The Unseen Battle Over Prayers

In review of Ephesians 6:12 it says, “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.”

Bottom Line:

We are not battling flesh and blood, rather against the spiritual forces and the rulers of evil in the heavenly realms.

What this means to me:

It’s not easy to see what I’m in battle with. I’m up against the spiritual forces and the rules of evil in the unseen and heavenly realms.

I have learned that there is a very real spiritual realm. It has both good and evil within it. There is a battle going on within that I don’t see or feel. Given that I am a child of God, Satan hates e and will do what he can to get me off course, mess with and distract me.

Today’s verse in Ephesians 6:12 reminds me, “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age” (TEV).

As I send up a prayer, there’s often a battle over how it’s going to be answered. While I’m in the waiting room, Satan starts to throw darts at me; the dart of doubt, discouragement, disappointment, delay, and of depression. I am warned in God’s Word that Satan is going to try to take me down.

I’m reminded this morning about a glimpse of this spiritual warfare in the book of Daniel. "Daniel had a vision of an angel, who said, “Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer. The [evil] angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia” (Daniel 10:12-13).

In this passage, it tells of how Daniel had a prayer that wasn’t answered for a while, and he was starting to get discouraged. The angel showed up and said, “I’m here to give you the answer. We heard it from day one, but we’ve been in a battle over this, and it was such an intense battle that Michael the archangel had to come down and help me with this battle so I could come and tell you that the answer is on its way.”

This same thing could be happening when I’m waiting on God for an answer. While I may not know what kind of intense battle is going on over my prayer, I can remember: A delay is not a denial. When an answer to prayer is delayed, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to be answered. It just means God is fighting for you.  So I should not be discouraged, I should just keep on praying!

Five Things to Do While I’m In A Waiting Period

In review of Matthew 7:7 it says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

Bottom Line:

Earnestly seek and you will receive.

Ask, search and knock. You will receive, find and the door will be opened.

What this means to me:

In the times of waiting, I am to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. If I do, I will receive what I’m asking for, find what I’m looking for and the door will be opened for me.

What I’m learning is that in times of waiting (a waiting period), I shouldn’t put everything on hold. Rather, I should continue to act on and continue the habits that grow a strong faith.

Here are five things I should keep on doing, even while waiting:

First, I am to keep on praying. Today’s verse says, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7 NLT). So I shouldn’t give up, I need to keep on praying, an answer will come.

Secondly, I am to keep on serving. Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Don’t worry about having a significant ministry. Just make what I’m involved with significant.

Thirdly, I am to keep on going and being part of a small group. Hebrews 10:25 reminds us to, “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together …. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer” (TEV).

Fourthly, keep on sowing. Ecclesiastes 11:6 says, “Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow —perhaps it all will” (TLB).

And lastly, keep on believing. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “You must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true” (2 Timothy 3:14).

The key point is to stay active and not become passive. God won’t be able to guide or steer me if I become a parked car! Don’t tell God that you’re waiting on him. Turn on the ignition, and just start driving. Get or keep involved in a ministry. Get or keep involved in service. Get or keep involved with small group. I am to keep doing the things I could be doing to develop my skills and habits and become more like Jesus.

I know from personal experience that this can be tough. As my wife and I had made the decision to move from Southern California to Northern California a lot of things were up in the air as we were selling our home and trying to decide what’s next and where we will end up. It's easy to put everything on hold until you are definite about the future.  I’m glad I had made the decision to not put everything on hold and to keep on serving up until we left.

In summary, in the times of waiting, I am to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. If I do, I will receive what I’m asking for, find what I’m looking for and the door will be opened for me.  I need to stay involved, seek fellowship with a small group and continue to take steps to be more active regarding my faith.

The Benefits From Generosity

In review of Acts 20:35b, it says “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”

Bottom Line:

Happiness comes more from giving than receiving.

What this means to me:

More blessings come from giving than from receiving. My life should be characterized by helping others.

In Acts 20:35b, Paul reminds us that of his example living out Jesus’ teaching in that, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (TEV).

Generosity on my part will lead to an increase happiness. Unfortunately the only people who don't know or won’t learn this are those who aren’t generous.

When I was much younger and not as mature, it wasn’t all about what I bought everybody else. It was all about what I got. Then it seemed that all my joy came from what I got, and not from what I gave.

I’ve been learning a lot. Back then I was immature, and self-centered. Today I get more joy from watching what happens to others when I give. I matured and it stopped being about me. Unfortunately, some never really mature, it’s still all about them and what they can get. Sadly, the never learned the joy of generosity.

The most generous people I know have more concern to others and helping them out than in themselves. They are willing to give at a moment's notice.

In summary, more blessings will come to me in my life from giving than from receiving. My life should be characterized by helping others. Given that, I will continue to strive for being generous with my time, money, experience, and heart. I will practice generosity.

Being Generous

In review of Psalm 112:9 it says, “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.”

Bottom Line:

Give generously and you will make an impact.

What this means to me:

I should give and share freely to those in need. God will bless this and I will be respected and able to impact others.

This verse is a reminder that generosity on my part will help expand my influence and the more generous I am, the more impact and influence I can make.

In this, it appears that influence will come not from what I get in life, but rather from what I will give away in life, and the more I give away, the more influential I’ll be.

Another verse in Proverbs 11:24 says, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller” (MSG).

Today’s verse says, “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor” (Psalm 112:9 NLT).

In summary, Give generously to those in need and you will always be remembered. You will have influence and respect. I should never grimace, fown upon or be reluctant to be generous. Today’s verse reminds me that when my generosity goes up, my influence and impact will as well.

This morning, I thank you God for providing me with more than enough in which I can freely give. One thing I should consider is my tithing. I should really think through increasing it even a little bit so that my heart can grow bigger.

True Significance Comes From Serving

In review of 1 Peter 4:10 it says, “Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.”

Bottom Line:

Each has received a gift to use to serve others. Use your gift to pass on God’s blessings.

What this means to me:

I have received gifts from God. These are to be used to serve others. As a faithful steward I am to use them to pass on God’s blessings.

Typically our culture tends to see significance as some form of status. However what I’m learning is that significance does not come from things. True significance will come when I serve and go good to other people.

Significance comes when you start thinking about other people more than yourself and you give your life away. Significance comes from service. I cannot be selfish and significant at the same time.

I reminded this morning in 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others” (NCV).

I’m learning that any talents I’ve been given are not for my benefit. God has given them to me for the benefit of those around you. I’m shaped for significance, and I’ll find that significance by using my gifts and talents and abilities to serve others.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help. If two lie down together, they will be warm, but a person alone will not be warm. An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves; a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break” (NCV).

Also, I’m learning that I’m not meant to serve God by myself. Rather, I’m meant to serve God on a team. I’m meant to serve God in a family, in a small group, in a church. I’m meant to serve God in relationship.

In summary, I have received gifts from God. These are to be used to serve others. As a faithful steward I am to use them to pass on God’s blessings.

The Need For Others

In review of Ephesians 4:16 it says, “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow.”

Bottom Line:

Christ puts the body of believers together. As each part does its work, the entire body grows in health, strength and love.

What this means to me:

I am not meant to be alone. I can know that it is Christ who makes and puts whole body fit together. As each part, including me, does its work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy, strong, and full of love.

What I’m learning is that there are some things I will never learn on my own. I only learn them in context of community. In order for me to grow and develop my potential, I must learn from other people.

For instance, I can only learn forgiveness, loyalty, and love in relationships. I won’t be able to learn kindness, faithfulness, graciousness or unselfishness without others.

It seems that the most important things I need to learn in life require that I be in relationship with others. I can’t do it on my own. If I want to build my potential, I must learn from others and the best place to do this is in the family of God, in the Body of Christ, in the church.

Ephesians 4:16 says, “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow” (NLT).

As such, I need the people God has placed in my life. And they will need me. In summary, God has wired me to need and to learn from others so that I become the man or woman God created me to be. In the body as each part does its work, the entire body will grow in health, strength and love.

Worship Will Renew My Strength

In review of Psalm 100:2 it says, “Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.” 

Bottom Line:

Come and worship the Lord with joy.

What this means to me:

I should come before the Lord and worship him with gladness and joy in my heart.

What I’m learning is that there is real strength in worship. It can strengthen my faith and especially as I unite with others in worship. While the intent of worship is for God, it also has benefits for me. 

There are two big benefits of corporate worship: First, It will renew my faith, and secondly it helps to restore my joy.

Isaiah 40:31 tells me, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (NIV).

From my own experiences I have had times when it seems that I don’t really have the energy to go to church,” but once I’m there and have worshiped, I became more energized. This happens because worship will renews you. It will strengthen my faith and my soul. This type of renewal comes by worshiping God with other believers. This is not something I’d get sitting at home watching TV.

Today’s verse in Psalm 100:2 reminds me, “Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy” (NLT). This verse tells me that I should worship the Lord with gladness; not boredom, sadness, anger or out of duty. I should be singing for joy when I get together corporately with others. Worship itself will renew my faith and restore my joy.

In summary, I should come before the Lord and worship him with gladness and joy in my heart.

God’s Promises For Giving

In review of Luke 6:38 it says, “Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands — more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”

Bottom Line:

Give and you will receive back. The way you treat others will determine how you are treated or given back to.

What this means to me:

As I give, I will receive. Often I will be given so much more in return. For the way and manner in which I give and the way I treat others, will be the way I’m treated or given to. For the measure I use, is how it will be measured to me.

In God’s Kingdom, planting generously will reap a great harvest!

What I’m learning is that to plant generously in faith, I should keep in mind two promises of Jesus.

First, Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands — more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you” (ICB).

The way I give to others is the way God will give to me. I should learn to be generous in planting seeds in this life in order to harvest in the next.

Second, in Mark 10:29-30 Jesus provides a guarantee about anything I give up for his sake. He says, “There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time … and in the age to come eternal life” (ESV).   

God is saying that anything that I give up for his sake, anything I sacrifice for his Kingdom will be returned a hundredfold.

If I can believe that Jesus will save me and take me to heaven with him when I believe him, why wouldn’t I trust God with my finances. It makes sense to trust him for both and to start to plant generously in faith, so that I can reap a harvest later.

In summary, as I give, I will receive. In return I will be given so much more. For the way and manner in which I give and the way I treat others, will be the way I’m treated or given to.

Always Giving My Best

In review of 2 Peter 1:5a it says, “Do your best to improve your faith.”

Bottom Line:

Do your best to improve your faith and respond to God’s promises. You can do this by adding goodness and understanding.

What this means to me:

I can best improve my faith and respond to God’s promises, by supplementing your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and more excellence with knowledge.

A key question for me to consider this morning is, “I'm always doing my best?” If not, why?

What I’m learning is that if I want to give my best to God, there are three things I should do that every soldier understands.

First, I must define what I would die for. Until I know what I’m willing to die for, I’m not ready to live or love. Soldiers know there are some things more valuable than their own lives. Even Jesus talked about it: “The greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13b TLB). We measure love not by what people tell us but by their willingness to sacrifice.

Second, I must sacrifice my own comfort. Soldiers do this all the time. They serve in extreme temperatures and give up control of their schedules and aren’t making a lot of money. They give up a lot of things. I won’t become a great man or woman of God without sacrificing. I won’t become great by doing what’s easy or comfortable. I’ll become great by committing myself to something greater than myself and then being willing to sacrifice for it. The greater my sacrifice in life, the greater my character will be. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:3, “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (NLT).

Lastly, I must eliminate distractions. The Bible says, “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer” (2 Timothy 2:4 NIV). Soldiers know they can’t be distracted by civilian life if they want to be ready to respond to a leader’s command.

In order for me to be the best I can be, I must start spending more of my time, money, and energy on things that are going to last forever and less time, money, and energy on things that don’t really matter.

In summary, in order to give my best to God, I should consider and use these three steps. All of which counter my internal selfish nature.  I need to consider others needs more valuable than my own. I should be willing to sacrifice my own comfort and serve. More importantly, I should not allow myself to get distracted with things of this world nor of myself. I should be listening and responding to my leaders command.

Is it my Dream or God’s

In review of Mark 8:35 it says, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”

Bottom Line:

Live for yourself and you’ll lose your life.  Give your life to Jesus and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

What this means to me:

If I try to live for myself and try to hang on to my life, I’ll will lose it. However Jesus tells me that if I give up my life for him and for the sake of the Good News, I’ll actually be saving it.

This morning I’ll explore the whether a dream I’m living for is from me or is of God’s.

It’s easy to think that all this life is about getting up, going to work, coming home, watching TV, and going to bed; to make a little money, retire, and die. In reality, I don’t think that’s why God put me here.

If my dream is truly from God, it will somehow be connected to his Church and his plan for the world. Why would God give me a self-centered dream, unconnected to what he wants to do in the world? He wants to use me to accomplish his dream. He wants to use me for his plan.

From what I know God’s big and overarching plan is to build a family. He’s collecting family members from every nation, every tribe, every language, and every people group. When everybody’s in the family that he knows will be in the family, it’s over. We then go into phase two, which is eternity.

Right before Jesus went back to Heaven after the Resurrection, he gave the disciples a great vision, a great dream. It’s called the Great Commission in which he tells us to: “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 NLT). The Great Commission is my commission.

When God gives us a dream for our lives, it will always be connected to his overarching plan, the growth of his Church and his Kingdom, and the building of his family until the day it’s completed and we all go to Heaven.

I was not put here on Earth to live for myself. So, I should ask God to give me his dream for my life so that I can be part of the biggest, best, and most important story.

Today’s verse reminds me that, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it” (Mark 8:35).

In summary, If I try to live for myself and try to hang on to my life, I’ll will lose it. However Jesus tells me that if I give up my life for him and for the sake of the Good News, I’ll actually be saving it.  Dreams that come from God will involve building his family and his kingdom.

Doubt Is the Enemy of Imagination

In review of James 1:5-7 it says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

Bottom Line:

If you lack wisdom, pray to God as he will give generously and graciously to all. However when you pray, you must believe and not doubt. If you doubt or unable to make up your mind, your much like a wave that gets tossed back and forth and you should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

What this means to me:

If I’m lacking in wisdom in any area, my first thing should be to pray for God, as he is generous and willing to give it to you. However I must not doubt, waver or be unsettled in what he reveals to me. If I do, then I’m much like a wave that is battered back and forth. If I’m like this then I should not expect anything from God.

What I’m learning is that doubt is the enemy of imagination.

When I was a younger child, I had a great imagination. But the older I got, the more my imagination grew rusty. I stopped imagining what things could be, and I just started living the way they are. I go stuck in the status quo, which is Latin for “the mess we’re in.”

Doubt and fear in my life will neutralize what God wants to do. It takes courage to imagine. Most stop imagining because they’re afraid of failure.

Courage after all is doing the thing you fear the most. So If I’m not afraid, I won’t need courage. Courage is when I’m scared to death but still say, “I’m going to do it anyway.”

Courage is when I do the right thing while I’m are afraid. I find myself wondering, “Should I wait until all my doubts are gone?” But what I’m learning is that I have to move against my fears. I have to ignore all the insecurity I’m feeling and just go for it.

James 1:5-7 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (NIV).

My imagination is either going to be governed by fear or it’s going to be governed by faith. It's my choice. If I let my imagination be governed by fear, I’m going to go around being freaked out, stressed out, and worried all the time. Allowing fear to control my imagination, will only lead to living a miserable life.

Instead I can decide that I’m not going to allow fear to dominate me. Rather I will practice letting my faith dominate. My trust in God. Then I can move forward in faith and allow my imagination to be filled with all kinds of possibilities, because all things are possible with God.

In summary, If I’m lacking in wisdom in any area, my first thing should be to pray for God, as he is generous and willing to give it to you. However I must not doubt, waver or be unsettled in what he reveals to me. If I do, then I’m much like a wave that is battered back and forth. If I’m like this then I should not expect anything from God.

As I reflect today, I think one thing that God wants me to do, but I’ve held back deals with sharing my faith/belief in him with others.  I should begin to imagine / visualize myself sharing more on a routine basis with those in my life.

Faith Requires Imagination

In review of 2 Corinthians 4:18 it says, “We fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

Bottom Line:

Don’t focus on what you physically see today, it’s only temporary. Rather fix your gaze on what is unseen for it is eternal.

What this means to me:

I should fix my attention not on what I can see, but on the things that are unseen.  For the things I see now will soon be gone and not last forever. For this reason I should keep my mind on the things that cannot be seen.

When I can’t see something physically, I have to imagine it in my mind. What I’m learning is that imagination is essential to living by faith.

Hebrews 11:1 tells me, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (NLT).

Faith is when we hope for something, and we know it’s going to happen. It helps to have a picture of this hope in mind.

Hebrews 11 is a listing of God’s Hall of Fame. As I read through the heroes of faith, I can see that every one of them became heroes of faith because they used their imagination.

For instance, God said to Abraham, “You’re 90 years old, and you have no kids. But I’m going to change your name from Abram to Abraham, which means ‘father of a great nation.’”

He told Abraham to go outside at night and count the stars, that’s how many grandchildren and great grandchildren he would have in his family tree, the nation of Israel! What God is doing when he tells Abraham to go count stars, is activating his imagination. He’s saying, “I want you to visualize what I’m going to do in your life.”

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “We fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

Even though I can’t see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, they’re going to last for eternity. Even though I can’t see my own soul, it to is going to last for eternity.

This verse reminds me to focus on the things that will last, the things you can’t actually see with your eyes. In order to focus on things I can’t see, I use my imagination. This is much like Stephen Covey’s second habit in the “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, and it’s to “Begin with the end in mind.” This principle also re-enforces the notion of getting a clear visualization or picture of what it will look like at the end.  Practicing this principle and having this type of vision helps develop the plans and steps required to get to the end goal.

In summary, I should fix my attention not on what I can see, but on the things that are unseen. For the things I see now will soon be gone and not last forever. I should keep my mind on the things that cannot be seen and my imagination will help shape my life. It is essential step to living by faith.  

The Benefit of Believing

In review of John 11:25-26 it says, “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish.”

Bottom Line:

Eternal life is found in Jesus. He raises the dead and gives life again. Those who live in and believe in him will live, even if when they die physically.

What this means to me:

Jesus tells me that he is the one who raises the dead and gives life again. As I live in and believe in him, even though they physically die, will live again and have eternal life.

I am finding that there are many benefits to my believing in Jesus and having a relationship with him. But even if there were nothing else, there would still be this, and it’s a really big deal: When I believed in Jesus Christ, I was guaranteed eternal life. Now my eternity is sealed because of Jesus’ Resurrection.

It is through Jesus bringing himself back to life that changed everything. It literally split history into A.D. and B.C. It’s the most important event. And, it proved three things.

First, it proved that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be. He repeatedly said he was the Son of God who came to die for our sins. And he did just that.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most well documented events in history. It would stand up in any court of law. In fact it has many, many times throughout centuries.

The Resurrection also proved that Jesus keeps his promises. Jesus told his disciples that he was going to let the people kill him and that he would come back to life. If he kept that promise, then I know that I can trust the other promises in the Word of God.

The third thing the Resurrection proves is that there is life after death. If Jesus Christ hadn’t resurrected, I would have no hope for the future.

Jesus said in John 11:25-26b, “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish” (TLB).

Where else will I find a promise like that? Nowhere! Who else can give that to me? No one! If I don’t get it from Jesus, I won’t have it. That is an amazing benefit, that is available today, because I believe in him.

If you are reading this and you want to make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, just pray this prayer: “Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in Heaven one day.

I confess my sin, and I believe that you are God, my Savior. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to your management. You have the right to call the shots in my life. Jesus, I want to relax in your love.

Thank you that I don’t have to earn it or deserve it or work for it. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you rather than serving myself. I humbly commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

In summary, Eternal life is found in Jesus. He raises the dead and gives life again. Those who live in and believe in him will live, even if when they die physically.