The Miracle of Salvation

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth. the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - the praise of his glory."  Ephesians 1: 13 - 14

Do you remember when you first believed the good news of the work of Christ?  Excitement and joy filled our hearts as our spirits were awakened to a new life.  This event is a miracle that only be accomplished by God's power and Christ's work.  Though this event and the subsequent communion with God through the Holy Spirit makes us feel incredibly special, it is not for us alone.  We no longer work for our own agenda but we are co-workers with God to help others believe.  It is by receiving truth that dispels lies that God can awaken someones mind and begin to affect their heart.  This is the miracle. 

We have been focusing on sharing the good news of Christ this month; planting seeds that will bear fruit to the harvest.  This week let's focus on the seeds and harvest in our own lives.  Let's take a few moments today to thank God for the work of his salvation in our own lives. 

Father, thank you for the miracle of salvation in my life.  Thank you for continuing to meet me and grow me up in that blessed salvation. 

Blessings.

The Gospel of Christ

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes....for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.  Romans 1: 16 - 17

The gospel of Christ, translated the good news of Christ, is the power of God to save individuals who will respond in faith.  Many seeds are scattered which direct seekers to self-help, meditational thoughts from Buddha and direction from icons of the culture declaring you must ONLY believe and good things will happen.  However, scripture very clearly says it is the gospel of Christ that God uses to save.  Clearly, if we can scatter seeds directly related to the good news of the work of Christ, then it becomes possible for those seeds to grow into faith, trust, and hope. 

Let's pray for the individuals we know who desperately need Christ to have open hearts and minds toward Him. 

Father, we ask that you soften hearts toward Christ and reveal the lies being believed that offer only momentary relief. 

Think about how you first believed in Christ.  What seed from that experience can you offer to someone else? 

Blessings

Meaningless Repetitions and Many Words

Hi all.  When Shelley and I decided to blog on The Lord's Prayer this month we were not prepared for the depth of instruction contained in this well-known simple reflection we repeat weekly, even daily in our religious practices.   Verses 7 and 8 of Matthew 6 give us direction on the content of our prayers.   

                

Matthew 6: 7 - 8
And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.  So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 

What was Christ referring to with the term "meaningless repetitions"?  And wouldn't many words in our prayers be a good thing??   And, if our Father knows what we need before we ask Him, why should we ask?  These are high questions we are pondering.  

In reviewing the scripture around the Lord’s Prayer, I concur with Shelley that the Lord is clearly instructing believers on the motives of their hearts and the practice of their righteousness in a community.  It is evident that there is to be a clear distinction between those who are living a life of faith with God and those who are practicing their religion to be seen by men.  Christ very clearly states that when the practice of our religion is to be seen by others then we have our reward in full.  In other words, when our prayers and deeds are for any other reason than to live a relationship of faith with God, then there is no blessing or reward that will come to us other than being seen by others. 

One prayer of Christ that really struck me was the prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.  This was an emotional and trying time for our Lord and he simply prayed the struggle of his heart.  Matthew 26 and Mark 14 record virtually the same words; “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will but as You will.” Christ offered very simple words to convey his longing  to the Father before heading to the cross to die for our sins. 

We do not need many repetitious words before our God to express the longings of our heart.  He knows our needs.  The expression of our needs in prayer acknowledges our reliance upon Him as we walk our life of faith.     “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”   Go to Him and offer the longing of your life, then live in the faith that you have been heard and that God will respond. 

Many blessings on your life,
Carol

Teach Us To Pray - February Challenge

This month, Shelley and I will be blogging about the teaching of Jesus on prayer, specifically on the section of scripture known as the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6: 9-13.  We will be focusing on verses 5 - 15, which will include some of the surrounding instruction on prayer, as well as the prayer itself.  Luke 11: 2-4 provides a portion of the prayer and in this particular portion of scripture the teaching is prompted by the request from one of the disciples, Lord, teach us to pray.....     This is the cry of our heart this month.   

Also, as mentioned in January, each month will highlight another prayer challenge.  The challenge for February is to pray daily and place some note of the prayer in your prayer journal.  If you are looking for direction in your journaling, you might consider praying the Lord's Prayer in full or by sections and using the upcoming blogs as a catalyst for your prayer focus.  In your journal, jot down the insights the Lord gives you and maybe consider sharing them with us.  This will be my journal focus this month.  If you choose another prayer focus or section of scripture, please feel free to share that with us and your insights. 

Matthew 6: 9-13

"Pray, then, in this way:
'Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.'
Amen"


Father - as we move into a new month of considering you and your ways, teach us to pray as Christ taught his disciples.  Help our hearts to know and depend on you more and more each day.  Thank you for caring about us and about the things and people close to our hearts.  We lift them up to you.

Blessings on your journey,
Carol

Overhaul of the Mind

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

An amazing transformation of our hearts and minds takes place when we draw close to God in prayer.  Setting our minds on things above refers to heavenly priorities rather than earthly priorities.  Really a huge change in our thinking and daily practices but the promise of God is that those who choose to set their minds on His priorities will be changed.  By spiritual design the old nature begins to fall away and the new God-focused nature is put on.    We have a choice in this transformation.  The choice we face is whether to believe and live by the promises of God or not.      

Ephesians chapter 1 says we are blessed in Christ “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm” and that the eyes of our heart can be “flooded with light” so that we KNOW and UNDERSTAND the “immeasurable power of God” in and for those who believe.  It is this power which raised Christ from the dead that works in us!!  We are made alive and given a new nature by the power of God; we can hope and rely on God completing this work when we focus our minds on His priorities and ways.    

The Bible is an amazing book and by reading it doorways to the mind and heart are opened.  A new way of seeing, believing and living is presented to us that can increase our hope in God and his plan.  Scripture points out human behavior before and after meeting Christ.   It helps us understand the difference between the old way of life and the new.   In Philippians 4 of the New Testament, there is a section that addresses how to engage in the “battle” of the old nature through our thoughts.  It says, "...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence or worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Changing the focus of our minds hinges on where we allow our minds to dwell and what thoughts we allow to take root in the mind.  Philippians chapter 4 stresses to us that the most beneficial resting place for the mind is in faith and prayer.  "Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your requests known to God."  Let's look for any piece of thanks we can give to God and add that to our prayers.  Developing a thankful attitude can really change the way we see the everyday circumstances that we face. 

One of the most exciting versions of the Bible is the Amplified version.  If you have the opportunity this weekend, go to the link below and read Ephesians 1 and Philippians 4 in the Amplified Bible version.  It will knock your socks off!! 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/

Father, we thank you for the spiritual blessings of knowing you and being in Christ.  There is no other who can save and redeem us so we rely on you and your promises to us.  Transform us as we draw closer to you.  Put in us a desire to be the spiritual-minded people you want us to be.  We love you. 

Blessings,

Carol

 

Love of God

Human beings are fickle when it comes to love.  We rely on emotions that ebb and tide with situations or mood and then respond to those emotions.  (I know this is a very simplistic statement but I am not a psychologist nor do I want to spend a great deal of time expounding on this topic.)  The love of God toward us is the total opposite; it is not dependent on who we are, what family we're from, have we been "good" today, all of which boils down to do we deserve His love.  Scripture says, God is love and the goodness of God toward us comes from that love.  Wow!!  What a statement!!   (See Psalm 69:16 and Psalm 109:21)  Can we accept and believe in God's love without question, even in tough times??  What does God's love look like and what does it mean to return God's love?  Lofty conversation for a little blog!!! 

God's love and what God expects as our response to love is described very succinctly in the New Testament book of 1 John.  Chapter 4 verses 7 - 12 says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."   This one passage tells us that God is love and His love is demonstrated for all through the atoning sacrifice of Christ for sin so that we might live. Our love is demonstrated back to God by our love towards each other.  In fact, this passage says that IF we love one another then God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  Another WOW statement!  We show each other the love of God by our love toward one another. 

1 John 4 continues in verses 13 - 17, "This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."   God IS love (again) and whoever accepts the sonship and sacrifice of Jesus can know and RELY on the love of God.  Not only that but God will live in us and we in him by his Spirit.  God's character is constant, it does not change which means that his love toward us does not change.  As I said earlier this is the opposite of human love and can only be accomplished through the Spirit which lives in us when we believe in the work of Jesus. 

We all struggle with very individual situations.  It is easiest to question God's love in the struggles but scripture indicates that it is by holding on to our faith during struggles and allowing God's work to take place that we gain a character that will be rewarded with the crown of life promised to those who love him.  See James 1. Hold on to the love of God toward you and continue in faith and love.  Don't doubt but pour out your heart to a God who loves you and gives of his goodness in many ways both seen and unseen.  

Blessings to you,
Carol

Please read the whole book of 1 John which compares and contrasts the love of God with love of the world, light versus darkness, and love versus hatred. 

Christ Child

Here we are almost to Christmas and I am wondering where the year went.  But let's slow down and contemplate Christmas before moving our thoughts to the New Year, the coming of which is a relief for many.  I know so many of you are struggling right now, our thoughts and prayers are with you.  I pray that the scripture below from Isaiah gives you hope in the fact that we have a Mighty God who cares about us and those around us.  Let's meditate on the aspects of Christ below and consider the Child given to redeem us and bring comfort and hope.
If there are any specific prayers we can focus on for you, please feel free to contact Shelley and I at elohimprayer@gmail.com. 

Isaiah 9:6 
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Father,
Thank you for the gift of our Lord who is a Wonderful Counselor when we need wisdom and hope.  Thank you that when we "see" him we also "see" you our Mighty God and Eternal Father.  We know that he is truly the Prince of everlasting Peace and that we can draw from the living waters of Christ to find our own peace in this world. 
Be with us as we contemplate the gift of Christ and all the spiritual blessings of knowing Him. 

Blessings to you. 
Carol

Praying for Prosperity

Happy Tuesday, Pray-ers! As always, last week slipped by when I wasn't looking, and the weekend... Well, I'm pretty sure it didn't happen. Here's hoping you all had a good few days.

And here's praying we all have a great week!

Do you ever pray for prosperity? I do. It's more biblical than some would think (see Joshua 1:7, 1 Kings 2:3, and 3 John 1:2 for a few examples), but it took a long time for me to recognize that my idea of prosperity is not necessarily God's idea. In fact, I think He has a much bigger plan for it than I do. I usually pray for financial income - especially in the wake of losing my job and my husband working too many 14-hour days to make up for it. Sometimes I'll ask for God to prosper us in another way, like joy or understanding, but mostly I just want money. Lol.

I think God wants more for us than that.

The Word says that our expectation comes from Him (Psalm 62:5), and that His plans for us are for good, for a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). That sounds like even more than financial prosperity to me. His idea is for us to have peace, joy, hope, and fullness of Spirit. The enemy can not gain a foothold and steal our prosperity if we're seeking and living in the Spirit of Christ. And money doesn't compare when I'm full of joy and hope. When I have these things, when I'm living in Jesus, I can do all things - even earn financial income.

How do you pray for prosperity? What does it look like to you? Share with us, and let's pray for each other!

Many blessings to you today,
Shelley