yet years later, after enduring the suffering of misunderstanding, abandonment, treachery and prison, and now in a position of authority, he would confidently say, “God sent me. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

It takes faith in a sovereign and loving God to believe that even when His footprints cannot be seen, He is leading through the thrashing waters of the sea of life. And because He is sovereign and loving, His plans for us include a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

“For 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.”

Loving Father, help me see your footprints with the eyes of faith when I seem to be drowning in the swirling waters that seem to be sucking me into their depths. Thank you for your love even when it cannot be seen.

By Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

Jeremiah 29:11

FURTHER READING

God in the Storm

God’s Peace in the Storms of Life

God’s Provision in Storms

The Storm Walker

Standing in the Storm

Are you Strapped to God?

The post God’s Foot Prints appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“And Samuel said, ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.’

Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.’” (1 Samuel 15:22-24, ESV)

God is always speaking to us, whether we hear Him speak directly to us or in visions and dreams. God uses other people to speak to us through prophetic words, and God uses His living word to speak to us. God is always speaking to us, so why is it so hard for us to hear Him all the time? Personally, I get what I call Saul-itis. Never heard of it? Read 1 Samuel 15:22-24.

It is all too easy for us to sin, and then run to God and say we are sorry. It is all too easy for us to sin and directly disobey God out of fear of others. This is what happened to Saul. God gave him direct orders on what to do and how to do it, yet Saul kept disobeying God. He did what he felt was best or what the people thought was best. Remember Isaiah 55:9?

It is hard to be obedient to God, for our sin always wants to get in the way. Praise God we have Jesus to forgive us for this sin. What happens, though, when we start to become like Saul, and our “I’m sorrys” lose the repenting part – you know, the part where we are to turn from our sin. This is Saul-itis, where we directly disobey God, we don’t want to turn from our sin, and we put our own words and the words of people above the word of God.

So what do you do?

Repent. This is the first key step: repent. In all ways let yourself be convicted of the disobedience whether it makes sense to you or not. Truly want to turn from it, even if it means suffering or rejection from the world. Being obedient to God’s word, no matter how you hear Him, is pleasing to the Lord.

Father, I pray today that I see the parts of my life where I am not being obedient to your word. Lord let me repent of this today, truly want to turn from these sins, and seek only your face, and your presence. Father I surrender myself in all ways to you. I can’t do this alone Lord I need you. Forgive me Lord for my sins. Let me draw strength from you to stand on your solid rock, and to stand firm against the world. Lord we ask this today in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen

Question: Is there a part of your life where you are not following His word?

by Rev. Daniel Forster

FURTHER READING

Bitterness in the Garden of Our Hearts

Become a Brave-Heart Disciple

Are You Afraid to Fully Surrender to God?

The post Let Me Hear Your Word and Obey appeared first on Thoughts About God.

The summer between my 3rd and 4th year of university, I worked at Yellowstone National Park.

It was a great summer, full of adventures and new experiences.

On a day off, I had signed up for a day-long class in rock climbing. I was successfully making my way up the side of a mountain when the instructor surprised me with an unexpected challenge when he said,

“I want you to push yourself off and fall on the rope!”

Questioning why he would ask me to do this, I hesitated, and he wisely pointed out that “You will never be a good rock climber until you can trust that the rope will hold you. Push yourself off and fall on the rope.”

I was afraid.

Obviously, my trust was in my ability to use my hands and feet to scale the mountain. The rope was a secondary source of security, in case I slipped (which I did not plan to do!). I eventually did let go of my handholds, and I’m here to tell you that the rope held!

Sometimes God seems to say the same thing to me as my instructor did that day. “Take the step, release your hands on what you are holding and see that I’m trustworthy.” The writer of the Psalms wrote,

“O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the person who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)

Just as I would never be a good rock climber without experiencing that the rope will hold. The same is true of my spiritual life. I will never be a responsive Christ follower if I am unwilling to let go of whatever I am grasping when God says, “Let go, trust me.”

Are you willing to let go of the things that give you security?

We can only experience God’s goodness when we take those, sometimes scary steps that take faith. Do you trust God is able to hold you securely when you let go of the things that provide comfort or security? What step is God asking you to take? Could it be he is asking you to let go of a relationship, finances or a position … A thought that comforts me is God holds the universe together it is likely he can provide all I need to hold life together … Enjoy the adventure!

Question: Do you believe your rope, God, will hold you during tough times?

By Mike Woodard
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

He’s Holding Me

A God Who Never Deserts Us

God is With Us

The post Will the Rope Hold? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping — believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, ‘That’s how many descendants you will have!’ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead — and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” Romans 4:18-20 (NLT)

It is highly frustrating when you are waiting on God and expecting your current state to change. God doesn’t always show you how things will turn out, but He often gives you a glimpse into what He has waiting for you. Let’s look at Abraham, the father of faith.

Even though they had passed child bearing age, God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son of their own. I can imagine the anguish I would have felt even after the promise was made. I am someone who needs to know the exact details. I need to know the “ins and the outs” of how it will all work out.

Unfortunately, this is not the walk of faith.

Faith believes that what God says will take place without a shadow of a doubt. Faith believes that we will see the promises of God unfold even when it looks impossible. Faith believes in what we can’t see, and knows it is there.

We learn a lot from Abraham as we watch him wait upon the promise of God to be fulfilled in his life. The Scriptures tells us that he hoped against hope, believing that God was faithful to perform that which he had promised.

As Abraham walked out his faith, we also learn what not to do. We learn that it is much better to wait on God rather than working out our own plans. When we believe we have the answers, we miss God’s best.

Father, I come today asking that You strengthen those who are still waiting for what You have promised. Grant them a glimpse of hope today. Help them to see what You are doing during the process as they await Your next move. You always have our best interest at heart. May we learn to trust You, just as Abraham did. In Jesus’ name, amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Withholding Nothing

Abraham’s Journey of Faith

Do you want a Deeper Faith:  Here are some links for you

The post Faith Believes appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“And the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon….”  (1 Kings 11:14).

Read:  1 Kings 11:9-14; Deuteronomy 28:47-50 and 31:15-18; Isaiah 54:11-17.

What is God Saying?

God gives us a choice.  Solomon, wise beyond all of his time, allowed himself to be drawn into folly.  He followed the importunate pleadings of His foreign wives and strayed far from God.  They made it easy but he made the choice.  And whenever we make a choice that interrupts our walk with God, He may send an adversary to bring us back.

How Does This Apply to Us?

When we recognize that all of God’s Providence is filtered through love, we know how to accept and face the adversary which He sends.  It would be sometimes unbearable and beyond explanation if we did not know that the hard times and the obstacles thrown in our path are all because He loves us.

God wants us to stay close to Him and true to Him.

We should remember that even our adversaries are under the control of God.  They can do us no harm.  They can only make us pause to think. They can only force us to remember that God has a better plan in which, over all enemies and against all opposition, we will be and even now are,

“…. more than conquerors through Him who loved us”. (Romans 8:37).

We are fortified as we pray with the knowledge that

‘no weapon that is formed against us shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17).

Pray With Me

Father, I am glad to own You as the Lord of the way I take.  You are also God over all the obstacles that seem to block that way.  For my good You can either removed the adversary or raise him up.  For Your own good reasons, You can either put him out of the way or in the way.

In love that cares so much and according to wisdom that knows all about me and all that is about me, You can give me freedom or friction, rest or wrestling, leisure or labor.  Help me to trust all the more in Your wise providence because I see it filtered through Your love.

When You raise up the adversary, may I recognize and submit to this as all-seeing love and not as a blind wrath. I ask that You will make the rough places smooth and the crooked paths straight.

I do not ask for steep and thorny ways, but when in Your wisdom I must be guided back to Your high purpose by pressures I would not gladly accept, may I recognize Your Lordship even over my adversaries.

When I find myself in the midst of events I can scarcely understand, may I recognize Your Lordship even over my adversaries.

When I am called upon to bear painful crosses I would never have chosen, may I recognize Your Lordship even over my adversaries.

Because I am saved for all eternity and because You have a perfect plan for my life, adversaries can do me no harm.  They can only turn me to the higher good that You have ordained.  I am a part of Your wholeness in which there can be neither mistake nor imperfection, neither fault nor flaw, neither blame nor blemish.

In the name of Him who has conquered my greatest adversary through His greatest victory, even Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Moving On In The Life Of Prayer

In prayer God prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. They may be meant to bring us back to God but they are powerless to do any harm if our trust is in the wisdom, the providence and the invincible power of God.

He is almighty and all-loving.

The power of prayer is to make us calm in the presence of every adversity and confident that all our adversaries are meant to bring us closer to God and to His ideal for our life.

Through all circumstances and in spite of all circumstances, prayer gives us quiet assurance that Christ is still on the throne.

by William S. Stoddard
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• Brevity of Life
• Keeping Yourself in God’s Love – even during painful times in your life

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

The post Sometimes the Lord Sends an Adversary appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”  Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

Do you struggle with regret?  

If yes, then you are not alone.

Throughout my life, often because of action or inaction, decision, or indecision — both trivial and crucial, I have experienced regret.

Regret is a common human emotion or feeling with variable intensity. Nobody is exempt from experiencing regret at some point in life. However, when we allow regret to illegitimately consume us, it births and breeds unwarranted shame and guilt and inescapably paralyzes our faith walk. Inevitably, we waste our sorrow on past outcomes — we often cannot change.

Scripture conveys many instances of human regret. Paul reflected on his former self, Saul, and how he zealously prosecuted, ravaged, and condemned many Jesus followers. Although we cannot know Paul’s inner thoughts, we can imagine the turmoil of personal regret. In Philippians, Paul implored his readers to keep a healthy perspective. Paul, undeterred by his own sordid past and maybe not allowing regret to consume him, resolved to persevere through by focusing on God’s call, glory, and prize.

Regretting sin is healthy, but, as Christ-followers, we cannot allow life regret to paralyze our faith walk. We need to allow our regrets to be our tutor, so we learn from life’s mistakes. Then we can confess our sins and be reconciled. Like Paul, we can embrace regret as an opportunity to reassess our perspective.

Do you dwell on your past regrets? Don’t waste your sorrows dwelling on the past – especially past outcomes you often have no power to change.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your unending grace. Protect me from my own understanding and limited perspective. Help me to tell the difference between sin and common life mistakes. Help me not dwell in the past by living life through a rear-view mirror, but helping me to focus on life’s road ahead by seeing and living life from a kingdom perspective, embracing your call and pressing on. Amen.

By Alan Mitchell
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• God’s Plan – A Study on God’s Destiny for Me?
• How to Spend a Day With the Lord
• Hearing God’s Voice – a Study by Charles Stanley

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

The post Don’t Waste Your Sorrow appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Trust in the Lord’s Providence!

Our daughter alerted us a few weeks in advance whenever she needed us to watch her pups. Since we did not hear from her, my wife and I booked a room for the long 4th of July weekend.

On the night before our out-of-town trip, we received a phone call. “Dad, I need a favor,” said my daughter. “Can you watch the pups over the weekend?” She described the emergency at her house; we cancelled our long-weekend plans.

A blessing in disguise, as the old saying goes, when we received the phone call from her that evening. As it turned out, the news reported the following morning that a brush fire had erupted at the resort we planned to visit. Deaths reported. Authorities ordered visitors to turn back. Those who drove up a day earlier became stranded because of the many road closures.

We enjoyed our time with the pups over the 4th of July weekend. And we were certainly grateful that God stepped in and juggled our weekend plans.

In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul calls us to offer grateful thanks to our heavenly Father in all things, for he knows this is the will of God concerning each of us. In other words, trust the Lord’s providence. The unforeseen changes to our plans often reveal the work of the Lord. He works this way sometimes.

With trust and faith, we will come to praise him for putting up those barriers. He sees what we cannot see—the threatening tinder fires ahead. God closes roads for justified reasons and will never reopen them a moment too soon.

Lord, help me to trust in your providence when unforeseen circumstances force me to change plans. And give me the strength to resist the temptation to push headlong when you signal roads closed ahead. Amen.

God often disrupts our plans and, sometimes, he allows us to see why. Have you recently given thanks to the Lord for the unexpected?

By Doug Lim
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Why Worry Yourself Sick? – by Muriel Larson

•  Beauty out of Brokenness

•  Salvation Explained

The post Thankful for the Unexpected appeared first on Thoughts About God.