God's Word on That

Tag: christianity

  • How to Listen to God

    Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Jesus, with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgement of His many mercies.

    We must remain attentive, for God often speaks when we listen.

    Charles Stanley gives us four avenues God can use to direct us to listen for the Father’s will in a situation. Perhaps God has a message for the listener that He has chosen us to deliver – and our rambling or talking or un-mindfulness detracts from that message. Thus, we should seek to be alert and available to God’s voice, if He should need us for such things.

    The first way to listen to God when we face or perceive a challenge is to meditate upon the Word until you know God has spoken to you. Simply read the Word and meditate on what He directs you to read. Something in your reading will be meant just for you at this time.

    The next way is that if we walk in the Spirit daily, surrounded by and surrendered to God’s love, we have the courage and the right to expect anything we need to hear from God. We can claim His presence, direction, and guidance. We are to listen in order to comprehend, and to comprehend in order to be shaped and conformed to His truth, to be made like Jesus.

    Thirdly, when you become restless in your spirit, don’t run! Stop, sit still, and listen. You will hear the voice of God telling you what He knows you need to hear. When you feel a burden to pray, it is because there is something heavy coming. Pray until the burden lifts. Pray until that heavy feeling is lifted from you.

    Finally, we must learn to listen with an open heart to the voice of God as He speaks through others. Many times, God uses the circumstance and the people around us to make His point obvious to our spirit. But we must be careful to examine both the message and the messenger – without prejudice. If the messenger is from God, His fruit will be evident, and the message will always align to God’s Word.

  • Prayer For The Home

    We praise You as the bountiful benefactor from whose gracious hand all our blessings have come. We remember Your lovingkindness and tender mercy toward us through all the years, and with grateful hearts we lift up to You our songs of joy. For all the gifts You have bestowed upon us and upon our land, we give You humble and hearty thanks. May we show our gratitude by faithful lives devoted to Your service.

    Let us ask God to bless our homes and our families, that we may radiate His love.

    Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your mercy in giving me a home. Keep me from a sullen and ungrateful spirit. Show me how I may help to make my home a blessing to all who come to it. And let the law of kindness rule my life. Make me kindly and thoughtful in word and generous in deed. Make me ever ready to give the understanding answer that turns away wrath. Take from me the wish to irritate and prevent me from saying the grievous words that stir up strife. If I am tempted to quarrel, make me able to keep my own temper. Let the law of kindness rule my life and govern all I do. When my feelings are hurt, let me turn to You for comfort and keep my calm under the shadow of Your wings.

    As I read and study Your Word, please let the words permeate my being, accomplishing the creative work they are designed to do in Your people. Loving God, source of all wisdom, grant that as we seek truth, we may find that the search leads to You. Give us courage to seek honestly and reverence to seek humbly and, when our minds are perplexed and we cannot find You, give us patience to go on with our daily duties and wait on Your timing.

    O God, all my life is Yours. Help me so to plan and arrange the hours of this day that I may serve You in then all. Give me an open mind, O God, a mind ready to receive and to welcome new light of knowledge as You reveal it to me. Let me be tolerant to the thoughts of others and hospitable to such light as may come to me through them. Be with me today and help me to do my best. Give me a clear mind and an honest heart. If there are things I do not know, let me not be flustered or afraid but let me use to the utmost what I do know. May everything in which I have worked hard stand by me now, and if in anything I must face the results of laziness, make me resolve to work better in the days ahead. Help me express all I know; but whether I can do that or not, grant that I may have learned something that will last

    From the family of men, we give You thanks, O Lord of Hosts, for all saints and servants who have done justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with You. For all the high and holy ones who have wrought wonders and been shining lights in the world, we thank You. For all the meek and lowly ones who have earnestly sought You in darkness, and held fast their faith in trial, and done good unto all men as they had opportunity, we thank You. Especially for those whom we have known and loved, who by their patient obedience and self-denial, steadfast hope and helpfulness in trouble have shown the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, we bless Your holy Name. Grant us grace to follow in their footsteps.

  • Prayer For His Church

    O Almighty God, who by the birth of Your holy Son Jesus has given us a great light to dawn upon our darkness, grant that in His Light we may see light to the end of our days. Bestow upon us that most excellent gift of love to all men, so the likeness of Your Son may be formed in us, and we may have the ever-brightening hope of everlasting life.

    May the church of Christ Jesus spread over the whole earth and subdue it.

    O Lord and Father of us all, who did send Your Son to be the Savior of the entire world; grant Your blessing to all followers of Christ Jesus of every name and creed. May we rejoice in the privilege of being fellow workers with You and Him and each other, that the dankness of the world may be driven out by the Light of life.

    Take away all hatred and prejudice, arrogance and contention; and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord. Bring us into close cooperation and harmony that all our forces may be united for the common cause of Your Kingdom. Grant that as there is one Body and one Spirt, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Take all resentment, bitterness, and rebellion out of our hearts. Make us instead hopeful, cheerful, courageous, patient, and confident people to serve You faithfully.

    O God, who has made man in Your own likeness and who loves all whom You have made; teach us the unity of Your family and the breadth of Your love. Enable us to enter into fellowship of the whole human family and forbid we should despise any for whom Christ died. Lord, in Your great mercy, please remember us when You come into Your kingdom.

    O Lord and Father of us all, who did send Your Son to be the Savior of the entire world; grant Your blessing to all followers of Christ Jesus of every name and creed. May we rejoice in the privilege of being fellow workers with You and Him and each other, that the dankness of the world may be driven out by the Light of life.

    Take away all hatred and prejudice, arrogance and contention; and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord. Bring us into close cooperation and harmony that all our forces may be united for the common cause of Your Kingdom. Grant that as there is one Body and one Spirt, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify You, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Take all resentment, bitterness, and rebellion out of our hearts. Make us instead hopeful, cheerful, courageous, patient, and confident people to serve You faithfully.

    O God, who has made man in Your own likeness and who loves all whom You have made; teach us the unity of Your family and the breadth of Your love. Enable us to enter into fellowship of the whole human family and forbid we should despise any for whom Christ died. Lord, in Your great mercy, please remember us when You come into Your kingdom.

  • Prayer For Duties To Perform

    O gracious Lord, from whom I have received so much, grant unto me this blessing also: make my heart grateful for the gift of the life You have bestowed upon me. Grant me the desire to apply my heart unto heavenly wisdom, that my remaining days may be spent to Your glory.

    Oh, to live an entire day in the mercies and blessings and knowledge of God’s love!

    Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

    You know, O heavenly Father, the duties that lie before me this day, the dangers that may confront me, the sins that most beset me. Guide me, strengthen me, deliver me. Awaken in me the realization that You have a purpose for each of us to fulfill, that life is filled with sacred meaning. Bestow upon me a rich measure of Your wisdom that I may take from my past experiences insight that will serve in the present hour. You know our needs, teach us to pray.

    Help me to keep my body and mind trained and fit, that they may be wholesome instruments of service, and my soul may be free from remorse and despair. May I be in all my parts a worthy temple for Your indwelling Spirit and an honor to Your Name.

    Send me chances to do a little good every day, and to grow more like Christ Jesus every hour. O God, when I pray to You as my Father, please help me to remember that You are the Father of ALL people everywhere.

    O loving Father, I commit myself with perfect trust into Your loving hands. Watch over me and protect me in my hours of weakness, and grant that as I become unconscious of earthly things my thoughts may be turned to You. Please grant that I may bear suffering with cheerful courage that I may be the means under Your hand of helping others in their time of trial.

    I call upon You in my trouble, You will deliver me and I will glorify You. As You watch over me in these trying days, grant me patience and guide my thoughts to dwell on Your goodness and Your blessings. You are my shepherd; make me confident that I shall not want. O gracious Father, I cast all my cares upon You, knowing that You care for me.

  • Prayer For A Blessed Day

    O Lord, I pray please bless all I do this day. Accept it as an act of worship and give me grace to find You in every task and duty, however small or dull it may seem to be.

    Let us take time to ask for the Lord’s blessing on our day.

    Lord, this is all my desire – to walk along the path of life You have appointed me, in steadfastness of faith, in meekness of spirit, and in gentleness of love. And because outward events have such power to scatter my thoughts and disturb the inward peace in which alone I can hear Your Spirit, please calm and settle my soul by that power which alone can bring all thoughts and desires into captivity to Christ Jesus.

    Lord God, You told me: in repentance [turning to You] and rest [abiding in You] is my salvation; and in quietness [listening for You] and in confidence [knowing You will act] is my strength. So, I turn to You, O my God, and I quietly wait for You (Isaiah 30:15).

    O God, in the midst of turmoil and confusion, when a dozen things must be done at once, when I am at the breaking point, please reach forth a steadying hand. May I find again that in quietness and confidence my strength will appear – for there I will find You. May laughter come with its saving grace, laughter which rises from a heart at peace with You.

    Keep me from inner anger, O Lord, so my words and deeds may not hinder those who need encouragement and strength. Nurture truth and generosity in me and keep me in the light of Your Presence this day.

    I am a wise person, so I turn away from anger; a fool gives full vent to anger but I am a wise person, and I keep myself under control (Proverbs 29:8, 11). Through Jesus Christ living in me, and by His power, I am quick to hear, slow to speak, and even slower to anger (James 1:19).

    O Lord, full of love and mercy, please enable me to be careful of the feelings of others. Let me beware of the hasty word, the prying question, and the indelicate allusion that hurt worse than a blow. Show me how to put the shy one at ease, and to dole out confidence by words of kindness and true interest. Keep me from blundering into the sacred paces of others. Bestow on me keen insight, that I may see at once the fitting thing to do. For Jesus’ sake I pray. Amen.

    Heavenly Father, please give me the tongue of the learned that I may know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary (Isaiah 50:4).

  • God’s Power For The Asking

    Now Lord, … grant to Your servants that with all boldness we may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your Holy Servant Jesus (Acts 4:29-30).

    What are we waiting for? All we have to do is ask.

    Ride forth on behalf of truth, humility and righteousness. Let Your right hand display awesome deeds (Psalm 45:4).

    Mary said, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).

    Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them (Matthew 18:19-20).

    Whatever you ask the Father in My name [using My nature and authority] He will give you (John 16:23).

    Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:24).

    Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have [those] petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15).

    And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And by this we know that He abides in us; by the Spirit whom He has given us (1 John 3:22, 24).

    Whoever shall say unto this mountain: be removed and cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that these things he says shall come to pass, he shall have whatever he says (Mark 11:23).

    If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22).

    But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt. Because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does (James 1:6-8).

    Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them (Mark 11:24).

    You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it [My gifts] in your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world [and its things] is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be friends of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scriptures say in vain: The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously? (James 4:3-5)

    Because of your unbelief! For assuredly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there” and it will move! Nothing will be impossible for you! (Matthew 17:20).

    A good man will be satisfied from above (Proverbs 14:14).

  • God’s Power In Us

    I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know (1) the hope to which He has called you, (2) the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and (3) His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Ephesians 1:18-21).

    By ourselves we can do absolutely nothing. But with God in us — we can shine!

    Even When I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come (Psalm 71:18).

    The reality of the presence of God is what children need to know for God to be real to them.

    We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age. Against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

    When Jesus had called the twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons, and to cure diseases (Luke 9:1).

    Jesus came to them and said: “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” (Matthew 28:18).

    He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. Likewise we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve… (2 Corinthians 13:4)

    But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you (Acts 1:8).

    The Kingdom of God is not in word but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

    I tell you the truth. Anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name and I will do it! (John 14:12-14)

    I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven [and you get to avoid the judgment coming to the world] (Luke 10:17-18).

    And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes with their hands, and when they drink deadly poison it will not hurt them at all. They will place their hands on sick people and they will get well (Mark 16:17-18).

    If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory: that you bear much fruit (John 15:7-8).

    Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind (Romans 14:5)

    Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or [can even] imagine – according to His power that is at work within us – to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations (Ephesians 3:20-21).

  • Let Us Examine Our Ways

    If we will get alone with God, He will reveal the reason for our present pain. And as we learn the Word and do the Word, we will experience His healing and the blessings of freedom as He restores our soul. The battle you are in will soon become a meal for you – an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually.

    Being alone with God through our desert wanderings can be a beautiful experience.

    Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

    Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through [and for] Him (Colossians 3:17).

    As a saint of God, my attitude toward sorrow and difficulty should not be to ask that they be prevented, but to ask God to protect me so that I may remain what He created me to be in spite of all my fires of sorrow… We say that there ought to be no sorrow, but there is sorrow, and we have to accept and receive ourselves in its fires. If we try to evade sorrow, refusing to deal with it, we are foolish. Sorrow is one of the biggest facts in life, and there is no use in saying it should not be. Sin, sorrow, and suffering are. And it is not for us to say that God has made a mistake in allowing them. Sorrow removes a great deal of a person’s shallowness, but it does not always make that person better. Suffering either gives me to myself or it destroys me. You cannot find or receive yourself through success, because you lose your head over pride. And you cannot receive yourself through the monotony of your daily life, because you give in to complaining. The only way to find yourself is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be this way is immaterial. The fact is that it is true in the Scriptures and in human experience. You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find he has plenty of time for you.. But if a person has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous… If you will receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for others! (Oswald Chambers)

    [Do] not trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17).

    Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim with new wine (Proverbs 3:9-10).

    So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain, it takes away the life of it’s possessor (Proverbs 1:19).

    Why do you call Me “Lord, Lord” and not do as I say? (Luke 6:40)

    No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and man/money (Matthew 6:24).

    Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed (Hebrews 12:12-13).

    Let all the godly confess their rebellion to You while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment! (Psalm 32:6)

  • Love Even Your Enemy

    In demanding that I respect the rights of another, God is not merely asking me to conform to some abstract, arbitrary law. He is enabling me to share, as His son/daughter, in His own care for my brothers. (Thomas Merton)

    Care for my brother, even if he considers himself to be an enemy, is my duty.

    The King will answer them, “I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:40).

    All that is physical is passing away. As long as I keep holding onto a ‘thing’, I continually set myself up for disappointment. If all I see is how you look and what you have, I’ll miss the point that you – like me – are a hurting spirit just looking for home. (Fr. Everding)

    Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this sums up the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12).

    “He who showed mercy”… Jesus answered, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)

    Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

    If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself”, you are doing right (James 2:8).

    So then my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slower[er] to wrath (James 1:19).

    Let go of anger, and leave rage behind. Do not be preoccupied. It only leads to evil (Psalm 37:8).

    Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

    If your enemy is hungry, give him some food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him some water to drink. In this way you will make him feel guilty and ashamed, and the Lord will reward you (Proverbs 25:21-22).

    Do not be happy when your enemy falls, and do not feel glad when he stumbles. The Lord will see it, He won’t like it, and He will turn His anger away from that person (Proverbs 24:17-18).

    Forgiving one’s enemies does not mean to be faint hearted but to have a strong soul.

    Let all things be done for edification (1 Corinthians 14:26).

    It is better to be alone than in bad company. (George Washington)

    Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people (1 Corinthians 15:33).

    [Yet] A man who isolates himself seeks his own desires; he quarrels against all sound wisdom (Proverbs 18:1).

    So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Also take salvation as your helmet and the Word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies. Pray in the Spirit in every situation; use every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert; use every kind of effort and make every kind of request for all of God’s people. (Ephesians 6:14-18).

    Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21).

    Dear children, keep yourselves from idols! (1 John 5:21).

  • Now We Are To Love Each Other

    “Do you love Me?”  We will not likely hear this same question as an audible voice from Jesus as Peter did.  Instead the Lord will ask it again and again through the circumstances of our own life, and in particular through the crosses He sends us.  The occasion to express our love might be a physical suffering, a need to forgive or show patience to someone who has wronged us, or an interior wound or painful memory that just doesn’t go away.  But Jesus will ask, “Do you love Me?”

    With His love in us, it is possible for us to love each other as He loves.

    My command is this: love each other as I have loved you… Greater love has no one than this; that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12-13).

    This is how we know what love is: Jesus the Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers! (1 John 3:16)

    I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. Everyone will know that you are My disciples because of your love for each other (John 13:34-35).

    Love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10)

    God loved me not because I was loveable but because it was His nature to do so.  Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying: “Love one another as I have loved you.”  I may get irritated at others while trying to do this, but just think how God has a right to be irritated with me!  Love is displayed in spontaneous ways, but it has to be maintained in the heart through discipline.

    Dear Friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love each other [with the same way]. No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us [so we can share it] (1 John 4:11-12).

    Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

    For this is the message that you heard from the beginning: that we should love one another (1 John 3:11).

    My goal in giving these orders is for love to flow from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

    Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words (1 John 3:18).

    Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12).

    This is my command: love each other! (John 15:17)

    Love means that we live by doing what He commands. We were commanded to live in love, and you have heard this from the beginning (2 John 6).

    … I ask that we love one another (2 John 5).

    Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:10-18).

    Be imitators of God therefore, as dearly loved children.  And live a life of love (Ephesians 5:1-2).