Keep On Praying

James 5:13- "Is any of you in trouble(or suffering)? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise."

Keep On Praying

This verse shares a key principle for effective intercession: 'keep on praying" until the breakthrough comes. The actual building of the dam usually takes many months, and then the water begins accumulating behind the dam. Drop by drop and day by day the water level rises, yet on the other side of the dam it's not apparent that anything is happening. Then when the water level finally reaches the right height, the sluice gates are opened wide. Water begins to turn the generators, and incredible power is released. 

     Whether we are suffering from physical illness, financial problems, or broken relationships, sometimes it looks as if things will never change. This verse encourages us to PRESS ON. Keep praying until you have accumulated a great mass of prayer. Gather others to intercede for you. The breakthrough may be just around the corner. 

Lord, I want to be a faithful follower who doesn't stop praying because of delay, disappointment, or weariness. You won't delay one day or one moment longer than is needed for you to accomplish your purposes. Empower me to "keep on praying" until the answers come and to continually be thankful and bless your name. 

This is from my devotion book "One Year Praying Through the Bible" and it really spoke to me personally. I hope it does you as well. Praying for you! Keep praying...

Slave to Sin

Too many times I ask myself  "Why did you do that, Meagan? You know better than to act like that, or speak like that, or to have an attitude like that." I get so down on myself for the things that I do that I KNOW I'm not supposed to. It's a never-ending circle of sin that I find myself stuck in sometimes. But, there's always something good from everything you do, you just have to look for it... here's what I've found to be true. 

* Romans 7:14- 8:2- "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but is it sin living in me that does it. So, I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members or my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a WRETCHED(worthless, afflicted, sorry) man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. THEREFORE, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death!!

The apostle Paul struggled just like each of us struggle. He found himself in the same situations that we struggle with. Paul is speaking of the normal Christian life which describes ONLY Christian and ALL genuine Christians. Paul is very humble and responsive to the fact that he messes up and that he's not perfect at all. He wants to do what's right, but his body won't respond. I don't think Paul dwells on the weakness of our flesh in order to discourages us; I believe he exposes the weakness of our flesh as the root problem which prevents Christians from living the kind of lives God requires and what we, as Christians, desire in our innermost being. In Romans 7, Paul exposes the weakness of our flesh to prepare us for God's provision for Godly living, which is the solution found in Romans 8. I LOVE how it goes from all the things he feels about his weaknesses and talking about his downfalls towards God, to boldly saying THEREFORE... it sets a tone that makes Christians connect with Paul and the way he feels. Therefore- right when it gets to that word, it's like everything that we've done wrong is paid for by the blood of the Lamb. What a more beautiful picture than Christ giving up his very own life to save us from our sins that we continually get caught up in. We've been forgiven- what else could we want? We have salvation through Jesus! What a wonderful feeling to know that no matter what sins we commit, God has already forgiven us. 

I lead a Bible study for my hall on Wednesday nights, and a few weeks ago this was our topic. It has been incredible to see the way this verse has changed my outlook. I am so thankful for the ways in which God can use scripture over and over again to continually draw me back to Him! Praise the Lord. 

Praying for you today as you seek God's will for your life, and as you continue to be an open vessel for Him! Love you today!

Thoughts for today...

This week has been one of those weeks- many ups and downs; yet somehow God continues to pick me up when I'm at my lowest. I can't comprehend God's mercy and faithfulness and goodness, but I know that it is true, real and genuine. I find myself getting so bogged down with the negative things that happen, that I sometimes miss the positive that comes in the same day. I wish it wasn't like that, but I'm human. It happens. My boyfriend, Jason, has been so encouraging to me, and yesterday he reminded me that I have to look at the positive throughout the day. I can't focus on the negative because knowing me, I will become depressed very easily. That's Satan's way of attacking me- telling me that I'm not going to make it, that I'm not good enough, and to let my emotions get the best of me. And the crazy thing is, is that I buy that lie- I do. I buy is over and over again. I wish there was an easier way to deal with the anxiety and stress that Satan throws my way, but I have come to the realization that God is bigger than any lie Satan tells me, whether I buy it and fall, or whether I completely turn the opposite way and stand tall. It's easier said than done, but I have set a goal for myself, and Jason is helping me- my goal is to thank God daily for what He has given me and to look past the negative and towards the positive. Christ died for me, for you, for sinners, for the broken and bruised like me, and yet I never thank Him enough for allowing so many positive things to happen to me. I am SO blessed, and yet I continue to get  down on myself and forget to thank God for His goodness in my life . There will always be times in life where nothing makes sense and we wonder why certain things happen. Welcome to my life. BUT, there is hope! It is Jesus Christ. My prayer is that each one of us- Christian or not, man or woman, depressed or joyful- will remember that there is always good, we just have to look for it and acknowledge it. If we don't, you'll end up in an emotional mess just like I was. No it's not easy, and even at this moment I'm struggling with issues that only God knows about, but I know one thing- God is on my side, and Satan can have NO part in my life. God has already won; Satan can try to devour my life and ruin my attitude, but I WILL persevere with the very one who gave me my strength to do so. I pray that if you are in a similar situation that you will not hesitate to first, call on the name of the Lord, and second, talk to someone. That's how I got through; I had God and friends who listened, offered their best advice, and prayed me through.  always here, willing to listen to whatever you're going through. Praying for you, brother and sister in Christ! Let's go out and be a vessel for Christ!