We must pray. [ Hebrews 11 v6 ]

I heard something yesterday that has upset me , someone I know is ill, what can I do?,well I can pray .In the act of praying we are doing the most important thing,most people pray,mybe even some atheist, we may be surprised. There is so much to pray about ,countries like Japan, Libya,our own country,persecuted Christians,neighbours, family,the list goes on,and yet it is not just a list, it is about real people, real situations,thats why we must be real in our prayers ,no hypocrisy, no falseness,no pretending, yes we must be real. Faith is important in prayer,faith in a God who honours faith,and will answer those prayers , offered in faith. As regards faith read Hebrews chapter 11, in that chapter we read of people acting in faith,but rest assured ,our acts of faith, should be preceded by prayers of faith, to God who hears and answers .John Newton wrote this on prayer,/ My soul, ask what thou wilt. Thou canst not be to bold,Since His own blood for thee He spilt,What else can He withhold?. Beyond thine utmost wants,His love and power can bless. To praying souls He always grants, More than they can express./ [Dear God who hears and answers prayer,we bring to you those things,that are burdening us, and ask that in Thy great mercy ,You would undertake ,we ask this in Jesus name Amen ]

The backslider. [Joel 2 v25 ]

One of my favourite stories is ,Wind in the willows, that wonderful story,by Kenneth Graham,of different animals,Ratty,Mole, Badger, and Toad of Toad Hall. These four are all friends, Ratty,mole, and badger are sensible animals, but Toad who is rich is an irresponsible animal. Toad flits from one thing to another,boating, caravaning, and finally to cars,and the latter takes over his life,to the point of bringing him to possible ruin ,financially, he is like so many people, mybe like you .But I move on, his friends love him, and with Badgers leadership,they seek to help,Badger takes Toad into a room on his own and lectures him,Toad listens agrees with Badger,they come out, no sooner are they out ,Toad declares he is not sorry, he only pretended to be ,in order to get Badger of his back, in utter frustration Badger calls him a backsliding animal. What is a backslider?well its one who goes back to what they once were,I know of many backsliders ,people who became Christians, and have gone back to what they once were, I wonder is that you?, as a youngster I trusted the Saviour, but I backslid, I went back, I remember a preacher saying that were no advantages in forsaking Christ, I found it to be so,and I deeply regret what I did,but God in His mercy forgive me, and restored me. [ Dear God I thank You for restoring me back to Yourself,we pray for those who are backsliden ,that You would restore them to Yourself ,in Jesus name Amen ]

Breaking point. [ 1 Corinthians 10 v13 ]

Many years ago I remember, us having a record player or what was known as a gramophone, it didnt work by electricity,it had a spring mechanism,which one had to wind up. I dont remember the music we played on it but I do remember that the spring kept snapping,and had to be replaced. Life for many is a bit like that ,we feel like a spring that is about to snap,we come under pressure, we feel stretched, and we cant take much more. Consider the following, and see if you idenitify with them,/troubled,distressed,perplexed,despair,persecuted.Now it is the apostle Paul who wrote those words [1 Corinthians 4 v8-9 ],so how did he respond to those things?. Well he declares that in all those things he was not forsaken, nor was he destroyed, in 2 Timothy 4v17 ,he declares in the midst of His trials, that the Lord stood with him, and strengthened him.Let us remember that in all our difficulties in life that the Lord is with us to strengthen us, so that we will not snap, and that He will not let those difficulties destroy us.[ Dear God we thank You ,that You are with us, and will not permit our difficulties to destroy us, but rather You will use our difficulties to transform us. in Jesus name .Amen ]

A worry pit . [ Psalm 40 v1- 3 ]

I wonder do you have a feeling in your tummy everytime you think of a certain situation ,I do ,and it will not go a way. I will call it my worry pit , a place where I have my worse thoughts. It involves situations that are arising, it involves change, it involves people,the result is ,a worry pit, and I cant seem to get out of it. You would think an old stager like me,would not have a worry pit, after all I am a Christian many ,many years, a minister , a preacher,this may be so, but I still have a worry pit.Well my mind turns to a man called Elijah, the great prophet,who had a powerful ministry, but he also had his worry pit cp 1 Kings 19. Is there a magic cure to help us out of our worry pits?, no ,but there is an answer,Elijah burrowed deeper into his worry pit,yes we can do that, or we can face those things that are worrying us,and trust in our Saviour to undertake.I read a verse this morning that will help all of us ,and its this. Isaiah 41 v10. Fear thou not ,for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. [Dear God we thank You that no matter how deep our worry pit may be , you are with us, and can deliver us ,in Jesus name Amen ]

The word of God.[ Psalm 119 v105 ]

As I was travelling on holiday recently, I listened to a Christian service on the radio,and one part of the service, I found interesting. After each Bible reading, they quoted Psalm 119 v105,which reads ,/Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path/. Some people think the Word of God confusing,not so ,William Plummer an old commentator, writes,/How sad is the state and how guilty the conduct of those , who reject the light of Gods word. It alone can solve a thousand doubts. It alone gives effectual comfort in the day of distress. It alone preserves our feet from forbidden paths, whoever has it has a great advantage/.It is the word of God alone that can make us wise unto salvation 2 Timothy 3 v15 ], for it reveals Christ to us,which must be a priority if we are to be saved and go to heaven and not to hell. [Dear God thank You for Your word, that reveals unto us Christ, and the principals we are to live by,and the path we are called to walk each day. Amen ]

Our heavenly Father. [Jeremiah 29 v11 ]

I heard these words while watching a movie/ I believe my Father has made me for a purpose/,I believe this, so many dont, because they dont know my Father.When you do know Him ,then life takes on a new meaning, you realize that there is one who is watching over you, caring for you. [cp Matthew 6 ] God is the best Father, by far, often earthly fathers, as many people are finding out,are not caring,they father children,they didnt want, someone I know had 6 children,but was left to bring them up on her own.Another person I know had a father who abused her. Now of course there are many good fathers,but they have their limits, and they do there best,but they cannot always help us and protect us, and be with us. We find in God, the perfect father, yes He will chastise us,because He loves us [Hebrews 12v6],we may not understand His ways, but we can trust Him, that He knows best,and will look after us, come what may. [ Dear God we thank You that we can know You as our Father when we trust Jesus to be our Saviour, Amen ]

What we need. [ Philippians 4 v23 ]

As I think what to write, the thought that comes to is the grace of God,this is something we all need to be reminded of,not only to be saved,but as we continue on ,in the Christian life.Grace to stand for truth as revealed in the word of God,grace to be the people we should be,and would like to be. Grace to overcome those things that would bring us down, grace to fight the good fight of faith, grace to follow our Lord in the path that He leads us on.Grace to be humble,grace to have a servants heart, and live it out,grace to apply truth to our lives, not just to accumulate knowledge for the sake it,let us remember that truth, Gods truth is meant to be lived out, in the rough and tumble of life. If I am going to be light,if I am going to be salt, I need the grace of God, let us therefore come unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need [Hebrews 4 v16 ][ Dear God pour out Your grace into these lives of ours in Jesus name Amen ] [ I will return to blogging next Sat as I will be holiday from tomorrow ]