been rather inspired and motivated recently...
some stories to share and food for thought...
thomas was just sharing with me about a man who went up to heaven...
Jesus granted him a tour around heaven.
they stopped by at a warehouse and he wanted to enter.
after much persuasion, Jesus granted him entry.
and after even more asking, he was allowed to open the box with his name on it.
looking through the box, tears welled up in his eyes seeing that the box contained all the promises that was meant for him but yet remained unclaimed.
the promises of abundance and blessings that could have so much been his.
when i heard it, i was blown away.
so many of us receive not because we ask not or at times, we ask amiss.
my prayer was then God, you reveal to me all that you have for me through your word and that i want my box to be empty when i go up into heaven one day.
i want to live in the fullness of my life that God has meant for me.
let's not live our lives in shortfall of what has meant to be given to us.
Don't live in the enough mindset, but the one that says that we are His children and that we are blessed beyond measure, above and beyond all that we can ever imagine.
what is it that you are in want of or in need of?
ask and you shall receive. let's learn to ask and not be shortchanged in our lives, reaching our fullest potential and destiny.
but to qualify myself, sometimes our prayers aren't answered as well.
but why is it then so?
i like the illustration put across by Dr John.
one day, a pastor was walking through a forest when he saw a lion.
he started to run for his life and prayed, asking God that the lion would be a Christian.
shortly after, he realized that he wasn't being pursued anymore and that the lion was on its knees praying.
he felt at that moment that his prayer was answered.
but yet, to his wildest dreams, the lion was actually saying grace, thanking God for the food that he was about to partake.
we see here that how conflicting our prayers can get with our neighbour's and friends.
just like how christians can be rooting for 2 different team at the world cup.
who do God grant the prayer answer to?
(leaving this open for further discussion...)
and also for this very reason, we need to learn how to ask according to the will of God, knowing that whatever it may be, God is in control and that He knows what is best.
why then do God want us to ask, just like how Solomon asked of him for wisdom?
how many a times we wonder if we really want sth?
isn't it when we begin to speak forth and confess then we really know and understand what is it that we really want?
God do answer our thoughts, but yet it also takes us to ask to show our desire for the thing that we want.
just like we are only filled with the Holy Spirit, even though He has been poured out on ALL flesh. the infilling takes effort and desire...
but more than just that, sometimes even after praying, our cirumstances doesn't change.
what then is the significance of prayer?
let me give a scenario of a woman praying earnestly for the safety of her son after hearing of a volcano eruption.
the thing is that her son is already safe, just that she isn't informed then.
so what then is the significance of prayer then?
Prayer turns our eyes and focus on God, helping us to put our trust in God.
More than just that, it helps us to get our perspective right.
When we focus our eyes on God who is in control, we are magnifying Him, lifting His name on high.
and with that same focus, we then look to our problems, which would then be significantly smaller in comparison.
that is what we mean by to MAGNIFY the name of the Lord.
He is bigger than all our problems and circumstances.
Many a times, our circumstances don't change but it is our mentality and attitude towards the problem that changes.
We are renewed in our mindsets so that when we look at the problem, it no longer overwhelms us and that we have the faith, confidence and assurance that we can OVERCOME!
a prayer that i love...
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that i cannot change and the courage to change the things i can..."
Do what you can and God will do the rest.
Through it all, He is in control.
Let's get our focus right and nothing will ever stop us from where we are called to...
i surrender all...
11:58 PM
