Tales of envy are common in the Bible. Rachel envied Leah because she bore children (Gen. 30:1). Joseph’s brothers resented him because his father showed favoritism to him (Gen. 37:11). The Jews opposed Paul’s preaching because of envy (Acts 13:45).
Any advantage held by another can trigger this feeling – intelligence, good looks, popularity, a good job, even a person’s spiritual insights. The most devout Christian is not immune to the subtle temptation of envy.
When F. B. Meyer held meetings in Northfield, Massachusetts, large crowds came to hear his stirring messages. Then the renowned British preacher G. Campbell Morgan came to Northfield. Soon the people were flocking to hear his expositions of Scripture. Meyer was envious. He said, “The only way I can conquer my feelings is to pray for Morgan daily – which I do!”
If you find yourself jealous or envious toward another, perhaps this is what you need to do.
Tags: jealousy, prayer
Just as the pastor was about to enter the pulpit of a small New England church, a woman in the congregation handed him a note requesting the congregation’s prayers for her husband. The note read: “Bill Adams, having gone to sea, his wife desires the congregation’s prayers for his safety.”
But the pastor was pressed for time and read the note a little too hastily, telling the congregation that, “Bill Adams, having gone to see his wife, desires the prayers of the congregation for his safety.”
Like the old game of telephone, communication breaks down when it passes through several different parties. Its always best to hear it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. When we hear something third or fourth hand, it usually takes on the understanding of the most recent hearer, rather than the originator. Be careful what stories you pass on, they could get distorted.
Do you have a distortion story?
Tags: communication, humor, prayer
Our church is hosting a 24-hour prayer vigil from noon on Friday, March 20 to noon on Saturday, March 21. I want to encourage everyone to participate. Select an hour when you will clear your schedule and come with someone to spend that hour in prayer. Someone will be leading the prayer time continuously the entire time. There will be worship music in the background the entire time. We have collected prayer topics from various ministries within our church as well as from other DeKalb County churches. This is a county-wide prayer initiative.
If your health allows, perhaps you can enhance your prayer power by fasting a meal or the entire day. Some aren’t fasting food, but fasting something that takes up their time and attention. Some adventurous young people plan to come in and pray in the wee hours of the morning.
This is a total church endeavor. All hands on deck. Make this a priority and schedule that time in your calendar like you would a doctor’s appointment. With all the problems in the world around us, we really cannot afford to pass this opportunity up. Seek, and you shall find.
Remember what Jesus asked His disciples: “Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:37-38). See you there.
Tags: fasting, prayer
A letter written in a childish scrawl came to the post office addressed to “God”. A postal employee, not knowing exactly what to do with the letter, opened it and read: “Dear God, My name is Jimmy. I am six years old. My father is dead and my mother is having a hard time raising me and my sister. Would you please send us $500?”
The postal employee was touched. He showed the letter to his fellow workers and all decided to kick in a few dollars each and send it to the family. They were able to raise $300.
A couple of weeks later, they received a second letter. The boy thanked God, but ended with this request: “Next time would you please deliver the money directly to our home? If you send it through the post office, they deduct $200.”
Rather than chuckling over the boy’s misunderstanding, let’s admire his faith. Would we have responded in confidence like that boy?
Tags: Caring, faith, prayer
The surgery I’m having done is a radical laproscopic prostatectomy, which means they will be surgically removing the entire prostate gland using robotic procedures through small incisions in my abdomen, rather than opening me up with a large incision requiring a lengthy recovery time. Great advances have been made in recent years with this new procedure and it tends to be much more accurate.
However, there are always risks involved with any surgery. The specific risks involved with prostate removal are that damage could occur to the surrounding muscles or nerves that could result in incontinence and/or impotence. My cancer is in the very early stages and is a 6 on the Gleason scale (medium aggressiveness), so the Dr. shouldn’t have to go into the surrounding tissue, but errors could always occur.
So I would appreciate your prayers for me next week. I don’t need weak and wimpy fear-filled prayers, but positive, faith-filled prayers asking God to intervene and guide the hands of the surgeon. In your prayers, be sure to refer to the blood of Jesus Christ (”By His stripes we are healed“) and pray in the authority of Jesus Christ. And, thankfulness is an important aspect of answered prayer, as well. So, tell Him what you’re thankful for.
By the way, what are you thankful for ?
Tags: authority, healing, prayer, risks