Somebody's Praying

Philemon 1:4
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

A few years back I had a woman in the church where I Pastor at to tell me something that still makes me smile to this day. She said, "Brother Steve, I can't do much anymore. I can't sing, cook, teach or anything like I used to be able to do. But I want you to know something." I asked her what it was and she said, "I pray for you everyday, and your beautiful little family." If you know me then you know I started crying.

Think about it. Someone who will take the time out of their lives, out of their own troubles or trials, just to pray for you. If it doesn't make you weep it should. One of the sad things about this is that many Christians today tell you that they are gonna pray for you but then end up forgetting about it or needing to pray for something of their own. Paul says that he was thankful and always prayed for this man, as well as many churches, everyday.

A few years had passed and this woman who told me and others this statement went home to be with the Lord. While we were attending a Pastor's conference one year I heard a song playing that I had not heard in sometime. Then the Pastor told us to join hands and pray for the one next to us on the right and left. This way everyone in the conference has been prayed for by name. The music was softly playing and then the man started singing...

Somebody's prayin' I can feel it. Somebody's prayin' for me.
Mighty hands are guiding me to protect me from what I can't see.
Lord I believe, Lord I believe, Somebody's prayin' for me.

Well then it started again... My tears begin to flow because I thought about this woman of God who told me she prayed for me.

How many times do we think that preaching, singing, evangelizing, youth rallies, revivals are the most important things that we need to be doing? We sometimes forget that prayer is the driving force behind all of these things. Prayer is not the last thing that we need to do, it's the first!

Right now, I have prayed for you. I want you to know something even greater than that though. When you finish the devotion go and read John Chapter 17 and you will see that even Jesus has prayed for you.

He Will Flee

James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

How can I break away from...? This is almost a daily question that I'm asked. I can't break away from sin. How can I stop? What if I told you that God has laid it out in His Word? It's a very simple plan. Let's look at it.

First of all in order to break away from sin we must submit to God. Submit means surrender to or give yourself to. It means to accept or yield to someone or something. Sin will always have a hold on you, no matter what it is, as long as you're not submitted and surrendered to God. Submitting means that God is greater and your desire for Him overtakes the need for sin.

Second, you must resist the devil. Resist means to withstand. Satan comes in like a flood with his temptations of sin. Trying his best to get you to please your flesh and rebel against God. What is the best way to get the temptations of Satan away from you? Resist him! What did the scripture say would happen if we submitted to God and resisted the devil? He will flee from you!

Lord, I submit myself unto you today. I confess my sin and ask for your forgiveness. Please give me the wisdom and strength to resist the devil and his temptations so that he will flee. I love you and I thank you. In Jesus name - Amen.

Just a Cup of Cold Water

Matthew 10:42

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Years ago, when I started as Pastor, I was just a young man of twenty-four. I didn't know much about being a Pastor at all. I knew nothing really. About a year into it, a member asked me to go to a Pastor's conference. I didn't give it much thought, but this woman was very persistent so I caved in to the idea. After going I heard great men of God speak such awesome messages from our Lord. Men like, Adrian Rogers, Jerry Vines, Mac Brunson and others. I was stunned by the power and anointing that was clearly upon these men. But then one man, Junior Hill, walked to the pulpit. I wondered what he would say. I was praying for God to help a young Pastor like me. I was seeking direction and more of His Spirit. To be very honest with you, I didn't expect much. He was a fellow Alabama man, pretty country and plain in his speech (just like me). But then he opened his mouth and it seemed as if a God Himself was speaking straight to my heart. 

Brother Junior spoke of one cup of cold water. Just one small cup of water and it's direct impact it could have upon our ministry. I have often thought of this one cup of water. Many dry days have come into my life since that time twelve years ago. Many days where my mouth seemed so parched and thick because of my thirst. At times it seemed as if I was going to thirst to death if I didn't have some of His spiritual water. Then as clear as the sky on a sunny day, God sent someone into my life like Andrew Johnson carrying a cup. A cup of His refreshing water. As he placed it into my hands I could feel the Love of God. When I would take it to my heart and drink it up I knew that God must have sent them my way!  

This morning think about this... Just one cup of water today. If all you can do for Him today is give one cup of cold water in His name, then do it. I promise you this. If you pour out one cup, surely God will have someone waiting that is thirsty.  There is a thirsty world in need of the living water we have. Please get a cup, fill it up, and give it to someone today. 

Don't Quit

2 Corinthians 4:16

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

I have learned in the last year of my life that things are difficult. From physical to spiritual things, some of them can be tough. I've also learned that as much as we may strive to be in good physical shape, that this body is daily decaying. There is not enough medicine, make-up or workouts that can stop this from happening. (Before you use this devotion as an excuse to not workout and eat healthy, don't. That is not what the point is) There is no fountain of youth, no serum that you can take to stop the process of a dying body. You can maintain it and take good care of what God has given you, but you cannot stop the penalty of sin upon creation. We are all headed toward the grave. 

But the good news is... The inward man (spiritual man) is renewed day by day. We can help the spiritual side of us daily. We can become better and better. See this flesh will fall to the earth someday, but our spirit in Jesus will not fade or die. That's why Paul says, "For which cause we faint not..."  In other words, this is the reason we don't quit!  Because we know the ailments of this old body will someday be taken away and fade into the background of our new body.  What a day that is going to be when Jesus I shall see, and I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His Grace. When He takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land... What a day, glorious day that will be. 

Don't quit!  Even when it gets tough...don't quit!  Even if you feel you can't make it another step...don't quit!  For which cause we faint not!  Lord Jesus, please renew us today. 

My Best Friend

Exodus 33:11

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend...

Some view God as the "Big Boss Man Upstairs". He's always listening and ready to come in and ruin your fun. Some view Him as the "Homeboy" who you hangout with, some even while they are doing sinful things. But Moses saw God in a different way. He became so close to God, that he and God spoke as friends would speak. This doesn't mean that Moses didn't reverence God, it means that Moses was so in love with the fellowship of God, and God was so in love with Moses, that they talked together as friends. 

My greatest friend I have is God. But let me use an earthly example so you will understand me. My greatest earthly friend is my wife, Patti. We talk about everything. Sometimes it's me listening and sometimes it's her listening. At times it could be on a heated subject, but we talk it through as friends. One of the greatest joys I have is telling you about my wife. I use her as illustrations in many of my messages to show our love and friendship, no she doesn't like all of them.  There is no one that I will allow to come between me and my wife. Remember, she is my best friend. There is no one I would rather talk about than my wife. Remember, she is my best friend. I have no problem in doing what she asks of me, and she has no problem in doing the same. Because we are best friends. 

God and Moses were best friends. At one place in scripture God told Moses that He was about to destroy the children of Israel because of their sins and his friend Moses said, "Please don't". Then in other places, Moses wanted to walk away from it all and God said, "No my friend". 

When you pray, how do you talk to your friend?  If there is sin, you do realize that all sin is against your best friend? Ask Him to restore the best friendship you could ever have right now. Repent of the sin and begin to talk to God as a man would talk to his friend. Thank you Lord for being my friend. 

My Favorite Comforter

John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

When I was a child, I can remember going to bed at night afraid of the dark. I can remember thinking something was in the room with me and that I couldn't see it because it was so dark. So I would take my blanket and put it over my head. When I would do this it seemed that all my troubles vanished. Someone could be breaking into my house, come into my room and stand right over me, but as long as the cover was over me...there was no way they could find me or harm me.

Now that I'm older I can't wait for it to get dark. Cause I'm tired and ready for bed. I love crawling into my bed, and getting underneath that comforter. The darker the better!  Cause I'm resting in this bed underneath my comforter.  It seemed like nothing could scare or harm me when I was younger because of my comforter. Now it seems like rest and peacefulness comes while underneath the comforter.

Do you see where I'm going?  When I first accepted Jesus, and the Comforter came into my life, there were times I was afraid. There were times where I was scared, but through the Comforter I found my rest. No matter how dark it would get, I just covered up with the Comforter. Now that I'm an older Christian, I find all my comfort, all my peace, all my rest in my Comforter!

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for sending the sweet Holy Spirit. Thank you for comforting me when I'm afraid, scared and if it gets dark. Thank you for providing the rest, peace and comfort that no one else could ever give. I love you so much. I love my Comforter!

A Good Report

Hebrews 11:1-2

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Nothing can beat a good report card or a good report at the doctors office. Have you ever seen a student hide a good report card?  No!  They love to show a good report card to every one they come in contact with. What about a good doctors report?  Surely you would tell everyone. I know I would.

Sometimes Fear can contaminate our report. Nothing hurts more than thinking of what the report, or outcome, will be with fear. Fear can devastate us in our walk with Christ. Fear can bring speculation and often bring discouragement. There is no possible way we can have a good report if it is contaminated with Fear. 

Look at our scripture, it says... "By Faith" we obtain a good report. In the Old Testament the children of Israel sent spies to search the promised land. They came back with a good report, but then allowed fear into it. Fear then changed the good report into one with doubt and discouragement. They allowed fear to override the goodness of the report. The children of Israel suffered because of their unbelief. 

Faith! That is what we need to obtain and maintain the good report of God. "By Faith"... I believe the report of God. "By Faith"... I trust in the report. "By Faith"... God's report remains good. 

Finish this with me...

  - By Faith God has.............in my life

  - By Fear...........has happened in my life