I Call on the Lord in my Distress, and He Answers Me. Psalm 120:1

I was watching CSI this afternoon and it amuses me even now how quickly the authorities respond to a 911 call. They treat every situation with urgency and importance. They selflessly rescue everyone without even thinking that their lives could also be in danger. Even a kid at a very young age is already taught how to dial the number so in case of an emergency situation, he or she can be able to call for help. That is why here in the United States, whenever there is a car accident, a disaster or any kind of emergencies, 911 is the best number to call for it is the number set by the government to ensure that every citizen can get help whenever, wherever it is needed. However, not all emergencies can be taken care of this agency. There are urgent matters that only God can address. That is why God has also designated a lifeline for everyone to reach. Sadly, nowadays, even an adult doesn't even know how to use this God-given lifeline. Let's look at this verse closely: 

     "I call on the Lord in my distress and He answers me."

There are two things that I would like to share today: 

1. Acknowledgment of our trouble and weakness. As the psalmists says, "I call...in my distress". He accept the fact that he is in distress and like him, we must acknowledge our situation and see the need for help. Most of the time, we don't see the need for prayer so we don't pray. Our hearts are arrogant filled with sin and pride thinking that we can make it on our own so we feel like we do not need anyone not even God. But that's a big mistake. We need others and we especially need God. We need to confess our sins and tell God of what is troubling us.  

2. Acknowledgment of God's power. As the psalmist calls"...on the Lord...and He answers me." We must acknowledge the existence of God and the power of God in our lives. It doesn't matter how big or small your problem is, God can still help. God answers prayer and God always care. Notice that all the words in this verse are in the present form of the verb, which means God respond the same time we call. Like 911 24/7 emergency hotline, God prioritize every call and prayer that we have. He knows every cry is urgent and needs immediate attention and care. That is why we can pray anytime, anywhere and however you want it to be. What God wants is for us to call with sincere heart with faith that acknowledge his power over all our troubles and fear. Believe in his mighty power. Believe that God can do exceedingly what he has promise and that is to be faithfully listening and answering our prayers.   

Something to do: 

            Today, take some time to pause and pray. Let God know your needs. Let God know your situation. Call upon God in your distress and he will answer you and save you from all your troubles. May God bless you today!

Anxious? Let Go and Let GOD!

"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." Prov. 12:25

Did you know that anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year?

According to The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders, "almost one-third of the country's $148 billion total mental health bill,"a study commissioned by ADAA (The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 60(7), July 1999).

People nowadays are filled with stress and anxieties and mostly it is not because of big thing but because of the daily small things that is happening in their lives. But what does the Bible says about being anxious and worrying? Is God silent about this issue? Let us read the following verses taken from Philippians 4:6-7:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

What a lovely promise and reassurance from a loving and faithful God. But why is that, that people are still filled with anxiety and stress? Check the following :

PROBLEM:
1. Most does not really read the Bible. According to a famous quote, "Knowledge is Power." which is quite true. Knowledge makes you go beyond and achieve more in life. Imagine a life lived according to God's Word. What a wonderful that life can be. But sadly most people don't even read the Bible even though they have the luxury of time so they don't know what God can do for them. I remember someone who told me that the Bible is only for those who work in the church and its their duty to explain it on Sunday which is definitely wrong. The scripture is for everyone for it is the manual of life so all must read it to live our lives accordingly. Living without the Word of God is like operating a machine without reading a user manual. Just trying to figure out how it works.

Moreso, the Bible is not just one the religious books in the library, it is the very Word of God written for everyone to know how to live life to the fullest.

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua 1:8

2. Maybe reading but not believing. Holding on to every word and promise of God is the key. Believing and having faith on what he can do. We can't just say Amen but walk away with our problems still in our mind. We must let go and let God. Believe that God can help.

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.…"

1 Peter 5:6-8

3. Seeking help and answer from the wrong people and places. We develop anxiety when we can't find the solution to our problems, we tend to overthink and overthink until anxiety kicks in and starts to develop complications in our life and health. Because we seek help somewhere else, for example instead of praying to God most go to the bars and drink with friends and get wasted to forget their problem. But this is not the solution. Drinking is not a solution, we must face the problem and deal with it with God.

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." Prov.20

Moreover, seeking advise from ungodly people is not a good idea as they will never give you the best advise and solution to your problem. "Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Cor.15:33. Look for godly people as they will draw you near to GOD and not away from HIM.

Remember, Kneeling should never be your last resort, but the only solution. Whether small or big issue, God wants to hear it from you. Now let see what GOD wants us to do:

SOLUTION: Philippians 4:6-7

1. "Do not be anxious about anything." Do not worry or overthink or be anxious about all your problems. Whether it is about your family, love life, your job and even your future. Do not worry.

2. "But in every situation" In all circumstances, which means not only during the times of emergencies, but in all situations whether big or small.

3. "By prayer and petition". We must kneel and seek God. Pray and ask him about what you need without ceasing.

4. "With thanksgiving, present your request to God" Tell God about everything and give thanks to what he has done and what he is about to do for you. He is the GOD who sees and will help.

5, And the peace of God, will transcend all understanding, Then after presenting your request to God, He will renew your mind and will give you peace. Peace that the world cannot give. The kind of peace that only comes from God.

6, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And knowing that God is now in control, he will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, knowing that all his promises are true and he never fail those whose hope is in him.

How beautiful it is to know that God is on your side. There is no greater gift than the love of God and that he will always be with us, helping us with our lives. Why be anxious, if GOD can do it. God can help and he wants to hear us call to him.

Get rid of anxiety by letting go and letting God take over!!!!!!

PRAYER:

Dear God,
I feel helpless and weary. My anxiety is beyond I can bear. I don't know what to do. Please help me. You said in your words that I can cast my anxiety on you because you care for me. Please I need you now. Take over all these problems. I cant do it alone. I need you. Let me have the wisdom, strength and courage to continue. Be with me. Change my heart and give me peace. Show me who you are and what you can do in my life. Bless me and let me become a blessing as well. This is what I pray, in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Praying with Wrong motives!

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your own pleasures." James 4:3

God always answer when we call to him, but sometimes his answer is not what we expected. Sometimes we don't really get what we want and expect to receive from him. Why?

Today, let us discover what the scripture says about this:

1. God sees our hearts. Base on the scripture found on the 4th Chapter of James, he explained praying with wrong motive is not a good idea. We must know that God sees our heart for everything is transparent in his sight. Our parents and friends can be sometimes clueless when we lie to them and could probable not find out about it but not with God. Everything is known to God, even the very secrets of our hearts. So praying with wrong motive will not work. So we need to ask ourselves this questions when we pray:

What is my request from God? Why do I pray for it? What is it for? What is my motive in praying? Is it for my own pleasure?  

If we are praying with wrong motive and intention, God will not do it for us. God is the Alpha and Omega, he knows where we have been and where we are going. If our prayers will lead us away from righteousness, then God will say no to it or will give us a better option. Like our parents, God will not give us something that will harm us and put us in danger.

2. Moreover, the condition of the heart plays a big role in prayer. What is the condition of your heart? A heart that is right with God will always have the right motive in praying, for it is one with God. And it follows the will of God. But sin pollutes the heart.

3. For that reason, sin must not be present. Confess to God the sin that has been committed, whether it is big or small, a sin is always a sin that contaminates the mind and the heart. So we must turn away from it and be one with our creator in prayer.

I remember an illustration about a man with the devil whispering on the left ear and an angel of God on the right ear. The devil whispers and suggests ideas that appears to be right but is wrong and so the presence of the devil confuses the man on what to do. Sin also does it in our prayers, as long as we have sins in our hearts, being right with God in our prayers is impossible. So we must get rid of the sin by asking forgiveness. Sin contaminates our thoughts while we pray.    

4. Therefore, after repentance, our prayers will be selflessly following the will of God for us. When our hearts are right with God, then our motive changes. Instead of the "I" being the center of the prayer, it will become "God" as the center of it. Then we are praying for the WILL OF GOD in us and not our own selfish desire.

SELF CHECK:

Today before you pray, list all your prayer request and see what are your prayers to God. Check the purpose, motive, and intention of your request. Then ask God to help you to pray. Pray for your prayer. Ask God to help you pray selflessly and according to God's Will.

PRAYER:

Dear God,

    Thank you for your word today. I know that sometimes, my prayers are so selfish and not according to your will. My prayers are impure and are only for my own benefit. Please help me by changing my prayers according to your will. That my heart and mind will be one with you. That I will prayer with a pure heart and mind. Please help me. Let me confess my sins to you and ask for your forgiveness. Let your light shine in my heart and make me pure as white as the snow. Let my prayers be pleasing to you. If my faith is not enough for me to trust and believe you in my prayers, please show yourself to me and let me experience your power so that I may give you praise and worship  you all my life. This is what I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER is the best example of a prayer that Jesus himself taught us. This can be found in Matthew 6:9-13. The Lord's Prayer is one of the topic that I will be working on shortly. Please don't forget to share the Word of God daily. Thank you and have a great day!

God: "Ask For Whatever You Want Me to Give You."

"Sky is NOT even a Limit"

QUESTION:

If you have one prayer or a wish in your life, what will it be? Will it be to find a job? Or for your family to be united? Or to travel the world? Or to be rich? Or to cure a son or daughter? If you have a lamp like Aladdin, what kind of request will you make from the genie? Will it be for yourself or for someone else?

I remember one story in the Bible about God asking Solomon of what he wanted to receive from him. Here is the story taken from 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 New International Version (NIV):

⁷ That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you."⁸ Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. ⁹ Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. ¹⁰ Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

¹¹ God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, ¹² therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

Tell me, what if God ask you the same question: What do you want God to give you? What will you ask of him? The sky is not even a limit, what will you ask? Today, we will see why God was pleased with the response of Solomon and why he gave him more than he asked for:

Response of Solomon:

1. Selfless request. God can give him anything he wanted, but Solomon chose to ask for wisdom and knowledge, not for himself but for the sake of his kingdom. God even emphasized that he could have ask for the death of his enemy or for a long life. But he put Israel ahead of himself so God was pleased.

2. Need over want. Solomon knows that he needs wisdom and knowledge more than wealth and long life to govern and so he ask for it.

3. Pure and good motive. More than anything, he clearly wanted to securely govern his kingdom well and has no plan of destroying it or giving it up to an invader so God was pleased.

Response of God:

1. A quick answer. God responded immediately to Solomon.  

2. Granted his request. God gave him wisdom and knowledge as he asked.

3. Gave more that what he asked for. God gave him wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before him ever had and none after him.

And if you haven't received what you ask for:

James 4:3" When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. "

God wants us to be like Solomon, asking for our needs selflessly with pure and good motive. We can ask for anything like money, job, health, and everything else, but we must consider and ask why we ask for it. Sky is not even a limit for God. Try him.

SOMETHING TO DO:

If you haven't ask God for anything yet, try to ask him of something, but please consider the pointers above. Ask him and see what he can do for you today.

PRAYER:

Dear God,

Thank you for letting me know that you are able to do anything for me, but most of the time my heart's desire is not even in line with what you want me to have. Please let me know how to ask selflessly with the right motive. And if my faith is not enough to believe let me experience you today. Be with me and show me what big difference you can make in my daily life. This is what I pray in the mighty name of Jesus I pray, amen.