God heals, not prayer. A matter of semantics? No. If you think the power is in the prayer and not the One who hears the prayer, you fault the pray-er for unanswered prayer. "If I had prayed more, better, differently. . ."
The power of prayer is in the One who hears it, not the one who makes it. So if you are waiting on God to answer your prayer, don't despair. We need to remember that many of God's saints endured a time of unanswered prayer. Peter was in a storm before he walked on water. Lazarus was in a grave before he came out of it, the demoniac was possessed before he was a preacher, and the paralytic was on a stretcher before he was in your Bible.
We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. Please don't interpret the presence of your disease as the absence of God's love. I pray he heals you. And he will-ultimately! Till then- keep praying.
From Max on Life
Luke 8:1-25
Women Who Followed Jesus
Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, 2 along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; 3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets[a] of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see.
When they hear, they won’t understand.’[b]
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Parable of the Lamp
16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. 17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
The True Family of Jesus
19 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.”
21 Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
Footnotes:
8:10a Greek mysteries.
8:10b Isa 6:9 (Greek version).
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Read: Psalm 63:1-8
A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.
6 I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
7 Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.
INSIGHT: The superscription to this psalm indicates that David was a refugee in the wilderness when he wrote it, either at the time when he was fleeing from Saul (1 Sam. 23:14-15; 24:1) or fleeing from his own son Absalom (2 Sam. 15:14,23,28). Because David addresses himself as “king” (Ps. 63:11), some Bible teachers believe that he was fleeing from his son. His life in danger (vv.9-10), David sought out and trusted God for protection and safety (vv.1-2). Instead of allowing his troubles to overwhelm him, David sang of God’s lovingkindness (v.3), meditated on His presence (v.6), and rejoiced in His deliverance (vv.9-11).
The Hand Of God
By Dennis Fisher
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. —Psalm 63:8
When NASA began using a new kind of space telescope to capture different spectrums of light, researchers were surprised at one of the photos. It shows what looks like fingers, a thumb, and an open palm showered with spectacular colors of blue, purple, green, and gold. Some have called it “The Hand of God.”
 |
| Hand of God |
Life can be painful at times, yet God offers His comforting hand in the midst of it. We are not beyond His reach.
Beneath His watchful eye
His saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears all nature up
Shall guard His children well. —Doddridge
God bears the world’s weight on His shoulder, yet holds His children in the palm of His hand.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Look Again and Think
Do not worry about your life… —Matthew 6:25
A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.
“I say to you, do not worry about your life….” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing— our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.
“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, “What are your plans for next month— or next summer?” Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “much more” of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Always in Touch With the Tower - #7317
I think airlines know how boring it can be when you're flying sometimes, and they've done their best over the years to try to put all sorts of things in our seat pockets to entertain us. I remember finding catalogues where you can buy the latest gadgets, the required safety info about where the exits are, a listing of everything you can listen to on the flight. And then there were the headsets and once you plug them in, you can listen to several styles of music. Now there was a time when you could listen to the conversation between the pilot and the tower. The tower communicated to the pilot at the important parts of the flight, like clearing them for takeoff, or landing. And then you could also hear the pilot communicating throughout the flight.
Now, the tower has very important information to give between that takeoff and that landing. I mean, there's more to the flight than just the beginning and the end. I think it's important for the pilot to know if there are other planes out there, and if they're close to you. Or if bad weather is coming, that could mean a change of plans. And, I don't need to hear the conversation, I'm just glad my pilot's going to know that stuff. And I certainly wouldn't want the pilot to turn off the tower after he takes off.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Always in Touch With the Tower."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Galatians 5:25. God says in these simple instructions, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Of course He's speaking of the Holy Spirit of God. He's talking about that wonderful internal guidance system that you've got in the Holy Spirit who came into your life the day you opened your life to Jesus as your personal Savior. He's living in your body. He's in your personality. All day long He's trying to tell you the next thing God wants you to do, or something He wants you to avoid or change or He wants to guide you through a decision.
That's why it says, "Keep in step with the Spirit." You can't just plug in when morning comes and then again at night. You never know where the Lord might want to steer you next, or when. That's a problem with us busy people. We check in with the tower when we take off in the morning, then we don't check in until the end of the day's flight. You've got to get in touch with the Lord at the beginning, at the end, but also as you go through your flight all day long.
We tend to turn our radio off then. Take off our headsets. We make a hundred little decisions on our own without consulting the Lord. We get cut off from the tower, so we end up in a lot of turbulence, we get off course, we crash into people, we make unnecessary mistakes. Following Jesus means listening to the Spirit's directing all day long, not just at your prayer time, your Bible reading time, not just the beginning not just at the end.
Now look, I am a straight-ahead, go-for-it, make a schedule, make a plan, make a list kind of person. Sometimes I'm so goal oriented, I've unintentionally turned off the tower. At that point you just can't hear the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit of God. So I have missed one of the great gifts I got when I got Jesus - the perfect guidance of my Creator who makes no mistakes.
So I'm trying to become a better listener to the Holy Spirit inside of me. And I'll tell you, it's exciting. I encourage you to check in regularly through the day, "Which way do you want to go right now, Lord? What should come first?" Allow the Spirit to steer you into things and into people you never planned. It might look like a detour to you, but if the Spirit pulls you in that direction, that's no detour, that's your main road. I call this "Spirit-tanaity". I'm learning what that's all about; letting the Spirit direct you moment by moment, hour by hour.
The Holy Spirit might be saying "you've got to stop and call that person." You may not know why this is happening, but you get the prompting. He might be leading you to write to someone, to stop for someone, to hug a child, to stop for time with someone you love or who needs you, He may be prompting you to wait when you want to plunge ahead or to go for it when you want to wait.
Practice seeking the Lord's promptings. Listening to His promptings. Asking for His promptings. That's how you end up on course, living every day in the center of God's guidance. You want the safest route to the best destination, keep your headset on from takeoff to landing every day and stay in touch with the tower.
