Open Blinded Eyes

If there was ever a time when the blind were leading the blind, it is now. As we have removed GodGod from our schools and the national conversation, we are reaping the consequences.

The problems we face today will not be solved by governmental change, better education, or social improvements. We are now seeing the results of a generation and society that has lived independently from God.

This week we are praying for GodGod to open the spiritually blind eyes across the country. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians that Satan blinds the eyes of the unsaved.

The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. – 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

Satan blinds unbelievers through deception. They don’t recognize the truth of the Gospel because they have believed a lie. The problem is, deceived people don’t know they are deceived; therefore, they can’t free themselves from the deception.

The book of Romans gives us more insight into the topic. When a person refuses to honor GodGod, their heart is darkened to the truth of God.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. – Romans 1:21-23

That’s why many unbelievers can’t even see the truth in the Gospel – their eyes have been blinded.

The only hope for the unbelieving world is for the Holy Spirit to open blinded eyes and break the deception in their lives. Only Jesus, the Light of the World, can break through the spiritual darkness and bring about freedom.

If we are going to see a spiritual awakening, then we must pray for God to open these spiritually blinded eyes and break the chains of deception.

Join me in asking the Father to open the eyes of the blind, so they can see the love of Christ. Let’s pray that deception is broken with the truth of the Gospel. Let’s pray for a new openness to the truth and light of the Gospel.

Today’s Prayer

Father, today we agree together, asking You to open the spiritually blind eyes across our country. We pray you will uncover Satan’s deception in their lives and bring about freedom to see the truth of the Gospel. Let them see how much You love them. Let them see their need for Jesus. Thank You for desiring everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Breakthrough the blindness in Jesus’ name! Tear down the deception they have received and bring about a new openness to the Gospel.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

714PRAYER – Spiritual Apathy

“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:12

Jesus warns of a time when spiritual apathy will be the defining characteristics of the age. When instead of an intense passion for Christ, the heart of many will become cold and apathetic.

  • Spiritual apathy settles for religious activity instead of a personal relationship.
  • Spiritual apathy no longer desires prayer and Bible study.
  • Spiritual apathy causes our hearts to be no longer moved by the lostness of those around us.
  • Spiritual apathy has no desire to see those without Christ come to Him.
  • Spiritual apathy lets our heart become cold, and not be concerned about it.

So many Christians and churches suffer from spiritual apathy. The wold has anesthetized their passion for Christ, and they simply go from week to week, happy with business as usual Christianity. (more…)

714PRAYER – January 8, 2019

Open Blinded Eyes

In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement about this those who have turned their back on God. They not only practice unrighteousness, but they give hearty approval of those who practice these things. (Rom. 1:32)

This comment is lived out on the streets, in the news, and on screens across the country. Things that would have made our society blush just a few years ago are now flaunted before the world with pride. Now they are even encouraged and viewed as normal.

Their sin has allowed Satan to blind them to the truth. They are living out Judges 17 where “every man was doing right in his own eyes.”

Today we’re asking God to open blinded eyes across our county. Giving spiritual sight to those who have been blinded to the sin their lives and those around them. They need a healing touch from the Father’s hand. Before they can repent, their eyes must be opened to their sin. They need a vision of the holiness and righteousness of God. (more…)

Recipe for ThanksLiving

If you live in the United States, “Happy Thanksgiving!” If not, this teaching will still be helpful.

Like many families, the next few days will be filled with family, friends, food, and thanks.

ThanksLiving is a lifestyle of thankfulness.

Thankfulness isn’t just for Thanksgiving. Thankfulness should be a part of every thriving Christian’s life. But for many of us, we get so caught up in all the details of life and forget to be thankful for all the blessings God has brought into our life.

No matter what situation you’re in, you can find something to be thankful for. We all know it’s true, but it’s easy to rush through the day forgetting to stop and be thankful.

Here is a simple recipe for building a life of ThanksLiving. (more…)

Spiritual Awakening Begins Wth Me

Spiritual awakening begins with the individual. Every great awakening began with an individual or a small group of believers who took Jesus at His word. As individuals, they turned from the Christian religion to an intimate fellowship with Christ.

We pray for revival in our country, but what we need is a revival of Christians. Our churches are dying because we have assumed the world will come to us instead of we bringing Jesus to them. We are still trying to attract people to our church. (more…)

Are You Facing an Impossible Situation? There’s Good News!

God placed a verse on my heart this week, that I have not been able to get off my mind. Although I don’t normally share in this format, I felt I just had to stop and share this teaching with you.Are you facing a situation today that seem impossible? It may be a health issue, or a problem in your marriage or even an issue in your finances. The more we look at it, the more we feel overwhelmed and can’t imagine how you are going to get through it.

If you are facing an impossible situation today, let me remind you that the God you serve is the God of the impossible. (more…)

714PRAYER – God Moves in Response to Our Prayer

God moves in response to our prayer. Prayer is at the heartbeat of the Christian life. God invites us to bring our every need to Him in prayer. He invites us into His presence as His children. The very throne room of God is open to us, and we are to come boldly into His presence.

As Christians, we are often reluctant to pray. We consider prayer as a last effort instead of a first response.  Too often we talk about prayer, but don’t spend the time before God in prayer. The book of James puts it this way,

 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. – James 4:2 (NASB)

We do not have because we do not ask. Could it be that God is waiting for us to pray before He moves in power? How many nights have we spent in worry instead of in prayer? How many days have we lived in fear because we haven’t brought our needs and concerns to the Lord? How many times have we spend 2 minutes in prayer and then 2 hours in distress?  (more…)

714PRAYER – Repentance, the Pathway to Awakening

Repentance isn’t usually a positive word. Repentance sounds negative and feels condemning. It brings up images of old street preachers with megaphone crying “Repent; the end is near.” Maybe that’s the reason we hear so little about repentance. When was the last time you hear a sermon on repentance? Repentance doesn’t seem to fit into the current positive Christian message.

However, repentance is an important Biblical word and principle. Repentance always proceeds a new work of God. Before God moves two things must happen; We must ask, we must repent.

Repentance is the pathway to a new work of God in our country, our churches, and our lives.

We need repentance because our sin keeps us from experiencing all God has for us. Here is what the prophet Isaiah said.

Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. – Isaiah 59:1-2

For the Christian, repentance is all about lordship. As a Christian, your sin is forgiven. When Christ died on the cross, all your sins were forgiven when you placed your faith and trust in Christ.

However, sin is a choice to move away from God. It’s choosing our desire over God’s will for us. It is a choice of disobedience. The book of James says it this way.

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.  – James 1:14-15

For the Christian, sin is always a choice. We choose to follow our own lusts instead of the leading of the Holy Spirit. Repentance is returning to the Lord. Repentance is turning from our sin and once again making Jesus Lord and master of our life.

I’d like to focus on one area where Christians need repentance. It’s a silent sin of the modern Christian. It is destroying families, relationship and lives. A quick look at the statistics and it’s easy to see we need repentance.

As Christians, we have lowered our standards and allowed the culture to influence what comes into our homes and lives. I’m talking about Pornography.

(more…)

When You Walk Through the Waters

God placed a verse on my heart this week, that I have not been able to get off my mind. Although I don’t normally share in this format, I felt I just had to stop and share this teaching with you.

Over the past few days, I have really been reminded of how many people are facing some pretty major challenges. Medical, relational, financial or even vocational problems can come against us like a flood washing away our options, or a raging fire burning through everything we hold dear.

God never promised us a problem-free life. I here teaching sometimes that describes the Christian life like the opening scene of an old Disney film. The sun is shining, the bird are singing and little squirrels bring us the morning paper. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. The sun isn’t shining because dark clouds have gathered. Birds pooped all over our car. Those cute little squirrels eat through the cable and shorted out our Internet connection.

We live in a fallen world and sometimes bad things happen to good people. We get a report from our doctor about a recent test that “concerns” her and she wants to see us. Our car breaks down and there’ no money for repairs. We find an email on our spouse’s phone that reveals a hidden affair, or our company no longer needs our services. (more…)

714PRAYER – The Priority of Prayer

Read through the book of Acts and one theme is repeated again and again. The church prayed, and God moved. From Pentecost to freeing Peter from jail to sending missionaries to spread the Gospel, prayer played a significant role in the life of the early church.

When we pray, we confess our need and dependence on God. When we pray, we step beyond our strength and into God’s abundance. When we pray, the doors of heaven open and God’s power is poured out on us.

God calls us to be a people of prayer. His church is to be a house of prayer. How often is prayer a priority in your church? Let’s make it personal, what is the priority of prayer in your life?

Prayerlessness is the great sin of our day. It’s an indicator of our self-reliance and pride. A prideful person will never be a person of prayer.

(more…)

714PRAYER – Open Spiritually Blinded Eyes

This week we are praying for God to open the spiritually blind eyes across the country. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians that Satan blinds the eyes of the unsaved.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. – 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

Satan blinds unbelievers through deception. They don’t recognize the truth of the gospel because they have believed a lie. The problem is, deceived people don’t know they are deceived; therefore they can’t free themselves from the deception. (more…)

714PRAYER – Pray for Pastors

714PRAYER is all about praying for spiritual awakening and revival in our nation, our church and in ourselves. Thank you for your commitment to join me each week in praying for spiritual renewal.

This week our focus is on praying for our spiritual leaders.

Rarely a week goes by without a news story of a pastor or Christian leader who has been caught or confesses a moral defeat.

It seems the Kingdom of darkness is working overtime to bring down our pastors and spiritual leaders. Satan knows that if he can destroy a pastor, it will affect the church, the Christians in the church and the Kingdom’s reputation in the community.

If he is not successful in tempting a pastor with compromise, he will try and beat him or her down with discouragement. With so many churches struggling, it’s easy for a pastor to feel discouraged and disheartened. (more…)

714PRAYER – Pray for Our Leaders

Today we are praying for our nation’s leaders. Our President, Vice President, and other national leaders have a significant impact on our nation’s culture. They can move a country back toward God, or remove God from the national conversation.

In 1 Timothy Paul encourages us to pray for our leaders.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)

We may not always agree with our leaders, but we are commanded to pray for them. As Christians, We may disagree on politics, but we can all agree that our national leaders need our prayer.

Here are five prayer topics we can agree on for our national leaders.

(more…)

714PRAYER – Heal Our Land

Today, as we pray 2 Chronicles 7:14, we’re focusing on God’s promise of healing. When we pray, He will hear and heal our land.

Our country is in desperate need of healing. Division, anger, and hopelessness abound. These forces are taking their toll on our young people.

When you remove God from your worldview, you are left with nothing but a life of hopelessness.

Could it be that the next generation is suffering the most from removing God from the national conversation? Life is hard. Life without God or hope for the future is often unbearable.

Is it any surprise that their hopelessness shows itself in suicide, gun violence, depression, and anger.

American Academy of Pediatrics, found a nearly 50% increase in adolescent depression over the past 11 years.

After decades of decrease, the suicide rate in the US has been on the rise since 2000. According to the CDC, there was a noticeable spike in 2008. In 2012 suicide was the second leading cause of death for adolescents 12 to 19.

As we pray for God to bring about a spiritual awakening in our country, let’s pray He begins a new work in the lives of the next generation.

Join me in praying for the healing of our country and in the lives of the next generation. Let’s ask the Father to touch this next generation with the Gospel.

Let’s Pray Together,

Father, we join together in praying for healing for our nation. We need You as never before. We know Your heart breaks at the pain this next generation is experiencing. Touch this next generation with your love. We pray for our students and young people. Let them see their need of You.

We agree together, asking for You to release a spiritual awakening across our country. We need You in the forefront of our nation, our churches and in the lives of the next generation. Let them see that hope and peace are only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Bring about repentance and a return to you in the lives students across our country.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

 

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

God Will Hear Our Prayer

As we pray 2 Chronicles 7:14 for ourselves, our church and our county, we have the promise that when we pray, God listens.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Have you ever felt discouraged because you keep praying, but nothing seems to change? Ever felt like surely God had forgotten your prayer, or maybe He never hear them in the first place?

We all have times of discouragement in prayer. Ever thought, “If God would just get on my timetable, things would be a lot easier.” (more…)

714PRAYER – The Next Step in Awakening

As 714PRAYER warriors, we are claiming 2 Chronicles 7:14 for spiritual awakening in our country, our churches, our families and our own lives.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
As the Children of God, we are invited to humble ourselves, seek the face of God and pray. However, there is a next step that separates those who really desire spiritual renewal and those who simply talk about it. God commands us to turn from our wicked ways.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the idea of having wicked ways. Sure, I have sins, I’m not perfect, but wicked ways? That sounds so strong, so unchristian. I like to think that I have some weaknesses, some mistakes, sure some sin, but not serious ones, not wicked ways.

(more…)

714PRAYER – Seek His Face

 

Each week we are praying the principles of 2 Chronicles 7:14 together. 

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

God calls us to humble ourselves, pray and seek His face. Seeking God’s face is the beginning point for spiritual renewal and awakening.

Seeking His Face is Seeking His Presence

When we seek God’s face, we are seeking His presence and blessing. Spiritual awakening comes as Christians begin walking in the presence of God moment by moment.

My youngest daughter is a people person. When she shares a story, she wants your attention. When she was younger, if I wasn’t paying close enough attention, she would take her hand and move my face toward her. She knew that when I was looking at her, she had my attention.

Seeking His Face Reveals My Need

The more we experience God’s face (His presence) the more we realize our need. 

When the prophet Elijah saw into the throne room of God, and saw the king of Glory high and lifted up, his first response was that he was a man of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5)

The more we see God for who He is, the more we see ourselves for who we are. Our pride is made evident when we see His face.

Seeking His Face Reveals Who I am in Him

In that same scene from Isaiah 6 and angel comes and touches the prophets lips and proclaims his sin has been forgiven. As we walk in the presence of God, we see who we are in Christ. We are children of the most high God. Our sin has been removed and we can come boldly into His presence. 

God Hides His Face from the Unrighteous

God only reveals Himself to those who seek after him. God hides His presence to those who are opposed to Him. 

But I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods. – Deuteronomy 31:8

Seeking His Face Must Be Our Priority

God makes a promise to us. When we seek after His face, we have the promise that we will find Him.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13

If we are to experience the presence of God in our life, we must seek His face with all that we are. Above all else, we must make walking in His presence the priority in our life. God never hides His face from those who seek after Him.

The Psalmist made seeking the face of God his priority. He heard God’s call to seek after him, and his immediate response was to seek Him

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” – Psalm 27:8 (NASB) 

Let’s Agree in Prayer

Father today I commit myself to seeking Your face with everything I am. I want to walk in Your presence every moment of my life. My desire it to make seeking Your face the most important thing in my life.

Father, I pray for the leaders in my church. I pray that their priority will be to seek Your face. I pray that in everything they do today will be out of an overflowing desire to walk in Your presence. 

Our country is in desperate need of Your presence and blessing. I know that because of our country’s sin, You are hiding Your face from us. Bring about repentance and awakening in our country. Turn us back to You.

Thank You for the promise that when we seek You, we will find You.

In Jesus Name I pray, 

Amen!

Five Lies Christians Believe – Part 3

As Christians, we know we are to confess our sin. However, how we define confessing our sin and what the Bible means by confessing our sin may not agree.

Our definition of confession means to agree or admit something. Television shows like Law and Order play out the scene in the courtroom. The tension builds as the attorney grills the person on the stand. “Were you with the victim the night of the murder? Is this your knife that was used in the crime? Did, in fact, you no longer loved your wife? As the person on the stand becomes more emotional and sweat forms on his forehead, the District Attorney points to him and says, “Sir, did you kill your wife?” The man on the stand burst into tears and confesses “yes, yes I killed her.” I confess.

When we confess our sin, we are acknowledging to God that we committed a particular sin. We have the promise of 1 John 1:9 that God forgives our sin when we confess the sin.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

Now here is the lie, what if nothing changes? What if after confessing that sin, I continue to repeat that sin again and again? (more…)

Five Lies Christians Believe – Part 2

A few years ago, I had a co-worker who was Buddhist. Even though we had radically different religious views we developed a great friendship. One thing my Buddhist friend loved was Scotch. He was well educated on what brands were best, even had a story of how he learned how to drink Scotch.

One day while at dinner I noticed he didn’t order a Scotch. So, I asked him about it. He told me that he had stopped drinking because he was trying to be a good Buddhist. As I have thought about his comment, I have wondered, what is the difference between trying to be a good Buddhist and trying to be a good Christian?

How many Christians are trying to be good Christians?

Trying to be a good Christian is a lie.

If you try to be a good Christian your life will be filled with defeat and disappointment. God never intended you to try to be a good Christian. (more…)

5 Lies Christians Believe – Part 1

Five Lies Christians Believe - Part 1

Have you ever been duped? Ever let a fast-talking salesperson convince you to buy something didn’t need? Worse, you have ever believed something someone told, only to find out later it was a lie? At some point, we’ve all believed a lie. Sometimes we have even defended the lie. (At least until we found out the truth.)

Over the next few weeks, we are going to look at several lies Christians believe. These lies keep us from experiencing all God has for us.

Here’s the problem, when you believe a lie, you become deceived. When you are deceived, you don’t know that you are deceived. If you knew you were deceived, you would do something about it.

Satan is the great deceiver. He is always trying to sell us a lie. He deceived Eve by whispering in her ear that God was holding out on her and if she ate from the tree she would be like God. He is still in the deception business, and so many Christians believe his lies.

This week we look at the first of 5 lies Christians believe. (more…)

We Need a Spiritual Awakening

Watch any newscast for more than 5 minutes, and you realize our country is in deep trouble. Our screens are plastered with news of new scandals, divisions, and violence. Deception and immorality have become the norm instead of the exception. From politics to business and even in the church scandal seems to be the word of the day.

As hard as we may try, it’s obvious we don’t have the answers to the problems our country is facing. New programs, leaders, and ideas always seem to take us down the same road of hopelessness, fear, and anger.

What we need is a fresh work of God in our country, our churches and even in our lives. (more…)

Brushing Your Teeth And Time With God

So, which is more important, brushing your teeth or spending time with God? The answer seems obvious right? Of course spending time with God is more important than brushing your teeth.

Now a couple of follow up questions. “How often to do you leave the house in the morning without brushing your teeth? If you are like me; never. Brushing my teeth is part of my morning ritual.

How often do you leave the house in the morning without spending time with God? Ouch, that one stings a little. I intend to spend time with God, but sometimes if I am running late, or things come up, I may miss it. (more…)

When You Pray – Our Father

Jesus had the richest prayer life of anyone who has ever walked on this Earth. The Disciples saw Jesus do many things, from feeding the crowds to healing the sick and even raising the dead, but when they saw Him pray they were amazed. One day the disciples asked, “Teach us how to pray.” I have a feeling they were asking, “Jesus, teach us how to pray the way you pray.”

In Matthew 6, Jesus gives us the model prayer. Traditionally, it’s called the Lord’s prayer, but it was really a model designed to teach us how to pray.

Jesus began the model prayer with the words “Our Father.” What words do you use when you pray? How do you address God? (more…)

Praising God in Difficult Times

I remember sitting in my office when my boss came in. He had come in unexpectedly, late in the day and was now sitting in my office across my desk. As he began talking about the organization and what changes were coming, I became more and more concerned. At one point I stopped him and asked, “Wait a minute, are you firing me?” He said, “No, not firing…” “I asked, am I working here tomorrow?” He simply said, “No.”

I remember driving home that day thinking what am I going to do? I have a wife and three kids at home; we had very little saving, what is going to happen? How will we make it?

We have all had those times when life seemed to make an unexpected left turn. Suddenly, we are on a detour down a dark and dangerous path. We may have lost a job, lost a spouse, or our health. Whatever the reason we now face an uncertain future, and fear of tomorrow.

When we face difficult times, how are we to respond?

As strange as it may sound, learning to praise God during our difficult times can give us peace, hope and invites God right into the situation we are facing. (more…)

The Power of Persistent Prayer – Part 3

Title with hands folded in prayer
Over the last two weeks, we have talked a lot about the power of persistent prayer. Persistent prayer is prayer that doesn’t give up. It is prayer that holds onto God until the answer comes. Persistent prayer says, “I will keep on praying until something happens, or God tells me to stop praying.”

Today we are going to look at the second part of that statement. Are there times when God tells you to stop praying for something or someone? (more…)

The Power of Persistent Prayer – Part 2

Hands folded in prayer with title The Power of Persistent Prayer - Part 2

Last week we talked about the importance of persistent prayer. Prayer that doesn’t give up. Prayer that keeps bringing the request to God until either He answers, or he tells us to stop praying. We talked about how Persistent Prayer honors God, how it reveals my commitment and how it breaks through Spiritual resistance.

This week we look at a promise Jesus made regarding persistent prayer. (more…)

The Power of Persistent Prayer

Have you ever given up too soon? Maybe you were trying to learn to play the piano or guitar. You worked on it for a few months but gave up. Maybe you tried to learn a new skill, lose weight, or get in shape, but for whatever reason, you gave up before you saw the results.

Persistence is about staying on a course of action in spite of difficulties or opposition. God calls us to be a people of persistent prayer. (more…)

Why We Pray in Jesus Name

Why do we end our prayers with the phrase “in Jesus name?”  Is it just a closing tag like, “sincerely yours?” Is it a way to let people know that you’re about to end your prayer? Is it a magical phase that ensures God will answer our prayers?

Praying in Jesus name is not just a tagline and not a magic phrase, it’s the basis of our ability and right to come into God’s presence with our request.

Here are three reasons we pray in Jesus name. (more…)

Developing the Habit of Listening Prayer

I grew up hearing that prayer was a conversation between you and God.
Conversation implies that both parties are speaking. We speak to God, and He speaks to us. However, most of my prayer life has been a one-way conversation. I came to God with my praise and prayer, then left.

I was like that friend who you see at the grocery store. They dominate the conversation with every detail of their life, but when you begin to share what’s going on with your family, they suddenly have to go. My prayer life was me going through my prayer requests, saying amen and then moving on. (more…)

Dependent or Independent Christian?


Independence is a celebrated quality in American culture. Folklore abounds of those who stood alone, against all odds and prevailed. We honor those business entrepreneurs who build successful companies or outstanding inventions all by themselves. We even look up to Do-it-yourselfers and weekend warriors who can do just about anything around the house.

But Jesus said when it comes to living life, there are some things you cannot do yourself. In fact in John 15:5, Jesus says, without Him, we can do nothing. (more…)

What Are You Asking From God in 2018?

 

As we begin this new year, what are you asking from God in 2018?

What is the one thing you are praying for that if God were to answer, would change everything?

God is not intimidated by big prayers, in fact, He welcomes them. God wants to do great and mighty things in your life in 2018, and He is waiting for you to ask. (more…)

Six Reasons to Pray Out Loud

 

Let’s talk about praying out loud. For many Christians, when it comes to prayer, spiritual insecurities seem to come out of the woodwork. Praying out loud is a practice that many Christians feel insecure and even embarrassed. I know some people who sweat bullets every time they are in a small group fearing that someone will call on them to pray out loud. Even in their personal prayer time, many Christians choose to pray silently, because of their fear of praying out loud. What about you? Are you a silent prayer, or do you lift your voice up to the Lord out loud? (more…)

2017 Spiritual Review

It’s amazing how long it takes for Christmas to arrive, and how quickly it passes. By noon the presents are opened, kids are playing with their new toys and the trash cans are overflowing with bows and wrapping paper.

Now Christmas is over the new year is just around the corner. In just a few days, 2017 will be another year in history.

At the end of each year, it’s always good to take some time and reflect on what you learned, how you lived, and what God did in your life over the months of 2017.

Here are 10 questions to help you review 2017 and what God did in your life. (more…)

No Magic Phrase to God Answering Your Prayer

A few years ago I was trying to set up Internet service for a new office. The Internet provider offered two different options; one was to have a technician come out to our location and do the complete setup. That option would cost us $250. The second option was the DIY version where everything was mailed to us, and we followed the simple setup instructions.

So being the cheap guy that I am, I chose the DIY version. Sure enough a few days later a box was delivered containing the equipment and a confusing instruction sheet.

Now I consider myself to be a pretty tech-oriented person, so I unpacked everything and began setting things up. I spent the next several hours following the instructions and connecting all the wires. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get it going. After multiple calls to tech support and hours of time on hold, I was completely frustrated with the entire situation.

After reaching multiple dead ends, I finally called the customer service line one last time. I was told that if I were having difficulty, they would be happy to send a technician out to troubleshoot the problem, but there would be a $250 service fee. Finally, I told the customer agent, that maybe we should just cancel the service and send everything back and start fresh with another company.

To my surprise, she said, “Mr. Taylor, are you saying if you can’t get this issue fixed then you are going to cancel your service?”

(more…)

Is Your Christianity Worth Sharing?

Recently I read a book written way back in 1923. There is something about older books that can give you a new perspective on life today. Before I finished the first page, the author hooked me with a question I have thought about again and again over the last few months.

The answer to the question reveals one of the indicators of our need for spiritual awakening.

Here’s the question that caught my attention,

Is your Christianity worth sharing?

(more…)

If You Are Available, God Can Use You

Now you can listen to this week’s post. Just click the play button below.

 

 

Have you ever chased a picture around a wall until you found the perfect spot to hang it only to realize the hammer was completely out of reach?  What do you do? You slip your shoe off and used the heel to hammer in the nail.

Now the heel of a shoe is not scientifically designed to hammer nails. You use it because it is available.

Every great work of God begins with an individual willing and available to God. Availability ranks high on God’s scale of usefulness. God doesn’t look at age, education or community standing He looks at the heart. (more…)

A Most Dangerous Question

There is a question lingering in the back of the minds of many Christians. They rarely express it, and it’s often dismissed as soon as it crosses their conscience. It usually appears when they lay awake at night, or contemplate their walk with God.

It’s a simple question, but it’s implications are life-changing.

Before I share the question, I have to warn you. When I began asking this question, it literally changed my life. The question has appeared a number of times in my walk with God and each time, it challenged almost everything I thought I know about the Christian life.

This is an eye-opening question. A question that may just be the beginning point of a new work of God in your life. If you honestly ask the question, God will answer. However, His response will almost always require a response on your part. (more…)

Spiritual Blindness

It is amazing how quickly we can get so used to something that we no longer see it. Recently we put our house up for sale. As we begin to examine our house in preparation for sale, I began to see things I had not noticed before. Marks on wall, broken areas of the fence, scuff marks on the baseboard, and don’t even get me started on the carpet.

We have a unique ability to ignore things. If you ignore something long enough, it no longer bothers you, and eventually, you don’t even see it. The same thing can happen in our spiritual life.

We can become blind to the condition of our heart. When we become spiritually blind, we no longer see the sin and compromise we have allowed into our life. (more…)

Was I Asleep?

Have you ever woke up, not knowing you have gone to sleep? Maybe you had drifted off during a ball game or TV show. Maybe you were reading and slipped into a short nap. Perhaps, you closed your eyes to pray but wound up falling asleep.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates an incredible 100,000 accidents occur each year because drivers either fell asleep at the wheel or were driving drowsy.

Here’s the point. You didn’t realize you were asleep until you woke up.  (more…)

God Doesn’t Beep

We live in a disturbed world. Not the disturbed that unloads a gun on people in a Colorado movie theater, but the disturbed that interrupts what we do every 23 seconds. According to author John Freeman,

600 million emails are sent every 10 minutes. (Ever feel that most of them land in your inbox)?

65% of North Americans spend more time with their computers than with their spouses.

The average corporate worker spends 40% of his or her time sending or receiving emails.

49% of all drivers with cell phones text while driving.

When was the last time you had lunch with someone where his or her phone didn’t ring, beep, or play the annoying part of a rock song? How often do you lay your phone on top of the table, just in case a life changing email were to come through? (By the way, has it?) (more…)

Isn’t It Time We Prayed?

As you look around the country, it’s easy to see a place that needs some change. We seem to have issues running out our ears. From the national debt to the healthcare debate, from moral decline, or the fragile state of the family. After all these years, we still face issues of race, inequality, and prejudice. On top of that, the economy continues to struggle and people are still losing their jobs or unable to find employment.

Let’s face it our nation is hurting. Try as our leaders may, it seems that most of our problems lay beyond our abilities to find solutions; but maybe that’s the way it was meant. As never before we need solutions that go beyond our abilities, we need help that goes beyond our own thinking – we need a miracle. (more…)