© 2008 2009 2010
HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD
Questions people ask
1.
I have never heard anyone say that God talks to people today?
2.
I have never heard the voice of God, so you must be wrong to say
that God is speaking to people?
3.
What does this “voice” sound like?
4.
Do you actually hear an audible voice?
5.
How do I know that this is really God talking to me?
6.
How can I learn to hear God talk to me?
Why don't you take this 40 day journey with us? What you discover will answer all these questions and more.
Day 1
My short story:
I find myself being stretched. Someone at work is placing unreasonable demands on me. My workload has suddenly increased. Another person is demanding that I do something that I really don't want to do. I am being pulled in different directions by different people. Why do these people make unrealistic demands on me? I find myself at the mercy of situations beyond my control. These people are all so convinced that I should listen to them, yet to listen to one would be to disappoint another. Should I tell them all that their demands are unreasonable? Should I try to please at least one of them? Should I raise my voice in complaint? Should I choose instead to submit myself to God and ask Him to work in my day? Could it be that when I place myself in the hands of God asking him to work things out, then that is when I express confidence and faith in the ability of God to sort out my problems?
Scripture:
Matt 26:36-42
36 Then Jesus came with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then he said unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou will.
40 And he came to the disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
A challenge for you:
Perhaps we can learn to abandon ourselves to God? Do you want to try and abandon yourself to God today? Do you want to try and see God in everything that comes your way today? It might be hard but if we choose to abandon ourselves to God, we will see Him in the good things as well as the bad things that come our way today. Usually we have no problem embracing the goodness of God - it is easy to see Him in the good things of our lives. Harder though is the ability to see Him in the difficult things that come our way. There are often things in our lives that are hard to accept. There are things that we would rather run away from. These are the things that God sends our way to stretch us and to grow us. Perhaps God wants to grow you today? Have you considered that the trials in your life might be ordained by God? Do you have the faith to believe that?
Let us live our lives that way today, and then at the end of the day we can say with all confidence and sincerity: "I have more faith".
Prayer:
Heavenly father, thank you for being with me right now. I am choosing right now to trust in you, to trust in your goodness, your righteousness and your justice. Please help me to see you in everything that comes my way today. In the good things grant that I might praise you; and in the bad give me strength where it is needed that I might learn to praise you in that as well. I know that out of your goodness you desire the highest good for me. I recognize that surely your ways are higher than my ways and I choose to have faith that you are with me. Place in me a humble and teachable spirit. Heavenly father, in so far as I am able, I choose to abandon myself to you today. Have your way with me and have mercy upon me. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
Day 2
My short story:
I find myself praying for someone who is ill and asking why the person doesn't appear to be getting well when suddenly that week I am meeting all types of people with similar illnesses. Have you ever found yourself sick and then suddenly you find yourself noticing or meeting other people with similar illnesses. Have you ever run into a difficult situation and found yourself meeting someone else in a similar situation who understands the trials you are up against? Have you ever felt that you wanted to phone someone and they called you just at that moment? You were both just 'thinking of each other'. Do you believe that God is in those situations? Do you believe that God cares for you?
Do you believe that God knows you and is with you in everything you do throughout your day? Do you believe that He is with you now?
Scripture:
John 1: 43-51
43 The day following Jesus went into Galilee, found Philip, and said to him, Follow me.
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46 And Nathanael said to him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see.
47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said to him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael said to him, How do you know me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.
49 Nathanael answered and said to him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, you believe? you shall see greater things than these.
51 And he said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
A challenge for you:
Do you really believe that all things are ordained by God? Do you really believe that He guides your very steps and it watching over you at this very moment? It takes faith to believe that He is. All you have to do is to choose this moment to say to yourself that you believe that He can see you now. Do you have that much faith?
Do you believe that God can see you now?
Can you say that God surely knows everything?
Can you say that if God knows everything, then by implication He surely must know about you?
Do you really, really believe that God can see you now?
What does Nathanael ask of Jesus in verse 48?
What is Jesus' response in verse 48?
Nathanael had never met Jesus, yet Jesus knew a lot about Nathanael. What might this tell you about the way Jesus might notice you? Might Jesus know more about you than you would expect?
With you answer in mind, could you look at verse 49 again and see this verse is something you could response to God with?
Prayer:
Heavenly father I thank you that you see everything. Thank you for allowing me to share in your creation. I thank you that you see me. I thank you that you know me. Thank you for your love. Thank you for Jesus Christ. I thank you for everything that you have given me, my health, my food, my very existence. I thank you for your provision in my life. You have brought me this far, you will surely carry me the rest of the way. Open my eyes, I pray, to see you more clearly in everything that I put my hands to do. Open my eyes, I pray, to see you more clearly everywhere I go. Open my eyes to see Jesus Christ. Amen.
Day 3
My short story:
Confession is good for the soul. Have you heard that expression? Well it is not in the Bible but there is a great precedent for it. Roman Catholic priests hear confessions. The Bible entreats us to confess our faults to one another. Confessions have been known to bring about emotional as well as physical healings. Confession of past hurts, pain and anxieties are often used by God to draw us closer to Him in much the same way as he uses confessions of our deepest darkest sins to draw us closer to Him. Sure God knows everything about us but have you ever sat down with God and asked Him to bring all of your past unconfessed sins to mind?
Scripture:
1 John 1:8-10
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
A challenge for you:
Draw away to a quiet place where you can be undisturbed. Ask God to bring all of your past unconfessed sins to mind. You might be surprised at what springs to mind. You wanted to hear God? Well now God is speaking to you. You are getting what you sought, you are getting God, do not draw back now. This is the time to, in humility and contrition, take those sins and confess them to God. He knows about them all but confess them anyway. Express your sorrow to God for any way in which you might have grieved Him through these sins.
If you are feeling particularly led by God you may also need to confess some of those sins to people that He is guiding you to share them with. This calls for wisdom. Wisdom to know if and when to confess to others. Confessions should not be aimed at bringing hurt and pain to others. Confession is getting yourself right before God.
And finally thank Jesus for taking the burden of your sin from you.
Prayer:
Thank you Jesus for taking the burden of my sin. The wages of sin is death. But you have defeated death on a cross by rising on the third day that I might have life and have it abundantly. By your victory over sin and death I share in your resurrection and I praise you for that. I thank you that you have not abandoned me. May you continue to keep me in the shadow of your wings and keep me from sin. Please place people and situations in my life to encourage me down the new path that I am choosing. I thank you for newness of life. Give me strength to continue to live worthy of the life to which you are calling me.
Day 4
My short story:
As I get older I find that my body is not quite the same, it is continually changing on the outside in much the same way as I am continually changing inside. I find that as I follow Christ I am learning and accumulating wisdom every day of my life. Every day I take my experiences of the day and add it to the accumulated wisdom of yesterday and I am the better for it. Your life is one of continual learning too. What might God want you to learn today?
Could it be that God has brought you to this page to teach you something?
Could it be that what God wants to teach you through reading these pages is going to stretch you in ways that you did not expect? This may not be comfortable for you, but since God is with you every moment of every day, could this be the path down which God is leading you right now? Could it be that God is speaking to you through what you are reading now? Could it be that God wants to draw you closer to Him and that the only thing holding you back is yourself? Could it be that He is asking you to open yourself up to more of Him?
Are you willing to grow? Are you able to ask the Lord to assist you in being more open to His work in you life?
Scripture:
John 15:1-2
Jesus said “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
A challenge for you:
When a vine is pruned it might seem unpleasant to the vine but the gardener sees more than what the vine sees. The vine knows only that the pruning is painful. It may see parts of itself falling away. These may be parts that the vine is comfortable with, parts that have become near and dear to the vine. The vine does not know that the gardener has much higher purposes in mind. The vine does not know that in time new parts will grow to replace the old. The vine does not know that in time it will bear great quantities of fruit, more fruit than it ever would were it not pruned.
Should you not try to be more like the vine and submit instead to the gardener? Should you not embrace the pruning? Should you perhaps simply accept that God is at work in you now? Should you perhaps accept that God is speaking to you now?
Prayer:
Who am I, Father that you should be mindful of me? All I have comes from you. I have nothing of my own to offer you. I can do nothing to earn your love. All my righteousness is as filthy rags. Yet despite all that I am you care for me, you love me and you want relationship with me. Thank you heavenly father that you care enough for me to want to change me. Father I ask that you prune away all that you see that holds me back from relationship with you. Help me to listen to you, help me to be more willing to change, help me to accept your pruning in my life. It is you that causes all things to grow. Father, please help me be more open to your work in my life. I submit myself to your workings in my life even where this might be painful to me, knowing that in the end I will grow in righteousness, and bear great fruit in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Day 5
My short story:
There are a lot of people that God brings across my path daily. During a normal day I have to speak to co-workers, friends, and family, sometimes on the phone, sometimes in person. I also have to read a lot of emails. The better the relationship that I have with these people, the better I am able to navigate my way through the day. We live in a world where relationships with the people around us are key; this is the way God intended it to be. As soon as relationships in my life break down the more difficult my day becomes and the same it is with you as well. Who are the people that God is bringing you into contact with today? What is your relationship to these people? Are you doing all that you can for them? What is God trying to teach you through them? Is he trying to teach you to listen to them? Is he trying to teach you humility? Is he trying to teach you to give yourself more fully to others? Is he trying to teach you to serve them?
Scripture:
Matt 25:34-40
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
A challenge for you:
We established three days ago that all things are ordained by God. We established that He guides your very steps and it watching over you at this very moment. So what is he trying to show you through the people that you encounter today? Can you ask him to be more open to those people that you come into contact with today? Can you ask him to help you build better relationships with them? Can you ask him to bring to your mind things that you might be able to do so that you can build better relationships with the people that you come into contact with today?
Find a quite place to be alone with God. Ask him to bring to mind people whom you expect to come into contact with today and ask him to give you ideas on how to treat them as He would treat them. Consider going beyond that which you would normally do, this is a time to stretch yourself.
Prayer:
Heavenly father, be with me today. Guide me in my relationships with other people today. Where I have broken relationships, help me, in so far as I am able, to mend them. Please help me not to have unrealistic expectations from others. Help me to see them as you see them; as people to be loved. Father, teach me to love unconditionally and as fully and as completely as you love me. Father, help me to see Jesus in the eyes of everyone that I come into contact with today. Help me to see every person that you send my way today as being a divine appointment sent from you yourself. And help me to love that person and treat them with the same love with which you would treat them. I pray this in the precious name of Christ Jesus. Amen
Day 6
My short story:
On September 11, 2001 the world watched helplessly as extremist terrorists performed one of the most heinous and cowardly acts perpetuated on American soil flying passenger jets filled with innocent people into the World Trade Center in New York City killing thousands of innocent people. While I do not in any way intend to minimize the suffering of many, many people who lost loved ones that day, I do want to suggest that Jesus says that there is a way forward.
Jesus says that we are to love our enemies. This is a hard saying in situations like this but we are given little alternative. The mandate of scripture to love our enemies and to even pray for them is clear.
We can be angry with these people but we can never give ourselves over to revenge. ‘Vengeance is mine’ says the Lord; ‘I will repay’.
Scripture:
Rom 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.
Matt 5:43-48
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Luke 6:27-28
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Matt 26:67
(Jesus before Caiaphas the high priest was quiet even though) ‘Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands’
Matt 27:13-14
Then said Pilate unto Jesus, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And Jesus answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
A challenge for you:
Who has wronged you? Who do you not like? Any names or faces come to mind? Who is your enemy? Who are the people that do not like you? It does not matter what the circumstances are, the simple fact is that we need to ask ourselves if we have prayed for these people. As we pray for people we grow in our capacity to love as God loves. For, does not the Bible say, ‘for God so loved the world’?
Find a quiet place and ask God to bring to mind people that have wronged you.
Wait a while until no more names or faces come to mind.
Then ask God to bring to mind people that have hated you even though you have no earthly reason why this should be.
Let us pray for these people.
Prayer:
Heavenly father, as I have sat silently before you, you have brought to my mind people that have wronged me and have hated me. I give retribution and justice over to you. Where I have wronged these people, be it knowingly or unknowingly, I ask you for your forgiveness. I also pray for my enemies, I pray that you begin to show them the extent of your love for them. I pray that you would change the hearts of both I and my enemy; teach us to love each other just as Christ has taught us. I thank you that you will to create in me a pure heart O Lord. Would you do it now? Blessed be Jesus Christ who has shown us the way. Amen.
Day 7
My short story:
I have a cousin who was adopted as a baby by my aunt and uncle. As children our families grew up nearby and we played together - I vividly and fondly remember endless games of hide and seek every time we got together. My cousin was simply part of my family. We all loved her and everyone wanted the best for her just as we wanted the best for every member of our family. As children we didn’t care about the adoption, we were all just one family, a family that extended to include brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
In a similar way we become part of God’s family when we place our faith in Christ: the Bible says that we are adopted into God’s family.
The Bible uses an image of us being wild olive trees before we come to Christ. God in his wisdom chooses to graft our wildness into an old firmly established olive tree. It would be foolishness for us to reject being grafted in. We need to submit and draw our nourishment from that which is already in place, we cannot reject it for without it we have no root and we will surely die.
Scripture:
Ephesians 1:5
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son (Jesus) made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law (i.e. you and I), that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Rom 11:17
and thou, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree.
A challenge for you:
If you are a Christian then you have been adopted into God’s kingdom. Do you realize that you are fully part of God’s kingdom?
Do you deny anyone else entry into God’s kingdom? Are there people who you think should be disqualified from the kingdom? Are there people who you think should be disqualified from the kingdom based on what they believe? Do they believe in Jesus Christ? That he died, was buried, and defeating death rose again after three days and is seated at the right hand of the Father Almighty in heaven? Do they believe that? I ask you again, do you deny anyone adoption into God’s kingdom?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for allowing us to share in your kingdom; thank you for adopting us into your kingdom. This sharing in your kingdom is surely far beyond our ability to comprehend. Help us not to become conceited and to think that we are more useful or valuable than any other part of the vine into which we have been grafted. Give us your divine wisdom and help us not to resist you as you continually graft new branches into the vine of which we partake. Help us to live in peace and harmony with the rest of the vine. Help us to reflect the attributes of you our lord and king, Jesus Christ, as we strive to live as you lived. Lord, help us to be worthy citizens of your kingdom. Amen.
Day 8
My short story:
Prince Charles, eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II is in line to inherit the throne when his mother dies. His son Prince William is next in line to the throne. Heir to the throne - what an amazing, fortuitous position to find oneself in! William didn’t even have to do anything to earn the right to be the next heir - he was just born into the right family at the right time. We on the other hand are born into very ordinary families. How would you like to be heir to a king? Just imagine the vastness of the resources that the king would put at your disposal. Just imagine the vastness of the realm over which you would have sway!
Perhaps you already suspect where I am going with this. As Christians we are adopted into God’s family as his children, and as such we become joint-heirs (with Christ) of the King. You are heir to the king. You may not feel like one but that doesn’t change the fact that you are. Let me say it again:
You are an heir to the King.
Scripture:
Galatians 3:26
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:13
(The Father) has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (and) hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
A challenge for you:
How should the knowledge that we are heirs to the Kingdom of God change the way we pray? Should we not pray with boldness, knowing that our prayers are being heard?
Prayer:
Father, hear my prayers. Help me to live as a worthy heir to your kingdom. Help me today to remember my standing in your kingdom, help me to uphold the kingdom, help me to advance the kingdom, may I present it in a good light to all those with whom I come into contact with today.
Father, stand beside me in the fight against the evil and darkness that seeks to come against this kingdom. If you be for me then who can be against me? You are the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it; darkness is vanquished by light, your kingdom shall be victorious. What a privilege it is to be an heir to a kingdom, founded by you that has been, is now, and forever more shall be. Amen.
Day 9
My short story:
There are stories in the Bible that stretch my faith, stories that I once found very difficult to believe. As my faith in God and love for Jesus Christ deepens, I find that many of the things that are written about in the Bible come to pass in my own life. What do I mean by that? What I mean is that I find myself having similar experiences and encounters with God as did people in Biblical times. My experiences serve to validate and hold up my faith. The longer I follow Christ and the more these experiences happen, the surer I become of my faith.
Let me give an example.
I heard the story of God calling to the boy Samuel where it says: ‘And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant hears.’ (1 Samuel 3:10). Now that was just a story to me; that is, until I encountered for myself the Lord calling me in my own life. Now my life has been changed, this is no longer a story - I know this to be true. I have experienced it. I know that this is possible.
But perhaps I should back up a bit.
Samuel needed some help in recognizing the voice of the Lord; this was the third time that the Lord called Samuel and the previous two times Samuel had not known whom was calling him. It was only after Eli the priest realized that the Lord was calling the boy, and gave him instruction on what to do should the Lord call again, that Samuel was able to recognize the voice of the Lord. We should not discount the role that other godly people can play in helping us to hear the voice of the Lord, make sense of it, and then respond appropriately. We also learn from this story that we may need to seek out godly people that know about, or are skilled in the area of hearing from God, so that they can assist us.
It is once we hear the Lord for ourselves that faith comes alive, that is why I am so passionate about hearing the voice of the Lord. Now your experience may not be as dramatic; God may speak his truth instead into your heart, into your ‘knowing’, but it is God speaking nonetheless. We need to learn to hear His voice for it will deepen our faith and fan the fires of a dynamic relationship with the living God into life.
Scripture:
Luke 7:2-10
2 A certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 For he loves our nation, and he has built us a synagogue.
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou should enter under my roof:
7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.
9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
A challenge for you:
Are you willing to believe everything in this scripture? Are you willing to believe that the servant was healed? Are you willing to believe it even if you have not experienced something quite so dramatic in your own life? Are you willing to believe it because it is in the nature of Jesus to heal all those he comes into contact with? Are you willing to believe that your faith plays a role? How much faith do you have? Could you be counted as one to whom Jesus might say, ‘I have not found such great faith anywhere’? If you hesitate in saying that much, are you willing to become like one to whom Jesus might say, ‘I have found great faith in you’?
Prayer:
Jesus, I acknowledge that I don’t get all the things that I pray for, but I trust in your goodness, I trust in your wisdom, I trust in you. I choose today to trust you more. I choose today to believe everything in the Bible, things that which I have no direct experience of I choose to hold open in the palm of my hand neither judging nor criticizing, but holding it open before me awaiting further revelation from you. I choose to believe the wisdom of the saints throughout the ages, I choose to believe the godly people that I see around me, I choose to believe even where it is difficult; for your ways are surely above my ways and your knowledge is far above my knowledge. Your knowledge and wisdom are surely foundations of the kingdom. Give me wisdom, give me knowledge, give me faith, have mercy upon me and hear my prayers O Lord. Amen.
Day 10
My short story:
Yesterday we read in scripture of the centurion and his servant. I would like you to look at those verses again. Can you do it now?
Remembering the story we need to now consider that there is always some new truth to be gleaned out of scripture. It is God that provides interior illumination, shining his light into me so that when I read the same verse over for the hundredth time I still get something new out of it. Even after many years of following Christ this simple truth continues to amaze me.
So what else can we get out of the story?
We need to remember that the centurion said to Jesus, ‘I am not worthy that thou should enter under my roof’. We find in scripture the story of another man who ‘smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner’. We see in these people deep, deep faith (which we spoke of yesterday) but the other quality in their lives is their deep, deep humility.
Scripture:
Luke 18:10-14
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
A challenge for you:
Don’t forget the Pharisee: we all tend to say we are not like that. We don’t want to associate ourselves with the pompous, self-righteous Pharisee so we quickly write him off. But could it be that in his nature there is a lot of us? Could it be that we compare ourselves to others far too readily? Thank God we are not like so-and-so. Thank God that we are not like Mr. ___, not like Mrs. ____, not like Pastor ___. Should we instead be saying, ‘God I am so self righteous that I deceive myself into thinking that I am better than I am. I am a sinner like everyone else. We all sin, we all fall short of the glory of God, forgive me for thinking that I am any better than the Pharisee, O God where I sin have mercy on me.’?
Prayer:
Father, I am so self righteous that I fail to see my own sin. I compare myself to others when I should instead be comparing myself to Jesus Christ. When I compare myself to Him I see how far short of perfection I fall. Help me to be transformed, help me to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ whom the Bible says knew no sin. Help me where I sin, to be able to confess it to you so that you who are faithful and just will cleanse me and restore me into fellowship with yourself. Father I desire with all my heart to have fellowship with you, to have you commune with me in the deepest parts of my being. May there be no sin in me to keep me from that which I so earnestly desire. Father I desire all of you. Amen
Day 11
My short story:
As a teenager I set myself a goal; I wanted to run a mile in six minutes. I was not a particularly fast runner and my goal was certainly nowhere near a world class four minute mile pace but it was a goal nonetheless. I trained for weeks and weeks and those weeks dragged out into months as I diligently headed out onto the streets and ran miles and miles. I ran alone, I was accountable to no one but myself, no one else was aware of my goal either.
With no one forcing me to run I nevertheless ran every day, through good weather and bad. I went to the track and practiced sprints gasping for breath. I ran miles and miles just for the endurance. As I ran and my fitness levels improved I began more and more to look forward to my daily training. What started as a chore became enjoyable. As I look back now I remember with fondness all the training and how much effort I put into it.
I don’t remember the day that I broke that 6 minute mile barrier but I do remember getting below five and a half minute mile pace. That so exceeded my goals and my expectations; that it is probably why I remember it so well. I also remember that an unexpected side effect was that my increased fitness levels enabled me to do better in other sports as well.
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Philippians 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
A challenge for you:
What goals have you set yourself? Are you aimlessly wandering through life? Or have you instead set yourself a goal of reaching the high calling that you have in Christ Jesus? To do so you will need to be diligent in applying yourself to the things of God on a daily basis. Are you doing that? When you reach towards God on a daily basis do you stretch yourself, or are you just following the same old rituals and patterns? Do you want to grow? It requires consistent, continued effort, a straining for more.
But do not draw back. Effort is momentary and soon you will look back and say, ‘Look how far I have come, look at all that has been achieved, look at how rich and how deep my relationship with God is now. Look at all of these unexpected benefits that I have received along the way; God has surely given us back far more than we put in.’
God does not force us to run.
Are you willing to run?
What does that mean in your life? What are you going to do daily to ensure that you consistently run towards Jesus Christ becoming more and more like Him? What can you do that will assist you? Try to think of a plan and a goal, for without either you will end up wandering aimlessly.
Prayer:
Jesus you are my goal, I want to be more like you. Lord Jesus, please help me to run a good race in this life. I desire to reach towards you. Assist me as I train and give me endurance so that I race well prepared and do not become discouraged along the way. I look to you to deal with the obstacles and opposition that I will surely encounter, help me to press on regardless. Will you please empower me to always strive to do your best in the situations in which I find myself?
Expand my thinking. Surprise me. Help me to go beyond that which I thought that I was capable of. Teach me, mold me, make me. And when all is said and done I pray that I will be in the place where you are able to say to me, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant’. Amen.
Day 12
My short story:
Before I put my faith in Christ in my thirties, I decided to study many different faiths and religious beliefs to find out if any of them had any truth in them. I had no preconceived ideas, no idea what I was getting into, no idea even if God existed or not.
As I reflect back over this period in my life, the vantage point of time clearly illuminates one startling fact, and that is when I studied about Jesus this caused the miracle working God to reach down from heaven and invade my life. What I mean is that I suddenly began meeting people who could assist me on my quest, that suddenly divine coincidences manifested themselves in, that suddenly small miracles broke into my life, that suddenly things happened that made it impossible to easily dismiss the fact that God exists.
The point is that Jesus is the key. This was further driven home to me by books such as ‘The Case for Christ’ by Lee Strobel and ‘Surprised by Joy’ by C.S. Lewis who both document intelligent logical reasoning centered on the person of Jesus Christ as being a significant factor their coming to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A few days ago, I sat next to someone on a plane who is not a Christian but was reading a book about Jesus. As we started talking, it was easy to recognize God’s fingerprints all over this person and God starting to move heaven and earth in this person’s life. It cannot be emphasized enough: if you study Jesus then all heaven invades your life.
Again: Jesus is the key.
Scripture:
Matthew 16:13-17
When Jesus came to the coast of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
A challenge for you:
How do you pray? Do you pray to a person? Do you pray as if you are talking to someone sitting next to you? Do you have a relationship with the living God? Do you personally have a relationship with Jesus Christ? No matter where you stand in relationship with this Jesus Christ are you interested in deepening that relationship with Jesus Christ – taking it to new heights – expanding it?
From now on focus more on Christ; Christ is key. Persist! Persist! Persist! If Christ is not risen your faith is in vain.
When you focus on Christ begin to expect heaven to invade your life. Look for it. Watch. Listen. Learn.
Prayer:
Jesus you are the Christ. Jesus you are the son of the living God. Jesus I believe that you defeated death on a cross, rising from the grave on the third day. Jesus I believe that you are seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Jesus I believe that you are coming to judge the world at the last day. Jesus I confess you with my lips and believe you with my heart.
Jesus be before me, Jesus be behind me, Jesus be above me, Jesus be below me, Jesus be inside me, Jesus be my guide.
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
Amen
Day 13
My short story:
As I was coming out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland with my seventeen year old son when an unkempt beggar thrust his hand in front of us and asked us if we could spare a dollar for him. My mind did a quick split second calculation, I summed him up, determined that he really did look as if he needed a decent meal, that just perhaps he wasn’t going to waste the money on drugs or alcohol, then my mind flashed to what was in my wallet. I had a twenty dollar bill but probably not anything less that would be easier to part with, and I certainly didn’t want to open my wallet and look through it in front of him, so I responded with ‘I don’t have any change’. As I walked on I just had to stop, I knew that I had made a mistake, but as I looked back there was my teenage son giving this man his change, just a few dollars but it was over half of what he had. How generous of him. I realized then that I had missed a blessing and that my son had received one.
Jesus says we are to give to the poor. He says that he is with the outcast, the downtrodden, the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed. So if Jesus is with them shouldn’t we be hanging around with them more often? If Jesus says that he is there we should be rushing to go there. Perhaps we don’t really want this Jesus as much as we say we do. Perhaps we need to be more willing to go with Jesus to the places that He would have us go, for these are hallowed places, places of blessing.
Scripture:
Luke 6:20
And Jesus lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Mark 12:42-43
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the temple treasury. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.
Matthew 6:20
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
Luke 18:22
Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
1 Corinthians 13:3
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing.
A challenge for you:
Do you want to sell everything that you have? Do you want to give it all away? There are not many people who have gone down this road. As an example of a life of selfless giving, Mother Teresa immediately springs to my mind. We shrink back from such a life and start rationalizing away declaring the reasons why we cannot live as she did. But should we not try to give ourselves more to the poor? Should we not make a start somewhere? How can we learn to live in relation to the poor as Jesus did? What can you do for the poor today, tomorrow, next week and the week after that? What can you do? That which springs to mind is God speaking to you. That is how he makes His will known in your life. You need to trust Him and follow that lead and see where it takes you. He leads us down roads that perhaps we might not have traveled by ourselves. But He is our King, we need to trust and follow in humble obedience to our King.
What about making a donation to a charity today? What about giving financially to someone you know? What about giving of yourself, your time to someone? What about going beyond yourself? Find something that will satisfy you (not others) after you have given (without need for recognition or gain) for that is most likely God in you.
Prayer:
Jesus, you came to rescue all mankind from sin and death. Please give me your heart for the poor. Help me to see that I am just like them. Where they don’t know you, help me to share you with them. We are both sinners and we both need you. Help me look into their eyes and see you. These are my brothers and sisters. Help me to give them hope, help me to give them encouragement, help me to bless them. Jesus I am so blessed. You have given me so much. Help me to live this life with an open hand. Teach me to live in such a way that I do not become attached to things in this world but instead to hold very lightly that which I do have thereby allowing others to take freely from my hand. Amen.
Day 14
My short story:
The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks: What is the chief end of man?
The answer is: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
I wake up with a song to God in my head. I enjoy my day. I enjoy my God. I praise my God and I earnestly desire to make him know. Sure some days send trials my way but in spite of them my desire to glorify God and enjoy him forever is unwavering.
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 10:31.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Romans 11:36.
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Psalm 73:24-26.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
John 17:22, 24.
And the glory which thou (God) gave me (Jesus) I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one... Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou loved me before the foundation of the world.
Acts 16:19-26
19 ...they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
A challenge for you:
What does it mean to glorify God? Do you go through your day mindful of God every where you go? Do you live in such a way towards others not expecting anything in return just knowing that God’s eye is on you and trying to in your own small way to contribute to the coming of the kingdom of God on this earth? You ought to do it not out of obligation but simply out of abandonment to God for the simple joy of doing it.
Today ask God to help you be mindful of Him every where you go.
Pause during your day as you remember God and lift up short prayers to him. Acknowledge him. Acknowledge your dependence upon him. Resolve then and there to live in joy regardless of the circumstances in which you find yourself. You will find that in so doing the hindrances and things that bind you in your life will fall away, as you begin to live in greater and greater freedom you will find an inexplicable joy rising up within you, a joy which cannot be stolen.
Remember, today to ask God to help you to be mindful of Him every where you go.
Prayer:
Jesus you are my joy. You are my portion. My very life itself comes from you. Jesus, fill me up with so much of you that it overflows into those around me. Grant that I would find joy deep in my very being and that I would remain secure in the knowledge that I am loved by my creator.
Jesus, create in me a grateful heart. I am grateful for this day and the opportunities that it affords. Help me to make the most of them. Make me mindful of you and may I please you wherever I go. Lead me in your ways and the paths of your righteousness forever and ever. Amen.
Day 15
My short story:
It struck me while I was treating my family to ice cream cones that one of them was at a friend’s house and would miss the small ‘treat’. I wanted to bless my child with something but they were simply not present; I couldn’t carry the cone home with me either, that would have ruined the ‘treat’. I see the same parallel in that the Creator of the universe might sometimes earnestly desire to bless his children but they are simply not in his presence at the right time. Might our Heavenly Father sometimes desire to bless us with a special treat yet we miss out simply because we are not in the father’s presence?
Scripture
Prayer is modeled for us by Jesus who taught us to pray:
Our Father, which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen
A challenge for you:
If you want to know God you have to pray. Prayer is relationship with God, a two way dialogue, communication: we talk to God and God talks back to us.
Prayer can be silently sitting in an awareness of the presence of God.
Prayer can be voicing praise to God.
Prayer can be presenting our requests to God.
Prayer can be 5 minutes long.
Prayer can be a few words.
Prayer can be a few hours.
While you pray, listen. Listen for the whisper of God in your heart. It’s a still small voice inside you. It comes when we relax in the presence of God, we cannot force it. The words ‘intuition’ or ‘knowing’ come close to describing what this communication from God sounds like.
How do we describe this ‘knowing’ in other ways, way with which we are more familiar? Quite simple really, you have been listening to God for a few days now without even being aware of it. I have been challenging you daily to consider what God might be prompting you to do or change in your life. You have been listening to something. Part of that something is your self, but part of what you have been listening to have been the very promptings of God. The thing to learn to do is to distinguish your own thoughts from the thoughts and leadings placed within you by God. Sounds simple, but still, how do we do that?
While there is no formula, we can apply certain principles to assist us in hearing God:
· We need to get into the presence of God through prayer and be still before God. This can take some time so sit quietly and don’t rush anything.
· We come into the presence of God for the pure enjoyment of being with our Heavenly Father. Even if we were to get nothing out of this for ourselves we would still be joyously happy. This can be quite difficult and a lot of people get stuck at this stage. If prayer were to end at this point we should be content, and if we were to pray to God daily for another six months and have all our prayers end at this point we should still be content.
· We cannot rush or force anything.
· Wait, wait and wait some more. Wait for God. Wait, wait, wait!
· We listen to unexpected thoughts that come to mind suddenly as if out of nowhere.
· As we turn our attention towards God we ask a question then wait for and listen to the first thing that comes to mind after that.
· We weigh everything we hear against scripture to ensure that it aligns with scripture.
· We consider whether God might be prompting us to act.
· We consider whether Jesus will be glorified should we respond.
· We consider whether others will be helped through our response.
Prayer:
STOP! This is not a prayer. Today you are going to apply the principles we learned above. Remember that you have been hearing God already for the past two weeks. It has just been a bit confusing to distinguish God’s voice from your own thoughts.
So you are on your own today. Find a quiet place where you can be alone then apply the principles above to enter into prayer with God. Pray knowing that you are being heard. Listen in expectation of hearing a response. Our Father does not disappoint.
Day 16
My short story:
I called to my son who was downstairs, wanting to give him a twenty dollar bill that I had promised him. He came upstairs slowly, not quite sure what I wanted him for. His room was messy. I looked at the quizzical expression on his face and I could see that he was thinking that perhaps he was in trouble. Then I handed him the money, turned away and smiled inwardly.
How much might your heavenly father want to bless you but you doubt his goodness? You doubt that he wants good things for you. In spite of what you have been taught about God, you doubt his nature, you doubt his character, and that in turn spills over into the way that you react when he calls you.
But Jesus says that even if your faith is so low that you doubt the goodness of God, there is still hope for you. He tells the parable of an unjust judge who after repeated requests from a widow for justice grants her her request simply because he is worn down by her continual asking. You say how can this be? I tell you very simply to look for this scenario in your own life. Did you as a child ever try to wear down your parents by continual asking: please, please, pleeeease, pleeeease, please, please. Eventually your parents capitulated and granted your request.
God says that if we cry aloud to him day and night he will answer our requests. Our God is good. He desires good things for us and wants to bless us.
Scripture:
Luke 18:1-8
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Luke 11:11-13
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Hebrews 4:7
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
A challenge for you:
Do you remember what you prayed for yesterday? Were your prayers answered? Were any unanswered? The challenge today is merely that you persist in your prayers. Take the unanswered prayers back to God using the same principles that you applied yesterday. If your prayers were answered then your prayers today should offer thanks up to God. Before you begin, take a quick look again at those principles that can assist you in hearing God.
Prayer:
Today you are going to pray on your own again. You are going to pray what is in your heart. Find a quiet place where you can be alone then apply the principles above to enter into prayer with God. Pray knowing that you are being heard. Listen in expectation of hearing a response. Our Father does not disappoint.
Day 17
My short story:
So many times I write to someone and say “God is with you” and they respond with something like, “well my sister is sick”, or “I just spoke to Bob whose mother was just diagnosed with cancer”. At face value this may appear to be a good reason for God to be with someone, it sure sounds on the surface as if God would be interested in your sister or Bob’s mother. But that kind of thinking is totally missing the point. God is a thousand times more personal than that. We need to probe deeper. We need to respond with something like, “I am really sorry to hear that… but now instead tell me how are YOU doing? What is going on in YOUR life? Why do YOU think that God might be with YOU?”
I have found that the responses, at that point, often tend to be along the lines of “well I have been feeling rather depressed lately”, or “well I have been sick for three days, but it’s not serious, its not cancer like Bob’s mother has, nothing serious at all.”
Now we are getting closer to the truth. I have found that we often have a habit of trivializing things that are happening in our lives, saying in effect, “God is surely not interested in little old me! Why would he be? Surely he is more interested in cancer? Why would he care about me?” How wrong! Such thinking is totally false, and it is a form of pride.
I have had people tell me things as obscure as, “well I had a tree fall down in my yard and I had to go out and cut it up today”. God is interested in your life. The things that you think He doesn’t notice – he sees them, be assured that he does. He sees everything and he cares about everything and everyone. To think less is a form of pride, it is a second guessing about what God may or may not do, it makes you into a god passing judgment on what may or may not be important to God.
Let me clearly state that God is interested in your sister and Bob’s mother BUT right now God is interested in YOU. God is personal and he is speaking in kindness and love to YOU about the things going on in YOUR life.
Scripture:
Luke 15:11-32
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
A challenge for you:
This is a parable about the lost son but it is also a parable about the elder son in the kingdom who fails to see the blessings of the kingdom and the joy of living in the kingdom. It is also about an elder son in the kingdom who is too self centered, and too self righteous. It is also a story of the elder son’s pride and arrogance and how it gets in his way.
Let us learn to pray without our agendas, without our preconceived notions of how God should act, let us give God room to be God. Let us pray without our pride asking God to do this and that when really we are only seeking our own agendas. Let us ask God how the best situation can come to pass in the lives of all the people we are praying for. Let us reach upwards ever seeking God. Let us pray for wisdom in that we might always see the hand of God in everything.
Let us not pray today for earthquake victims in a foreign country as good as this may seem, let us not pray for famine victims in a remote corner of the world either. Let us not pray for these things that are far from our hearts. Let us pray to a personal God that knows us and cares for us AND then in time when he sees fit to enlarge our hearts to the point where we do have a real personal burden for others that are distant to us we can then begin to pray knowing that we are praying from our hearts and that we really mean our prayers. It is at that point that the heavens open and that God answers prayer.
Let us pray to a personal God, calling him Father.
Prayer:
Father, I pray that you would begin to bring people into my life that I can encourage, people that I can extend your mercy and grace to, and people that I should love with the love that you have extended to all.
Jesus, please help me to see you. Help me to see your goodness. Help me to know that you are with me always. Help me to see that you desire good for everyone not just for me. Help me take my eyes off myself. Help me to pray for others. Help me to go out of my way to show you to others. Help me, without arrogance, or expectation, simply to open their eyes to your workings in their lives.
(Now afterwards pray for the burdens on YOUR heart in eager expectation of the answers. Pray also for anyone else that comes to mind.)
Day 18
My short story:
I speak English but God does not, he speaks a language that all of us can understand. If he speaks aloud to you then you can be sure that it will be in the language that you are most familiar with. He will speak in your home language, the language you use every day. There is another different language that he also speaks, a heavenly language, it is the language of dreams, riddles, and parables and we need to better understand this language if we are to more clearly hear God talking to us.
Have you ever read the Bible and been struck about how many stories there are, that there are so many parables that Jesus used. Why did Jesus use parables when talking to the crowds? Why didn’t Jesus just tell the crowds the facts? Why did He use all these stories, all these parables? Why couldn’t he be more direct?
The reason is simply that Jesus was reflecting to us the nature and character of God. God is the master storyteller and we are the main characters in the story. God uses stories because they are His language, his heavenly language. There is no getting away from it: to hear God we need to learn His language. We need to become like a baby, whom by being around their mother and father, slowly and imperceptibly picks up the language of their parents almost without being aware of it.
Our Heavenly Father tells us a story so we draw nearer to the storyteller, becoming more attentive, but then He asks us a question? He uses questions to draw us in. He uses the parable to make us ask questions, to ask, ‘what is the meaning of this?’ Through the drawing near, the questions and the seeking, we are ultimately seeking God. So let us embrace this language which God is using. He uses it to hide from the heathen. He is not hiding from you. He is embracing you through it, so do not be wary of it, respond instead to the One who is reaching out to you.
Be encouraged that He cares - start asking yourself over and over again, ‘what is God trying to tell me?’
Scripture:
Matthew 13:13-17
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Matthew 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Pearls before swine.
John 16:25
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
A challenge for you:
Today I am asking you to find a quiet place to be with God and then to open your Bible at random to the New Testament.
Now opening your Bible at random every day might not be a wise thing to do but for the purposes of what I am trying to illustrate today it will suffice. God can work through these things – he has often spoken to me through my seemingly random wanderings through the Bible just as I have heard others testify to the same fact.
So your Bible is open, begin reading at the first place that catches your attention. Read on until you feel that you have read enough.
Now come back to the place that first caught your attention. Why did it get your attention? What was different about it?
Now consider the possibility that God himself could have guided your very thoughts as you opened your Bible, causing your fingers to pause where they did, and open to the very page that they did. Consider also that God may have caused you to start reading where you did.
This is not above the realm of possibility. God created the world, he created you, he knows your innermost thoughts, he draws our attention to Him as He whispers to our innermost being. Too often we dismiss our thoughts. We start rationalizing and reasoning finding a million ways why this cannot be God whispering to our very being, when the obvious is before us staring us in the very face. Why couldn’t this be God? Why not give him the benefit of the doubt and see where it takes you? So long as your thoughts are not in contradiction to the Bible, don’t contradict the nature and character of God, are doing no harm to others, wish no harm upon others, why not then explore this a bit further and see if this might be God. You might be surprised where these thoughts will take you. They an often take you into the very heart of God himself.
Prayer:
Today our prayer is simply silence. Silence before the heart of God. Silence as we sit with our Bibles on our laps. Silence as our thoughts turn to God and remain focused on God. Silence as we contemplate what God might have been saying to us in the place where we opened our Bibles today. Rushing will undo that which you seek. Stay in this place as long as possible. Take your time.
Day 19
My short story:
How many times have you heard the expression that to be saved all you need to do is to “invite Jesus into your heart”? Christians say it all the time. You hear it and hear it and hear it and you think that you have done it but perhaps you still fail to comprehend what this actually means. Impossible! you say. Well, perhaps so but let us look at scripture:
Scripture:
Ephesians 3:14-21
14 I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
A challenge for you:
Do you talk to yourself? Do you reason inside yourself with yourself? Of course you do, we all do. Do you ever hear an audible voice when you talk to yourself? Of course not!
Well now, since Christ dwells in your heart, why can’t you have an inner dialogue with him similar to the dialogue that you can have with yourself? Of course you can! If Christ dwells in your heart then by implication he is inside you and you can talk to him and have him respond to you. You can hear his voice! You can reason with and respond to him!
The only remaining thing then is to separate the voice of self from the voice of Christ, so let us distinguish between the two.
When we invited Christ to live in our hearts he takes up residence within us and begins to change us. This process is often gradual since we resist him initially but as we grow in love for him we yield up more and more of ourselves to him. By way of illustration, think of your heart as originally containing 60% Christ when you invited him in – more than what was ‘in the world’. (60% is just a random number that I am using) Now as you have grown in love for Christ your heart has changed and now it contains 90% Christ. Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world!
Now as we begin a dialogue within us we may either be hearing ourselves or we may be hearing Christ. We need to distinguish between the two. The answer is quite simple really. Since Christ is 70% of what is inside you, the chances of hearing Christ are that much greater. Now if we add to that the very promises of God that if we seek him with all our hearts we will find him, then the odds of us hearing Christ when we speak to him are exceedingly great. So why not speak to Christ and expect to hear him respond back to you. Abandon yourself to that ‘inner voice’ and get to experience the risen Christ!
The only time to be doubtful whether you are hearing Christ is when the ‘other voice’ prompts you to do or consider something that does not extend love, grace and forgiveness to your fellow man, or when it profanes the name of God, or when it clearly goes against established scripture.
Go back to the principles from Day 14 and read those again.
Now it is time to step out and take a risk in Christ. Trust Christ and see what he is saying to you.
Prayer:
Christ Jesus I believe that you dwell in my heart. I believe that greater is you in me than anything that exists in this world or outside it. I ask you to expand yourself inside me. I ask that the things that are not of you would fall away in my life. Come now Jesus Christ, be my guide, and lead me in the ways that you would have me go. Help me to fix my eyes on you and lead me down the path of everlasting life.
Now Jesus I come to you just for the joy of being with you. I come to you wanting to know you more.
(Sit in the presence of Jesus for 3 minutes without saying anything. Reflect on the things that He has done for you. Do not pray! The idea is ‘to be’. Be in the moment. Be in the presence of Almighty God.)
Continue only when done with that.
(Now is there anything that came to mind while you sat in his presence? Could this be the ‘voice of God’? Could it? Is he talking to you and what did he say? After all you have learned thus far, what do you think?)
Day 20
My short story:
Have you ever had a very vivid dream of something dramatic? Something such as your house burning down, or perhaps in another dream you were driving your car too fast down a winding road, couldn’t make a turn and crashed into a tree. I am talking about vivid dreams, dreams that stand out.
Daniel and Joseph were dreamers too. Joseph’s dreams stood out. But have you ever stopped to read them and ask, how did seven cows get translated as depicting seven years? How did he realize that his brothers would bow down to him? How indeed did such a young boy realize that it was Almighty God speaking to him?
God can speak to you through dreams just like he spoke to Joseph in dreams. Prior to becoming a Christian I never remembered my dreams. After I became a follower of Christ, a trickle of dreams started and this trickle gradually became a raging flood. I see God in every one of them. God will train you himself. He will be your guide, your interpreter.
I have already said that God speaks in parables. He speaks in riddles. These are the language of God. God enjoys placing a dream into our nighttime slumber and then hiding himself while we seek him through it.
Joseph was so certain that he was hearing from God but Joseph’s dreams got him into trouble. His brothers resented him for them and ended up selling him into slavery. The point here is to that you need to be careful which dreams you share. Keep them to yourself as you wrestle with the language of God in them, you will come to understand them better in time.
Let me go back to the dream of a house burning down. Houses in dreams most often depict your family. It is most likely not indicating that your house is going to burn down tomorrow night. It is an indication of trouble though. The house burning down indicates trouble in your family. And a vivid dream would be God telling you about it so that you can take steps to try and turn the situation around.
And what about the dream of you driving your car down a winding road into a tree? It may not be that you are going to have an accident. It may be instead that the car represents you losing control of your life, that your life is going down a winding road but that it is you driving it that way and that you better stop soon before you wreck it.
The amazing thing about dreams is that God uses them to speak to the believer and the unbeliever alike. God can speak judgment through a dream but if you are his follower he speaks instead gentle guidance and confirmation along life’s path.
Remember the pictures and symbols of your dreams. There are certain common dream symbols, for example light is good and darkness is bad, snakes are evil, flowers are life, water is often the Holy Spirit. God’s dreams stand out; they are vivid and have clear messages usually regarding things that are currently happening.
Remember always that because you are unique, your dream symbols can also be unique to you - they are the language that God uses to talk to you. It is one of the ways in which he shows how personal he is, how much he knows about the things going on in our lives, and how much he cares for us.
Scripture:
Old Testament dreams
Genesis 20:3
God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
Genesis 31:11
And the angel of God spoke unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
Genesis 31:24
And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
Genesis 37:5-6
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Genesis 37:8-9
And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
New Testament dreams
Matthew 27:19
… his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Matthew 2:19
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
Matthew 2:22
... being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee.
A challenge for you:
Today we are going to ask God to speak to you through your dreams. It is not sufficient that you just have godly dreams; you also need the gift of interpretation and godly wisdom to know if and when to share your dreams. Remember what Joseph’s brother did to him and rather err on the side of caution before sharing your dreams with anyone.
It cannot be emphasized enough that correct dream interpretation requires that you set aside time to ponder and consider your dreams immediately upon waking. If you fail to do this you will find that both the dream and the interpretation will elude you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You are mighty. You are holy. Your wisdom is far above my wisdom. Your ways are far above my ways. I pray that I would be open to your ways. Teach me your ways. I ask you to indwell my dreams and infuse them with your very presence. Lead me through my dreams. Give me wisdom through them. Teach me patience as I wrestle with your messages. Give me the gift of interpretation. Father I submit to you, will you be my teacher? Amen.
Day 21
My short story:
Often I write down my dreams. I also write down anything significant that God does in my life. A written record can be a great testimony to the things that God has done in your life. There is scriptural precedent for God asking people to write down and recording the things he makes known to people. It certainly doesn’t mean that we need to write down everything he tells us but the mere recording of God’s words to us, our dreams our thoughts and our impressions of God’s leading allows us to in time go back over what God has said. It allows us to confirm whether things are from him. As we draw the threads of our life together we can also more clearly see the tapestry forming. Things we may have forgotten rise to memory again. A written record also causes thanksgiving and praise to arise from within us: we can more easily see in it answered prayer after answered prayer after answered prayer.
Scripture:
Habakkuk 2:2
And the LORD answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain.
Isaiah 30:8
Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.
Isaiah 8:1
Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.
Jeremiah 30:2
Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
A challenge for you:
Today write down some of the things that you think that God might be saying to you.
Also write down some prayers that you have been asking God to answer.
Add to that a record of any answered prayers.
Add to that anything significant that has happened in your life recently through which God has blessed you.
Begin to keep a journal of these things. It is not necessary to write in it every day but add to it as and when time permits.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you have brought me this far and you have never let me down. You have blessed my days with goodness and mercy. Thank you for all of the good things that you have given me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Father I pause now before you in humble remembrance of all the good things that you have done for me.
Father I remember these things: (pause now for an extended time to consider all that the Lord has done for you, the answered prayers, his goodness, your health, your family, friends, food, shelter, clothing)
Day 22
My short story:
I was sitting at a coffee shop encouraging a friend who had been let go from their job to apply for a job in the department of the company I worked for when the manager of my department walked into the coffee shop and I was able to introduce my friend to my manager. Since we had been talking about God’s hand in our lives, we both instantly recognized the hand of God in the present situation. Whether the manager was to extend a job offer or not was irrelevant, God was saying in effect, ‘I see your concern, I see how you are worried about losing your job, don’t worry I will look after you, I will provide for you, I will never leave you nor forsake you.’
The message may not be what we expected, but God was with us. We may want things to suddenly be fixed. We often want things to happen our way, we have our own agendas, our own ideas of what would be good for us, our own ideas of how God should act, but God says simply ‘I am with you’. We need nothing more.
We need to recognize the divine encounters in our lives. Whether this person who has lost their job got the new job or not was not important. The important thing was to see that God was with them. Just knowing that God is with us makes it easy to let go of our worries and anxieties. We can say with all confidence, ‘yes God I recognize this as being a divine encounter, I see you showing yourself to me through it. You are showing me that you will never leave or forsake me; you are showing me that you care and love this person. Somehow this will work out. It may appear to be difficult now but it will work out since you are in it.’
Scripture:
John 4:6-40
6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus said unto her, Give me to drink.
8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
9 Then said the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knew the gift of God, and who it is that said to thee, Give me to drink; thou would have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman said unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman said unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
16 Jesus said unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19 The woman said unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus said unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman said unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus said unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and said to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
Psalms 9:10
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Psalms 27:10
When my father and my mother forsaken me, then the Lord will take me up.
Psalms 37:25
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Psalms 37:28
For the Lord loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psalms 94:14
For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
A challenge for you:
Today, look with new eyes at everything and everyone that comes your way. Continually ask yourself, ‘where do I see God in this?’
It is a state of mind, a way of living to be continually seeking God in everything. Ask Him every time you meet someone, ‘God where are you in this person’s life?’
Seek Him and you will find him.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, be with me today. Abide within me. Today, may I be continually aware of your presence within me. Go also before me and prepare the way. Prepare the way so that I may be able to carry Jesus into the lives of everyone that I meet today. Father I have nothing to give anyone. All that I have comes from you. Be with me today father. Prepare the hearts of those I come into contact with so that somehow through meeting me they may see you. Jesus Christ shine through me, I pray that I would represent you to the best of the abilities you have given me. Amen.
Day 23
My short story:
By reading this far day after day you have been seeking after God. We often tell unbelievers that if they seek him they will find him but this seeking and finding applies to believers as well. The degree to which you find God depends on the degree to which you seek him.
Scripture:
Who does God choose to not answer?
Proverbs 1:28-33
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Who does God choose to answer?
Proverbs 2:1-5
My son, if thou will receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou cry after knowledge, and lift up thy voice for understanding; If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; Then shall thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
How do we earnestly and continually seek God?
Matt 13:45-46
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Luke 18: 22
... sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me (Jesus).
Matthew 6:33
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.
A challenge for you:
Determine today to be a lifelong seeker after God.
Determine today what you can do to be a seeker after God this week.
Determine today what you can do to be a seeker after God today.
Two days ago I asked you to write some things down. Add these commitments to them.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I resolve to always be a seeker of the Kingdom of God; I resolve today to be a lifelong seeker after you. Father you are my pearl of great price. Jesus Christ you are my treasure. I know that there is more of this treasure buried just beneath the surface so I resolve to diligently dig away in a continual effort to find more of this treasure. Where I begin to find pieces of it I will do all that I can to retain it, I will behold it with awe and reverence, show it off to others, and out of my abundance give it away where needed. Father I can do none of this without your help. Be with me and guide me into your presence. In Christ Jesus I pray. Amen.
Day 24
My short story:
I used to deal with doubt that I was hearing God. Now I no longer deal with doubt. The issue for me is more my interpretation of what I am hearing and a few struggles whether I am to share what I have heard with anyone else.
Doubt
What I now find is that the weight of accumulated evidence points to my small inner voice as being from God and this overwhelms any doubt. So I encourage you to continue this 40 day journey for even longer and then after some months to weigh your accumulated evidence for yourself. I think that even a cynical lawyer or judge when confronted with the evidence that you will have will have a hard time dismissing it.
Interpretation
As far as interpretation goes, I tend to interpret what I am hearing through my own personal filter. If I stay close to God then I tend to ‘hear’ him better. If I am calm and still then I tend to ‘hear’ him better. I interpret what I am hearing but I am not God and I make mistakes. If I can use the game of ‘broken telephone’ as an analogy – when I pass on a message if I am distracted or not listening carefully I may miss some details and then I pass an incomplete message on, or if I don’t repeat word for word then something could get lost in translation. It is more of a problem with the translation than anything else. So if the message requires some more analysis by yourself then the approach should be to hold back and not share with others quite so readily.
Sharing
Here is a good ‘rule of thumb’: Messages of encouragement should always be shared. Messages of criticism should be very, very, very carefully evaluated and possibly never shared. We are to build up the body of Christ not tear it down.
Scripture:
1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Luke 12:29
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Matthew 14:31
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
John 21:14
This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
John 20:24-29
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then he said to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
A challenge for you:
Today ask the Lord to remove more of your doubt. You can do this by asking him to answer another one of your prayers. I am not talking about the big prayer like ‘Father, can you remove world hunger today?’ Let us rather stick with a prayer that you feel that you can have faith for; some prayer that you feel that God could conceivably answer. Ask God in proportion to the relationship that you have with him. Don’t give him a timeframe or fix in your mind your idea of what the answered prayer might look like. Ask him out of a pure heart with pure motives. We are building a framework of answered prayer upon answered prayer.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come to you today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ who rose from the dead after three days conquering death that I might have life and have it abundantly. Jesus, I pray that I would not need to see the scars in your hands to know that you really did rise from the dead. I know that just as you rose, so too shall I rise at the last day, at the least trump. I pray that I would not doubt the power of the name of Jesus Christ to overcome death. Father, give me faith greater than a mustard seed.
(Now bring to the Lord in prayer something that has been troubling you - ask him to be in the situation and to resolve it.)
Christ be glorified.
Amen.
Day 25
My short story:
We all need to learn to trust God’s voice more and more. God is good. Over time I have learned that God walks with us through hardship and adversity. Often during difficult times we pray to God crying out to him to bring healing to ourselves or to others. We see death, pain and suffering and we call out to God and we seem to get no response. We need to be careful before we ask “where is God”. Even Jesus cried out to the Father “why hast thou forsaken me”. Yet the father was with him. It is during times like these that if we look ever more closely we can see God walking with us through the adversity. He might not take it away but he walks with us through it and He understands us.
I see the person whose close friend died and I see God drawing near to them. They don’t see it in the midst of their grief but I do. They don’t see it in their unbelief but I do. I want to grab them and shake them and say – “Look, God is right here with you and you didn’t even know it! Can’t you see it!” Sometimes it is easier to be the outsider looking in and to see God, but if we, in the midst of our pain and suffering, can learn to look for God in our daily lives we will find him. We will find him through the comforting words of a friend that he sends our way. We will find him speaking to us through the nature around us. We will find him in quietness and solitude. We will find him if we praise him regardless. We will find him if we press through our pain and seek God. We will find him - He is standing waiting, watching and He is right with us.
Scripture:
Mark 15:25-39
25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 And with him they crucified two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which said, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calls Elijah.
36 And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38 And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.
39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
A challenge for you:
Today try to see God despite any challenges and difficulties that might be facing you. Look through them, looking beyond to Jesus, knowing that He also experienced the feeling of being forsaken by God. God knows our pain because he has felt it himself. We draw strength from the fact that after darkness the light of day will dawn and in it the victory that belongs to Jesus. We look forward to victory both in this life and the life to come.
(Also go find some Christian music that makes you feel closer to God. We will use it tomorrow)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, life may send difficulties and challenges my way but help me to stay focused on you through them. Holy Spirit be my comforter and surround me with your very presence. Wrap your arms around me and hold me closer. I want to be able to reach out and touch your very closeness. Please make your presence known. I want to feel your very presence. I want to feel the breath of your Spirit Holy Spirit, breathe on me.
Now Father, I lift up your name in this place. I praise your holy name. Your name be exalted, the name of Jesus Christ be exalted, the name of Jesus Christ be lifted high in my life. I will praise the name of Jesus Christ forevermore. I say holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and shall be forevermore. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Glory to the Lord on high! Come Lord Jesus! Amen!
Day 26
My short story:
Great spiritual battles can be won if we just praise the Lord with music and song.
Music overcomes doubts and fears. Music overcomes demonic power. Music brings great healing. Music causes God to come down from heaven and “inhabit the praises of his people”. His very presence brings answers to unvoiced prayers. I can say all this because I have experienced it!
Remember this - it is IMPORTANT: God dwells where we praise him!!!
Scripture:
Psalms 22:3
... thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel.
Eph 5:18-19
...be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
Psalms 9:11
Sing praises to the Lord, which dwells in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
Psalms 92:1
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
Psalms 147:1
Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Psalms 47:6-7
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
Psalms 68:4
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rides upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
Psalms 68:32
Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah.
Psalms 135:3
Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
Psalms 18:49
... I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Psalms 75:9
But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
Psalms 149:3
... praise his name in the dance: ... sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Psalms 108:3
I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
Psalms 144:9
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
Psalms 146:2
While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
A challenge for you:
Today I am asking you to worship the Lord at home when no one else is watching. It is up to you whether you want to play some recorded music, play a musical instrument, or raise your voice in song; all I am asking is that you put your heart and soul into it. Worship the Lord and put everything you have into it. Be expressive. Worship him from the depths of your very being. Mean every word you say – put your whole body, heart and soul into it. And then see how long you are able to keep it up.
(set aside time to worship the Lord)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, today I rejoice in your presence. My soul leaps within me. It strains toward you. You are my every desire. I will worship you now, I will worship you all the days of my life, and I will certainly worship you forever. I sing the praises of my Lord and King! May all creation sing your praise! Amen, Amen and Amen!
Day 27
My short story:
Praise is so powerful that today we are going to talk about it some more and then do it again.
I want to encourage you to incorporate praise and worship into your life, not according to any predetermined schedule, but as and when the need or desire arises. Praise arises out of our relationship with God – it is not about once a week on Sundays. Praise is not about any rules either – it is not about forcing yourself to do it once a day or for a set period of time.
Praise and worship should arise spontaneously from your very being, from deep inside you, under all circumstances.
If the idea of worshipping God at home is new to you then start with forcing yourself to praise God on a daily basis for a set period of time until you reach day 40. Give yourself over to it not expecting anything in return. Consider it an experiment.
To put praise in perspective, consider Israel’s King David and see what praise did for him. His praise gave him great victories and he gave all the credit to God, dancing in his ‘undergarments’ in the streets. Saul’s daughter upon seeing King David dancing shamelessly in the streets, openly mocked and criticized him, declaring that what David had done was shameful. She failed to see beyond the exterior and failed to see that David’s heart was fixed on giving praise to God. God took such strong offense that he took away from Michal the ability to bear children all the days of her life. Be careful when you criticize someone who is praising God, better instead to come alongside them and worship God along with them.
Personally I have seen praise bring forth angels and heard about others who have had similar experiences so when I read about praise causing earthquakes then that doesn’t surprise me at all. Paul and Silas thrown into prison in the midst of the most horrendous conditions decided to praise God. And God noticed. God saw and came down in power. This was the experience of the disciples even after the death of Jesus. Should we not expect our God to do the same today?
Scripture:
2 Samuel 6:14-23
14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
17 And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.
19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!
21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord.
22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
Acts 16:22-26
22 And the multitude rose up together against Paul and Silas: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
A challenge for you:
Today you are going to give yourself in worship and song to your Heavenly Father. You are going to abandon yourself to it. Use music that is meaningful to you and express the sentiment freely to the Lord. Use your own words as well. Use what flows from your very heart. Don’t follow the format of the music so much, the intent is to lose yourself in praise to your Heavenly Father.
(set aside time to worship the Lord)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, today I lose myself in you. I dive into the very depths of your presence. I give myself to you. Holy Spirit, surround me. Holy Spirit, envelop me. Jesus Christ thank you for showing me the Father, thank you for sacrificing yourself on the cross for me so that I might have eternal life and this relationship with the Father that flows forth from it. What a priceless treasure. What a gift. I wrap my arms around this gift and I hold it close to me for it is precious to me. I will not let it go. It has become my very life. Jesus Christ your name is glorious. Jesus Christ your name is powerful. Jesus Christ your name has broken the shackles in my life. I will worship you now. I will worship you forevermore. Blessed be the name of Jesus Christ! Amen!
Day 28
My short story:
Before I became a Christian I looked at churchgoers and said to myself “Look at them, their lives are so boring. Look what they do. They call themselves Christians! If that is what a Christian is then I don’t want to be one.”
And I have heard people outside the church say, “Look at those church people, they gossip and slander, they are supposed to be Christians and yet they act that way”; and “their lives are no different to mine” and “If that is what being a Christian is then I sure don’t want to be one!”
Not much of advertisement for Jesus Christ.
As Christians we recognize that everyone is in need of help - I am not perfect and neither is anyone else, yet despite this there should be something inside us that draws others to us. We need to recognize the gift of life that Jesus Christ has given us and know inside us that we would be far worse off without Jesus Christ in our lives; we should live our lives in grateful recognition of that fact, we should be the ones whose lights shine in this world bringing hope and healing. There is no need to beat others over the head with your faith, just live your life in such a way that your life will be your witness.
Be careful that you do not sin. Stay away from unwholesome talk, be careful what your eyes see, be careful what your purpose in your heart to do, be careful about the thoughts you think, be careful to live a life of integrity, be careful not to offend God in any way, be careful to treat those around you as you would want to be treated.
If you or I want to hear God then we need to be far, far, far away from sin. We need to follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Scripture:
Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
1 Timothy 1-6
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
A challenge for you:
Do you live a holy life? What do you look at with your eyes? What do you say with your mouth? What do you think in your heart? Do you covet others’ possessions? Do you covet their lives? Are you humble? Are you honest? Are you trustworthy? Do you strive to follow after the example of Christ in everything you do?
We recognize that our righteousness is as filthy rags but we strive within those constraints to reach ever closer to the Lord – we desire to see him face to face.
Is there anything you can do to live a more holy life?
Remember that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. What do you think God might ask you to change about your life so that you can get closer to him? Don’t think of it as giving something up, think of it instead as replacing something with an even greater treasure. What can you change about your life to get closer to God?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I want more of you, I want to see you face to face. I want to hear your voice. Be with me today I pray.
Father could you bring to my mind anything that is in my life that is unpleasing to you?
(pause for at least 1 minute, to reflect on what this might be)
Father I want to change that which you have brought to my attention. I don’t want this thing to define me. I want you to replace it with Godly desires. I want you to help me change. In and of myself I can do nothing. I can only do that which comes from you. Father, can you please change me. Make me new. Fill me with your Spirit and give me the ability to stand firm against all that which is not holy and from you. Father, please build in me a life of holiness. Strengthen me now in Christ Jesus I pray. Amen.
Day 29
My short story:
Have you ever felt inside you that God might be speaking to you through nature? I tend to feel very close to God when I walk along a beach. I also feel very close to God when I stand atop a high mountain and survey the distant valleys. And if I stop for just a moment in these places and lift my heart in praise to God for the sheer beauty of his creation I can instantly feel Him close to me.
We don’t all live in majestic locations but where possible we can take time to draw aside to hear God through the whispering wind, the deluge of falling raindrops, the softly falling snowflakes. We can seek his face in the waving branches of the trees, falling leaves, and the sand beneath our feet. Even the plants, insects, birds and animals in all their uniqueness testify to the glory of God.
God’s creation declares his glory. We should be inspired by his creation to do no less. As we do so we will inevitably begin to hear him speaking back to us, often using metaphors related to what we are seeing, hearing, and experiencing. All we need to do is pause, listen and reflect on what he might be saying to us. What do you feel deep inside yourself when you are in these places? Might it be God talking to you? Encouraging you? Might it be God, that still small voice inside you?
Scripture:
Isaiah 30:30
And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
Psalms 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.
Psalms 96:12
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.
Isaiah 55:12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
1 Chronicles 16:33
Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth.
Psalms 98:8
Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.
Isaiah 14:8
Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee Lord.
Isaiah 55:12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Psalm 148: 7-13
Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
A challenge for you:
Today you need to step outside. Today is not a time for quiet indoor reflection. Today is a day to open the door, step outside and experience nature and through it God himself. Perhaps you need to go somewhere farther from home; perhaps you need to take a walk, or then again perhaps all you need to do is look up. Possibly all you need to do is feel the sunlight, perhaps you need to feel the wind in your face? Or perhaps you need to stoop down and examine that which is at your feet? Determine in your heart what it is that you want to do today to experience God through nature.
When you get to that place outside you will need to stop for a few minutes, drink in the experience, then pause and worship God for a while. When you are done with that, be silent and reflect on what God might be saying back to you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, be with me today, may my heart be open towards you. I want to know you; I want to know your ways. I am open to anything you want to do in my life that will make it easier for me to hear your voice. I want to be close to you. You are my desire. I want to hear your voice. Please speak to me. Steer me towards that which you want to use to speak to me. Please will you draw close to me now?
(Let’s go outside! And when there do three distinct things: (1) pause to experience nature, (2) afterwards worship God and (3) after that pause to reflect on and listen to God. Well off you go!)
Day 30
My short story:
Ever see a miracle? Want to see a miracle? You have to press in to God for these things. Even the disciples performed some pretty remarkable feats after Jesus had risen. So what is missing today? Why don’t we see miracles today?
First all a miracle is … well … miraculous. It’s not something you see every day. So let us start by being open to the possibility of one.
My wife while wading across a deep river with her brand new Bible went down under the water totally submerging both herself and her new Bible, she gasped for God to protect her new Bible and only once she reached the other side did she realize that the Bible had come out without getting wet.
Often a miracle takes you way beyond your comfort zone, so you don’t want to go there or even once seeing one you start to rationalize it away. So the requirement is for us to go places we would rather not and also for us to walk secure in our belief and confidence in God.
A lot of the miracles that Jesus performed were done to point people to God. You need to be pointing people towards God and stepping out in faith asking God to move on your behalf. Often to perform a miracle puts you on the spot and all you can do after that is wait for God to act. It takes great faith to step out and not care what others think and also to know that God is going to act. That being said we do not act in presumption, we don’t ask God to perform a miracle just for the sake of it. Even Jesus didn’t turn stones into bread while in the desert.
Scripture:
Acts 6:7-8
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 28:1-6
1 And when they were escaped (from the shipwreck), then they knew that the island was called Malta.
2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
A challenge for you:
Today ask God to increase your faith. Ask him to make you more open to His ways and His workings. Ask him to give you courage to go places that you would rather not, and by that I mean both physical places and places inside yourself. There are things that we refuse to believe, we say it cannot be so, but with God all things are possible. We need to believe. It takes faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain. What God is saying through that is that it doesn’t take much faith for him to begin to answer prayers on your behalf. Should you limit or restrict God by placing expectations on the ways that you think he should answer your prayers. You should ask God in prayer and then leave it up to him as to how he should work out the answers in your life.
If you want to see God doing different things in your life then something has to change and it most probably is you. You probably need to start placing yourself in different situations, going different places, and being more open inside yourself to him. What is it that God might be putting his finger on in your life? Ask him.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to see you more clearly today. Speak to me as I go through my day. Bring me up short when you are bringing a situation into my life that you want me to do something about yet I am starting to walk away from it. Make me more tender hearted to those around me. Help me to do your will in the best way that I know how. Give me wisdom. Give me guidance. Father, speak your will into my life that I may be ever more transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Christ, be glorified in me. Christ, be my all in all. Christ, be my saviour. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(pause to ask God to bring to mind anything in you that needs to change)
Father, help me to change that which you have brought to my mind. Help me to ________________ (fill in your request here).
In Christ’s name I pray.
Amen.
Day 31
My short story:
God can sometimes drop various thoughts into our heads as we reflect on scripture that we have just read. These thoughts cannot be forced, they arise quite spontaneously and can easily go unnoticed unless you catch yourself and ask, “where did that thought come from?” They are also different to regular thoughts, often intersecting with them so it may help you to ask yourself, “why did I think that?” and then reflect on it.
I have had numerous encounters with people over the years where I just “know” things about them. In general I don’t “know” things about people. But I have had enough experience to know that after 15 minutes or more of reading my Bible, I become more in tune with God and am more open to him. It is not uncommon for me to “know” things about people after this time. The Bible calls this a “word of knowledge”.
It is the reason why I include scripture in this 40 day course. Scripture opens us up to and enables us to hear God.
I have also experienced answers to unvoiced prayers while I am reading scripture. I have received phone calls and emails from people resolving problems and questions that have been facing me as I read the Bible.
But why do I read the Bible in the end? I read it to get closer to God – to get to know my creator, to know his love for me, to make that knowledge sink down deep inside me until it permeates my very being.
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 12:8
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.
Acts 8:26-35
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Acts 10:19
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
A challenge for you:
Today we are going to examine and reflect on more scripture…
The Lord is thinking of us:
Psalms 40:5
Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward.
The Lord knows our thoughts:
1 Chronicles 28:9
...for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts...
We can know the Lord’s thoughts:
Job 4:13
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men.
The Lord’s thoughts are hidden from his enemies:
Micah 4:12
But (your enemies) know not the thoughts of the Lord neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
We are advised to search the scriptures continually:
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (Jesus).
God's spirit will prompt us what to speak in times of difficulty. How does the spirit prompt us? it would have to be through the mind where words are formed:
Mark 13:11
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.
God will give us knowledge:
Ephesians 1:17
... the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Colossians 1:9
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
And why does God do all this? He does it to bring us close to Him and then he exhorts us to go beyond:
1 Corinthians 13:2
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Resolve in your heart today to be a diligent seeker of the scriptures. There is always something more to be gleaned from a passage that you have read fifty times before. Resolve now in your heart to be a continual seeker after God through the scriptures – and resolve to continue to diligently seek him through the scriptures even when these 40 days are over.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray that you would be with me, that your Holy Spirit would surround me. Holy Spirit, speak to me. Speak to me through the scriptures that I have read, impress them upon my heart, speak to my spirit. I am listening to you.
(pause for a few minutes to listen to the Holy Spirit – see what he might be saying to you)
Is there any scripture from those from today that stands out in your mind?
What might God be saying to you through this scripture that stands out?
Is there anything that you have been asked to do?
Are you more aware of God’s love for you?
Day 32
My short story:
After I encountered the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, my life was forever changed. I see now what was missing in the churches that I visited before I became a Christian. Even as an unbeliever I could see that something was missing in some churches - there was no power behind the message, and the sad thing is that there are still so many of these churches even today. I pray that when you go to church, you would come away edified, inspired and closer to God; that you would have a closer relationship to your heavenly Father as a result, that you would know the risen Christ and that you would experience answers to your prayers. We need to encounter this Holy Spirit – he testifies of Jesus.
Personally I have found that when the Holy Spirit comes upon me in power I am emboldened, I have found that I may tremble slightly, I have found that my heart rate may increase slightly, and at other times I have also found that none of these happen and that he uses me anyway to bring hope and healing to others. There are no formulas with God, and these are by no means an indicator of one’s level of faith, but I lay these before you as experiences that others have also reported upon encountering the Holy Spirit.
Scripture:
The Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost) is mentioned even in the Old Testament:
Acts 28:25-27 references Isaiah 6:9-10
...Well spoke the Holy Spirit by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
The Lord warns us that many will close their eyes and ears to him:
Acts 7:51
Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Acts 8:18-24
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
We are exhorted to receive the Holy Spirit:
Acts 19:2
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.
Acts 8:14-17
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:43-44
... that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word.
Acts 19:5-6
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.
The Holy Spirit is a person - he speaks to us:
Acts 21:10-11
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
Acts 8:29
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
The Holy Spirit empowers us and sends us out to testify of Jesus:
Acts 13: 2-4
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Acts 16:5-6
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
A challenge for you:
You may know about this Jesus Christ, you may call him savior, but have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit testifying about Jesus through you? Do you feel compelled to tell others about Jesus? Do you want to share “good news” with others or do you just want to beat them over the head with your faith? Christ is risen from the dead! This is the good news. He has conquered death and like him we too shall rise from the dead. This is good news! We listen for the Spirit who prompts us to share the good news and then we proclaim it in his power - He speaks through us. Meet people where they are with words they can understand – be real, be relevant, be engaging.
Listen for whom the Holy Spirit may be prompting you to share the good news of the risen Jesus Christ with.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, pour your Holy Spirit out upon me. Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity. Come Holy Spirit, come have you way with me, have your way in my life. I open myself to you. Be with me, surround me, go before me in your power. Make your presence known in my life. May I feel you and may all those I come into contact with feel you as well, may they know that something is different, may they know that they are encountering God. Pour yourself into me until I overflow with your very presence.
(Sit in the presence of the Holy Spirit for a few minutes and reflect on the death of Jesus on the cross.)
Day 33
My short story:
Does it mean that when we hear God that it can be an audible voice? Well why not? There is scripture that records people actually hearing from God - in our lives it can happen although we should not expect it to be a frequent occurrence. Personally I have only heard an audible voice a handful of times. I once had God speak a name to me just as I awoke – I did not know the person at the time and it turned out they were in the process of organizing a missions conference. So God is with us if we are about his work. He can also protect those who are close to him: my wife heard an audible voice telling her to “Stop!” her car at a green traffic light and a split second later a huge 18 wheel truck thundered through the opposing red light.
It is interesting to note that in the Bible the boy Samuel upon hearing an audible voice needed instruction from someone more spiritually experienced before he was able to recognize that the voice that he was hearing was in fact God’s. We should be open to the possibility that God may speak to us in an audible voice and if he does so we should be able to respond like Samuel did and say, “speak Lord for your servant is listening”.
Speaking in an audible voice is something that God does of his own volition. We cannot strive to hear an audible voice. There are no age barriers or spiritual requirements, although personally, when he speaks, I would much rather want to be close to Jesus than to be someone who is in deep, deep sin. Let God speak when he wants to speak, if he wants to make himself known this way he will. Stay close to God and leave the rest to God.
Scripture:
Mark 1:11
And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou (Jesus) art my beloved Son, in whom I (The Lord) am well pleased.
Acts 10:9-15
... Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Isaiah 6:1-10
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
1 Samuel 3:1-10
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou called me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls thee, that thou shall say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant hears.
A challenge for you:
Start in Daniel Chapter 4 and read as much of Daniel as you are inclined to. As you read don’t be so much concerned with trying to interpret the dreams and visions as in trying to see and understand the ways that the Lord communicated with this man of God. Read to gain insight into heavenly creatures, heavenly messengers, angels, dreams, visions, voices and the like that God used to communicate with Daniel.
If you want to read about someone in the New Testament with experiences in the heavenly/spiritual realms then read John’s account in Revelation. Again don’t focus on the interpretation of the passages but read instead to discover the types of encounters and experiences that he had asking if you can believe these things and whether you are open to God speaking to you in the same ways.
We tend to become like those people we hang around with. If we exercise wisdom we can learn from others like Daniel who had very close experiences with God. At some point (now or after these 40 days) also go and read Ezekiel – it will give you further insight into the ways of God which will in turn make you more open to hearing from him.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I am not god. You alone are God. I submit everything to you. I desire only to be close to you. I pray as Jesus taught me to pray:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Day 34
My short story:
Prior to becoming a Christian I seldom went to church beyond weddings, christenings, baptisms and the like; I decided to become a Christian not through anything that I heard in church so one might wonder what the role of the church is - if church is even needed for us to hear God.
Church is needed because once you are a Christian you are adopted into God’s family and you grow better by being a part of a family. Now some families are dysfunctional and get off on the wrong track just as some churches get off on the wrong track too. There are no perfect churches just as there are no perfect Christians. So what is the purpose of church? Why is it needed? Is there anything it can teach us? What we can learn from church is how to get along with each other, how to grow spiritually, we can learn about God and how to grow closer to God, we should be encouraged in our relationship with God.
Prior to my becoming a Christian it was a godly man that I met in a non-church setting who helped me in my quest for Truth. The lesson is that God will also speak to you through Godly people: if people are filled with the Holy Spirit you can be sure that the Holy Spirit will use them to talk truth into your life. The Spirit in you should recognize the Spirit in them. You may not always like what they have to say and you may not agree with them but you should always be looking for Truth in what they are saying. God is Truth and Truth will set you free. This godly man I mention was very involved with Scripture Union and his local church. My point is that you have a better chance of finding Godly people in church than out of it.
God also uses spiritual elders – people who are godly, holy and knowledgeable - to speak truth to us. They should be godly, loving, faithful, trustworthy, honest, decent, hardworking, giving, gentle, kind, patient, trusting, hoping, self-controlled, peace-loving people. We must listen to the people around us, those we come into contact with daily, and discern if there are any of these people that God may be bringing into our lives, if so we should be listening to them. God might be speaking through them to us. We should be listening.
Scripture:
God can use people to speak to us – he spoke through the prophet Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 38:20
Jeremiah said... Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.
God is extremely interested in his churches – the book of revelation opens with letters to them (those whom God loves he also rebukes, knowing that this will help them in the end) - and Jesus Christ is in the middle of them:
Revelation 1:10-20
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou sees, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man (Jesus Christ), .... and the seven candlesticks which thou saw are the seven churches.
Many of the books of the New Testament are letters to churches – it shows concern for the well being of the church and desire to see it correctly established:
Galatians 1:1-6
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me unto the churches of Galatia:
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 1:1-2
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:1-3
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.
A challenge for you:
Do you go to church? What is your attitude towards the church? What is your attitude towards other churches? What is your attitude to the Catholic Church, the Protestant Churches, the Orthodox churches? the church down the road? home churches? Do you see them all as being part of the body of Christ? How do you think God views them? Does he see them all as being part of the ‘body of Christ’?
(Now spend some time reflecting on these questions)
Regarding these questions: is there anything God might be asking you to change in your thinking? in your actions?
Has anyone in a church ever wronged you? Do you harbor grudges or resentment towards them?
(Now spend some time reflecting on these questions. Ask the Lord to bring specific people to mind.)
Might these people have affected your relationship with God? If there is someone that God brought to mind ask him to forgive them for what they have done to you. Ask also that He gives you the grace to be able to extend forgiveness to them. Ask that he unite you both once again.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to see where you are speaking to me through those around me. Open my eyes and help me see. I pray that people would not offend me but that I would see you reflected in the eyes of everyone that I meet.
Heavenly Father, we are a fractured and torn people. We are not united. We are not at peace with each other. I pray for unity. I pray for peace. I pray for you to be with your church. I pray for those from congregations and denominations other than my own. Would you pour out blessings upon them? Would you pour out your Spirit upon them? I pray good things for them: would you help them to grow and prosper?
I pray for those not in your church: I pray that they would be drawn to it and having been drawn to it I pray that they would find you. I pray that none would be lost. I pray that all men would know Jesus Christ.
Be with us now Father. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.
Day 35
My short story:
Sometimes when I hear God I start an internal dialogue with myself. I ask myself: was that God? Surely God wouldn’t want me to do that? That sounds crazy? That sounds too risky? Why do I feel so uncomfortable? Perhaps he will confirm it another way? Can it wait until later? I have found through experience that I will miss God if I allow myself to start second guessing him. God is a God of now: he wants us to respond to him now! He wants us to have faith in him – to trust as simply as a child trusts and go in confidence with him where he wants us to go.
I was praying for someone when God prompted me to ask them if they had had a child who had died some years ago. My immediate reaction before I asked them was to ask myself three times if this was God. I did not know this person and I had no idea what their reaction would be. But I have come to trust in the goodness of God so I stepped out into no mans land, the point of no return and asked them if this was true. Of course it was true. God was showing them that he knew intimate details about their life and that if he knew such intimate details then he must have been present then and also surely could be trusted to walk alongside them through the problems and concerns of the present. We cannot have such powerful encounters with God unless we are prepared to step out in faith and trust in the goodness of God.
I tell you simply that if you want God to continue to speak to you then you must always do what he tells you to do. If you are stubborn and obstinate he will soon stop speaking to you. Your will must be open to Him, you must allow him to do with you as he wills.
Scripture:
Let us go back to what we read yesterday:
Jeremiah 38:20
Jeremiah said... Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.
Why does the prophet say, ‘and thy soul shall live’? What is it about obedience that is so important to God? What does it mean that if we obey the voice of the Lord that ‘thy ‘soul shall live’?
Obedience is more important than sacrifice:
1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken (is better) than the fat of rams.
Obedience leads to righteousness:
Romans 6:17-18
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
If we obey then we will LIVE!
Hebrews 10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
We must be as little children:
Mark 10:15
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Christ spoke through Paul so He can speak through us. We must be confident in this:
2 Corinthians 13:3-4
Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God (so that we can serve you).
A challenge for you:
Do you start second guessing yourself when God is talking to you through that still small voice inside yourself? Could it be that you rationalize away everything to the point where you even rationalize away God himself? Pray that it would not be so.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come to you as a little child. Since I know that you do not fail your children I come to you with my arms outstretched counting on your love, your goodness and your mercy. Have mercy upon me.
Holy Spirit I know that you are my guide. Speak Lord for your child is listening. I desire to be with you. I desire to obey you. In the busyness of my life is there anything that you have been asking me to do that I might have missed?
(Sit quietly in the presence of the Lord just for the pleasure of being with him. When done, consider whether there is anything that came to mind – is there something that the Lord might be asking you to do. If not that is ok as well. The goal is simply to be with the Lord.)
Jesus Christ, you are alive! I live in you! I live because of you!
Your kingdome come.
Amen.
Day 36
My short story:
We pray for God to help us decide who to date, who to marry, what career to follow, what job to take. In the big decisions of life that set the course for years to come we often have some time to make a decision. There are times when we need to submit our intentions to a number of different people whom we can trust and who are spiritually mature. God will speak through them to us – he confirms the best path for us to follow through this ‘multitude of counselors’.
It is not to say that once we have done this that we cannot make mistakes, but by surrounding ourselves with caring loving people who are concerned for our safety and well being, our likelihood of making disastrous decisions is greatly reduced. We need to listen carefully to the ‘multitude of counselors’.
And the evidence that these counselors are steering you down the right path is a deep, deep abiding sense of peace.
For myself, once I have submitted to a multitude of counselors, prayed until I have peace and then still not felt that the Lord might be directing me I take a tentative first step in the direction that I think makes the most sense. Then I pause to evaluate where this step has taken me before taking another step.
We also tend to forget that the Lord may be giving us the desires of our heart. After all, if we have set our hearts to follow him then we are being conformed more and more into his image – if we have consulted a ‘multitude of counselors’, and if we are not in violation of scripture, might the leading within us be arising from the Holy Spirit or a godly desire within us?
Scripture:
Proverbs 11:14
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Psalm 37:4-5
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of your heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Proverbs 24:6
...and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 1:5-7
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
John 14:26-27
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Romans 10:8
… The word is near thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.
A challenge for you:
Consider these questions:
Do you honor and obey your mother and father?
Do you listen to those that the Lord has placed in a position of authority over you?
Do you know someone who is close to the Lord, someone whom you can trust and confide in? Someone you can take the big decisions of your life to knowing that you will receive wise counsel? Are you open to listening to their counsel even if they tell you something that you do not want to hear? Are you secure enough in that relationship with them that it will not damage your relationship with them if they tell you something that you do not want to hear?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, sometimes it is hard to receive correction from others. I pray that I would know when to receive correction, that I would know when to bite my tongue, that I would know when to be silent. Help me to listen to others, help me to lift others up and esteem them thinking of them as better than myself. Father would you protect me. You have given me the greatest counselor of all – the Holy Spirit that lives within me. Help me to listen to the Holy Spirit. Help me also to listen to that same counselor when He speaks through others into my life. Father would you please place in my life a ‘multitude of counselors’, speak to me through them, and would you give them wisdom? Bless them Father. In the Name above all names, Christ Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Day 37
My short story:
I find that the words that the Lord speaks to me are mostly used by him to bring attention to his greatness and bring life to others around me.
Similarly the experiences that have impacted me the most in my life, as far as hearing God is concerned are all related to times when he used me to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God wants to proclaim his name. He wants to declare the good news of Jesus Christ.
Scripture:
The last words of Jesus were:
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Peter experiences the power of the Lord working through him:
Acts 3:1-10
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
So what does Peter do with the crowd that assembled? He preached Jesus Christ at length to them:
Acts 3:11-26
11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Note how many people heard the message as a result:
Acts 4:1-7
1 And as they spoke unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
And the next day Peter continues preaching Jesus by the Holy Spirit in him:
Acts 4:8-10
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
A challenge for you:
If the Lord is going to use you to do works like this then you better be willing to share with others regardless of the cost. It is important to note that Peter and John ended up in prison for bringing healing to the lame man, so much for anyone who says that no harm will befall you if you follow Jesus.
Following Jesus can be costly. But in losing your life you find it: think how excited Peter and John must have been to see how Jesus was using them, even after his death and resurrection, to bring healing to someone. But not just anyone, the man they healed was of a lowly position – he was a beggar – Jesus goes after the least, those who are the ‘lost sheep’. Similarly, we need to seek out people who have been marginalized by society, Jesus is very interested in them.
Note also the vast number of people that heard this message – 5000 men heard and believed. And the next day Peter preached to all the leaders of the day: “rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest”.
If we want to hear powerful words from the Lord then we need to be willing to step out and use that which he gives us regardless of the cost: we need to be willing to take the gospel to others - the Lord has told us to “teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father I pray that I would not shrink back from sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Father I come into your presence asking you to use me. Could you please show me who I could take this gospel, this good news of Jesus Christ, to?
(pause to let the Lord speak inside you by his still small voice and show you who he would have you share Jesus Chist with)
Holy Father, I pray that you would use me to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ in the might and power of your Holy Spirit to __________ (insert name here). Father help me I cannot do this alone. Make me available and make me willing. In Christ Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Day 38
My short story:
I have told people that God is with them only to see them shrink back in fear. They are so fearful of God they are literally believe that if God were to show up it would be in a thunderbolt from heaven to turn them to a pile of ash. They are waiting for God to ‘get them’ because they do not know that our God is a God of infinite love. So they resort to the spirit of the age – the spirit of man – and that spirit will lie to you, it will tell you things that are not true and it will tell you things to confuse you. Be confident in what you have heard from God. When you have a message to share with someone, probe deeper with them as you deliver that message; reassure them that God is with them because he cares about them. God mostly only gives us what we need at that moment - he does not lay out a roadmap for us to follow. Take the first step. See where it takes you. Be careful with the words you use. The way in which the message is delivered to people is crucial.
When you know that you have heard from God then stand your ground. Be confident in your God. He will sustain you.
Scripture:
Luke 11:9-14
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
1 Kings 19:1-18
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
Jezebel promised to kill Elijah within 24 hours, so Elijah ran:
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; …
And then God spoke:
… and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
Elijah thought that he was the only one left who was zealous for his God:
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
But God kept speaking to Elijah:
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And the Lord promised Elijah that He would be with him, shared things in the future and showed him that he was not alone:
15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
A challenge for you:
Consider times when you have drawn back from following hard after God.
Why did you draw back? What did you fear?
What might that teach you about yourself? What can you learn?
What will you change in future to prevent it from happening again?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father I ask you for bread knowing that you will not give me a stone. Father please talk to me through your Holy Spirit and Father please by your Holy Spirit give me confidence and wisdom to proclaim to others what I am hearing. Father you say in your word that if we who are evil know how to give gifts to our children then how much more will you, my Father in Heaven, give the Holy Spirit to me when I ask you. Father, you are so good to me. I bless and praise your Holy Name. Amen, amen and amen.
Day 39
My short story:
I need to continually remind myself that I am a temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore I need to remember to look after my body. That means that I need to watch what I eat and I also need to exercise to keep in shape. I need to watch where I take my body and I also need to avoid sexual sin or I might find myself sinning against my own body and the Lord. I am striving for mastery over all things in the strength of the Lord.
I look after my body as best I can in every way I can - I am to glorify the Lord through my body just as you ought to glorify the Lord through your body which is also the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1 Corinthians 6:18
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Philippians 3:8-15
8 I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
A challenge for you:
Consider what God might be revealing to you about yourself as you read the scriptures above. Is there something that comes to mind? These are often the things that linger, things we may have tried to change for years, things that are not ‘obvious sins’. Is there something you need to change? Is the Holy Spirit within you giving you a gentle nudge? Our Father is patient with us. He calls us to perfection but he does not force us to walk that way, it is more of a gentle wooing of the spirit. Is He wooing you? If so I encourage you to walk in his direction. There is fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord.
Prayer:
Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, take over my body and make it your own. I surrender all to you. Give me your strength and your power to affect change in my body. Help me to cleanse my temple, which is my body that I might present it to you without blemish or spot, blameless in your sight. May you be glorified through my body! Take it places and have it do things that are pleasing to you. Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day 40
My short story:
Congratulations you did it! Forty days of hearing God!
If you look back over the past forty days you will see that you have not learned a 10 step program, you have not discovered 3 easy steps to hearing God, and you have definitely not learned any pat formulas to better hear God.
What you have learned instead is of infinitely greater value. You have deepened your relationship with your Heavenly Father. You have learned to put more of your trust in His goodness. You have disciplined yourself to read scriptures. You have learned the value of writing down what your Heavenly Father might be saying to you. You have learned to trust yourself more. You have learned to hear the Holy Spirit inside you. You have disciplined yourself to pray. You have learned to slow down and set aside time to listen to God. You have made strides towards Jesus and he promises to reward those who diligently seek after him.
Scripture:
Hebrews 11:6
... without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 10:35
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward
Matthew 6:6
... when you pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly.
Acts 1:8
You shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.
A challenge for you:
This is not the end of the journey so continue to seek after him in the days to come. As you strive to hear Him, the relationship that you have with him will deepen and you will find that you are hearing him more clearly day by day. The adventure has in fact only just begun! Are you willing to continue the journey?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for speaking to me during the past forty days – I thank you for meeting me in this place.
Heavenly Father, my life is nothing without you, what an adventure it is to know you and walk with you day by day, there can be nothing better. To sit in your presence remains my deepest desire.
(Sit quietly in the presence of the Lord)
Father, reveal more of Jesus to me, and Father reveal yourself to me. Continue to speak to me by your Holy Spirit. Your child is listening. Amen.
Well that's the end of the daily walk with God but if you have got this far and want to read more on the topic of listening to God, then feel free to explore the rest of this site. As you read further I pray that you will be blessed. May Christ be with you in all His greatness, might and power.