Prayer empowers

Recently, a picture was published showing a police officer keeling to pray beside his cruiser. This was actually a simple testimony to the power that he thought would guide and protect him that day. Many other policemen pray verbal or silent prayers in their crusiers before leaving or on the way to answer a call, because they do not know what dangers they may face. Many military organizations have troops who will pray before going into battle every day. These examples speak of groups of people who understnd they live in a world of unseen and unexpected dangers. We all live in such a world, although the dangers may be differnt. The letter known as Acts documented the power of the Holy Spirit guiding early believers as they proclaimed the message of Jesus by their actions and words. The same Holy Spirit who empowered those early believers empowers us, to the degree we allow. Prayer is our avenue to His guidance. "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." - Eph. 6:18-20 (NIV)

Semper Fi

When people become exhausted or experience an intense level of pain, energy required for patiently addressing many situations dwindles and tempers can flare. Sometimes feelings are hurt or dreams and expectations end in heartbreak. Exhaustion can usually be solved with rest, but pain is a major source of energy drain on people; any type of pain may prevent getting the rest needed to restore healthy body functions. Prominent questions for addressing any pain focus on intensity and cause. Rest and relaxation can usually ease pain caused by simple physical stress and physiological pain can be addressed by a physician, while emotional pain is sometimes more difficult to calm since there may be so many intertwined causes and degrees of distress. Spiritual pain has only one solution, Jesus. Human emotions are an extremely powerful part of our existence. Inputs from any of our 5 senses can trigger thoughts and intense emotional responses; our emotions can quickly gain control of further thoughts and subsequent actions. Can the indwelling partner of Christians help in these situations? Yes! He knows every desire, expectation, thought, feeling, and inclination we have. If we turn to Him and ask, He will help us. The Holy Spirit does not prevent us from having certain feelings or emotional responses. He does not prevent us from making poor decisions or judge us – He wants to help us make good decisions, but we have to ask Him. He does protect Christians against Satanic attacks to the degree allowed, we only need to turn to Him and ask. He speaks to us immediately when we admit we need His help, honestly pray to Him, and open ourselves to His guidance. If we want to hear His response, we must open the Bible and listen to His words. Reading scripture and focusing on God can soothe anger, start healing bruised emotions, and provide guidance for next steps for any recovery needed. However, it is imperative we believe He will help and ask for His help. His operation is a continuance of the ways Jesus worked while here on earth. USA Marines have a strong bond exemplified by the motto: Semper fidelis, Latin for “always faithful.” A Christian’s bond to God is stronger; the Holy Spirit is always faithful to stand by us, protect and encourage us, as much as we will allow. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to lead us along our unique individual spiritual journey and remain always faithful to Jesus.

Sustenance

Jesus said much about sustenance and life. He used physical life as an example of the spiritual life within us. His hearers knew they needed food and water to stay alive. Jesus relates this need for sustenance to their spiritual lives. Jesus and God were one; we could see Jesus, but not God. Jesus not only demonstrated the qualities of God lived out in human form, but also how He was the solution to ALL spiritual challenges. He was water to quench spiritual thirst (Jn 4:10), and bread to subdue hunger, "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." Jn. 6:35 (NIV)

Resolution

Accept God displayed as Jesus the prophet, trying to point His people back to a teaching they had overlooked. Jesus was the great prophet promised and the solution they so desperately needed, but they would not follow what had been given them earlier. It was their lack of following the earlier information that showed how mistaken they were about Jesus. Jesus harshly scolded the Jewish leaders when He said, "Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Jn. 5:45-47 (NASB)

Oblivious

The people to whom Jesus came physically, failed to recognize Him. Even though the Holy Spirit promised Him via words of scripture, these people failed to recognize the source of the message given. John wrote, "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life." - John 5:39-40   "Yes, the scriptures are important, but Jesus is more so. He was God with us, Immanuel (Matthew 1:23). As important as the Scriptures are, Jesus is very much more important because He was the source and the revelation of scripture meaning. He is God's message (John 1:1, 14). He gives life. He is the focus we need to have as we follow the Holy Spirit along our unique individual spiritual journey.

New Life

Some people fear death, others find it intriguing. In an effort to demystify death, there are stories about those who have returned from death, because it was not their time. These are limited occurrences, but only the people living when Jesus returns will escape eventual physical death. An encounter with God radically changes a person’s viewpoint. What they once thought was desirable or suitable in this physical realm is changed, they view this life as a stepping stone, yet an impediment to pure joy. Their understanding of “life” becomes enriched. Physical life becomes more than mere physical existence. These stories come and go and few participants seem to spread the news, but when the Son gives “life,” it continues; it has new direction and power by the indwelling Holy Spirit. One day all will be raised from physical death and given a new body, then, as God’s children, we will experience His glory. Until that event we long for, Christians constantly live life as a new person. Jesus conquered death, so the death event is no longer viewed as cessation of existence, but realization of true existence. "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it." - Jn. 5:21 (NIV). Until that time of earthly death, all who attempt to follow Jesus, travel along a unique individual spiritual journey, led by the Holy Spirit: if we will allow Him to do so..

Anticipate

We are continually faced with challenges and opportunities. We should anticipate these activities because Jesus said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). Not only this, but also the same Holy Spirit lives within us as Paul, and he said, "I can do all things [to serve God] through him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). Another person said most eloquently, "Do not long for the absence of problems in your life. That is an unrealistic goal, since in this world you will have trouble. You have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek your heaven on earth." We should ask the Holy Spirit to guide us along our unique individual spiritual journey and empower us to overcome all things which the world launches toward us.