Hello,
Did you know that there is another blog you can go to that has more of my writing and pictures? Go to http://rubiescorner.wordpress.com/. There are more recent paintings and writings that are more frequent. See you there .
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Powerful Praying
"Lord, will you speak? Will you move today?"
We were in the middle of worship time, and I felt the presence of the Lord.
He said, "Humble yourself before Me and I will speak."
I knew He wanted me to do some special praying about this for several days.
I said, "Lord, I humble myself before You right now."
Sometimes we don't come ready to worship. We forget who we are in Christ. He has promised, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst." It doesn't matter if it is a small group or a large one. It matters how we come into His presence.
God still looks at us as the ones His Son bought when He died on the cross for us. We are wearing new garments, and He sees us as His children. He wants to communicate with us but His ways are higher than our ways. He requires that we take up our cross and follow Him.
Remember Daniel? He was told not to pray, and he kept on three times a day. He was soon in dire trouble because he was thrown in the lions' den for praying. He was rescued because angels intervened.
Isaiah portrays God as Holy and having unsearchable understanding. His ways are higher than ours, and that requires a more worshipful frame of mind if we want to see Him move in our midst.
Repentance and humility come when we get serious about wanting a move of God to happen in our midst. Someone said once, "Draw a circle around yourself and start praying for revival." Too often we are apathetic, religious, and not ready to worship or pray. It is a powerless problem that grieves the Holy Spirit.
When we plug-in to God and repent with true humility, our prayers will become powerful and mighty to pulling down of strongholds. Our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual beings that don't want us to hear, learn or pray. Our battle is often with ourself who doesn't want to give in to the presence of God. We become stubborn and don't give Him everything.
Singing to the Lord will change the very atmosphere around you. Speaking the Word out loud in your church will change the atmosphere also, as you pray. I find passages that will fit the situation and pray them back to God, because this is the weapon He has given us to use. As a sword, the Word of God is powerful to the pulling down of strongholds. It is a hammer and a fire that will not return void.
Circumstances often happen to dictate whether we will bow the knee or not. We become as hardened as the disciples were after Jesus' death and burial. They didn't believe the reports that Jesus had risen until He appeared to them. This year I have noticed how hard hearted I become after things don't happen.
Sometimes God wants us to just sit down with Him and get quiet. That means go to the church if you can't cut the television off. Sometimes He wants us to open the Word and read it for ourselves. God brings comfort and His love is there for the asking.
If you have been praying for years about church growth, revival and people coming to Christ, then join a friend and start praying. After the requests are made, then worship the Lord and begin to sit in His presence. Meet daily for an hour and see if this helps.
People often come to me with a prayer request. Sometimes the request takes me three days to pray through with them about the situation. I pray in agreement about the situation right there and we go our way. God brings them to mind over and over the next three days. Many times He answers. Sometimes the situation doesn't change, but the person for whom I pray has more peace and joy where there was none.
Let's Pray:
Father, I have opened my heart again to you. My burden is that I want You to move in a powerful way and to begin with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
We were in the middle of worship time, and I felt the presence of the Lord.
He said, "Humble yourself before Me and I will speak."
I knew He wanted me to do some special praying about this for several days.
I said, "Lord, I humble myself before You right now."
Sometimes we don't come ready to worship. We forget who we are in Christ. He has promised, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst." It doesn't matter if it is a small group or a large one. It matters how we come into His presence.
God still looks at us as the ones His Son bought when He died on the cross for us. We are wearing new garments, and He sees us as His children. He wants to communicate with us but His ways are higher than our ways. He requires that we take up our cross and follow Him.
Remember Daniel? He was told not to pray, and he kept on three times a day. He was soon in dire trouble because he was thrown in the lions' den for praying. He was rescued because angels intervened.
Isaiah portrays God as Holy and having unsearchable understanding. His ways are higher than ours, and that requires a more worshipful frame of mind if we want to see Him move in our midst.
Repentance and humility come when we get serious about wanting a move of God to happen in our midst. Someone said once, "Draw a circle around yourself and start praying for revival." Too often we are apathetic, religious, and not ready to worship or pray. It is a powerless problem that grieves the Holy Spirit.
When we plug-in to God and repent with true humility, our prayers will become powerful and mighty to pulling down of strongholds. Our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual beings that don't want us to hear, learn or pray. Our battle is often with ourself who doesn't want to give in to the presence of God. We become stubborn and don't give Him everything.
Singing to the Lord will change the very atmosphere around you. Speaking the Word out loud in your church will change the atmosphere also, as you pray. I find passages that will fit the situation and pray them back to God, because this is the weapon He has given us to use. As a sword, the Word of God is powerful to the pulling down of strongholds. It is a hammer and a fire that will not return void.
Circumstances often happen to dictate whether we will bow the knee or not. We become as hardened as the disciples were after Jesus' death and burial. They didn't believe the reports that Jesus had risen until He appeared to them. This year I have noticed how hard hearted I become after things don't happen.
Sometimes God wants us to just sit down with Him and get quiet. That means go to the church if you can't cut the television off. Sometimes He wants us to open the Word and read it for ourselves. God brings comfort and His love is there for the asking.
If you have been praying for years about church growth, revival and people coming to Christ, then join a friend and start praying. After the requests are made, then worship the Lord and begin to sit in His presence. Meet daily for an hour and see if this helps.
People often come to me with a prayer request. Sometimes the request takes me three days to pray through with them about the situation. I pray in agreement about the situation right there and we go our way. God brings them to mind over and over the next three days. Many times He answers. Sometimes the situation doesn't change, but the person for whom I pray has more peace and joy where there was none.
Let's Pray:
Father, I have opened my heart again to you. My burden is that I want You to move in a powerful way and to begin with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Daisies on a Hill
Visit my blog on Wordpress!
Click on the link above to visit my blog on Wordpress.com. Complete with paintings, commentaries, essays, and new recipes,
you're sure to love it.
Click on the link above to visit my blog on Wordpress.com. Complete with paintings, commentaries, essays, and new recipes,
you're sure to love it.
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Spiritual Treadmill
Ruby’s Corner
The Spiritual Treadmill
By Ruby Craft
March 1, 2010
“God is faithful through whom you were called
into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Hello again,
It’s time to have another Ruby’s Corner session. I haven’t written in a while
But the Lord has been dealing with me lately and I wanted to share what I have gleaned as I read His word. I’m thinking I’ll finish reading the Bible again by the end of May.
One of my prayers this year, 2010 is that I will spend more time in the Lord’s Presence this year than last year. God is faithful to keep me on His spiritual treadmill. I
Sometimes get bounced around and respond in the wrong way, but my purpose in life is to live for Him and to enjoy Him forever. This treadmill experience started many years ago when I gave my heart to Christ as a little eight year old. That day by my Mom’s bedside, I prayed, asking Him to come live inside me and forgive me of my sin.
Do you know? I have given my heart to Him many times since. There is always something to surrender to Him. He wants me to listen, be quiet and to let Him talk to me as I walk with Him on the spiritual treadmill. To keep the treadmill moving, I have to
Find time to fellowship with Him. This is giving myself to Him, and in that, sharing time with just Him. I talk; He talks, through the word, or sometimes He just talks in my mind.
While I am on the treadmill, the devil is trying to make it stop or trip me up. He uses circumstances, or people to do this. How many of you know what I’m talking about. She knows the Word, but has trouble walking it out. Everybody I know has trouble staying on the Spiritual Treadmill and walking it out. No one is perfect and though we try, we can’t always be perfect. We have to practice two things: Absolute determination that God is going to have first place, and no one is going to get me off my treadmill. To do this you must practice forgiveness, practice a sense of humor, practice courage, and spend all day in His presence whether you are washing dishes, trimming a bush, or getting ready to perform. You have to listen when the Holy Spirit says, Go sit.
“Sit” means to get your Bible out and take some time to listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to you. Stop talking. Get some index cards to write special verses down, and treat this time as special. You may have to fix a cup of tea, or some hot cocoa. You may have to have a bowl of oatmeal, or two eggs to keep your body quiet, but get in your quiet place and settle into some sitting down with the Lord time. This is the only way you will really start having more victory than defeat in your life.
The first great lesson a new person in Christ learns is that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Obedience is important and the Holy Spirit will nudge you if you are to sit down and study. He wants to fellowship with you. The hindrance many times is when our own spirit is not settled enough to sit down. It is used to the television, to movies, to entertainment of some kind. To get a Bible out and just read and take notes is wonderful discipline. What you sow you reap. Spend little time, you reap little spiritually. Spend more time: He wants to hang around with you. You become aware of Him all the time, while driving, at work, or while doing things around the house.
Let’s turn to Genesis 26: Isaac had to re-dig Abraham’s wells because the Philistines had filled them up when Abraham died. He dug two wells and arguments broke out with the people in the area. Finally he moves completely away and there is peace when he digs the next well. He calls the place Rehoboth which means a wide or broad place, an avenue, a street. He said of that place, “At last the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”
This is one of the verses I have been praying aloud to the Lord this last week. Lord, make room for us and let us be fruitful in the land where we are.
Another verse I have been praying back to the Lord is in 1 Samuel 7: This passage is talking about the Philistines who were constant enemies of Israel. This is what Samuel told Israel: “If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone; He will deliver you from the band of the Philistines” We are fighting the Philistines spirits everyday. Look at what Israel did. The men gathered at Mizpah. Samuel prays for them. The people pour out water and fast that day. They confess their own sins against the Lord. Samuel judges them.
Look how the Philistines respond. “The men are down there praying! Let’s attack.”
The men cry out to Samuel, Don’t cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us; that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines” Samuel takes a young, suckling lamb and offers it to the Lord. He cries out to the Lord for Israel and the Lord answered him. As the Philistines draw near, and the men go into battle, the Lord thunders a great thunder against the Philistines and confuses them so that are routed before Israel. The men of Israel pursued the Philistines with boldness and courage. There was peace in their land from then on while Samuel lived.
Samuel takes a stone and names it EBENEEZER saying, “THUS far the LORD has HELPED US.” This makes me want to find a big stone and paint those words on it.
Have you been fighting with a Philistines type spirit that attacks when you get on the spiritual treadmill? The more you do and pray, the more it comes against you. Well read further. Here is another verse that is good news.
Ps 40:1 says, I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
“I waited patiently” means to bind together gather, patiently tarry, wait, and can also mean gathering of waters of the people.
And Ps. 27:14 says The Lord will give strength to those who hope in Him. Because he is all powerful, He will eventually bring His promises to pass.
Ps 41:ll-12 says, “By this I know that thou art pleased with me, because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. As for me, Thou doest uphold me in my integrity. Thou dost set me in thy presence forever.
Ps. 42:11 Way are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.
2 Cor 2:12-18 speaks of a veil that lifts for those who come to Christ. Sometimes there is a veil that is on us keeping us from coming to a truth or seeing with our spiritual eyes what is happening. When we get into the Word and stay on the spiritual treadmill, we become more focused on the Lord and He reveals things to us about our future in Him and the promises that He wants to fulfill in our lives. I pray now that veils would come off your eyes. Veils that keep you from seeing the truth, and knowing what God has for you.
I pray veils of darkness, unbelief and doubt to come off of you so you can see the fulfillment of the promises God has planned for you and for this church.
Luke 10: 19 says, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
In the Greek the word authority has the beside it like a title in a name. Tread has the meaning of continuous treading so you can read the verse this way, “Behold I have given you THE Authority to continuously tread upon serpents, scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.”
My last comment is this that we get up and brush the devil off and get on the treadmill when he tries to deflect us and stop us because the word power in that verse refers to the devil’s power. When I looked it up in the Greek, it is powerful warfare. Has the devil been coming at you from all sides in powerful warfare? God expects you to keep treading and if you have been slammed by the enemy, he expects you to forgive the person, get up and tread more. This year is not a time to sit and soak in your sorrows, but it is a time to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and to recognize the attack of the enemy and pray that stronghold off you or off God’s people.
Our church has been strong regardless of the attacks in 2009, but I am praying that we will rise up and find the land fruitful this year. Lord let us stay on the spiritual treadmill, and not waver. Forgive those people in the past who have tried to stop us, who have come against us not knowing that it was really satan attacking us through them. Forgive those who left mad, who didn’t repent and get right with you. Forgive those people who have been told to come and haven’t. Forgive people for being apathetic and spiritually unconscious for awhile. Forgive people for gossiping and spreading lies about us as a church. Lord, will you send revival this year, and will you gather people at our church who want to sit before you, walk on the treadmill and even run with you. Will you raise up a band of people, an army of spiritual people who will abide with you longer periods of time and even join us for all night sessions at the church. Will you move Holy Spirit in our midst and will you teach us to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint, and to sit in your presence and listen to what you have to say.
Love, Ruby
The Spiritual Treadmill
By Ruby Craft
March 1, 2010
“God is faithful through whom you were called
into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Hello again,
It’s time to have another Ruby’s Corner session. I haven’t written in a while
But the Lord has been dealing with me lately and I wanted to share what I have gleaned as I read His word. I’m thinking I’ll finish reading the Bible again by the end of May.
One of my prayers this year, 2010 is that I will spend more time in the Lord’s Presence this year than last year. God is faithful to keep me on His spiritual treadmill. I
Sometimes get bounced around and respond in the wrong way, but my purpose in life is to live for Him and to enjoy Him forever. This treadmill experience started many years ago when I gave my heart to Christ as a little eight year old. That day by my Mom’s bedside, I prayed, asking Him to come live inside me and forgive me of my sin.
Do you know? I have given my heart to Him many times since. There is always something to surrender to Him. He wants me to listen, be quiet and to let Him talk to me as I walk with Him on the spiritual treadmill. To keep the treadmill moving, I have to
Find time to fellowship with Him. This is giving myself to Him, and in that, sharing time with just Him. I talk; He talks, through the word, or sometimes He just talks in my mind.
While I am on the treadmill, the devil is trying to make it stop or trip me up. He uses circumstances, or people to do this. How many of you know what I’m talking about. She knows the Word, but has trouble walking it out. Everybody I know has trouble staying on the Spiritual Treadmill and walking it out. No one is perfect and though we try, we can’t always be perfect. We have to practice two things: Absolute determination that God is going to have first place, and no one is going to get me off my treadmill. To do this you must practice forgiveness, practice a sense of humor, practice courage, and spend all day in His presence whether you are washing dishes, trimming a bush, or getting ready to perform. You have to listen when the Holy Spirit says, Go sit.
“Sit” means to get your Bible out and take some time to listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to you. Stop talking. Get some index cards to write special verses down, and treat this time as special. You may have to fix a cup of tea, or some hot cocoa. You may have to have a bowl of oatmeal, or two eggs to keep your body quiet, but get in your quiet place and settle into some sitting down with the Lord time. This is the only way you will really start having more victory than defeat in your life.
The first great lesson a new person in Christ learns is that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Obedience is important and the Holy Spirit will nudge you if you are to sit down and study. He wants to fellowship with you. The hindrance many times is when our own spirit is not settled enough to sit down. It is used to the television, to movies, to entertainment of some kind. To get a Bible out and just read and take notes is wonderful discipline. What you sow you reap. Spend little time, you reap little spiritually. Spend more time: He wants to hang around with you. You become aware of Him all the time, while driving, at work, or while doing things around the house.
Let’s turn to Genesis 26: Isaac had to re-dig Abraham’s wells because the Philistines had filled them up when Abraham died. He dug two wells and arguments broke out with the people in the area. Finally he moves completely away and there is peace when he digs the next well. He calls the place Rehoboth which means a wide or broad place, an avenue, a street. He said of that place, “At last the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”
This is one of the verses I have been praying aloud to the Lord this last week. Lord, make room for us and let us be fruitful in the land where we are.
Another verse I have been praying back to the Lord is in 1 Samuel 7: This passage is talking about the Philistines who were constant enemies of Israel. This is what Samuel told Israel: “If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone; He will deliver you from the band of the Philistines” We are fighting the Philistines spirits everyday. Look at what Israel did. The men gathered at Mizpah. Samuel prays for them. The people pour out water and fast that day. They confess their own sins against the Lord. Samuel judges them.
Look how the Philistines respond. “The men are down there praying! Let’s attack.”
The men cry out to Samuel, Don’t cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us; that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines” Samuel takes a young, suckling lamb and offers it to the Lord. He cries out to the Lord for Israel and the Lord answered him. As the Philistines draw near, and the men go into battle, the Lord thunders a great thunder against the Philistines and confuses them so that are routed before Israel. The men of Israel pursued the Philistines with boldness and courage. There was peace in their land from then on while Samuel lived.
Samuel takes a stone and names it EBENEEZER saying, “THUS far the LORD has HELPED US.” This makes me want to find a big stone and paint those words on it.
Have you been fighting with a Philistines type spirit that attacks when you get on the spiritual treadmill? The more you do and pray, the more it comes against you. Well read further. Here is another verse that is good news.
Ps 40:1 says, I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
“I waited patiently” means to bind together gather, patiently tarry, wait, and can also mean gathering of waters of the people.
And Ps. 27:14 says The Lord will give strength to those who hope in Him. Because he is all powerful, He will eventually bring His promises to pass.
Ps 41:ll-12 says, “By this I know that thou art pleased with me, because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. As for me, Thou doest uphold me in my integrity. Thou dost set me in thy presence forever.
Ps. 42:11 Way are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.
2 Cor 2:12-18 speaks of a veil that lifts for those who come to Christ. Sometimes there is a veil that is on us keeping us from coming to a truth or seeing with our spiritual eyes what is happening. When we get into the Word and stay on the spiritual treadmill, we become more focused on the Lord and He reveals things to us about our future in Him and the promises that He wants to fulfill in our lives. I pray now that veils would come off your eyes. Veils that keep you from seeing the truth, and knowing what God has for you.
I pray veils of darkness, unbelief and doubt to come off of you so you can see the fulfillment of the promises God has planned for you and for this church.
Luke 10: 19 says, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
In the Greek the word authority has the beside it like a title in a name. Tread has the meaning of continuous treading so you can read the verse this way, “Behold I have given you THE Authority to continuously tread upon serpents, scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.”
My last comment is this that we get up and brush the devil off and get on the treadmill when he tries to deflect us and stop us because the word power in that verse refers to the devil’s power. When I looked it up in the Greek, it is powerful warfare. Has the devil been coming at you from all sides in powerful warfare? God expects you to keep treading and if you have been slammed by the enemy, he expects you to forgive the person, get up and tread more. This year is not a time to sit and soak in your sorrows, but it is a time to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and to recognize the attack of the enemy and pray that stronghold off you or off God’s people.
Our church has been strong regardless of the attacks in 2009, but I am praying that we will rise up and find the land fruitful this year. Lord let us stay on the spiritual treadmill, and not waver. Forgive those people in the past who have tried to stop us, who have come against us not knowing that it was really satan attacking us through them. Forgive those who left mad, who didn’t repent and get right with you. Forgive those people who have been told to come and haven’t. Forgive people for being apathetic and spiritually unconscious for awhile. Forgive people for gossiping and spreading lies about us as a church. Lord, will you send revival this year, and will you gather people at our church who want to sit before you, walk on the treadmill and even run with you. Will you raise up a band of people, an army of spiritual people who will abide with you longer periods of time and even join us for all night sessions at the church. Will you move Holy Spirit in our midst and will you teach us to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint, and to sit in your presence and listen to what you have to say.
Love, Ruby
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Ruby's Corner Paintings
Ruby's CornerI have been painting every day for
awhile now. I paint live flowers in the
sunshine, or inside on rainy days. These flowers
were around the Monkey Grass at the church.
I love to paint in acrylic, watercolor or oil.
I have no plans of quiting this hobby, because I
enjoy thinking about my creator as I paint.
My easel is always up, and painting is easy to start.
I consider the flowers in my hand, noting the intriquite details that I cannot possibly paint!
My invitation is to come see the most recent art.
Love, Ruby
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
“Coals of Fire”
Philippians 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in the knowledge and all discernment, so that we may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Jesus Christ.”
I awoke this morning early with the need to get up and read the Word. I lingered because it was my day off and I was enjoying the warmth of two quilts and a blanket, socks and flannel pajamas.
We keep the house cooler so we can bundle up. But the Lord, kept saying, “sit” so I got up but not before I saw a picture of large, red hot, coals. They were glowing in the heat of a fire that had died down. Of course I got up, put a short blanket around me, washed my face quickly and left for the kitchen to find my Bible. I fed Bubba, Sally, Charlie and Rocky and I sat at the den table and with paper and pen, ready to seek the Lord. I knew only one verse about coals of fire. I sat, in His presence, until the rest of the house stirred. The need to be with Him continued and I kept the picture of hot coals in mind all day as I cleaned the house.
Isaiah 6: Isaiah was praying and he saw the Lord high and lifted up and His presence filled the room. He immediately was humbled by the glory of the Lord and he cried out that he was not worthy to be there in His presence. The Lord placed a hot coal on his lips and called him to speak to Israel. When we get into the close presence of the Lord, this is what happens. Some people will put up barriers, or hold back when He is saying to get right. Others may surrender and come close to the Lord through confessing their need for Him and asking forgiveness for apathy, haughtiness, anger, offenses etc.
In Matt. 11 it says, “Come unto Me all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.” In 1 Peter it says, “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will help you.” Too often we come before Him all burdened and we cannot pray effectively because of this heaviness on us. All the burdens belong at His feet. In Luke 3: “I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove his sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire and His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat in to the barn, and He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The Holy Spirit was given to us to be a counselor, teacher and He convicts of sin and draws us to Jesus. He is God and when you draw close to pray and study, He will teach you and give you wisdom to pray. If you are having trouble reading and praying, ask the Holy Spirit to explain the scriptures to you. Bind every spirit between you and God. Bind self from talking to you, and release the Holy Spirit in your life. Welcome Him to come teach you and to talk to you. If the Lord isn’t talking to you, then ask Him to speak through His Word.
Daniel 6: Last time we talked about the importance of shouting and singing to the Lord. This time we are continuing to talk about the fire. Daniel was set apart to do God’s work, but He had a secular job with King Darius. Daniel had an unusual spirit of wisdom and discernment on him. The king recognized this and promoted him many times. Daniel carried a burden and prayed about it three times a day, within sight of anyone because he knelt in his house with his window open. King Darius planned to promote Daniel again, and put him in charge of the whole kingdom, but interference came suddenly and all hell broken out against him.
Commissioners and satraps tried to find something to accuse Daniel of so his favor would be taken away. When they found no corruption or negligence in him, they made request to the King that no one should petition except to the King for 30 days. Daniel did not stop praying. He kept faithfully praying three times a day for his people to be freed to return to Jerusalem. The consequence for breaking this ban on praying was that Daniel’s name was brought before the king by the same wicked men, who demanded that the king carry through with his edict. The king was distressed and tried to get around this ban, but Daniel’s accusers wouldn’t hear of it. They insisted that Daniel should be punished. The king fought to save Daniel until sunset
Intercessors are often attacked, because Satan doesn’t like God’s people to spend time praying. Daniel was praying for release from captivity. He was serious enough that he fasted frequently and God spoke to him through dreams and visions, and words of wisdom. Nothing bothered faithful Daniel. He loved to pray and converse with God and he did so seriously. As Daniel was thrown into the lions den, the king said, “The God whom you continually serve will Himself deliver you.” A stone sealed the den and the king put his seal on it so that nothing would change regarding Daniel.
Then the king withdrew to his palace and fasted sleep, television, radio, CD’s, and all entertainment. He didn’t eat and I am sure he paced the palace floor. I’m sure this was a long night for the king, but his hope was that the God Daniel was so close to would spare him. Have you been faithfully doing what God wants and found yourself in a lions’ den? All was going fine, until something happened and KABOOM! The adversary to a Christian goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. This was an impossible situation, a formidable one because Daniel would be snapped up by a hungry pack of lions and there would be no more intercession for his people.
Daniel was a winner either way this turned out. He had been faithful and he would have entered heaven immediately upon death to lions, but God sent His angel to protect Daniel and he got a good night’s rest. When we call out to God he hears us before we pray and still listens while we are praying. Daniel was at peace because he had done no wrong. I would like to know what really happened all night for Daniel, but I know he was awake early when the king yelled to him,
“Daniel, IS YOUR GOD WHOM YOU FAITHFULLY SERVE ABLE TO SAVE YOU FROM THE LIONS DEN?”
Daniel was able to yell back, “GOD SENT HIS ANGEL TO SHUT THE LIONS’ MOUTHS AND THEY HAVE NOT HARMED ME BECAUSE I WAS FOUND TO BE INNOCENT BEFORE HIM; AND ALSO TOWARD YOU, O KING, I HAVE COMMITTED NO CRIME.”
Daniel was immediately brought up and no injury was found on him because he had trusted God. His accusers and their families were thrown into the lions’ den and they were overpowered and crushed before they hit the den floor. King Darius then signed a letter decreeing that the entire kingdom must serve the God of Daniel, “For He is the living God, enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He is who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Have you been in an all night prayer meeting where you were actively praying for God to move in your church, or in a situation? You couldn’t sleep, because God wanted you to pray over someone? God’s people must be disciplined to study and prayer so they are ready for the impossible situation that comes along.
“Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in their midst.”
Hebrews 12 says,” Since we have a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who has endured such hostility, by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
Have you been zealous for the Lord and lost heart along the way? Have you gotten yourself trapped by the lions and people who are forcing you into a situation that is impossible to get out of? Hebrews 12 says, “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with us as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. We had earthly fathers who discipline us; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father and live? All discipline for the moment seems not joyful, but sorrowful yet those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.”
So when you trust the living Christ as your Savior, and give your life to Him, he may put you through the lions’ den experience. He will be close enough to shut the lion’s mouths and cause the angels to be around you, protecting you and bringing you full circle to stand before kings and enemies to declare your innocence before God. Jesus is our intercessor our advocate with the Father. He is the one who shed His blood for us and is seated at the Father’s right hand. We are tested so our flesh, our old man, will die so God can use us.
The structure he builds through prayer and the Word causes us to stand in Him, trusting that He who began a good work in us will complete it. Daniel was allowed to serve God a while longer and to pray for His people. J Let’s pray:
Dear heavenly Father,
Thank you for bringing us together to your throne room once again. Thank you for helping me put this letter out. Thank you for your love and care over us when we have been in the lions’ arena. Thank you for protecting and guarding us and for the many times you have delivered us from dangers and situations that arose. You are great and we praise you now for all those hard times, for all those times we called on you and you heard us. Thank you for being close and for so many times sending your angels to protect us. Thank you for leading us, and we come with thankful hearts before you this hour. I bless your wonderful name and magnify you, Lord Jesus. You are omnipotent, the everlasting God, the living God, and I welcome your presence. Speak to our hearts as we have discussed many things in the Word. I pray that you would bring us together in unity to pray, to praise your name and to worship. I pray that you would deal with our attitudes and help us to be sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our services and his drawing to come before Him. Help us to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for we know our labors are not in vain in the Lord. Help us to be full of wisdom of God. We Love you, Father, and bless your name. In Jesus name we pray, knowing that the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God to the pulling down of strongholds. Bring revival to our congregation, Father. Move Holy Spirit of God as we read your word and as we listen to what you have to say to us. Help us to draw close Lord to your throne with boldness and courage. Bring your church into oneness and unity of the Holy Spirit. Bring your church into revival, Father. Move Holy Spirit of God in bring people to Christ. Help us to be so in touch with you, Lord, that we forget the past hurts and trials. Cleanse us, Father, and bring renewal. I love you, Father. Amen
I awoke this morning early with the need to get up and read the Word. I lingered because it was my day off and I was enjoying the warmth of two quilts and a blanket, socks and flannel pajamas.
We keep the house cooler so we can bundle up. But the Lord, kept saying, “sit” so I got up but not before I saw a picture of large, red hot, coals. They were glowing in the heat of a fire that had died down. Of course I got up, put a short blanket around me, washed my face quickly and left for the kitchen to find my Bible. I fed Bubba, Sally, Charlie and Rocky and I sat at the den table and with paper and pen, ready to seek the Lord. I knew only one verse about coals of fire. I sat, in His presence, until the rest of the house stirred. The need to be with Him continued and I kept the picture of hot coals in mind all day as I cleaned the house.
Isaiah 6: Isaiah was praying and he saw the Lord high and lifted up and His presence filled the room. He immediately was humbled by the glory of the Lord and he cried out that he was not worthy to be there in His presence. The Lord placed a hot coal on his lips and called him to speak to Israel. When we get into the close presence of the Lord, this is what happens. Some people will put up barriers, or hold back when He is saying to get right. Others may surrender and come close to the Lord through confessing their need for Him and asking forgiveness for apathy, haughtiness, anger, offenses etc.
In Matt. 11 it says, “Come unto Me all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.” In 1 Peter it says, “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will help you.” Too often we come before Him all burdened and we cannot pray effectively because of this heaviness on us. All the burdens belong at His feet. In Luke 3: “I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove his sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire and His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat in to the barn, and He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The Holy Spirit was given to us to be a counselor, teacher and He convicts of sin and draws us to Jesus. He is God and when you draw close to pray and study, He will teach you and give you wisdom to pray. If you are having trouble reading and praying, ask the Holy Spirit to explain the scriptures to you. Bind every spirit between you and God. Bind self from talking to you, and release the Holy Spirit in your life. Welcome Him to come teach you and to talk to you. If the Lord isn’t talking to you, then ask Him to speak through His Word.
Daniel 6: Last time we talked about the importance of shouting and singing to the Lord. This time we are continuing to talk about the fire. Daniel was set apart to do God’s work, but He had a secular job with King Darius. Daniel had an unusual spirit of wisdom and discernment on him. The king recognized this and promoted him many times. Daniel carried a burden and prayed about it three times a day, within sight of anyone because he knelt in his house with his window open. King Darius planned to promote Daniel again, and put him in charge of the whole kingdom, but interference came suddenly and all hell broken out against him.
Commissioners and satraps tried to find something to accuse Daniel of so his favor would be taken away. When they found no corruption or negligence in him, they made request to the King that no one should petition except to the King for 30 days. Daniel did not stop praying. He kept faithfully praying three times a day for his people to be freed to return to Jerusalem. The consequence for breaking this ban on praying was that Daniel’s name was brought before the king by the same wicked men, who demanded that the king carry through with his edict. The king was distressed and tried to get around this ban, but Daniel’s accusers wouldn’t hear of it. They insisted that Daniel should be punished. The king fought to save Daniel until sunset
Intercessors are often attacked, because Satan doesn’t like God’s people to spend time praying. Daniel was praying for release from captivity. He was serious enough that he fasted frequently and God spoke to him through dreams and visions, and words of wisdom. Nothing bothered faithful Daniel. He loved to pray and converse with God and he did so seriously. As Daniel was thrown into the lions den, the king said, “The God whom you continually serve will Himself deliver you.” A stone sealed the den and the king put his seal on it so that nothing would change regarding Daniel.
Then the king withdrew to his palace and fasted sleep, television, radio, CD’s, and all entertainment. He didn’t eat and I am sure he paced the palace floor. I’m sure this was a long night for the king, but his hope was that the God Daniel was so close to would spare him. Have you been faithfully doing what God wants and found yourself in a lions’ den? All was going fine, until something happened and KABOOM! The adversary to a Christian goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. This was an impossible situation, a formidable one because Daniel would be snapped up by a hungry pack of lions and there would be no more intercession for his people.
Daniel was a winner either way this turned out. He had been faithful and he would have entered heaven immediately upon death to lions, but God sent His angel to protect Daniel and he got a good night’s rest. When we call out to God he hears us before we pray and still listens while we are praying. Daniel was at peace because he had done no wrong. I would like to know what really happened all night for Daniel, but I know he was awake early when the king yelled to him,
“Daniel, IS YOUR GOD WHOM YOU FAITHFULLY SERVE ABLE TO SAVE YOU FROM THE LIONS DEN?”
Daniel was able to yell back, “GOD SENT HIS ANGEL TO SHUT THE LIONS’ MOUTHS AND THEY HAVE NOT HARMED ME BECAUSE I WAS FOUND TO BE INNOCENT BEFORE HIM; AND ALSO TOWARD YOU, O KING, I HAVE COMMITTED NO CRIME.”
Daniel was immediately brought up and no injury was found on him because he had trusted God. His accusers and their families were thrown into the lions’ den and they were overpowered and crushed before they hit the den floor. King Darius then signed a letter decreeing that the entire kingdom must serve the God of Daniel, “For He is the living God, enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He is who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Have you been in an all night prayer meeting where you were actively praying for God to move in your church, or in a situation? You couldn’t sleep, because God wanted you to pray over someone? God’s people must be disciplined to study and prayer so they are ready for the impossible situation that comes along.
“Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in their midst.”
Hebrews 12 says,” Since we have a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who has endured such hostility, by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
Have you been zealous for the Lord and lost heart along the way? Have you gotten yourself trapped by the lions and people who are forcing you into a situation that is impossible to get out of? Hebrews 12 says, “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with us as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. We had earthly fathers who discipline us; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father and live? All discipline for the moment seems not joyful, but sorrowful yet those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.”
So when you trust the living Christ as your Savior, and give your life to Him, he may put you through the lions’ den experience. He will be close enough to shut the lion’s mouths and cause the angels to be around you, protecting you and bringing you full circle to stand before kings and enemies to declare your innocence before God. Jesus is our intercessor our advocate with the Father. He is the one who shed His blood for us and is seated at the Father’s right hand. We are tested so our flesh, our old man, will die so God can use us.
The structure he builds through prayer and the Word causes us to stand in Him, trusting that He who began a good work in us will complete it. Daniel was allowed to serve God a while longer and to pray for His people. J Let’s pray:
Dear heavenly Father,
Thank you for bringing us together to your throne room once again. Thank you for helping me put this letter out. Thank you for your love and care over us when we have been in the lions’ arena. Thank you for protecting and guarding us and for the many times you have delivered us from dangers and situations that arose. You are great and we praise you now for all those hard times, for all those times we called on you and you heard us. Thank you for being close and for so many times sending your angels to protect us. Thank you for leading us, and we come with thankful hearts before you this hour. I bless your wonderful name and magnify you, Lord Jesus. You are omnipotent, the everlasting God, the living God, and I welcome your presence. Speak to our hearts as we have discussed many things in the Word. I pray that you would bring us together in unity to pray, to praise your name and to worship. I pray that you would deal with our attitudes and help us to be sensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our services and his drawing to come before Him. Help us to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for we know our labors are not in vain in the Lord. Help us to be full of wisdom of God. We Love you, Father, and bless your name. In Jesus name we pray, knowing that the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God to the pulling down of strongholds. Bring revival to our congregation, Father. Move Holy Spirit of God as we read your word and as we listen to what you have to say to us. Help us to draw close Lord to your throne with boldness and courage. Bring your church into oneness and unity of the Holy Spirit. Bring your church into revival, Father. Move Holy Spirit of God in bring people to Christ. Help us to be so in touch with you, Lord, that we forget the past hurts and trials. Cleanse us, Father, and bring renewal. I love you, Father. Amen
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