So have you ever been through a really rough day that leads to another, that leads to yet another day, whether or not what makes the day rough is the same thing? (did you follow that?) Is there something going on either deep inside where there doesn't seem to be an end in sight? Do you have questions that could easily be answered by just one of two simple words yet that this one word wont come? Well look no further than... well, actually, keep looking...
Over the past two weeks God has been nudging me to realize that rarely does God act instantly in our lives. God rarely answers our prayers and gives us (or rejects) our requests in a short time span. I know many people who are struggling with tough life choices about their future, depression, anxiety, and more physical illnesses (like cancer) as I am sure you do too. No matter what kind of advice or medication or help, pain, worry, and concerns are still there and little improvement seems to have been made. Many times looking back at what has been going on in my friend's life I seriously do wonder where God is in all of this. "So many people are asking you God to relieve this pain, to heal this person. Why are you not acting? Why are you not answering our prayers?" Yea anger has been in my prayers at times and I quit. I quit praying. I quit caring. "The God will get them through" I think in an almost 'I give up, I need to move on' sort of tone. And this is when God decides to put up billboards....
Church, Sunday March 27, Message: The Warrior's General
Great message focused on the fight everyone is called to fight. (I believe EVERYONE feels they have a fight to fight, a cause to support and stand-up for, something to strongly and passionately go after or defend) Well Mark 9:25-29
25When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again." 26After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, "He is dead!" 27But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. 28When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, "Why could we not drive it out?" 29And He said to them, "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer."
OKAY one point to make before I get to my other specially made billboard: "Why could we not drive it out?" We? really? "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer." Jesus reply has no we, I, me. only simply that prayer is needed.
IV, Tue March 29
Nehemiah 1:1-2:8 (not even going to post the passage hahah)
What was told to me that the distance between Kislev and Nisan was 6 months but according to Inner.org and Wiki (oh mighty Wiki) Kislev is the ninth of the 12 months and Nisan is the first month of the 12 months in the Hebrew calender and Kislev is the 3rd month and Nisan is the 7th month technically in our calenders. Soooo the time between when Nehemiah received the news about Jerusalem then continuously prayed and fasted till when King Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah what was troubling him, was about 3-4 months (idk about that though because both were in the 20th year so how can the 9th of one year be before the 1st month of the same year...) Either way Nehemiah prayed constantly!
Church Sg Wed March 30
Thessalonians 3:10 "Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and God will supply what is lacking in your faith" Hurray for study bible because it says "'Most earnestly' translates a strong and unusual Greek compound word found only in the NT in two other places (1 Ths 5:13 and Eph 3:20) that brings out Paul's passionate longing."
Constant themes I pulled out from all three:
- Constant, passionate prayer for someone else. Never for self.
For those who know someone who is struggling with depression, anxiety etc. depending on what it is it could take from 3 months to 18 months for someone to manage it. Constant prayer is needed for work and constant fasting too. I have decided to try this out. I am not fasting from food because of the possibility it will become more of a diet plan than fasting with God in mind. I am fasting from something that takes a big portion of my free time so i can spend it on talking to God. We shall see where this leads
Another pt made at church. We are like rocks in a sling shot. Sometimes God does pull us back and in pits of despair where we feel far far away from Him (though he is holding on to us), so that we will fly even faster and with more power towards Him! So when you feel far from God or troubles are hitting you left and right, get ready cause God is aiming you right for His heart! :D
<3
