There's Great Value in Variety

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.

— Ecclesiastes 5:18 (AMP)

If we do the same thing over and over, sooner or later we’re going to get bored. We don’t have to wait for something nice to happen to us; we can be aggressive and do something nice for ourselves. For many of you, I know this is a new thought that may seem foreign and even unspiritual. But I can assure you that it is part of God’s plan. You can create variety, and it will keep your life more exciting.

I sat with my computer on my lap for about four hours this morning and then stopped for a while to do some other things I needed to do. When I went back to my writing, I decided to sit in a different part of the house just for variety. I chose a place that had plenty of light where I could look out the window. Simple little things like this cost nothing, but they are very valuable.

No day needs to be ordinary if we realize the gift God is giving us when He gives us another day to live and enjoy. An extraordinary attitude can quickly turn an ordinary day into an amazing adventure. Jesus said He came so that we might have and enjoy life. If we refuse to enjoy it, then it’s no one’s fault but our own.

I would like to suggest that you take responsibility for your joy and never again give anyone else the job of keeping you happy. Add a little variety to your life—break up your routine, do something different, and so on. When you do, expect God to meet you and help make your ordinary...extraordinary!

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for Your joy. Please help me to approach my life with adventure, choosing to enjoy each and every day...and adding variety all along the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Habit of Prayer

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.

— Acts 3:1

Many people feel vaguely guilty about their prayer life because they compare themselves to others. God is a creative God and wants each person to have his or her own individual prayer life. Your prayer life doesn’t have to be just like anyone else’s.

Yes, there are proven principles of prayer that you can follow. As we see in  Acts 3:1, the early disciples set aside certain hours of the day when they would go to a designated place to pray. That is good self-discipline, but that should be the start of learning to pray and not the finish.

We can discipline ourselves to establish a prayer schedule that is individually suited to us, but we can also learn to pray without ceasing. That means to pray at all times, in all places, with all kinds of prayer. I like to say, “Pray your way through the day.” Let prayer become like breathing, something you do with ease and without effort.

We never have to “wait” to pray. Each time you see a need or think of anything you need help with, pray right away! Prayer is talking to God, and since He is everywhere, we can talk to Him all the time.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of prayer! Help me to be mindful of You throughout the day and form the habit of talking to you about everything, any time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Indebted Through Prayer

This is a study of who and how God calls upon us to pray. Jesus gave direction in Mark 6:9-10 "This then, is how you should pray: ' Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…" Christ also said in John 17:8-9 "…I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours". Also in John 17:20-21 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

Clearly the Lord does not ask we pray for Saint and Demon in the same way, nor obey the authority of God and the authority of Satan in the same way, yet those obedient in the Lord must submit themselves to the Office or Position of authority God establishes. Understand it is the spiritual realm in which God speaks of in Offices and Authorities, regarding authorities in this realm there are those within the will of God, and those in rebellion to the will of God- yet fulfills His purpose. At the same time before all authorities, if given a word by God, we are to speak boldly as in Matt 10:27-28 "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the rooftops. Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body."

It is true we are commanded to love our enemies, as in Luke 6:35-36 " But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." But how does God tell us to pray in relation to our enemy, again there is clue in 2Thess 3:1-3 "And pray that we may be delivered from the wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." Another clue may be found in the teaching Christ gave in 1John 5:16-17 "If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death."

Would you be astounded to learn and know if a persons sin is that which leads to death, if so then you are unfamiliar with Gods word. This very wisdom and knowledge is needed for those who are mature. Does it make any difference if we know the sin that leads to death, this is not a foolish question, apparently many teacher preparing Gods people are unaware of the answer. The answer of course is that from constant use of Gods word, we learn to distinguish good from evil. Would you like to know when the anti-Christ and false prophets or teachers are leading you astray, then pray for Gods wisdom and knowledge, seek the true church that is being brought into unity and maturity. Prayer from beginning to everlasting is our communion with the Lord, it is the Lord who gives good gifts to men.

From this we know as shown in 1Thess 5:15-16 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." We also know in Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Grace is freely given to those who seek in repentance, revealed in Luke 3:2-3 "…preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Now then sin remains for the unrepentant, for to reject the Savior who came to forgive sin, is to remain in sin. Then it is in error to pray for a persons sin and the rejection of Grace, pray instead to bind and reveal the evil that has trapped a person in sin, so they might see the truth and come to repentance.

God cannot accept sin, nor will God further the ways of evil, then why do some say we must pray for those who are neither repentant of their sin, but instead reject Christ Jesus. Be aware in this matter the word of God teaches of two different and opposite authorities, one over those in His will, the other over those in rebellion. Of the beneficial authorities we are told in Heb 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Of the authority for the rebellious told in Matt 20:25-28 "Jesus called them together and said, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Always concerning authority remember what Christ said to the one of rebellion in Matt 4:10 "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

What remains is to pray for the brother who has sinned, the sin that does not lead to death. We are to pray for one another who are obedient in the Lord, also for the kingdom of God which are those yet living in sin as described above who will repentant and come to Christ Jesus. If God will have no part in furthering evil, neither should we in Christ. Then I submit, we must be careful to that which we become indebted through prayer, for furthering the evil ways of this world is indeed a debt. I would also submit that when the Lord commands we pray (for) our leaders, this does not suggest we offer prayers for Satan, nor the servants of Satan. As Christ did not pray for those of the world, neither do I pray for the unrepentant in the world who reject Christ. With this said, it is our Lord who establishes all offices and positions, it is clear we are to have (proper) respect and pray for these. Most diligently those with discernment must pray for brothers and sisters in the Lord who cannot tell the difference between true and false servants, the servants of light that preserves, and the servants of darkness that destroy.

Christ gave us warning that our true service would be known by the fruit of our works. We are warned not to be yoked with the unrighteous, 2 Cor 6:14 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" We are warned about the unrighteous, Matt 24:4-14 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."        Amen.