Finding Your God-given Purpose

Though ones’ focus and purpose can and do often change throughout a lifetime, the fact remains that God has a series of purposes and plans for each of us. But it is important for us to want to have a purpose. Understandably, many people find it especially hard to recognize their purpose in life when they are hit hard by adversity. But remember this: Purpose often quietly comes to the forefront DURING times of great challenge.  It is up to us to recognize it and pursue it.

Have you ever wondered if your life has purpose and what your purpose is in this life? Sometimes when we are in a ‘good place’ in our lives, we become complacent and at times a little too comfortable. We may not see the need for having a purpose at that point as we go about our daily lives.

Finding your purpose. No need to wonder if you have purpose, for God already has a purpose for each and every one of us—No one is exempt! In talking about purpose, it naturally brings me to one of my very favorite Holy Scriptures, Jeremiah 29:11-14, as written in the New American Bible, the NAB:

 

Thus says the Lord:

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you,

plans for your welfare and not for woe,

so as to give you a future of hope.

When you call me, and come and pray to me,

I will listen to you.

When you look for me, you will find me.

Yes, when you seek me with all your heart,

I will let you find me,

and I will change your lot.”

Jeremiah 29:11-14

New American Bible [NAB]

In today’s awe-inspiring Scripture, there are five (5) awe-inspiring God-given promises—Some of God’s most amazing life-giving promises ever. For those who embrace God’s promises as truth, these promises lift us above any circumstance that we may encounter including unemployment, poverty, financial strain, infirmity, mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder, disability, homelessness...

In this Bible passage, when we consider that the Lord himself wants to be fully involved in your life and mine, these God-promises can be truly life giving and life-changing. It’s true! God wants to be the focus and center of our lives!

So let’s take a closer look at the 5 promises that God has generously included in this Bible passage:

Promise #1: God has a plan for you, plans for your welfare, not for woe

Promise #2: God’s plan for you WILL provide you with a future of hope

Promise #3: He will listen to you

Promise #4: When you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him

Promise #5: He will change your lot

This powerful Scripture is about how God cares for us, and communicates with us in a way we can understand. In essence, God has our best interest at heart, and wants to be intimately involved in every aspect of our lives. But we have to invite Him in and then step out of the way so He can take the wheel from our hands, and thereby take control of our life. For these Bible promises enable us to grow in faith despite adversity, and sometimes because of it!

There are 3 basic phases to realizing your God-given purpose in life. They include:

1)    Wanting a purpose

2)    Searching for your purpose

3)    Finding and embracing your purpose

It’s also easy to fall into the temptation of letting circumstances, distractions and fear take over or derail ones’ sense of purpose when times get tough. These can be tremendous factors in diverting us from our God-given purpose. As I’m sure many of you know, once fear gets a stronghold, it can make any and every situation even tougher, distract us from our spiritual journey, and cause our mental and physical health to plummet.

In actuality, faith and fear cannot coexist. In tough times, we need to make a choice and decide between faith and fear while trying to continue to focus on our God-given purpose. The pressing question is this: Do we choose fear and slip away from our faith and purpose, or do we choose faith and hold on to our hope in Jesus Christ, our Great Healer, Comforter, Protector, and Almighty Savior to help us stay the course?

Sure, at times, your situation may seem out of control from your own perspective, but it is never too much for God when you place your life in his loving hands. For by His grace, He makes all things new! Though your purpose at any given time may not seem readily apparent to you, especially in confusing, turbulent or trying times, in the eyes of God, your purpose remains well-established. I’m sure you agree, in this promise-rich Scripture, He has given us much to think about and hold on to.

During difficult times, however, we may go into survival mode and our sense of purpose may seem to waiver or go by the wayside. But in the eyes of God, our purpose does not necessarily need to change or end at that point. In fact, you may actually find your purpose through experiencing and enduring tough times. Distractions and challenges come and go in life, but whether you recognize it or not, the fact is that your God-given purpose is enduring, as it is a gift from God.

So now that you know you have purpose, you may be wondering just what your Christian purpose is. Well, let’s consider another blessed Scripture, this time from the New Testament in the Book of Acts 26:16-18. This is what God told Saul, before he became St Paul while he was actively persecuting Christians with great cruelty:

 ^“Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of Me.” NIV

Formerly a ruthless tax collector, God told Paul what his new purpose was, and in a moment, his life changed forever. And he accepted and embraced his God-given purpose and pursed it with great vigor. Like Paul, we also have to be willing to accept our God-given purpose to be servants and witnesses to what we have seen of God in our lives. It is a choice each of us makes for him or herself. Though God made Paul’s purpose known to him by talking directly to him, most of us can find ours through reaching out to God in prayer, helping others, and reading the Holy Bible, the Word of God, daily.

Could it be that our purpose as Christians, like Paul, is to be servants and first-hand witnesses to what we have seen and will see of Jesus in our daily lives? If that is the case, perhaps our purpose is to serve God by example, helping others, and sharing the love of Jesus with others. This is in keeping with Jesus’ mandate to “Love God and one another.”

It is often said that every Christian has a ministry, and I believe that to be true. But that ministry does not necessarily need to be formal ministry or one that is far reaching. Rather, for many, there is a simplicity in ministry that allows us to minister to and serve those right around us, people we encounter each day. One-on-one, through example and reaching out in kindness to each other, we are able to accomplish our purpose in Jesus Christ.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we all have blessings, spiritual gifts, and the fruit of the Spirit from God himself. Your purpose in ministry could be as simple as becoming an encourager. Encouraging others is a powerful way to effectively help validate and lift a hurting souls in your midst. Prayer changes things. A gentle smile, a pat on the back for someone in need of a boost, a thoughtful gesture. Donating to those in need, and volunteering. These are all but a few ways to serve God and witness to God’s love in our daily lives-- to live out our purpose as Christians.

Yes, everyone has purpose and that purpose is found in serving God, through others, while giving witness to the abundant blessings He showers upon each of us.  What better witness to God could there be than to live a godly life serving and witnessing to others through example, compassion and kindness?

Today, after you leave here, please take a few minutes to ask yourself: What is my life purpose? How do I live out my Christian faith as a loving servant and witness to God? By so doing you will likely find your God-given purpose in this life, and be better prepared to pursue your spiritual journey. For in the eyes of God, we all have purpose—No one is exempt!

Adele M. Gill   |   Copyright 2016

Gratitude Opens Doors

“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things…All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Psalm 98:1-3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUovryDh80

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Every morning, upon rising, is a brand new opportunity to say “Thank you” to God for the many blessings He bestows on each and every one of us. Not sure of how blest you are? Well consider this…

It is vitally important to give credit where credit is due as we go about our day. With God, there are no coincidences in this life. Giving God credit for all that is does in our lives through His grace is essential to growing in gratitude. For whatever can we do on our own without Him???

Beginning with waking up in the morning to face each new day, we are so blessed by God. Gratitude to God comes when we recognize and embrace the fact that through Jesus Christ, our Savior and friend, and the power of the Holy Spirit, God showers us with so many blessings each day that we can hardly count them. There is no one else that is so intimately involved in our daily lives; no one else who has the power to save us from ourselves and the world around us.

For most of us, to be able to breath, walk, see, speak and hear upon rising is this just the start of things…All abundant blessings come from God. Sure, we all have free will, but when you place your life in God’s hands each day, He is able to do far more with our lives than we ever could on our own with all the limitations our humanity we have. For the asking, He will help you become a bolder soul, more compassionate, more loving, steady and focused, clean and sober, financially sound, and even go before you to pave the way for you at every turn. He will do it!

Jesus stands in wait for you to call upon His holy name in times of need. If you know Him, you are blessed. If you don’t know Him, you have equal access as those who do. If you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him and he will change your lot through the power of His blessed grace, also known as undeserved favor. None of us deserves to have Jesus at our side. But it is His sublime compassion and great unconditional love for humanity that brings Him to us again and again for the asking. Seek God with all your heart then wait with confidence for Him to answer your pleas. Rather than answering every prayer exactly as we desire, He will always come through for you according to His Divine Will for you in your life -- for the most benefit to help you grow and flourish.

Even a simple prayer like “Jesus help me” can be enough to get His attention. He already knows each of us personally – our hearts and minds -- in the most intimate ways, and stands in wait for us to simply reach out when we are ready. He love us and loved us profoundly first, though we sometimes are unaware of it, hence the delay in the connection with Him. What feels like reaching out to Jesus for the first time may really be answering His call while reaching for His mighty outstretched hand to us.

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Adele M. Gill  |  Copyright 2016

Words: Building Others Up

^29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

Words. How important are they in the full scope of things? Well, in a word, very important! Words, when used as encouragement, can be used to build up or tear down, and to that end, they are as powerful as a double edged sword!

Words can soothe a broken heart and bring courage, rejuvenation, and strength to those who are hurting or lost along the way. Thy can also lift a person up from the abyss of darkness in their own soul, and help them regain their footing once again. In essence, words have the power to be like aloe for a burdened soul, encouraging them to seek solace and higher ground, which is a win-win for all involved.

Yet when words are bitter or condescending, they can tear down others, and in one fell swoop, the speaker as well. Words of discouragement, words of condemnation, words of hatred and malice are capable of leveling even the bravest soul as they can be truly destructive. Thy also put people at odds, pitting one against the other.

Each of us needs to guard against such negativity, both as one speaking destructive words on occasion, and also on the receiving end. We need to be astute in recognizing our own speaking patterns and quell negativity before it even starts, as well as those of others. We need to guard our mouths and open our hearts whenever in conversation lest it go astray, and, for self-preservation, step away from those who engage in expressed negativity lest we find it is contagious!

All of us have at one time or another felt like we need to have the last word. However, we simply do not. For it is in having the last word that we often step foot into the muck and mire of negativity through our own speech. It is then, at that point, that we must learn to recoil and think carefully about what we will say, when, and to whom. It is better for our health, and the welfare of others, to remain silent than to engage in such negativity.

For some people, pulling down others can easily become a way of life through confrontation, sarcasm and even gossip. Rather, we need to put ourselves aside, and speak life into our relationships to edify other people. We need to lift each other up, so to speak, through our words.

It has been said that kindness begets kindness. That entails reaching out to others with an open hand, ready to grasp theirs in synergy. Indira Ghandi once said, “You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.” Truer words were never spoken! We need to release all that limits us from becoming encouragers, mediators, and negotiators, paving the way to build relationships and others up rather than tear them down.  We need to embrace each other in new and unprecedented ways that help to nurture each other, rather than to denigrate the goodness in people.

Sometimes we have people in our lives that are negative or that we disagree with. They may seem short-sighted or even cruel in their delivery of their own words. Yet we need to remember that no one is all good or all bad. There is always common ground to be found if we simply take another look beyond our knee jerk reaction. For many times, when we are able to take the higher ground, mayhem, discord and malice melt away, and go by the way side. They become non-existent as we strive to see the best in others, even giving them a pass on important matters. In that way, we are fulfilling our Biblical destiny to “Love one another.”

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Adele M. Gill  Copyright 2016

Jesus Loves You: Trust in Him!

                                                          

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13

There is so much to prayer beyond simply asking God for all that we need in this life. When we trust in Jesus, and subsequently praise and worship Him for all that He is, we are surprisingly, profoundly filled with hope for today and eternity, sublime peace, and abiding joy. And the reverse is true as well: Through the power of the Holy Spirit, praise helps us trust God, Our Creator, through Jesus Our Savior. Trust in Him!

For praise unlocks an abundance of hope and deep inner peace, as we acknowledge the greatness of Almighty God in our own lives, for all of humanity, and the universe at large. It is vitally important to acknowledge God in our lives through prayer BEFORE we ask for what we need. Then, while waiting for His answer to our pleas, we are far more prepared to wait in confidence for His answer to our petitions.

This prayer practice is essential to the realization of inner peace and hope-filled joy, even and especially, in times of adversity. To pledge allegiance to the Almighty before asking Him for anything is not only prudent and wise, it sets the stage for Him to answer our prayers in a way that we can embrace and understand. No, it is not a given that we get everything we ask for in prayer as we want it to be. But God, according to Scripture, “Works all things for good for those called according to His purpose” [Romans 8:28].

I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that God is in control of my life. Yes, we all have God-given free will. But when you we chose to hand our lives over to God, and walk with Jesus Christ, what a difference it makes in our perspective, our attitude towards things. Clearly, a positive attitude and openness to God’s leading makes us more whole, more alive than ever before. It is easier to forgive ourselves and others for sins of omission and commission, to believe in healing, and seek God’s protection and comfort when needed. It takes the sting out of disappointment(s) when we realize we are not alone and trust that God has His hand in what has transpired or is transpiring.

Only our Omnipotent God has the full picture of our lives and of those around us. Due to His loving kindness and mercy for us, we can only assume that He is at the helm working out the best outcomes for us all. And what tremendous hope, peace and joy that realization brings!

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Copyright 2016 Adele M. Gill  |  Distributed by News Consortium

On Being a Catholic Christian: It is a Luxury to Be Understood

                                                             

On Being a Catholic Christian: It is a Luxury to Be Understood

by Chaplain Adele M. Gill, RN, BSN, CPC

Published on 9/1/16 by Catholic Online / News Consortium

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Being a Christian today can be riddled with challenges and awkward times. Being a believing Christian is not for the faint of heart, or for those looking for popularity or worldly reward. However, they are compelled to embrace the high road whenever humanly possible, even to the dismay of others. In actuality, being a modern day believing Christian sometimes involves being surrounded by hostile, lukewarm souls that chide them for their ways and beliefs. So who will help Christians today to stay the course and embrace the power of the Holy Spirit, and the way of the Lord with zeal, fervor and continuity of faith? For me, the answer is simple: I say, Jesus Christ himself.

Today the term ‘Christian’ has somehow been distorted. Sad to say, some believe the term is one that describes hypocritical thinking and behavior, others conjuring up thoughts of incongruous piety as they observe self-professed Christians sorely lacking in continuity of faith. They could not be further from the truth. One good example of such distortions is the politician who claims to be a Catholic Christian but in name only, who stands for, and promotes and votes for abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. Even the unchurched easily see the flagrant disregard for God of such politicians. Truly anyone can watch the news and spot these biblically tepid ‘leader’ souls. However, it is also true that one may personally know someone for many years before making such a personal find. This is not meant as a judgement of anyone, but rather as an observation. This is especially true of those who ascribe to, and hide behind, the old adage, “Never talk politics or religion.” If we follow this popular philosophy, how will we ever share what is most important in this life and the next and grow!

True Christians are uniquely called to peacefully and humbly walk with God. It’s not that they are so good, or deserving, of God’s love, but it is the striving soul that turns to God in humility when hurting, and also to Him in gratitude. This gratitude translates into the privilege of grace, as believing Christians know that all that we have, all that we are able to do comes from God himself. For it is a blessed thing to be called to humbly walk the Christian life. 

In reality, a believing Christian is simply a striving soul who tries to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Yes, we all fall short, yet this is our express goal that echoes in our hearts and minds. It is the fuel of our deepest, fervent convictions. Most often, these are Bible reading people with a personal relationship with Jesus, their Savior. A peculiar people to those around them, Christians are called to live by the high road in opposition to the way of the world, and for that, sometimes set apart and often largely misunderstood. But remember this:

“It is a luxury to be understood.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

And the differences continue on as we consider this. Christians are compelled to turn to God at every turn to restore lost peace, promote comfort, to seek protection, and even for sublime joy in adversity, despite how they may feel about any given person or in any circumstance. By trying their very best to work for peace, believing Christians frequently forfeit opportunities to strive to preserve their own reputations, avoid having to have the last word, resist the urge to ‘fight back’ when wronged, and try to restrain from lashing out at others. It is not perfection that drives them, but it is the love of God that compels them to seek the high road whenever possible.

Perhaps you have heard the Christian faith referred to as the “Christian thing.” In a worldly sense, it is very easy for other people to compartmentalize Christians by being dismissive of them and their faith. Modern culture promotes and condones this disrespect, and it is almost impossible to remedy. It is possible to be a Christian in name only, an experience that is akin to membership in a club rather than choosing the road to seek Jesus and grow in faith.

With Jesus, there is continuity in faith that includes a general respect for that which is Godly, a kinship with the Divine that calls for rising above one’s comfort zone. For with the fervent believing Christian soul, there is a zeal and kindness that is best expressed through love, compassion and charity poorly understood by the world at large, but it is not always easy, to say the least. All too often, the worldly are allergic to such fervent souls and attempt to dampen their spirits. But it doesn’t need to happen that way. There is no need to become a doormat for those who cause divisions and obstacles to what you have learned of Christ. For the Bible tells us:

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.  Keep away from them.”  Romans 16:17

Yes, sometimes believing Christians do feel sad, rejected, abandoned, angry, helpless, hopeless, or complacent in the face of obstacles or difficult circumstances. It is all part of the human condition. It is easy to see why Christians must be patient, persistent and self-controlled in their dealings with others, even as they eventually grow to become sojourners in this world to some extent. Unlike the ways of the world, this is a sign of progress for growing in Christian life, as we are reminded not to get too comfortable as this life is just the waiting room for all of eternity.

Like anyone else, believing Christians often naturally look to others for answers and consolation when presented with hurtful, toxic, or difficult people, and challenging situations. The difference is that they are able to eventually move on, by the grace of God, through activated faith, prayer and Holy Scripture, as they seek counsel and comfort in Jesus Christ alone. Paradoxically this allows believing Christians to flourish and realize the greatest hope, peace and joy they have ever known, even in a world hostile to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Copyright 2016   |   Distributed by News Consortium

Called

Hymnal Lyrics: ‘We are Called’ 

by David Haas

We are called to act with justice.

We are called to love tenderly.

We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God.

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The above powerful song lyrics were sung at Mass today, accompanied by a wonderful homily on humility. In the biblical sense, believing Christians are uniquely called to peacefully walk humbly with Jesus. It’s not that they are so good at it, but it is the striving soul that turns to God when they are hurting.

By trying their level best to work for peace, believing Christians frequently forfeit opportunities to strive to preserve their own reputation, avoid having to have the last word, resist the urge to fight back when wronged, and try to restrain from lashing out to others. Instead, they are compelled to turn to God at every turn to restore lost peace, promote comfort, seek protection, and even sublime joy in adversity, despite how they may feel about any given person or circumstance.

No, believing Christians are not destined to become doormats, however, they are compelled to embrace the high road whenever humanly possible. Being a believing Christian is not for the faint of heart, or those looking for the popularity or worldly reward. Actually, being a Christian today sometimes involves being surrounded by hostile or lukewarm souls that chide them for their beliefs. So who will help the inhabitants of this world embrace the way of the Lord with fervor and continuity of faith? For me, the answer is simple: I say, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Himself.

Perhaps you have heard the Christian faith referred to as the “Christian thing.” In a worldly sense, it is very easy for people to dismiss the faith of others and try to compartmentalize others Christian faith. Certainly our culture promotes this in a myriad of creative ways. For it is possible to be a Christian in name only, an experience that is akin to membership in a club rather than being on the road to grow in faith. However, with Jesus, there is continuity in faith that includes a general respect for that which is Godly. A broken heart for what breaks God’s heart. For the fervent believing Christian soul, there is a zeal and kindness that is best expressed through love, compassion and charity poorly understood by the world at large.

That is not to say that believing Christians do not sometimes feel sad, rejected, abandoned, angry, helpless, or complacent in the face of obstacles or difficult circumstances. It is all part of the human condition. Sometimes these feelings bubble up as with anyone challenged with opposition or malice. However, the difference is in how they are process such events over time. Like anyone else, believing Christians naturally, initially look to others for answers and consolation when presented with hurtful, toxic, or difficult people, or challenging situations. The difference is that they are able to eventually move on, by the grace of God, through activated faith, prayer and Holy Scripture, as they seek counsel and comfort in Jesus Christ rather than that of the wolrd.

Adele M. Gill   |   Copyright 2016   |   www.theinspirationcafeblog.blogspot.com

Lost Courage & Rejuvenation in Christ

As you all know, I posted on Monday that I had decided to stop writing The Inspiration Café blog. Because so many of you have contacted me in various ways since then, most with loving messages of encouragement, I want to tell you what transpired that led to that decision.

On Monday, I lost my courage for spreading the Good News and considered not pursuing the publishing of my completed upcoming book after being told, “No one will read it. No one wants to hear your story” by a woman who has never read of a word of my book manuscript. As for my blog, this same ‘friend’ deemed my blog not good enough to reach 2500 or 25,000 people to be a success. There was much more said, but I will spare you the details. The I am saddened that this blog doesn’t reach more people, but that aside, I will reiterate what I have said from the start:

IF MY WRITING CAN HELP ONE PERSON FIND JESUS, IT IS WELL WORTH THE EFFORT.

Yes, on Monday, I temporarily lost my spiritual compass and courage for spreading the Good News in the face of tense discouragement from someone I thought was my friend. When I left lunch, I felt broken and a failure in the eyes of God, inept at best. Looking back, I should have left the table sooner rather than submit myself to such negativity for 2 hours! 

However, with that said, I am learning that the doors that God has opened, no man can close. I have a choice as to whether or not I continue to write my blog, but it is God himself who is the judge and for whom I write. Here is what I have learned, through prayer, and through Scripture, about what is of God and what is not.

The first Scripture reading is what I call my God-given ‘Signature Scripture.’ That is, the one that has propelled me to write both my blog and my book, in prayer with faith-filled abandon:

Acts 26:14-18

We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’” 

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Romans 16:17

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”

John 10:10

^“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

^“For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” 

1 Peter 5-8 

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Ephesians 6:10-20 /  The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Matthew 10:14

“If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that town.”

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In closing, I thank you all for your support and, through prayer, have reconsidered continuing to write The Inspiration Café by the grace of God for the glory of God. Perhaps this experience will only serve to improve this effort and thereby lead more souls to Jesus Christ.

Copyright  2016  |  Adele M. Gill  |  www.theinspirationcafeblog.net

Everyone Who Asks Receives

Greetings from The Inspiration Cafe!

Everyone Who Asks Receives

By Adele M. Gill

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you. 

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;

And, to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." 

Luke 11:9-10   [NIV]

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Does prayer really change things? I think so, but consider this…

I have a close friend who prays about just about everything. She is very connected to God in prayer, and has had many prayers powerfully answered in miraculous ways. Once I asked her for the reason for her peace and joy, and she did not hesitate: 

"God is the reason for my very being. Everything I have, everything I am, everything I am able to do is because of the love of Jesus."

It is easy to wonder how someone can have such simple faith in this turbulent world. But today's Holy Scripture goes a long way to explain the life-changing power of prayer...In fact, this Bible passage is Jesus' invitation to you and to me to come to Him. There is no need for eloquent words or long explanations. Simply turn to Him with all that you have on your heart and in your mind, all that you are.

Though it is not always easy to pray in times of adversity, I have found it is even harder in good times. The truth is, that we as humans are easily distracted. Distracted by worries, distracted by relationships, distracted by pleasure, distracted by ruminating thoughts, distracted by what our children do and don’t do, and by our own sins, both of commission and omission. Whatever the scenario, we are always on the go, and rarely take the time to stop and ask God for what we need. As Christians, to really discover and possess peace and joy in this life, we need to embrace God’s outstretched hand in prayer, and by so doing, we are entering into a personal relationship with Jesus that is like no other on earth.

Truly, it is vitally important to stop and take a minute to invite Jesus in in good times and bad. Trust me, there is no one who knows you better! He knows when you are reeling from disappointment, and dealing with abandonment issues. He knows when you need healing and comfort. He knows what you need and don't need. He knows about your all your relationships, everything you do and even your unspoken motivations. Unlike anyone else, He knows it all!

Interested in taking the first step to accept Jesus’ invitation? According to this Scripture, here is the prayer pathway suggested in this Scripture to follow when you pray to God for or about something or someone:

1)       “Ask and it will be given to you.” Ask for whatever you need in earnest. No request is too great or too small for God.

2)       “Seek and you will find.” Seek God with all your heart and your failings and misgivings will fall to the wayside as you place your focus on Him rather than your problem(s).

3)        “Knock and the door will be opened to you.” When you seek God with all your heart and mind, you are answering the greatest invitation for all times—God’s call.

The second part of this Bible passage refers to what you can anticipate.

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;

And, to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." 

And what a joy it is when you realize your prayers are heard and answered as only God can! Yes, clearly prayer changes worry to wonder, cynicism to joy, and brokenness to blessings. It can ease any pain and bring healing to the sick, and companionship to the lonely. It can bring light to your days when before you lived in stark darkness.

There are times in life when circumstances and relationships are beyond our control and we feel like we are careening out of control. Give it all to Jesus, for He is the greatest hope the world has ever known. Like someone waiting for you to call, He is there for you just waiting for you to hand over your next “God job” –you know, the thing that keeps you awake at night. 

Accept Jesus’ invitation from today’s Scripture, and your life will never be the same as He will change things for the better for you! He died on the cross for you and me to be present to us for all of eternity!

Adele M. Gill   |   Copyright 2016   |   www.theinspirationcafeblog.net