HE edits my prayers

I PRAISE the LORD that the HOLY SPIRIT edits my prayers.

When I was 12 I came to JESUS and HE saved me.  A couple of years later at a summer camp I felt compelled to ask HIM to do whatever was necessary to make me all HE wanted me to be.  Just months later, though I was an A student, I began having trouble understanding in my classes.  It was discovered that I had a severe hearing loss and that is was getting worse. So, from age 15 on I was considered profoundly hearing impaired. Mockery and put downs that naturally resulted from my misunderstanding led me to isolate to a great degree other than church and women’s Bible study. 

I spent much time with GOD in HIS word through those years when my kids were at school. Meanwhile at 35 I got my 1^st hearing aids but I still missed a lot while conversing.  Yet, the LORD who loves to use foolish things (1 Corinthians 1:27) enabled me participate in women’s Bible studies and even teach hearing children and work as a counselor of kids at a Christian camp and go on prayer journeys to three countries overseas.

I praise the LORD for my hearing loss for I really believe my relationship with the LORD and understanding of HIS word that has taught me to trust HIM came from HIS taking away my hearing.  A couple years back I got a Cochlear implant so I hear so much more today.  But I would never trade those years alone with GOD.

After seeing GOD work in many situations in my life, in the lives of many in my family and friends, and throughout one Bible episode after another where what I would consider terrible situations the LORD used to do something REMARKABLY good. Just one example is the Crucifixion of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, without which we could not be saved.

Therefore, I have come to realize that the LORD with HIS great wisdom and foreknowledge of all things sees things vastly different than I do.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

MY thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. And MY ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so MY ways are higher than your ways and MY thoughts higher than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Therefore, I have learned how limited I am in knowing what is best so consult the LORD even in how I should pray rather than go with my own ideas.  In this I obey HIS word.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek HIS will in (talk over with HIM) ALL you do (even prayer), and HE will show you which path to take.Do not be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7 NLT)

After talking with the LORD, sometimes I am given a go ahead, a word, direction or a verse that shows me how to pray. Other times there is a definite DO NOT pray that way, and still other times I get nothing, nothing at all even though I have asked.

It is at those times I most rejoice in the ONE who edits my prayers.

…the SPIRIT helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the SPIRIT HIMSELF intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).

We can make our own plans (according to what we think is right), but the Lord gives the right answer (Proverbs 16:1 NLT).

So

Commit your actions (including prayers) to the Lord, and your plans (prayers) will succeed (Proverbs 16:3 NLT).

And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE hears us: And IF we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM (1 John 5:14-15) 

Hugs

Sharon

Be Merciful as GOD is Merciful

O what a beautiful LORD’s Day.  I had a delightful walk in the cool of early morning after feeding the birds  and squirrels  .  It began to sprinkle just a mite as I was finishing up my rich quiet

 time out back, so quickly grabbed up my Bible, journal and coffee cup and dashed into the house.

This morning during our time together the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY answered my cry to know how to pray for my children and their children and their children who have been deceived by the lies of this world. As GOD often does, the HOLY SPIRIT brought Bible verses to my mind to answer my question.

Eve sinned but was deceived with consequences, but a promise of mercy is given to women stating they can be saved from passing on their sin nature if they act correctly (1 Tim 2:14-15). On the other hand, Adam, who was not deceived but sinned knowing the truth (1 Timothy 2:14) has passed on the sin nature to all humans, so all die physically (1 Corinthians 15:22).

As horrible as his crimes were, Paul received mercy because he acted in ignorance (1 Timothy 1:13).

Luke 12:47-48 shows those who have been deceived by the culture and know not what right is are not as responsible as those who know what to do.

In John 9:41 JESUS told the Pharisees, “if you were blind you should have no sin.”

Then Lamentations 3:22-23 came to mind. Ah the mercy of our GOD. Don’t you love the song:  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning, great is YOUR faithfulness o LORD, great is YOUR faithfulness!

And I knew how I was to pray. I was to ask for mercy, confessing their sin 1 John 5:16 and asking GOD to expose the lies and give them light. I love it that GOD lays on our hearts what HE wants us to pray for (Philippians 2:13) and then gives us great joy when HE answers those prayers.

Does that mean that those things will always happen even if we do not pray? NO!  GOD says, “You have not because you ask not!” (James 4:2)

Coming in out of the sprinkles, I checked my texts and found one I needed to answer. One sent me yesterday Oops .  The answer to that text, crazy as it sounds, had to do with being merciful as our FATHER in heaven is merciful (Matthew 18:23-35).  (Just additional confirmation on how to pray!)

Hugs

Sharon

Without HIM

Someone text me concerning a difficult situation.  I cried out to GOD asking how to pray for that situation.  Going to the Word, I read, “I do not pray that YOU should take them out of the world, but that YOU would keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15) Wow, that was fast, now I had it, GOD had shown me how to pray for the situation. I was not to pray for the situation to change but that he would be kept from evil.  Peace settled over me.

One after another prayer requests come in.  Without knowing what GOD is doing in a situation, it is impossible for me to know how to pray unless I ask GOD what to pray for. 

Isaiah 45:11 states there is a sequence for effective prayer.  “(1st) Ask ME of things to come concerning my sons (a situation), (Then you can) command ME concerning the works of MY hands.” 

Ephesians 1:11 tells us that GOD has a purpose for all things and that HE works all things according to the counsel of HIS own will.  Therefore, when the LORD directs me in how to pray, it is because HE has a good plan and intends to answer that prayer to fulfill HIS purposes in the situation I am praying about.

“So MY Word which goes from MY mouth will not return to ME empty. It will do what I want it to do, and will carry out MY plan well” (Isaiah 55:11 NLV).  And isn’t that what we want?

When we acknowledge HIM, by talking a situation over with GOD, HE really will direct us in what to do or pray IF we are willing accept HIS what HE says (James 1:5-8).  And HE who knows all things, knows how we will respond to HIS words even before we do.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (of what is needed), in all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your path. Don’t be wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and depart from evil.

Proverbs 16:1 the preparations of the heart belong to us. but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.

Proverbs 21:1 personalized:  As water is turned into irrigation ditches, so the LORD can turn your thoughts withersoever HE wants them to go.

One problem has lingered for long time.  A friend finally went to the doctor and was prescribed meds.  As I began to pray for her, I knew she was not supposed to put her trust in the meds for I knew I needed to pray that GOD activate the meds to bring her the healing, only HE can bring. 

As I followed HIS lead in prayer, the light came on when John 15:5 popped into mind. “You can do nothing without ME.” 

And then a second witness/ confirmation to HIS leading came, “Unless the LORD builds the house they labor in vain that build it. Unless the LORD guards the city that watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1).  So, I knew that unless the LORD activated the meds and worked in that situation the healing would not come.

As I asked the LORD, GOD directed my thoughts in how to pray HE made it clear that HE had to be the ONE keeping the situation under control. By HIS reminding me that without HIM nothing works, I was filled with overflowing joy, peace and the assurance that GOD was already at work doing what was necessary!

I know these are simple truths, but I love them. I needed to be reminded of them and thought maybe, one of you might need the reminder too.

Love you, Hugs

Sharon

New Emphasis

Before I explain what became so clear to me this morning, let me interject here that what I am relating to you does NOT mean that GOD is done with the Jews.  HE has made them promises that HE will keep.  For what HE says HE will do. But it will take the Jews going through the 7-year Tribulation (Jacob’s trouble, also called the 70^th week of Daniel) for Jews to come to believe in JESUS and be saved (Daniel 9:24, Zechariah 14:9, 12:10, Romans 11:1, 26).  Then GOD, during the 1,000-year reign, will keep HIS promises to Jews.  After that, there will be a new heaven and new earth with no need for the sun and moon and there will be no Jews for all nations and tribes will be one in CHRIST, children of the Living GOD (Jeremiah 31;35-36, Revelation 20:23).

But meanwhile, now during the age of Grace I saw something emphasized as I read GOD’s Word.

After reading the Bible time and time again you would think I would understand more than I do. But each day the Word of GOD proves to be living and powerful as I see more of what it means. Though I have studied the book of Hebrews many times and have written homework lessons on each chapter in the past, still this morning I had an awakening to an emphasis that had escaped me.

Out of the 12 tribes of Israel, only the tribe (family) of Levi were made priests of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.  People of the other 11 tribes of Israel had to go through the priests to offer sacrifices to GOD. Only the priests could approach GOD or work in the temple under the law given by Moses.

But under the New Covenant, established by the blood of JESUS on the cross (I Corinthians 11:25, Hebrews 10:16-17) of necessity there was a change in the priesthood as well (Hebrews 7:12). Under the New Covenant the tribe of Levi are no longer the priests, instead those who believe in and received JESUS as LORD and have been born of the SPIRIT into the family of GOD (John 1:12-13, 3:5-8) have been placed into JESUS’ kingdom and made kings/ royalty (given authority) and holy priests unto GOD to show (declare) the praises of GOD and to offer up spiritual sacrifices such as praise and thanksgiving to GOD by JESUS (1 Peter 2:5, 9, Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6).

I have known those verses but it wasn’t until I was pondering how to write the homework lessons for Hebrews that tell of JESUS role of being our High Priest that I saw more of the weight of our role and responsibility of being a priest unto GOD by JESUS.

JESUS our High Priest, shows us parts of our role as a priest to GOD by JESUS.  JESUS, as does the HOLY SPIRIT,  prays for us (Romans 8:26-27, 34, Hebrews 7:25) in our weaknesses and BOTH JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT work for our complete sanctification (to save us to the uttermost from our old sin nature/flesh that is still within us fighting with GOD until we receive our new bodies at the Rapture).  JESUS also completely understands how we feel (sympathizes with us- that is what the word mercy means in Hebrews 4:16) and HE knows what it will take to resist each temptation for HE was in all ways tempted as we are but without sin and has the power to supply what we need to overcome (Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:14-16).  

How does that apply to our role as a priest to GOD? Well, the truths that follow I knew as verses but had not connected them as part of the privilege and responsibility of being a priest to GOD. Somehow the weight of it seems much stronger now.

1 Timothy 2:8 tells us we are to pray for everyone’s salvation.

1 John 5:16 tells us to confess the sins we see in others, to open the door for GOD to speak to them in that area.  The light GOD will then give them they will have to choose to accept or reject but our prayers will break off their blindness to the truth we share with them until they make their choice 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Ephesians 6:18-19 tells us to pray for each other challenges and the work each has been given to do.

James 5:16 tells us to pray for the faults our fellow believers confess to us.

James 5:15 tells us to pray for the sick.

In all these ways we join with JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT in sympathizing and giving help to others in need. As JESUS had to be made like HIS brethren to be a merciful and faithful High priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, so it is written that if we suffer we are being prepared to help those who suffer with the same comfort GOD gives us in our struggles. (Hebrews 2:17-18, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).                                                                            

Hugs

Sharon

If I’d been

Ever think you know best how something should be handled?

If GOD loves us, why do we have so many troubles?

GOD delights in those who have come to HIM through JESUS (Hebrews 7:25).  In fact, everyone who believes that JESUS died for their sin and was raised has the guarantee of eternal life.  When someone believes and calls on the name of the LORD (Romans 10:13) at that moment that one is born a child of GOD (John 1:12). But being GOD teaches HIS children through our struggles (James 1:2-4), the bigger the family the more problems, big and small, there are to face.

I’ve had 5 children, 13 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and can’t think of a one whose struggles have not sent me to the throne of grace to beg for GOD’s mercy and favor for them.  Yet through many crisis times I saw no answer, but I always found peace.  That peace threw me beyond having to understand and guarded my heart from fear and my mind from speculating (Philippians 4:6-7).

Ruth Bell Graham wrote:

Had I been Joseph’s  mother I’d have prayed protection from his brothers. “God, keep him safe. He is so young, so different from the others.” Mercifully, she never knew there would be slavery and prison, too. (see Genesis 37, 39-50).

Had I been Moses’ mother I’d have wept to keep my little son: praying she might forget the babe drawn from the water of the Nile. Had I not kept him for her nursing him the while, was he not mine? –and she but Pharaoh’s daughter? (see Exodus).

Had I been Daniel’s mother I should have pled ‘Give Victory!’ –this Babylonian horde godless and cruel– Don’t let him be a captive–better dead, Almighty LORD.’ (see Daniel 1).

Had I been Mary, Oh, had I been she, I would have cried as never a mother cried, ‘Anything, O GOD, anything… –but crucified.’/ end quote.

Had GOD protected Joseph from his brothers, or Moses’ mother got to keep her little boy, had Daniel been killed rather than taken captive and JESUS not crucified… Where would we be today?

Each of these men would have missed the fulfillment and joy of completing their GOD appointed tasks besides GOD’s eternal purposes would have been thwarted. For though these men suffered they were greatly blessed and used mightily to do GOD’s work through the very means their moms would have kept them ‘safe’.

We need to remember GOD has a plan for our sons and daughters and friends and family who believe in JESUS (Ephesians 2:10). The plan is for good not for evil (Jeremiah 29:11).

And although we are told that we don’t know how to pray as we should (Romans 8:26-27), GOD tells us to ask HIM what HE is doing in the lives of HIS children and then we will be able to pray and move HIS hand in their lives (1 John 5:14-15, Isaiah 45:9, 11). Just as when GOD told Elijah HE was going to send rain, then Elijah could pray earnestly in faith (Romans 10:17) and rain came (1 Kings 18:1, James 5:17-18).

Don’t pray what you think best, ask GOD what is best.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge (talk it over with HIM) and HE will direct you (Proverbs 3:5-6) even in how to pray.

Hugs

Sharon