I recently had the privilege of leading two adult classes on the topic of prayer.
Prior to leading those classes I posted a blog on my other site entitled Teach Us to Pray.
There I cited the examples Jesus gave us on the proper approach to God in prayer as well as the model He gave us which we now lovingly refer to as The Lord's Prayer.
In this post I thought would expand on the topic of prayer based not only on the curriculum but also from feedback I received from those in attendance.
To begin with, I still maintain my position that prayer is much more than "praying big" to God whose power is limitless.
Prayer remains one of the best means we have of strengthening our relationship with God and not merely a means by which we receive things we request.
Please do not misunderstand me.
I think it is a wonderful thing to pray for others especially when they are ill, coping with loss or dealing with difficult situations.
If we are faced with similar issues, then we should take them to God in prayer as the old hymn reminds us.
But we also need to exercise good judgment when it comes to praying for ourselves.
By that I mean that we really need to understand what is motivating us to pray for ourselves.
When it come to praying for things we really need to exercise caution.
Let's take praying to God for a new church building or for the expansion of an existing one as an example.
On the surface, this seems benign but even in this case we need to examine our motives.
If our motivation is to edify the body and we need more room to accommodate more people then I think we are on good footing.
If our motivation is merely to have a nicer and more beautiful structure then perhaps we should take time to think things over before approaching God.
Granted, I am painting with an extremely broad brush, but this is merely for the sake of example.
That said, let us examine the results of prayer.
For example let us say that there are two people and each has a close family member who is extremely ill.
Let us also say that each prayed for the healing of his family member.
Let us also assume that the first family member was healed but the second died.
Can we conclude that the second person did not pray as hard as the first, or that the right prayer was not said?
Can we conclude that the first person had more faith than the second?
The answer to all these questions is "No".
God has a plan and understands it completely, whereas we cannot.
Though each of the two prayers was answered in a different way, the relationships between each of those praying and God were strengthened.
And the prayers should not end there.
The second should pray for comfort, peace and understanding.
The first should pray with gratitude.
Thus the relationships between those praying and God continues to be strengthened.
It must be stated that too often it is the prayer of gratitude that is overlooked.
These are but a few thoughts on prayer, so I invite you to read Hebrews chapter 11 in its entirety to put things in a proper perspective.
Bear in mind the last two verses.
Hebrews 11:39-40 (NIV) - These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
This brings up a final point.
Some prayers are not answered right away.
Some might not even be answered in our lifetime.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 20, 2014.
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 27, 2014
Showing posts with label posessions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label posessions. Show all posts
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Thoughts of Home
A few weekends ago, I was in my old neighborhood.
As I drove through it, I noticed thick black clouds of smoke billowing into the sky.
Authorities redirected traffic so I was not able to get too near the source, but it was obvious that either a house or a business was going up in flames.
The winds were high that day, so I knew that there was not much hope in saving the structure.
As traffic was being diverted from the scene, I offered up a prayer for both the safety of the occupants and the firefighters.
About a week later, I found myself in the area again, and decided to drive past the site where the inferno took place.
A very strange feeling overtook me when I saw the remains of that house.
It was not just any house.
That house was my boyhood home.
I spent my first and most formative years in that house.
Although that was several decades ago, a flood of very vivid memories returned to me.
I remembered the floral wallpaper in the living room.
I remembered how the floor in that room leaned just enough so I could stack all but one of my wooden blocks.
Try as I might, I could never get that final block in its place on top of the stack.
Time and again the tower I created would tip over with that final block and come crashing to the floor (I was a rather persistent child).
I remembered the old black and white television in the corner that picked up the only three channels that were available.
I remembered the huge sink in which Mother or sometimes my grandmother would bathe me when I was very, very small.
I remembered the sandbox Father built for me on the back porch.
I remembered the large dining room table where my parents and I would share a meal and play games.
I remembered my bedroom where my parents taught me how to pray at the close of my day.
Then there was my favorite memory of all.
On one of those very rare occasions that it snowed, I remember Mother opening all of the curtains in the dining room for me.
As this was my first snowfall, she did this just for me so that I could watch the snow as it gently fell blanketing everything in white.
I remembered staring out of each one of those windows in turn completely mesmerized by that sight.
These were but some of my memories from that home all those decades ago.
All that physically remains now is the badly charred frame of what was a very old house.
But, there still remains something of a wonderful home forever preserved in some very old and very precious memories.
Memories that I will carry with me always.
There is indeed a difference between a house and a home.
A house is a but structure designed to provide shelter.
A home is where you live... really live.
As I considered that, scripture came to mind.
A house, like any other possession is temporary.
Matthew 6:19-20 (NET) - "Do not accumulate for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal."
A house, even that which we consider home, is a necessity while we are here, but our real home awaits us in heaven.
Philippians 3:20 (NET) - But our citizenship is in heaven - and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,...
Unlike the houses we live in here, our home in heaven will be permanent.
It will be moth proof, rust proof and yes, even fire proof.
I guess some old sayings have at least some truth in them.
Home is where the heart is.
We just need to make certain that our hearts are in the right place.
Jesus can help us with that if we will but let him.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 15, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, February 22, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
As I drove through it, I noticed thick black clouds of smoke billowing into the sky.
Authorities redirected traffic so I was not able to get too near the source, but it was obvious that either a house or a business was going up in flames.
The winds were high that day, so I knew that there was not much hope in saving the structure.
As traffic was being diverted from the scene, I offered up a prayer for both the safety of the occupants and the firefighters.
About a week later, I found myself in the area again, and decided to drive past the site where the inferno took place.
A very strange feeling overtook me when I saw the remains of that house.
It was not just any house.
That house was my boyhood home.
I spent my first and most formative years in that house.
Although that was several decades ago, a flood of very vivid memories returned to me.
I remembered the floral wallpaper in the living room.
I remembered how the floor in that room leaned just enough so I could stack all but one of my wooden blocks.
Try as I might, I could never get that final block in its place on top of the stack.
Time and again the tower I created would tip over with that final block and come crashing to the floor (I was a rather persistent child).
I remembered the old black and white television in the corner that picked up the only three channels that were available.
I remembered the huge sink in which Mother or sometimes my grandmother would bathe me when I was very, very small.
I remembered the sandbox Father built for me on the back porch.
I remembered the large dining room table where my parents and I would share a meal and play games.
I remembered my bedroom where my parents taught me how to pray at the close of my day.
Then there was my favorite memory of all.
On one of those very rare occasions that it snowed, I remember Mother opening all of the curtains in the dining room for me.
As this was my first snowfall, she did this just for me so that I could watch the snow as it gently fell blanketing everything in white.
I remembered staring out of each one of those windows in turn completely mesmerized by that sight.
These were but some of my memories from that home all those decades ago.
All that physically remains now is the badly charred frame of what was a very old house.
But, there still remains something of a wonderful home forever preserved in some very old and very precious memories.
Memories that I will carry with me always.
There is indeed a difference between a house and a home.
A house is a but structure designed to provide shelter.
A home is where you live... really live.
As I considered that, scripture came to mind.
A house, like any other possession is temporary.
Matthew 6:19-20 (NET) - "Do not accumulate for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven , where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal."
A house, even that which we consider home, is a necessity while we are here, but our real home awaits us in heaven.
Philippians 3:20 (NET) - But our citizenship is in heaven - and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,...
Unlike the houses we live in here, our home in heaven will be permanent.
It will be moth proof, rust proof and yes, even fire proof.
I guess some old sayings have at least some truth in them.
Home is where the heart is.
We just need to make certain that our hearts are in the right place.
Jesus can help us with that if we will but let him.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 15, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, February 22, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The Root of All Evil
It seems as though many of the TV channels I have relied on for documentaries have turned to reality programs as a means of garnering bigger ratings.
Not surprisingly, many of these programs incorporate greed as a driving force.
Thinking about this reminded me of an experience I had many years ago.
I was invited to a party at a private home.
The husband and wife hosting the party were both extremely nice.
It was obvious from their home and its furnishings that this couple had done quite well for themselves.
As I genuinely liked this couple I could not help but feel happy for them.
As the celebration went on, I happened to overhear a conversation that two of their guests were having as they paused behind me.
One said, "If I owned all of this, I could finally be happy."
The guest he said this to agreed with him.
I could not disagree more.
Wealth and possessions do not bring happiness.
The pursuit of wealth and possessions often makes true happiness difficult, perhaps even impossible. to obtain.
We have heard it said that money is the root of all evil.
We have even heard that this can be found in the Bible.
That is not exactly true.
Here is what the Bible really says...
1 Timothy 6:10 (NET) - For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
It is not money that is the problem, rather, it is the love of money.
Scripture provides us with many examples of this.
In the twelfth chapter of John, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with an expensive aromatic ointment made of pure nard.
Judas chastised her by stating that the oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor.
John tells us what really motivated Judas.
John 12:6 (NET) - Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.
What did Jesus say about Mary’s action.
John 12:7 (NET) - So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial."
Mary showed that she cared more about Jesus than she cared about money.
In the fifth chapter of Acts, we read of a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira.
Ananias sold a piece of property and withheld some of the money with his wife’s knowledge.
Peter reminded Ananias that this was a lie to the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:3 (NET) - But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land?
Ananias paid for this lie with his life as he collapsed and died.
Three hours later, Sapphira continued her husband’s lie.
She then paid with her life in a similar way.
The love of money or possessions is a barrier that separates us from real happiness.
Even worse, it separates us from God.
God both demands and deserves to be first in our lives.
When we place more value on money or possessions than we do on God, we practice idolatry.
God makes His feelings very clear regarding this.
Exodus 20:3 (NET) - You shall have no other gods before me.
When we place God first, He helps us prioritize everything else.
That includes money and the possessions it will buy.
Placing God first in our lives is the real key to happiness.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 24, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, August 31, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
Not surprisingly, many of these programs incorporate greed as a driving force.
Thinking about this reminded me of an experience I had many years ago.
I was invited to a party at a private home.
The husband and wife hosting the party were both extremely nice.
It was obvious from their home and its furnishings that this couple had done quite well for themselves.
As I genuinely liked this couple I could not help but feel happy for them.
As the celebration went on, I happened to overhear a conversation that two of their guests were having as they paused behind me.
One said, "If I owned all of this, I could finally be happy."
The guest he said this to agreed with him.
I could not disagree more.
Wealth and possessions do not bring happiness.
The pursuit of wealth and possessions often makes true happiness difficult, perhaps even impossible. to obtain.
We have heard it said that money is the root of all evil.
We have even heard that this can be found in the Bible.
That is not exactly true.
Here is what the Bible really says...
1 Timothy 6:10 (NET) - For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
It is not money that is the problem, rather, it is the love of money.
Scripture provides us with many examples of this.
In the twelfth chapter of John, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with an expensive aromatic ointment made of pure nard.
Judas chastised her by stating that the oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor.
John tells us what really motivated Judas.
John 12:6 (NET) - Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.
What did Jesus say about Mary’s action.
John 12:7 (NET) - So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial."
Mary showed that she cared more about Jesus than she cared about money.
In the fifth chapter of Acts, we read of a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira.
Ananias sold a piece of property and withheld some of the money with his wife’s knowledge.
Peter reminded Ananias that this was a lie to the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:3 (NET) - But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land?
Ananias paid for this lie with his life as he collapsed and died.
Three hours later, Sapphira continued her husband’s lie.
She then paid with her life in a similar way.
The love of money or possessions is a barrier that separates us from real happiness.
Even worse, it separates us from God.
God both demands and deserves to be first in our lives.
When we place more value on money or possessions than we do on God, we practice idolatry.
God makes His feelings very clear regarding this.
Exodus 20:3 (NET) - You shall have no other gods before me.
When we place God first, He helps us prioritize everything else.
That includes money and the possessions it will buy.
Placing God first in our lives is the real key to happiness.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 24, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, August 31, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)