“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” James 5:16

A branch is a growth of the vine, produced to bear fruit. It has only one purpose: that through it the vine may bear and ripen its fruit.  As the vine lives to produce the sap that makes the grape, so the branch receives that sap and bears the grape.  Its work is to serve the vine so that, through the branch, the vine may do
its work.

The believer, the branch of Christ the heavenly Vine, is to live exclusively so Christ may bear fruit through him.  A true Christian is to be devoted to the work of bearing fruit to the glory of God.

With our life abiding in Him, and His words abiding and ruling in our heart, there will be grace to pray as we should and faith to receive whatever we ask.

The promises of our Lord’s farewell discourse appear to us too large to be taken literally.  We rationalize them to meet our human ideas of what we think they ought to be.  We separate them from the life of devotion to Christ’s service for which they were given.

God’s covenant is: give all and take all. One who is willing to be nothing but a branch of Christ, the Vine, will receive liberty to claim Christ’s riches in all their fullness and the wisdom and humility to use them properly.

By Andrew Murray
From: ‘Teach Me to Pray’
Used by permission.

FURTHER READING

Book of James – Bible Study – Part 14

Praying in a Crisis

Why Should We Pray?

The post Bearing Fruit appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Someone recently commented to me, and it is the same comment I have heard from others, that what I write makes them want to have a deeper walk with God. What I write makes them realize it is possible.

They thought it was complicated but it isn’t. It is as simple as opening your heart to it…constantly and consistently. It is not a big secret for just a select few. It is for everyone who calls Him LORD.
 
An open heart is a heart that welcomes Him in.

An open heart is a heart that makes time for Him.

A lady once told me in one sentence that she doesn’t have time for a quiet time in her schedule and in the next sentence she admitted that she gets up at 5:00 multiple mornings a week to run and train for marathons.

What are we making time for in our schedule?

It is easy to look at our schedules and find them jam packed and then we wonder why we  don’t feel close to God.

I am not saying we shouldn’t get up at 5:00 in the morning and run.

I am saying that if we make time for running, then use that same kind of effort and dedication to also make time for God in a close and intimate way.

One of my favorite hymns, which I sadly haven’t heard in church in many years, but remains a favorite of mine is the beautiful song In the Garden.

This writer gets it. His words tell me he had a wide open heart and God filled it up with joy.

The heart that opens to the Lord is a heart He delights to fill.

Chorus from In the Garden, (C. Austin Miles 1912 

And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Open My Heart

Tender Words to the Tired Heart

A Grumbly Heart

Our Heart and our Treasure

The post Open Heart 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.

“Jesus replied, ‘The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God; serve only Him“ Luke 4:8

I had spent much of the week cleaning. It was very hot. We were having a group of people over for a barbecue. Because of the heat, it seemed better to serve the food in the garage rather than on the hot sundeck. So I washed the walls, washed the floor and painted it.

It did look a lot better – clean and pleasant and cool. But it took a lot more time than I expected. Just to take everything out of the garage, sort it all and put it back was a mammoth job.

On Saturday, as I was sweeping the sundeck and sidewalks, I began to wonder if all the work was worth the few hours they would be here. These thoughts came to me:

“Whatever you do, do it as unto me” and “Whatever you have done unto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me.”

So I decided to focus on the fact that Christ was my guest that night. For some reason, I was suddenly motivated to set the tables more carefully and make sure the table centerpieces looked prettier. When the guests arrived, I greeted them with much more enthusiasm.

Perspective! Christ was at the barbecue that night – in the lives of each one of the people who came.

Lord Jesus, You came to serve and not to be served. And we are to have the exact same attitude. Sometimes I forget. I get tired of serving and I become self-centered. Forgive me, Lord. Burn into my heart and mind the realization that I am serving You no matter what the job is or who the people are. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

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A Christian Perspective on Life and Living

A Better Perspective

From God’s Perspective

The post Perspective appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8-9

Thoughts on today’s verse

No matter how we try to perceive God, he is still God and we are not. We must forever remember that the original, and still primary sin was to try to become like God in terms of knowledge and understanding. We are to know God, but we can never fully know about him. We are to take on his character, but we cannot approach his majesty. This is both exciting and frustrating. But the promise remains that one day we will be like him and see him as he is.

Prayer:

Tender Shepherd, thank you for being so patient with me when I cannot fully understand and appreciate your holy and transcendent character. Thank you for sending Jesus so I can know you better and trust you to know me better than I know myself. I look forward to seeing you face to face when Jesus comes to bring me home. Until that day, please know I love you. Through Jesus I offer my thanks and praise. Amen.

by Phil Ware
used by permission

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God’s Patience

We Plan – God Directs

Where is God?

The post God’s Ways appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Taxes, threat of terror attacks, illness and aging, finances, political conflicts, family relationships, church struggles, fears, insurance issues, air travel impositions, job loss, gasoline prices, war, injustice, death – these are just a few of the enemies most of us face daily. Yet, let me also tell you what the Lord has spoken to my soul:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

The Lord doesn’t want us to simply possess a generalized peace, based on having no particular problems; nor does He plan to give us a slightly spiritual, yet human-sized kind of peace. If we follow the sequence of obedience He presents, His intention is to shelter us in His very own peace: the imperturbable peace of God.

The peace of God is the deep calm that envelops the thought processes of the Almighty. He is never anxious, always in command, never without a remedy. He sees the end from the beginning and views the needs of man from the position of unlimited resources and capabilities. He perceives the needs of His children with both compassion and confidence, for all things are possible for Him.

The peace He gives is not only from Him, it is an extension of Him – it is the very substance of His peace. It is God-sized peace. It is this divine fabric that He says will “guard [our] hearts and . . . minds in Christ Jesus.”
Amazing!

Many Verses Same Promise: Some may challenge my interpretation, but remember the Savior’s promise:

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).

Again, Paul says: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful”  (Colossians 3:15).

These Scriptures and others reveal that there exists a place of refuge for us, a dimension guarded by God’s very peace, where we can abide. As we enter this realm of trust, the God of peace promises to actually crush Satan beneath our feet (Romans 16:20).

Give Peace A Chance

Of course, we must decide what realm shall preside over us. Thus, the Scripture says, “Let the peace of Christ rule,” and “Do not let your heart be troubled,” and “let your requests be known to God.” The word let speaks of choices we can make with realities that are at hand. Remember, even as circumstances begin to trouble your heart, you can retreat from fear. For the peace of God is also accessible. Take authority over your fretting, worrying attitude, for “it leads only to evildoing” (Psalm 37:8). Stand, instead, in faith upon the promises of God.

Peace is our shield and the Word of God our weapon. Therefore, capture negative, unbelieving thoughts that would magnify problems rather than magnify the Lord. Our Father knows what we have need of before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8).

Cease striving and know that He is God! If you are weary, come to Him and take His yoke upon you. You will find rest for your soul. Finally, recall Paul’s words to make our requests “with thanksgiving.” Many have been thinking too much and thanking too little. Therefore, let us cast our burdens upon the Lord, for He indeed cares for us. He will make a way.

by Francis Frangipane
Used by Permission

Francis Frangipane
info@frangipane.org
www.frangipane.org
www.icitc.org
www.arrowbookstore.com

Further Reading

•  Overwhelmed by Negative Feelings?
•  Fully Surrender to the Lord
•  Salvation Explained

The post He Will Make a Way appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Ever found yourself up against a Red Sea—hemmed in, with nowhere to turn?

Ever faced a wall too high and too strong, with no way over or through?

Have your circumstances caused you to long for previous, even loathsome days—like the Israelites who said it would have been better to be back in Egypt, serving the Egyptians?

“It would have been better to still be ‘back there’ than swallowed up with THESE circumstances.”

It’s at times like these when the Lord says:

“Stand still . . .See. . . ” (Exodus 14:13)
Watch what I will do.
You have nothing to do but be silent.

Oswald Chambers once said:“Dare I really let God be to me all that He says He will be?” “My Utmost for His Highest,”

When the Israelites had nowhere to turn and God said He would act, they dared to let Him be for them all He said He would be.

They stopped, stood still—marched silently around an impossible wall—and watched God work.

Because He said He would.

The sea split open.
The walls fell down.

They crossed through their frightening circumstances.
They marched around their greatest fear.

Because God said He would work.

They had nothing to do but be silent.

Someone has defined “rest” as to “cease striving.”

When the children of Israel let their faith rest, they watched God work.

God stepped in, because He was capable of doing what they couldn’t.

They rested in who their God is. They watched silently.

They passed through (Hebrews 11:29); they took the city (Joshua 6)—only after God had worked.

They did what God said, because He said He would do it.

Have you ever found yourself against a Red Sea, a wall like Jericho’s, a circumstance, a need, a dream, an ache that only God could conquer?

He is able.

Rest.

Dare to let God be for you all He has said He will be.

Faith that rests will watch God work.

Every time.

“Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. . .
Rest in the Lord.” Psalm 37:5,7

By Bethany Hayes
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Take Rest Oh My Weary Soul

When You Need Body and Soul Rest

Resting in the Faithfulness of God

The post When We Dare to Let God be For Us appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” Proverbs 12:18

Words have such a powerful ability to bless or wound. We need to watch with diligence what we say. The wrong words, especially at the wrong time have the ability to hurt both those who speak and those who hear them.

Stop and think about how marvelously God has created us. The ability to verbalize is granted only to man, who was created in the image of God. We need help in exercising this power responsibly.

Wars have been started over words. Marriage and families have split and fractured relationships because of words. Though the world applauds quick-witted retorts, God tells us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.” (James 1:19).

We need to make a conscious effort for our speaking (and listening) to come under the control of the Holy Spirit. When positive speech patterns and habits replace negative speech patterns and habits, we will be amazed with the increase of our joy.

Paul, writing to the Church at Ephesus reminds them, and us to “not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Listen. Wait. Respond.

How many of our conflicts would dissolve or never even materialize if we:

Listen to really understand a person’s concern or complaint,

Wait till our typically wrong initial impulse passed, until we’ve prayed, until we’ve asked clarifying questions,

And then we respond with patience, graciousness, honesty, clarity, and, if possible, brevity?

When used wisely and cautiously, words can often be the best blessings we can give to anyone.

By John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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FURTHER READING

• The Words of Our Mouth Read more..
• Stand Up – The Power of Words  Read more..
• Words, Words, Words  Read more..
• Lessons from Life: Words  Read more..

The post Words appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“There is a way that appears to be right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”  Proverbs 14:12

Once, I tried assembling a lawnmower without reading the directions. I figured it couldn’t be that difficult, so I proceeded on my own. When I finished, it started right up, but when I shifted to forward, it went backward. What seemed right to me was wrong.

Proverbs warns us that sometimes what seems right to us leads to disaster. This is especially true regarding our attempts to reach God. People have tried in many ways to bridge the gap between themselves and God.

God didn’t create us as robots to love and obey Him. He gave us a will and freedom of choice. We have chosen to disobey God and go our own willful way. The result is separation from God.

I recently attended a funeral and listened to how people get into heaven through good works, religion philosophy and morality. But all those ideas are wrong. No bridge reaches God except one.

Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people. There is only one way and we must make a choice by trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We must admit our need, by confessing that we are a sinner and be willing to repent and turn from our wicked ways. We must believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. Then through we can invite Him in as Lord and Savior. Only that way is the right way to reach God.

THOUGHT: Ask yourself if you have made this decision and confession or are you playing church. Have you invited Jesus into your heart?

Lord, I am a sinner and I repent of my sins. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose from the grave. I invite Him to come in and control my life through the Holy Spirit and I receive Him as Lord and Savior.

By John Grant
used by permission

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney.

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It’s a Jungle Out There!

Selling it All

Heavenly Wisdom

The post The Wrong Way appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7

Recently, I toured a tulip farm. It was the peak of blooming season, and what a wonderful sight it was to see hundreds of acres in full tulip bloom, displaying as many colors as in the rainbow.

I was shocked to learn that they were about to trim the flowers, and then I learned why. It seems that the goal in the field is not to grow flowers, but to grow bulbs and when the flowers are trimmed and the stalk remains, it allows the nutrients to go down to the bulbs and make them stronger and more hearty. It gives the bulbs more vitality.

There is a spiritual parallel here. Sometimes God cuts out the beautiful things in our life to allow us to grow.

Since God is the source of all goodness, his glory is the wellspring of all joy. What God does for his own sake benefits us. Therefore whatever glorifies him is good for us. And that includes the suffering he allows or brings into our lives. God refines us in our suffering.

Some consider God egotistical or cruel to test us for his sake. But the testing he does for his sake accrues to our eternal benefit.

How often have you heard people say, “I grew closest to God when my life was free from pain and suffering”? Just as the tulip farmer snips the flowers from the plant, God often walks with us through hardship and despair to deepen our roots in Him and make us all the better for it.

By John Grant
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Roots That Grow

Keep Training

What can You Expect?

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“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 2:26

God often speaks at the most unexpected times. One day I was casually talking with a friend about a situation at my job. In the middle of the conversation I said, “This is driving me crazy.” My friend simply looked at me and said, “Only if you let it.”

In five words, my friend had summed up one of the major issues I have been struggling with for years: how do I keep from giving away the peace I have in Christ?

I confess that I am a perfectionist. If something doesn’t go the way I want it to go, I get anxious and upset. I feel out of control.

I have to remember that the peace of God is with me because the Spirit of God is with me. I must keep my mind on the person and promises of God instead of letting circumstances lead me into thoughts of anxiousness. To me, this means remembering some important truths:

•    I am a child of God (Romans 8:14).
•    God is for me, not against me (Romans 8:31).
•    I have the favor of God (Proverbs 8:35).
•    God’s love for me surpasses my understanding of it (Ephesians 3:19).

It takes practice to keep my mind on Jesus and not on the turmoil around me. But when I can do it, I have His perfect peace in the middle of the storm

Lord, help me cooperate with You to keep my peace. Help me focus my mind on You. Amen.

By Debbie West
used by permission

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FURTHER READING

Finding Perfect Peace by Kathy Cheek

Perfect Peace by Phil Ware

Perfect Peace

The post Work For Peace appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”
1 Peter 2:2 (KJV).

Sam was very impatient with himself. Though he was a new Christian, he could not understand why he was not as spiritual as some of the other students who had walked with the Lord for several years.

I explained to him the Christian life, like physical life, involves a process of growth. A person begins as a baby and goes through various stages of childhood, adolescence and young adulthood to reach Christian maturity. Very few, if any, Christians, I explained to him, become spiritually mature overnight.

Lane Adams, a beloved colleague, gifted teacher, preacher and author, said, “I shrink inside when I think of the times I have mounted the pulpit, recited the conversion experience of the apostle Paul, and then indicated that he went out and turned the world upside down for Jesus Christ immediately.”

He continued, “This simply was not the case. There is a difference of opinion among scholars concerning New Testament dating, but it seems rather plain that many years went by before the Holy Spirit laid the dramatic burden on Paul as a missionary of the cross.”

If you strongly desire to serve the Lord in some particular way, such as teaching, ask the Holy Spirit in faith to empower you to become an effective teacher. Now, it may be that the Holy Spirit will see fit to make you a great teacher overnight, but this is most unlikely. So if it does not happen, do not be discouraged. Have faith!

Continue to ask and believe that the Holy Spirit will make you an effective teacher of the Word of God and be willing to work hard and long to develop your natural ability. The Bible reminds us that “faith without works is useless.”

If we are unique members of the Body of Christ, and we are, if we possess special tasks to accomplish, and we do, then the Holy Spirit will empower us to carry out those tasks. God does indeed have a plan for each of our lives. And He gives us the direction and power of His Holy Spirit to accomplish that plan as we continue to trust and obey Him.

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 3:14-18

Action Point: Recognizing that I am in the process of maturing spiritually, I shall seek to accelerate my spiritual growth by hiding the Word of God in my heart, spending time in prayer, walking in the Spirit and sharing my faith in Christ with others as a way of life.

by Dr. Bill Bright
Used by Permission

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

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Seek God and Not an Experience

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