Category: Christian Blog

How to Really Discern God’s Will for Your Life

How to Really Discern God’s Will for Your Life

How do I really know what God’s will for my life is? That is a question we often ask in our lifetime. We ask it about our relationships, about our careers, and about where to live. How can I know with certainty that the choices I make are the ones God desires for me? It must begin with prayer. We are on day 29 of this prayer challenge. The only way to know God’s will for your life is to spend time alone with God. There in the quiet hours with him, he will guide you through the help of the Holy Spirit.

40399546_mRemember what Christ said in Luke 11:” 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Look very closely here. He did not say that whatever you ask, you will be given. He did say that “God will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.”

[bctt tweet=”The Holy Spirit will guide us, comfort us, and provide us with the wisdom of discernment we need for every situation.”]

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Is The Salvation Of One Valuable Enough To Me To Suffer?

Is The Salvation Of One Valuable Enough To Me To Suffer?

I left off with a question yesterday. What if our suffering was a means God uses to bring another person’s salvation; would we see suffering differently?

In Psalms 22, as David prayed in great anguish to God, David presented a picture of Christ. Was David aware that thousands of years later, we would see Christ? Could someone reading those words, followed by Psalms 23 and 24 open their heart to Christ and be saved? If indeed our moments of greatest anguish could be the catalyst that caused one person to alter their eternal destiny, would we be willing to embrace the suffering?

Pete

 

 

 

 

In Memory of Pedro Barba Arroyo (1/15/42 to 7/23/1994)  A life transformed through suffering and pain—Salvation’s story of mercy and grace.  One soul saved to an eternity of joy, love and glory in God’s presence.

 

Portrait of Pedro Barba Arroyo as done by Ronald Barba

 

 

[bctt tweet=”Is the Salvation of One Soul valuable enough to me to embrace suffering in my own life? “] It certainly was for Christ. I have learned it is for me. [bctt tweet=” The suffering of this world, if it endures a lifetime is but a split second compared to eternity. “]

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3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World

3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World

David’s life with all the ups and downs, the great victories and the moments of failure is a portrait of our Christians lives. Each step of the way, David was drawn toward an ever increasing passionate love for God. David had moments of great joy and seasons of deep sorrow. His Songs to God reflect these very emotions. Yet if we look a little closer we also see the gospel of grace being portrayed. How amazing it is that David’s moments of conflict were used to portray Christ’s crucifixion is Psalm 22. Then raised from the dead the shepherd cares for the sheep in Psalm 23. And finally the chief Shepherd appears as King of glory to own and reward the sheep in Psalm 24. A trilogy of Psalms portraying the Gospel. Look a little closer.

THE CRUCIFIXION PORTRAYED

jesus christ picturePsalm 22:(NIV) “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?” Are these not the same cries that we hear from the cross of Christ? Is this not the good shepherd who gave his life for the people?   Then we see the foreshadowing of Christ again  as  they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.” Are these not the same cries of the people against Christ in Matthew 27:43.
picture used with permission of Ronald Barba  for information about his artwork go to  http://barba-art.com         

   Then we see the picture of the cross itself. ” I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint.  My  heart has turned to wax; it has melted within   15 My mouth[d]is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.” This  is a picture of crucifixion. The joints being pulled out of place, the blood and water poured forth, the intense perspiration, the parched lips, the intense strain upon the heart and the death. Then we even see the “18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” David with great detail gave us the picture of Christ to come. Was he aware of that? Or did God use David’s moments of conflict to form the words that would point to Christ? A question we must ponder as we look at our own moments of conflict. Are they a means to portray Christ to the world?

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When Agonizing Prayers of the Heart Persist In Silence?

When Agonizing Prayers of the Heart Persist In Silence?

We have all been there at some point in our prayer life. The most agonizing prayers of our heart seem to be screams into the darkness with only silence as our response. We take a deep breath and say, “Well, it must not have been God’s will. I will trust Him.” Sadly, we lay down the prayer; afraid to pick it up again. Sorrow fills our heart and instead of trust doubt fills our minds. So what do we do then?

pcmas0013

© Phil McKay/Licensed from GoodSalt.com

[bctt tweet=”Are we to keep praying when our most agonizing prayers of the heart seem to persist in silence?”]

Let us look at some of the agonizing prayers of the Bible and see what God’s response has been.

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How to Overcome the Sabotages to Prayer and Praise

How to Overcome the Sabotages to Prayer and Praise

Monday evening I went to visit Mom at the assisted living. I have been very regular to go two evenings a week and always leave with the laundry list of things she wants me to bring the next time. This time her list was even longer and she had wanted me to go back out to get it right away. Her lists consist of a stockpile of groceries to hide in her room and eat between meals. Her stockpile wasn’t empty; but, she still wanted now. I knew it would take at least an extra hour. I was very tired, so I told her next time. Thinking all is well; I headed home. At 11 pm I got a call from the facility. Your mother insisted that we call the ambulance and send her to the ER because she says she has been coughing and has chest pain. (Mom doesn’t have heart disease and since I had been down this road before when she lived with me—I rolled over and waited for the second call.) Besides as a Nurse Practitioner, I knew the EMTs, nurses and doctors would take care of her. They would call me if needed. The second call came at 2 am. “Your mother is ready to be taken back to the assisted living.” Frustrated, tired and angry with Mom for being so manipulating; off I went to get her and take her to back to the facility. I made it home at 4 and sat down to pray. As I tried to tell God of my frustration with Mom’s selfish behavior, the conviction of my own selfishness hit me. I protested. God sat quietly. I made excuses for myself. God waited and listened. “25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11 NIV). So, finally prayer came. Then, I wrote yesterday’s post and all was well. So, I thought.

pride blurs

[bctt tweet=”The Greatest Sabotage to our prayer lurks deep within our own heart: Pride, self exaltation…”] We try to deny its presence. We pour over scripture. We pretend it is gone. We “pride ourselves for being merciful and kind.” Still, there it is- pride!

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