"Sinking Again?"

Scripture Text: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”  Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

What are you anxious about today? Finances? Relationships? Your job? World affairs?

Humanity brings us a lot to get anxious about. Some of us become anxious over health related issues in our family - maybe even our own health issues.

What about sin in your life? Even the heathen knows when they have gone over the edge and become sick from their over-indulgence. In those situations - Christian or heathen... we often promise ourselves first of all, that we will never do it again: then tomorrow comes. once again we find that we are POWERLESS over our flesh and we are working the works of death and disease all over again. Yes, even Christians are living in the flesh while proclaiming the power of the Spirit and they can't get the victory! Why is that?

Well, without a doubt it is a lack of willpower: the control of one's impulses and actions and of course self-control. Dwight D. Eisenhower once said:

"Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow."

In other words, you cannot live the "que sera sera" kind of life but you must plan your work and work your plan. Too many Christians get caught up in the misguided idea that if you're in the will of God, you just flit from one day to the next and wait on God to take care of you. That idea is like spiritual marijuana. It numbs the senses and gets you no where and one day you wake up realizing that life has passed you by. What a waste! Even Jesus told His disciples to "Occupy till I come". (ref., Luke 19:3)

So how do we communicate with our spirit and our will and make it function "super" naturally? We pray!

When we pray, we open the door for God to work within us and in our lives. He promises to give us what we need. Matthew 7:7 says,

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"

As much as He may want to... God cannot "make" you enter into His kingdom, but He can stand at the door and knock.

What about Peter? We find there in Matthew 14:29, 30:

"And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink,"

Peter walked on the water until his focus turned away from Jesus to himself. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus he did not sink. When he looked at his circumstances he started to sink. What did he do then? He said "Lord save me".

Jesus prayed consistently. He prayed to give God thanks and He prayed when He was afraid: He always gave Glory to The Father. (Luke 22:42-44). Perhaps it's time that we got our eyes off ourselves and our problems fall on our knees and pray, "Lord save me".

Let's pray. Father, I desire to walk with you and that every step I take be ordered by you. I would be like Peter and say Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (ref., Matthew 14:28) Unfortunately I would I'm sure sink long before  Peter did and have to call on you to rescue me as well. In fact, I've done just that so many times through my life. Teach me Oh Lord to live a life of "action in prayer" today to ensure my strength in righteousness tomorrow. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

출처 : http://inthegarden.us/devo2010/itg072110.htm