PM#0517 Difficult times and Thanksgiving Heb 13 vs 5

PM#0517

Difficult Times and Thanksgiving

Heb 13:5

In difficult times—when issues come up—how do we turn around and give thanks???  That is a good question for most of us.  Peter was faced with the reality of angry waves when he got out of the boat and sank.  His only hope was Jesus—and he cried out to Jesus who was there for him.

The important question is, when these very difficult issues exist, how can we genuinely give thanks to God? 

Look at Hebrews 13:5 which says “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  No matter how difficult the circumstance that we face, God has said He will never leave us.  I for one can find a way to be thankful for that promise.

Here is a simple prayer to consider with times are difficult:  Father, thank you for your promise that you will not leave me and will be with me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection:

There is a song:

Just keep your eyes on Jesus,

As Peter learned to do,

When he walked that stormy sea of Galilee.

Though satan’s darts are hurled,

Just keep your eyes on Him,

And He will guide you all the way.

Writer:  Lewis Turner

What storms have you faced recently?

What would have happened to Peter if he did not look to Jesus?

Look at Heb 13:5 and share how that verse can encourage us in a storm.

PM#0516 Encouraging Others?

Heb 3:13

How well do you know your acquaintances?  If you have worked with them, maybe you know something about them, but are you really interested in learning about them?

That is only a question you can answer, but consider this—How can we encourage someone if we don’t not know anything about?

The Bible says in Heb 3:13 to encourage one another.  Also, that verse says the encouragement should be daily.

Now how do we start encouraging others when we have not be reaching out and encouraging them?  It will take some help—help that comes from God.  A good place to start is to ask God’s help to encourage others.  He will help you if you genuinely want His help.

Take time and consider this prayer—“Father, help me to listen to my friend and encourage Him your way.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

PM#0515 Praying Together and Encouragement

PM#0515

Praying Together and Encouragement

Matthew 18:19-20, Heb 3:13

If we listed things that are personal to you, what might you list?  The list could range from special items given to you, sentimental items, alone time.  Now let’s ask—is prayer personal to you?  Probably most of us would say a definite yes.  What we pray about from our heart—those heart groanings—may actually be very personal.

Now I would like to ask a question, is prayer so personal, that we can’t pray together with others?  Christ encouraged us to pray with others in Matthew

18:19-20.  He did this I believe to also help us encourage one another (see Heb 3:13) by praying together.

It is difficult to for us to share, but to have encouragement from others, we need to share with others, especially with trusted prayer partners.

Father, help us to pray together and encourage each other today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

PM#0513 Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

PM#0513

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Decisions, decision, decisions, we are all faced daily with decisions.  With so much demanding our time how do we decide what is important?

What happens to many of us is our plans change because of a circumstance that has come up. 

Circumstances in a military battle can keep a commander from achieving his objective by distracting him.  If we allow ourselves to be run by circumstances then those circumstances may be distractors.

How do we avoid this?  We need to spend time in prayer and ask the Lord to give us wisdom if a circumstance that just came up can be dwelt with later.  We need to be open to the Lord speaking to us.

Consider this prayer:  Father, help me in prayer to listen to you.  Guide my day, and give me wisdom about the circumstances.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection questions:

Have you ever taken time to really look at how much circumstances control us?

Are circumstances really distractors?  Explain your thoughts.

How might prayer be helpful in keeping circumstances from controlling us?

PM#0512 Encouraging Others

PM#0512

Encouraging Others

Heb 3:13

Let’s ask the following: are we encouraging others?  Heb 3:13 says to encourage one another daily.  Great idea—but what are we actually doing?

One thought is that what we do for the Lord is not to be broadcasted—Therefore we shouldn’t say anything that would encourage someone because that would be bringing attention to them.

On the other hand, others have found that when they encourage people, God has honored that encouragement, and it has challenged others to be more focused on their obedience to the Lord.  It has also helped new ministries move forward and be able to help others.

As we pray, let’s take time to ask the Lord, how does He want us to encourage others.

Consider this prayer: ‘Father, Your Word says that we should encourage others daily.  Please show us how.  We ask Your help.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection questions:

What source has the greatest influence on how we encourage others?

1. Our Parents
2. What we learned from teachers
3. What we learned from reading
4. How others have encouraged us

Why does an approach that we learn from parents affect how we may encourage others?

What about what we learned from teachers or reading—how does that affect use in how we encourage others?

If you were personally encouraged by someone where that encouragement made a difference, how has that affected you?

There is a lot to think about in how we go about encouraging someone.  One more question, especially for those who pray a lot—have you found that as your relationship with God has grown, has it lead you to encourage others more?

PM#0511 Listing to God Speaking Through Others

PM#0511

Listing to God Speaking Through Others

I Cor 12 vs 14 and 18

What keeps us back from accepting the vision God has given others?  Are we making our selves a judge of another person’s calling or dreams? Or is it that it does not fit our personal focus?

The Bible says in I Corinthians 12: 14.  For the body is not one member, but many…18.  … God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 

Now consider that if someone who carries the gospel, or the foot, should to say to the eye—I do not need you—don’t you think it would stumble?  That is similar to not accepting a vision of someone else in the body of Christ.  

What should we do?  Here is a prayer to consider:  Father, I ask you to help me listen to you speaking through others who love you.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

PM#0510 Finding Time to Pray

Finding Time to Pray

Life seems to be so full of many things, and it seems that we do not have any time free to spend time in prayer.  Yet God, throughout the whole Bible, encourages us to spend time with Him.

Many of us struggle in finding time to spend with God in His Word and Prayer.  Maybe we should consider even just a short prayer, asking for help.

Father,

May I have the Time to meditate on the Word of God;

Help me to listen to Holy Spirit speaking to my heart;

Help me to write the vision that the Holy Spirit when He spoke to my heart, in my journal;

May I have the Time to focus away from work or other cares, to focusing on You;

May I Time to read God's Word;

May I have Time for personal prayer and personal requests of mine and others;

May I always have Time for praise and worship of God.

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to have time to spend with You and your Word and in Prayer.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.