One of the highlights of my mornings are when I get the chance to do a devotion with my wife and we get to pray together. \u00a0Few things set my day up for success as well as that special time. \u00a0As we were having that privilege this morning Diana said something that has stuck with me now for several hours. \u00a0She was praying for God to guide me as well as herself, and that we would pray before we did anything because “there are so many opportunities for us to fall into sin.” \u00a0That line was so impactful this morning, and I have been thinking about all the opportunities since our prayer time that I could have miss stepped. \u00a0We live in a world that is full of temptation not just out in the physical world, but especially within our digital world. God then brought 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to my mind. \u00a0The book of 1 Thessalonians is a book inspired by God and recorded by the apostle Paul to a church that was struggling with pressure inside of the church as well as from outside the church. \u00a0Persecution was very real for the Thessalonian believers at the time Paul was writing. \u00a0In some ways persecution is beginning to become real to believers within America. \u00a0I want to be clear that we are not facing the persecution that many in the New Testament faced, nor are we facing the type of persecution many brothers and sisters around the world are facing. \u00a0However, we are seeing a culture that is becoming less tolerant of Christianity, and a government who seems set on defying biblical mandates. \u00a0Towards the end of his first letter to the church at Thessalonica Paul writes, “pray without ceasing.” \u00a0This doesn’t mean that Christians are to go around all day, every day mumbling prayers. \u00a0Rather Paul is speaking more of an attitude that we should have.<\/p>\n
To pray without ceasing speaks of an attitude in which we are always ready to pray. \u00a0We are to be faithfully consistent in our prayers. \u00a0This is certainly a challenge for many Christians. \u00a0As one pastor put it, “We need to pray more than just rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub.” \u00a0Prayer is being connected to, in communion with God and that cannot occur mindlessly or flippantly. \u00a0If I am going to be in an attitude of prayer, then I need to be on guard for those many opportunities that present themselves every day to get out of fellowship with God through sin. \u00a0If I am watching something that is inappropriate, reading something inappropriate, listening to something inappropriate then I have become disconnected with God, and therefore I’m not ready to pray until there is confession. \u00a0If my attitude towards someone isn’t loving, compassionate, and kind then I am not ready again because sin has disconnected me from God. \u00a0Therefore, I have to be vigilant to guard my heart, my mind, my words, and my actions. \u00a0The natural outflow of guarding ourselves is that we will be connected to God in a spirit of worship and prayer, because we will actively be seeking to please Him in our lives.<\/p>\n
Another part of praying without ceasing is seeking God’s guidance throughout our day. \u00a0There are many decisions that we must make, the majority of them we make without giving it a second thought. \u00a0It is my belief that the greatest temptations lie within the ordinary, mundane parts of life. \u00a0A Christian man or woman is going to know that going into a strip club isn’t honoring to God. \u00a0But how many of us watch shows on TV or the internet that have strong sexual connotations in them? \u00a0Watching TV is ordinary and mundane, most of us after dinner sit down in front of the TV, turn it on, and give very little thought about what we are seeing on the screen. \u00a0Some decisions that we have to make don’t have the danger of temptation connected to them. \u00a0Sometimes you will have to decide between two things that are good, but you must decide which is the best. \u00a0We see this in Luke 10:38-42. \u00a0Jesus comes and visits Mary and Martha in Bethany. \u00a0Martha is being a good host, which was the job of the woman in those days. \u00a0She was making sure that the house was straight, a meal was being prepared, and that Jesus would be comfortable during His stay with them. \u00a0Martha wasn’t wrong because she was being a good hostess. \u00a0Mary on the other hand chose to sit at the feet of Jesus. \u00a0In those days it was a symbol of putting yourself under the authority of a teacher. \u00a0So while it looks like Mary was being lazy and just sitting while her sister was working, that isn’t what was occurring. Mary wasn’t wrong in her decision to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn. \u00a0Mary and Martha had a decision to make between a good choice and the best choice. \u00a0Mary made the best choice because she was focused on Jesus and learning from Him. Jesus had already predicted His death on several occasions. \u00a0There was always going to be housework to be done, but Jesus wasn’t going to be with them much longer. \u00a0Mary focused on a relationship not works. \u00a0This is the constant pull many people feel, and without trying to judge or condemn anyone who has uttered the statement, “cleanliness is next to Godliness” or “God understands I only have two days to get all this done so I will miss church”; neither of those statements are true or biblical. \u00a0When presented with two good choices, we need to prayerfully seek which is the best choice.<\/p>\n
As we live a life that is connected to God throughout the day, a life in which we are ready and able to pray at any moment we will find it easier to live out the words of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” \u00a0The reason many times we struggle to pray, to feel connected to God, to know God’s will for our life or this situation is because we have disconnected ourselves from God. \u00a0Therefore, let us be intentional about striving to live in connection with God. \u00a0Pray each morning for God to help you guard your heart, your mind, your mouth, and your actions. \u00a0Be on the lookout for those opportunities to fall into sin, they are there, and they will rear their ugly head when you least expect it.<\/p>\n
By His grace and for His Glory,<\/p>\n
Pastor Justin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the highlights of my mornings are when I get the chance to do a devotion with my wife and we get to pray together. \u00a0Few things set my day up for success as well as that special time. … Read More