Tag Archives: prayer

How To Find More Time

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Lately a lot more than usual has been going on in life and though I get up early to read a little Scripture it has been rushed and I haven’t taken time to “settle into” prayer. Without that time to just wait before the Lord, prayer is just me talking (not giving God a chance to respond when He has something to say).  And I have discovered, what God says to me is infinitely more important than what I say to Him. I am beginning to notice the spiritual addledness that comes from no listening time but, but it’s easy to think, “I just don’t have time.”

That’s when I received this post from my son Jonathan reminding me of something he has probably heard me preach 20 times. I thought it might be a good word to encourage you as it did me. I condensed it so I suggest you check out his blog: FakingCreativity.com

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You Aren’t Too Busy
by Jonathan Malm

I hate when people say they’re too busy. When you say that, you’re actually saying “I’m too busy for you!” You’re never actually too busy. If the President requested a conference with you, you’d find the time. The reason you’re “too busy” is that you have put a higher priority on other things.

May I suggest you have enough time in the day to do everything you want to do? If you were willing to drop other things, you would have the time. By shifting your priorities you can make time for what’s important to you. Here are a few reasons you might be “too busy”:

  • Perfectionism – I spend valuable time on insignificant projects.
  • Media – Try dropping media for a day. You’ll find the time again.
  • Squeaky Wheels – If you’re greasing the wrong vehicle you’re wasting your time.

So why are you “too busy”. What needs to be re-prioritized in your life? You have enough time to be creative. You have enough time to be awesome at what matters to you. Give yourself, and others, the time. Creativity is found in love, not in tasks.
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Thanks for the good word, Jonathan.
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Ecclesiastes 8:3-6
Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. … Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter …

Inside out

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John 3:1-3
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
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He prayed long, hard and sincerely. He gave faithfully to the work of God. He fasted regularly and was at church every time the doors were open (probably even had a key to get in when it wasn’t open). He had a profound, unshakable belief in God that drove him onward and impacted his daily living. He studied and memorized Scripture and even believed Jesus was sent from God. Sounds like a guy you would want to welcome into your church.

But without pleasantries or pats on the back for all his religious zeal, the first thing Jesus told Nicodemus is that he couldn’t even see the kingdom of God if there was not a radical change in his life. He had to be “born again”.

All these things are good disciplines to weave into the fabric of our daily lives but we must never let them be the basis for our relationship with God. Nor can we make mere outward change a primary goal in the lives of our children or those we are ministering to. We can abandon an immoral lifestyle, begin to live a “good life” and still be lost. We can begin to pray, give, even live at the church and still be lost.

Our relationship with God starts with an inward change that then manifests outward fruit. To try to change the outside without first changing the inside is like putting a beautiful coat of paint on a mausoleum.  It may look nicer but it is still full of death and decay.
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Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

 

If 2 pray for the same job who gets it?

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QUESTION:
If two Christians are praying for the same job, which one will get the job?

ANSWER:

Probably the one that is the boss’s nephew.

I don’t want to appear flippant because this question has some profound implications.   Does God play favorites?  Do we earn our answers from God?   Continue reading →