Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
This is a promise that we can claim from God. He assures as that if we sincerely ask, seek and knock we will find what we are looking for. Jesus uses encourages these three actions to show us that whatever we need, God is willing to satisfy that need according to His will. He is not a selfish God and because He loves us, He gives to those who truly seeks Him with all their hearts.
Psalm 118:5-6 “In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
As this year begins, we need to realize that there are many things around us that are beyond our control. We are not God. God is the one in control. He is sovereign. And that is one thing we can count on as we plan our year. We can take confidence in Him, especially if our plans are according to His will. We need not worry about the future but instead we need to pray and seek God. Cry out to Him – depend on Him. Start the year right by committing yourself to the Lord and making Him first in every area of your life.
Continuing education has become more popular and in demand nowadays, not just for fresh graduates but for professionals as well. The interest and desire for growth has just become greater because of the need to adapt to the financial needs that increase.
Many people pursuing higher education or more specialized fields like nursing, medical transcription, xray technology, culinary arts, forensic science, fashion design, interior decorating, and skill based careers look for opportunities in the international community to seek higher pay and a better standard of living.
This trend is indeed seen among third world countries, causing separation of family members, mostly parents from their growing children. This pattern has also led to rebellion of some teenagers, mainly because of the loss of a sense of closeness with their parents, or sometimes because of not being able to build a relationship that is nurturing.
Churches in third world countries try their best to guide the children and the young people who are left with their grandparents or with single parents so that they would be properly supported emotionally as they go through their teenage years. Parents abroad also seek counsel of church friends and pastors as they struggle with the effects of being away.
Let us pray for families in this kind of situation that they would be protected from the schemes of the enemy that purpose to destroy families.
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”
This is a very beautiful prayer and commitment. It shows a believer’s intention to please his Master. It humbly expresses the desire to do the will of God and that’s what I love about it. But more than that, it also expresses will to do what’s right in word and in thought.
This should be every believer’s desire, will and intention since we all have been saved by our Redeemer. It is our way of showing our lifelong gratitude for what He has done for us.
Posted on November 16th, 2008 by Pastor Jeff in Prayer
Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
This is one of the verses that I have helped my three-year old son memorize. I like this verse because of the promise it holds. The promise, of course, comes with a premise – that is to delight one’s self in God.
A lot of times we delight in other things. Usually, we delight on what we want and ask god or try to bend god’s will into what we want. True delight means that when we find out that God doesn’t want what we desire, then we must be willing to submit to Him and obey. And that’s when the promise can be claimed.
Romans 13:1 “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Today, as I listened to Senator John McCain’s concession speech, I was encouraged to hear how he urged his supporters to not just congratulate the new elected President of the United States, Senator Obama, but to also support him.
As a McCain supporter, even though I am not an American, I was moved by his speech and the Lord impressed this verse to me as I listened to the speech.
Let us just pray for the United States, its new president and hope for the best.
Posted on October 28th, 2008 by Pastor Jeff in Prayer
Prayer is our direct communication to God and unlike the world’s communication systems like the cellular phone which gets a busy signal or has low signal that it would sometimes need a cell phone repeater, our communication with God is always open. Even when God doesn’t hear us when our sins separate us from Him, He immediately responds once we repent and ask forgiveness.
