Posts Tagged ‘trouble’

Why aren’t prayers always answered in the affirmative?

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Perseverance, May 16

And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;
’for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
”and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’?
”I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
”So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
”For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
”If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
”Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
”If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Luke 11:5-13, www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, being taught by You personally is a privilege indeed. To whom else shall we turn? Jesus, these scriptures seem at first to tell us about an insensitive friend who was a neighbor. On closer examination, that part may be true, but Your lesson leads us to understand that perseverance in prayer is encouraged if not always rewarded.

Why Jesus, isn’t every prayer answered as asked? Your response seems obvious, given the entirety of Your Word. You have taught us that we must pray in a Spiritual way and seek results that are consistent with Your perfect will.

Jesus, it seems that a prayer not responded to is a prayer that is “on hold”, either for a “not now” answer or “no, that is not My will for you at this time.” Yet Jesus, you say “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  What is it that is promised? Thank You for the answer: “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” It is Your Holy Spirit in us that is promised if we but ask.

Your Spirit in us is our Light and may we be content to know You care more than we can possibly understand and that you will direct our steps, daily, if we but ask. We seek to be led by You and serve You. Thank You Father for the reality of Your leading Spirit. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Hope, Perseverance, Providence of God, faith | 30 Comments »

The death of a saint is glorius…the death of an unrepentant sinner is an eternal tragedy.

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Revenge, March 25

… it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power…

II Thessalonians 1:6-9, www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, Paul reminds us that when judgment is dispensed it will be a righteous thing because it will be based upon justice. We know Father that the mercy seat sits upon the top of the Ark of the Covenant (the Law) and that mercy will prevail for those who seek it.

Revenge will be taken upon the enemy, not the children of You, Father. We, in sadness and with a sense of despair, see people pursuing sin and running from obedience. Give us, this day, a sense of urgency in our witness to those who seem to be fleeing from You.

The death of a saint is glorious but the death of an unrepentant sinner is an eternal tragedy. Help us focus on the things You would have us do in the face of such circumstances. We know that Your love in us is our only hope in reaching out to others. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity | 21 Comments »

Distress is as certain as the sunrise, too often.

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

Courage, March 13

… do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble; hear me speedily.
Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of my enemies.
 
Psalm 69:17-18, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You tell us, over and over, that if we draw near to You, You will draw near to us. Yet, when facing difficult circumstances, we cry out for your help, forgetting at times, that You completely understand the anguish we are feeling.

We pray God for Your comfort and counsel in times of trouble. Distress seems to be as certain as the sunrise in some of our lives, far too often. Why Father must we endure tests, permitted by You? Are the tests intended to strengthen us? Could a muscle grow stronger that is never tested? Of course not Father but as much as we want to be in strong physical condition we now see that our spiritual strength must be developed by testing.

When we are tested we do resent the enemy that is tempting us to give up hope, to buckle under the pressure of the moment. Father, You have taught us that this life is as a vapor that quickly disappears. Help us today not to overly focus on the transitional but to see it as a very short trial that leads to an eternal triumph. Hear us, speedily, we pray and encourage us in every way; in Jesus name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Courage, Hope, Inspirtation, Perseverance, faith | 5 Comments »

Impatience…the natural state of things?

Sunday, March 10th, 2013

Joy, March 10
Wait on the Lord;be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

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.

Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land…
… the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 37:34;39, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we are very impatient, by nature. Not only do we fail to wait upon Your leading but we naturally want to know what tomorrow will bring. You teach us to say “Lord willing” when we announce a goal or a plan of action. That helps remind us that we may make plans but we need to pause and to ask ourselves if we are truly consulting with You, praying for Your will to be done.

We see that in learning to wait upon You, our strength is renewed. Does that also mean that when we plunge ahead without You, we do so in weakness? Father, if You are to be our strength in times of trouble, surely we must take steps to make that  be true.

We also see that in waiting upon You, we are strenghened, able to soar, as it were, as an eagle. Father, we want to access Your strength to run and not be weary, when all the evidence points towards our collapse. It is in Your strength and wisdom that we move forward, against all odds. How else could it be? What we begin in our own strength is a weak starting point. Help us today to make ambitious plans to serve You and our fellow man, relying upon You as our companion and tutor.

Father, may we exhort one another to love and obey Your Holy word and to keep Your way. Teach us new truths, afresh every day, so that the life You have given us might bring glory to you.

Help us Father not to be overwhelmed with the cares of this world, so preoccupied that we leave You out of the issues we face and the decisions we must make. Joy does not come easy to a burdened heart. Help us look past the moment and to focus on the perfection that awaits us. Our faith in Your love can and will sustain us.

We pray this day for your Spirit and our spirit to be as one. That is a huge hope, Father, but we know it is Your will for each of us. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Hope, Industriousness, Perseverance, faith | 8 Comments »

Is serving God risky?

Thursday, March 7th, 2013

Providence of God, March 7

Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless.
Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
…Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.”

Psalm 105:15; 108:12-13, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know there are those who dislike or hate us, especially if we are very public about our commitment to you. You promise to intervene on our behalf, many times without us even knowing we were being persecuted, and You assure us that whether now or later, Your love for us will prevail.

O’ God, we know of cases where Your children are persecuted, even unto physical death.  We know this life is as a vapor when compared to eternity and that Your children are safely in Your hand, forever. We also see here that revenge belongs to You and those who set out to harm Your children will be dealt with on Judgement Day.

We look to you constantly but never enough. Your thoughts toward us exceed number. Help us we pray to respond to your love, today, all day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Perseverance, Providence of God, Religion | 12 Comments »

People may reject you…does God?

Friday, November 9th, 2012

Courage, November 9

Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.
Your testimonies, which You have commanded, are righteous and very faithful.
My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.
I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth.
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet Your commandments are my delights.
The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; give me understanding, and I shall live

Psalm 119:137-144, www.solascriptura.com

Father, the Psalmist proclaims his love and loyalty and then laments over the loneliness of his circumstance because his enemies do not seek You and love You.

Father, give us courage when we feel that our witness is not well received. Give us understanding in the face of rejection, when it occurs. In the eyes of many, we are insignificant. If it were not for Your approval we would feel out of step, not always fitting in.
 
Help us, today, to know that our purpose in seeking You rises above any earthly, transitional concerns we may have. Encourage us and bless us we pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Conscience, Fidelity, Prayer, Providence of God, Religion | 213 Comments »