Everyone Who Asks Receives

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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

Truth Famine in the Media Age

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^{Truth Famine in the Media Age}

^“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

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Like many people, some days I get my news on the run, other days I track down specific stories in my quest for corroborative “truth,” and the gravity of the collective negativity seems all consuming. Yet, in this age of information technology, why is it that finding truth seems like an impossible task? We are, indeed living in what I call the TRUTH FAMINE.

Sometimes it is so easy to get swept up in the tumultuous culture we live in election campaigns, politics, terrorism, urban violence, etc…However, it is extreme folly to think we can truly understand and change this sordid world on our own. We need God’s help to effect positive change in this world. It is noteworthy that the present day media is filled with negativity, half-truths, and extreme political slants. This is making ‘real’ news ever harder to recognize, as we are in the midst of a TRUTH FAMINE in the new media age. So what can ordinary people do to sort out fact from fiction and effect positive change? Perhaps change in this world can best be accomplished by following three simple steps:

1)      Always cross reference your news.

2)      Pray for discernment and specifically for your concerns.

3)      Faithfully read the Bible daily

Some years ago, I stopped watching the news on TV, however, I do admit that I have been known to get my cross referenced daily news updates from a combination of online sources: MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, and of course, one of my favorite global sources, the BBC. The BBC seemingly provides a fresh perspective, as it is external news, generally provided by news sources outside of the US. Yet, these news outlets all seem to permeate our daily lives, and pummel us with a wide array of turbulence and negativity. Just how important is it all anyway, for those who have chosen the Christian life, one of serenity, peace and service to others?

News today is really more like entertaining people’s theories, even gossip, at times. It used to be that news was news. Now it is more often than not pundit’s spinning endless commentary and conspiracy theories from one day to the next. With a smile and a sigh, I often catch myself reveling in the news of the day, and realize that I am looking for truth in all the wrong places. It is at that point that I stop and pray for discernment of God’s divine will.

At a point, it finally dawns on me, and I remember yet again that my only real truth is what matters to my Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Churned up to distraction by the news of the world, I return to prayer again and again, as well as my Bible, for eternal wisdom, the kind of wisdom that is enduring, and that promotes abundant, radiant peace and profound joy from within.

Like it or not, the ways of this world will likely continue on the path of mayhem into the unforeseeable future. Paradoxically, we as Christians, are called to be in the world but not of the world. We are called to step away from worldly drama and havoc, into a life of simplicity. But how can we do that when life is moving so fast and furious for us all? Well, consider this biblical Word, a holy recipe for a sound mind and a humbled soul:

 ^“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Clearly, as Christians, we are all called by God to find the good in ourselves, others and every circumstance. We are asked to live gratitude-filled lives that look for the good as we seek Jesus in earnest, and seek truth with great fervor, through prayer. Perhaps it is time to put on the biblical armor of God, turn off the daily news, and embrace the great blessings of each new day as we grow in faith-filled simplicity. More walks…More family time…More gardening…More sewing and knitting…More prayer…More daily Bible reading, and More volunteering to help others in need…

There is precious little we can do to change this world, the news and the people in it on our own. But “with God, all things are possible!” [Matthew 19:26]

This is my prayer for you, my friend:

May the peace that surpasses all understanding be with you and yours through these tumultuous times. May you seek the Holy Spirit in all things, and grow in appreciation for the subsequent peace that surpasses understanding. May you come to believe that “the joy of the Lord that is your strength.” [Nehemiah 8:10] May you grow in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Savior of the world. Be not afraid, Jesus is with you and me, and He has overcome the world!

“For if you proclaim with your mouth that Jesus is Lord,                                                                        and that He rose from the dead, you will be saved!”

[Romans 10:9]

Adele M. Gill    |   Copyright 2016   |   Distributed by News Consortium