May we pray for you today?

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22).

Although, I graduated from Dallas Seminary, there is one thing that I do not like to do—pray in front of others. One would think that after several years of study in the Bible, I would jump at the opportunity to pray before a crowd–not so. Why? My words are often feeble and honest–not eloquent or theologically impressive. They are not like prayers that I heard prayed at DTS Chapel every Tuesday and Thursday when I was a student there.

Today, I had the blessed opportunity to kneel by my Dad’s bed and pray over him before surgery. Stammering for words to be spoken, I began with “Dear Jesus” nothing more–nothing less. I could not muster any other words as I glanced at my Dad who was weeping. “Dear Jesus”…you would think that I would be able to come up with something more grand, but not today.

In this moment all I could think to do was mention the name above all names that could if He chose to—heal my Dad’s cancer. Our tears spoke for themselves—spoke of our hope, dependency and fears all intermingled in each droplet that fell against our faces. Gazing at Dad and wiping his tear from his cheek, I knew that words would almost rob us of the opportunity to allow God to listen to our hearts.

The wondrous gift that God has given each of us as Christians is a great High Priest, Jesus, that listens to our hearts. He does not require a Greek or Hebrew translation of words spoken, but rather a heart submitted to His sovereign will. As we read in Hebrews,

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22).

A sincere heart may appear different for each of us. One thing for certain is that God listens. He knows our hearts and weighs our motives. I am thankful more than ever for a God who does not need me. He does not need my grandiose words or petitions before His throne of grace. He wants my heart. He wants our hearts. And once He has our hearts He begins to intersect our lives with the supernatural allowing answered prayer to take place.

As I have learned thus far on my Dad’s journey to healing–there will be many more “Dear Jesus” moments. Cancer ebbs and flows, but the name that I will mention every time (even if that is all that is said) remains constant. So here is to a triumphant Savior who takes our utterances as if they were letters and makes them into words—creating a tangible answer to prayer in our lives.

Questions: What is prayer to you? Why do you pray? What is God’s part when we pray?

Are you feeling the regrets of having an abortion and need someone to pray for you?

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV).

There are always so many things that call to us and demand our time.  The Word says that we are “His” workmanship created for good works that He has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). So the challenge is to be able to discern the things that God prepared for us to do from the things that are unnecessarily taking up our time and energy.

The word “wait” in the Greek has two main meanings. One is as practical as it sounds; it really is literally to “wait.” It makes sense that when we learn to wait for the Lord’s instruction rather than just do whatever presents itself, we have the chance to rest and renew our strength.

The second meaning of the word “wait” is to “bind together”. We are to be bound together with the Lord. It is like two horses that are bound together to pull a wagon, It is important that the horses are able to work well together. If they worked poorly together (one wanting to pull faster or harder, or go in a different direction) it would create chaos and danger.

When we are bound to the Lord we need to let Him set the pace and the direction. As we wait upon Him in peace, and allow Him to be in charge of the where, the when, the who, and the how, we will experience His promise that “His yoke is easy and His burden is light,” and our strength will be renewed.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:2 -3, NKJV).

Questions: What does the word “wait” mean as far as the scripture is concerned?

About the Author Emmie Stanley

Has someone you love died? Then you know the feelings death detonates in your body: anger, self-pity, depression, confusion, grief, anguish.

Scripture tells of Jesus’ close friend, Lazarus, who was sick. Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, quickly sent word. “Come, Lord, and save him!” But incredibly, Jesus didn’t come. Lazarus died. The sisters entombed Lazarus and sank into grief and confusion. Where was the Lord? Jesus could’ve saved their brother! Weren’t they his closest friends? Four days later Jesus finally showed up! Martha, beside herself with grief, accused, “Jesus, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” John 11:1-43

Jesus quietly answered, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:25-26)? I don’t think Martha had a clue what He meant. Would you?

They walked to the tomb and Jesus commanded the stone sealing the entry be rolled away. Then, stunning everyone, he commanded, “Lazarus, come out!” Instantly Lazarus stood before him! Alive! Jesus ordered the grave clothes removed and mayhem followed as incredulous onlookers gawked and shouted, pushing and shoving to get a better look. Did anyone pinch Lazarus to see if this miracle was real? I would’ve.

Jesus’ name is The Resurrection and The Life. His dying is mankind’s only hope, then and now.

Resurrection in Greek means anastasis: literally a resurrection from the dead; a standing up again. Can we wrap our minds around that? Jesus promises to stand us on our feet again. Not just when we die but when we fail or sin. Faith in Him opens the door for this miracle of new life, eternal life.

Lazarus is Jesus’ ‘show and tell’ of His power to stand men up again. Jesus later demonstrated His power over His own death by rising on the third day after crucifixion. He has the authority and power to lay down his life and stand up again alive. John 10:18 He is resurrection. He is life. No other god has that power.

Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe Him. “For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living” (Romans 14:9).

Jesus wakened Lazarus from death so Jesus would get glory, people would see His glory and believe, and so Lazarus would live again.

Do you know this astonishing God who raises dead folks? Who lifts us into abundant newness of life now no matter our trials and heartaches and promises a tomorrow seated next to Him in Heaven?

Ask Him if He’s real. Test Him and see if He answers. But watch out, Jesus will call your name, remove your grave clothes and stand you on your feet. Forever.

Father of Life, resurrect me from my grave and unwrap me to newness of life. I believe, help my unbelief. Thank you, amen.

Questions: Do you know this Jesus who is ”The Resurrection and The Life”? If you know Him, what difference has He made in your life?

About the Author  Petey Prater

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The Cross: Why we Believe, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

She didn’t feel worthy of praying to God herself so she came to my office for prayer. The potholes on her road in life were numerous and she knew she needed God’s help. She also knew that many of her problems had been of her own making so she felt she did not qualify to go to Him and ask. She wanted me to ask for her. She felt God would hear me better than He would hear her. But she was wrong.

She didn’t know that God had already made a statement in His Word about this very thing.

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 12:10-11).

God does not meet our needs because of who we are… but because of who He is. “The Lord is rich unto all who call upon Him”. What a promise! His wealth of love and compassion and forgiveness and help and strength and wisdom, all His riches, are available to those who call upon Him.

Don’t waste another minute thinking you somehow don’t qualify to go to God because of the messes in your life. “The same Lord over all” includes you!

You are invited today to call on Him. He waits to hear your voice and to come and save you and meet your needs out of His riches

Father God,
Thank you that I can come to You and call upon You, not because of who I am but because of who You are. Thank you that You are the same Lord over all of us and You will show Yourself to those who call on You. I cry out to you today to come into my life and my circumstances. Forgive me for the messes I have made and meet my needs today out of your rich supply of strength and wisdom. You know what I need today Lord. Thank you that I can ask because of who You are. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Questions: Do you feel as if God can not forgive you because of your past actions? What could be your first step to find out more about God?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Light & Darkness, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog