I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 2 of 3)

March 17, 2015March 25, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. – Psalm 34:17

In my last post, I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 1), http://wp.me/p5nZpi-hK, we were left with this unanswered question: HAS GOD ANSWERED THIS STUDENT’S PRAYER?

ANSWER: This is an interesting question, and my answer would be YES! No, God did not come out and say, “College “B” is the school I’ve chosen for you, if you go there everything will be perfect.” However, God is guiding this student towards clarity.

IS GOD ANSWERING MY PRAYER EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS, AND FEEL SO UNCERTAIN?

Sometimes in life there is not a definitive answer, but more than one good option. For example, I have the choice to pick chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla ice cream. If I choose vanilla, is that wrong? Or if I choose strawberry, am I right? No, all three flavors are great choices, it’s just a matter of which I’d prefer.

There are times, however, when there is a clear right and wrong choice. For example, the drinking age is 21 years old, and I am 18 years old. I choose to drink even though it’s against the law. Clearly a wrong choice.

God has given people free will. And exercising our free will enables us to make decisions based on our preferences. When we are actively seeking God’s will, He will help us think through our options to determine the best fit for us. By allowing us to do some of the “leg-work”, guided by His promptings, we will feel more confident that the decisions we make are inline with God’s will for us.

Important to Remember: What is good for one person, may or may not be good for you, or me. Every person’s journey through life is unique to them. As unique as their fingerprint.

This is why it is so important to seek God’s will. He created us, and He has an awesome plan for our lives. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

HOW SHOULD I PROCEED THEN?

For the answer to the above question, take a look at: I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 3), – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-ij and, I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 1) – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-h

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I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 1 of 3)

March 16, 2015March 25, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

You’ll notice that I highlighted in line with His will. This is a key point because often times we like to put God in “our” box.

We like to tell God what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. After all, if God is listening to us, we can be sure that He will give us what we ask for.

Maybe you have this type of thinking when it comes to God? Check out this video…

EXCEPT, when what we want is not in line with His will.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT GOD’S WILL IS?

When praying, tell God that you desire to know His will. That you want what He wants. That you know He loves you and has your best interest in mind. …we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. – Romans 8:28

The promise of answered prayers can be claimed by anyone who loves God. Meaning they’ve put their trust in Him, and obey what He teaches them in the Bible. They’ve allowed God to transform the way they look at situations, people, the culture, the world …let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2

IF ALL THIS IS TRUE, THEN WHY DOES IT SEEM THAT GOD IS NOT ANSWERING MY PRAYERS?

One thing I’m certain of is that God doesn’t always answer our prayers in clear-cut/black-and-white way. Sometimes He might be saying wait, sometimes yes, sometimes no, and other times He may be urging us to question or refine our requests.

LET’S USE AN EXAMPLE – A Student Choosing Between Two Colleges

Student –

“I don’t know which college to attend. I’ve been accepted to two. I like both. Both offer great/unique programs. I will pray to God and ask Him which college I should go to.”
“I feel uneasy. Should I choose College “A” or College “B”? I’ve been praying, yet all I have is more anxiety and more unanswered questions.”
“I feel like I’d like to attend an Open House at each of the schools to get a feel for the campus and students.”
“I feel like I should call the schools to clarify options for extra curricular activities that would compliment my chosen major.”
“I’ve discovered today, that taking courses towards a minor in ______ vs. ______ would be a better fit with my major.”
“I’ve submitted applications for scholarships, and received one from College “A”. Still waiting on the results from College “B”.
“There are students that I’d like to room with, and took the necessary steps for that to occur.”

HAS GOD ANSWERED THIS STUDENT’S PRAYER?

FOR THE ANSWER TO THE ABOVE QUESTION, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT: I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 2) – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-i5for the answer to this question, and I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 3) – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-ij

HINT: For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. – Job 33:14

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Are You Attempting to “Do Life” on Your Own???? – PROVERBS 4 [1 OF 1]

February 1, 2015February 1, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

___________________________________________

Click on this link http://biblehub.com/nlt/proverbs/4.htm to read Proverbs 4.

Many of the verses may seem similar to what we’ve learned in Proverbs 1-3, (See Categories in sidebar to read previous posts).

I’ve highlighted a few key verses from this chapter below.

6 (IF YOU) DON’T turn your back on wisdom,

(THEN) for she will protect you

(IF YOU) Love her, and (THEN) she will guard you.

7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

8 IF you prize wisdom, (THEN) she will make you great.
(IF YOU) Embrace her, and (THEN) she will honor you.

14 DON’T do as the wicked do, and DON’T follow the path of evildoers.
15 DON’T even think about it;
DON’T go that way. Turn away and keep moving.

18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 BUT the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over. (They don’t even realize that they are on a destructive path because the path is not lit with knowledge and guidance from God’s Word)

VS.

23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.

26 Mark out (set goals, have a plan) a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 DON’T get sidetracked; (following the latest fads or people’s “great” ideas)
keep your feet from following evil.

There is no good reason for us to attempt to “do life” on our own. God loves us and wants us to have a rich and satisfying life – John 10:10

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews 4:1

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Looking For Love in All the Wrong Places…. PROVERBS 2:16-19 [4]

December 31, 2014January 27, 2015buildafoundation 1 Comment

The LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. – Jeremiah 20:11

16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,
    from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.
17 She has abandoned her husband
    and ignores the covenant she made before God.
18 Entering her house leads to death;
    it is the road to the grave.
19 The man who visits her is doomed.
    He will never reach the paths of life.

Verses 16-19 are talking about another temptation people often face. The media glorifies it, and people get entangled in its enticement. The temptation – sexual sin.

The song, ‘Looking for love in all the wrong places’, from the movie Urban Cowboy comes to mind when reading verses 16-19. The lyrics to the chorus are:

I was lookin’ for love in all the wrong places
Lookin’ for love in too many places
Searchin’ her eyes, lookin’ for traces
Of what I’m dreamin’ of
Hoping to find a friend and a lover
I’ll bless the day I discover,
You – lookin’ for love.

People tend to use sex in an attempt to fill “a hole”. That hole, being a desire to love and be loved, as the lyrics above mention.

There is nothing wrong with having a desire for love. In fact, it is God who gave us that desire. Unfortunately, many times in our search for love we end up side-stepping God’s teaching and guidance. We may find ourselves led astray by the ways and beliefs of our culture. Although we’ll find a ton of cultural support for our ungodly choices, the results may turn out to be anything but what we have hoped.

It is easy to get draw into sexual sin when led solely by feelings. Often times people think that “I “feel” so happy, maybe if I sleep with ____, they’ll “feel” that same way about me.” Or, “I have “needs”, and if God didn’t want me to fulfill them, He wouldn’t have given them to me.” We’re reminded, however, in verses 18 and 19, that those who give into sexually immoral “feelings” are being led to death, not life. They will be doomed, not blessed.

Remember God’s promise to us:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. – Matthew 6:33

The Day of Hope WILL Come!!!!! – ZEPHANIAH – 3f – [14]

December 10, 2014December 14, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death. – Psalm 68:20

What will it be like when the “day of hope” comes?

Verse 15 tells us that the Lord will remove his hand of judgment
    and will disperse the armies of your enemy.
And the Lord himself, the King of Israel,
    will live among you!
At last your troubles will be over,
    and you will never again fear disaster.

It is interesting to note that on the “day of hope”, God once again reminds and encourages His people saying, Don’t be afraid! – v.16

What will rid us of our fears? The Lord, of course!! Why? Because,

^{17 ))}For the Lord your God is living among you. (AND)
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

This is all possible because God is love, 1 John 4:8. Not that God loves, is willing to love, tries to love, … No, God IS love. And every person innately seeks out love. Not always in the most healthy ways, but nevertheless, everyone has a desire to be accepted and unconditionally loved.

Can “people” fulfill our desire to be loved the way God promises to love us? I think we can all speak from personal experience, that the answer is a strong NO!! So, if you want to be loved in a way that only God can love you, ask Him into your heart, your life. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. – Matthew 7:7-8

Does God Laugh and Make Fun of Me When I Goof Up??? – PROVERBS – Chapter 1f – 1:23-28 [9]

May 2, 2014December 18, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. – Psalm 107:1

23)) Suppose (IF) you had paid attention to (my) warning.
    THEN I would have poured out (my) heart to you.
    (I) would have told you what (I) was thinking.
24)) But you turned away from me when (I) called out to you.
    None of you paid attention when (I) reached out (my) hand.
25)) You turned away from ALL my advice.
    You wouldn’t accept (my) warning.

26)) So I will laugh at you when you are in danger.
    I will make fun of you when hard times come.
27)) I will laugh when hard times hit you like a storm.
    I will laugh when danger comes your way like a windstorm.
    I will make fun of you when suffering and trouble come.
28)) “THEN you will call to me. But I won’t answer.
    You will look for me. But you won’t find me.

Wow!! I don’t know about you, but when I read these verses, they kinda scare me. Does this mean when I goof up and don’t follow God that He will laugh at me and make fun of me? And when I call Him and ask Him for help, He won’t answer me and I won’t find Him?

It is easy to replace the words in ( ) with God because when you read these verses it seems that it is a person who is talking. However, recalling from verse 20, http://wp.me/p5nZpi-5e, Wisdom is the (my) and the (I). Remember that Solomon uses personification, and that can sometimes confuse the reader.

God has given us, in fact all people, truth through His Word. It is a guide-book to help people navigate their earthly life. It is when the nasty sin of pride infiltrates our mind, our choices, etc., that we have the attitude, “Yeah, right – God stuff, I don’t think so, my way is better…”

In verses 26-27, it is Wisdom, not God that is laughing and making fun, so-to-speak. Basically, these are the consequences of our choices. It seems harsh, but it is as though you can hear Wisdom saying, “I told you so…”

Verse 28, you call, but don’t get an answer. Meaning the consequences of our choices have been exacted (accurate to circumstance), they can not be changed. If someone gets pregnant, out-of-wedlock, they can “call” all they want, but the consequence of their choice will not change.

You may have asked yourself these questions at some point in your life,

How did I get into this mess?
Why does everything seem to go bad for me?
Did I do something wrong?

The answer – You turned away from my advice, You wouldn’t accept my warning. – Proverbs 1:25

Choices, Choices, Choices??? – PROVERBS – Chapter 1d – 1:10-19 (b) [7]

April 30, 2014December 14, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

You can hold on to the hope that I, The Lord, will not change what I have promised.
Hebrews 6:17-18

So what does Solomon want us to take away from the confusing verses of Proverbs 1:10-19? http://wp.me/p5nZpi-2I
First, Solomon wants to remind and warn us, that sin can be very attractive. The danger in following unwise choices, vs. the truth, is that they will then become our compass, what directs us in our everyday interactions.

Secondly, acting on sinful choices will not enable us to reach the goals we hope to achieve. What may look “good” at the onset, may end up trapping us in an unhealthy lifestyle. Solomon warns us not to comprise our values and ignore God’s guidance, following what “man” deems as success.

Often times the enticement of promised friendships, the allure of being “part of the group”, moving up in our job, etc. overtakes our better judgment.

Solomon warns not to get caught up in the temptations around us, DON’T follow them. STAY AWAY, verse 15.
Solomon uses an analogy of a bird in verse 17. A bird, which certainly does not have the intelligence of a person, yet instinctively recognizes a trap and STAYS AWAY. Sadly, when we choose to venture out into the world “on our own”, without God and His principles, we set an ambush for ourselves; – v.18, which will end tragically.

Lastly, THE KEY is to think beyond the here and now. To consider the future consequences of our present choices. Short-term choices vs. Long-term effects. We have free will to make choices, but not the freedom to choose our consequences.