Tag Archives: prayer

Understanding Accidents and Divine Will

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This morning (Sunday), I am lying in bed when I should be up getting ready for church. I should be going over my sermon notes, praying, and preparing myself spiritually for the grand opportunity of sharing God’s word. But, alas, I have no voice. It is better than it was yesterday. At least today I can whisper a little bit louder.

My sister was involved in an automobile crash recently. She was not injured seriously, even though her car didn’t make it. We are so thankful for the fact that she didn’t suffer any serious, life-threatening injuries as she certainly could have.

Her accident, and my laryngitis, made me start thinking – seriously thinking. Knowing my sister the way I do (or at least the way I think I do), she probably prayed before heading out on the highway that day. I know that she prays for me and my family every day because she tells me regularly that she does. She passes everything before God in prayer. I imagine that on that day, she prayed asking God for safety as she traveled. And I have been praying all week about my sermon for today, and for our Thanksgiving celebration tonight.

So, here’s the big question: Did God hear our prayer? Please, don’t pass by that question quickly. Read it again. Think about it. Seriously think about it. Don’t give a glib response and then continue on. Please, give some serious thought to the question and your response to it.

I’ve said many times that for two cars to be involved in a crash they have to be in the same spot at the same time. Why did God not delay her departure time, giving enough time for the other car to pull out and get across into the other lane before my sister’s car arrived? Or why did she not leave a couple minutes earlier? Isn’t there something, anything, God could have done to avert this accident? And what about my voice? Why could I not have had laryngitis earlier in the week so I could be over it by now? Could God not have done something?

Some of you may be thinking, “Here he goes again with his mental calisthenics, making a mountain out of a molehill.” And maybe I am. But I really think this needs serious thought. Because if we are not extremely careful, we could easily begin putting blame on God for things He really had nothing to do with. Now I certainly realize that in the big picture, God is involved in everything, minutely. He oversees the affairs of man. He is the all-powerful One who knows all, sees all, and handles all. Nothing – underscore nothing – happens without His knowledge.

And yet, even though nothing happens without His knowledge, things may or may not happen because it was necessarily His divine will for it to happen. Things happen now that are a direct result of man’s disobedience to God. Specifically, Adam and Eve’s act of disobedience in the Garden of Eden. The entire earth was placed under the curse of God because of that act. And the earth has suffered the consequences ever since.

I AM NOT saying that every mishap, every accident, every sickness, every difficulty of every kind, is a direct result of personal sin.

Now please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I am not saying that every mishap, every accident, every sickness, every difficulty of every kind, is a direct result of personal sin. Rather, the woes of the world are the direct result of the principle of sin. Sin has affected everything and everyone. And all of the ills of mankind are the result of that.

So, we can’t say that God didn’t answer my sister’s prayer for safety as she drove around town, or my prayers for this morning’s sermon. Things happen as a result of life lived in a sinful environment. We all live in that environment. And we all suffer the consequences of that environment.

So, the next time you hear someone say, “I prayed that I would get a parking space at the front door of Walmart, and low and behold! There it was!” Well, that may or may not have been an answer to your prayer. But be careful! If we think it was the answer to prayer one time, and the next time you’re at Walmart, after praying the same prayer, you have to park in the last spot at the very opposite end of the parking lot, don’t blame that on God. If you do, you open yourself up to a very subjective view of prayer, and it will diminish the greatness of God in your estimation.

Just something to think about.

Blessings!

Prayers for Those in Authority

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Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 1 Timothy 2:1-2, NKJV

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a theological, Biblical, social, and political conservative. Some who know me best might even describe me as an ultra-conservative in each of these areas. Since my conversion in 1977, I have studied the Bible consistently, and have done my best to base my beliefs, behavior, convictions, and confidence in the Bible as the final authority in all areas of life.

I make this disclaimer as a foundation for the following comments. I have been listening with keen interest to the political pundits as they have made their opinions on recent events in the political arena. There has been a vocal outcry calling for President Biden to withdraw his name as the democratic nominee in the upcoming presidential election. Up until yesterday he has stated adamantly that he would not withdraw, but that all changed yesterday when he said that he would no longer run for office in November.

I have been scouring social media since his announcement, and I must say that I have been appalled at some of the remarks I have read. It has become increasingly clear in the past months that Biden’s mental capacities have diminished greatly. His performance in the presidential debate was certainly a wake-up call for any who might have doubted this reality. But instead of getting on social media and bashing him, we need to have compassion for his present condition and pray for him and his family as they go through this traumatic time.

We are admonished in the Bible to pray for those in positions of political authority, whether we agree with them or not. I am one who disagrees with practically everything the democratic party has come to stand for in recent years, but that does not give me the right to bash those in that party, and it certainly doesn’t give me cause to ridicule a politician, or anyone else for that matter, when it becomes obvious that their mental capacities are diminishing.

When it comes to casting our votes for the politicians of our choice, I will vote for those who hold closest to Biblical principles and values. I will vote for those who stand for traditional family values, and conservative Biblical convictions. But I will pray for all those running for office, that God would give them divine guidance and draw them to those Biblical values that made this country great.

Join me in prayer today for the Biden family. Any person who has had to stand by and watch a loved one go through the heartache of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease knows the pain of this horrific condition. Pray for their strength as they care for him in what will certainly be an extremely hard road ahead.

And please, let’s use the opportunity we have in sharing our thoughts on social media to be uplifting, encouraging, and compassionate. The world is filled enough already with hatred and verbal viciousness without me joining the fray. We are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ – let’s let His light shine through us.

Until next time:

Blessings!

A Nation in Desperate Need of God

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We may never know what motivated the would-be assassin to make an attempt to assassinate former president Donald Trump. However, without knowledge of his reason for acting in such a way, there are some assumptions and conclusions that we can deduct from this act.

First, it is obvious that he acted out what many others would do if given the chance. I don’t make this as an accusation, but simply as one making observations from our present political climate. The animosity that is openly displayed from both sides of the political aisle is nothing less than a seething boiling pot of dislike, if not pure hatred, from many on both sides.

Second, it shows an absolute disdain for the recognition of the sanctity of life. For one to wantonly, recklessly, with obvious hatred in his heart toward the former president, try to take his life, with no regard for anyone else who might be in his line of fire, is a clear indication that he has no regard nor respect for another human life. No one will ever know how many more shots would have been fire had he not been killed.

Third, this is a clear display of the fact that the United States of America has become so divided, so divisive, that it would probably not be a surprise to anyone if civil war breaks out in the aftermath of the upcoming presidential election, regardless of which candidate is elected. I don’t mean to come across as an alarmist, and I certainly pray that this never happens, but there is so much hatred between Republicans and Democrats that it seems all civility is being completed abandoned. The act of an attempted assassination is a clear indication of this fact.

In the opinion of this writer, this downhill trajectory of our nation can be traced back to declining voice of Christians. We are to be the heralds of God’s grace, love, and forgiveness. Where is that voice? Where are the voices of truth that should be sounding forth the claims of Scripture? Are we allowing ourselves to be silenced by those who oppose the message? Are we being subdued by those who disagree with us? Are the voices of opposition causing us to lose our voice, and thus our influence?

Allow me, in closing, to share that well-known and oft-quoted verse from the Old Testament:

If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. Second Chronicles 7:14

Sometimes what we fail to do is take into consideration the context of this verse. This statement is made by God to Solomon after the dedication of the temple. That night, after the dedication, God appeared to Solomon. This is the message Solomon heard:

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: ‘I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people… Second Chronicles 7:12-14a

The drought, the locusts, and the pestilence are all acts of God in judgment against His people because they have walked away from Him. Spiritual drought brought about all these disasters. But God promised that when His people would come to their senses and turn back to Him, then He would hear, forgive, and heal.

We desperately need God to hear, forgive, and heal. Would you join with me in praying for our nation? Would you pray that God would provide leaders who will turn this nation back to God? Would you pray for God’s protection for those who are running for office? Would you pray for the forgiveness this nation so desperately needs as we have turned our backs upon Him? And will you pray for God to bring this nation back to what our forefathers envisioned this nation to be: a nation whose God is the LORD.

God help us!

How to Know God’s Will

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Having served as pastor for 40 years, and college professor for over 20 years, one of the questions I have been most often asked is, “How do I know God’s will for my life?” This is, indeed, a most provocative question. I have been asked this question in relation to so many different areas of life: marriage, college, career choice, ministry opportunities, and a plethora of others.

Let me say that it is always a blessing for me to hear someone ask this question, regardless of the area of life they are inquiring about. This is because it shows a desire to do what God wants the individual to do. I am always more than ready and willing to assist those who are genuinely interested in doing God’s will.

However, having said that, I must hasten to say that it is sometimes a demanding task to seek and find God’s will. And there is no one patent answer that can be given to the question, as God works differently in different individual’s lives. How one person determines God’s will does not guarantee that it will work in another person’s search.

So, having laid that groundwork, let’s dive into the question, “How can I know God’s will for my life?” I am going to look at the question in two distinct ways. First, let’s think of the question like this: “How can I know God’s will?” After giving consideration to that question, we will then ask the question as originally presented in this blog: “How can I know God’s will for my life?”

Henry Blackaby, in his phenomenal work, “Experiencing God”, says that to ask, “How can I know God’s will for my life?” is to ask the wrong question. He states emphatically that the correct question is, “How can I know God’s will?” Blackaby then says that to determine God’s will, all one has to do is to look around and see where God is working. Then, once you have determined where God is at work, recognize this as God’s invitation for you to join Him in His work.

This takes effort on the part of the individual. We must first put forth the effort to be observant. We can’t go through life wearing spiritual blinders. We must be alert and actively seeking to discern God’s activity. It may be in your child’s school, or in a neighborhood soup kitchen, or at a local chapter of crisis pregnancy center, or any number of places He may be at work. Some of these may be short-term, while others may be long-term or even permanent places of God’s activity. You then have the opportunity to join in the work as God gives opportunity to do so.

There have been times in my life in which I have felt the nudging of the Holy Spirit to join a particular work of God. The invitation was clear, and the work was obvious. It was a matter of me saying yes or no to this invitation of God. I’m sure you have had those occasions as well. This is God’s way of saying to us, “This is My will – I invite you to join Me in this work.” A positive response will result in seeing God work through us for the duration of time He chooses. This is determining God’s will.

But the question is most often worded as stated at the outset of this blog: “How do I know God’s will for my life?” And this is often coupled with a very specific question. “Is it God’s will that I marry this individual?” “Should I get married now, or should we wait a little longer?” “Is this the right career path for me to invest my life in?” “Is it time for us to make a move to a different location?” “Should I accept this invitation to change course and begin a new career?” “Is this the right time for us to start a family?” And a myriad of other questions, striving to discern God’s will for our lives.

It sure would have been nice if God had included an addendum to the Bible with a five-point plan, with action points to take which would help us come to a clear, unmistakable life choice that is dead-center in the will of God. But, alas, there is no such addendum. And, as I stated earlier, there is no plan that works for everyone. Seeking God’s will for our lives is an individual effort.

But, having stated the obvious, I will say that there are certain actions we can take as we strive to determine His will for our lives. I share these with the hope and prayer that they will prove to be of help as you seek God’s will.

Prayer is an indispensable ingredient in the search for God’s will. This one should go without saying, but for the sake of emphasis I put this at the top of the list. It is crucial that we maintain open lines of communication with the Father through the vehicle of prayer. And please remember that prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. We have a conversation with God by hearing Him speak to us through His Word, and then by responding to Him through prayer. Then, listen to His still, small voice to speak directly to our hearts as we get quiet before Him in that private place of prayer. And please remember this admonition from the Epistle of James: “If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and without reproach” (James1:5).

Second, I would suggest that to know God’s will we must surrender our will to Him. In the model prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” I have said many times that in order for His will to come in my life, my will must be done away with. I cannot sit on the throne of my life and have the Lord sitting on that throne at the same time. We must, as Paul says in Romans, present our bodies as living sacrifices for Him.

A third suggestion I would make is that we must be consistent in our walk with God. Our walk should be dictated by our staying in step with the Spirit of God. You have heard me quote Paul’s words on several occasions in which he encourages us to walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. That is the negative side of walking in the Spirit. But the positive side is that as we walk in the Spirit we will develop an ever-deepening fellowship with Him through which we sense His will.

Then, a fourth observation is that we should strive to live in obedience to the truths of God’s Word that we are already familiar with. We cannot hear His still, small voice through the clutter of a disobedient lifestyle. We must practice the truths of His Word, and He will then reveal more truth to us. As we learn more of His truth, we are able to more quickly and readily discern His will.

As a fifth suggestion I would make the observation that we must seek Godly input from fellow believers in whom we have confidence. We should be quick to ask for advice, counsel, and prayer from those whose walk with God is consistent, and from whom we can receive Godly advice.

A sixth and final suggestion I would make is to pay attention to how God has put into our DNA preferences for certain things, and a dislike for others. This is not to be put at the top of the list of priorities as we are sometimes deceived by our own personal preferences in life. But this does play an important role in seeking God’s will. He has wired us in such a way that we are naturally drawn to certain activities and actions, while others have no appeal to us at all.

There are certainly other suggestions that could be added to this short list, but if we would put these five into practice I feel it would go a long way in assisting us in discerning God’s will.

In closing, just remember that the question is two-fold: seek God’s will; and seek God’s will for your life. In so doing God will lead us into activities which we can join in as we observe His activity, and we can discern the broader scope of discovering His will for the long-term of our lives.

Hope this proves to be helpful.

Until next time:

Blessings!

The Main Character

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If a biography was written about your life, who would be the main character in the story? The most logical answer to that question would be YOU, right? After all, a biography is the story of someone’s life. So, the main character would be the one who the story is about.

But for the believer in Jesus Christ, a biography of the individual’s life should be the story of His life lived through us. So just how would that look? What would it look like if your story was His story? Let’s think about that for a few minutes.

His life being lived through us would bear a resemblance to the portrait we have of Him in the Bible. Jesus was always obedient to His Father’s will, carrying out the purpose and plan that had been established from eternity past. The Bible states clearly that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would give His life for His sheep. He carried out that plan of His Father at great cost to Himself. It literally cost His life. He laid down His life for us.

Our lives should be lived in total surrender to Him, and with the desire to glorify Him in all we do. We should follow the pattern of the prayer He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane as He faced the ordeal of the cross. He prayed to His Father, “Not My will but Yours be done.” For our story to be His story we must have the same desire, that His will be done in and through us, so that others see Him in us.

Our choices should be based on what Jesus would choose. Sometimes that is extremely easy, as we turn to the Bible for guidance. For example, if we are ever tempted to take something that belongs to someone else, we should remember the Bible’s prohibition against stealing. If we are tempted to tell a lie, we should remember that we are to speak the truth in love. If we are tempted to commit adultery we should remember that we are to live in complete fidelity and faithfulness to our spouse. If we are tempted to dishonor our parents we are to remember that we are to always honor and respect them. If we are tempted to choose a lifestyle that is contrary to the Bible’s parameters for lifestyle choices then we are to submit to His teachings rather than our desires.

My life should be His life lived through me. This sounds easy, and in some respects it is, but in many ways it is extremely difficult. When the Bible’s teachings run counter to my personal preferences and desires, then it becomes more difficult to go the way God would have me go. We see this struggle in Jesus’ life as we once again give attention to that prayer He prayed in the garden: “Not my will but Yours be done.” In His humanity Jesus, realizing the awful pain He was about to experience, and, worst of all, the separation from the Father when the sin of the world came crashing down on Him, Jesus prayed for the cup to pass from Him. But His prayer concluded with His utmost desire: to fulfill the will of the Father.

For our story to be His story, we must make some hard, and sometimes even painful choices. Jesus taught us to pray that God’s kingdom would come, and His will would be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This can be personalized as we pray for His will to be done in MY life as it is in heaven.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, gives us some much-needed insight into the matter. In chapters 6-8, he talks about the individual believer’s struggle with his old nature. It is like a spiritual tug-of-war that Paul describes as an intense battle between what I know what to do and what I want to do. The desires of the old nature sometimes overwhelm us, and it is in those times of struggle that Paul encourages us to “walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the desires of the flesh.”

I will close by simply encouraging you to let your story be His story. Let His life shine through you. Let others see your good works so that glory will be brought to our Father in heaven.

Until next time:

Blessings!