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Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

Pray It Forward

Posted in Faith, Jonah, Prayer, tagged , on August 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »

From inside the fish Jonah prayed … “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me … I called for help, and you listened to my cry … you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit” … And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. — Jonah 2:1-10

Notice all Jonah prayed in the past tense (“you answered“, “you listened“, “you brough me up“, etc.) had not yet occurred. He was in the fish when he prayed!

Jonah was praying it forward — thanking God for what God was going to do as if God had already done it.

I hate those e-mails where the sender makes a request then adds, “Thank you in advance…” but God appears to love us praying that way! Jesus said,

“I tell you: When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for. — Mark 11:24

Instead of just telling God how bad it all is, start thanking him for what he’s going to do about it.

Sound Bite:”Pray it forward!”
Also see:”Prayer and God’s Timelessness” – August 27, 2011

— fritz@langgang.com

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The Answer for Arguments

Posted in Conflict, Faith, Repent, tagged on August 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. – 2nd Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV)

People are not changed by arguing but by repenting.

The answer for arguments and stubborn objection is not more arguments, convincing reasons, or strict logic but a change of heart and only God can do that.

This works on ourselves, too. Having trouble believing? Ask God to first change your heart (your “want to”) then the mind will come right along!

— fritz@langgang.com

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Doubt Doesn’t Disqualify

Posted in Doubt, Faith, tagged , on August 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples — Matthew 28:16-18 (Common English Bible)

The eleven (11) remaining disciples (original twelve less Judas) met the risen Lord and received what has been called “the Great Commission”, but between the meeting and the sending are three (3) little words, but some doubted”.

Actually, in its original language there is only one (1) Greek word there not three (3). It literally means to be double minded, unsure, and it refers to the whole group not just some. “They doubted” is more accurate.

Why is that significant? It shows that Jesus gave the Great Commission to unsure double-minded apostles who had to grow into their faith just like everyone else. Doubt didn’t disqualify them and it doesn’t disqualify us.

Think about that a moment …

The apostle Peter writing to ordinary believers put it this way,

“I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. — 2nd Peter 1:1 (New Living Translation)

— fritz@langgang.com

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