The God who humbly hears prayer

Our attitude even in coming to God is so often faulty. But the humility of God is so great that he doesn't seem to mind.

Richard Wurmbrand records his first prayer to God as follows.

"I said something like this: 'God, I know that You do not exist. But if perchance You exist, which I deny - it is for You to reveal yourself to me; it is not my duty to seek You.'"

He was a proud young atheist playboy and called his prayer, "the prayer of an atheist."

The strange thing is that the god so addressed appeared not to take offence but to answer and Richard Wurmbrand became perhaps the best known Christian leader of his country of the 20th century.

God is humbly prepared to meet us 'where we are.'

The God who stoops.

You are love; You are wisdom; You are humility

- Saint Francis of Assisi, The Praises of God

What an encouragement to faith to know that God is humble and willing to stoop. As the psalmist says,

Who is like the LORD our God,

the One who sits enthroned on high,

who stoops down to look

on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust....Psa. 113:5 - 6

How low is God prepared to go? Low enough to become a man. Low enough to serve. Low enough to suffer the shame of crucifixion. Low enough to save his enemies. Low enough to hear even a prayer full mostly of doubt ("I believe, help my unbelief.")

God is graciously ready to meet you right where you are. Take advantage of his grace today.

Praying through pain

Jesus Gethsemane prayer experience is a great example of praying through pain.
Read Matthew 26:36ff
There is this refrain in his prayer - "Not my will but yours be done"
Prayer often does not change the situation but it definitely changes us and the way we tackle it.

BUT...

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and every day have sorrow in my heart?

.....

But I trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,

for he has been good to me.

Psa. 13:0 - 6

The Bible - No laughing matter!!!

How has God spoken to you from his word this week?

Do you believe it?

Here is something I read in Genesis 17:18 "Abraham fell face down, he laughed and said to himself "will a son be born to a man 100 years old?"

Now I always thought it was Sarah who did the laughing - but here it is Abraham laughed first!! why don't we pick him out as the doubter???

Abraham was a real bloke like me - he might of had a bit more faith than me - BUT - He still laughed at God's promises.

Any way I got to thinking - when do I laugh at God? Where do I doubt him at his word?? This week I am going to change my attitudes to the promises of God - I am going to try and believe them.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "never will I leave you, never will I forsake you!!"

Do you believe it???

The Bible - Gods Word Believe it or not?

"The mere fact that the Bible claims to be the Word of God does not prove that it is such, for there are other books that make the same claim. The difference is that the scriptures contain indisputable evidence as being the Word of God." Josh McDowell

Jesus made the claim for the Bible saying "scripture cannot be broken: John 10:35 and promising that "not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law" Matt 5:18

In other words Jesus fully believed that the Bible was God inspired.

If he believed it then surely we can to....

Faith Hope Love

Faithful Works

Loving Labor

Hopeful Endurance

How will these characterise your church life this week?

Will the things we do this week be characterised by these:

Prayer and Creativity

Building up and not tearing down

Joyful optimism

They will be if we keep Jesus at the centre!!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God Hebrews 12:2