Tag Archives: Biblical truth

Desperately Seeking God: A Prayer-filled Life

February 15, 2022 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

“Desperately seeking God”

What would we think if we saw this request in the personal column of our local paper? Desperately seeking God for ___. We can fill in the blank with those things that reflect the needs of the human heart—financial security or emotional wholeness, food and lodging or creature comforts, our daily bread or deliverance from evil.

All these qualify as valid requests we can make known to God (Phil. 4:6). Today, however, we are invited to move from our “needs-based” method of prayer to a more robust and satisfying “prayer-filled life” that will lead to greater intimacy with God (James 4:8). What exactly is the prayer-filled life?

The Contemplative Tradition and the Prayer-filled Life

In Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster, the prayer-filled life is called the Contemplative Tradition. Foster describes it as “a life of loving attention to God.” Imagine, “loving attention to God.”

It includes not only the activity of prayer but also periods of solitude and meditation in which the presence and fellowship with the Lord is nurtured.

It can be likened to the Lord’s encouragement to His disciples to “abide” in Him (John 15: 4, 8). Jesus describes His intimacy with the Father through the image of the “vine and the husbandman”. It was through Jesus’ union with His Father that He was able to do all things (John 5:30). Jesus desperately sought God.

Practicing the Presence and the Prayer-filled Life

Father Lawrence described the prayer-filled life in Practicing the Presence of God. “Practicing” is the recognition of God intimately present with us and addressing ourselves to Him every moment.

Prayer is considered “divine conversation” that occurs throughout the day—not exercised as an isolated activity or relegated to a specific place. Prayer is continuous and never ceases (1 Thess. 5:17). Father Lawrence desperately sought God.

David and the Prayer-filled Life

David serves as our biblical example of one who sought the prayer-filled life. Throughout the Psalms we can experience the passion and appreciation David had for his private time with the God of Creation (Psalm 19).

As a shepherd boy, he experienced extended periods of solitude and fellowship with the Great Shepherd (Psalm 23). In the wilderness of Judah, David’s soul “thirsted” for the Lord and longed for the time he could return to the Temple to reunite with Him (Psalm 63). David desperately sought God.

Which description is right?

Descriptions of the prayer-filled life differ in method and experience. “Loving attention to God”. “Divine Conversation”. “The soul’s thirst for the Lord”.

However, what these descriptions do have in common is the results—greater intimacy with the Lord. This is the offer of a prayer-filled life; one that is more relational and less transactional.

Unfortunately, the distractions of this life, our weakened flesh, and the deceitfulness of Satan continually draw us away from a prayer-filled life. Left unchanged, we will continue our intermittent prayer routine while Jesus invites us to return to our First Love (Rev. 2:4).

Psalm 42:1-3a offers an excellent illustration of what the prayer-filled life looks like.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night.”

Let us learn from the deer and seek God. It is in pursuing and lingering in God’s presence that the prayer-filled life is experienced. It is in Him, that our desperate seeking ends.

Our Faith Walk

What I Learned in 2021

January 19, 2022 ITWMinistries 1 Comment

Where to Begin

In past years when I did this exercise, I would go to several sources for input. This includes my daily journal, and scripture memorization cards. They were reminders of the paths I walked with Jesus throughout the year.

My journal included my thoughts during my time of inquiry of the Lord. Bits and pieces of this and that: theologian quotes, bible study notes and miscellaneous thoughts about life and the world I live in. Topics that caught my attention, would later become personal studies, WordBytes or Morning Reflections.

My scripture memorization cards, with date recorded at the top, would remind me of how the Spirit renews my mind with God’s Word. His Word would prove to either strengthen my heart or tell again of God’s inexhaustible grace: grace that covers my human weakness and brokenness. It most often than not encouraged me to be more patient and longsuffering.

As I reviewed my information, I came to this realization. It is vital that believers continually develop a personal relationship with God. Not religion but relationship. It should be our goal to be “intimately connected” with the Lord.

Relationship with God

God has always desired to be in relationship with man. Adam was first to experience the joy and freedom of an intimate connection with God. Imagine daily walking and talking with God about the events of the day, your hopes, and fears, and hearing His plan for your life. Guess what? We can experience that in our life right now!

Today we, as believers in Christ, have continuous access to that same intimacy Adam experienced in the Garden but with even greater privilege. We have His Presence, through the Holy Spirit living within us (John 14:16-17).

As I read God’s Word, pray, and exercise the different spiritual disciplines, I become one with Him. Jesus invited His disciples to abide in Him (John 15:4). That invitation is extended to us today.

F.B. Meyer writes about the privilege of being one in Christ and the intimacy that comes with that relationship.

We must be one with Christ: we must be in Him as the sponge is in the ocean. We must be in Him, not only in our standing, but also in our daily walk. We must be in Him as the branch is in the vine and the vine-sap in the branch. This must not only be in theory, but an hourly experience.

My 2021 Epiphany

I became a Christian when I was nine-years old. I bought the “fire insurance” and knew I wasn’t going to hell. However, as I grew older, I still didn’t feel the connection I thought believers were supposed to have. Although I went to church weekly and served in various church functions, something was missing.

I was a carnal Christian until I was 40. Then something happened. I rededicated my life to Christ. No more “hooky pokey” Christian life for me. What happened? Why the change?

A student from my Senior High Sunday School class had chosen to become a minister. We were excited to welcome him back to his home church where he was to bring the Sunday morning message.

This was especially exciting for me in that, as a teenager, he hated to review the lesson on behalf of our class. He would grumble and groan and swear never to come back to Sunday School if I made him do it. He eventually agreed to my request.

In his morning sermon, he shared his personal witness of how his intimacy with God led him into ministry. It had nothing to do with my teaching or my coaxing him to review. He found what it meant to be IN RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. It wasn’t religion. It was relationship.

That was it for me. My Sunday School student helped me understand what it meant to have a “personal relationship” with God. So even today I seek a deeper and closer relationship with Jesus. And every day with Jesus is “sweeter than the day before”.

Go deeper in 2022

Most interesting about my epiphany is that Jesus just recently revealed this memory to me. Why now? I don’t know. Maybe He felt it was time to share it with you.

Daily we have the opportunity to practice His presence as we daily address the challenges of 21^st century living. In God’s presence we experience His love, power, and wisdom. As we go deeper in our relationship with God, we can better understand His ways and see with spiritual eyes.

Let us deepen our trust in Him. When we do, we aren’t shaken by the latest news stories or the challenges we face in 2022 and beyond. We know whose in control!

As members of God’s family there is nothing that can separate us from His love. And we have the blessed assurance that our relationship with God will extend into and throughout eternity.

I invite you this year to go deeper in your relationship with God. Become “like the sponge in the ocean”. Live and abide in Him.

No extra reading this week so please share with us what you learned in 2021. Thanks for reading.

Our Faith Walk

Throwback Wednesday for the New Year

January 12, 2022 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

It’s that time again. Throwback Wednesday. It’s the time when we choose a favorite WordBytes from the past. It’s also a time for remembering that God never changes (Mal. 3:6). It doesn’t matter the year, God’s message is still one of hope, promise, and possibility for everyone who will hear it.

To align with the New Year, we’ve chosen a WordBytes that will encourage us to lay hold in 2022 to our rich inheritance in Christ.

Let’s begin this year knowing that we have everything we need to be successful in addressing the challenges we face (2 Pet. 1:3-4). May this “blast from the past” move us confidently through the year.

Our Inheritance with Christ

Spiritual Maturity

Looking beyond what we can see

December 1, 2021 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Anatomy of the human eye

As we consider looking beyond what we can see, it might be helpful to review how we see physically.

The human eyes work very similarly to a camera. When you look at an object, the light it generates enters your eyes. The light first passes through the corneas, which begin focusing the light. It then passes through to the pupils. The size of the pupils changes to regulate the amount of light entering the eyes.

The light is then focused through the lenses and onto the retinas. The retina is a light-sensitive layer in the back of the eye that contains highly evolved cells called rods and cones. The retina then changes the image into electrical and chemical impulses, which are transmitted along the optic nerves and into the visual center of the brain. It is when the image reaches your brain that vision occurs.[1]

Man is a remarkable creation of God. He is made physically perfect for the lifetime God has designated for him (Ps. 90:10). However, as remarkable as Creation is, God’s work of salvation has resulted in our ability to see spiritually, the things we would normally overlook.

Seeing supernaturally

I love the Old Testament because of its value in capturing the wonders and works of God. As I prepared for this series, the scripture text that came quickly to mind was the account of the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 6:8-23. This passage shares the incident in which the King of Syria, enemy of Israel, sent raiders to capture Elisha. You will enjoy reading the entire text as it shows the confidence of Elisha as he prepares to meet this great army that surrounded the city of Dothan.

2 Kings 6:15-17 is most relevant to our discussion on seeing with spiritual eyes. We may find the advice Elisha offered his servant relevant to us as we face the challenges of 21^st century living.

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

The chariots of fire that the servant saw were heavenly hosts primed to do battle with the Syrian army on behalf of Elisha. Elisha saw the heavenly army and recognized that there was no need to fear. He saw past the potential danger and saw God at work. After Elisha’s prayer, the servant, through God’s enablement, saw that the mountain was full of God’s presence. He looked beyond what he could see. He looked from God’s perspective.

Kingdom reality

Seeing with spiritual eyes begins with understanding who God is and our position in the Kingdom of God.

Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe. Every authority that exists has been established by God (Romans 13:1). So, in one sense, the kingdom of God incorporates everything that is. More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority.[2]

God is the Almighty Sovereign who manages the affairs of the world from heaven. Through His providential will, God orchestrates every event in our lives. Our position in Christ elevates us to God’s children and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17). We are the recipients of His promises, His privileges, and His presence (Eph. 1:3-5).

Kingdom reality does not deny the presence of sin and its outcomes on the world. We are sadly aware that we live in a fallen world. However, we know three things. First, Jesus Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33). Secondly, we are overcomers, too. (Rom. 8:37; 1 John 5:4). Finally, we know how history will end. WE WIN! (Rev. 21:1-8)

Looking beyond what we can see

Looking beyond what we can see allows us to “reframe” our experiences through the lens of kingdom reality. Closed doors are seen as God’s protection. Waiting is seen as God’s time of preparation—either of us or our desired end.

Seeing this way equips us to move forward in the midst of trouble versus being overwhelmed. We do not lose hope. Instead we look past what we see physically. We see God (2 Cor. 4: 17-18).

It’s not that we spiritualize everything that happens to us, but we truly believe what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Rome: “All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

Seeing with spiritual eyes is not “mystical” like a third eye. Nor is it “recreational” like fortune telling or a Ouija board. It is “relational”. Just as the light helps the physical eye to focus, so our focus on kingdom reality helps the spiritual eye to see from God’s perspective and power (Luke 1:37; Jer. 32:17,27). Just as the retina physically changes the image we see into sight, the Holy Spirit informs us as to what is truth and what is error (Acts 26:18). Bottom-line is this. Looking beyond what we can see is dependent on the Source of Light who is Jesus Christ. “In His light we see light” (Ps. 36:9)

[1] www.ceenta.com/

[2] Gotquestions.com, “The Kingdom of God”

Knowing God

Don’t get it twisted!

November 9, 2021 ITWMinistries 1 Comment

We love superheroes.

I love to watch movies about superheroes. Whether it’s Wonder Woman or Iron Man, I like to see them in action. They offer themselves unselfishly as they battle intruders from space, another dimension, or the giant mushroom that mutates into some incredible threat.

I am especially drawn to those who band together to save the world. The Marvel superheroes including the Avengers and the X-men hold my attention for hours. Every month it seems a new movie is released highlighting new superheroes who appear to save the world from some horrific ending. This month’s offering is The Eternals.

We often seek ways to escape the stress of everyday living. We retreat to a world where “superheroes” share our humanity yet possess mystical abilities to overcome the monsters that threaten the world. Unfortunately with superheroes, we must be careful not to believe their “hype”. It is important to keep reality separated from fantasy.

Health pandemics, economic uncertainties, and erosion of social consciousness leave us longing for someone to “fight our battles”. If we aren’t careful, we may be misled to believe that superheroes will appear to save the day. But “don’t get it twisted”. Translation: don’t mistake fantasy for reality. There are no superheroes. But there is, however and more importantly: The King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Who is God?

To avoid getting it twisted, it is important that we first possess a correct understanding of who God is. This can be accomplished through learning about His attributes.

Attributes are a window through which we can think about who God is. God’s attributes are first introduced in the biblical record through His mighty act of Creation. Triune God banded together to create the world!

God ultimately reveals Himself through Jesus who was made, “a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death…that He might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9). Jesus came to save the world from a horrific ending!

Understanding God is more than “head knowledge”. God desires that we have a personal relationship with Him. As we experience the challenges of 21^st century living, we learn more about who God is. Through His presence and His power, we learn to trust and depend on Him (Ps. 89:13).

Eugene H. Peterson writes in Practicing Resurrection, the importance of keeping our focus on the reality of God and His work in the life of the believer.

When we squander life on anything less than the God revealed in Jesus, and made present in the Spirit, we miss out on life itself, resurrection life, the life of Jesus.

Keeping it Real

Once we know who God is, it is then critical that we develop a Christian worldview. The term worldview is used to describe a core set of values and principles through which the world is understood. It is our reality.

Our worldview consists of our beliefs (what we view as true) and our values (what we view is good). Our worldview impacts every decision. It will ultimately determine our behavior (what we will do).

As Christians, our worldview is seen through Jesus’ eyes (John 14:6). It is the determining factor in all we do, how we live, and how we react to life. We form our worldview based on His life and teachings. It is the only way to navigate through this world.

Don’t get it twisted

When we know who God is and develop a Christian worldview, we are less likely to “get it twisted.”

God’s Word, His promises, and His Spirit help us keep it real. While we love superheroes we never are confused “where our help comes from” (Ps. 121:1-8). The King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God is our real Superhero.

Knowing God

Fear and Knowledge of the Holy

October 26, 2021 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Fear me!

In last week’s WordBytes, Mike Glenn, in The Fear of God, shared how his father helped him understand the “true meaning” of fear.

Now, son. You’re getting into a new phase of your life. You’re becoming a man. You’ll be going places where I won’t be. You’ll be doing things I won’t see. You’ll be pressured by your friends to do some things, and some of those things, you know, are things I don’t want you to do.”

“And in that moment, you’ll have to make a decision. You’ll have to decide. Are you more afraid of your friends? Or are you more afraid of me?”

Then he leaned across the table, put his eyes directly on mine and said, “You’d better be more afraid of me.”

This exchange was not only a lesson about fear, but also an object lesson on knowledge. Mike Glenn knew his father’s expectations. These expectations coupled with fear guided Mike Glenn in making good decisions and wise choices. The same can be said about our fear of the LORD and our knowledge of the Holy One.

That is why Solomon penned, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Prov. 9:10)

Fear-> Wisdom->Knowledge

Man has always searched for the best method to assist him in making good decisions, right judgments, and sound pronouncements. In primitive times, groups would cast lots and dice, leaving the outcome to the proverbial “fates” (Lev. 16:8; Joshua 18:8).

In Israel’s early formation, decisions were informed by the High Priest who consulted the Urim and Thummin (Exo. 28:30). As the nation grew, Israel deferred key moral and political decisions to God’s chosen representatives. Judges and kings, counseled by wise prophets and priests, became the source of national decision-making.

The fear of the Lord offered motivation to seek “God’s face” (Num. 6:25-26). However, it was the knowledge of the Holy One that established the critical link to God. God was (and still is) the source of all knowledge and wisdom.

Knowledge of the Holy One

The true source of wisdom is identified in the parallel statements found in Proverbs 9:10: the fear of the LORD and knowledge of the Holy One. Knowledge provides insight and discernment based on personal experiences.

It involves the process by which one can recognize, classify, and organize information gained from varied experiences and use them to develop an appropriate response. This “process of knowing” is illustrated in the story of Moses.

Moses’ early knowledge of God came vicariously through others in Pharaoh’s court. He, personally, knew little about God. Therefore, God had no part in his thinking or planning. However, forty years later, Moses experienced God for himself at the burning bush (Exod. 3:2). In seeing that the fire did not consume the bush, Moses recognized God’s power and holiness. Moses’ response to knowing God was awe and reverence (Exod. 3:5).

After witnessing the ten (10) plagues against Pharaoh and Egypt, Moses’ knowledge was exponentially expanded. As Moses observed (classified) the different ways God dealt with Pharaoh’s resistance, he knew that God was more powerful than any god worshiped in Egypt.

Moses’ knowledge of God through his various experiences resulted in the organized deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. Their collective response to God was worship and praise (Exodus 15: 1, 11). On the other hand, Pharaoh’s disregard of what he knew of God, led to the destruction of his army (Ex. 14:18). Pharaoh refused to factor in his knowledge of the Holy One.

The Revelation of God

Knowledge of the Holy One is the revelation of God (Ep. 1: 17-18). It shapes our reality so that we conform to the will of God and respond appropriately to the events of life. This knowledge is gained through our personal experiences with Him, through His revealed Word, and through the Holy Spirit.

What shapes our key decisions and choices? What knowledge do we turn to regarding our family, our profession, and our relationships? Are we like Moses or like Pharaoh?

Knowledge of the Holy One reminds us of three things: (1) whose we are (our relationship with God), (2) who we are (our identity in Christ), and (3) how we are to live (in obedience and service to God).

Fear of the Lord (respect, reverence, and obedience) will lead us to wisdom (a disciplined and holy life).

Knowledge of the Holy One (personal experience) will give us godly insight and discernment to navigate 21^st century challenges.

When wisdom enters your heart,

and knowledge is pleasant to your soul;

Discretion will preserve you;

understanding will keep you.

(Prov. 2:10-11, NKJ)

Victorious Living

Where do you get your information?

October 5, 2021 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

What’s up?

Well it’s October. The fall is my favorite season. Good-bye bugs and bites! No more 95% humidity and sneezy nose. Bye-bye day light savings time! Better than it being fall, it’s Throwback Wednesday. For those of you who may be new to WordBytes, on Throwback Wednesday, we look at what’s trending in the news or what the hot topic of the week is.

Well if you slept through yesterday, you failed to experience the crash of Facebook and its social media sisters, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Facebook-owned services, WhatsApp and Instagram went down on Monday, for the second time in 2021. This failure left some three billion online users frustrated and unable to connect all over the world. It is reported that Zuckerberg lost nearly $7B alone on the Facebook outage. The outage shut out 2.9 billion Facebook subscribers.

So what did we do when Facebook and her affiliate platforms went down? There are about 3.78 billion social media users worldwide. Social media has become the life blood for us living in the 21^st century. It has become not only a source of information, but also our primary connection with others. This sometimes fosters a false sense of belonging and fellowship. Now really, who has over 20,000 friends? Have you ever asked them for a loan?

Where did you get that from?

That’s the question I usually ask people when they share information that I question. Surprisingly, we look to social media to inform our decision making. “If it’s on the internet, it must be true”. Really?

So where do we, who rely on social media platforms, go to get our information. Is social media the “best” source of truth (that is if you’re looking for truth)? Does it help us “respond” wisely or simply “react”?

According to the Pew Research Center, about a quarter of U.S. adults get most of their news through social media. They recently shared information on “Americans Who Mainly Get Their News on Social Media.” Here are some of their key findings.

1. U.S. adults who mostly get news through social media lag behind others in attention to election and pandemic news.

1. U.S. adults who mostly rely on social media for political news are often less knowledgeable about current events.

1. In addition to lower awareness of current events, social media news users hear more about some unproven claims.

Where do you get your information?

When I opened my email today, I received two invitations to help “inform” me. One was 10 Things You Need to Know Today. They highlight key news stories nationally and internationally. They know where I should focus my attention, right? The “1 Thing I Need to Know Today” is that in Christ Jesus, I live, and move, and have my meaning (Acts 17:28). This one thing guides my actions and thoughts for the day.

The other is The Week. Their subject line states, “Read what the world’s thinking”. I asked myself; “do I really care what the world is thinking?” The only Person’s thinking I’m concerned with is God. So I pray that I have the mind of Christ and joyfully obey His will (Phil. 2:5).

Our continual reliance on social media and the Internet makes it necessary to carefully examine the sources of our information. Believers must especially be intentional in practicing spiritual discernment. Truth and life come from God through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

We must not only seek truth in all we do, but we must also boldly denounce lies that keep others in darkness (Eph. 5:11). A lie by any other name—alternate view, misstatement, or an error in communication, is still a lie. Its intent is to deceive, mislead, and misrepresent.

So for this month’s Throwback Wednesday, we offer for your reading, “Discernment: Light for Darkened Eyes.” MAY THE TRUTH BE WITH YOU!

Spiritual Discipline

Praying with Purpose: Am I ready for purposeful prayer?

August 18, 2021 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

What we know now

We began this series with the challenge to become more intentional and strategic in our prayers. We do this by praying According to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15), Believing in God’s ability (Matt. 21:21-22), and being Committed to God’s outcome (Hab. 3:17-19). When we pray in this manner, we place our trust in God’s love, His faithfulness, and His sovereignty. Then our prayers become more purposeful.

To pray more purposefully will also require a new attitude. This attitude is based on the recognition that prayer’s power is underwritten by God. It is the connector that releases God’s grace, promises, and power from the spiritual realm into our physical world.

Armed with this knowledge, we can begin to pray knowing that our prayers have the potential to affect change not only in our individual lives but also to change circumstances in the world. This includes the growing uncertainties of 21^st century living.

Purposeful prayer 101

My prayer life, like many others, began one-sided: asking, seeking, and knocking (Matt. 7:7). I invested my time in learning what I thought was the “right way” to pray. I followed the PAPA prayer formula. I prayed the Scriptures. I employed the ACTS model (adoration-confession-thanksgiving-supplications). I wanted to better communicate with God, but I failed to realize what God really wanted. He wanted me to listen.

With all these methods, the common thread is that they lead to a relationship with God. When we’re in relationship with a person, we listen to them hoping to better understand who they are. In prayer, we dialogue with God. God speaks, we listen. We become familiar with His ways: how He operates in the world and in our situation. We understand His intent for our life and how to best serve Him.

Do we actively listen to hear God when we pray? Or do we follow the prayer that leads to our desired end? The Apostle Paul told us that we sometimes don’t know how to pray. Therefore it is the role of the Holy Spirit to guide us or redirect our prayers so they reflect the true will of God (Rom. 8:26-27).

In all seriousness, it is key that believers know that prayer is not just about getting what we want. Prayer is the greater work God has given us to do.

The Greater Work

Oswald Chambers, early-twentieth-century Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher writes this about prayer:

Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Prayer is the battle, and it makes no difference where you are. However God may engineer your circumstances, your duty is to pray. Never allow yourself this thought, “I am of no use where I am,” because you certainly cannot be used where you have not yet been placed. Wherever God has placed you and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him.

Where do I begin?

Believe that God desires to communicate with us (Gen. 35:13). God is not some distant deity disinterested in His children. We cry “Abba Father” knowing He hears our every word (Gal. 4:6).

Know that God wishes to be in relationship with us (James 4:8a). By instituting His plan of salvation, He created the means to restore that which was loss in the Garden of Eden—fellowship with mankind.

Declare your intentions by asking God to help hear His voice. Hearing God is not natural (remember we loss that in the Garden) therefore, we must be intentional (Matt. 11:15). Set aside time to listen for His voice.

Invite Him into time with you and expect to hear (1 John 5:14). If you receive a fleeting impression, a scripture, or a song, don’t ignore it! Ask God to dialogue with you about what you heard.

Purposeful prayer is not a method, but a walk with God where ongoing dialogue occurs. It’s not about doing but it is about being mindful of our relationship with Triune God. It is an exciting time of fellowship and discovery. Are we ready for purposeful prayer?

Spiritual Endurance

God Speaks through Circumstances

July 20, 2021 ITWMinistries 1 Comment

Under our circumstances

In our culture, it is not unusual for people to greet one another with the inquiry, “How are you?” In response, a multitude of replies are available. However, my favorite is, “I’m doing fairly well under the circumstances.”

This is my opportunity to respond, “Why are you under your circumstances and what are you doing to get back on top?” Circumstances are conditions or facts that affect a situation. These can be either positive or negative. They define a state in which an individual, group, or even a nation may find itself.

As we daily face “tumultuous” circumstances—pandemics, social strive, economic uncertainty—it is important to remember that God sees. Even in our worst of circumstances, God is present (Ps. 139:7-10). God sees, God cares, and God speaks.

Circumstances for all times

There are many biblical examples that illustrate how God used circumstances to speak to His people. Circumstances dictated that Moses would be set adrift in the Nile. It was there that he would be found by the king’s daughter and adopted into the royal household by the ruling Pharaoh (Exod. 2:1-10).

God later spoke to Moses after his “40-year circumstance” of working for his father-in-law Jethro the priest of Midian (Exod. 3:1). God then re-directed him to deliver His people Israel, who were dealing with their circumstance of bondage.

In the book of Acts, God speaks to the early church by using the political and social circumstances around them. Jesus had clearly articulated the scope of the church’s ministry: “and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

While it was within their “comfort zone” to stay in Jerusalem, God spoke through the circumstance of persecution to move the gospel to a larger audience. Throughout the Bible we find God speaking to people through special favor (1 Sam. 1:20), through personal loss (Ruth 1:3-5), or through miraculous deliverance (Acts 23:30-31). God spoke to them through their circumstances.

Circumstances today

God still speaks today through circumstances. He will use conditions and situations from our everyday life to place us in a position to hear His voice.

Does God create circumstances to make us do His will? No, God has created us as freewill agents and desires that we choose to live within His divine plan. But God will allow circumstances to flow into our life to accomplish His glory and our good (Rom. 8:24).

Conforming circumstances

God permits circumstances in our lives that will mature us and grow our faith (1 Pet. 1:5-7). What may appear at first to be a “stumbling block” may, in actuality, turn out to be “steppingstones”.

God also speaks through closed doors as well as opened doors, this includes delayed prayers. While the Apostle Paul wanted to share the gospel in Asia, he repeatedly found the way blocked by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6-10).

What our passage suggests to me is that God may close one door of ministry in order to open a better one. Paul was thinking locally—Asia and Bithynia. God was thinking more globally—cross the Aegean Sea into modern-day Europe. Divine redirection demands that we trust divine omniscience: we would have made the same choice if we knew what God knew. Through God’s providential redirection, Paul was able to plant churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth. What a great open door![1]

As we proceed in this Christian walk, we must remember that the intent of our life is to glorify God and to accomplish His purpose on earth (2 Cor. 5:15). That is why it is important to be intentional in prayer and reading God’s Word especially during difficult and challenging times, regardless of the circumstance (Phil. 4:6-13).

As we develop our personal relationship with God, we will understand that He loves us and can be trusted with every aspect of our life. Sometimes our circumstances will take us out of our comfort zone, but we can be assured we are not in them alone (1 John 4:4).

Next time you feel “under your circumstances”, ask God what He is saying to you.

[1] “Live with a Mission”, Timothy Berrey with the Gospel Fellowship Association.

Our Faith Walk

Memorial Day Gratitude: Throwback Wednesday

May 25, 2021 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Time for gratitude

While preparing for the next WordBytes series, I was stopped by this thought, “It’s time to thank God. Before moving on to the next “thing”, stop and express gratitude for today!”

If you’re reading this WordBytes, guess what? God has blessed you with life. Who could have imagined? After 604,000+ COVID deaths, we are still standing. God has kept us during this global pandemic. Yes, we’ve loss friends and family but for some reason God has extended mercy to us (once again). 2020 and 2021 have been challenging years never before imagined.

But God

Jeremiah wrote these words as he lamented the tragic destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian armies (Lamentations 3:18-23, New Living Translation).

I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the LORD is lost!” The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.

But God. In tragedy and loss, God was faithful. Guess what? God is still faithful! In the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, in the midst of economic uncertainty, in the quagmire of social injustice, in the throes of food insecurity and homelessness, in the fallout of global warming, God is faithful. Therefore, we will have hope.

Throwback Wednesday

To express our gratitude this Memorial Day, we’d like to do “Throwback Wednesday”. The WordBytes we’ve chosen is Discovering God in the Psalms: Forget Not God. I invite you to formulate your personal Memorial Day gratitude. As we celebrate our loved ones from the past let us, also, “forget not God” for all He is doing for us right now.