Why Worry - Just Pray!

 Worry: To be concerned or troubled, to irritate

The Word of God clearly teaches us not to worry, but I know this is often easier said than done. It may be human nature to worry, but remember, it’s not God's nature for us to do so. We would all be much better off if we would learn to lean on God and ask Him for help. He cannot take care of our problems, worries, or our concerns until we learn to turn them loose and give them to Him.

I once heard Joyce Meyer say, “Worry is like a rocking chair - it's always in motion, but it never gets you anywhere.” When we worry, we torment ourselves and it wears us out - mentally, physically, and emotionally. And you know what? After we've worn ourselves out, we still haven’t fixed or changed the problem! Let’s do as the Word says in 1 Peter 5:6, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you."

Do you think Peter was worried after he was put in prison? Although most of us would have been, it seems obvious that he wasn’t, because Acts 12:6-7 tells us that "Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains... And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands." The saints of God weren’t worried, instead, they were offering up prayers without ceasing and God delivered.

Worry is the opposite of faith. Worry is caused by not trusting in God to take care of whatever our situation may be. We must humble ourselves as the Word says and trust God in all things. Of course, things are going to come up that causes us some concern, but that’s when we have to turn it all over to God and say, "Lord, I trust you to make the right decision for me."

My friend mother would always say, “if you are going to pray - why worry? And if you are going to worry - why pray?" We must learn what our responsibilities are and stop trying to do God’s job! Worry steals our time, our peace, and our faith. Let’s save ourselves some time and give our concerns, our troubles, and our irritations to God. 

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

The Time to Pray is Now!

Pray: to make a request in a humble manner, to address God with adoration, supplication or thanksgiving.

If there was ever a time to pray, it's now! We're seeing rampant murders without justice, storms back to back, major fires that have been burning for months... we have had so many deaths from the coronavirus (and it's on the rise again) and from natural causes that it feels like we will never see the end of these things. So my friends, if there was ever a time to pray, it's now. In fact, the word tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray without ceasing."

Sickness is all around us - there are so many people with cancer and with heart disease - to the point where their heart is failing because of stress, depression, and the anger that's eating them up on the inside. People are depressed because they can't feed their children and stressed because there's no money for bills. If there was ever a time to pray, it's now! It's praying time. There is so much anger and hatred on the rise because people don't want to or can't cope with things they can't control. 

Even though it seems like there's trouble on every side, we don't have to be distressed. We often get confused because we don't know why things are happening as they are, but as children of God we should never give up and we should never quit. Instead, we need to go to the source of everything without ceasing and make our requests in a humble manner. Address God with adoration, supplication, and thanksgiving. If there was ever a time to pray, it's now! It's praying time.

We must continue casting all of our cares upon Him for He careth for you (1 Peter 5:7). There's no problem that God can't solve. His ear is not so heavy that He can't hear, His arm is not so short that He can't save. If there was ever a time to pray it's now! It's praying time.

With all that said, let the Church say Amen and... AMEN!

Is Your Foundation Sure?

  Foundation: the base or support

Sure: trust worthy, without doubt, certainty

When you are building a house you must have a blue print and that blue print shows us exactly how to build that house and exactly where everything should go. With any building that goes up, one of the most important things that’s needed is a solid and firm foundation. If that foundation isn't sure and solid, you’re going to get cracks, things are going to shift, and we will have major issues on our hands.

You know where I’m going with this, right? Just as it is in the natural, so shall it be in the spiritual realm. In order to build a strong spiritual foundation, we have to build it on things not of this world, but on the things of God. If we don't, our foundation will crack and crumble the minute there’s a little wind blown in our direction - i.e. when we’re put into a difficult situation. However, if we have built our foundation up by establishing a strong prayer life, study time, praise and worship, then we will be able to stand on God's word which will never fall or crack instead of being utterly destroyed by storms.

Laying a good and strong foundation takes time and obedience, but believe me when I say, the benefits are worth it. Luke 6:47- 49 tells us that "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings and doeth them, I will shew you to whom be is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid a foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Hopefully it goes without saying that the rock is Christ.

Let's be wise master builders. Don’t forget that as we are building our strong and sure foundation, we are really drawing closer to the Lord. As we draw closer to Him, He will draw closer to us!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!                                

Seven Steps for Walking in Success

 Success: Achievement of something intended or desired

As we prepare to enter into a new year, I would like to share with you seven steps for walking in success. The success I’m speaking of is spiritual success. While natural success is quite wonderful, but it’s only temporary. What the Lord wants us to do is reverse the order of how we typically do things - seek spiritual success first and then allow the natural success to automatically follow. For instance, when you take a new job you might first have to take an entry level position. However as you are faithful and work hard in that position, you will get promoted and the raises will start coming, - after you have done what is required. On the spiritual side, when you start walking in the circle of success, achievement will come and the Lord will elevate you with things that no man can take away.

Let's talk about those seven steps:

1.  Keep a personal relationship: The Lord must be first in our lives; We must spend time with Him. After all, how can we get to know someone if we don’t spend time with them? We should also always confess Him as our Lord. After all, Jesus loved us enough to give His life for us. Roman 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

2.  We must have a prayer life: as we have discussed a number of times in the past, we must "pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That’s our method of communication with God, therefore we should be in constant contact with Him. 

3.  Study God's Word: we must study the word of God to get a solid foundation; as 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 

4.  Be Faithful: God loves faithfulness, so if we say it, we need to do it (see this previous blog for more information on 'walking the walk!'). We must be faithful to keep our focus on what He wants, faithful to keep His word, and faithful in small things as well as big things. 

5.  When we fall down, we get up: We must stay strong, even when we get knocked down. As Proverb 24:16 tells us, "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief." Micah 7:8 says, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." 

6.  Deal with the things in our old heart: as you see that old worldly nature start to manifest itself in your life, don’t bury it - deal with it! Confess it, repent of it and ask the Lord to wash you in His blood. 

7.  Practice your spiritual growth: As we grow in our knowledge and principles of the word, we must practice them. With growth comes change! My friends, it's time now to "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22).

These seven steps will help us to walk in the circle of spiritual success!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!