Sainthood is a Joint Venture in Prayer

20132021 Dr. Mike Journey in Christ christ-follower, christlike, DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, KINGDOM REALITY, life in christ, pray, prayer, radical in christ

Where does our best source of encouragement come from? When we don’t know where to go for help or support, where is our hand held most securely? When we are discouraged or discontented, where does our spark of hope be lit? What is one of life’s natural highs that bathes the soul with rushing waters of refreshment? What changes hearts, minds, and at times even circumstances? What elevates the soul to heaven?

We are of course speaking about prayer; the privileged discipline that allows us to have a one-on-one heartfelt, mindful, and soulful communion with the Living Creator of life. Not only our prayers, but the prayers of other disciples around the world. Do you ever wonder whose prayer really made the difference regarding that one situation? Was it yours? Or was it the prayer of that unknown widow who heard about it via a friend that God nod His head in final approval? Whosoever prayer it was doesn’t really matter, because sainthood is a joint venture. Somewhere we all come to realize that our spiritual success is not only built on our relationship with our Heavenly Dad, but it also rides on the help of others. There is great inner joy to know that real saints are praying for you and your successful journey through time.

Likewise, when we look back in our life, we may realize that many people have prayed for us throughout our life. Our parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, church members, priests, ministers, nuns, teachers, counselors, gas station attendants, newspaper delivery persons, coaches, bosses, and whoever else you may have come in contact with throughout your journey in time. The point being that many people have cared about you even though you may have never realized it until now.

There are many people who have already learned about the powerful blessings given through prayer before we even heard or seen it in action. Prayer is a gift that we are given to bless others, and others have been given to bless even more others. And the cycle continues, with the central source of all blessing starting from our heavenly Dad and finishing with our heavenly Dad. Paul taught that we should pray without ceasing. This means that during the day in whatever circumstances or situation, we are to ask the Source of strength and make our requests, petitions, thankfulness, and praise known to Him. One day we may be all surprised to find out how many prayers where being offered to Him at the same time from other people in the same room with no one truly being aware of all the sources but God Himself. All the praise and thanks go to Him. He developed the means for us to pray. He has taught us how to pray. He hears our prayers. He acts on our prayers. All the glory and honor goes to Him as He does it His way and in His time. We are simply joint-servants in this journey with Him. Praises to Him!

OUR PRAYER

Dear Eternal Dad, thank you for always being available to hear our prayers. We don’t understand how you do it, and we don’t know how you make it work, but you care and want to hear our hearts and minds in prayer. You have created it. Help us to practice it, to live it, and to become effective with it. Let our prayers come straight to you without delay. Act on them without delay. But always, answer our prayers in the best way possible. We know many of our prayers are childlike, self-centered, and without soulful diligence. Forgive us and change us. Let our heart commune with yours. Let the passion flow between us. Be our lover. Let everything in our being communicate with you.

Open the doors of heaven and glorify your name by answering the prayers of your saints and servants. Add our words with those of our brothers and sisters. Let our petitions and praises make a joyful noise throughout heaven. Teach us what we do not know about prayer. Help us be a great prayer warrior for your kingdom. Jesus we thank you. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Speaker

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

Patience Under Construction

20132013 Dr. Mike Journey in Christ christ-follower, christlike, DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, life in christ, new creation, radical in christ, transformation

Remember in our early business careers how restless we became when events and situations didn’t occur as quickly as we had planned? We would probably become frustrated and at times outwardly angry because of it. Some of us were probably even an explosive bomb with a very short timer. Then one day we found our self waiting in the lobby of a customer. Previously to this time, we would have waited for a few minutes and if the customer didn’t arrive, we would reschedule and move on to other important priorities of the day. But remember that first time when it was different? When we found our self waiting patiently for their late arrival. There was no frustration. There was no anger. There was no explosion. There was only calm, reassuring patience. We may have even forgotten to this day what was the result of our meeting except for the fact that we had exercised patience for the very first time in our life.

A friend shared this story with us a few days ago. He mentioned that at seventeen he started to realize he needed to change and to improve himself. So he began working on improving his character via the old Benjamin Franklin method. He would list the character traits that he knew needed improving and was working diligently to make himself a better person. But patience was not on top of the list. It was way, way, down on the list. There was what he considered more important items that needed to deal with. This is why he marveled. He didn’t do anything to change his behavior in regards to patience. His focus was working on other leadership traits that he considered more important. This was his first experience of truly marveling at the power of God working within him. He came to realize that the real permanent internal change was not caused by him building habits of success. But the real changes in his life came from the Holy Spirit creating within him a masterpiece that only He could produce. This time is was patience. He truly then realized that he is under construction and the Master builder is God.

Since that time he has come to realize that his priorities for spiritual growth are different than God’s plan for him. Why would a young man desire patience? Are there any other more important characteristics that he could use to shape the world? In his case, patience was the first fruit of the spirit that God must have considered more important in his life at that time. Now we see why.

It is through patience that faith comes alive. It is through patience that love is revealed. It is through patience that joy is expressed. It is through patience that peace rules. It is through patience that self-control is exercised. It is through patience that kindness is exemplified. It is through patience that goodness wins out. It is through patience that gentleness makes its mark.

To walk by patience is to walk with God. God is very patient with us. He wants us to learn from Him and to become like Him. As a disciple of His, we are also disciples of patience. God truly knows what is best for us. Let us walk with Him and trust Him to patiently create His masterpiece in us as we live in Him.

OUR PRAYER

Thank you Lord for building your patience in us. Help us in our lack of it. Let your Spirit fill us with the entire Fruit of your Spirit. You know which one we need most today. Let your glory and honor always be revealed in your children. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Speaker

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God
Portal: Be Radical…EnjoyLifeInChrist.com

Comfort Is Only One Lean Away

20132022 Dr. Mike Journey in Christ DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, life in christ, radical in christ

You may have experience something like this one time or another with your child. While sitting in a church service. your daughter leans next to you laying her head on your shoulder. After a few minutes, she returns to her sitting position. If you asked your daughter afterwards, she would most likely comment something to the fact that it feels good to lean against someone who loves you; to lean on someone that makes you feel loved, and loves you no matter what. When she does it, isn’t she really saying to you that she loves you and feels safe with you. Doesn’t it also make us smile because it’s the same feeling we have with God. It feels good to lean on Him.

As adults, most of us feel all grown up. However, if we are truly honest with ourselves, most of us would have to make a confession. We do not. Oh yes, we may be grown up physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. But spiritually is another story. We are kids still in awe of our Dad. He’s so big and strong that we feel so small and inadequate in his presence. Just like a child comparing himself with his parent. At times we may feel grown up like our parents, but deep inside we realize that they are a little older and more experienced than we are at the present moment. But isn’t it reassuring that we will grow up to become like them?

As a child finds comfort in knowing there is someone who loves her and will take care of her as she grows, we likewise find comfort with our heavenly Dad. When times become difficult, when the direction is difficult to choose, when the pain becomes unbearable, when friends are few, when the financial resources run scarce, it’s comforting to know we have a loving Dad who cares about us and is always available to be leaned against.

We can be sure that God feels good being leaned against. Just like it makes us feel good when our child leans against us. We can be sure that God enjoys a similar experience. Just as we want to give our children the best of everything, including the best education and character development, we know that God wants to give the best to us. It’s very comforting to know that help is only one lean away.

OUR PRAYER

Our Great, Comforting and Dependable Dad, thank you for always being available when we need you. Though at times you seem so far removed, and sometimes like you don’t even know us, we have come to know that you are always present.

You give us reassurance when we most need it. You give us comfort when it hurts. You give us your shoulder to lean against when the load becomes too heavy. You give more than we ever request.

When you refrain from immediately answering our prayers as we desire, you still answer in a way that gives us comfort and peace that you are in control and everything will work out for the best. All this is because of Jesus who we make this request through. Thank you. Thank you. Amen. Amen.

Yours In Christ,

Dr. Mike

Coach, Consultant, and Speaker

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God