Intro

This week we conclude our series on 10 Lessons from Management Consultants.

10 Lessons from Management Consultants: Scripture and Commentary

7. Up or Out

Luke 13:7-9

7 So he went to the man who took care of the vineyard. He said, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree. But I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’  8 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year. I’ll dig around it and feed it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

John 15:2

He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit.

Ephesians 4:14-16

14 We will no longer be babies in the faith. We won’t be like ships tossed around by the waves. We won’t be blown here and there by every new teaching. We won’t be blown around by cleverness and tricks. Certain people use them to hide their evil plans. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love. So we will grow up in every way to become the body of Christ. Christ is the head of the body. 16 He makes the whole body grow and build itself up in love. Under the control of Christ, each part of the body does its work. It supports the other parts. In that way, the body is joined and held together.

Many large consulting firms have a policy of “up, or out”.  This means that consultants are expected to progress along a regular promotion schedule.  Each year a ranking process compares each to his peers, and only the very best are eligible for promotion.  The rest must wait for the next year.  Usually missing one promotion cycle is allowed, but such consultants are expected to work strenuously on their performance and development.  If the consultant is not ready for promotion at the second opportunity, they are released from the firm.

God likewise expects us to grow spiritually, and to produce ever more fruit.  He feeds and waters us with His Word and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  If we grow up in Him and bear more fruit, the process begins again.  If we neglect our spiritual growth, God may “prune” distractions from our lives, and do some “digging around our roots” to help us develop.  If after His careful attention we still neglect to bear spiritual fruits, we too will be cut off from fellowship with Him.

8. Our flesh is made subject and
9. We endure hardship

1 Corinthians 9:19-22

19 I am free and don’t belong to anyone. But I have made myself a slave to everyone. I do it to win as many as I can to Christ. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew. That was to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one who was under the law. I did this even though I myself am not under the law. That was to win those under the law. 21 To those who don’t have the law I became like one who doesn’t have the law. I did this even though I am not free from God’s law. I am under Christ’s law. Now I can win those who don’t have the law. 22 To those who are weak I became weak. That was to win the weak. I have become all things to all people. I have done this so that in all possible ways I might save some.

Romans 12:1-2

Brothers and sisters, God has shown you his mercy. So I am asking you to offer up your bodies to him while you are still alive. Your bodies are a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God. When you offer your bodies to God, you are worshiping him in the right way. 2 Don’t live the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.

I Corinthians 9:25-27

25 All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 So I do not run like someone who doesn’t run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air. 27 No, I train my body and bring it under control. Then after I have preached to others, I myself will not break the rules. If I did break them, I would fail to win the prize.

II Timothy 2:3-5

3 Like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, join with me in suffering. 4 A soldier does not take part in things that don’t have anything to do with the army. Instead, he tries to please his commanding officer. 5 It is the same for anyone who takes part in a sport. They don’t receive the winner’s crown unless they play by the rules.

Consulting is a very demanding lifestyle!  Every Monday you will be on the first flight out of town.  Every Thursday you will return home, often very late at night.  In between you might eat and sleep on a sensible schedule, but often you do not.  You work when the client works, and then you work more when the client rests, so as to be ready for the next interaction.  You may change time zones, suffer chronic jet lag, and eat really awful food…if you eat at all.  When I was consulting it was routine for my daily workout to occur at 2 am!  And, of course, there are the inevitable cancelled flights, the time away from home, etc.  The expectation is that the good consultant takes all of this in stride, never shows signs of this to the client, and continues to serve well and meet all objectives.

The Bible makes it clear that God expects us to make our flesh subject to the Spirit, and to continue to serve faithfully during hardship.  Recall that at the beginning of His ministry Christ fasted for 40 days, so as to subdue His flesh.  We are to be partakers in His suffering, so that we may also partake in the rewards.  Our flesh is to die daily, so that the Spirit may thrive, bear fruit, and grow the Kingdom.  But unlike consultants, we can count on God’s gift of divine strength to help us in our efforts.

10. We are not alone

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two people are better than one. They can help each other in everything they do.
10 Suppose either of them falls down.  Then the one can help the other one up.
But suppose a person falls down and doesn’t have anyone to help them up.
Then feel sorry for that person!  11 Or suppose two people lie down together.
Then they’ll keep warm.  But how can one person keep warm alone?
12 One person could be overpowered.  But two people can stand up for themselves.
And a rope made out of three cords isn’t easily broken.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Philippians 2:1-5

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus

I Corinthians 12:12-14

12 There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. 13 We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. 14 So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts.

Consultants work in teams comprised of highly skilled resources, each with his or her own expertise.  Most will say that the fellowship with their coworkers, along with the satisfaction of being able to help the clients, is one of the greatest rewards of the profession.  We help one another, rely on one another, and (mostly) work in unity to meet a common objective.

Likewise, God intends believers to be a team as well.  Each of us has been given unique gifts, but together we make one Body of Christ.  We are to encourage one another, minister to one another, and join together to accomplish the objective of building the Kingdom of God.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K

Intro

This week we continue our series on 10 Lessons from Management Consultants.  Last week we learned to view our time here on earth as a “business trip”, to subject ourselves to being of service, and to recognize that our “scope of work” for the kingdom of God is predetermined.  We’ll look at 3 more comparisons this week.

10 Lessons from Management Consultants: Scripture and Commentary

4. Rewards are earned for completion of service

Psalm 19:9-11

9 The law that brings respect for the Lord is pure.  It lasts forever.  The commands the Lord gives are true.  All of them are completely right.  10 They are more priceless than gold.  They have greater value than huge amounts of pure gold.  They are sweeter than honey that is taken from the honeycomb.  11 Your servant is warned by them.  When people obey them, they are greatly rewarded.

Colossians 3:23-25

23 Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters. 24 Work because you know that you will finally receive as a reward what the Lord wants you to have. You are slaves of the Lord Christ. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be paid back for what they do. God treats everyone the same.

Galatians 6:7-9

7 Don’t be fooled. You can’t outsmart God. A man gathers a crop from what he plants. 8 Some people plant to please their desires controlled by sin. From these desires they will harvest death. Others plant to please the Holy Spirit. From the Spirit they will harvest eternal life. 9 Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up.

Last week we discussed how consultants have a “statement of work” that outlines what will be done, when it will be completed, and how much the consultant will be rewarded.  It’s typical for payment to be either contingent on completing the entire statement of work, or, more frequently, on completion of defined portions of the work known as “milestones”.

Likewise, God has a statement of work for each one of us, determined before the foundations of the world were laid.  And just as consultants are rewarded for milestone completion, God’s servants are rewarded on earth for following in His ways, and rewarded even more at the “project’s end”.  Of course, consultant’s rewards on earth are material things, and will eventually wear out or perish.  God’s reward at the end of our earthly project will last for eternity- hallelujah!

5. We are expected to present a consistent image

Matthew 7:16-20

16 You can tell each tree by its fruit. Do people pick grapes from bushes? Do they pick figs from thorns? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit. But a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t bear bad fruit. And a bad tree can’t bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down. It is thrown into the fire. 20 You can tell each tree by its fruit.

Galatians 5:22-26

22 But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful 23 and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to his cross. They don’t want these things anymore. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become proud. Let us not make each other angry. Let us not want what belongs to others.

Each consulting firm has its own signature image.  Because we all generally followed the same Monday and Thursday flight schedule I used to amuse myself in the airport guessing which firm my fellow travelers worked for based on their clothes, shoes, and luggage.  The brand imaging is so consistent that I was seldom wrong, in fact in most cases I didn’t need to look beyond their shoes and overcoat!  Note that the firm doesn’t issue any of these items to the consultant, rather, the consultants choose them for themselves.  Yet the consistency persists.  What the firms do, very effectively, is provide a structure whereby the branding and expectations are clear.

God has also made our “branding expectations” clear.  We are characterized by a deep love of others, by devotion to things of heaven above those of earth, and by the fruits of the Spirit.  We must choose to clothe ourselves thus when we go out into the world.  God grant that telling us from unbelievers is as easy as distinguishing one firm from another!

6. Guidance and mentorship is provided

Romans 15:14

14 My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of goodness. You are filled with knowledge and able to teach one another.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Galatians 5:25

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Romans 8:14

14 Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Consultants don’t have a true “boss”.  Instead, they are assigned to career counselors and mentors that advise them in their personal and career growth.  These counselors and mentors are responsible for providing instruction in the firm’s expectations, giving counsel when mistakes are made, and being a source of support, encouragement, and advice.

Likewise, God has provided us with two sources of counseling as we complete our earthly assignment.  First, Scripture makes it clear that we are to encourage, counsel, and advise one another.  But since we are all fallible, God has also provided his Holy Spirit as Supreme Counselor to guide us in our walk.

We’ll continue our series next week.  Until then, I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K

Intro

I’ve made my living for the last 17 years as a management consultant.  This weekend as I studied and prayed I kept being led to Scriptures that reminded me of interesting parallels with my work, so in this week’s post we will begin a series on 10 things Christians can learn from management consultants.  But don’t worry, I won’t be sending a bill.

10 Lessons from Management Consultants: Scripture and Commentary

1. Our function is to be of service

I Peter 4:10

10 God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully

Matthew 20:27-28

27 And anyone who wants to be first must be your slave. 28 Be like the Son of Man. He did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free.”

I Corinthians 9:19-22

19 I am free and don’t belong to anyone. But I have made myself a slave to everyone. I do it to win as many as I can to Christ. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew. That was to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one who was under the law. I did this even though I myself am not under the law. That was to win those under the law. 21 To those who don’t have the law I became like one who doesn’t have the law. I did this even though I am not free from God’s law. I am under Christ’s law. Now I can win those who don’t have the law. 22 To those who are weak I became weak. That was to win the weak. I have become all things to all people. I have done this so that in all possible ways I might save some.

There are many interesting parallels in these verses.  Consultants do not work for the client, so in that sense we are “free” from their authority; however, when consultants are sent to a client, it is expected that we will meet them on their terms.  I once caused great offense by wearing a suit to a client’s casual workplace!  Only after a sincere apology was I able to convince them that I understood their needs, and was ready to serve them.  Likewise, we are freed from the powers of this world, but subject ourselves to them so that we might serve without offense.

Consultants also show up with their own unique knowledge and skills, but the expectation is that these will be employed in the service of the client, not for the glory of the consultant.  Such is also true of the gifts God has given us.

2. Our work is done away from our home

Philippians 3:20

20 But we are citizens of heaven. And we can hardly wait for a Savior from there. He is the Lord Jesus Christ

I Peter 2:11-12

11 Dear friends, you are outsiders and those who wander in this world. So I’m asking you not to give in to your sinful desires. They fight against your soul. 12 People who don’t believe might say you are doing wrong. But lead good lives among them. Then they will see your good deeds. And they will give glory to God on the day he comes to judge.

Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not gather for yourselves riches on earth. Moths and rats can destroy them. Thieves can break in and steal them. 20 Instead, gather for yourselves riches in heaven. There, moths and rats do not destroy them. There, thieves do not break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will be where your riches are.

Consulting is a demanding lifestyle!  The expectation is that you will take the first flight early on Monday morning, heading directly to the client from the airport upon arrival.  The workday on the client site commonly extends until 8 or 9pm each night.  On Monday-Wednesday nights you go from the client to a hotel, and on Thursday night from the client directly to the airport for your flight back home.  This process repeats for the term of the project.  Even though some projects may last for years, it is expected that you will make no attempt at building any comforts for yourself in the client city, nor establish any ties there.  Sightseeing is even discouraged, and viewed as a lack of focus on your mission.  It is grounded into our heads that we are commuting, NOT touring.

Of course, the hearts of the consultants are always in their home cities, with their families, friends, and treasures.  We are acutely aware that we are away from where we truly belong.  Scripture teaches us that as Christians we should maintain this view of our earthly “client site” as well.  We are just on one very long business trip, and should focus on the mission at hand rather than our comforts.

3. The scope of our work has been defined for us

Ephesians 1:4

⁴ God chose us to belong to Christ before the world was created. He chose us to be holy and without blame in his eyes. He loved us

Ephesians 2:10

10 We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.

Before a consultant arrives, a contractual document known as a “statement of work” has already been signed.  This document outlines the many what, when, and how details of the work to be done.  Likewise, God has had a “statement of work” prepared for each of us from the foundations of the world.  As Christians, our mission has been predetermined by God.

We’ll continue our series next week.  Until then, I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K

Intro

Last October my Bible study group was studying the spiritual gifts, and each took a gifts survey (you can find these at spiritualgiftstest.com).  My survey results- after much prayer- led to the creation of this blog.  Since then I have been amazed at what God has done.  With no promotional activities at all we have readers in 22 different countries on 6 continents!  This includes readers in several countries where Bibles are not permitted, so we will continue to use lots of scripture in the posts.  God is truly good!

For our topic this week I thought it would be good to circle back to the topic that got us started on this journey- spiritual gifts.  The inspiration comes not only from our 1-year anniversary, but also from something I heard a pastor say this week.  He relayed the story of a young man that came to Christ after belonging to a gang.  A few months after being saved the young man relayed a frustration: he was not able to find the same level of love, family, and community in the church that he had known with his fellow gang members.  Of course, this hit the pastor very hard, as it should all of us!  So, let’s look at what the Bible has to say about our gifts, and how we are meant to be using them to serve one another.

 

Scripture and Commentary

Jeremiah 1:4-8

4 A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 5 “Before I formed you in your mother’s body I chose you.  Before you were born I set you apart to serve me.  I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”  6 “You are my Lord and King,” I said. “I don’t know how to speak. I’m too young.”  7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I’m too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to. You must say everything I command you to say. 8 Do not be afraid of the people I send you to. I am with you. I will save you,” announces the Lord.

 Psalm 139:13-16

13 You created the deepest parts of my being.   You put me together inside my mother’s body.  14 How you made me is amazing and wonderful.  I praise you for that.  What you have done is wonderful.  I know that very well.  15 None of my bones was hidden from you when you made me inside my mother’s body. That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth.  When you were putting me together there, 16 your eyes saw my body even before it was formed.  You planned how many days I would live.  You wrote down the number of them in your book before I had lived through even one of them.

Ephesians 2:10

10 We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.

Proverbs 19:21

21 A person may have many plans in their heart.  But the Lord’s purpose wins out in the end.

These verses make it clear that God has a master plan.  We are each created with a purpose, ordained long before our birth as part of God’s design.  Regardless of social status, gender, race, class, disability, etc. each of us is a custom design, crafted with the exact characteristics we are meant to have, and placed exactly where we are intended to be.

Jeremiah 1:9-10

9 Then the Lord reached out his hand. He touched my mouth and spoke to me. He said, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 Today I am appointing you to speak to nations and kingdoms. I give you authority to pull them up by the roots and tear them down. I give you authority to destroy them and crush them. I give you authority to build them up and plant them.”

Exodus 31:1-5

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. 2 He said, “I have chosen Bezalel, the son of Uri. Uri is the son of Hur. Bezalel is from the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God. I have filled Bezalel with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skill. 4 He can make beautiful patterns in gold, silver and bronze. 5 He can cut and set stones. He can work with wood. In fact, he can work in all kinds of crafts.

Two points stand out to me in these passages.  First, that God will impart additional gifts to us as needed.  Second, our material, earthly talents are also part of His design, and intended to be used for His glory.

1 Corinthians 12:4-31

4 There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given to believers by the same Spirit. 5 There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. 6 There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people.

7 The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all. 8 To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge. 9 To others the same Spirit gives faith. To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. 10 To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages. 11 All the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.

12 There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. 13 We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. 14 So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts.

15 Suppose the foot says, “I am not a hand. So I don’t belong to the body.” By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body. 16 And suppose the ear says, “I am not an eye. So I don’t belong to the body.” By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell? 18 God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. 19 If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? 20 As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.

21 The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without. 23 The parts that we think are less important we treat with special honor. The private parts aren’t shown. But they are treated with special care. 24 The parts that can be shown don’t need special care. But God has put together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honor to the parts that didn’t have any. 25 In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy.

27 You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it. 28 First, God has placed apostles in the church. Second, he has placed prophets in the church. Third, he has placed teachers in the church. Then he has given to the church miracles and gifts of healing. He also has given the gift of helping others and the gift of guiding the church. God also has given the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages. 29 Is everyone an apostle? Is everyone a prophet? Is everyone a teacher? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in languages they had not known before? Do all explain what is said in those languages? 31 But above all, you should want the more important gifts.

Romans 12:4-8

4 Each of us has one body with many parts. And the parts do not all have the same purpose. 5 So also we are many persons. But in Christ we are one body. And each part of the body belongs to all the other parts. 6 We all have gifts. They differ according to the grace God has given to each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it according to the faith you have. 7 If your gift is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. 8 Is it encouraging others? Then encourage them. Is it giving to others? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully.

I Peter 4:7-11

7 The end of all things is near. So be watchful and control yourselves. Then you may pray. 8 Most of all, love one another deeply. Love erases many sins by forgiving them. 9 Welcome others into your homes without complaining. 10 God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do it as one speaking God’s words. If anyone serves, they should do it with the strength God provides. Then in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him for ever and ever. Amen.

When we are saved and receive the Holy Spirit, we are given additional gifts to be used in God’s ministry.  Since God is a master of design, we can be sure that our spiritual endowment upon rebirth perfectly complements the natural talents bestowed on us at our physical birth.  And the Bible makes it clear that the purpose of these gifts is ministry, including service to our fellow members of the Body of Christ.  All of us are necessary to the plan, ministry is not a responsibility or calling just for our pastors.

Conclusion

In the introduction this week I relayed a story about a gang member that struggled to find a family within the church.  After much prayer the pastor in the story has decided to reorganize his church into several small groups.  Each group is under the leadership of 2 pastors, but everyone in the group is expected to understand and use their spiritual gifts to minister to one another.   I’m looking forward to seeing how God uses these people to minister and love one another, and to then take that love out into San Francisco and minister to the community!

Most of us won’t have access to a church organized in this way, but we can all take responsibility for knowing our gifts, and for actively looking for ways to use them in ministering to one another and to our neighbors, coworkers, and towns.   Let’s spend time in prayer this week regarding God’s will for us in the use of our gifts.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K

Intro

We’ve come to the month of October.  For those of us that live in California that means we can finally look forward to the end of our devastating “fire season”, and the promise of our brief-but vital- rainy season.   When the rains come they change the entire landscape from golden brown to green almost overnight, and each year we carefully watch the rains to see whether we will have enough water to get thru the next year.

In anticipation of this gift of rain, I thought we would make this post about the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture and Commentary

John 7:37-39

37 It was the last and most important day of the feast. Jesus stood up and spoke in a loud voice. He said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Does anyone believe in me? Then, just as Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from inside them.” 39 When he said this, he meant the Holy Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus would receive the Spirit later. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given. This was because Jesus had not yet received glory.

Matthew 3:11

11 I baptize you with water, calling you to turn away from your sins. But after me, someone is coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Both John the Baptist and Jesus used analogies of water and baptism in reference to the Holy Spirit.  This should have been familiar to the Jews, because the prophets had referred to a coming outpouring of God’s Spirit in similar ways.

Isaiah 44:3

3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.

Joel 2:28-29

28 “After that, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.   Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will have dreams.  Your young men will have visions.  29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit on those who serve me, men and women alike.

So the promise of the Holy Spirit coming to us as a gift from God preceded the arrival of Messiah, and throughout the Sprit was compared to water.  But now that the Spirit has come, what are the ramifications?  Let’s explore 4 ways in which the Holy Spirit works in our life as Living Water:

1. He cleanses and purifies us through salvation, allowing us to be reborn

Titus 3:5

⁵ He saved us. It wasn’t because of the good things we had done. It was because of his mercy. He saved us by washing away our sins. We were born again. The Holy Spirit gave us new life.

I Corinthians 12:13

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Isaiah 12:3

3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

2. He waters our branches through the True Vine, so that we can bear fruit as evidence of our salvation.

John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain joined to me, just as I also remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me. 5 “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me. 6 If you don’t remain joined to me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. Branches like those are picked up. They are thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be done for you. 8 When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples.

Did you know that most fruits are more than 85% water?  Connection to the True Vine, and nourishment by the Holy Spirit, is essential to producing fruits as described in Galatians:

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful 23 and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.

3. He provides the spiritual gifts and guidance for our ministry

I Corinthians 12:7-11

7 The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all. 8 To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge. 9 To others the same Spirit gives faith. To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. 10 To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages. 11 All the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.

Luke 12:11

11 “You will be brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities. But do not worry about how to stand up for yourselves or what to say. 12 The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

Proverbs 18:4

4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

4. He nourishes us from within, and intercedes for us from salvation to eternal life

John 4:13-14

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 But anyone who drinks the water I give them will never be thirsty. In fact, the water I give them will become a spring of water in them. It will flow up into eternal life.”

Romans 8:26-27

26 In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don’t know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself prays for us. He prays through groans too deep for words. 27 God, who looks into our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit. And the Spirit prays for God’s people just as God wants him to pray.

What a comfort this verse is!  It can be hard to know how to pray in an uncertain world, but what a relief to know the Everlasting God in His perfect wisdom has provided the answer to this dilemma.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K

Intro

It has been nearly a year since Our Eyes on Him went online.  In that first post- The Anger Trap- we discussed how media outlets profit from creating negative emotions, such as anger or fear, to improve returns on advertising.  This practice continues, and a year later I see more anger in our society than ever before.  As Christians, we have to guard our hearts carefully, lest the evil in this world choke out or embitter our fruits!  This week we are going to explore what the Bible has to say about one of our most evident expressions of our hearts- the words we speak.

Scripture and Commentary

Luke 6:45

45 A good man says good things. These come from the good that is stored up in his heart. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil that is stored up in his heart. A person’s mouth says everything that is in their heart.

Matthew 12:33-37

30 “Anyone who is not with me is against me. Anyone who does not gather sheep with me scatters them. 31 So here is what I tell you. Every kind of sin and every evil word spoken against God will be forgiven. But speaking evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. A person like that won’t be forgiven either now or in days to come.  33 “If you make a tree good, its fruit will be good. If you make a tree bad, its fruit will be bad. You can tell a tree by its fruit. 34 You nest of poisonous snakes! How can you who are evil say anything good? Your mouths say everything that is in your hearts. 35 A good man says good things. These come from the good that is stored up inside him. An evil man says evil things. These come from the evil that is stored up inside him. 36 But here is what I tell you. On judgment day, everyone will have to account for every empty word they have spoken. 37 By your words you will be found guilty or not guilty.”

In these two passages, our Lord makes several important points.  First, He clarifies that what is in a person’s heart will come out in their speech.  If we are struggling not to criticize, attack, or imagine evil against those we disagree with, it might be time for some spiritual “heart surgery”.  I find the best way to work on this is to limit exposure to negativity (turn off the media), and to follow the advice of Philippians 4:

Philippians 4:4-8

4 Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful! 5 Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him. 7 Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.8 Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.

Second, He notes that anyone that is not gathering sheep is scattering them!  So, if our words create division or repulsion rather than reconciliation, we are actually working against the Lord’s kingdom.  Recall that Christ is our perfect example, and that He was not sent to condemn the world.  Our witness for Him should be of love and healing, and indicated by Proverbs 12:

Proverbs 12:8

18 The words of thoughtless people cut like swords. But the tongue of wise people brings healing.

Third, He warns against speaking against the Holy Spirit, even more so than speaking against God the Father or Christ the Son.  The Holy Spirit dwells within those that are born again, and calls those that are not yet reconciled to God.  While speaking evil of others may not be blasphemy in the strictest sense, the warning is still relevant as suggested by James chapter 3:

James 3:9-10

9 With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. With our tongues we curse people. We do it even though people have been created to be like God. 10 Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it shouldn’t be this way.

Finally, our Lord warns us that every idle word we speak will require an accounting.  Our words are powerful!  With our words we indicate the contents of our hearts, we praise God, we command demons to flee and mountains to move, we intercede for others.  Once we are born again, our words are not meant to be our own, but the Spirit working through us.  We have died to earthly things, and are operating in the supernatural.  Proverbs 18 tells us that our words even contain the power of life and death!  Let’s endeavor to separate ourselves from the negativity and evil in our world, and instead show evidence of good spiritual fruits through our words.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K

Intro

The passage that is speaking to me the most this week is Galatians 5.  This post will explore some of the major themes in that chapter, and their relevance for today.

Scripture and Commentary

Theme #1: We no longer need to obey the Old Testament laws, we are justified by faith in Christ

Galatians 5:1-6

Christ has set us free to enjoy our freedom. So remain strong in the faith. Don’t let the chains of slavery hold you again.  2 Here is what I, Paul, say to you. Don’t let yourselves be circumcised. If you do, Christ won’t be of any value to you. 3 I say it again. Every man who lets himself be circumcised must obey the whole law. 4 Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace. 5 But we long to be made completely holy because of our faith in Christ. Through the Holy Spirit we wait for this in hope. 6 Circumcision and uncircumcision aren’t worth anything to those who believe in Christ Jesus. The only thing that really counts is faith that shows itself through love.

It is critical that we remember the old covenant is dead, and that we have a new, and better, covenant instead.  What counts is that we have faith in Christ, demonstrated by the fruits of the Holy Spirit through love.

Theme #2: Beware of being enslaved by false doctrine, and especially of spreading false doctrine

Galatians 5:7-12

7 You were running a good race. Who has kept you from obeying the truth? 8 The God who chooses you does not keep you from obeying the truth. 9 You should know that “just a little yeast works its way through the whole batch of dough.” 10 The Lord makes me certain that you will see the truth of this. The one who has gotten you all mixed up will have to pay the price. This will happen no matter who has done it. 11 Brothers and sisters, I no longer preach that people must be circumcised. If I did, why am I still being opposed? If I preached that, then the cross wouldn’t upset anyone. 12 So then, what about troublemakers who try to get others to be circumcised? I wish they would go the whole way! I wish they would cut off everything that marks them as men!

Preaching condemnation has become popular in the church today, and I feel it is choking out the fruits we are meant to bear.  If fruit is being produced at all, often it is bitter indeed!  This week I had a sister in Christ tell me that God will never answer my prayers because I live among murderers (women who have had abortions) whoremongers (women who found themselves in the market for an abortion) and evil deviants (homosexuals).  All of this because I happen to reside in California!  I had replied to a message she wrote saying that she was praying for God to have North Korea drop a nuclear weapon on California to wipe out all the evil people and restore our nation.  I tried to gently point out that we have a very large contingent of Christians here, and that a good deal of local and international ministry is supported out of California.  The above was her reply, and she was not alone.  Many other brothers and sisters echoed her comments, all of them praying that God will send nuclear destruction to our country!  This is definitely not faith showing itself through love; however, rather than be angry it is important to realize that these siblings have fallen into the condemnation trap through false teaching.  We need to pray for this spirit of condemnation to be broken, and for the truth to set them free and restore their fruits.

Theme #3: Be led by the Holy Spirit, with love keeping us from sin

Galatians 5:13-18

13 My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to live under the power of sin. Instead, serve one another in love. 14 The whole law is fulfilled by obeying this one command. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18) 15 If you say or do things that harm one another, watch out! You could end up destroying one another.16 So I say, live by the Holy Spirit’s power. Then you will not do what your desires controlled by sin want you to do. 17 The desires controlled by sin do not want what the Spirit delights in. And the Spirit does not want what the desires controlled by sin delight in. The two are at war with each other. That’s why you are not supposed to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the authority of the law.

Here we again have freedom from the law, along with the truism that “love thy neighbor” fulfills the law.  Notice it is “thy neighbor” and not merely “thy brother/sister”, implying that even those murders, whoremongers, and evil deviants need to be held on par with ourselves in love, but without participation in the same sins.  We want to be more like Abraham praying for the salvation of Sodom (Genesis 18) and much less like Jonah pouting over the redemption of Nineveh (Jonah 4). Christ admonishes us to love even our enemies (Matthew 5).

Theme #4: Uh-oh, we don’t get to pick on just the easy-to-avoid sins

Galatians 5:19-21

19 The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear. It includes sexual sins, impure acts and wild living. 20 It includes worshiping statues of gods and worshiping evil powers. It also includes hatred and fighting, jealousy and fits of anger. Sinful desire is interested only in getting ahead. It stirs up trouble. It separates people into their own little groups. 21 It wants what others have. It gets drunk and takes part in wild parties. It does many things of that kind. I warn you now as I did before. People who live like this will not receive God’s kingdom.

This passage starts out so great for those stuck in condemnation.  After all, most of us manage to avoid the wild living and idol worship without too much effort.  But then Paul continues with hatred, jealousy, angry fits (road rage, anyone?) self-promotion, excessive ambition, and divisiveness.  Uh oh.  Suddenly we have lumber in our own eyes.  Now we need God’s grace again, and we are back at the foot of the cross with the murders, whoremongers….you see where this is going.

Theme #5: Fruits of the Holy Spirit as proof of our walk with Christ

Galatians 5:22-26

22 But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful 23 and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to his cross. They don’t want these things anymore. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become proud. Let us not make each other angry. Let us not want what belongs to others.

The Bible tells us in many places that you can tell a good tree from an evil tree by the fruit it produces (Matthew 3, Matthew 7, Matthew 12, John 15) and that the source of this fruit is love (Philippians 1) and the knowledge of the Holy Spirit (Colossians 1).  I pray that each of us will grow in this knowledge, and live Spirit-filled lives that bear bushels of sweet fruits.

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K

Intro

This week we conclude our 4-part series on why we pray.  In the first part of the series we discussed how we acknowledge the nature of God, and reaffirm our relationship with Him.  The second post highlighted how we can increase our faith through prayers of thanksgiving, acknowledging the blessings that God has brought into our lives.  Post three discussed the weapon of praise, and how through praising God in prayer we can enter into His presence, putting ourselves under His divine protection.  All of these are benefits we can derive from prayer, but in the final post on this topic we shift the focus from ourselves to our ministries, discussing how we can use prayer in service of God’s kingdom.

Scripture and Commentary

Psalm 106:19-23

19 At Mount Horeb they made a metal statue of a bull calf. They worshiped that statue of a god. 20 They traded their glorious God for a statue of a bull that eats grass.  21 They forgot the God who saved them.  They forgot the God who had done great things in Egypt.  22 They forgot the miracles he did in the land of Ham.  They forgot the wonderful things he did by the Red Sea.  23 So he said he would destroy them.  But Moses, his chosen one, stood up for them.  He kept God’s anger from destroying them.

Genesis 18:20-23

20 The Lord also said, “The cries against Sodom and Gomorrah are very great. Their sin is so bad 21 that I will go down and see for myself. I want to see if what they have done is as bad as the cries that have reached me. If it is not, then I will know.”22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom. But Abraham remained standing in front of the Lord. 23 Then Abraham came up to him. He said, “Will you sweep away godly people along with those who are evil? 24 What if there are 50 godly people in the city? Will you really sweep it away? Won’t you spare the place because of the 50 godly people in it? 25 You would never kill godly people along with those who are evil, would you? Would you treat them all alike? You would never do anything like that! Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is right?”  26 The Lord said, “If I find 50 godly people in the city of Sodom, I will spare it. I will spare the whole place because of them.”  27 Then Abraham spoke up again. He said, “I have been very bold to speak to the Lord. After all, I’m only dust and ashes. 28 What if the number of godly people is five fewer than 50? Will you destroy the whole city because there are five fewer people?”  “If I find 45 there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”  29 Once again Abraham spoke to him. He asked, “What if only 40 are found there?”  He said, “If there are 40, I will not do it.”  30 Then Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me. Let me speak. What if only 30 can be found there?”  He answered, “If I find 30, I will not do it.”  31 Abraham said, “I have been very bold to speak to the Lord. What if only 20 can be found there?”  He said, “If I find 20, I will not destroy it.”  32 Then he said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me. Let me speak just one more time. What if only ten can be found there?”  He answered, “If I find ten, I will not destroy it.”  33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left. And Abraham returned home.

Luke 11:5-8

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend. You go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. 6 A friend of mine on a journey has come to stay with me. I have no food to give him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, that person will not get up. And he won’t give you bread just because he is your friend. But because you keep bothering him, he will surely get up. He will give you as much as you need.

These passages all demonstrate the role of an “intercessor”, from the Latin word for one who intervenes or “goes between” to plead the case of another.  Moses interceded for Israel after they built the golden calf.  Abraham interceded on behalf of Sodom.  And in the parable from Luke, Jesus describes a neighbor that intercedes on behalf of a hungry friend.  Intercession is one of the most common- and most powerful- forms of prayer described in the Bible.  Note that in each case the intercessor intervenes out of his own willingness, rather than at the request of the beneficiary.

The Bible tells us that Christ and the Holy Spirit are interceding on our behalf:

Hebrews 7:24-25

24 But Jesus lives forever. So he always holds the office of priest. 25 People now come to God through him. And he is able to save them completely and for all time. Jesus lives forever. He prays for them.

Romans 8:26-27

26 In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don’t know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself prays for us. He prays through groans too deep for words. 27 God, who looks into our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit. And the Spirit prays for God’s people just as God wants him to pray.

And the Bible also commands us to intercede on behalf of others:

Matthew 5:44

44 But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.

I Timothy 2:1-4

First, I want you to pray for all people. Ask God to help and bless them. Give thanks for them. 2 Pray for kings. Pray for everyone who is in authority. Pray that we can live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior. 4 He wants all people to be saved. He wants them to come to know the truth.

I John 5:16-17

16 Suppose you see any brother or sister commit a sin. But this sin is not the kind that leads to death. Then you should pray, and God will give them life. I’m talking about someone whose sin does not lead to death. But there is a sin that does lead to death. I’m not saying you should pray about that sin. 17 Every wrong thing we do is sin. But there are sins that do not lead to death.

Besides intercessory prayer, Christians are also called to what I refer to as prayers of agreement- the joining together in prayer to bring requests to God.

Matthew 18:18-19

18 “What I’m about to tell you is true. What you lock on earth will be locked in heaven. What you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven.19 “Again, here is what I tell you. Suppose two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for. My Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 Where two or three people gather in my name, I am there with them.”

James 5:14-16

14 Is anyone among you sick? Then that person should send for the elders of the church to pray over them. They should ask the elders to anoint them with olive oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer offered by those who have faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will heal them. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 So confess your sins to one another. Pray for one another so that you might be healed. The prayer of a godly person is powerful. Things happen because of it.

So to conclude our series on why we pray with the knowledge that praying for others, both as an intercessor and in agreement with other believers, is meant to be a part of our walk with God.  And we have assurance from His Word that our prayers will be heard, and have a powerful impact.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K

Intro

This week we continue our series on Why We Pray with a focus on the use of praise in our prayer life.  It is easy to forget that praise isn’t merely an obligatory sacrifice, or a display of good manners. It is not simply an expression of our gratitude, or an acknowledgement of God’s goodness.  In fact, true heartfelt praise is one of the most powerful weapons in our arsenal.

Scripture and Commentary

Psalm 100:1-4

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 22:3

3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

The Psalms make it clear that God inhabits our praises, and that we enter into His presence through praise.  James 4:8 tells us that when we draw near to God, He also draws near to us.  This is why I say praise is one of the most powerful weapons we have! Scripture is full of promises and examples of God delivering His people when they draw near to Him in praise.

Psalm 18:3

3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so, shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Psalm 50:23

23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Zephaniah 3:17

23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Acts 16:25-26

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

II Chronicles 20:21-22

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

Joshua 6:20

20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

Psalm 91

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.  Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Satan cannot stand in the presence of genuine praise to God, and Scripture makes it clear that the Lord will deliver all those who praise Him.  Psalm 16 tells us that in the presence of the Lord we have fullness of joy.  So our 3^rd reason for prayer is to engage in praise, and thereby put ourselves in the safety of the presence of God.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K

 

Intro

This week we continue our series on Why We Pray with a discussion on the benefits of  giving thanks to God in prayer.

Scripture and Commentary

Psalm 103:2-5

2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Romans 1:20-22

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

Colossians 2:6-7

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Psalm 105:1-4

1 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.  3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.  4 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Even secular society recognizes the benefit of a thankful attitude.  Psychology Today recently reported a study that shows thankfulness reduces negative emotions- including envy- and enhances our ability to form connections with others.  Thankfulness appears to have a myriad of health benefits as well, from reducing the perception of aches and pains to improved sleep.  Business researchers have found that engaging in exercises that encourage thankfulness leads to improved solutions and better business outcomes.  If thankfulness can achieve this much in a secular context, how much more will we benefit if we practice thankfulness in our relationship with God!

As the verses above illustrate giving thanks to God is consistent with being rooted in our faith in Him.  Conversely, neglecting thankfulness makes us susceptible to the mindset of this world, with “futile thinking” and “darkened hearts”.  When we reflect on the blessings of God, even the blessings of having our faith strengthened thru trials, we renew our faith in Him.  This prepares us for service, and gives us the strength we need to overcome trials and adversity.  More importantly, it brings joy and positions us to testify of the goodness of God in our interactions with others. Giving thanks to God, then, is the second reason why we should engage in prayer regularly.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K