praying effectively: Hear God's Wisdom ( the gospels)

(Luke 8:18)  So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

(Matthew 4:24-25)  And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25 For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

(Matthew 13:9)  He who has ears, let him hear.”

(Mark 4:9)  And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

(Luke 8:8)  Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

(Matthew 7:24-27)  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

(Luke 6:47-49)  Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

(Luke 14:34-35)  “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we are careful how we listen (Lk.8:18)

- that we are careful about what we listen to (Mt.4:24-25)

- that we hear the Lord Jesus and His message (Mt.13:9, Mk.4:9, Lk.8:8)

- that we hear the Lord Jesus and His message and act on them (Mt.7:24)

- that we lay a solid foundation on God's word (Lk.7:47-48)

- that we are share the gospel message of hope to the world (Lk.14:34-35)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, help us to clearly hear Your message.  And if we hear another kind of teaching, give us wisdom to discern if it is from You or not.  Help us to always come back to Your words, eagerly studying the Bible in order to have a solid foundation of faith and to keep growing in  our trust in You.  Guide us to opportunities to share the gospel message in ways that are not overbearing, but definitely help us not to become tasteless.  Give us the words, and convict the ears that hear them.  Amen.

praying effectively: See and Hear God (John 12, Lk.10)

(We have reached the New Testament, and I will be using the NASB Integrated Bible for the four books of the gospel, while grouping all of the main points together.)  

(John 12:37:43)  But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. 42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

(Luke 10:21-24)  At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 22 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

23 Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, 24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that when Jesus came to earth, those whom would be believers, their eyes and ears were opened to understand that Jesus is God, and those whom would not believe, their hearts would be hardened.  In this way, it would be used to accomplish Jesus' work on the cross (Lk.10:21-22)

- that we open our spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear the Lord (Lk.10:23-24)

- that we believe in Jesus, confess that Jesus is Lord, and love the approval of God rather than men (John 12:42-43)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that You love everyone so much - You give everyone a free will and never force Yourself on anyone.  Thank You that You are fair and just as well as loving - You would never harden anyone's heart unless they would never become a believer.  And thank You that You are sovereign - so that no matter how sinful a person might get, You will use their sinful actions to bring about good and bring about Your will.  

Help us to open our spiritual eyes and ears more to understand that Your ways are perfect, so we may rest confidently in You, in Your joy and contentment.  Help us to know Your will and remain steadfast and obedient, in Your strength and guidance.  Help us to trust You for courage to share the gospel message whenever You present us with an opportunity, in Your wisdom and in Your love... realizing that You are also working on the hearts and minds of those who will become believers, so that they will see and hear.  Amen.

praying effectively: Rejoice Greatly (Zech.9)

(Zechariah 9:9-19)  

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

11 As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
12 Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; this very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.
13 For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece; and I will make you like a warrior’s sword.
14 Then the Lord will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning; and the Lord God will blow the trumpet, and will march in the storm winds of the south.
15 The Lord of hosts will defend them. And they will devour and trample on the sling stones; and they will drink and be boisterous as with wine; and they will be filled like a sacrificial basin, drenched like the corners of the altar.
16 And the Lord their God will save them in that day as the flock of His people; for they are as the stones of a crown, sparkling in His land.
17 For what comeliness and beauty will be theirs! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:  that the Israelites should recognize their Messiah, the Lord Jesus of salvation.  They didn't the first time Jesus came to earth, because they wanted Him to come as a warrior King and win back their land (NOT offer spiritual peace to the world via His work on the cross).  But - after they and all other unbelievers go through the Tribulation - the Israelites will see the signs and believe in their hearts - and then Jesus will come again at the end of the Tribulation as a warrior King who brings justice and peace to the earth for a thousand years, and fulfill all covenants (9:9)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for leaving Your heavenly throne and coming to earth, humbling Yourself to die in our place for all sins, whether people accept or reject You.  Thank You that Your love is so great, that it stretches throughout time:  past, present and future!  

Help believers rejoice in Your mighty works!  Those who had faith in You before Your work on the cross - were saved.  And every promise You have ever made - You will not forget!  Your strength is greater than all other strengths put together.  You are omniscient, omnipresent and all-powerful.  Thank You that we can trust You for the big things, and thank You that we can trust You in all the every-day-little-things!  You are so good!  Help us rejoice!  Amen.

praying effectively: Practice Kindness (Zech.7)

(Zechariah 7:9-10)  “Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ 

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we do not plot evil against our fellow Christians, even in our hearts (7:10)

- that we do not oppress the vulnerable (7:10)

- that we are just (7:9)

- that we are kind to our fellow Christians (7:9)

- that we are compassionate to our fellow Christians (7:9)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your lovingkindness and compassion towards us.  Fill our hearts so that we may be kind and compassionate towards others, especially to our fellow Christians, and to the weak and vulnerable.  

Keep us from thinking ill-will thoughts towards others, and immediately convict our hearts when we start to go down that path, so that we may confess those sins to You.  Not only that, but if and when we see injustices - give us the wisdom and the courage to do what we should and protect us and our loved ones from evil.  Amen.

praying effectively: Bring the Whole Tithe (Mal.3, Zech.)

(Malachi 3:1-18)  “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts. 6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

7 “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. 11 Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts. 12 “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.

13 “Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.’”

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.17 “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

(Zechariah 10:1)  Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain—

The Lord who makes the storm clouds; and He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we return to the Lord when we stray (Mal.3:7)

- that we test God in bringing our whole tithe to Him (Mal.3:10)

- that we ask God to bless our work and produce fruit from our labors (Zech.10:1)

Today's prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father God, we know that You look at our hearts.  When we take on Your Son's righteousness, You see His righteousness.  Thank You for saving us from ourselves and calling us Your children.  When we stray and run back to You, You embrace us with Your loving arms.  You never let go.  You are faithful and all-powerful.

You bless us in our work.  Maybe it is not how we want to be blessed, but You know better.  You know all things, and want the best for us.  When we are obedient, You reward us in ways that we do not always understand.  And when we get to heaven, we will be heirs to all that You have.

How could we not want to serve You and give You the best of us?  We need to give our whole selves to You - our hearts, our minds, our strength, our time, our resources...  Everything we have is because of You.  Why would we withhold ten percent?  If we are able, how could we not give You more than just ten percent?  You even tell us to test us in this!  As we trust You more and more, we can see Your faithfulness is beyond anything we can ever imagine.  Thank You so much for Your love!  Amen.

praying effectively: Consider Our Ways (Hag., Zech., Mal.)

(Haggai 1:5)  Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways! 

(Haggai 1:7)  Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways!

(Zechariah 1:3)  Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. 

(Malachi 4:1-6)  “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” 2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3 You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord of hosts.

4 “Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.

5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we consider our ways (Hag.1:5, 7)

- that we return to the Lord when we stray (Zech.1:3)

- that we fear the Lord's name (Mal.4:2)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to earth, as prophesied, to die for our sins and rise again to have victory over death!  Thank You for Your promises of salvation, healing and hope.  May we fear Your name!  With an awesome love towards You, may we treat Your name with the utmost respect and regard You as being first in our lives! 

Thank You for Your faithful patience with us.  May we not take Your grace for granted.  Help us to be obedient and remain steadfast.  Reveal to us where we have erred so that we may confess those sins to You and experience healing in our relationships - with You - and with others.

And Lord, we know that these words were initially spoken to the Israelites.  We know how much You love!!!  And You do not forget!!!  We pray for this nation that they will consider their ways and return to You!!!  Amen.