JESUS SPEAKING

                 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God (Luke 13: 10-13.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

               Jesus regularly taught in the synagogues on the Sabbath day. One particular Sabbath day the attentive listeners witnessed a wonderful act of divine charity. In the midst of the crowd, there sat a deformed woman, who unknowingly would become the target of God’s merciful affections. For 18 years her twisted spine had condemned her to a life of humiliating hardship. Jesus beckoned her forward; and with one touch, she received her long awaited freedom; freedom from embarrassment and ridicule; freedom from shame; freedom from unending pain and discomfort. Overjoyed, and filled with gratitude, the once twisted woman honored and praised God for his merciful work. Miracles and healings such as this, serve two wonderful functions; they relieve suffering; and inspire others to honor and glorify God.

               Nearly 6 years ago, I was in a mental institution; I was unable to work; unable to complete menial tasks like laundry and cooking; filled with fear and overwhelmed with nervousness I couldn’t sit still for any extended period of time without being afflicted with fits of extreme anxiety. Trapped in a delusional world devoid of mental stability, I was surrounded by other disturbed individuals (one poor woman had tried and failed every form of treatment and had to endure electro-shock-therapy.) In a place where pajamas and slippers were the everyday attire, I was unaware that God would soon call me forward; I was ignorant of His future plan; one day He did lay His hand on me, and He healed my twisted and unhealthy mind. Not only did He heal me, He created in me a completely new person. Today, I hold down a job and have wonderful friendships; not only do I work, I volunteer; I’m involved in many ministries; I give as much as I can, and serve others whenever possible; I truly love people and feel deep empathy for those who are hurting; I counsel people on right living; I pay bills, and I am a responsible person that can be relied upon. A man who was once dead has been brought to life. I am an example of God’s miraculous power; He is a great and awesome God; a God of mercy and love; I am whole today, not because of anything I have done, but because of what God has done.

               Have you experienced a miracle? Has God called you forward; has He done something amazing? If so, then you are truly blessed; if not, He can and will if You let Him. Have faith in the Lord and nothing will be impossible; trust in God and you will experience miraculous things; and when you do, give God the glory and honor He so greatly deserves; point at Him and proclaim, ‘My deliverer has arrived, and I have been set free; praise be to God.’

               “Lord Heavenly Father You are worthy to receive glory and honor and praise. We want to thank You for all of the amazing things You have accomplished in and through us. We desire to see even greater miracles; increase our faith and do the impossible; we are excited to see You move and do great and mighty works. We love You Father, we praise You and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

                “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.  For they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Therefore do not be like them.  For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Mathew 6: 7-8.)             

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                By the first century, the repetitious prayer so common to the heathen nations surrounding Israel had infiltrated the Jewish ranks.  By repeating the same prayer many times in one sitting, they believed God was more inclined to listen and respond (in their estimation God was hard of hearing.)  To the unwise, the blessings of God were not just gifts received from above, but wages earned from below.  The quantity of prayer soon replaced the quality of prayer.  As repetition increased, genuine belief decreased; as religious practice became the focus, true expression of faith began to whither [Note:  Jesus was not referring to daily prayer.  He specifically commanded that his followers persist in petitioning God for their daily needs.  Ex., to pray for a wife or husband daily is good.  What is not good, is to sit down and petition God 30 times in one day (he hears the first request.)]

                In the Catholic Church, the members confess their sins to a priest, and the priest gives them an assigned act of penance (or repentance.)  Repentant acts are considered payment for the wrongs done. Commonly, many priests sentence the sinner to a few minutes of repetitious prayer (the amount varies based upon the severity of the sin.)  For example, if a man confesses to the act of adultery, he might be commanded to say 50 hail Maries (a short prayer lifting up the Virgin Mary.)  And again one week later, the adulterer returns after committing adultery again; and again he is sentenced to 50 hail Maries.  For three years, the man returns, until finally his wife has left him and his marriage is destroyed.  The man was allowed to believe that God’s forgiveness could be attained through ritualistic repetitive prayer; forgiveness however is only bestowed upon those who truly repent; had the man truly felt shame and guilt in his heart he would have confessed his sin and discontinued it.  The religious system fails anyone who is taught that repetitious prayer can take the place of true genuine repentance (Note:  This does not mean that Catholicism is evil; it is simply one practice in Christianity that can be used as an illustration.  There are many faithful believers in the Catholic Church.)

                Rituals and traditions have infiltrated the body of Christ.  Genuine faith has been crushed beneath the weight of religion.  Long repetitious prayers are wasted on God.  And not only are they wasted, they obstruct true faith and prohibit authenticity.  Draw near to Him with your heart, not just your posture; may your words be few, and may your requests be genuine and congruent with the perfect will of our loving God and Father.

                “Lord Heavenly Father we come before You today and thank You for all that You have done for us; please strengthen us and make us more genuine believers.  May we not fall victim to the trappings of tradition, but instead, be reborn in the newness of Your Spirit.  Hear our prayers Father.  We love You, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

                Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”  And he took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be troubled and deeply distressed.  Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.  Stay here and watch.”  He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.  Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14: 32-36.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                After eating the Passover meal, Jesus and his disciples traveled to a garden area near the temple, known as Gethsemane.  There, in solitude, clothed in a heavy garment of darkness, the first drops of blood and sweat dripped from the forehead of God’s Son; a peaceful garden became the scene of the greatest battle ever fought; the knock-down-drag out fight for the redemption and salvation of mankind.  With the pain of his crucifixion dawning on the horizon, he succumbed to overwhelming anguish.  Falling on his face in agony, Jesus pleaded with God to use an alternative means of accomplishing His deliverance.  In the same breath he said, “nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”  In one sentence the battle had been won, and the world would come to know true obedience.  God’s will and our will are often in great opposition; like Jesus, there are moments when we are faced with tough choices.  Do we choose to do what is right despite any resulting hardships; or do we choose what is evil because it is less painful.

                [Warning:  This illustration is emotionally disturbing; if you have ever committed the sin outlined below, remember that God loves you; if you have asked for forgiveness you are guilty of nothing; by the blood of Christ you are a ‘new creation.’]  ‘Nearly 43% of all women will have at least one abortion by the time they are 45 years old.’  Every year, 42 million women choose to abort their developing babies because it is the easy way out.  A trip to the clinic and a life is traded for a few more years of freedom; a future job; or, greater financial security; in a 2004 study, 86% of abortions were justified by one of the following excuses: ‘unready’ (25%); ‘Can’t afford a baby now’ (23%); ‘has all the children she wanted, or all children are grown’ (19%); ‘has relationship problems or wants to avoid single parenthood’ (8%); ‘is too immature or young to have child’ (7%); ‘would interfere with education and career plans’ (4%).  Regardless of excuse, the true cause is selfishness (Definition of selfishness: ‘exclusive regard to one’s own interest or happiness; supreme self-love or self-preference which leads a person to direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interest, power, or happiness.’)  Every child forming in the womb has already taken shape in the eyes of God; this year, like Jesus, millions of women and men will be faced with a choice; to obey the will of God and endure hardship, or to obey their own desires and avoid adversity.

                Women and men who choose life, have made the choice to do what is right; the correct path is often the most difficult.  Following God’s path is very costly.  Every disciple must embrace hardship and self-sacrifice.  Denying our own desires to satisfy the will of God is a daily battle that can only be won when we say, “nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”  The cost of eternal life is death; to live, we must lay down our lives.  May we all choose to serve God rather than ourselves; may we do what is right, no matter the cost; may we joyfully embrace a life of sacrifice; and may we always do the perfect will of our Almighty Father.

                “Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and praise You; You are truly an amazing God.  Help us to do Your will.  Give us the strength and the courage to embrace any difficulties that may arise from doing what is right.  Guide and direct us, that we might know what is pleasing to You.  May we deny our own desires when they are not congruent with Your desires.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.