Never Give Up! Part 2

When God answers our prayers it is a special time. We often forget that HE has noted in HIS word that we are HIS children and thus heirs of HIS kingdom. His desire is to be to us as a Father is to His children.

It is special to Him because He shows His love, mercy and watch care as He works in our lives. Special to us because the God of our universe cares for us. Nothing is impossible for Him. We just come as little children and allow Him to work in our most difficult circumstances, which of course are not even a remote obstacle to Him. As we saw yesterday, what a powerful event it is when our Father answers. The more difficult the situation, the more powerful the answer.

Let's continue on with Psalm 126:2b-3....

And the other nations said, "What amazing things the LORD has done for them." Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!

Another benefit of answered prayer is that it is a testimony to the unsaved world of His existence, His involvement, His power and His love. Often the unredeemed mock, ignore, laugh and many other signs of rejection and unbelief. In fact they can be quite brutal at times. Sadly, I can remember in my BC days that I too was a part of that type of mocking. Turn in your Bible to Psalm 137:1-3 and you will see a written record of the persecution Israel faced while in Babylon. This will help us understand their laughter, joy and proclamation of God's amazing work for them.

Notice what verse 2 says to us....That when God moves, they (the unsaved) witness His incredible working. They knew the enslavement of Israel but they also saw their deliverance as well. Sometimes answered prayer is a public proclamation of God's existence to the lost.

If they don't see it, then we need to tell it!!! As God works among us we need to be acutely aware that the lost/unbelieving are watching. When HE works, if it is not noticeable to them then we need to share what HE has done. Answered prayer can not only bless us but also point others to our Savior and our God.

I love what verse 3 does. It is a declaration of how significant God's working among us is. Amazing things! They reflected along with the lost only to shout in conclusion HE has done amazing things for us!!!! When we pray, we open the door for God to do AMAZING THINGS. The opposite is also true. When we do not pray, we get exactly what we ask for.....nothing.

Is that true in your world? Is HE working and doing mighty things? Perhaps, It doesn't seem that He is because you are not asking for Him to be involved in your life. Pray my brother and sister. Pray. Spend time with Him in secret. Tell Him your struggles, fears and obstacles. Let him be your burden bearer.

Don't give up after a few days, weeks or even years. Keep on praying, clinging to Him and His promises from His word. When He answers, not only will you be blessed beyond measure but the lost will see the glory of our God. And who knows, it may be just what they need to see, to open the door for you to share the gospel with them.

I love the way that verse 3 finishes....WHAT JOY!!! That is the testimony of God's saints. What Joy! Answered prayer brings God's joy to our hearts! Have you ever been there? I have and it is truly a place filled with laughter and singing! If you are in the valley today, do not despair, just pray, pray without ceasing. When He answers you will be filled with Joy! His joy...and there is nothing like it!

So my friend, never give up! Pray on!

You'll be glad you did!

Blessings'

Bruce

Never Give Up!

Well, here we are back after a long hiatus. No excuses, just far too much going on in my world for the past 3 years or so. But Lord willing, I am back for a season to share the wonderful truths of God's faithful word. May we all be blessed as we study/ponder through them together.

Today's treasure is found in Psalm 126...

"When the LORD brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy...vs.1-2a

Now a brief reflection on history as we ponder these truths together. The children of Israel had been under the judgement of their God now for some 70 years. Some 7 decades earlier King Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army had entered Jerusalem and captured God's people and took them away to Babylon. Daniel records this event in detail from the perspective of a prisoner of war, read it as it will help in understanding much of the journey of the people of Israel.

For decades God's people had cried out in prayer for their God to bring them back to His promised land, their home, Judah and Jerusalem. Now, our passage today records HIS answering their cry.

Have you ever prayed for something for an extended period of time? Now in today's instantaneous society, that would be a few minutes, but no, I am talking about months, years even decades. Some of us have! You know what it is like to pray, pray, pray and pray some more asking God to move, answer and intervene. You know the thoughts, struggles, feelings of helplessness and all the other related struggles of extended prayer. The Israelites had been praying for almost 70 years.....and then it happened......

I can only imagine what it was like, a cry went out through the land, a notice read, a decree made, and God's people were free. Free to return, free to go, free to leave and return to their homeland..... The scripture reads it well...."It was like a dream...." WOW....that is what it is like, a dream come true...

All they had longed for, prayed for had now, finally come to pass. They just could not completely grasp that it had finally happened. But it had....though it was like a dream, too good to come true, it was real and they were the lead players in it!!!

God even records for us what their response was like....."We were filled with laughter and we sang for joy." O Happy Day!!! Laughter and joy filled their hearts, homes and the community of Israelites. Man, give me some of that!!! I want to be where HIS joy has filled the heart! Nothing like it, is there!!!!???? I can imagine they sang, laughed, celebrated all the way back to their land!!!

Now what principles can we take from todays passage....

1) Never Give Up..... No matter what your burden is, never give up praying for our God to move. Now this first assumes that you are praying, if not shame on you! You should be. Quit griping, complaining and get on your knees and meet with HIM and tell all your troubles. (Matt. 11:28-30) Just remember, never give up! I personally know of two different wives who prayed for their lost husbands for over 50 years only to see them saved and serve God. What a privilege to see God work so powerfully in their lives. REMEMBER...NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

2) Ask God for that which only HE can do... So much so that when HE answers it will be like a dream....only when you open you eyes, it is true! This principle challenges me. My prayers are often so trivial by this standard. This is a problem in our christian culture. We have so much, we can "handle" so much that we often do not have many "needs" so we don't ask God for much. We need a crisis or either we need to learn to see through HIS eyes. Then we will be asking and asking big!!! Big, real Big, BIG BIG as Barney says.... SO what does your prayer life reveal about you and your dependence on HIM? Perhaps this is not a problem for you, then keep on asking, keep on believing....

3) Joy is His indicator of HIS working in Lives... mmmmmm, this is another biggie, Joy and Joyfulness is a sign of HIS having worked in a situation. As I reflect on this, my mind goes to the joyfulness of church and churches. Where has all the joy gone in our services? Where are the joyful worshippers and the joyful worship songs? A valid question I think we must ask....Perhaps the joy is not there because we are not asking and thus not depending and thus not experiencing HIS provision, protection and personal involvement in our lives. This may explain some of it.

Do you see Joy, His joy being manifested in your life, family and church? You should. If not, it is time for a check up!!! Perhaps it is because you no longer need HIM and are living in your own strength, thus no joy reveals our Christless lives.....mmmmmm, better think on that one....

As you pray over the needs of your life and family, it will be my prayer that HE will bring us to total dependence on HIM. Then when HE moves in answer we may join the joyful worshipful celebrators as they march triumphantly along singing the songs of victory. I will close with a beautiful song we sing that often lights my fire at CBF...." Come let us sing a song, a song declaring we belong to Jesus, we belong to HIM."

Trust Him, Depend Upon Him, Cry Out to Him, Pray...

NEVER GIVE UP! Victory is coming....

You'll be glad you did!

Blessings

Bruce