WHAT ARE YOU PRAYING FOR?

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22 NIV)

I used to take my daughters fishing when they were younger.  It was a lot of fun but it was frustrating at times also.  The reason, I didn't get to fish.  No sooner would I get their hooks and bait into the water they would reel it in or need something from me to help them in some manner.  In a way, it's the way a lot of Christians treat their problems - we cast our problems to the Lord and when we don't get any movement on our hook - we reel the prayer request into shore over and over.  Here's the thing... If you want to catch fish - your hook needs to stay in the water.  If you want God to answer your prayer - you need to keep your prayer in His lap and not reel it in when you feel worried or anxious.  What are you praying for today?  What need has you worried and upset?  Your God so wants to bless and answer you in every situation you have.  It might not always be a yes but He will show you what the right answer is today.  "Cast your cares on The Lord and he will sustain you..."  Don't give up on God or His ability to answer your need.  He see's the big picture today and is waiting for the right time to come down on your behalf.  Yes, cast your cares on Him but also leave it with Him for His answer to to be poured into your situation today.

STAND STILL AND WATCH GOD DO THE WORK

“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! (1 Samuel 12:16 NIV)

When Samuel came to the end of his life he spoke to the people of Israel and gave them some advice of the things he had learned throughout his lifetime.  Things like... fear God, obey God first and foremost, don't get distracted by other things, etc.  He also made sure that his heart was clean and that they knew that he had walked with a heart in right standing toward God.  He also encouraged them to not get ahead of God and to just "stand still and see the great thing The Lord was about to do in their lives."  Sometimes our faith needs to be assertive but there are times when we just need to rest in what God is doing and just "stand still" (a very hard thing for all of us to do).  We feel like we need to "do" when all God is asking for us is "to stand still."  Having walked with God my whole life - I now look back and say that too often I have tried to help God out more than I just rested and watched God do the work.  I would encourage you that there is a time and place for both but we need to always remember that you and I aren't God and if He needs our help - He will let us know.  I am a firm believer that God has great things in store for all of us - even if we've messed up in the past. Just stand still today and see what God has in store for you.  God is still always good!  

PRAY FOR REVIVAL

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. (Judges 17:6 NIV

If there ever was a verse that described our times - it is this verse.  America (and the whole world) are on a a slippery slope and is losing the battle.  Pressured by so special interest groups - we are conforming more and more to the ways of the world and Christians are accepting these sins as "normal."  This passage clearly states that these people were doing "as they saw fit."  They had no morals and no standards to live by.  They rejected God as their king and did not acknowledge Him as God. God eventually gave Israel what they wanted and they paid the price for their compromise for many years.  Israel had 41 different kings and all but a handful were very wicked.  Their idolatry and sin led them down a path in which they would be captured and exiled. Eventually, they would be scattered to the four corners of the earth in AD 70. and they would not return to their homeland and become a nation again until 1948. The consequences were steep. It’s like Pastor Dan said, you can choose your sin, but you don’t get to choose your consequences. This is one of the things that just breaks my heart with people. I see how these destructive behaviors wreak havoc on individuals and families. We should pray fervently for God to bring revival to our land which comes through repentance and obedience to God.  Notice the promise of God in the scriptures...  "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chronicles 7:14, 15 NIV).  Pray with me for revival to come to America and to New Life Chapel.

DON'T BE DISCOURAGED!

Not one of all the Lord ’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (Joshua 21:45 NIV)

Tucked into the scriptures in the Book Of Joshua is this little verse of scripture that is filled with so much power but is so often overlooked.  It is at the very end of a "boring" list of the lands that were give to each of the tribes of Israel and all it says is "not one of the Lord's good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."  Wow, What a great reminder and encouragement to all of us.  What a great faith lifter.  It was a statement of fact about the power of God and it is an encouragement to us today that God's plan will prevail again and again in our personal lives.  We can't look at the present circumstances or obstacles but we must look to to power and promise of Almighty God.  I am reminded that God has spoken great things to me and my life and His plans are not yet fulfilled in all that He wants to do.  As I sat last night with the Church Council of New Life Chapel - it was so exciting to hear their hearts surge with what they see in their spirits of what is yet to come.  We rejoiced over how many lives are being touched and we dreamed for what yet God is going to do.  I walked out of there with a sense that God is up to something and He has great things in store for all of us.  We should not be discouraged and give in to despair.  We must remember that all of God's promises will be fulfilled and that God keeps His word in our lives.  I love what Jeremiah 29:11 says - "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."  Don't be discouraged or dismayed - God is by your side and won't ever leave or forsake you. He has great things in store for you!

NEVER TOO OLD

“Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” (Joshua 14:10-12 NIV)

I both admire and chuckle a little as I read this story.  I can just see this 85 year old man walking in the god-given faith that he possessed and standing for what he believed was promised to him.  He wasn't too old and he wasn't too weak.  According to him - he was just as strong as was when he was young.  I want to meet him someday as I have some questions to ask him - like, how did you keep your faith strong?  And, what obstacles did you face in your journey that could have stopped you but didn't.  I would like to know about what other people thought about him and the infectious spirit that he possessed.  I would like to know about his joy factor and about his relationship with God.  I would like to meet his family and hear about the type of dad and husband and grandfather he might have been like.  Mostly, I think for my self - I would like to emulate this "Caleb-like" spirit in my own life.  No, I'm not 85 yet and i have a long way to go but what can I do right now to develop these characteristics in my life?  How can I pass that spirit on to the next generation and what is it that God now requires of me?  All of these are good questions and will help to develop the "Caleb-like" spirit - no matter how old we are.  It's never too late for any of us to turn it around and make the changes we need to make.  Are you willing to join me today?

A PROMISE OF A GREAT VICTORY

The commander of the Lord ’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:15 NIV)

Upon entering the Promised Land, the people of Israel were confronted by an immediate obstacle - the city of Jericho.  To move forward into the place where God had promised them this city needed to be conquered.  Joshua proceeded to rally the troops and got them ready for battle.  But before giving the signal for attack he had one of these God-moments - a visitation from Christ Himself assuring him that God was with him.  At that time, Joshua was commanded to take off his shoes because the ground was "holy."  As I look back over my life - I have had a number of these "God moments" also.  I remember them very clearly. I wasn't asked necessarily to take off my shoes but I was asked to stop and listen and remember that particular time of life. I knew that it was a holy moment in time - a crossroad in my walk of life.  I knew that I was to not rush that experience and I was to take seriously the message that was being sent my way.  I don't know what obstacle that might be in front of you today but I would encourage you in this - look closely for your warrior (Christ) is closer than you think and is ready to go to battle for you.  Stop and listen to the voice of God pressing on your heart.  Remind yourselves of the things God has done for you in the past and will keep doing for you in the future.  The Commander of the Lord's army (Christ) is with you today.  Yes, there will be battles and there will be difficult place but your/my God has promised a great victory for you. The last phrase of this book summarizes exactly what needs to happen with both you and I right now - "And Joshua did so."  That should be the stance of each of us today.  God is with you.  Amen.

A PROMISE FROM GOD FOR PROFOUND VICTORY IN YOUR LIFE

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

People often ask me about God's Will for their lives and how can they know that God is with them.  Even the greatest leaders in the Bible often struggled with these types of thoughts.  God says "go here" and "do this" and we all drag our feet because we're either afraid or nervous or shy to step out and be obedient.  In the previous verses God tells Joshua to "be strong and of great courage."  He wouldn't say that to Joshua if he didn't need to hear it.  I think that we all need a big dose of courage today.  We need to have courage to "say" and "do" and "be" and "go" and "stand" for whatever God is calling us to do.  Here's the simple but profound truth - "for The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  What more do you need?  What more could you ask for?  God is with you wherever you go.  I pray that God would richly bless you with these words today and that you be able to do what God is asking you do today.  Go do the right thing!