Honest Prayer

 

    The one place you can be brutally honest no matter what is in your prayers.  God can handle your anger, disappointment, doubts, and more.  You can say anything, but go to Him.  Allow Him to be a part of it.  He will reveal Himself.  He will be there.  He will take it and show you love in return.  

    The point of prayer is to grow closer to God.  It is how you communicate with your creator.  It opens your spirit up to the truth as long as you are being honest with yourself too.  It helps you understand who you are in Jesus.  It can inspire personal growth.  If your faith has become lukewarm, then prayer is where you can renew the flame.  

    When you prayer honestly you can find peace, grace, love, relief, and more.  When you pray while in God's Word you can grow deeper in your relationship with God.  You do have to be willing to take an honest look at your life, so that the Holy Spirit can reveal truths to you.  Everyone has issues with pride.  It is just a matter of where it is in you.  Once you face your pride you can start getting rid of it.

    When you pray ask yourself some questions along with God.  How diligent are you in pursuing a relationship with God?  How much energy and time do you give back to Him?  Do you meditate on what you do study or forget about it?  Are you willing to obey God's Word?  Do you confess and repent your sins?  Do you live life with urgency like Jesus could return today?

    It is also good to find a prayer partner.  This is a person(s) that you can be your true self around.  They will not judge nor condone your sin(s).  They will return your honesty with kind honesty.  They will keep you from being independent which makes you more vulnerable to give into your pride.  They hold you accountable and you do so in return for them.  They help you stay zealous for God.  

    To be zealous is to to have affection and love.  It is part of staying passionate for God.  It leads to quick repentance when you do sin.  To repent is not to feel bad or guilty.  It is changing your mind about what you did and believing it was wrong.  It leads to a change to do what is right.  You need God's wisdom to see your sin for what it is.  You need prayer and His Word to gain His wisdom.  

    Pray that God searches your heart to reveal truths about you to you.  Ask for grace to face the truth.  Then ask for repentance into your heart and mind.  Pray for an open and obedient heart to move closer to God.  Pray for the strength to be honest with yourself, prayer partner, and anyone else that you need to be true to.

Proverbs 20:5-7, 21:2-4, 30:11-14, 2 Corinthians 13:3-6, 1 Timothy 1:15-17, Hebrews 12:5-6, James 1:22-25, & Revelations 3:14-22

Prayer is a Weapon

 

    In the real world prayer is your most powerful weapon for protection.  When you pray in faith with confidence in God, then anything is possible.  The point is not to pray harm on other people.  It is to pray safety, security, and God's Will.  You want doors to open where there was none.  

    Judgment and condemnation is not yours.  They belong to God, so let Him handle that as He sees fit.  Your job is to focus on your relationship with Him and fulfill your purpose in this world.  Prayer needs to be based off of love, not hate.  It is good to pray when you are hurt, afraid, or stressed.  The point is it should be about the relationship and not just what God can do for you.

    Do not become complacent with God.  Complacency leads to lazy faith.  It opens to the door to hostility, superiority complex, pride, temptation, and independence from God.  God is your best friend.  He holds all the power.  He uses that power to teach you faith, forgiveness, and love.  

    Prayer is the communication that you have with God.  It can be short like a text or like a long phone call.  It can feel like an email or letter depending on how long you may have to wait for a response, but His timing is always perfect.  You don't need to be impatient and try to force things to happen.  You will only mess it up.  

    The power of prayer is it helps you defeat temptation, opens up your heart, protects, and reminds you of who God is.  Prayer opens up your spiritual life to see and experience the truths of God.  It is a weapon that enables you to fight the unseen world.  It protects you from all kinds of evil.  It can help develop you into a prayer warrior and spiritual leader.  It helps heal relationships and direct you to new ones that will help you grow in your faith.

Jeremiah 33:1-6, Mark 11:22-26, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, & James 5:16-18

Obedience to God's Word

 

    Jesus is the ultimate teacher on obedience.  He was obedient to God to the point of death.  He died in place of you, me, and anyone else willing to follow.  You may not have to be obedient to the point of physical death, but you do have to be willing.  You do have to be obedient to the point that you put to death your personal desires and allow the Holy Spirit change them into holy desires.

    Your salvation is about walking in faith, but you can't walk in faith if you are not obedient.  The path is only clear when you are obedient to God.  You have to submit to His way, purpose, and glory.  Your heart changes at salvation and start down the new path at your baptism.  The more you pour yourself into God's Word the more you are able to see how to be obedient His way.

    Being obedient to God's Word is educating yourself, prayerfully searching, and willingness to let it change you.  Commentaries and Bible studies are great tools to help, but they are not necessary.  Prayer journals help you see your growth, but you don't have to do them.  All you need is God, your Bible, and an open heart and mind to conviction and truth.  

    Glorify God by aligning your life to reflect God's Word. Have it become a vital part of your lifestyle.  Be willing to get out of your comfort zone.  The truth is that you need God to transform your life here and now.  It is more than just getting into Heaven.  It is about purpose and drive while you live.  Obedience to God's Word leads to blessings here and now.  You don't have to wait for eternity.

Genesis 22:15-18, Exodus 20:1-17, John 17:1-8, Philippians 1:3-6, & Colossians 3:12-17

Perks of Obedience

 

    When you go through life independent from God you may feel in control.  You may feel like life is good.  You may be having a good time, but you are missing out.  Being obedient to God is not a chore.  It is the path to true freedom.  It doesn't make life easier per se, but it does give it clarity, certainty, and direction.  When confusion sets in that means that Satan is trying to get a foothold somewhere.  He is causing strife.

    Life may be simpler alone, but it is a lot more responsibility.  You don't have anyone to rely on.  You have twice as much work.  When you are tired you don't get rest.  When you need help you have to figure it out.  When you are attacked you are easier to take down.  Like it or not, you need God and other Christians in your life.  

    Fellow believers are the perks of obedience.  Perks are blessings, peace of mind, confidence, and knowing that you are not alone in the worst parts of life.  Christians were never meant to be isolated.  You can never carry out God's plan for your life alone.  Everyone needs encouragement, help, and fellowship.  

    Pray that God opens your eyes to His presence, your isolation spots, the people He put in your life, and your needs that can be fulfilled by other people if you are willing to ask.  God loves you.  He doesn't want you isolated because He created people to need each other.  That is why being a part of a church is important.  It is more than preaching, teaching, and learning.  It is about fellowship God's way.  It is learning how to work together, forgive, and love like Jesus.  It is living life together and not just meeting once a week to check in.

Psalm 46:10-11, Colossians 3:12-17, & Hebrew 10:23-25

Obedient Attitude

 

    Your attitude is a decision.  There are a lot of factors like your temperament, disposition, how you were raised, and more, but you decide what you are going to do with that.  An obedient attitude is choosing to listen and obey where it is God, government, employer, parent, or spouse.  You are in control of how you act and respond.

    If you are a Christian, then you are called to be holy.  Part of holiness is being obedient.  Choosing to be obedient to God sets you apart.  It clarifies that you belong to Him.  Jesus set the example and told you what you have to do.  All you have to do is obey in love.  If you belong to God, then your identity in Him never changes.  You just need to show up.  He will take the lead and never misdirect you.  

    Pray over your attitude and where your heart is today.  Are there areas where you need to submit?  Have you discovered any hang ups that you need to surrender to be obedient?  Is there anything about your attitude that is keeping you from looking like Jesus?  Give it over to God and embrace the peace you get from letting go.  Find thanksgiving in your heart for all you do have.

    If you feel broken, then let God heal you.  If you are angry, then allow the Holy Spirit take it away.  Replace it with peace.  If you are hurting, then remember that it will serve a purpose.  Endure what you must, but do not allow the world to destroy your attitude because God will restore you.  Be patient, kind, forgiving, humble, and loving.  How you live out today does matter.  It will lead to righteousness or something else.  You are the image bearer of Jesus to the world.

Ephesians 4:20-24, Philippians 1:27-30, 2:5-8, Colossians 3:12-17, & 1 Peter 3:8-12, 4:1-3

Holy Obedience

 

    Holy obedience is putting God in the place of authority over your life.  It is learning to understand who he is while growing closer to Him in a personal relationship.  You realize that you can never have salvation and what your soul is seeking without Him.  Once the pieces are in place obedience is the obvious answer.  It comes from love.

    In holy obedience you choose salvation, baptism, time in God's Word, prayer, meditation, fasting, and sacrifice.  All of this transforms your heart to live your life more like Jesus.  Obedience is not effort for control.  It is accepting God's grace and making it a part of who you are while accepting His favor.      

    Jesus the the only bridge between you and God.  Holy obedience is praising and worshipping in your heart and mind where it comes out in your words and actions.  Obedience is your choice.  You choose to obey your parents, employers, government, and God.  

    How you obey is also up to you.  You can do it grudgingly or in love.  Love is what makes obedience holy and blameless.  It can't be faked.  It turns duty into delight.  Work can become worship. You don't have to complain or gossip to make obedience work for you.  

    When you become a Christian you give your life over to God to mold how He sees fit.  He will mold you to serve your purpose, give you peace, and make you holy.  You were given a new life.  Don't waste it.  Life consist of moments.  What moments matter most to you?  

    When you listen to the Holy Spirit in obedience, then the moments have more impact over time.  It takes time to become obedient.  Do not try to rush the process.  Grow everyday in truth and love to become incorruptible and righteous.  Allow your heart to become compassionate, kind, humble, meek, and patient.  

Matthew 5:13-16, Luke 14:15-24, 16:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, Ephesians 3:14-19, 4:20-24, 6:10-18, Colossians 3:12-17,  & Titus 2:9-10

Responding in Obedience

 

    When you respond to God in obedience it is refreshing for your life and soul.  Sin contaminates everything.  It makes life more difficult.  It places confusion upon your mind.  It leaves your emotions in turmoil.  Your body may get sick.  Sin may feel good in the moment, but the long term affects are not worth it.  It poisons your soul.  While obedience gives clarity, truth, peace, and sometimes healing.

    Becoming like Jesus is a process.  You will not be perfect at it.  The Holy Spirit will make you deal with all your hang ups, sin holds, and hidden sin to get closer to Jesus.  Remember what you are working toward and hold onto your worship.  You will get through it if you are obedient.  God is right there going through it with you as you move toward purity and desire to honor God.

    Pray over the sins in are aware of in your life.  Ask God for direction on how to deal with them.  Next ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden sins in your heart and mind.  Just because you are not currently aware of them doesn't mean you don't need to deal with them.  Ask Him to help you deal with it.  He will reveal, convict, and help you process as you work through your sin life with Him.  You just have to be willing to follow obediently.

2 Corinthians 7:1-4, Colossians 3:5-11, & 1 John 3:1-3