God’s Spirit; March 30, 2020

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

In the first 12 verses of this chapter, this verse and verse 12 have echoed most strongly in my heart and life. This verse is directly addressed to Timothy, and verse 12 is a commentary by Paul about his own faith. Paul had already experienced the truth in this verse, which is why he was able to make the faith declaration in verse 12. I think every Christian wants to get to the place where Paul was at the end of his physical life, fully at peace in the Lord with a faith that was not dependent on circumstances, but the way to get there is expressed in this verse. Every believer, I think, wants more power, more love, and more self-discipline, so the answer is simple: open up more to God’s Spirit. Linguistically speaking, when we talk about someone’s spirit we mean who they are, their true essence, and that is certainly the case with the Holy Spirit of God. We are often reminded of how far below God we are in every way, but the more we are filled with His Spirit, the more we think and act and live like He does. The key is simply letting Him be in control. That, however, is much more easily said than done. We tend to be “control freaks,” trying to determine every detail of our lives and getting frustrated and exhausted in the process. It is when we choose to release ourselves totally into God’s hands, being filled and carried along by His Spirit, that we discover we have the power, love, and self-discipline we want and need.

It’s been quite a few years now since God told me personally to rest, relax, and rejoice. I don’t remember the year, but I remember that it was in November. I was having my regular devotional time, just as I am now, and as my fingers typed those words I realized that they were God speaking to me. My application, my obedience to those words has not been perfect in the years since then, but I keep growing. Timidity, at least, is largely a thing of the past, and I see God’s power operating in and through me, but self-discipline? Well, I’m still growing! As a pastor I desire that every believer be fully filled and ruled by the Holy Spirit, and it grieves me when they are not. The older I get the more I identify with Paul in his feelings for those into whom he had poured his life. I am certainly not a perfect example, but I have discovered the absolute faithfulness of God, and I want everyone to know and trust Him as I do (as Paul wrote in verse 12). I am to keep praying for people and entrust them to God, just as He has taught me to entrust myself to Him. He is able to bring us all before His throne in glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You know who is on my heart particularly right now, and I know they are on Your heart more than on mine! Help me be faithful and obedient in every detail of Your plan for me, so that I may be useful in Your plan for them, defeating every plan of the enemy and establishing Your rule and reign right here, as perfectly as it is in heaven, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Spiritual Growth; March 29, 2020

Posted on March 30, 2020 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Three things stand out to me about this. In the first place, Paul is telling Timothy that it doesn’t matter what other people are doing; he’s got to chart his own course. As social animals it is very easy to be influenced by what those around us are doing. Recently a new occupation has arisen of a “social media influencer.” Social media aside, we are called to be influencers toward God, and not simply to be influenced by others. That brings up the second thing that stands out to me, and that is Paul calling Timothy a “man of God.” Timothy was still fairly young and he evidently had troubles with timidity, (2 Timothy 1:7) so this was an affirmation of who he was in Christ, not what he was naturally. We can only guess what a strength and encouragement it was to Timothy for Paul to address him like this. The third thing is that Timothy is told to “pursue” (the Japanese says, “earnestly seek”) these desirable qualities. We aren’t to be passive, assuming things will come along some day, but rather actively strive to be righteous, godly, and all the rest. We don’t have the strength or ability to succeed on our own, but God’s power waits on our decision, our will. Commitment to be a disciple of Jesus Christ isn’t a matter of taking the easy way every time, but of choosing to follow, to be faithful, to express the character of our Lord as He enables us.

This of course applies as much to me as it does to anyone. At this stage of life I am much more in the place of Paul than of Timothy, but I still need to be active in my pursuit of Christ-likeness. He has knocked off a lot of sharp edges and sanded down a lot of rough spots over the years, but I’m certainly no more perfect than Paul was. (Philippians 3:12-14) I recognize deficiencies in myself in each of the areas mentioned here, and I’m not to be passive about them. As God enables me, I am to keep growing in every dimension (except physically. Obesity is certainly not desirable!). I am to be an example to all, and especially to the “Timothys” God has given me, so that all may grow closer to the God who created us for His pleasure and glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the step of growth You gave me yesterday, after Cathy reminded me that this being a 5th Sunday, we normally have testimonies rather than a sermon. My first reaction was, “I’ve got a sermon prepared, and the title is on the street bulletin board, so I’m going to preach.” Thank You for leading me to decide that if people are prepared to give testimonies, I can just keep this message for next Sunday. I pray that Your perfect will would be done, whether I preach or not, because this is Your church and not mine. Thank You. Praise God!

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Desire for Wealth; March 28, 2020

Posted on March 30, 2020 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

It’s the first part of the next verse that is so famous, but this verse deserves a lot of attention. The average person on the street will say, “Sure, I’d like to be rich!” That’s why lotteries are persistently popular. However, lotteries have been accurately described as “a tax on people who are poor at math.” The odds of winning are so low that entering them is essentially like throwing your money away, but people counter with, “But somebody has to win! I want that to be me.” The sad thing is, people who are comfortable financially seldom buy lottery tickets, so it is the people who can’t afford to lose money who throw it away chasing wealth. In Japan, at any rate, and I’m sure elsewhere as well, the people who run lotteries say they are “selling a dream.” However, here Paul is saying that the dream of being rich is itself a trap. It all comes back to priorities and goals. Jesus very famously said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) When our hearts are fixed on the ultimate prize of eternity with God in His kingdom, not only are our temporal needs supplied, as Jesus promised, but every other goal fades into unimportance – and specifically, the goal of being rich. A number of studies have been done that show that money certainly doesn’t equal happiness, but the reason the devil keeps feeding us the lie that it does, is that he’s so successful at doing so! Anxiety over finances certainly is destructive, and the current enforced unemployment because of COVID-19 certainly contributes to that, but there too the answer is what Jesus said about it. God is more than able to supply our needs, so if our focus is sufficiently on Him to let Him show us what our needs are, then we can have peace and joy regardless of our circumstances.

At the moment I find myself somewhat ambivalent, because as Social Security recipients we will almost certainly be receiving the “stimulus” money congress has agreed on, even though in Japan we are not under lock-down and our income is largely unaffected. I need to hear what God wants me to do about that. Our general income levels are so low that we haven’t had to pay federal income tax, to Japan or America, in quite a few years, but God continues to supply our needs, often with surprising abundance. I do have a material “wish list,” but it is pretty short, and I recognize that other things are of far higher priority. Again I benefit from the home in which I was raised, because my parents were certainly focused on God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Looking around me I am saddened to see so many who are focused on the material, whether they have much of it or not. I am not to look down on them but consistently speak the truth in love, lifting them up in prayer so that their feet may avoid the snares of the enemy and God be glorified in their lives.

Father, thank You for this reminder. At times it can be difficult being “in the world but not of it,” as Jesus said. (John 17:15-16) Help me keep it straight in my heart and mind so that I may in turn be an example and an encouragement to those who are watching me, and together we may destroy the works of the devil, for great blessing and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Prohibitions; March 27, 2020

Posted on March 29, 2020 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 4:3-5 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

It has always been striking to me that when Paul wanted to give examples of “things taught by demons,” (verse 1) The first thing he came up with was forbidding marriage and the second was dietary restrictions. Those things have been common in different groups down through the centuries! It is fascinating that the devil never creates, he only distorts. In contrast, God, by very definition, is the Creator, and as Genesis 1 records, everything He creates is good. The first time the Bible uses the expression, “not good,” is in Genesis 2:18, where God says, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Forbidding marriage flies in the face of that, and the Bible talks many times about the blessings of marriage. In Old Testament times there were many dietary restrictions, for a number of reasons, but improving hygiene and the like mitigated most of those reasons. An objective examination of history shows that the vast majority of prohibitions don’t come from a desire to bless, but from a thirst for power on the part of the ones doing the prohibiting. As came up on the 24th, a thirst for power is a very destructive motivation. It’s what got Lucifer thrown out of heaven! (Isaiah 14:12-14, as came up on the 22nd) That’s not to say that we aren’t to show wisdom in what we take in and what we do. Paul dealt with all sorts of pagan practices, and he himself refrained from certain foods when he was with those who were convinced they were bad. Likewise, the Bible never forbids taking in alcohol, but it certainly commends wisdom and moderation. Paul thought there were advantages to being single, but he had a gift for it, and he wrote powerfully commending marriage. (Ephesians 5:22-33) The devil tries to present faith as a matter of negatives, when in fact it is the most positive thing possible.

This can be tricky, because all behaviors are obviously not equal. I haven’t always come down on the correct side when I have made decisions, either for myself or as a pastor. However, I would rather err on the side of grace than otherwise. That said, I am deeply grieved by the acceptance in some churches of the devil’s lies as normative. I do not reject people, but certain behaviors are destructive to them and to society as a whole. As Isaiah said, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20) I am to walk in grace and love, but failing to speak the truth is not love. I am to let the Word and the Spirit be my guide, and not human arguments that deny God.

Father, we are indeed bombarded by “things taught by demons.” Help me hear You clearly in all humility, living out what You tell me so that I won’t deceive myself, (James 1:22) loving people enough to speak Your truth to them, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Fathers/Pastors March 26, 2020

Posted on March 28, 2020 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 3:5 If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?

This is obviously a parenthetical thought, but a very germane one. When I was in seminary I can recall being told, “Your first flock is your family,” but I don’t remember being taught much about how to implement that in practical terms. Most of the professors were good examples, and several invited students and their families into their homes fairly often. There was a class in Marriage and Family, but little if any of the content remains in my brain. Especially the single students had little if any framework for really taking it in. I have seen pastors’ families that were examples for the world, as Paul indicates they should be, but I have also seen pastors’ families that were trage­dies. Not surprisingly, the churches served by those pastors didn’t do well either. Men can be very adept at putting the different parts of their lives into different boxes. That can be a fairly effective coping mechanism at times, but when the interconnections are ignored, everything can fall apart. A pastor’s first responsibility is to God, then to his wife, then to his physical children, then to his spiritual children, and then to the world. And somewhere in there he’s got to take care of himself! The thing is, if his focus on God is full and accurate, God will direct him in dealing with everything down the line, and take good care of him in the process. Society teaches us to define ourselves by our work, our job, and that leads to all sorts of aberrations. When a man sees himself as a pastor first, and all the other things after that, then even God becomes secondary or worse. Such a man will read the Bible only for sermon preparation, rather than to feed his own soul. Sadly, various studies tell us that a shocking number of pastors fit that pattern exactly. However, Bible knowledge alone doesn’t guarantee a successful life and ministry; God’s truth has to be internalized and applied. (James 1:22) It seems like every year we hear of “successful” pastors who are caught in horrible sin. That is certainly evidence that God’s priorities for life haven’t been followed.

As a pastor and Missionary Kid myself, this gives me a lot to think about. I am extremely aware of how blessed I was in my own upbringing, but that upbringing didn’t guarantee perfect behavior in me. That gives me grace in dealing with myself and with those around me! Thankfully, I was taught that my actions were my responsibility, and the consequences were mine to own as well. I see so much teaching of various sorts that denies that fundamental truth! My physical children have turned out pretty well, at least as the world views them, but their standing in God’s evaluation is between them and Him. How they have done and are doing with their children is again a matter for them, their children, and God. I’m very grateful to say I don’t think they’ve done badly! The immediate question for me is how I deal with my spiritual children, since that is a matter of my daily interaction. I now have quite a bit of experience, but that doesn’t mean I can just rely on past precedent. I still need to be active in keeping God first to the degree that I can hear Him accurately in terms of every other relationship in my life. If I will do that, He will supply the wisdom that otherwise I lack, and that is greatly to be desired.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the way You have led and grown me over the years. Thank You for the little victories You give me along the way. I pray that I would indeed be the child, husband, father, and pastor that You want me to be, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Examples; March 25, 2020

Posted on March 28, 2020 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 1:15-17 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We think of Paul as being a unique individual, and in many ways he was, since God used him to write half of the New Testament. However, he saw himself as an example, that there would be many “Pauls” running around serving God. This whole section is talking about how amazing it is that God would use someone who was as Paul was, as proof that God can use anybody. We need to remember the level of faith it took for Ananias to go to Paul, under God’s direction, to pray for him. (Acts 9:10-19) Paul was not a nice guy! That said, there have been many such conversions throughout history. John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace, is another famous example, going from being a slave trader to being a pastor. The list could easily go on and on, but the point is that none of us are worse than those people were, and God is certainly big enough to use us, as He used them. The devil uses pride in tricky ways, convincing us that our faults are too great for God to overcome. How absurd! It is in no way hubris to think that the God who created the universe by His word could use any part of His creation any way He liked, specifically including us. Rather, it is hubris to think that our faults are somehow insurmountable obstacles for Him. We think that way only because our focus is on ourselves, instead of on our omnipotent Creator, our heavenly Father. We don’t understand why Paul would break into a doxology here, praising God, because we don’t believe God is great enough to use anybody at all. Paul is offering himself as an example, not of someone who really had what it took to serve God, but of God’s patience with someone who, in the natural way of things, was a hopeless case. With God, no one is hopeless!

My own experience of God’s gracious patience isn’t identical to Paul’s, but it is no less deep. Despite an amazing list of advantages in birth and upbringing, I got firmly mired in spiritual pride, as though I had earned and/or deserved all those advantages. In the process I essentially threw them all out the window. Thinking back, I believe I could easily have become a sociopath. However God, in His incredible mercy, tapped me on the shoulder and showed me a mirror, so that for a split second I could really see myself. That was all it took, and I collapsed on the floor, crying out, “My Lord and my God!” I have told that story many times, but God’s patience certainly didn’t stop there. Thankfully, it’s still operative! I have grown in the almost 50 years since that experience, but I’ve still got a long way to go. I get disgusted at myself at times, and am reminded that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) If God can be patiently gracious with me, He can be patiently gracious with anybody. That is exactly what Paul is saying here, and it is my testimony as well.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I think You’ve given me Sunday’s message! Guide me in writing the notes so that I will be fully prepared for You to speak through me. Put a guard on my lips that I would not say anything You don’t want said, and may I speak in such a way that You alone get all the glory, because You alone are worthy. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Rules; March 24, 2020

Posted on March 26, 2020 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 1:5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

You can extrapolate from this that the purpose of every rule in the Church should be to promote love. That actually is very much in keeping with the rest of the Bible, since as Jesus said, the greatest and second commandments both deal with love. (Matthew 22:37-40) We create rules for all sorts of reasons, from a desire for uniformity (which is not the same as unity) to a raw thirst for power. Rules that come from all these lesser motives bind instead of liberate, tear down instead of build up. God’s rules are not like that, as John pointed out. (1 John 5:3) Too often we seem to have rules for the sake of rules! In the current administration in the US, the majority of the advances for the sake of the nation have come from removing rules and relaxing regulations, and the nation has thrived as a result. Many more such constricting regulations have come to light as a result of the current health crisis, and they are being relaxed or eliminated at a great rate. That should be a lasting good that will come out of the tragedy! We have great trouble coming to the place of faith expressed by Augustine of Hippo: “Love God and do as you please.” Most of us have never loved God enough for that to be fully operative. As Paul expressed it, “Christ’s love compels us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14) That’s stronger than a rule! One of the fundamental paradoxes of the kingdom of God is that loving Him fully brings both total submission and total liberty. As again Paul said, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) Are you tired of rules? Then love God with all you are!

This is something I am more convinced of the longer I live. It has always bothered me that many school rules, at least in Japan, seem to be for the purpose of teaching the students to break or ignore rules, because they are so absurd. Sadly, a lot of laws seem to be the same way. The fallen nature of man requires basic guidelines, as in the 10 Commandments, but God’s rules are always and only to keep us out of trouble, to keep us from hurting ourselves and those around us. Since I graduated from college (and got married) in 1969, in the middle of the hippie era, I know all about rebellion against “the man,” violating norms simply because they are norms. I have also seen a lot of destruction and death that has come from that. We protested the Vietnam War with “Make love, not war,” but didn’t distinguish love from sex, and society is still suffering the fallout from that. God’s rules are from, and seek to engender, agape love. I must never forget that, in my interactions with Him and with those around me.

Father, thank You for using even something as destructive as COVID-19 for good. (Romans 8:28) I see not only needless regulations being abolished, I also see people straightening out their priorities and seeing each other as people again, instead of adversaries. I pray that the infection would die down promptly, but even more, I pray that all of Your purposes in allowing it to happen would be fulfilled, for the benefit of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Perseverance; March 23, 2020

Posted on March 25, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

We like to talk about God’s love, but not so often about Christ’s perseverance. Frankly, patient endurance (perseverance) seems to be a rare grace these days! This is really “the age of the instant,” with everything from microwave cooking to high-speed Internet to speed dating, and seemingly no patience for anything slower. The current COVID-19 mess could well be, among other things, a lesson in slowing down, since so many are working from home or even losing their jobs outright because of “social distancing.” As Paul says here, God’s love is essential for successful Christian living, but so is Christ’s perseverance. Countless marriages are destroyed because one or both of the partners wants things better now, and discards it all rather than working patiently for change. Then there are the things that don’t get better, and we know it: degenerative diseases and the like. Some of God’s most precious gems have been polished by such things. Whether circumstances polish us or destroy us often depends precisely on whether we trust God enough to keep going. Some people give up and destroy themselves, either through drugs or suicide. It’s not coincidental that Paul lists God’s love along with Christ’s perseverance, because it is virtually impossible to persevere in some circumstances without an assurance that God loves us, whatever it looks like. That can take a special gift of faith, but God has that available for us if we will receive it. As in so many things, it comes down to our decision: trust or not trust, endure or give up. We are not called to be passive doormats, and positive action is often called for, but as Paul wrote to the Philippians, our attitude needs to be that of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5-11)

I am having a very small lesson in that right now. A week ago this morning I was in the middle of my regular 5km walk, and stubbed my right big toe, hard. (I walk at 6km/hr.) The next thing I knew I was on the ground, wondering just what had happened! I managed to walk home, though rather more slowly than going the other direction, but didn’t go to the doctor for x-rays until the next day. The upshot was that I didn’t have any outright broken bones, but the joint in my right thumb (which I had hit catching myself) was definitely swollen, and I was told I had a good possibility of losing the toenail on my right big toe. Now, a week later, I am much improved, but my right hand and big toe are still definitely sore, and I am hesitant to borrow a tiller for our garden, which I had hoped to do last week, or even to go walking. That calls for patient endurance! Thinking about what my wife endures with Parkinson’s Disease, my experience is minor in the extreme, but it’s still a lesson for me. Of greater importance is dealing with some of the people around me, who seem to have their ears tuned to the devil’s lies far more than to God’s truth. There too, perseverance is called for. I am never to give up, but keep interceding on their behalf, doing spiritual warfare and not yielding anyone to the enemy, choosing to trust God for His ultimate solution.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me keep my focus on what really matters, doing Your will in Your way on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Choices; March 22, 2020

Posted on March 25, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Thessalonians 2:10 They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

The Japanese translation of this verse has an interesting slant: “They did not receive the love of the truth [needed] to be saved.” God provides absolutely everything we need, but we have to receive it. Ephesians 2:9 famously proclaims that faith is a gift from God, and here it speaks of a love of the truth, but sadly there are many who simply say, “No thank you”. That is tragic indeed. As James says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) However, gifts must be received in order to be operative as gifts, and all too often we refuse what God offers us. I suppose there are many things that could influence that, with a love of the flesh and its pleasures being prominent, but at their root is the fatal flaw of pride, of saying I’m going to decide, I’m in charge of my life. It was Lucifer’s desire to be first that got him thrown out of heaven, (Isaiah 14:12-14) and pride was what he used to trick Eve into direct disobedience toward God. (Genesis 3:4-5) People get all worked up over “How could a loving God throw people into hell,” but it’s all a matter of our choice. Those who choose deviant lifestyles often claim they’re “born this way,” but there is no genuine scientific evidence to back that up. All sorts of emotional wounds can blind us to the truth, but that doesn’t change the truth. It’s ultimately up to us to receive the love of the truth that is called for to be saved.

I could say, “been there done that,” here, because I’m all too familiar with pride that blinds me to the truth. I love acquiring information, but that’s not necessarily the same as loving the truth. I need to focus on the fundamental humility that God’s God and I’m not, and that’s a very good thing indeed. I need to rest in the assurance that everything He does is rooted in love, whether it looks that way to me at the moment or not. I am not the final arbiter of truth! As a pastor I am called to help others understand this as well. Sometimes they love the truth and receive it, and sometimes they refuse it, preferring the lies the devil feeds them. That is tragic, but it’s not my choice. I am not to abandon anyone, but rather pray for them and continue speaking the truth in love, offering myself as an instrument of God’s grace toward them, just as He has poured grace out on me so abundantly.

Father, you are doing good things here, and I thank You. I can’t figure it all out, but then I don’t have to. Help me be where You want me to be, saying and doing what You desire, on Your schedule, so that in all things Your will may be done for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Answered Prayer; March 21, 2020

Posted on March 23, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

It was quite a few years ago when I heard someone point out that this is the record of a direct answer to prayer. In his first letter to them, Paul had prayed, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12) You could hardly get more specific in the prayer and the answer! I personally think one factor is that this is the sort of prayer God delights to answer, because it so clearly aligns with His will. After all, it’s the sort of thing Jesus prayed for in His great Pastoral Prayer before his crucifixion! (John 17) Recognizing such answers to prayer is one of the biggest reasons to keep some sort of a prayer journal. Frankly, we tend to forget what we’ve asked for, and so fail to be properly thankful when God provides it. It’s not that we aren’t pleased to have it, but when we recognize it as an answer to prayer our gratitude is intensified, and our faith is certainly strengthened. I think one of the delights of heaven will be getting to see all the many, many ways God has protected us over the years, and all the prayers He has answered, so that we may give Him the praise and thanks He truly deserves.

I’ve been using the SOAP system of devotions for quite a few years now, writing daily, but I haven’t kept prayer lists the way some people do. I might try that, to sharpen my awareness of answered prayer. I am regularly aware of God’s grace in speaking to and through me, but after all, Jesus did say, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24) I don’t want to miss any of the joy God has for me! I do find myself overwhelmed with gratitude at times when I read over what I have written in the past, both remembering answered prayer and being touched afresh by what God has said to and through me that I have recorded. That’s just one of many reasons I encourage every believer to have a consistent devotional time, specifically including writing. I am grateful to Wayne Cordeiro for formulating the Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer system that I use, but there is nothing canonical about that; any of a number of systems will do. The important thing is to spend time daily with the Lord and keep a record of it, both to hear from Him and to know that we hear from Him. We tend to doubt that God cares about us that personally, but if we have consistent, daily devotions, it shouldn’t take long to realize that God really is speaking to us, as the Word comes alive in relation to our daily lives. I need to keep speaking this truth in love so that more and more people will realize that God really does care about them, individually, and so commit themselves as His disciples.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the growth that I am seeing in some of the believers. Those who have latched onto reading the Bible daily make the most progress! I pray that everyone in this church would have the joy of knowing that You speak to them, that You answer their prayers, and that You use them for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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