To God Be the Glory!

I Thessalonians 5:16-17
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.

Greetings once again to our faithful prayer warriors, brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. May the blessings of the Lord be with you as you walk in His love and His perfect will.

Yesterday as I listened to my new favorite Christian radio station Family Life Radio, I was deeply involved in many people calling in to tell what prayer has done in their life. Then a young pastor came on to give his view of how we, in America, and the world have become so complacent in our prayer life.

This young man is from a SBC church in, or around Kansas City. He was talking about how we often (usually) are so quick to ask God for everything we need (or think we need), or want, (think we want), and we don't make our personal relationship with Him intentional.

We know that we pray to God the Father, through Jesus the Son and through the Holy Spirit, yet the world is filled with those who believe just as fervently in PRAYER, yet to other 'gods'. When we pray to God in fellowship, worship, for intercession, for requests, for praise, etc., if we EXPECT those prayers to be answered, we MUST be in His will. We can not be living a life of sin, of complacency, of living the ways of the world, and still expect God to hear and answer our prayers!

If our prayers go un-answered and it seems that we are forgotten...could it be that we have allowed the deceiver to slip in and convince us that the wrong we are doing is "right, or okay"? In I Peter, we see that we should "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may DEVOUR".

He can not take your soul, but he CAN take your joy, your walk with your Lord God can be destroyed and he can cause you to fall over and over! He can cause your prayers to go un-heard or un-answered.

It is common for us to search our selves and see if we have un-confessed sin in our life before we take communion.....just so, we should examine our walk with Him and daily offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him. Christ tells us to "be ye holy, for I am holy". He loved us so much, still in our sin, that He gave Himself for us.

Too often we CONFUSE legalism with OBEDIENCE. Too often we CONFUSE works with OBEDIENCE. Too often we CONFUSE law with OBEDIENCE. Jesus says, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments."

In James we read that "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask AMISS, that ye consume it on your lusts (worldy desires)". What if we are asking for others, and not for ourselves?

We still need to be IN Him and "be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).

We should ask ourselves in all that we do, think, and feel, and in our attitudes: Is this grieving the Holy Spirit? "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30). If we truly have Jesus as Lord of our life then we must obey His every command.

" be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds, (thoughts) through Christ Jesus." (Eph.4:6-7)

May we grow daily in His love and may we love and forgive as he loves and forgives us....completely!

I love you all and will be praying for my precious family every day! Please pray for us without ceasing and rejoice evermore with us.

In His Name for His Glory!
Is.30:21, Eph.4:30
Sue and Allan
The Fishermens Line