Why Pray?
Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
- Luke 18:1
If God knows what we need before we ask Him, why should we even bother to pray? If God is going to do what He wants to do and He knows what He is going to do, why even bother praying?
First, we should pray because Jesus told us to. Do we need a better reason than that? Jesus said, "Men ought always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). That is not even to mention the blessings of watching our prayers being answered, such as the salvation of a loved one or a divine healing or a wonderful provision.
If Jesus said we should do it, then let's do it.
Second, we should pray because it is God's appointed way for obtaining things. God works in our lives through prayer. James 4:2 tells us, "You do not have because you do not ask." This means there may be things God wants to give to us that are not yet ours because we have not specifically asked.
Third, we should pray because through prayer, we overcome our anxiety and worry. The Bible says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). When we are tempted to worry, we should pray.
Lastly, prayer is one of the ways we make ourselves ready for the return of Christ. Jesus said, "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is" (Mark 13:33). So pray in anticipation of the Lord's return.
Why not put these things into practice today?
[ Pastor Greg Laurie ]
Find a Happy Medium
Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
- 1 Peter 5:8
I remember sitting in my home looking up the word gentle in Strong's concordance and saying, "Lord, You've got to help me!" I thought I could never be gentle. Finally, the Lord began to do a work in me in the area of gentleness. The only problem was that, like so many other people in the Body of Christ, I was such an extremist that I couldn't "strike a happy medium." Once I saw that I was overbalanced in one area, I thought I had to go totally in the other direction. I "adjusted" and "adapted" far too much. I became so "gentle" and "kind" and "patient" that I wouldn't exercise any discipline over my youngest son, who was born after my other children were grown. I also went overboard in my relationship with others. I let things get out of hand in my marriage, my home, and my ministry. I learned from my experiences that one extreme is just as bad as the other. What we must learn in all this is balance.
On one hand, we must not be harsh and hard. But on the other hand, we must not be weak and excessively soft. We must not be irritable and impatient, flying off the handle and acting out of emotion. On the other hand, we must not be so mild mannered that we become doormats and whipping posts for those who will take advantage of us if we give them a chance. There is a time to be patient and forbearing, and there is a time to be firm and decisive. There is a time to "be not angry," and there is a time to display righteous indignation. It is wisdom to know when to do which.
[ Joyce Meyer Ministries ]
Live Excellently
Today's Verse:
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might"
(Ecclesiastes 9:10, NAS).
Today's Word:
David was a man of excellence. The Bible tells us that David played his harp "skillfully." He didn't just play it, he played it with excellence. When he slung the stone that defeated Goliath, it wasn't an accident. It wasn't just a lucky break. David had practiced the slingshot year after year out in the shepherd's fields. He was extremely talented with that slingshot. Some experts say he could hit a small bull's eye more than 100 feet away!
In the same way, if we want to see Godīs hand of promotion, we need to live excellently. In this day and age, if you're not growing, then you're at a disadvantage. If you're at the same skill level this year as you were five years ago, then you are falling behind. It's time to step it up a notch. Whatever you are doing, do it with all your might! Don't get complacent. Keep growing; keep learning; keep improving. As you do your best to live excellently, God will bless the fruit of your labor. He'll pour out His "super" on your natural and cause you to rise up higher into the life of victory He has in store for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father in heaven, I choose to live in excellence. I want to bring You glory in all that I do. Thank You for promoting me as I dedicate every area of my life to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
[ Joel Osteen Ministries ]
