Omnipotence

 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Eph. 3:20

I have been studying the "omni's" - God's Omnipresence, Omniscience and Omnipotence.  These are those very great attributes of God that give us assurance that God is present, He knows what is going on and He has the power to do something about it.  

It is because of God's omnipotence that Jesus can say, "Have faith in God.  Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours." (Mark 11:22,24)

Nothing is impossible with God. He has the power to do whatever he wills.  He has the power to change me, to change those around me and to change my circumstances. When we pray and believe this, we will have our answer.  The answer may not look the way we envision, but we know that when we pray believing, God's power will be at work in us and will accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine. (Eph. 3:20)

May we pray along with Paul, that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened in order that we would know the exceeding greatness of His mighty power that is working for us so that we can pray in faith believing that we have received whatever we have asked of God.  (Eph.1:18,19) 

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Hope

Why am I discouraged?Why is my heart so sad?I will put my hope in God!I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!         Psalms 42:11 (NLT)

In a time of discouragement, David penned Psalm 42 & 43.  These Psalms become for us a lesson to help in our times of discouragement or depression.  He doesn't hold back in expressing his negative thoughts and feelings, but in the midst of these expressions he inserts words of hope.  He calls to mind God's kindness (Ps. 42:6).  He acknowledges that each day the Lord is pouring his unfailing love upon him even if he can't feel it.  He sings songs in the night and he prays to the Lord, the source of his life (Ps. 42:8).  He makes a choice to put his hope in God (Ps. 42:5,11 & 43:5).

When we are feeling low, we can do some of the same things that David did.  We can remember and acknowledge that God loves us.  We can pray, even if it is only "Help me" or "Thank you."  We can sing a song or listen to some music. We can reach out to someone.  We can make the choice to put our hope in God no matter how we feel or how discouraging the circumstances around us seem to be.

....never give up hope in God.  He is all good and all powerful, and He will give whatever you need according to your faith.

Simply trust everything into the hands of God, be humble, and open up to His grace.  Through meditation and prayer, you will receive peace, and everything will gradually be worked out for you.  And the things which, in your hour of temptation, seemed so difficult will disappear almost imperceptibly.*

Speak a word of prayer, sing a song, put your hope in God.   What small step can you take today to reach up and to reach out of your depression? 

*Fenelon. Let Go. Whitaker House, 1973: 82,83. 

Fenelon (1651-1715) Archbishop of Cambrai, France, was spiritual adviser to many high ranking people in the court of Louis the Fourteenth.

The Mystery of Prayer

I tell you, you can pray for anything, 

and if you believe that you’ve received it,

 it will be yours.  

Mark 11:24 NLT

We can ask for whatever we want and we will receive?!?  How can this be? - It is the amazing mystery of prayer. 

God tells us to ask and keep on asking and we will receive whatever we ask for in his name - that is, according to his perfect will and plan.  When we ask for good things for ourselves and others, God is delighted to hear our prayers and delighted to answer them.  We don't know how he will do it or when - he has all time and eternity at his disposal - but, we can be assured, because he has told us so, that he is working in every situation to bring our pray to fulfillment.

He asks us to pray without doubt. Doubt arises when we think too much, when we try to figure things out. We think, "How will he do it and when? It seems so impossible that it could ever happen."  When we doubt, we are focusing on ourselves.  When we believe, we are focusing on the one of whom it is said "nothing is impossible." (Luke 1:37)  He just asks us to present our requests believing and leaving all the how? and when? to him. 

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thes. 5:17).   Like breathing, prayer can be a constant and automatic part of our lives.  Prayer can be our first response to every event and circumstance. We can participate in God's work by praying for all people, people we don't even know. Prayer expands us. It helps us to get out of ourselves and pay attention to the needs of those around us.  Prayer opens us to the presence of God.

I know, Lord, that you have heard all of my prayers.  Prayers for myself, my loved ones and friends and those I have never met, for health and happiness, for strength and salvation and you will answer them all in your time and in your way.  Thank you.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power

 and produces wonderful results.

James 5:16 (NLT)

So we have not stopped praying for you

 since we first heard about you.

Col 1:9 (NLT)

Enemies

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.

Ask God to help them;
intercede on their behalf,
and give thanks for them.

1 Tim 2:1 (NLT)

We are urged to pray for everyone.  The "all people" of this verse includes not only family, friends and neighbors, but bosses, political figures and superstars.  And, it includes, most especially, those we may have something against. 

Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies - those who have hurt us in some way.  This is a most remarkable request, one that goes against all of our natural inclinations. It doesn't seem reasonable that we should pray for God to help our enemies, that we should intercede for them or give thanks for them. 

The scripture goes even further suggesting that we not only pray for our enemies, but bless them.  It asks that we do good, lend to them, feed them and give them a drink of water if they are thirsty.  It asks us to replace our desire to retaliate with trust that God will bring his justice in the end. We are asked to replace the urge to talk back with the patient endurance that allows us to hold our tongue, to bless when we are cursed, to appeal gently when we are wronged, returning only good for evil. 

This is the description of an unbelievable and unique new life in God. All of these things are diametrically opposed to what we might naturally feel like doing.  These are hard things to do, but, these are the qualities that God is desiring to build in us.  These are the things that make us like our Father who is kind and does good, supplying the needs of evil and good people alike in the hope that all will respond to his call of love.

Who could you ask God to help today? - A friend, an enemy, a family member, your boss, a politician, a government official, a superstar? 

But to you who are willing to listen, I say, 

love your enemies

Do good to those who hate you.

Bless those who curse you. 

Pray for those who hurt you. 

Luke 6:27,28 (NLT)

Serenity

Yesterday, as I was driving to get my new Arizona drivers license, I pulled up behind a car with a license plate that read BSERENE. What a reminder!  I was tired and my mind was slipping because of all the daily pressures and worries.  I needed that reminder to refocus on the positive and re-frame my thinking according to the reality of God's peace.

I was tied up in traffic, but there it was again in front of me just before I turned.  It immediately made me think of the Serenity Prayer. Here we are reminded that God is our source of peace.  It starts with acceptance, taking things as they are.  That's always a good place to start. Then asks for courage and wisdom to change while enjoying each moment and trusting that whatever hardships we face will work for our good as we surrender to his will. What a powerful prayer!  God grant us serenity!

se·ren·i·tyNoun/səˈrenitē/

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled:

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. --Reinhold Niebuhr

Nothing

For apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5 (NLT)

Nothing!  Really!  I can't do anything without him!  Well, actually, I can do something but it won't bring good.  I can try to have my own way; to fight for what I want.  But the results won't be good and what ever I gain I will lose in the end.  (James 4:1-3)

All good things are accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  That's why prayer is an essential part of daily life.  Prayer is a way of saying, "Yes, Lord, I recognize that I can do nothing good without you.  I need your power and strength every moment to accomplish good things in the right way."

Lord, help us to realize that if we try to gain the things we want by our own methods and means we will lose.  But, if we humbly ask for your help each day, acknowledging we can do nothing good apart from you, we will gain your strength and accomplish much.

 

 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Phil 4:13 (ISV)