I want to first thank God for his loving kindness and faithful. He is surely a man that stands by his words.
John 14:14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
This is the confidence we have as Christians that if we ask anything of God within his will for our lives he will do it.
1 John 5:14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Early this year my prayer group had a list of women (4) we were praying for concerning the fruit of the womb. These women did not even know they were being prayed for, but we stood together and lifted them up before God. Thank God, every single one of them is now expecting a baby. Most of these women had been waiting on God for at least 7 or more years.
Our God is a God that answers prayers, we pray for others and God answers our prayers. How is our personal prayer life? We have a God that listens and is ready to do great things for us but for some reason a lot of us don’t invest the time needed to have a conversation with him. Prayer is the essence of being a Christian. It is the way we make contact with heaven.
James 5 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Continually we have lifted people up in our prayer group regarding jobs and other things and God constantly hears us and has opened several doors. We should all reassess our prayer life and check to see if our prayers are effective. God listens and he answers. On my part this year alone, I can’t count the number of things I have brought to God and he has listened and answered at the appropriate time. For all these, I am truly grateful and I am learning to thank him more than I ask of him.
In the Bible we are advised to pray in every circumstance
James 5: 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
God has also entrusted people into our lives that we have to pray for. An important group are our children. How many of us lay hands on our children every day and pray for them. Even if it is only for 5mins, whatever you call your children is what they will be. The prayer of a mother over a child is very effective and important for their moral and spiritual growth. My mother did this through out when I was growing up and I know God listened and still listens. Even now that I am older whenever she is around she lays her hand on my head every morning and prays for me.
Not forming the habit of praying particularly for our children who are vulnerable in this world is like leaving them alone in a battle field. Most of us will die and give up anything to make our children happy and well. Prayer is the best treasure and greatest gift you can give your children.
We need to pray for our partners, for our extended families and friends. We need to pray for our communities, as we live in, and our children grow up in these communities. We need to pray for our country as every decision right or wrong will make a difference in our lives.
Ephesians 6: 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
When we believe what our God is capable of doing in our lives, we will not have a problem with praying. He tells us that if we ask him he will surely do it.
Matthew 21: 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Make sure you are communicating with God daily, he is eager to hear from you.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Self Control
The English dictionary defines Self control as the ability to control one's emotions and desires, the capacity of efficient management to the future.
I will continue with the story of Joseph. He was a man that shows us an example of exercising self control and the rewards of doing so.
As mentioned last week, he could have had an affair with Potifar’s wife but he refused her advances and as a result went to prison for it. In the world we live in, very few people will go to the prison in place of so called enjoyment. In reality not having self control is an almost prison in itself as it send us to a land that will be very hard to return from. Lack of self control in one area of life leads to the inability to control other things.
Constantly being impulsive and living above our means leads to debts. Debts means having no control over our finances, it means working for loan and credit card Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender
Not giving our children discipline in love leads to children that we have no control over. Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it
Lack of self control in sexual desires leads to sexual sin that ends marriages and creates broken homes. Proverbs 6:32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself (Same thing goes for women).
Lack of control in the words that we speak leads to regret and sometimes creating hurt that is very hard to repair, our words can either bring progress or destruction. Proverbs 18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Having self control is one of the main challenges for the human race. We want things and we want it now, people get angry and feel that revenge will make them feel better.
Anything that is in control of our lives apart from God can and will possibly bring ruin. We need to exercise self control by handing it all to God. We all desire good things and God wants the best for us but the best things are worth waiting for.
Proverbs 25:28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls
Lack of self control is one of the main causes of sin, most people generally know what is morally right and wrong but cannot control themselves when there is a fight to satisfy self. Let us continually fill ourselves with the word of God and pray for God to take control of every area of our lives.
I will continue with the story of Joseph. He was a man that shows us an example of exercising self control and the rewards of doing so.
As mentioned last week, he could have had an affair with Potifar’s wife but he refused her advances and as a result went to prison for it. In the world we live in, very few people will go to the prison in place of so called enjoyment. In reality not having self control is an almost prison in itself as it send us to a land that will be very hard to return from. Lack of self control in one area of life leads to the inability to control other things.
Constantly being impulsive and living above our means leads to debts. Debts means having no control over our finances, it means working for loan and credit card Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender
Not giving our children discipline in love leads to children that we have no control over. Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it
Lack of self control in sexual desires leads to sexual sin that ends marriages and creates broken homes. Proverbs 6:32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself (Same thing goes for women).
Lack of control in the words that we speak leads to regret and sometimes creating hurt that is very hard to repair, our words can either bring progress or destruction. Proverbs 18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Having self control is one of the main challenges for the human race. We want things and we want it now, people get angry and feel that revenge will make them feel better.
Anything that is in control of our lives apart from God can and will possibly bring ruin. We need to exercise self control by handing it all to God. We all desire good things and God wants the best for us but the best things are worth waiting for.
Proverbs 25:28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls
Lack of self control is one of the main causes of sin, most people generally know what is morally right and wrong but cannot control themselves when there is a fight to satisfy self. Let us continually fill ourselves with the word of God and pray for God to take control of every area of our lives.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Faithfulness and Goodness
Our God is a faithful God and continues to manifest his faithfulness in our lives.
Most of us say the above statement but for some reason but tend to waver in our faith when challenges come. I know it's hard as we battle with flesh but we need to equip ourselves with the word of God and stand on it when those times arise.
If we look at the story of Joseph, God showed him his future through dreams but he had little understanding of what those dreams meant. He was also a loved boy by his father and rather spoilt. He may not have arrived at where God was taking him if he did not go through those challenges.
One thing I noted though was through all he went through, Joseph never compromised himself. He could have compromised himself with Potiphar’s wife but he did not. He waited for his time and he got there in the end.
When he arrived, note also how he was able to forgive his brothers and bless them after all they did to him.
Be rest assured through it all God is working on your behalf.
His word says in Romans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Also we need to have faith in God and trust that he will surely come through for us. Regardless of our circumstances, we must not compromise. In the same way God is faithful to us, we must be faithful to him and not compromise.
Also we must show kindness even to the people that hurt us. God is love and shows love to all regardless of who and what we are.
I went to a powerful women’s conference a couple of weeks ago and the woman of God used the story of David claiming back all the things his enemy has stolen from him. 1 Samuel 30 1-end
For David to get back all the things taken from him, he had to feed one of the men from the enemies camp. The man had been left there by his comrades when he was ill and almost dying, David fed him and nursed him to health and it was the same man that took him to where all his things were. 1 Samuel 30: 11-16 We have to show goodness to people regardless of how they have treated us. They may be the key to our Success.
Most of us say the above statement but for some reason but tend to waver in our faith when challenges come. I know it's hard as we battle with flesh but we need to equip ourselves with the word of God and stand on it when those times arise.
If we look at the story of Joseph, God showed him his future through dreams but he had little understanding of what those dreams meant. He was also a loved boy by his father and rather spoilt. He may not have arrived at where God was taking him if he did not go through those challenges.
One thing I noted though was through all he went through, Joseph never compromised himself. He could have compromised himself with Potiphar’s wife but he did not. He waited for his time and he got there in the end.
When he arrived, note also how he was able to forgive his brothers and bless them after all they did to him.
Be rest assured through it all God is working on your behalf.
His word says in Romans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Also we need to have faith in God and trust that he will surely come through for us. Regardless of our circumstances, we must not compromise. In the same way God is faithful to us, we must be faithful to him and not compromise.
Also we must show kindness even to the people that hurt us. God is love and shows love to all regardless of who and what we are.
I went to a powerful women’s conference a couple of weeks ago and the woman of God used the story of David claiming back all the things his enemy has stolen from him. 1 Samuel 30 1-end
For David to get back all the things taken from him, he had to feed one of the men from the enemies camp. The man had been left there by his comrades when he was ill and almost dying, David fed him and nursed him to health and it was the same man that took him to where all his things were. 1 Samuel 30: 11-16 We have to show goodness to people regardless of how they have treated us. They may be the key to our Success.
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