Hypocrite

"I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours." -- Mark 11:24, NLT

A hypocrite is a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. You are acting like a hypocrite when you pray but don't believe for the answer. Let us therefore pray bold prayers and then run to make provision for the answer.

Today's prayer: "God, help me to not be a hypocrite in prayer. When I pray for rain, let me be quick to set out the buckets to hold the water; and when I pray for the rain to stop, let me be quick to put away the umbrella. If I pray to you for one thing let me not speak the opposite out of my mouth. Amen."

Emerging!

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." -- Ephesians 2:10

I look at you. You look at me. And neither one of us can see how God sees us because He sees the finished product.

I love this quote by R. Buckminster Fuller:

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly!"

But God Knows!

Today's prayer: "God, sometimes I look in the mirror and see a caterpillar. Thank you for seeing me through the lens of a finished product -- a butterfly! Amen."

Vision Board

"If you can see it you can receive it." -- Shawn Baker

Sherri Shepherd will play Lulu in the upcoming movie, "One For The Money." In a recent interview she said she saw herself being cast for the role of Lulu long before she showed up for the audition. In fact she posted it on her "vision board" so she'd keep focused on her dream. Just like Moses, Joshua, and Samuel who were told by God, "See it!" ... Sherri saw it. God often shows us what He's going to do before He does it. What's on your vision board?

"Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like a god to Pharaoh." -- Exodus 7:1

"Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands." -- Joshua 6:2

"And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle." -- 1 Samuel 3:11

"God I Look To You" (Jenn Johnson)

God I look to You, I won’t be overwhelmed

Give me vision to see things like You do

God I look to You, You’re where my help comes from

Give me wisdom; You know just what to do

I will love You Lord my strength

I will love You Lord my shield

I will love You Lord my rock forever

All my days I will love You God

Hallelujah our God reigns

Hallelujah our God reigns

Hallelujah our God reigns forever

All my days Hallelujah

Lessons From The Little Children

"And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." -- Matthew 18:3

"We must unlearn everything we've been taught and become like little children." - Shawn Baker, Pastor, Oxford Church of God 

Lessons from the little children:

Little children trust their parents for provision. They don't worry where their next meal is coming from. When it's time to eat they just put a "demand" on the  provision.

Little children can fight on the playground over a ball and be best friends again in 5 minutes. They don't hold grudges.

Little children can throw a temper tantrum and say they hate their mommy, but when it's over they literally forget it happened!

Little children are not prejudiced. They embrace all of God's creation ... until adults tell them otherwise.

Little children are full of faith. They believe easily and do not doubt.


Today's prayer: "Lord, help me to unlearn the 'adult' habits that do not line up with your WORD. Teach me again how to become a little child. Amen."
 

Pondering

"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." -- Luke 2:19

pon-der-ing:

To weigh in the mind with thoroughness and care. To reflect or consider with thoroughness and care.

Lately I've taken to pondering more and "reporting" less, especially as it relates to what I think God might be saying. I found out a long time ago that people aren't really all that interested in what God might be saying to you. I also found out that most of what God whispers in your ear should be pondered in your heart rather than broadcasted aloud. In fact, when God reveals a fact about someone else to you, it is most likely so that you will pray. If we're not careful, telling others what we believe God said about them can be nothing more than pride on our part. Isn't gossip centered around pride (being in the know before anyone else)? The Bible is clear that God does indeed reveal secrets to us; but very often I think they should be kept between friends.

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend." -- James 2:23

Pray Continually

Saw this excellent post by GET UP WITH GOD:

Pray Continually.
(1 Thessalonians 5:17) 

If you take this verse literally, it seems ridiculous. But maybe God means exactly what he says.

Basically, praying is staying connected to God. If we aren’t connected to God in this world, we’re as good as dead. So …

Pray when you wake up. Pray while you shower. Pray when you can’t find your hairbrush. Pray when you’re stuck in traffic. Pray for your boss. Pray for that annoying co-worker who keeps stealing your stapler. Pray before you hit “send” on that email with all the capital letters and exclamation points. Pray for that big project you haven’t started that’s due tomorrow. Pray before you call the help desk to complain about your computer losing that document you worked on all afternoon but forgot to save. Pray while you drive home. Pray before you eat. Pray while you eat. Pray after you eat. Pray while you watch TV. Pray before you go to bed. Pray while you’re lying there freaking out about everything you forgot to do today and everything you have to do tomorrow. Pray, pray, pray. And then pray some more.

God wants to be with us every single moment of our lives. We should want the same.

PRAY!