A Sense of Need

This morning, I read this quote in a book called Working with God through Prayer by D. Edmond Hiebert, speaking of the passage in I Timothy 2 about the importance of prayer, and it encouraged my heart. I thought I would pass it along:

"1. 'Supplications.' This is a general word for prayer and means a request or a petition. As such it is used of petitions directed both to God and to men. Coming from a verb meaning to want or to lack, the word 'signifies a prayer which springs from the feeling of want.' The basic thought thus conveyed by this term is that of prayer prompted by a conscious sense of need. It is prayer arising out of a sense of human inadequacy to meet the demand of life.

"Such a conscious sense of need, either our own or another's, is essential to all effective praying. Without such a sense of need, our prayers lack depth and sincerity. Our prayers become formal, often the mere uttering of words that have lost their meaning and value for us. What believer has not at times found himself saying certain words in prayer, only to realize that his mind was on something far removed from his uttered words? When there is a real prayer burden arising out of a specific sense of need, it is not hard to concentrate on one's prayer. Surely in these eventful days when the pressing needs of mankind come crashing in upon us from every side, it is inexcusable to lack a motive for prayer. Critical world needs, as well as local and personal needs, constitute a standing challenge to pray."

"On Behalf of a Grateful Nation"

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the military graveside funeral for a brother of one of our church members. This dear man had been taken by cancer, and his wife and siblings were grieving his departure. The color guard presented a 21-gun salute, played taps, and presented the American flag to the wife of the deceased soldier. My heart goes out to the family in the loss of their loved one.

It is always particularly moving to witness a military ceremony, as men pay tribute to a comrade who has gone on before them. I could not help but go back in my mind about 15 years to when I attended my Papaw's (as we affectionately called my mom's dad) funeral. He had served in the army during World War II, and he had also been taken by cancer. I can remember clearly, as I sat under the tent that day, the emotion as the soldiers folded the flag, went to my Mamaw, bent over towards her, held out the flag and said, "This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service." What a moving thought! "On Behalf of a Grateful Nation."

The patriot in me swells every time I see or hear a tribute to an American soldier. Tears come to my eyes many times as I sing the National Anthem. Tears are gathering in my eyes even now as I am thinking about it. This nation of ours is a blessing from God. It has truly been paid for by the sacrifice of men and women throughout our brief history.

As our freedoms are slowly taken away, I wonder if we are not considering the men who have given of themselves to secure and protect our freedoms. I wonder if we are counting as nothing their great acts of bravery, their willing separation from family, and their constant encounter with danger. I thank the Lord for our military!

But beyond a gratitude for our military, I have a great gratitude and love for my Savior, Jesus Christ. When we speak of sacrifice and giving one's life, there is no greater example in all the world than Jesus. He came to earth and gave Himself as the sinless sacrifice to pay for my sins. I accepted that gift as a young boy, and I enjoy today the joy of forgiveness of sins and a close walk with my Lord. He offers that free gift to anyone who will simply trust Him for it.

I am grateful for the service our men render for our country. Thank you, soldiers, for your service! Thank you, Lord, for my country!

But most of all, thank you Jesus!

The Neglected Place of Prayer

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3

Prayer, along with God's Word, is the most effective weapon against Satan, but it is the most neglected. It is the most neglected because it is the least tangible. It takes the most faith.

We like to be doing things because we can see the actions and results. There is something within us (the flesh) that resists the stillness of prayer. We can justify being busy with our jobs, cleaning the house, studying for sermons, mowing the lawn, but prayer sets all of that aside, steps aside from the temporal world, and wages the battle in the spiritual realm. It's hard to do because it's hard to see. Many times, the moment we find a quiet place for prayer, everything we have to do that day floods into our minds and distracts us from focusing on our Lord. All of our "obligations" crowd out the priority that prayer should have in our lives.

Paul said, "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18). The Christian life is a life of faith. When we pray, because we can't always see the results, we are walking in faith. We are being obedient to our Lord. We don't see the results many times, because they are spiritual, and the unseen-spiritual results are eternal. We are actually doing that which will have the most lasting impact!

The truth is that prayer and God's Word are the highest obligation. One's relationship with God is at the core of everything else that he does. Without a proper walk with God, all of life's activities take on an emptiness that only accentuates our problems. We constantly work at getting ahead in our work, yet we only get further behind, because life's work is never done! We were made to live our lives while walking with God.

May we make it a priority to spend time in God's Word and in prayer. Don't neglect prayer. Don't justify skipping it with the "I'm to busy" excuse. Make it a priority today!

Then Jesus Came - by Ron and Shelly Hamilton

I'm so excited about this year's Christmas Musical, Then Jesus Came. This cantata is one of Ron Hamilton's best, in my opinion, and it is full of humorous lines, great music, and touching moments. See what happens in a small-town country church when a new preacher comes to town and starts meddlin' with the way things have always been. God will use this musical to stir your heart. We will present it at Eastside Baptist Church in Greeneville, TN, on December 13, at 6:30 pm.

The Great Need for Prayer

Dr. R.A. Torrey once said:

It was a master stroke of the Devil when he got the church and the ministry so generally to layaside the mighty weapon of prayer. The Devil is perfectly willing that the church should multiply its organizations and its deftly-contrived machinery for the conquest of the world for Christ, if it will only give up praying.... The Devil is not afraid of machinery; he is only afraid of God, and a machinery without prayer is machinery without God. (R. A. Torrey, How to Obtain Fullness of Power in Christian Life and Service)

May God raise up men and women who will be twenty-first century prayer warriors!

Revival starts with confession

“I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.” Ps. 119:26

God can’t revive my heart if I don’t admit where I truly am. My condition is worse than my deceitful heart wants me to think. I must take a serious look at my need for revival. Where in my life am I falling short? What strains of apathy run through my heart? What coldness toward God, toward my brothers, and toward the lost envelopes my soul?

Lord, I need revival!

I need revival!

“My soul cleaveth unto the dust:  quicken thou me according to thy word.”  Ps. 119:25

I’m here at the Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, CA for their annual Leadership Conference.  I want God to work a great revival in my life.   My prayer is that He would quicken me according to His word.

Go to www.igniteteenministries.com to see videos from our Lancaster trip.