Night is Coming by Dr. Henry Blackaby

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We, in our day, tend to believe that we can ignore the real “night that is coming” by turning on our artificial lights to make us think and act as if nothing is wrong.

We live in a world of artificial light in so many ways. If we go to a ballgame and nighttime is approaching, we watch as the stadium lights come on in the transition, and we are led to believe that daytime still exists. In essence, we are deceived about the night because of the “artificial light”.

We may function well with artificial light in the physical world but this certainly is not true in the Kingdom of God. Jesus said to His disciples, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5).

We, in our day, tend to believe that we can ignore the real “night that is coming” by turning on our artificial lights to make us think and act as if nothing is wrong. We can spend time in the “artificial light” of Hollywood with its make-believe world of reality. And, of course, the world of sports offers a constant stream of escapism to the real world as well. We literally have hundreds of media channels in which to get lost. And in so doing, we can live carelessly in our unreal world and ignore the real world. This also can apply to the relationships we have in our marriages and families. We can fail to see “the night is coming on,” and it may become too late to work on these precious relationships.

Too many of us today see the darkness approaching in our nation and in our world but convince ourselves it’s not as bad as it truly is. We simply throw on the switch of artificial light so we will not be overtaken by the darkness. And as we do we go on in reckless and fatal abandon.

Jesus gave us a clear warning of this moment. We must face the real time in which we live just as He did and work the works of Him who sent us. Are there “good works” which He ordained that we should work and not postpone (Ephesians 2:10)?

Be encouraged: “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 12:36a). Look carefully around you:

for what you see “while it is day.”for the approaching “night.”for the deception of the world’s artificial light.for opportunities to let Christ’s light shine in you and through you.

Eight Words That Change Everything by Keith Ferrin

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Keith Ferrin offers encouragement from the Word of God.

I am currently joining with several other guys from my church and reading through the Bible in four months. It has truly been some of the most enjoyable reading of God’s Word I have ever encountered. While I am reading "straight through" from Genesis to Revelation in the mornings, each evening before hugging my pillow I pause and read one or two Psalms. A few nights ago I read Psalm 56 and one of the lines King David wrote has been with me ever since:

"This I know, that God is for me."

These eight words change everything. Everything. The last half of the sentence is true. God is for us. Period. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we live in the light of its promise or not. Whether we remember it or not. Quite simply – it is true.

And then there is the first half of the sentence. "This I know…" Most likely, the first time I heard this phrase was when I was four and my mom and dad were teaching me "Jesus loves me….this I know…" Believing that Jesus loves me is also foundational. But I’ve got to say that there’s a part of me that – at least for today – thinks that what David wrote in Psalm 56 is even more life-changing. Here’s what I mean.

God IS love. Right? So the fact that God loves me is, in some sense, simply God being God. Is it possible for God to not love? Could He not love His creation? Don’t get me wrong, the truth that He loves me is huge. (After all, my hope and salvation hinges upon it!) And yet, I can’t imagine God being anything other than loving, in spite of the fact that I certainly don’t deserve it.

However, David didn’t say, "This I know, that God loves me. He says, "This I know, that God is for me. Knowing that God is FOR me is a whole different thing. David recognizes that God being for him is not just God loving His creation, but God choosing to celebrate His creation.

How differently – more fully, more abundantly, more joyfully, more purposefully, more passionately – you and I would live if this truth permeated our every thought: that the God who created us, who knows us, who sacrificed Himself for us, is for us.

Sit back and soak in that truth for a moment. God celebrates you. God is on your side. God rejoices over you. God wants you. God chooses you. God cherishes you. God is for you.

And now…take a deep breath and say these eight words out loud:

This I know, that God is for me.

Do you believe it? I hope so. It will change everything.

Peace in Me by Guideposts

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It’s easy to find peace when everything is going smoothly, but where can we find it in the midst of pain?

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33, NLT

I've had an extremely close relationship with my grandparents my whole life. My mom was a single mom, and we lived with my grandparents my first four years. After that, I spent time with my grandparents many times a week. I looked forward to dinners around their table, watching old movies on the TV, and going on walks around the neighborhood. As my grandparents grew older, I feared losing one of them. I knew it was inevitable, but I didn’t think my heart could handle it.

When my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer, I turned to the only place I knew to go—to Jesus. I asked Him to be with me each day as I helped my grandmother care for my grandfather. I asked Jesus to give my heart peace, and the amazing thing was, He did.

On the last day of my grandfather’s life, I walked into the room and I saw him lifting his arms and praising Jesus. Later, through tears, Grandpa told me he saw Jesus with His arms outstretched. Jesus was welcoming Grandpa home. Not too long later, my grandfather passed away.

All those years I had worried about what I was losing, but I had forgotten what my grandfather was gaining. Because Jesus had overcome the world, my grandfather was now with Him in eternity.

It’s easy to find peace when everything in life is going smooth. But peace—Jesus our peace—can also be found in painful times.

FAITH STEP: Think about a friend who is facing the death of a loved one. Send him or her a note sharing your care. Also remind your friend that true peace can be found in Jesus.

Contributed by Tricia Goyer

Potty Mouth by Steve Noble

DESCRIPTION If the words you speak to others are not building them up in some way, they are words that should not be spoken.

Ephesians 4:29

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

In the original Greek, this passage speaks of that which is foul, putrid, rotten, decaying, ugly and worthless. Its only use is to be thrown out as quickly as possible. Of course, R-rated language is an obvious target, but this verse speaks to much more than that.

Like I tell my kids, sometimes the most Christ-like thing you can do is shut up! Ephesians 4:29 addresses our careless words… hurtful words… condescending words… harsh words… degrading words… insulting words. In short, if the words you speak to others are not building them up in some way, they are words that should not be spoken.

It has been said that you should think before you act, but think twice before you speak. Careless words do lasting damage and reveal the true sin nature of our hearts (Mth. 12:34). They can hurt or destroy your relationship with your spouse, your children, your friends and your Christian brothers and sisters, not to mention the damage it inflicts on your witness to a watching world.

Get a grip on the fact that some pretty awful things can come out of your mouth, and put Ephesians 4:29 into practice right now. Throw out the rotten fruit and replace it with a bounty of blessings.

A Believer's Peace by Daily Disciples

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Since everyone is longing and searching for peace, let’s first define the difference between the peace of the unbeliever and the peace of the believer.

Today's Reading: Genesis 36-38; Matthew 10:21-42

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things where with one may edify another. (Romans 14:19)

Today, believers and unbelievers alike are looking for peace. But how do we follow after the things of peace?  Since everyone is longing and searching for peace, let’s first define the difference between the peace of the unbeliever and the peace of the believer.

The unbeliever is looking for peace in the outer circumstances of their lives. “If only the world was a peaceful place to be, if only we had a leader that would establish peace, if only everyone else would be kind to one another….then we would have peace” are the hopes and thoughts of the unbelievers. So, they look for leaders who could bring this kind of peace to their environment. We all agree with this kind of thinking to some extent. Wouldn't we all be happy with world peace and conflict-free circumstances? But Jesus tells us that in this world you will have tribulation and the Bible teaches that the only leader who will bring world peace is the spirit of the Antichrist. World peace cannot last under his reign for Satan is the master of division, destruction, disaster and death.

A believer’s peace is different. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you.” The kind of peace Jesus gives is peace of heart. Christians should have great peace knowing that they are unconditionally loved and that God has a purpose for them. There is great peace seeing prayers answered and understanding the things of God. As a believer begins to meditate upon the things of God, the peace they receive in their hearts starts training their minds to think differently. We start hearing praise songs going through our minds and thanking God for His loving-kindness and goodness towards us. Finally, this peace of Christ is lived out through the believers’ behaviors. Their attitude is not negative and they smile for no reason. They are focused, but not self centered. Their behavior starts reflecting a trust in God that all things will work together for good, because they love God and know God loves them. A believer understands that it is not conflict-free circumstances that bring peace, but Jesus who brings peace in the midst of all kinds of circumstances. So, we follow after the things of peace leading us to follow the Author of perfect peace Himself.

The Importance of Prayer Partners by Dr. Charles Stanley

DESCRIPTION We’ll never succeed through self-reliance, because God created us to need others in our faith journey.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Keeping your arms raised for a period of time might not seem like a difficult task—until you try it. No matter how strong you are, you’ll eventually find it impossible to hold them up, as if a 20-pound weight were strapped to each one.

In Exodus 17:8-16, Moses was faithfully praying on a hill while his soldiers were below, fighting the Amalekites. As long as his arms were raised, the Israelites prevailed. But he couldn’t maintain this posture on his own for very long. He needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his hands.

The Lord never expected Moses to do the job by himself. Nor is He going to let any one of us be absolutely independent—that isn’t how He operates. God has built His church in such a way that the world will recognize Christians by their love toward one another (John 13:35). As we ultimately depend on God, we likewise interdepend upon each other.

Everybody needs an Aaron and a Hur—people who can hold up our drooping arms and help us in our intercessions before the Lord. We don’t need helpers who react with judgmental comments or platitudes. Rather, our prayer partners should simply come alongside and intercede with and for us.

Ask God to bring people into your life who can faithfully and lovingly lift you up in prayer without judging you or expecting anything in return. And if you’re not in Moses’ situation right now, perhaps you can be someone else’s Aaron or Hur. Why not ask God to lead you to a person who would appreciate intercession?

Thankful for Answered Prayer by Boyd Bailey

DESCRIPTIONWe ask in Jesus' name when we pray for Him to be glorified through answered prayer. When Jesus is lifted up all men and women are drawn to Him.

Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” John 11:41-42

Jesus thanked His Father for answered prayer, before His prayer was answered. His heart was so in tune with the heart of the Father that He could boldly ask knowing it was the will of God. In the same way, our Savior calls us to align our hearts with our Heavenly Father’s heart. His plan is for our desires to be His desires, our wants to be His wants, our goals to be His goals, our will to be His will and our prayers to be His prayers. Hence, we can thank Him for answered prayers!

What prayers are yet to be answered, but need to be prayed? What is Christ asking you to confidently pray in His name knowing He will answer in the future? Perhaps it's a yet to be determined job promotion you can thank God for now. You can praise the Lord today for your wayward child, who you have a peace in your heart will eventually come back to their Savior Jesus. Or, you pray with the Spirit’s certainty over an uncertain illness that threatens your joy. Whatever you face you can face down with faith in your Heavenly Father who hears your prayer.

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14

We ask in Jesus' name when we pray for Him to be glorified through answered prayer. When Jesus is lifted up all men and women are drawn to Him. We ask in Christ's name when our desire is for our answered prayers to be a benefit for believers to grow in their faith, and for unbelievers to come to faith. Oh the joy of seeing someone come to know Jesus in personal salvation, because they saw the love of God transform the life of a loved one. Gratitude glorifies God!

Lastly, as we look to the Lord and thank Him for answered prayer, He may call us to be a part of His provision. Jesus told the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest for laborers and as they prayed He called them to labor for Him. So, what is your role in relation to the future prayers He wants to answer on your behalf? Perhaps you can resource the need or call on a relationship that can provide answers. Be grateful, God has you positioned to be a part of His answered prayers!

Then He [Jesus] said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Luke 10:2, NKJV

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise You for the assurance of answered prayers in the future.

Say Thanks for Answered Prayer by Pastor Rick Warren

DESCRIPTION Prayer is a conversation with God. God hears you when you pray, and He answers you when you ask questions.

“O Lord, now I have heard your report, and I worship you in awe.” (Habakkuk 3:2a LB)

If you want to hear God speak, then worship God.

In other words, thank him for being a part of your life and for being interested in the details of your life. Thank him for answering your prayers: “O Lord, now I have heard your report, and I worship you in awe” (Habakkuk 3:2a LB). God gives you a vision. God gives you a dream. You know what God wants you to do, so now you thank him for answering your prayer. That’s part of worshiping God.

What I want you to do is to stop seeing your prayers as a monologue and start seeing them for what they truly are: a dialogue. Prayer is a conversation with God. God hears you when you pray, and he answers you when you ask questions. He wants to talk to you every day. If you will faithfully talk to God every day throughout the day, it will revolutionize your life.

Now, you can't hear God until you know God, and there are three levels of knowing God: recognition, acquaintance, and friendship. You may be at the recognition level; you know God is there, but you don't really know him. Or, you may be at the acquaintance level; you know God a little bit, but you don't know him very well. 

God wants you to live at the friendship level. He wants to be your friend, and he wants you to be his friend. God wants you to talk with him all the time.

Talk It Over

Pray this prayer today: “Dear God, I'm amazed that you would want me for a friend. I really want to learn to have conversations with you. Help me to spend time with you every day. Thank you that you care about every detail of my life. Jesus, I want to know you more and more every day, and I want to depend on you for guidance in my job, my family, my future, and in every other area of my life. I invite you to be the manager of my life, my Lord and Savior, as I follow you and trust you. In your name I pray. Amen.”

Day 5 - Three Keys To Answered Prayer

Craig von Buseck - Author

three-keys-to-answered-prayer

And I say to you ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you (Luke 11:9).

Prayer is an essential part of our relationship with God. Yet, too often we neglect this vital bridge of communication with heaven. In many cases, we don't pray because we don't know exactly how to pray -- or how often.

Jesus' disciples clearly saw the effect that prayer had in His life. He spent large amounts of time in prayer, often by Himself. The disciples soon realized that the 

demonstration of God's power and wisdom flowing from Jesus' life directly resulted from the intimate fellowship He enjoyed with His Father.

When they asked Him to explain more to them about prayer, Jesus told them this story:

"Suppose one of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him;' and from inside he shall answer and say, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' "I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. "And I say to you ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened." (Luke 11:5-10)

The three keys Jesus gives for seeing answers to prayer can be summed up as: Be persistent, be purposeful and be personal.

Be Persistent

The first key to answered prayer is persistence -- which means "to hold fast to," or hold onto tightly. God wants us to hold on tightly to His promises in prayer. Don't let disappointment cause you to let go of your faith.

The man in the parable didn't give up when his neighbor turned down his initial request. Jesus pointed out that the neighbor wouldn't get up and give him anything just because he was the man's friend. But because of his persistence, he would eventually get up and give him what he needed.

The Greek language in Luke 11:10 can be translated, "ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you."

If we call on God, He promises to answer! But we must wait on the Lord and let Him answer our prayers in His perfect timing. Many times the greatest trial comes just before the answer arrives; it often seems darkest just before dawn.

Be Purposeful

The Bible says one of the reasons we haven't received God's best is that we haven't asked Him (see James 4:2). But God wants us to share our hearts with Him. He wants children who are willing to dream His dreams.

The man in this story knew what he wanted and asked with a definite purpose.

Take your needs and concerns to the Lord in prayer. Dare to ask God for your desires. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." Allow God to expand your vision, and spend time in prayer so you'll be prepared to receive the good things He has in store for you.

Maybe you are dealing with a broken relationship, overwhelming financial burdens, the frustration of ill health, or the salvation of a loved one. The Lord wants you to come to Him in faith about whatever is on your heart. And don't just stop with your own needs. Ask God for a vision for your community, this nation and the world. Then, begin praying about the situations He impresses on your mind. Remember, the more you pray for the concerns on God's heart, the more you will find your own needs being met.

Be Personal

The most important key to effective prayer is a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. The man in the parable went to his friend when he needed help.

Two men in the Bible who are known for their great faith are Abraham and Moses. Both men enjoyed an intimate friendship with God. James 2:23 says of Abraham, "...he was called the friend of God," and Exodus 33:11 says, "...the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend." Both men saw God do great miracles in their lives.

But remember, it takes time to develop a close friendship. You can start by involving God in the details of your life and learning to recognize His faithfulness even in little everyday challenges and events. Develop a plan of Bible reading and prayer that works for you. Pray for family and friends who may not know Jesus. And be sure to thank Him when the answers come!

What a comfort to know that God loves us so deeply that He has given each of us an "open line" directly to Him whenever we need direction, comfort or strength. And His continuing promise to us is that He will answer our prayers!

Potted Plants Can't Answer Prayersby Josh McDowell

DESCRIPTIONThe Christian faith isn’t fuzzy. It’s focused on the real truth of what Jesus did for you.

Bible Reading: Acts 16:25-34

Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household—Acts 16:31.

Kelly sat across the kitchen table from her friend Angelica. “I think we each have the faith that’s right for us,” Kelly said. “Christianity isn’t all there is, you know. The important thing is that you believe. ”

Angelica scrunched up her brow. “I guess,” she said. “After all, Christianity is all about being saved by faith. So I guess… it’s not that big a deal what you believe, as long as you believe it enough.”

Wrong! It is a big deal what you believe.

I was invited to debate the head of the philosophy department at a large univer­sity. We bantered back and forth about the Marxist theory of humans as economic creatures --one of the key ideas that drove communism. At one point I explained how crucial the resurrection of Jesus was to me. “Look, McDowell,” my opponent inter­rupted, “it doesn’t matter if the Resurrection happened or not. The important thing is-do you believe it happened?”

“Sir,” I answered, “that’s wrong. The truth of what I believe does matter, because if what I believe isn’t true, then I have no right to my Christian faith.”

After the debate, a Muslim student said to me, “I know some Muslims who have more faith in Muhammad than some Christians have in Christ.”

“That might be true,” I said, “but the issue isn’t how much faith you have, but who you have faith in.”

The value of faith isn’t in the one doing the believing, but in the one who is be­lieved. You can have more faith than anyone on the planet. But suppose you put your faith in the potted plants in your house. Will this provide a saving relationship with God and forgiveness of sin? Why not-if believing big is what matters? Because the object of your faith is a potted plant, and plants can’t save.

On the other hand, suppose you have faith the size of a freckle, but you put that faith in Jesus Christ. Will this give you a saving relationship with God and forgive­ness of sin? Definitely! What made the difference? The object of your faith-the one you put your faith in. Jesus made the difference.

The Christian faith isn’t fuzzy. It’s objective. It’s focused on the real truth of what Jesus did for you. Faith in anything else—no matter how hard you may believe—can’t save you.

REFLECT: Is your faith in faith—or in Jesus?

PRAY: Pray for friends who put their faith in anything or anyone other than Jesus.

 

God Does Answer Prayers by Beyond the Ultimate

DESCRIPTION Football player, David Thomas, shares a personal story about the power of prayer.

Not long after I was born, doctors diagnosed me with a disease called craniosynostosis, where the bones in my skull had already fused together, meaning my brain wouldn't be able to grow. My parents began praying and called my grandparents and asked them to start praying for me. They took me to a different doctor for a second opinion but left worried and afraid when he confirmed the diagnoses. At that point, my grandparents started calling everyone they knew and asking them to pray for their grandson to be healed. Those people then began calling their friends and family and in very little time, literally thousands of people were praying for a miracle. My parents took me to another doctor to get one last opinion on the diagnoses and treatment for this disease. After running several tests, the doctor came to give my parents the results. “I don't know what the other doctors saw but this boy is as healthy as any baby I've ever seen,” the doctor announced. My parents were so excited and thankful that I was okay. They knew that a miracle had just occurred. 

I came to know Jesus when I was only eight or nine years old. I don't think I fully understood what a gift that was until high school. That is when I really began to serve the Lord and live a life to bring Him glory and honor. My whole life my grandmother told me that the Lord healed me because He had a wonderful and special plan for my life and all I had to do was be faithful to Him. When I look at my life now, I know that she was exactly right. Every phase of my life growing up has been filled with the Lord's blessings. The Lord has blessed me with the ability to play football, but more importantly this game is a platform that allows me to show other people Christ. 

The Lord has also blessed me with a wonderful family. My wife, Kassidy, and I met in eighth grade, began dating as juniors in high school, got married over a year and a half ago, and now have a healthy four-month-old little boy, Jaxon David. 

I can’t say that in my life I have ever turned my back on the Lord or was ever living in darkness. What I can say is that my life is a testimony to the fact that the Lord can still heal people. God does answer prayers and if you answer His call, He will bless you in unimaginable ways.

Written by David Thomas, former Tight End for the New Orleans Saints.

Day 3 - Does God Answer All Your Prayers?

https://www.bibleinoneyear.org/bioy/commentary/2433

3. God says ‘wait’

Job 15:1-18:21

Do you realise that, whatever difficulties you are facing, right now Jesus is praying for you?

Poor Job had to put up with increasingly irritating speeches from his friends in which they condemned him more and more, wrongly accusing him. Job described them as ‘miserable comforters’ (16:2), with their ‘long-winded speeches’ (v.3a). They were absolutely no help to him at all (v.4).

Some people wrongly believe that our suffering in this life is always caused by our own sin, or even by sin in a former life. So, if people are born in poverty or with some genetic disorder, it must be their fault. This blame must be a terrible additional unnecessary suffering (the idea of reincarnation is totally repudiated in the Bible, see Hebrews 9:27). This is how Job’s so-called ‘friends’ spoke about him.

When your friends are suffering avoid being a ‘miserable’ comforter (Job 16:2). Rather, as Job suggests, ‘encourage’, ‘comfort’ and ‘strengthen’ them and ‘soothe their suffering’ (v.5, NIV and AMP).

One thing you can always do is to intercede (pray on their behalf) for them. Job said:

‘My intercessor is my friend
as my eyes pour out tears to God;
on behalf of a human being he pleads with God
as one pleads for a friend’ (vv.20–21).

We are not told who the intercessor was, but whoever it was, he was a real friend to Job because he was pleading to God for him.

The prayers of the intercessor may not seem to have been answered immediately, but they were eventually when God restored Job’s fortunes. His answer to Job’s intercessor and to Job was ‘Wait’. Later it was Job’s intercession for others that was the immediate cause of his restoration (42:8–10).

Who is Job’s intercessor? Job says, ‘Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high’ (16:19). In the New Testament we see that the one ‘who represents mortals before God’ (16:21, MSG) is Jesus. He is your ‘advocate with the Father’ (1 John 2:1, RSV). He is interceding for you (Hebrews 7:24–25).

Jesus was Job’s advocate. He was interceding for him. Jesus was pleading with God ‘as one pleads for a friend’ (Job 16:21). There is a similarity between Job’s experience and that of Peter. Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail’ (Luke 22:31–32).

As John Wimber used to say, ‘The good news is that Jesus is praying for you. The bad news is that you are going to need it!’

Lord, thank you so much that you promise to be my advocate. Thank you that in the times when, like Job or Peter, it seems that Satan is sifting me like wheat, you are praying for me. Thank you that I know that, even if it seems like I am having to wait, the answer to my advocate-in-heaven’s prayer will always ultimately be ‘Yes’.

Pippa Adds

Matthew 20:20–28

The mother of Zebedee’s sons seems to be rather pushy. We can all be over-ambitious for our children. There’s a right sort of ambition for our children and a wrong sort. Jesus says, ‘You don’t know what you are asking’ (Matthew 20:22). It’s so important to pray for our children along the lines of the will of God, not our own agenda.

Verse of the Day

‘My intercessor is my friend…’ (Job 16:20)

Day 2 - Does God Answer All Your Prayers?

https://www.bibleinoneyear.org/bioy/commentary/2433

2. God says ‘no’ to one request, ‘yes’ to another

Matthew 20:20-34

Bill Hybels writes, ‘If the request is wrong God says “No”. If the timing is wrong God says “Slow”. If you are wrong God says “Grow”. But if the request is right and the timing is right and you are right, God says “Go”.’

In this passage we see two requests. The first receives the answer ‘No’ (vv.20–28) and the second the answer ‘Yes’ (vv.29–34).

• Two requests
  In both cases Jesus asked, ‘What do you want?’ He said to the mother of Zebedee’s sons, ‘What is it you want?’ (v.21). He said to the two blind men, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ (v.32).
  
  In a way it must have been obvious what they wanted (in the second instance they were blind, so they must have wanted to see), but God wants us to be actively involved. The apostle James says, ‘You do not have, because you do not ask God’ (James 4:2). Jesus says, ‘Ask and it will be given to you... For everyone who asks receives’ (Matthew 7:7–8). It may seem an obvious point, but the starting point of answered prayer is actually asking.
• Two responses
  In the case of the request of the blind men, Jesus’ response was ‘Yes’. ‘Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him’ (v.34).
  
  On the other hand, Jesus, in effect, said ‘No’ to the mother of Zebedee’s sons. This response also stemmed from compassion. Her request was for glory, power and promotion for her boys. He points out that she does not seem to understand all the implications of her request.
  
  He said, ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?’ (v.22). The Old Testament prophets spoke in several passages of the ‘cup of his (God’s) wrath’ (for example, Isaiah 51:17–22; Jeremiah 25:15–29).
  
  Shockingly, Jesus speaks of drinking this cup himself. He is going to ‘give his life as a ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:28). The Greek word for ‘for’ (‘anti’), means ‘instead of’. This is the clearest example in the whole New Testament of Jesus explaining his death in terms of substitution.
• Two reasons
  The apostle James writes, ‘When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives’ (James 4:3). Behind the requests here lay different motives. Both requests were to do with lordship. The request of the blind men came from the recognition that Jesus is Lord, and a desire for something good (Matthew 20:30–33). On the other hand, Jesus points out that the mother’s request came from a desire to ‘lord it over’ others (v.25).
  
  True greatness does not come from lording it over others or from what the world regards as success (wealth, position, fame or having a ‘successful’ ministry). Rather, Jesus says that true greatness comes from becoming ‘a servant’ – following his example in choosing ‘to serve, not be served’ (vv.26–28). This is an example of where the disciples were wrong and God said ‘Grow’.

I think I have learnt more in my own life from the times when my prayers have not seemed to be answered than from the times when they have been answered with a ‘Yes’. Certainly the disciples must have learnt a huge amount from this ‘unanswered’ prayer.

Lord, thank you for the lessons that we learn from ‘unanswered’ prayer. Thank you that you showed us true greatness. Help me to devote my life to your service and to the service of others.

Day 1 - Does God Answer All Your Prayers?

https://www.bibleinoneyear.org/bioy/commentary/2433

Does God Answer All Your Prayers?

I love cricket. At least, I love watching it; I was never any good at playing it. But I know many people don’t like cricket and don’t even understand the rules of it (especially if they come from a country where it isn’t a popular sport). So I hope you will forgive me for using a cricketing analogy.

When two batsmen are running between the wickets on a cricket pitch, they need to co-ordinate the decision about whether to run or not. One will shout to the other ‘Yes’ (that is, ‘Let’s run’), or ‘No’ (that is, ‘Stay where you are’), or ‘Wait’ (that is, ‘Let’s see what happens before we decide whether to run’).

God hears all your prayers and, in one sense, he answers all your prayers. But we do not always receive what we ask for. When we ask God for something, the response will be ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ or ‘Wait’.

John Stott writes that God will answer ‘No’ if the things we ask for ‘are either not good in themselves, or not good for us or for others, directly or indirectly, immediately or ultimately’.

We don’t always get to know the reason why the answer is ‘No’. We need to remember that God sees things from an eternal perspective and that there are some things we may never understand in this life.

In the passages for today we see examples of all three types of response from God.

1. God says ‘yes’

Psalm 17:13-15

What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? David sets us a great example: ‘As for me… I shall be fully satisfied when I awake to find myself beholding your form and having sweet communion with you’ (v.15, AMP). Start each day seeking God’s presence and finding satisfaction in him.

This is the heart of what prayer is all about. It is not just about asking for things; it is about seeking God’s face and enjoying ‘sweet communion with him’.

This is the context of David’s request. He cried out to God for help in the face of his enemies (vv.13–14). God heard and answered his prayers with a positive response, ‘Yes’.

Lord, each day, when I awake, may I enjoy sweet communion with you and ‘be satisfied with seeing your likeness’ (v.15b).