Too Busy Not To Pray

"I have so much to do that I must spend the first three hours of each day in prayer." - Martin Luther

This same idea was penned by Bill Hybels (Willow Creek) some years back in his book; "Too Busy Not To Pray". I am reminded of this often, we are all far too busy -- with work, family, friends, and life -- not to pray and ask for God's guidance, support, encouragement, and strength to make it through the tasks before us. 

Likewise, prayer -- and other vitally important activities -- are often the ones that we allow to fade into the background when our schedules seem to get fuller and busier. But, when we stop and access our lives and the things that we have scheduled, most of us would come to realize that we are not busy on things that truly matter. 

Just this morning I was reading from Luke 10 (vs. 41/42); Jesus says; Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. This phrase can and should serve as a reminder to many of us that we too are busy, worried, and upset about many things, but there is one thing that truly matters and that is what we must concentrate on. 

God Is In The Room

This picture is the wallpaper on my laptop. An artist, with the assistance of a smoke machines, has found a way to produce clouds indoors and has taken several stunning pictures. And while these pictures are quite remarkable I could not help but think of one thing as I looked at them; "God is in the room". 

SEE, no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing God is in the room with us. God is all-present or omnipresent, meaning that He is in all places at all times - that is one of the characteristics that defines Him as God.

AND, because God is omnipresent, He is here for us when we need Him the most. Likewise, He is there when we would rather Him not be, that is when we are doing things that we know He does not approve of - when we are doing things contrary to His will and His purpose.

YET, if we could simply remember that "God is in the room" with every decision that we make, every action that we take, every thought that we think, and every word that we speak, we would do better to obey His will and fulfill His purpose.

AND, although we do not have the benefit of seeing God in the form of a visible cloud in the room with us at every moment of the day, what we do have is His Spirit living in us and working through us. Through God's Spirit we are able to achieve all that God has called us to, all that He has desired for us, and all that He has created us for.

Understanding Temptation

One of my favorite verses of Scripture is 1 Corinthians 10:13;

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The quoting of this verse is very helpful when I find myself being tempted at many times and in many ways.

This morning I was reading from Luke 4; Jesus' temptation in the desert following His baptism. Verse 1 sets the stage for the chapter and serves as a reminder that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit of God and that the Spirit of God led Him into the desert, where he was tempted. Understand that I am not implying that God is the one that tempted Jesus in the desert, for James 1:13 points out;

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

 And, although God is not the one that tempts anyone, and He is not the one that tempted Jesus, His Spirit had filled Jesus and was The One that led Him into the desert where the temptation took place. It is important to recognize that when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, it is the Spirit that leads them, there is no other way!

While Jesus is in the desert He is tempted on three occasions, by Satan, and He is tempted, in three distinctly different ways. First Jesus was tempted in the physical manner (verse 3);

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Next Jesus was tempted in the spiritual manner (verse 6);

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down."

And finally, Jesus was tempted in the psycological manner (verse 9);

“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 

 All of these things are important to remember when we find ourselves being tempted, and we will all find ourselves being tempted.

• Am I filled with he holy Spirit? If so, it is the Holy Spirit that is leading you into this exact situation. Is this a place the Holy Spirit go? Is this a place the Holy Spirit would have taken you?
• No temptation that you have faced or will ever face is beyond what another human being has faced in the past. No temptation that you have faced or will ever face is beyond what you have been created to bear the weight of. No temptation that you have faced or will ever face is beyond the sovereign and faithful control of God the Father. 
• Am I being tempted in the physical manner? Am I being tempted in the spiritual manner? Am I being tempted in the psycological manner? Satan knows you weakness and He attacks that weakness. Satan has a target on your back and a plan to strike. Understanding the way that you are being tempted by evil will allow you to know how you must reach out to God and how you must pray through the temptation to overcome it.