Thursday prayer & verses (18 03 2010)

Thought for the day

I heard about a story about a man whose wife wanted to buy a pet monkey. The husband protested strongly. He said, "Where will the monkey eat?" She said, "He'll eat at the table with us." He said, "But what will he eat?" And she said, "He'll eat the same thing we do." He said, "But where will the monkey sleep?" She said, "He'll sleep in bed with us." He said, "But what about the smell?" She said, "I got used to you, I reckon he will, too."

So often when we think about the need for change, we are quick to think of ways that somebody else needs to change. We are much more hesitant to recognize that there are problems in our own life that need to be dealt with. But Christianity is a growing process, a process by which we are constantly looking for those things that need to be changed and improved, and then taking steps to do just that.

I want to share with you some things that relate to changes that may need to come about in your individual lives. They are certainly changes that I'd like to see in my own life. In regard to our Christian lives, I think there are three areas that we need to focus on -- we need to KNOW the will of God better, we need to DO more of the work of Christ, and we need to BECOME more like Christ.

Knowing, doing and becoming -- I really think those are the three pillars of the Christian life. I believe that's what Christianity is all about.

"For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9-10).

Do you see the ideas of knowing, doing and becoming in Paul's prayer for the Colossians?

Verses

Habakkuk 2:3

Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.

Isaiah 53:5

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being [fell] upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

Matthew 16:19

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind -- that is, declare to be improper and unlawful -- on earth must be already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth -- declare lawful -- must be what is already loosed in heaven.

John 14:13

You can ask him for anything, using my name, and I will do it, for this will bring praise to the Father because of what I, the Son, will do for you.

Proverbs 22:4

True humility and respect for the Lord lead a man to riches, honor and long life.

Prayer

Father, when we place our trust in You we’ve only begun to tap into the unlimited resources You make available to the believer. You have blessed us with Your special favor and Your unsurpassed peace and it only gets better and better as we grow to know You more and more. The illumination of Your Word is truly a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path revealing the mystery of the Gospel to us. May we be found consistent from day to day growing in the grace and knowledge You give to us in the midst of varying daily experiences of life. It is in Christ’s name that we pray. Amen.