Pointing toward the auditorium door after the morning gathering, a dear child of God said, “Pastor, we saw all kinds of answered prayer in there today!” And she was right!
Tag: Answered Prayer
Clippin’ Grace Coupons in Ministry
While looking back through my journal for this the first week of the New Year, my, how faithful, good, and loving God has been. But, true is, that is not surprising because that’s Who He is! So when you come to know Him, you watch for where He is at work, you recognize His revealed character/attibutes, and then you respond to Who He is. I promise you, if you recognize Who He is, you will never miss what He does. So with that in mind, here’s a recap of some of God’s grace this week.
#1 Answered Prayer!!
I could on and on about this one!! One of the best is the reminder to never stop praying for our unsaved family and friends.
In Wednesday’s post, I wrote about Barbara Chandler’s investments in others’ lives. Her greatest investment was in prayer, especially for the salvation of her husband. For many, many years she labored in prayer for him. He was known for his many trips across the state line where he would get drunk and also squander their money on the lottery.
I learned while attending her funeral on Tuesday that God answered her prayer and the prayers of countless others. Seven years, at the age of 81, Ralph humbled himself before the Lord and received Him as his personal Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-13).
May we have the heart of Barbara Chandler as well as the Apostle Paul who said, I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, […]Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1)
#2 Blessed Quietness
How wonderful to spend a day on the lake, in the Word, in prayer, seeking the Lord for what He would have me preach. The serene quiet, the voice of the Lord, and setting at Jesus’ feet is invaluable time spent.
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He (Jesus) went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed. (Mark 1:35)
#3 Encouragement
Yesterday was a full day of ministry opportunities that included a funeral, a hospital visit, and mentoring to name a few. When I arrived home around 9:15, I checked my Facebook and found I had been tagged by my oldest daughter. Here’s a throwback video of a song that has meant so much to me over the years. I needed this last night. I needed to be reminded that in the midst of all of life and ministry’s demands, Jesus is always the center of my joy.
(Also made me think of a very special group of teenagers who gathered in Spain two years ago!)
Friday’s Findings
What have I found? Well, I found yesterday that God answered so many wonderful pleas and requests in prayer! Big and little requests. Quick and longtime requested. Am I surprised? No. God hears our cries (Psalms 18:6; 116:1-6) and answers our prayers (Matthew 7:7). God likes to surprise us, too (Jeremiah 33:3)!! Oh what rejoicing filled our hearts throughout the day as my wife and I saw God at work in His grace and mercy in response to our heart cries early yesterday morning!
Followers of Christ, you and I must see our desperateness every day! There is not a moment we do not need God! Run to Him today; trust Him; rest in Him; meditate upon Him; and most of all, pour out your heart to Him sometime today!
When you find His answers, rejoice, be grateful, sing, share, and keep going to the Throne! There you find grace (Hebrews 4:14-16). There you find what makes every answer to prayer so glorious—you find Christ, your Redeemer, Advocate, and Friend! What a find!!
“Nothing is well done without prayer for the simple reason that it leaves God out of the account.” ― E.M. Bounds, Weapon of Prayer
Give a listen: There Must Be a Greater Yes
Friday’s Findings
What can you find today? What will you find today?
The Lord God — But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deut. 4:29) And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
Rich Treasure — I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure (Psalm 119:162).
Knowledge of God — If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:4-6).
Wisdom — I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me (Proverbs 8:17).
Good — He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he (Proverbs 16:20).
Answered Prayer —“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).
Rest — Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 28:28-30).
Life — For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (Matthew 16:25).
An Empty Tomb — But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly[a] perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments (Luke 24:2-4).
Weakness of my Flesh — For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find (Romans 7:18).
Sufficient Grace — Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
So, as you go throughout your Friday, what will you find? What are you looking for? That depends on where you look, the surrender of your heart, and the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. God is pursuing you today.
Here’s something else you will find to be helpful. Looking so forward to Evangelist Aaron Coffey and the team being with us March 15-20, 2015. This powerful message was delivered last night at Bob Jones University. Listen here: January 15, Aaron Coffey.
From A Pastor's Heart 