I stand at the door and knock.

Revelation 3:20 - Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

I'm sure most of us have read or heard these words some where along the way.  I'm also guessing that many of us haven't felt like these words applied to us.  Always saying something like, "I've already accepted Christ, I've already opened the door."

But what I find interesting is that these words come in a warning to the church in Laodicea.  These words are directed toward a church, a body of people who believe.  A body of people who have accepted Christ, but according to Christ's own words "I know your deeds, that you were neither cold or hot.  I wish you were either one or the other!" (Revelation 3:15)

So even if you have been a believer for a long time, even if you have attended church for your entire life...could Jesus be standing outside your life...knocking and you are not hearing His voice?  Or maybe you are hearing His voice and yet...you still are not answering?

Why?  What's keeping your door shut?  What's keeping you from hearing His voice?

Is it fear, guilt or shame from what you've done or what has been done to you?  Is it pride or arrogance?  What is it that is keeping you from turning to Jesus?

Jesus loves you just as you are and is calling you back into his arms.  He is standing waiting for you to open the door to Him, so that he can make you whole, and turn you lose in this life as He meant for you to be.

Lord I pray that we who already profess to be Your people, will listen and obey Your calling.  That we will step out in faith, knowing you have plans to prosper us, plans for our good.  Lord I pray today that we would learn to lay down our lives, our worries, our plans, our fears and doubts...and focus on what You have for us.  Lord thank You for the many blessings we have already received, may we not take those for granted and turn to You today.  Amen!

Elijah was a man just like us...

James 5:13-16 - Is any one of you in trouble?  He should pray.  Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.  Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

James 5:17-18 - Elijah was a man just like us.  He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.  Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

For so many the new year brings an ending and then hope of a new beginning.  But changing a digit in the date doesn't change a thing.  However, changing your heart does.  If you are looking for true change for this new year, start by changing your heart first.

If you are in trouble...pray.

If you are happy...rejoice and praise our Lord.

If you are sick...call on the elders to pray and anoint you.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

Prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  Guess what...if you have accepted Christ as your Lord, no matter where you are right now, no matter what is going on in your life...you are a righteous man.  You are made righteous because of the work that Jesus did on the cross.

Elijah was a man..just like us?  Have you ever considered that?  So many times we forget that many of the men in the Bible who did great and amazing things...were men just like us.  Elijah prayed and it did not rain for three and half years?  I can't remember any time that my prayers affected the weather at any level.

But I do know that prayer has changed my heart, that prayer has helped me in times of struggle, that prayers have helped me when I was sick and that when I have confessed my sins to others, the prays of those others have brought healing to my heart.

I hope that this new year that you look inwardly, pray and let Jesus change your heart.

Lord we come before you today asking for changed hearts.  Lord search us and reveal those areas that need confession and healing.  Lead us Lord in our transformation and set in us a desire to become more and more like you each day of our lives.  We pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Not helpful...

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:12 - "Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is beneficial.  "Everything is permissible for me" - but I will not be mastered by anything.

He also repeats this in 1 Corinthians 10:23 - "Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is beneficial.  "Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is constructive.

Another translation says "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful"

For the last few weeks I've had a recurring thought in my head.  A thought that I have really appreciated, because I know that it's for my benefit.  In many occasions I have had the thought "not helpful" come to mind.  I've had this thought while watching television, and realize that what I was watching was "not helpful".  I've had this thought while walking down the street or in the grocery store and noticing attractive ladies..."not helpful".  I've had this thought when I've been searching the kitchen for something to eat...even though I just ate a short time ago..."not helpful".  There have been many more.

This recurring thought has helped me to identify things in my life that are permissible, but not beneficial, or not helpful in my walk with the Lord.  It's helped me to identify things in my life that are precursor to sinful thoughts and actions.  I know the thought has been from the Holy Spirit working in my life, transforming me from the inside out.

So what things are permissible or lawful that are not helpful to you?  What things do you do; that take your focus off of God?  What things move you just a bit further from Him when you watch or do them?  I imagine this list is different in some aspects (depending our our weakness) but the same in many others for all of us.  What are your idols?

1 Corinthians 10:31 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God

Lord I pray that you will reveal to us the things in our life that are permissible, that are lawful, that are fully in our rights that are not helpful or beneficial to us.  I pray that you would place that still small voice in each and everyone of us, pointing out each as we go through our days.  Then I pray that we would have the ears to hear you, and the strength to walk away from those things and to walk closer to you.  I pray that in all that we do, that we do it for Your glory Jesus...not ours.  Amen!

Forgiveness needed...

As Christians I think we sometimes take the forgiveness of our sins for granted and often forget that we are called to forgive just as we have been forgiven.

Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

As we read this and other verses in the Word, we are reminded that our forgiveness is conditional on our ability to forgive those who have sinned against us.  Have you ever said or heard something like "I could never forgive what they did to me!"  Have you ever struggled with the concept of forgiveness because in your mind it excuses someone from something...that is just to inexcusable?  I am pretty sure we have all been there and many may still be there today.  So I wonder...is forgiveness about you, or is forgiveness about the person who wronged you?  If me being forgiven for my sins is dependent on me being able to forgive...then forgiveness has to be more for me than the other person.

Since the Words in Matthew 6 are true...aren't we only hurting ourselves when we don't forgive?

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 - Anyone you forgive, I also forgive.  And what I have forgiven - if there was anything to forgive - I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Paul is telling the church of Corinth, that anyone they forgive that he also forgives.  That seems strange doesn't it?  What's the point?  I think this is a perfect example regarding something we see much to often today.  Have you ever taken on someone else's wounds, ever experienced someone being hurt and then become a champion for them in the hate and discontent department?  Only to be confused at their lack of concern and being angered at their ability to forgive?  I have...and what Paul is saying here is that he isn't going to do that...that if they forgive...he forgives.

But Paul goes on..."in order that Satan might not outwit us"...  You see, our  inability to forgive not only hinders our ability to be forgiven, it also gives our enemy a stronghold in our life.  The longer we let it go, the worse our thoughts can get.  We start imagining getting even, maybe even harm coming to the person...Satan goes to work on us...and because of our inability to forgive; we move away from God.

Are there hurts in your life that you need to forgive?  Are their people in your past that wronged you that you need to forgive today?  Is your spiritual life being hindered by unforgiveness?

Lord I pray that you would show us today those places in our heart that need forgiveness.  Reveal to us those who we need to forgive...some might be fresh and on our minds now, but some may have happened years ago, maybe we have forgotten.  Lord I pray you reveal those to use now and I pray that we would have the ability to let it go, to forgive and come closer to You.  Amen!