Be Specific In Prayer

Be Specific In Prayer

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV).

If you have a specific need, you need to make a specific request.  We all have specific needs (health, financial, family, etc.), but many of us approach prayer with general requests.  However, Jesus taught us to be specific in our prayers.  As He taught his followers to pray, He could have told them to say, “bless us” or “help us.” However, He taught, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). He was urging His followers to be specific in prayer.  The bread was essential to life then, and Jesus is “the Bread of Life” for us today (John 6:35).

Why is it important to be specific in prayer?  Praying for specific needs helps with the following.

1)  Clarifies our minds.  A specific prayer allows us to clearly define the need.  As we clearly articulate our petition, we may begin to formulate a solution.  We realize that God’s solution may not be the same as our solution.  Once we speak our prayer, we now have one of life’s most precious commodities – hope.

2)  Identify the root problem.  As we develop specific prayers, we have the opportunity to pause and reflect on what is causing this need?  For example, perhaps we don’t need a salary increase but rather we need to be more careful with our spending.

3)  It reminds us of our dependence on God.  We are dependent on God, and all that we have is due to His blessing.  We would be wise to remember that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17).  In some churches, the congregation sings the short hymn, “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow” as the offering is brought forward to be received.  This doxology reminds us that as children of God, we are dependent on the blessings of the Father for provision and protection.

4) Increases our awareness of His answer.  As we offer up a specific prayer, we await an answer.  General prayers are more difficult to discern when, if, or how they have been answered.  For example, if you have a meeting with a difficult co-worker or supervisor tomorrow, then today you could pray that God would bless you with a spirit of peace so you can sleep well tonight.  Pray for wisdom so you are prepared for the meeting.  Pray that God grants you both with a spirit of gentleness.  And pray that the meeting is productive, and God is honored.

5) Strengthens our faith.  A prayer is an essential form of worship for a Christian.  If we do not have faith in God, then there is no need for prayer.  Prayer allows us to connect to God and draws us closer to Him. As we see God respond to our specific prayers, our relationship with God deepens, and our faith increases.

6) Lightens our burden.  Our prayers are a reminder of our covenant with God.  As you “Come to Him” in prayer, you “yoke up” with supernatural power and find “rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28).  Our burden is lightened because we are working in tandem with Him.

There are numerous examples in Scripture where people offer up specific prayers to God.  In Genesis 24 we learn that Abraham’s servant has been sent to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac.  The servantly wisely began the assignment with prayer. “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this, I will know that you have shown kindness to my master: (Genesis 24:12-14).  Scripture says, “Before he had finished praying, Rebekah appeared” (Genesis 24:15).  The servant offered a specific prayer and had an answered prayer.  He saw God at work.

1 Chronicles 4:10 details the prayer of Jabez.  He was a relatively obscure person that prayed a specific prayer to God.  “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.”  May we also formulate specific prayers to address our needs that bring honor and glory to the Father.

Prayer:  Dear God, As we offer up specific prayers to you, may we do so boldly with confidence and thanksgiving.  Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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What Is Your Reflection?

What Is Your Reflection?

What Is Your Reflection?

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver” (Malachi 3:3 NIV).

What Is Your Reflection?

I think most people probably use a mirror at least once a day, maybe even multiple times.  We look at ourselves to see our reflection.  We want to know what image we are reflecting out to others.  Then, we take action to improve our appearance.

Scripture tells us that God’s Word is like a mirror:  “Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:23-24).  A mirror reflects our outside physical appearance, and God’s Word reflects our inner spiritual appearance.  Which one of these do you think is more important to you, to society, and to God?

Have you ever seen yourself as one of the characters in the Bible?  For example, if you read the parable of the lost son in Luke 15, you will likely see yourself as behaving as one of the characters at some point in your life.  Sometimes we focus on the sins of others rather than our own sins as happened to the woman caught in adultery in John 8.  I saw a great meme on Facebook recently that read – the only one qualified to throw a stone did not.

Hebrews 4:12 says that God’s Word discerns our heart’s thoughts and desires.  As we search Scripture, it searches us as well.  I suspect that some do not read the Bible because they are afraid to look into the mirror of God’s Word and see their spiritual reflection.  Our spiritual reflection to the world is evidenced by our ability, or inability, to show the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5 22-23). 

What is our spiritual reflection of our self?  Our sins can soil our image to our own eyes.  Our spiritual reflection to ourselves lies in our ability to claim our new identity in Christ.  The Fruits of The Spirit are not only to be shown to others but also to ourselves.  How can we give these to others when we have failed to give them to ourselves? 

God is known by many names and descriptions in Scripture.  One of my favorite images is that of a silversmith.  In Malachi 3:3 we learn, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver

When silver is mined from the earth, it does not look like the silver we find in a jewelry store. In fact, it is not always recognizable due to the impurities that mar its appearance. An experienced silver miner knows that the ugliest lump of silver is of great value, and the potential for beauty is great.  God does not see us full of impurity but full of worth.

I was in a Bible study years ago when I first read this verse.  An older gentleman asked me how does God know when the silver is refined and finished?  He answered his own question and said when He can see His own reflection in who is being refined.  Amen?

Prayer:  Dear God:  Thank you for your love and patience as the impurities are removed from our spirits.  We know that through your grace and the blood of Jesus you can look at us and see Your reflection as we are presented perfect, blameless, and without fault.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Read Scripture And Then Use It

Read Scripture And Then Use It
Read Scripture And Then Use It

Read Scripture And Then Use It

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24 NIV).

I enjoy reading the Bible, and I if you are reading this you probably do as well.  I also enjoy group Bible studies, Sunday School, small groups and any other means of studying and learning Scripture.  I study Scripture because I want to learn more about God.  I know “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).   I want to learn, and the more I learn, the more I realize how much I do not know.  The Word is essential to our training (and continual retraining) in righteousness. 

The Word is more powerful that we can even begin to realize.  The Apostle Paul conveyed this in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

How many times do we read and study Scripture and then stop?  Yes, the Bible is to be read and studied, but it is also to be lived and shared.  Our salvation is not in our knowledge of Scripture, but rather our salvation is in the Blood of Christ.

In the time of Jesus, there were teachers of the Law that had a deep and profound knowledge of Scripture.  Jesus warned us about their hypocrisy in Matthew 23:2-3.  “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.  So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”  One of the many names used to refer to Jesus was “teacher” (John 13:13).  As a teacher, Jesus wants us to use His teaching and “go and do likewise.”  The evangelist D.L. Moody once said, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.”

In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells the story of two builders – a wise one and a foolish one.

The foolish man builds his house on sand. When a storm comes, the house falls with a great crash. Jesus says people who hear His teachings but don’t put them into practice are like that foolish builder.  The wise builder, though, builds his house on the rock. When rain and winds come, his house stands firm. Jesus says: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).

The Book of James speaks at length about putting into action what the Bible teaches. The first chapter of the book of James includes three characteristics that we will have if we are putting God’s Word into practice.  We will have:

1.

A controlled mouth: “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

2.

A caring heart:  “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27).

3.

A clean mind: “keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27 NIV).

The disciples learned the Word from the Word (Jesus).  Jesus knew that knowing and doing are different so He told, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”  Biblical knowledge is a blessing, but a greater blessing can be found when we put its teachings into practice.

I love the familiar Scripture in Psalm 118:24. “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Think about the words “rejoice and glad.”  I think we can show these attributes by showing Christ.  We show Christ when we put our faith into Christ-like words, thoughts, and action.  Read your Bible and be a doer of the Word.

Prayer:  Dear God:  Thank you for revealing yourself to us through your Word.  Help us to not only study your Word but to put it into action in our daily lives.  Amen. 

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Look Past The Sin To See The Person – Examples From Godly Women

Look Past The Sin To See The Person – Examples From Godly Women

Look Past The Sin To See The Person – Examples From Godly Women

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies” (Proverbs 31:10 NIV).

Women have always been vitally important to Christianity.  Their love and compassion have been recorded since the beginning of time.  When thinking about the beginning, we often think of Eve and her sin of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden.  Due to God’s grace she still had children and is forever known as the mother of all creation.  But we tend to focus on and remember her sin.  However, our focus should be on her redemption.

Sarah was the wife of Abraham, the great Patriarch.  She could throw fits and sometimes behaved badly.  She could be manipulative and even mean.  Sarah is also listed in the Faith Hall of Fame. “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11).

Rahab is first introduced in the Bible as an unsavory character – “a harlot named Rahab” (Joshua 2:1).  She was immoral and living in a pagan culture.  She knew of the greatness of God and provided assistance to the spies sent by Joshua to investigate her hometown of Jericho.  However, she is specifically singled out by name for her faith. “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31). Rahab even appears in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1. 

So, how do we apply this to our life today?  I think the right next step is for us to reflect on how we view others.  For example, I have a friend that spent time in prison for killing a police officer.  He admits that he did it.  I did not know him until he had been released for many years and he was active in ministry.  Somebody else told me, “that guy killed a cop.”  However, by God’s grace it did not affect my perception of him.  I had already built my perception based on what I had seen.  I had seen the sincerity of his faith, the fruits of his witness, and the depth of his faith.  I was not really interested in the details of his prior life, regardless if they were true or not.  Don’t we all love to sing Amazing Grace?  I was lost but now found.

As Christians we are not immune to sin in our current life.  As I become aware of sin in the lives of others, I can offer my judgment or my prayers.  Judgment is the job of God.  Conviction is the job of the Holy Spirit.  My job, and yours, is to love and pray.  I try to use my words and thoughts to build up the Body of Christ.  That does not mean I agree with everything, but it does mean that we should let God be God and do His job.

As men, we should remember what Adam said regarding Eve in Genesis 2:23, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”  As men we are called to honor the women in our lives.  One way we do so is to forgive them of their sins as we too seek to be forgiven and view them as Christ views us all.

Prayer:  Dear God, Thank you for the Godly women that you have placed in our lives.  May we always honor them as we honor you.  Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Unanswered Prayers

Unanswered Prayers
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Unanswered Prayers

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 KJV).

In 1990 Garth Brooks wrote a popular country song entitled, “Unanswered Prayers.”  The song described a time when he ran into a high-school girlfriend while he was with his wife.   In a recent interview Brooks admits that during the first two years of his marriage he still had strong feelings for this other woman and felt that she was the one that he should had married.  However, as he ran into his old flame, he realized that this girl was not the “angel he remembered in his dreams.” Time had changed him and her. The song expresses his awareness that he needed to thank God for the “gifts in his life.” He became aware of the fact that he needs to be thankful to God for the gift of unanswered prayers to reunite with his old girlfriend and the blessing of a good wife, which Proverbs 31:10 teaches us is, “far more precious than jewels.” 

We can all remember praying to God for something we thought was so critical.  We know that God hears our prayers and we approach prayer with confidence and thanksgiving.  The first time I read John 14:14 I thought I had found a genie bottle.  I could maybe rub the bottle and offer up a prayer and out pops my request, just like a vending machine.

Jesus used the Lord’s prayer to teach us how to pray.   The purpose of this prayer, and our lives, is to advance God’s kingdom.  A key part of the prayer is, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10, emphasis added).  Our will was done in the Garden of Eden, and the result is a fallen earth.  Sin allowed pain and death to enter the Garden and our lives today.

One reason we know God hears our prayers is because He has promised to hear them. Even if He doesn’t always answer the way we think He should, He still hears us. The Psalmist declared, “As for me, I call to God … and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:16-17).

Why then, does God sometimes seem deaf to our prayers? One reason may be because we’ve allowed sin to take root in our hearts—and sin always separates us from God. It may be anger, or hatred, or prejudice, or an unclean habit, or anything else that we’ve allowed to pollute our souls. As we wait on God to act, He may be waiting on us to remove whatever separates us from Him.

God often doesn’t answer our prayers the way we think He should because He loves us, and He knows what is best for us. It’s often been said that God answers prayer in one of three ways: “Yes”, “No”, and “Wait.” We see only part of the picture—but God sees the whole thing. It is essential that we seek God’s will first when we pray and not just our own.

Sometimes we pray and the answer is “no” because God has something better and we need to wait.  Our faith is tested through prayer.  Why does God seemingly ignore prayers to heal babies that are born with cancer?  How can “something better” occur due to the death of babies.  To me, the best explanation is found in Isaiah 66:9, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Persistent prayer may not yield the answer that we feel is justified. The response may not be clear or fair.  However, by faith we proceed to forge ahead when the path is not clear.  Don’t be discouraged. Instead, thank God for His unconditional love and grace, and learn to commit everything to Him in prayer.

Prayer:  Dear God:  Great is thy faithfulness.  Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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