Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Commentary:
- Two key elements of answered prayer are:
our prayer is consistent with God’s plan for us; and
- we seek the Lord with all of our heart. It is this seeking of the Lord that will give us insight as to God’s plan for us.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Psalm 66:18 If I had sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.
Commentary:
When there is unanswered prayer in your life, examine your life for unconfessed sin. Although our sins have been forgiven through the work of the Cross, this verse tells us that we should be repentant before seeking His counsel.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting any one to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Philippians 1:15-18 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Commentary:
Even in the days of the Apostle Paul, there were evangelists giving the profession a bad name. This sounds like a report right from the local news channel. Paul teaches us a very important lesson in his own motivation. Paul is not judgmental but leaves that out. Paul indicates that as long as the people are hearing the gospel he is trusting in Christ to sort out the final tally on their motives.
John 4:28-28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I did. Could this be the Christ?”
Commentary:
In the story of a Samaritan woman’s meeting with Christ (see John 4:1-29) she is amazed by the fact that Christ knew everything about her life. While this is often the key point of the story that is discussed, there is an interesting and inconspicuous reference to her water jar that gives us an indication of a change in her priorities. Why does the Word of God document such a seemingly insignificant event as leaving her water jar? After her encounter with Christ, and her enlightening of His wisdom, she stopped what she was doing and went to tell others. In her response lies the answer to the question of balancing God’s and life’s priorities. Once we understand who Christ is, it is impossible to continue life as it was. Our priorities change as we begin the process of a Christ-directed life instead of a self-directed life.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Commentary:
When things are going badly, humility, repentance and prayer are the cure.
Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Commentary:
God gives us the sure fire way to prosperity and success. Know the word of God. No person can spend a lifetime reading and studying the Word without becoming transformed by its wisdom. So lies the secret to success.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for use to do.
Commentary:
The simple truth is that we were created by God and for the purpose of executing God’s plan. Therefore, mankind is to be in service for God.
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Commentary:
We all should draw comfort in the fact that God’s love is sufficient to provide calm in our lives.
Mark 6:30-34 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Commentary:
Even Christ recognized the importance of rest. Without it, we burn out and cannot be of use to Him.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
Commentary:
To gain knowledge in God’s holy word is a wonderful pursuit and goal. However, the Apostle Paul reminds us that the goal is to share the knowledge in such a way as to build up others so they, in turn, can go out and to the same. This is the true genius in Christ’s plan. He took twelve men and spread the message of salvation to millions of people because He spent sufficient time to build them into teachers.