Going On Your Prayer List

Don’t put people down – unless it’s on your prayer list. – S. Michalski

Jesus got even with those who crucified him by…….PRAYING! Hmmmn…..

Proud. Boastful. Arrogant. Loud. Obnoxious. Unkempt.….you kind of get the hint. We all have people of this sort in our circle or sphere of influence. Sometimes WE are them. So it makes sense then that we should never denigrate or try to humiliate them, but put them down for prayer. If it’s true that “the prayer of a righteous man avails much,” why not give it a try and see what develops.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior.” – I Timothy 2:1-3

No Worries Here

If you can solve your problem, then what’s the need of worrying? If you can’t solve it, then what’s the use of worrying? – Richard Murray

Even in the lion’s den Daniel never worried, and neither did God. And It all worked out wonderfully. Hmm!

We try to get by saying things like “I’m just thinking about something,” or “I’ve just got a little something on my mind,” or even “I’m just meditating.” But in reality it’s worry – the inability to trust God to work things out in His time and His way. Worry, like fear; causes us to shrink back from action, to limit what we believe God can do or will do in our case. It’s a highly prized tool of our enemy because worry gets us to take our focus off of God, and place it on our finite resources or strength. But if God is God, He’s still in control and knows our every need, and will keep His promise to supply all that we need to serve Him. Worry only comes when God is not truly our choice. The only surefire way to worry about nothing is to pray about everything.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God…..will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

Peace in the Storm

Sometimes the Lord calms the storm; and sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child. – Anon

The Israelites calmly walking across the raging Red Sea on dry ground or Jesus calming the storm for his disciples. Either way, God was AWESOME!

If there is one thing we know it is we will face storms (battles, trials, troubles) in life. No one is immune from it. Jesus even promised it. God will “refine” us through various trials to perfect our character, that it may reveal His glory. But the great news is no matter where we are in the storm, God is right there with us. And depending on our needs and request, He will either calm the storm or calm us, but He will not leave us. The important thing is that we have enough faith to leave it up to Him to decide.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

Answers greater than the Requests

Some of God’s best gifts are unanswered prayers. – Anon

Though God’s answer to Paul was a resounding ‘NO’ to his prayer for healing, Paul came to know the GRACE of God in a much deeper sense. Hmm!

If we are true to ourselves all of us could possibly think of times we were disappointed our prayers weren’t answered as we thought they should be, or that life would have been so much better if God would have just done exactly what we asked of Him. But in reality we need to take a step back and see actually what God did do in those situations – He worked it out for OUR good and HIS glory. That's His nature and His way. When God is slow to respond to our requests or says no, He has plans greater than we can fathom at the time. We should be eternally thankful that God’s answers are much wiser than our requests. If we were honest none of us would trade where He has us now for what might’ve been.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” – Psalm 84:11

Wait for the Perfect Gift

If you will wait, God will work! - R. Foster

Saul's haste in not waiting for the man of God cost him dearly - a lasting kingdom. OUCH!

WAIT! It's a word we hate to hear. Sometimes even moreso than 'NO!' It just does something strange to our psyche, kind of puts us in limbo where we're not in control of the situation. But yet, so many times in God's Word we see and are told God wants us to wait on Him. So often our prayers revolve around us asking God to hurry up and bless what we want to do (marriage, children, job, car, home, etc.) rarely do we ask Him to guide us or even seek His will to see if its the right thing for us. Waiting on God is not time lost, it means patiently looking to Him for what we need. So our prayers should not seek to hurry up God, but to remind ourselves first of all that God is the giver of every perfect gift, and also remind us that our 'right now' moments are not His emergencies. Since He's never late His response will always be not 'right now' but right on time.

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." - Psalm 5:3

Prayer > Worry

The greatest amount of worrying still cannot outdo the smallest prayer. – Anon

While Andrew worried about how they would feed 5,000 with just a few fish and loaves, Jesus just prayed. Everybody ate their fill. Wow!

There are many times in life when we are ‘anxious’ about our children, family, finances, friends, etc.  It sometimes seems that we even worry about worrying. Needless to say however, our anxious thoughts are seldom productive and often only serve to intensify our level of worry.  These are times we need to turn things over to God, but we must be careful that when we approach God we’re not just talking anxiously at Him as well. The burden(s) can only change shoulders if we’re really intent on trusting Him with our concerns and leaving them on the altar. God needs not our help in bringing blessing or deliverance, only our faith and trust in Him.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God….” – Philippians 4:6