Tag: devotion

Last Sunday I talked about Two Chairs. This Sunday I want to talk about another prayer strategy. The prayer Closet. The prayer closet is quite popular and became somewhat mainstream in the movie The War Room by the Kendrick Brothers. This has biblical support as in Mathew 6-6

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

A prayer closet not only gives you the privacy the Bible says, but also gives you the opportunity to create a vision board so you have your prayer strategy layed out. Instead of praying for what is most pressing, you can create a strategy to pray for what is important, and then for what is urgent. In the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey teaches us about the 4 quadrants. Quadrant 1 – Urgent and Important, Q2 – Not Urgent and Important, Q3 – Urgent and Not Important, Q4 – Not Urgent and Not Important. 

Often we fail to see what is truly important and as Stephen says we tend to spend too much time on Q3. And THIS is where the Enemy robs you of your time. Jennifer Sheehan likes to say “If the enemy can’t make you bad, he will make you busy”. 

And we tend to spend the vast majority of our time fighting for things that are completely unimportant, but look urgent. By creating clarity in your life, and focusing on what really matters you can pray for what matters and not for what is screaming at you.

Example: You need money to pay the electric bill or they will cut out your electricity. That looks urgent and you will consume your entire time finding ways to pay one bill. But money is temporary and will vanish again next month.

So instead of praying to get a few dollars to pay your electric bill, you really should be praying for God to give your wisdom. What!? Yes wisdom! Because when you have wisdom you will understand what your boss or clients really NEED, and in providing what your clients really NEED you will always have money and will never have to worry about bills. 

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Proverbs 90-12
Confusing? We will talk more about Goals and Strategy next Sunday.

“The PLANS of the diligent lead to PROFIT as surely as haste leads to poverty”.  Proverbs 21:5

If you could talk with President Trump for 10 minutes, how much would that be worth to you? OK, maybe you hate Trump, but what about Putin, Dalai Lama or Steven Spielberg? Priceless I would say, don’t you agree?

Now think of this, what if you could have private time with THE most powerful being in the universe? No, not Captain Marvel or Thanos (or the One-Above-All for the Marvel geeks), but GOD. Yes God himself. How much would that be worth? Beyond priceless, right?

What if I told you, you can, for real. The prayer strategy I want to focus on today is Two Chars. I had the privilege and honor to record Bob Bodine narrating his best seller book Two Chairs. A very simple concept. One chair for you, one chair for God. You sit down at a quiet time, pray for a little bit and shut up. Because when you pray is about what you want and when you LISTEN is about what He wants.

It works! No, He won’t give you the next winning numbers for the Lottery, bummer. But for me He gave me undeniable evidence that it was Him speaking. Ask me to tell you the stories and I will, gladly. And I’m confident He will do the same for you. God craves a relationship with you, yes! He wants to participate in your life. I thought, I’m too boring for God to want to do anything with me, but I was WRONG. He ENJOYS the simple things. Really.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3:6

Do you get it? In EVERYTHING you do. Not just the things you need help with. Everything! Bring Him along, enjoy His company. Yes, enjoy His company as much as He enjoys your company. Sit down, relax and even if you are just spending quiet time with God, it is still worth it.

Prayer Closet (Matthew 6:6) , Prayer walk, Two Chairs, At Church (Luke 2:36-37), on the Battlefield (Joshua 10:12-13), have you ever asked yourself if there is a proper place to pray? What is the best strategy? Actually, do you even have a prayer strategy?

As anything else in life, if you have a strategy you are much closer to achieving your goals. By the way, did you know that only 3% of people have written Goals? It is probably fair to guess that even less that that have a prayer strategy. No wonder why so many people are frustrated and feel un-answered by God.

In sales we know that if you want one single sale it takes 10 client meetings, and to get 10 client meetings it takes about 200 cold calls (or emails, or text, etc.). 98% of a salesman’s time is spent listening to rejection and only 2% actually selling something, yet they are among the highest paid professionals. Not because they sell, but because they don’t quit. No I’m not a sales guy, but working with the Ziglar Corporation for so many years I got this down.

So if you are asking God for money or a job, God is asking you “Why?” Why do you want this money? And you would answer, “to pay my bills!!”. Then what? More money to pay more bills, God would ask? Then what? 

You are basically asking God to keep you in the hole you got yourself into. Getting money to pay your bills is not solving the big problem, it is just giving YOU a little bit of peace of mind. But Not God. He sees your future and He sees what benefit or harm your prayer may do for you.

God is not Santa Claus. He actually cares that you fix your stuff, just as a good father would. And if lighting a little fire under your but will make you move faster, He is all about that.

God is not in the Entertainment business, he is in the Education business.

We have a lot more to talk over strategy, so I’ll keep on this topic for a while. Meanwhile, ask yourself “why”

Tip: a good book to read is “The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren”

I so wish I could rub the Bible, out pop’s Jesus and he would grant me 3 wishes. Wouldn’t that be awesome!?

Fantasy? Why!? Why can’t the all powerful God just grant me my wish? He created the universe and everything included, such as MONEY! Why wouldn’t God give me money? I’m a good person. I help others, I’m not a big sinner, I’m good! Why not!? I’ve been praying for money for ever and he just won’t give it to me.

Could you be praying wrong?

Let’s think about money for a second. Look at a bill, any amount. You will notice that each and every dollar bill has a serial number. God can’t just materialize money. It would be counterfeit. It would also not be good if he took the money away from someone else to give it to you (wait for it) without their consent.

Aha! Consent. So, when you pray for money you need to pray for someone to GIVE you the money. And remember a week or two ago I said that if God’s grace has not happened yet, something is missing, something is not finished, not ready.

Then, never ever pray for money, or a job, or any material thing. Pray for people to learn about your need and be moved to grant you your wish.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:7-8

Pray for RELATIONSHIPS, pray that your relationships are blessed in abundance, that they are healthy, wealthy and happy and pray that you can love them as God loves you. And in doing so with a true heart God will see you and He will bless you.

Next week let’s talk about prayer strategies.

It can’t function as it was designed. People may even think it is broken. But it is not. It’s just unplugged.

When we pray and obey God we are plugged. Some have a battery that allows them to operate unplugged for a while, but as soon as we lose focus, we unplug. 

The only way God can bless you is if you (or someone else on your behalf) is plugged in. Praying, obeying with thanksgiving and faith.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Joshua 1:8 | NIV

I was walking on the beach last year and God gave me a vision of a puddle of sea water on the sand. We are the puddle that dries out fast. God is the sea. The tide is prayer. He asked me to make this little video so I could understand the power of prayer.

https://www.facebook.com/everythingchristianlife/videos/364046037510714/

I hope that helps you too.

Next week we will talk about prayer.

Super Bowl LIV. Imagine your dream is to win the Super Bowl and surely you would have to pray a lot for that. But God won’t magically give you a Champions ring. So it’s pretty clear that if you sit on your buttocks all day it WON’T HAPPEN.

To win the Super Bowl you need strength and conditioning (that is on you), you need discipline (that’s also on you), you need to be coachable (oh wait that is also on you), be perseverant, a good team player, be in good spirit, trust your game among many, many other factors that ALL FALL ON YOU before you can even be picked up to play on a team.

Put this in perspective and ask yourself:  “What is that I am waiting on God to do and what NEEDS to be READY so God can bless me? 

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23

“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” Ecclesiastes 11:6

Remember, God is not a magician. He is not in the entertainment business, He is in the education business. And he is going to bless you through people. You don’t know which one of them are being obedient. (Remember Ecclesiastes 11:6)

So really, how can you help God bless you? What can YOU do now that would bring this need, this goal, this dream of yours closer to reality? How can you help God help you?

Next week, let’s talk about blessings.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could eliminate all insects? Can you imagine a world without bugs?  While having a world without bugs sounds very appealing it would bring about the extinction of the human race. Yep, google it.

A less apocalyptic scenario would be: “ what if we forced all boys to be football players and all girls to be ballerinas?”

Stupid to think like this, no? We can’t even begin to imagine what would happen, yet we want God to fix our problems the way WE believe is best.

Are you putting God in a box?

God if you just give me a job … God if you helped me get out of here … God if you just did THIS … do you truly, truly know what is best for you or your loved ones? Would it not be wiser to just let God handle it according to His plan?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I pray you will humble yourself and ask for guidance.

I pray you will let go of your plans and be open to His. 

I pray my dear brothers and sisters, that you will be quick to listen, slow to speak and immune to anger, worry and despair.

It’s in Jesus name I pray,  Amen

Next week, I’ll discuss the difference between letting go (God) and being irresponsible.

God is powerful and can do anything, but are you wondering WHY IN THE WORLD IS TAKING SO LONG TO … (insert your project here). 

God only works through people. He could make whatever you want happen instantaneously, but you would not learn to deal with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

So if what you want is taking long, it may be simply because people involved in it are not being OBEDIENT. 

But in the Bible it says:  “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18 NIV

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

Now ask yourself: “Am I being a boulder or a guide on someone’s path?

I pray that all the people who need to be involved in your project wake up, listen and accept their roles, so things can move faster.

I pray that you will receive wisdom and resilience to see your path and to continue pursuit.

And I Pray your FAITH will be strong enough to mute your doubts. 

It’s in Jesus name, Amen

And remember “You can have everything in life you want, if you help enough other people get what they want” Zig Ziglar