Barnabas Letter
#5
October 25th 2006
I am Not The Same Today
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours.
Returning home this morning, after dropping my son off at school, I did the same thing I always do, I headed for my study to pray.
After investing a few moments listening to worship music, at times inspired to sing along, I picked my Bible off my desk and headed for the wing backed chair in the south east corner of my study. With the popping and snapping of an early morning fire in the woodstove and a few stray rays of sunlight stealing their way into the study through the clouds, I kneeled at the foot of my chair, my heart prepared to pray. A quick glance alongside my chair revealed, neatly stacked on the floor, several study bibles, a pad of paper, a pen and my prayer list. These are my chosen tools, all ready at a moments notice to clarify a question, jot down a thought, or jog my memory of who is next in line for prayer. Bowing my head, I began surrendering my day to God.
Some years past, at a dinner for a friend, I overheard someone ask, quite simply. “Why do we pray?” Hmm, sounded like a good question to me. Thinking to myself, I quickly concluded, we pray to get God to do something for us. Off to my right the deep voice of our guest replied, “We pray because someone is listening.”
It is quite true indeed, God is listening. He is listening much like my dad, when I was a child, would listen to me. I remember many times wandering into dad’s woodshop with a great question upon my young heart. After tugging on his sawdust covered shirt tail in hopes to gain his attention, he would turn off the loud machinery, kneel down, look me straight in the eye, then ask what he could do for me. Gazing back at him, his love obvious, even to a little boy, I would present the matter at hand in my best manner of speaking at the time. He would listen with care to my every word, for at that moment I felt as if I were the most important person in his life. I knew I could always trust my dads answer to be the best possible solution, even if I had to wait for a time before he presented his answer.
This morning as I kneel, my knees pressing gratefully into the cushion at the foot of my prayer chair, I think upon my Father in Heaven. As much as my earthly father loved me to his greatest capacity, my Father in Heaven loves me ever so much more. As the Bible states in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Kneeling this morning with my eyes closed, and a surrendered, desiring heart, I could feel God meeting me here in my study, as I, one of His children, tugged on the hem of His garment in hopes to gain His attention.
And so it begins, a morning of conversation with God, my Abba Father. Embraced inside and out by God’s Holy Spirit I work my way through my prayer list, knowing God is listening intently to every word and matter of my heart. With my emotions rising and falling within each prayer, I am reminded of another of God’s promises. John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” So in faith I pray, my spirit groaning for those I love, knowing I can trust my Heavenly Fathers answer to be the best possible solution, even if I have to wait for a time before He presents His answer.
My dear friends, I want to encourage you, if you have not already, to set aside your daily times of prayer. I have in mind as I say this, Daniel, in the Bible, who three times a day would go to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem, and pray, giving thanks to God. Even when threatened with being tossed into the lions den, (Daniel, chapter 6), Daniel continued to pray three times a day, just as he had always done.
What manner of man is this man Daniel? He is a man who spent much time in the presence of his God in Heaven. James chapter 4 verse 8 states, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Daniel had this experience. The more time he spent with God, the more profoundly his faith grew, and passionate his determination became, to remain close to God no matter the circumstances. It was through a lifestyle of consistent prayer, Daniel witnessed God moving supernaturally in his life, revealing the dreams of ungodly men, calming the lions in their den sparing Daniels life, and even predicting events which would take place thousands of years in the future.
Friends, The Same God Daniel prayed to is the same God we pray to. The Same God who told Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name,” (Exodus 33:17), Is the very same God who knows each of us by name. The God in Jeremiah 29:12-13 who promises, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” is the very same God who is anxious to hear from you and promises to listen. Yes! To you!
It is now evening in my part of the world. I have just finished my prayers for the evening and rose from my prayer chair with knees popping and the promised peace of God residing within my heart. There is also a sense, a sense after a day of prayer that my life is forever different, forever changed. I have drawn closer to God today. I have spoken with a mighty, loving God who listened to every word and promises to answer every prayer. I am not the same today, and tomorrow will be a new day to snuggle a bit closer to Jesus, and yes, once again be changed forever, not only me, but all who I have prayed for today, their lives too, will never be the same.
Friends, I hope you understand, I am not advocating that everyone needs to pray three times a day (although that is not a bad idea). What I am advocating is the necessity of prayer in these days.
Our world is rapidly approaching what I believe are to be devastating times for us and other nations.
We (the United States) are not exactly in line for a global appreciation award for peace making.
Iran and its submissive cohorts are constantly threatening Israel with annihilation. Israel is now surrounded by organizations influenced by the leaders of Iran, Syria, and Russia, which are growing in strength, militarily, by the day.
The Gaza strip, given to the Palestinians as a concession by the leaders of Israel, has turned into a staging point for the destruction of Israel. Is it possible, the leaders of Israel have been politically blinded and manipulated by supposedly well intended leaders of other countries?
Israel is bombarded daily by Iranian, Syrian, and Russian provided missiles from the Gaza strip. The irony is, when Israel defends itself, the Iranians, and those under their influence, cry massacre, and then run screaming like a little girls to the United Nations with a complaint against Israel.
I believe, if we look closely at the supposed “Road Map to Peace“, we can easily see that even the United States may not be on Israel’s side. The United States by its actions has seemed to display a plethora of hidden agendas concerning Israel’s security as a nation.
In our own country (Called “The Great Satan” by Iran’s President) ungodliness is increasing. What has been Biblically acceptable is becoming culturally unacceptable, and vice-versa.
In many of our public schools today we find homosexuality condoned and Christianity offensive.
It seems Proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Son of God in our country is now becoming offensive.
In today’s world we are discovering also, anything that might suggest that Mohammad is one of God’s prophets, and advocates the Muslim religion, seems to have become acceptable. Hmmm….
Here is a good point; There before each of us every day, are people who are completely void of the presence of Jesus Christ. These people are going to die someday, just like you and I. We are Christians, are we not? We have an obligation to pray for our neighbors. It is part of loving them. We have an obligation to pray for our country and those who lead our nation. We have an obligation to pray for Israel that God will save them, and for the peace of Jerusalem.
Come on friends, lets pray together for our neighbors, that Jesus would become the greatest friend, ever, for them!!!
That souls would be saved!!!
Lets pray for the leaders of our great United States, that they would discover an intimate, personal relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and guide our nation God’s way!!!
Lets pray that our country’s preachers would preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!
Lets pray for Israel, whose enemies strength grows greater and greater by the day. That God will replace the existing Israeli leaders with fierce warriors of God who will truly lead Israel to victory, in truth and honor, and there will be peace in Jerusalem!!!
And Yes, let us never forget to pray daily for our young men and women in the United States military, who are now serving in the Middle East.
Remember this; The greater the strength and power of the enemies of Israel, even greater and more powerful will the glory and power of the God of Israel be reflected upon the world, when the enemies of little Israel are defeated.
Because of Jesus Christ, we who belong to Him, already stand in victory. And it is never too late, to pray to our God who listens.
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land
May God Bless You, Jeremy
#5
October 25th 2006
I am Not The Same Today
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours.
Returning home this morning, after dropping my son off at school, I did the same thing I always do, I headed for my study to pray.
After investing a few moments listening to worship music, at times inspired to sing along, I picked my Bible off my desk and headed for the wing backed chair in the south east corner of my study. With the popping and snapping of an early morning fire in the woodstove and a few stray rays of sunlight stealing their way into the study through the clouds, I kneeled at the foot of my chair, my heart prepared to pray. A quick glance alongside my chair revealed, neatly stacked on the floor, several study bibles, a pad of paper, a pen and my prayer list. These are my chosen tools, all ready at a moments notice to clarify a question, jot down a thought, or jog my memory of who is next in line for prayer. Bowing my head, I began surrendering my day to God.
Some years past, at a dinner for a friend, I overheard someone ask, quite simply. “Why do we pray?” Hmm, sounded like a good question to me. Thinking to myself, I quickly concluded, we pray to get God to do something for us. Off to my right the deep voice of our guest replied, “We pray because someone is listening.”
It is quite true indeed, God is listening. He is listening much like my dad, when I was a child, would listen to me. I remember many times wandering into dad’s woodshop with a great question upon my young heart. After tugging on his sawdust covered shirt tail in hopes to gain his attention, he would turn off the loud machinery, kneel down, look me straight in the eye, then ask what he could do for me. Gazing back at him, his love obvious, even to a little boy, I would present the matter at hand in my best manner of speaking at the time. He would listen with care to my every word, for at that moment I felt as if I were the most important person in his life. I knew I could always trust my dads answer to be the best possible solution, even if I had to wait for a time before he presented his answer.
This morning as I kneel, my knees pressing gratefully into the cushion at the foot of my prayer chair, I think upon my Father in Heaven. As much as my earthly father loved me to his greatest capacity, my Father in Heaven loves me ever so much more. As the Bible states in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Kneeling this morning with my eyes closed, and a surrendered, desiring heart, I could feel God meeting me here in my study, as I, one of His children, tugged on the hem of His garment in hopes to gain His attention.
And so it begins, a morning of conversation with God, my Abba Father. Embraced inside and out by God’s Holy Spirit I work my way through my prayer list, knowing God is listening intently to every word and matter of my heart. With my emotions rising and falling within each prayer, I am reminded of another of God’s promises. John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” So in faith I pray, my spirit groaning for those I love, knowing I can trust my Heavenly Fathers answer to be the best possible solution, even if I have to wait for a time before He presents His answer.
My dear friends, I want to encourage you, if you have not already, to set aside your daily times of prayer. I have in mind as I say this, Daniel, in the Bible, who three times a day would go to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem, and pray, giving thanks to God. Even when threatened with being tossed into the lions den, (Daniel, chapter 6), Daniel continued to pray three times a day, just as he had always done.
What manner of man is this man Daniel? He is a man who spent much time in the presence of his God in Heaven. James chapter 4 verse 8 states, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Daniel had this experience. The more time he spent with God, the more profoundly his faith grew, and passionate his determination became, to remain close to God no matter the circumstances. It was through a lifestyle of consistent prayer, Daniel witnessed God moving supernaturally in his life, revealing the dreams of ungodly men, calming the lions in their den sparing Daniels life, and even predicting events which would take place thousands of years in the future.
Friends, The Same God Daniel prayed to is the same God we pray to. The Same God who told Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name,” (Exodus 33:17), Is the very same God who knows each of us by name. The God in Jeremiah 29:12-13 who promises, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” is the very same God who is anxious to hear from you and promises to listen. Yes! To you!
It is now evening in my part of the world. I have just finished my prayers for the evening and rose from my prayer chair with knees popping and the promised peace of God residing within my heart. There is also a sense, a sense after a day of prayer that my life is forever different, forever changed. I have drawn closer to God today. I have spoken with a mighty, loving God who listened to every word and promises to answer every prayer. I am not the same today, and tomorrow will be a new day to snuggle a bit closer to Jesus, and yes, once again be changed forever, not only me, but all who I have prayed for today, their lives too, will never be the same.
Friends, I hope you understand, I am not advocating that everyone needs to pray three times a day (although that is not a bad idea). What I am advocating is the necessity of prayer in these days.
Our world is rapidly approaching what I believe are to be devastating times for us and other nations.
We (the United States) are not exactly in line for a global appreciation award for peace making.
Iran and its submissive cohorts are constantly threatening Israel with annihilation. Israel is now surrounded by organizations influenced by the leaders of Iran, Syria, and Russia, which are growing in strength, militarily, by the day.
The Gaza strip, given to the Palestinians as a concession by the leaders of Israel, has turned into a staging point for the destruction of Israel. Is it possible, the leaders of Israel have been politically blinded and manipulated by supposedly well intended leaders of other countries?
Israel is bombarded daily by Iranian, Syrian, and Russian provided missiles from the Gaza strip. The irony is, when Israel defends itself, the Iranians, and those under their influence, cry massacre, and then run screaming like a little girls to the United Nations with a complaint against Israel.
I believe, if we look closely at the supposed “Road Map to Peace“, we can easily see that even the United States may not be on Israel’s side. The United States by its actions has seemed to display a plethora of hidden agendas concerning Israel’s security as a nation.
In our own country (Called “The Great Satan” by Iran’s President) ungodliness is increasing. What has been Biblically acceptable is becoming culturally unacceptable, and vice-versa.
In many of our public schools today we find homosexuality condoned and Christianity offensive.
It seems Proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Son of God in our country is now becoming offensive.
In today’s world we are discovering also, anything that might suggest that Mohammad is one of God’s prophets, and advocates the Muslim religion, seems to have become acceptable. Hmmm….
Here is a good point; There before each of us every day, are people who are completely void of the presence of Jesus Christ. These people are going to die someday, just like you and I. We are Christians, are we not? We have an obligation to pray for our neighbors. It is part of loving them. We have an obligation to pray for our country and those who lead our nation. We have an obligation to pray for Israel that God will save them, and for the peace of Jerusalem.
Come on friends, lets pray together for our neighbors, that Jesus would become the greatest friend, ever, for them!!!
That souls would be saved!!!
Lets pray for the leaders of our great United States, that they would discover an intimate, personal relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and guide our nation God’s way!!!
Lets pray that our country’s preachers would preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!
Lets pray for Israel, whose enemies strength grows greater and greater by the day. That God will replace the existing Israeli leaders with fierce warriors of God who will truly lead Israel to victory, in truth and honor, and there will be peace in Jerusalem!!!
And Yes, let us never forget to pray daily for our young men and women in the United States military, who are now serving in the Middle East.
Remember this; The greater the strength and power of the enemies of Israel, even greater and more powerful will the glory and power of the God of Israel be reflected upon the world, when the enemies of little Israel are defeated.
Because of Jesus Christ, we who belong to Him, already stand in victory. And it is never too late, to pray to our God who listens.
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land
May God Bless You, Jeremy
