 Do you ever feel like you're missing the connection between what God is asking you to do and the issue you have? There are many times when we sense a nudge from God to do something, or to stop doing something—but it doesn't always make sense. He rarely tells us why. And then, often the thing he's asking us to do is very uncomfortable. When we can't make the connection between what God is asking us to do and the situation before us, our default response is, "Forget it!"
In 2 Kings 5, we read of story that deals with this very issue. Naaman found himself in that exact situation. He was struggling with leprosy, which is an incurable skin disease that would eventually take his life. He was so desperate, we're told he was willing to go to his enemy with the hope that someone in Samaria could heal him. He thought that Elisha the prophet would come and stand before him, wave his hand over the spot on his arm, call on the name of Elisha's God, and then he would be healed. Instead, Elisha simply sends out his servant to tell Naaman to go wash in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman walks away angry. But thanks to some servants who were willing to talk some sense into him, Naaman decides to give it a try. What did he have to lose, really? On the journey to the Jordan River, I imagine Naaman was thinking to himself, "What's the point? I don't need a bath. I need to be healed of this skin problem." Naaman was healed. But the most fascinating part of this story isn't that Naaman went home rejoicing over the fact that he was healed. He went home rejoicing that he found God. Look at what he says— "Now I know for certain that there's no God anywhere on earth except in Israel." (2 Kings 5:15). He showed up needing to be healed; he left knowing God. He showed up with circumstantial problem; he left spiritually restored. He showed up hoping someone could change his leprosy problem. God showed and changed Naaman. It's crucial for you and for me to understand that this is where God wants to take us over and over again. God longs for our faith and his faithfulness to intersect. Because when our faith and his faithfulness intersect, something will happen in you that will overshadow what happens around you. When your faith and his faithfulness intersect, you meet God and God changes you. Like Naaman, you go, "Now I know! Before I didn't know, but now I do!" The truth is you and I never know what hangs in the balance until we trust God. We might think we know what hangs in the balance, but we really don't. See, the reason God will nudge you and ask you to do something that will take you out of your comfort zone is to facilitate trust. And trust is needed for our relationship with God to work. So let me ask you—where is God nudging you? What has he been asking you to do lately or even for the past few years? What do you really have to lose by trusting him? Why not give it a try? Have a blessed week! Pastor Michael
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 Over the past few weeks we've been diving deeper into The Lord's Prayer. I hope you've enjoyed this journey with me as we look at what Jesus knew—because if we knew what Jesus knew, we'd pray like Jesus prayed. "Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Matthew 6:11-13)
In the final section of The Lord's Prayer, we see that Jesus knew there was a daily emptiness that needed to be filled. In other words, we all have a daily need for God to fill even our most basic needs. This final section of Jesus' prayer is our declaration of dependance on God. We depend on him to fight for us in the most practical areas of life. We need him day by day, moment by moment, breath by breath. We need him for all of our provision. We need God for food, health, shelter, finances, relationships, and so much more. Jesus teaches us that we must depend on God to provide. Matthew chapter 6 reminds us that God already knows every need we have. And our Father in Heaven is pleased to provide for his children. So it matters that we seek him first. You and I are not to live like those who don't have a Father in Heaven. For you and me, this means we ought to be "please & thank you" kind of people—asking God for his provision and thanking God for all he's done. How have you been praying please and thank you? Jesus also teaches the need for us to remember our own forgiveness in order to appropriately relate with those around us. Forgiveness to others is based our own forgiven status before God. We often don't like the idea of forgiving those who have hurt us. The truth is, we couldn't forgive, had it not been for our own forgiveness. If we're having trouble forgiving others, maybe we should spend a little more time reflecting on own sin and what it cost God to give us. I suggest to you that we would eventually understand how desperate God wants us to forgive those who have hurt us once we understand the magnitude of our own forgiveness. How have you been praying to forgive as you have been forgiven? Jesus also teaches us that when we pray, one of the best practices we can take on is to ask for spiritual protection from Satan's traps and snares. Satan is trying to undo you and everything good from God. He has schemes and traps designed to keep you from living the way God desires. Jesus understood this, and he encourages us to pray so that we would be protected from these traps and snares. But Jesus also teaches that, should we give into temptation, we would not stay trapped. He prays that Satan's plans would not keep us from living God's mission. What would it look like to have God's spiritual protection over you? How are you doing at praying for God's protection and winning against Satan's attacks? Let me ask you, how's your prayer life? What have you been praying for lately? What is your prayer for 2023? I hope these past few weeks have been challenging, yet good. Have a blessed week! Pastor Michael Jesus knew something about prayer. And if we knew what Jesus knew, we'd pray like Jesus prayed.
Jesus knew that prayer must begin with God. In other words, the order of our prayers matters. Jesus teaches his disciples to pray like this, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth at is it in heaven." Why start with God? Because Jesus knew that there is no one above God—no one more worthy, more perfect, or more loving than our Heavenly Father. Starting anywhere else in our prayers is problematic. Without God as our starting point, we'd surely turn out prayers that sound more like, "Hallowed by MY name. MY kingdom come, MY will be done, in heaven as it is on earth." Jesus also knew that before we get to our kingdoms, we needed to first surrender to him. Prayer is our method for surrendering control, not securing it. Surrendering control is never easy. It can feel like a roller coaster—eyes tightly shut as we hold on for dear life. When it feels like you're holding on for dear life, facing the unknown, and don't want to let go, remember this: God's name is hallowed. Holy. Perfect. Above all others. He's all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. In other words, you can trust him. But Jesus also knew surrender means God's will, God's way. It can't be God's will, MY way—which is often what I prefer. Rather, it's taking the example of Christ, who prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39) Let me ask you, how's your prayer life? What have you been praying for lately? What is your prayer for 2023? For the next few weeks, I'd like to challenge you to approach prayer differently—reflecting on how Jesus prayed. Have a blessed week! Pastor Michael Click here if you would like prayer from our pastors. Have you ever noticed that the disciples never asked Jesus to teach them how to preach? They heard the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest preacher on earth, yet not one of them asked Jesus to teach them to preach. The disciples didn't ask Jesus to teach them to do miracles either. They saw the greatest miracles by the greatest miracle worker.
What they did ask is, "Lord teach us to pray." (Luke 11:1) They saw something different in Jesus when he prayed—and they wanted it. Jesus knew something they didn't about prayer, so his prayer life was different than anything they had seen or experienced. So naturally, they asked him to teach them. Jesus knew something about prayer. And if we knew what Jesus knew, we'd pray like Jesus prayed. Jesus, looked at his disciples and said, "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven.' (Matthew 6:9) Jesus knew that we can never outgrow God. He's the God in heaven, and you cannot get any bigger than God. Nor will you ever outgrow your need for him and his power and strength in your life. Jesus knew that prayer is a heart engaged relationship. It's not a formula—it's the Father we pray to. While God is in heaven, he's also imminent. In other words he's close and personal. Jesus knew we could approach him as a child does a father. Jesus knew that "our" is a bigger family. We're not alone when we pray. It's great to have your private prayer time, but it's wonderful and powerful to pray together. It can be awkward, but the good news is, your words are not what is powerful. God's Word is powerful. Praying for each other, and asking for prayer is something we need to do regularly. Jesus also knew that prayer is life shaping. Prayer isn't a way to get what you want. Rather, prayer cultivates trust in our lives. It encourages us to look more carefully at the one to whom we are praying. This Father in Heaven is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-knowing. He's able, willing, and wise. Jesus knew all this. That's why he prayed the way he did. Let me ask you, how's your prayer life? What have you been praying for lately? What is your prayer for 2023? For the next few weeks, I'd like to challenge you to approach prayer differently—reflecting on how Jesus prayed. Have a blessed week! Pastor Michael |
AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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