Why Not to Underestimate the Power of Prayer

Many times we underestimate the considerable power of prayer. And what praying accomplishes in our lives, hearts, and in the heavenly realm.

Because believing in prayer is not the same as actually spending time in prayer.

So we often struggle in this area of the Christian walk.

In these current unprecedented days, I desire to spend more time with God in prayer—to anchor myself to Him.

I need the power of prayer every day.

Let’s unpack some reasons not to underestimate the power of P-R-A-Y-E-R. Also, the benefits for our heart and our relationship with God.

Power of Prayer-Praise

P – Proclaims the Lord’s glory and praise.

Proclaiming the Lord’s glory and praise is not just for times of corporate worship. In fact, prayer is a form of individual worship. And it’s never all about us like a kid with a wish-list of wants and give-me’s. 

Praising the Lord and glorifying His holy name is a great way to start prayer. It’s a wonderful way to pray in-between petitions and intercessions and to finish prayer.

“My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.” Psalm 71:8 (ESV)

R – Renews a right spirit in us.

7 Surprising Ways We Walk in Heavenly Wisdom

What if the wisdom God wants us to walk in is unlike anything we ever thought about wisdom? And what if this heavenly wisdom helps us here on earth?

Perhaps like me, you’ve done your own search for sources of earthly wisdom at various stages of life.

Because we find it in many forms: reading, education, online classes, asking experts or family and friends, Google searches and so on. 

But gaining knowledge doesn’t always equal wisely applying it to life.

So what does this mean when it comes to heavenly wisdom?

Wisdom from heaven, spiritual wisdom, is also meant to take knowledge and apply it to our life here on earth.

Look at one way the Bible describes it. 

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 (NIV)

Let’s discuss these 7 things mentioned for walking in heavenly wisdom.

Heavenly Wisdom: Pure, Peace-loving, Considerate

(1.) Pure. Heavenly wisdom is first pure. Pure wisdom is untainted by the world’s definitions and standards.

Also, we walk in pure wisdom by applying it to areas of purity: pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4; Psalm 51:10), sexual purity/marriage bed (Hebrews 13:4), pure in thoughts (Philippians 4:8) and a pure path through God’s Word (Psalm 119:9). 

Deep Spiritual Aspects God Wants to Instill in Us

What if we knew God wanted deep spiritual aspects for our Christian lives?

These aspects, once instilled in us, help us on our spiritual journey, but are different than what we often want.

What’s happening in our world confirms this truth: we have zero control over most things in life.

Still, the Lord never created us for control. Control was always meant to remain with Him.

“For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” Psalm 22:28 (ESV)

Instead, our heavenly Father created us for dependency on Him. 

So there are deep spiritual aspects the Lord wants for our good and His glory.

Here, we will discuss 4 of these and compare each to what we might prefer.

(1.) God wants our surrender, not our sufficiency: Deep Spiritual Aspects

Although your struggles and needs may look different than mine, we all experience the same moments of desperation. 

Like the kind that makes us hope we are all cried out, or question our faith, or pray the same prayer over and over.

But we hold the power not to let it affect the trajectory of our lives. Our power comes in focusing on how complete God is, not how incomplete we are. We concentrate on our heavenly Father’s sufficiency, not of our shortage. 

To do this, we put the spotlight on God’s power and glory. Total serenity comes in placing our hope in the Lord alone. We fully surrender to who He is as God and Lord over our lives.

“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:4 (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, help me surrender to You. Because in You, I find true sufficiency. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How I Learned Not to Go on Guilt Trips

We weren’t created to experience guilt trips. But we learned to send ourselves and each other on these unpleasant excursions because sin entered the world.

First, let’s look at desirable trips.

Maybe a planned or spontaneous travel schedule. Perhaps our favorite vacation spots. Possibly, places familiar or unknown. Or, traveling abroad. And a voyage by sea.

Also, guided tours, historical landmarks, the mountains, a natural wonder, the beach, tropical climates, and soaring altitudes.

Still further, there are resorts for sight seekers, adventure junkies, and tourists of all shapes and sizes. Crossing out a bucket list item—going somewhere we’ve never visited.

Even people are labeled trips.

Whatever the mode of transportation. Whether a one-way-trip or round-trip. Short or extended stay. It’s movement toward a point of destination. A journey for recreation, relaxation, and getaways—a means to escape.

Learned Guilt Trips

Sometimes we go on trips and land somewhere we’d rather not visit. The worst trips ever.

Guilt trips qualify. Guilt trips make us painfully aware of being stuck in an unwanted place. So we feel it deep inside. A restless, unsettled state of wishing we were home—back to familiar surroundings. A safe place.

A Special Valentine Invitation: Will You be Mine?

What if there’s a special valentine invitation unlike any we’ve ever received? 

When you think of love and Valentine’s Day, what memories come to mind?

Perhaps you received Will you be mine? invites in grade school, college, and into adulthood.

Maybe a special someone entered your life, you received a marriage proposal from the love of your life, or your spouse went over the top to celebrate your love.

Even a sweet childhood memory may still captivate us.

Or, your memories surrounding this love-holiday uncover feelings of emptiness or a lack of love.

Memories from childhood to the present you’d rather forget. 

Because many of us have experienced both highs and lows when it comes to love and special valentine invitations.

But the most lavish, epic, and monumental Valentine’s Day to ever take place in history, celebrates the best kind of love—God’s extravagant love.

This is Love

First, let’s look at what love is and what love is not.

The Bible contains some of the most powerful and beautiful words ever penned on love. 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (ESV)

6 Sources of Real Joy Never Taken From Us

Real joy is the end result of God’s faithful promises. The Lord adds these spiritual sources of joy to our lives that no person, not even the enemy, can take from us.

Still further, joyfulness is:

Ammunition for difficult circumstances and people. 

The best medicine for a downcast spirit. 

A shield against attacks from the enemy. 

So let’s look at it in a broader sense. And not just what we believe and know, but also how it manifests in our lives—how we live joyful.

You see, unlike images, there’s not a filter for joyful. Instead, it lies beneath the surface and radiates through.

God wants to bring a smile back to our face. But more than that.

He wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul.

God provides many wonderful sources of rejoicing. But in this article, we look at 6 along with Bible verses for each one.

And I love powerful refrains in certain songs and poems. So after each of our points, repeat the refrain I include out loud.

Sources of Real Joy: Salvation, God’s Works and Word

1.)  In salvation.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12

“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23

Is my joy showing through? 

Because there’s no filter for joyful. 

And it’s never shaken or taken.

How to Know Jesus and Make Him Known

How can we know Jesus more intimately?

During my early years of being a Christ-follower, I missed an important aspect of the Christian life.

Christ not only desired that I know Him as Savior and Lord, but also that I continued to grow in knowing Him more intimately on a daily basis.

Because this is the only way to let Christ live in and through my life, and for others to see Jesus in me.

Eventually, this became my mission statement for my speaking, writing, and blogging ministry:

To know Jesus more and make Him known.

To really know someone, we spend time with that person. For instance, we know our spouse and children more than anyone else.

Who we live with, we grow to know more each day through two-way communication and interaction.

Know Jesus

These same simple principles hold true to K.N.O.W. Jesus.

K – Keep our relationship alive and well. Cultivate our love relationship with Jesus as if our life depends on it. Because most of the time, dear friend, we will find this to be the case. A growing and vibrant friendship with Jesus makes a world of difference in the ups and downs of life.

N – Never stop investing time. My adult son recently moved halfway across the country. It drove home the point to continue to connect with him. We frequently text, call and FaceTime. We also started a family group on Marco Polo so all of us can send and receive videos.

Make it a habit to spend time with Christ. Connect with who Jesus is by reading the Bible and getting to know the words Christ spoke, the way He prayed, and the words spoken about Him. Never move away from Jesus emotionally or spiritually.

When We Fill Ourselves With Things That Expire

Have you ever thought about how all that life has to offer are things that expire? None of them last forever.

So it’s no wonder we are chasing the next best technology device or fashion or eatery or the things of this world that quickly fade in fulfillment.

There’s nothing wrong with this stuff in and of itself. But it’s about how we fill ourselves, with them or God.

Even though we are wired for God’s filling, we learn to self-fill. We attempt to fill ourselves with life’s stuff and substitutions for God.

But there are problems with our self-filling techniques. 

Things That Expire: Everything Life Offers

Maybe you or your church collects non-perishables for local food banks. Items with a long shelf life for the underprivileged. 

Poor in spirit, we have intangible needs that never expire. Like grace, love, mercy, joy, peace, and hope. Although they seem abstract, we actually take hold of them when we go to God.

Because unlike things that expire, God manifests these characteristics in our lives. And they never run out, run dry or have expiration dates.

Yet, when we turn to life’s stuff to bring us fulfillment, such as the perfect body, aspirations, accolades, or material possessions, it only temporarily fills empty spaces, never empty souls. Real fullness is not dictated by anything life offers but revealed in Jesus.

Jesus is eternal and He never expires. 

Christ exchanges our empty for His full: our lack for His bounty (Psalm 65:11), our shame for His mercy (Ephesians 2:4), our sorrow for His joy (Isaiah 35:10), our weakness for His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9), and our worry for His peace (John 16:33).

Things That Expire: Substitutes for God

Valley Promises From God Himself

What if we knew God had valley promises just waiting for us to claim and cling to?

Because sometimes we travel on a journey we never chose. A valley experience.

And we never made reservations, packed our bags, or headed off in that direction. 

Besides, my heart’s GPS is wired to stay on the mountain top. Isn’t that what we secretly or openly wish the Christian life promised? 

Still, we often forget God’s glory and presence dwells wherever we are, and in whatever we go through. Further, the Bible says we will have trouble in this world, valleys to walk through. It’s not “if” but “when.”

Perhaps, you relate to valleys of emotional suffering, physical pain, heartbreak, tragedy, grief, spiritual warfare, or other.

During one of my valley experiences, the Lord revealed a comforting message of truth for any and all valleys. 

And it comes from two phrases and two passages in the Bible. These are valley promises.

(1.) Even though. Psalm 23.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

David, a shepherd, led, rescued, and cared for sheep. In Psalm 23, he relates the job description to God’s care of us.

The provision of green pastures and still waters showcases the Lord’s goodness (verse 2). Restoring souls and leading in righteousness spotlight the Shepherd’s mercy (verse 3). So, we won’t lack anything on the spiritual journey, including in the valleys (verse 1).

But David mentions less-than-pleasant moments and hard days. The valley of the shadow of death, evil, and the presence of enemies. Since we live in a fallen world, there’s no guarantee of valley-free living.

Yet, the Lord guarantees He is with me “even though” I find myself in the valley (verse 4). And He’s with you.

22 Truths About God to Embrace in 2022

Embarking on a new year always brings mixed emotions for me. I look forward to new experiences, possibilities, adventures, and all the things in life worth celebrating. On the flip side, the world is still in a troubled and hurting state. And I wonder what the path holds on up ahead. Maybe you relate. But what if we simply and intentionally embraced truths about God?

Embracing what we know is true about God strengthens our heart, gives understanding and peace to our minds, and keeps us focused on spiritual things.

So let’s look 22 of these truths for our new year.

Truths About God That Make Him God

(1.) The One true God. Oh, there are other gods. But there’s no other god like our God. “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” (Isaiah 46:9b)

(2.) Living. Jeremiah compares man-made idols to the living God. “But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God.” (Jeremiah 10:10) How sad and foolish when we bow to idols without breath. Or, believe in gods who are dead.

(3.) Creator. Genesis 1:1 tells us in the beginning God created…. God existed first. Then He created everything else, all of creation, and humans in His image. 

(4.) Holy. The Blue Letter Bible shares, “God is holy means there is no trace of evil in his character. Only God is holy.” Further, “There is no one holy like the LORD.” (1 Samuel 2:2a)

(5.) Sovereign. God rules as the supreme authority, doing what pleases Him (Psalm 115:3), His kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19). 

(6.) In control. “For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:27)

(7.) Majestic. “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:9)

(8.) Almighty. “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” (Revelation 1:8)