The Value Of Her Gift

If you purchase something, you are agreeing the Value or Worth placed upon the thing is what is willing to be surrendered to attain it. 

I submit to you then that, you would have to experience something or someone far greater in value in order to consider gifting that earlier, obtained something.

Said another way - have you ever purchased an extremely high quality and expensive product that was meant for yourself but then the exact person that could use your purchase came to mind?  

Remember the sisters of Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead? Well, I take you back in time, specifically to John 12:1-8, after Jesus had raised Lazarus, to the house of the siblings. They were holding a dinner in honor of Jesus. As Martha served and Lazarus reclined at the table, Mary took a pound, a pint or half a liter of some of the most expensive perfume of the day and poured it all on the feet of Jesus.

Then Mary proceeded to take her own hair and rub the perfume into His feet as the strong scent of the perfume consumed the house.

Judas Iscariot, the treasurer, was not happy about how Mary spent her gift because of his own greediness and extortion behavior. 

However, Jesus spoke up. First Jesus said, "Leave her alone." To me this speaks that Mary's behavior is personal, the action is between her and the Lord and nobody should be concerned about it. Then Jesus elaborates  and commended Mary's actions - 

"It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." 

Mary saw there was a way to show her love and appreciation to The Lord besides using the perfume or nard in the standard way - for burial proceedings. 

Let the fact not be lost on us that Mary did not rub the perfume into the feet of Jesus with a towel, cloth or rag - she used her own hair. This action, by a woman, was one of the most humbling and respectful acts that a woman could perform in those days. Paul confirms this in his letter to the believers in Corinth when he says, "but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering." (1 Corinthians 11:15).

As Judas fusses over the use and subsequent loss of personal revenue to his pocket, he reveals the enormous monetary cost it was to anyone, especially a female, therefore making the gift to Jesus all that more special to Mary. Judas says, "Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages." (John 12:5)

The New International Version makes the worth clear - "a year's wages". Other translations say "three hundred pence" with the Greek for pence being Denarius. The denari, that day, was worth a day's salary. Three hundred of these would equal a year's worth of pay.

Whether Jesus raised His voice or not, when He said - "Leave her alone." - Jesus accepted Mary's personal gift of great value. I feel sure there are many ways in which Mary displayed her loyalty to the cause of Jesus before this personal gift of value interaction. Mary's time, energy, expertise and testimony on the favor of Jesus and His message of "kingdom come" was I'm sure very much appreciated and will one day be rewarded. 

However, this gift was from a prompting of her heart and from the resources she had earned and bought that was a display of what was precious to her. Let us recall the words of Jesus recorded by Matthew - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) 

From then till today, money has been the currency to untold treasures. Funds have supplied us with support for the needs and wants in our lives. But when you have a purchase, like that of Mary, that has cost you a whole year's worth of an occupation and you decide in one sitting to pour it all out on someone's feet and humble yourself with the rubbing of it with your hair - that has potential to cause a stir from the house, astonishment from one and acceptance from the one that counts.

John recorded that Mary continued to bless Jesus with her personal gift even when Judas blurted out his displeasure. John's account pictures Mary rightfully ignoring Judas and dedicating her money in the form of the perfume. She graced His Grace, The Lord Jesus, the treasure of her heart with the best she had to offer at the time - The Value Of Her Gift. 

All-In

Humanity would be in a mess if Christ only came for one type of person - the rich, the educated, the popular, the political savvy, the religious minded and so forth. 

When you examine the life of Jesus, the Son of God - one might think that because He is the Only Son of God that He would receive a more royal and fanfare welcome into this world than a birth in a manger in a stable. However, His first visitation was prophesied to arrive this way. He was also foretold not to be anything to behold and associated with suffering and pain. The prophet Isaiah said it this way many years before Christ came on the scene - 

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." - Isa. 53:2-3

In addition to Christ's lowly arrival and His unattractive appearance and life - the people He mixed with and gravitated toward were not the kind of people one might think The King of all creation, The Messiah, would be seen conversing with. However, Jesus went so far as to have the same kind of people become part of His inner circle - His disciples. These individuals were fishermen, tax collectors and common people. Jesus, Himself, was a carpenter.

Notice who He did not hang out with. Not that Jesus did not love or care for these people, but He knew what they had to sacrifice, He knew what they would never give up. People like the aforementioned religious leaders of the day (Pharisees and Sadducees), political movers (Pilate, Herod, Caesar), popular people (Olympic athletes, winners of chariot races, etc), the rich (the rich man of Matt. 19:16-24) and the educated (philosophers of that day). 

What did Jesus claim about Himself that He thought the other parts of society would cling too? Jesus declared He was and is The Messiah, and not only the Savior of the Jewish people but "whosoever believes in Him" (John 3:16). He also proclaimed Himself as the only avenue to God by saying - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

There is no wiggle room in someone's belief of Jesus as personal Savior and Lord. And Jesus is looking for exactly those kind of people to join His family. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 in response to the question about the greatest commandment. The first half of the equation is that a believer in God, through Christ Jesus, will be sold out, all-in, fully committed, loyal, devoted, dedicated, and faithful to Christ because Jesus first loved us. The second part of the greatest commandment is that God's love and acceptance of us should propel us to love others. Jesus said it like this - 

"‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." - Matt. 22:37-40

I believe this duo commandment is pretty clear - God desires ALL of your love. Notice the second commandment is not an exact duplicate, Jesus said "the second is like it". The difference between the two is that the neighbor of the second commandment does not receive our first and "all"-love, but because of our love for God and His love for us and within us - we love our neighbor as ourselves.

Is the charge for the Christian to live a holy life any wonder then? Peter challenges the believer with the words of God in 1 Peter 1:15 saying - "Be holy, because I am holy." This instruction was given in Leviticus three times by the Lord, and then re-emphasized by Peter here in his letter to scattered believers throughout the land. That is a pretty strong emphasis by the Holy Spirit to make sure this is communicated. I challenge and encourage my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, be set apart as a person saved by grace and living by faith with a lifestyle that is not half-minded, half-hearted or half-anything - but instead All-In.

How Great Is Your God?

I get in the way of the Lord's favor and plan sometimes. Thank God, He does not close off access to Himself because of my dumb decisions. In fact, 1 John 1:9 states to believers - 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

John is speaking to believers here (1 Jn. 5:13), of a relational confessing of sin - a making things right within a personal relationship with God through Christ. 

"All of our sins are forgiven 'positionally' the moment we receive Christ as Savior. This positional forgiveness guarantees our salvation and promise of an eternal home in heaven. When we stand before God after death, God will not deny us entrance into heaven because of our sins. That is positional forgiveness. The concept of relational forgiveness is based on the fact that when we sin, we offend God and grieve His Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). While God has ultimately forgiven us of the sins we commit, they still result in a blocking or hindrance in our relationship with God. A young boy who sins against his father is not cast out of the family. A godly father will forgive his children unconditionally. At the same time, a good relationship between father and son cannot be achieved until the relationship is restored. This can only occur when a child confesses his mistakes to his father and apologizes. That is why we confess our sins to God—not to maintain our salvation, but to bring ourselves back into close fellowship with the God who loves us and has already forgiven us." 

https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-sin.html

If the direct access Christians have to God through Christ and His Spirit was not available at any moment of my life, I don't know what I would do. The Veil or Curtain that was torn at the moment of Jesus' death trumpeted that access (Matt. 27:51). Jesus was and is our High Priest and our Sacrifice all wrapped into one for a one-time payment, redemption and restoration of creation and humanity (Hebrews 9).

All believers in God have direct, lifetime or better yet - eternal access to God through faith in Christ Jesus. During a long stint of time there was only the Jewish people as God's People. The Hebrews were God's nation on earth, whether planted or traveling. In addition, these people were made up of twelve tribes which had among their ranks a Priestly Tribe - the Tribe of Levi. So, even among Israel, a called-out-people, you had Priests, a called-out-people - who took care of everything concerning God's Tabernacle or Presence on earth. In this duty or calling they had entitlement.

The Priests of God were the only ones who were authorized to touch and care for the articles of The Tabernacle and later The Temple. The one who was declared High Priest was the only one who could enter the Holy of Holies once a year to offer a sacrifice for the nation's faults against God and a great curtain or veil separated the two rooms within The Tabernacle.

However, once Jesus came and died on The Cross as both the sacrificial Lamb and our High Priest - His blood and resurrection atoned for not only the nation of Israel forever, but for whosoever would believe in Him for eternity (Jn. 3:16). God made the rules - blood sacrifice for sin - and He played by His own rules by sending His own Word in flesh, Jesus Christ to secure our eternity.

The ripping of the curtain put an exclamation point on what Christ accomplished on The Cross. The torn veil reveals some additional, descriptive names of Christ Jesus - The Door, The Gate, The Way, and Our High Priest. The Christian faith celebrates every day that whosoever believes in God through Christ Jesus is entitled to eternal access to Him and His benefits, not just the priests from a priestly tribe of Israel or the priests from Catholicism. 

Upon the Rock of Jesus, not upon the rock of Peter has and will the Church of Christ be built and succeed. When Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 -

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." -

Jesus was naming Himself as The Rock. I imagine Jesus pointed His finger at His chest, NOT Peter when He said this. If Jesus had meant Peter, that would have negated every word and work that Christ had said and done, plus undermined Jesus as the foundation, as the Chief Cornerstone of the Christian faith. 1 Corinthians 3:11 states - 

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Christ Jesus and His Holy Spirit are the only ones people should consider as carrying the title and duty of Mediator. The message is to not take for granted, but to take advantage of direct access to God's Throne. We do not require a human priest to confess our mistakes for our forgiveness. That priest did NOT die for our sins and rise again on the third day, neither did Peter. The only Mediator between God and man is Christ Jesus, The Lord (1 Timothy 2:5).

A friend or pastor can come alongside and pray with you and seek God's Word with you about a challenge you are going through, but again, Christ and His Spirit are the Mediators, the Advocators before Father God (1 John 2:1 = Jesus as Advocate; John 14:26 = Holy Spirit as Advocate).

Some of the times I have sought the Lord on a matter I have limited God with my expectations, I have placed God inside a box and told Him "this" is what you have to work with Lord and pray that the Lord handle it in that manner. I try my best to base my prayers on His Word, but there are times when it is not. God is bigger than my boxes and in His gracious, Fatherly way - He helps me.

I have found some great ways to start removing myself as my own stumbling block. In order to be useful for the Lord - 

1. I must make the effort to seek God's will/plan, 
2. I must pray about His designs and perspectives on my life and the world around me.

There are times in our lives when God impresses upon us - "'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" - Psalm 46:10

However, I believe when God's sons and daughters actively seek out God's will while waiting on an answer, God will reward that effort. Not that you are "jumping the gun" in a situation, but that you would be careful to observe any opportunity the Lord provides and test it to see. 

I observe this concept in the story of the Lost Son. The son who asked his father for his inheritance up front and then squandered it, leaving himself in a pig's pen. This same individual realized nobody is coming to save him and made the effort to seek help, ask for forgiveness and hope his father did not shun him from the family. 

Because of his realization and his effort to make things right with the father, look what happens - 

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate." - Luke 15:20-24

I have access to God at any moment of my life for eternity through Christ Jesus.

 

I have forgiveness of my wrongs against God - past, present and future - because of the sacrifice of Jesus. In addition, that same sacrifice provides grace through personal confession to Him, from my continued mistakes, in this fallen body, until I am glorified and sin is no more.

 

I have a God that is so marvelous that no situation can box Him in.

 

I have a heavenly Father God that not only loves me just as I am but loves me enough to further develop me into a man of God for Him. 

I have a Lord and Savior that desires to find different ways to display His love toward me as my relationship with Him matures. 

How Great Is Your God?

The Sovereignty Of God

I believe, in a person's journey of faith, one will have to come to a point of realization that in spite of how we see the world and what we desire to see transpire in our lives - God is Sovereign. 

I believe there is too much structure and design, by The Designer - God, to thwart the idea of meaningless existence and world cultures with useless laws and morals because of a non-sovereign God.

What does it mean that God is Sovereign? God's all-knowingness, all-power and ever-present presence - all flow from His Sovereignty. 

"The fact that God is sovereign essentially means that He has the power, wisdom, and authority to do anything He chooses within His creation. Whether or not He actually exerts that level of control in any given circumstance is actually a completely different question. Often, the concept of divine sovereignty is oversimplified. We tend to assume that, if God is not directly, overtly, purposefully driving some event, then He is somehow not sovereign. The cartoon version of sovereignty depicts a God who must do anything that He can do, or else He is not truly sovereign.

God has the ability to do anything, to take action and intervene in any situation, but He often chooses to act indirectly or to allow certain things for reasons of His own. His will is furthered in any case. God’s “sovereignty” means that He is absolute in authority and unrestricted in His supremacy. Everything that happens is, at the very least, the result of God’s permissive will. This holds true even if certain specific things are not what He would prefer. The right of God to allow mankind’s free choices is just as necessary for true sovereignty as His ability to enact His will, wherever and however He chooses."

(https://www.gotquestions.org/God-is-sovereign.html)

I think the sovereignty of God is viewed much of the time from a grand, cosmic scale. While that has its place, in order for any being to truly be called sovereign, that person must include everything - even the fine details. My fellow Christians and non-believers alike, the devil is not in the details, the personal, sovereign God is in the details.

Control is an illusion. The acceptance of the lie that we can be Sovereign because we disobeyed and ate some special fruit was the beginning of the The End for humanity. Now, managing of anything is the best we can do. Scripture magnifies God's supremacy in Colossians 1:16-17 -

"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

The balance that is terribly lacking has progressively worsened since humanity disobey, commonly referred to as The Fall. The balance is not between good and evil, the balance comes in gaining the proper perspective and position on The Personal, Sovereign God.

Over the physical creation, God is sovereign (Genesis 1-3). Over the spiritual realm, God is sovereign (1 Chronicles 21:15, 27; Matthew 13:41;). Over humanity as nations and individuals, God is Sovereign (Acts 17:26-28; Deuteronomy 32:7-8). Over all that constructs existence and meaning, God is Sovereign.

However, throughout Scripture, there is no escaping the picture of God as personally involved in the affairs of humanity and all His creation. And God would not be truly Sovereign if He were not personally invested. In the Old Testament we read in Psalm 37:23 - "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him;". Personal involvement.

Then the ultimate, intimate involvement was Father God sending His one and only Son to pay the cost of humanity's redemption - death upon the cross. John 3:16 spells this out perfectly for us - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Christians and non-believers will experience eternal frustration about God's sovereignty - 

1. if we do not surrender to God that which we do not understand, 
2. if we do not surrender to God our partial discernments and 
3. if we do not surrender to God even the concepts we seem to grasp. 

The writer of Hebrews injects boldness into the believer as he underlines the fact that the Christian has an approachable, personal, sovereign God. Hebrews 4:16 says -

"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Through Christ Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit - Father God's presence, Father God's ear and hand are always present. I encourage my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to believe more in, trust more in and know more of not only the all-in-all side of God's sovereignty, but God's personal care of us as well, then, I believe we will begin to get a more complete picture of The Sovereignty of God. 

Distinguishing Mark

Are you familiar with people who have a commanding presence? There is something about them that when they walk through the door of a room others immediately notice them. There are several things we might attribute the command of our attention to - maybe a new hair-cut, perhaps an impressive physique or a particular tone of voice. My hope and prayer is that the way I carry myself, I would exude a strong presence of Christ Jesus in my life.

Walking into any room, my desire is to introduce you to Jesus Christ without any words if possible. Said another way, if you had "spiritual glasses" on - I would want you to see Jesus walk-in with me and speak through me in any given situation. I would want you to know and experience me as a Heavenly scent and light in your midst. 

2 Corinthians 2:16 says, that believers in Christ Jesus should have a "Heavenly Scent" about them that is so pleasing that it draws all people to them.

"To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?" 

I also believe, as Matthew 5:15 says, that believers should be a light to the world and especially within their own household.

"Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."

However, I desire to radiate more of God's Presence in my life SO THAT others may take notice of the difference, inquire and consider a change themselves.

Besides being pleasant and encouraging to be around, the core of my desire for a commanding presence comes from Exodus 33:15-16 - 

Then Moses said to him [God], “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

God's Presence is The Distinguishing Mark in this prayer for Moses both personally and for his people. Moses does not want to even move if God's Presence is not The Distinguishing Mark alongside. Moses explains his heart to God that God's Presence being The Distinguishing Mark or factor, determines the difference between him and his people and everyone else.

Daniel, Peter and Paul. Daniel was noted by the angel Gabriel as being "esteemed". Daniel was regarded this way not only on earth, but Gabriel tells him three times - 9:23; 10:11, 19 - that Heaven deems him esteemed.

Peter was seen as "highly regarded by people" in Acts 5:13-15. God's healing power was displayed even in Peter's shadow as a great way to showcase The Commanding Presence of God in Peter's life and person.

Paul went through much hardship in his adult years. His suffering for Christ's sake was even foretold to Ananias by The Lord (Acts 9:15-16). However, it is not just Paul's spoken words that I am sure gave people inspiration. It is not just his and The Holy Spirit's written words that brought many direction and enlightenment. But when I observe Paul's life and hear him say - "I am convinced" - I know that life is the instrument and God is the Teacher of what I am to be convinced.

Therefore, the challenge is to Practice God's Presence, God's Posture and God's Perspective. When we use our verbal and non-verbal skills, we need to take care these are screened through His Presence, the Holy Spirit. 

We take Christ everywhere as His Ambassadors. As often as we can, we need to remind ourselves of the position or Posture we have because of Christ and through Christ Jesus. We are seated together with Him in heavenly places. What a privilege and responsibility. 

We also must always do our best to keep His Perspective as our own - loving the world into His Kingdom.

To have a relationship with God and to have a distinguishing, commanding presence, being "religious" is not enough. My life must reflect my beliefs, teachings and songs I sing. It is one thing to hear a great orator speak on any topic and be convinced or swayed on the idea presented simply because he/she is an excellent word-smith. But there is a totally different power behind a speaker or author who has experienced what they are convincing you about. This is the authority Christians have with their Testimony. This is the Power Christians have because of Christ's sacrificial blood. This is the Presence that Christians have continually available to their lives if they stay connected, tuned in or as John says in John 15:5 "abiding in the True Vine" - Christ Jesus.

Dear Lord,

Please permeate every cell in my being till only your Holy Spirit is sensed in all ways as I travel about my days. Less of me and more of you, so that others may be drawn to your loving kindness, and also display your Distinguishing Mark, in your mighty name King Jesus, I pray, amen.

Healing (Thy Will Be Done)

As a Christian, healing is not so much about the requesting of the ailment to disappear, although that is part of our role - to place ourselves humbly in prayer before God. Even agreeing with others about a physical condition to be healed is Scripturally supported but does not guarantee a favorable answer or total healing. Healing is all about during your request to God, being aligned with God's desires and timing and submitting to both.

If you pray "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" on a regular basis then you have to apply that prayer to this category of life. 1 John 5:14 states - 

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

Notice three things according to John - 

1. Because of Christ, believers have confidence in approaching God.
2. Christians can ask about anything but the catch is the request must align with His will.
3. God hears us. John did not say in which direction God would decide - yes, maybe, no or later - John said "He hears us". 

I realize that when many believers pray, the request feels like it just evaporates into thin air and is lost forever. Many other Scripture references that I will not bother too list besides 1 John 5:14 declares our prayers and petitions are certainly heard. 

What about your long-awaited answer then? You and I both have to continue to trust in His plan/will and timing. "If it were always God’s will for people to be healed, then everyone would be healed every time he or she became ill. If good health were always God’s will, then Christians should never die. We can’t blame someone’s malady on a lack of faith, for we know, biblically, that God sometimes uses illness to accomplish His will. Also, it’s not just wayward believers who get sick. Paul “left Trophimus sick in Miletus” (2 Timothy 4:20), and Paul himself had a physical ailment that the Lord declined to heal (2 Corinthians 12:7–9)."

[https://www.gotquestions.org/God-heal-everyone.html]

For the longest time, I have held the personal belief of quoting all the healing promises in Scripture back to God would IMMEDIATELY heal the condition for whomever I am praying for. The Lord has revealed to me that while that is fine to do, I am continuing to by-pass His will and timing in this process. 

What about the believers who continue to battle cancer or any other life-threatening disease? What about those believers suffering persecution for His name in other countries? I realize these things were guaranteed because of humanity's fallen nature, but with Christ's victory via the Cross and Resurrection - why the delay in an answer to the Christian's prayer for healing?

Looking back to when Christ visited, His healings were in line to fulfill prophecy concerning His Messiahship (John 7:31). Jesus did empower His apostles to continue His healing ministry, but - "The twelve apostles did not heal everyone, either. Often, there were Christians left unwell in spite of the apostolic power. Paul says to Timothy, “Use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23). Why didn’t Paul just lay hands on Timothy and heal him? It wasn’t because Timothy didn’t have enough faith; it was because it was not God’s will to heal Timothy that way. The healing ministry was not for anyone’s personal convenience; rather, it was a sign from God—to the Jews of the Old Covenant primarily—of the validity of the apostles’ message." 

[https://www.gotquestions.org/God-heal-everyone.html]

God can and does heal today. There are plenty of testimonies of His miracles that are right alongside the requests for them so that the believer's faith will be bolstered and the prayer for healing will continue. The prayers, however, must be arranged, worded, thought and/or presented to the Lord so that whatever His will is, we will submit to it and whatever His timing is in the matter we will surrender to it, knowing now or certainly when believer's get to Heaven (Revelation 21:4), Christians shall receive their Healing.

Get Personal With God

Have you ever had a reflective moment? Some would call it a stop-and-smell-the-roses occasion. Others might deem it a come-to-Jesus instance. While still others may name it Pow-Wow time. Whatever you might title your personal review of life at the moment, my strong encouragement is to not only include God in your review but consult The Lord, Jesus Christ first and throughout the process. In other words, Get Personal With God.

Paul was sitting in a Roman prison when he had time to reflect on his life like this. As Paul studied his journey thus far he obviously included prayer to The Lord in his counsel. He had time to write so he wrote the believers in Philippi and revealed this very experience to them.

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14

Paul used the phrase "I do not consider", with the original Greek word logidzomai used which had a bookkeeping or accounting nature associated with it. The word meant to mathematically count, calculate or tabulate or to make a conclusion. 

When Paul took an accounting of his life, he purposefully stated - "Forgetting what is behind". Many might deem these thoughts and experiences by Paul as his failures and especially the time when he was the accuser of the The Way or Christians. But that time had long expired. While I feel sure he was re-verifying the failures were forgotten and no longer a hindrance, I also believe that Paul was making sure his accomplishments were not a stumbling block.

I imagine many companies in the corporate scene have experienced set-backs due to over-emphasis on their successful benchmarks. Celebrating victories is important and proper recognition to the correct employees is vital, but there comes a time soon thereafter when the company must move on. The same is applicable with the individual. Paul knew this, stated this to the Philippians and declared his target - "straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  

If you read Philippians 1:19-26 you will see how Paul has been inspired or "convinced" that he will continue to live and minister. This is a huge factor in Paul taking the time and effort to stop for a moment, since he glaringly had the time inside a prison cell and not only reflect on his life but Get Personal With God in prayer.

Respectful and meaningful conversation with God is the definition of prayer. Prayer itself is the acknowledgement that self-sufficiency is no longer a viable, reasonable, successful lifestyle. When one speaks with God, many things move both in the physical realm and the spiritual realm. Committing a dedicated time to Christ Jesus and His Holy Spirit plus listening more than speaking are two helps and signs of a good developing prayer life. Prayer should also develop in the believer an excitement and passion for God's Word and desire for it to manifest.

There are many Godly examples of prayer warriors in Scripture, among them are Daniel, Nehemiah and Jesus. Focusing on the account of Nehemiah, this man of God, while he was working as cupbearer to the king in exile, heard from his brother that Jerusalem was a physical and spiritual mess. Nehemiah then prays about the situation and evidently receives a personal burden or inspiration as to who God has in mind for the job of restoration - Nehemiah, himself. This is why Nehemiah ends the prayer like this -

"Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king." (Nehemiah 1:11)

Even more impressive is the way Nehemiah started his prayer. He did not open his conversation with exclamations of dread and doubt. He did not begin his prayer with a grand list of demands for this awesome task on his heart. Nehemiah began his prayer by saying - 

"Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments," (Nehemiah 1:5)

Then Nehemiah presented his requests before the Lord concerning the sins of his people and the condition of Jerusalem. This reminds me of the order of approach that is set forth in Psalm 100:4 -

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

This is the proper entrance to God's Court and Presence when we pray in any and all situations. 

As mentioned earlier, prayer moves - things, people, spirits and God. When you read the events that transpired with Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, one can observe prayer moving God's heart, moving the opposition through the men of Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, the moving of the physical stones back into place and the challenge of protecting themselves at the same time, and a movement for other people to help.

The most important aspect of prayer is the alignment with God's will and Word. God's hand will not move against His own truth. We must be the ones to adjust and make our views, pursuits and requests parallel with God's perspective. James, the half-brother of Jesus, resonates with this teaching, by saying -

"You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:2-3)

James supplies the problem and answer within these words. Desiring and not having equals impatience which leads to taking matters into your own hands. Coveting and continuing to not get what you want is seeking the wrong source to begin with and causes a life of conflict. Then when you do pray, your prayers are not aligned with God's plans and your requests are based from incorrect motives.

To help place our prayer-train on God's prayer-track - here are some prayer helps - 

1. Enter God's presence respectfully seeking His face and company first not His favor and fulfillment of a to-do list.
2. Ask the Lord what to pray for today. What should your time be focused on with Him today? Who do you want me to pray for Lord? Seek the Lord's heart.

Introspection is healthy. However, true development really arrives when you include  The Creator from the beginning in your quiet time. Then while you consult Him, forget not your honorable approach to Him and I believe, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, you will have an excellent start on how to Get Personal With God.