Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 5, 2010
Topic: Prayer


Coming to God in Prayer

The disciples of Jesus had been watching Him for some time. It became apparent to them that He prayed often, and He prayed with confidence that His prayers would be answered. It also was obvious that their own prayers were not like His. Finally, they came to the Lord with a humble request: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).

Have you ever asked the Lord that question? Since the disciples of Jesus wondered how and what to pray, you may be sure that many other believers have struggled with the same questions at some point in their lives.

Daniel was a man of God who knew how to pray. He knew how to approach God, and he prayed with conviction, believing that God not only heard him but that He would answer. Look at part of his fervent prayer for his enslaved nation and think about the way he came before the Lord.

What Does God Say?

"O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate" (Daniel 9:16-17, ESV).

On your notepad, record your answers to the following:

    * What do you see in Daniel's prayer that shows his understanding of the nature of God?
    * What does Daniel confess to God about Israel 's relationship to Him?
    * What did Daniel ask God to do about his prayer and pleas?
    * What were Daniel's specific requests for the city of Jerusalem and the temple of God?
    * Was his prayer primarily for his own sake, for his nation's sake or for God's sake?

My Thoughts

How should you approach God in prayer? The Bible has many pointers for you. Below are several Scripture verses that give guidance about what your attitude should be as you come to Him in prayer. Write down all that you see.

    * Psalm 105:4
    * Matthew 6:9
    * Mark 14:38
    * Luke 18:1
    * Colossians 1:3
    * 1 Thessalonians 5:17
    * Jude 1:20

There are many more things that the Bible teaches about prayer. Use your concordance to look up the words "pray" and "prayer" in order to see what other lessons you can learn about a proper attitude in prayer.

My Part

Here is a verse you should put into your mind and heart. It tells you what the Lord will do for you when you pray, and it encourages you to have complete trust that He hears you and will answer every need.

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16, ESV).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 6, 2010
Topic: Prayer


A Special Day for Special Prayer

If you go to the Internet today and look up "National Day of Prayer," you will find a Presidential Proclamation that begins like this:

"A prayerful spirit has always been an important part of our national character, and it is a force that has guided the American people, given us strength, and sustained us in moments of joy and in times of challenge. On this National Day of Prayer, we acknowledge God's grace and ask for His continued guidance in the life of our Nation."

A glance at the newspaper headlines or a smattering of news is enough to make you aware of the chaotic condition of the nations of the world today, so you may wonder, What is the use of praying for my country and its leaders? How is that going to accomplish anything?

Praying for your government will seem meaningless to you if your own heart attitude is not in tune with God and prepared to pray in the right way. How can you make the National Day of Prayer or any other day an effective time both for your own spiritual life and the life of your country?

What Does God Say?

The Hebrew prophet, Daniel, could have concluded that praying for his country was hopeless. His nation's home territory was desolate. Its people were captives, scattered throughout the hostile land of Babylon ; and, now, to make things worse, Babylon itself had fallen to the Medes and the Persians. Daniel could have felt he had every reason to throw up his hands in despair and cry out, "My nation is hopeless! My prayers are useless!"

But Daniel didn't. He loved his nation and its people. So, instead of despairing, he went to God's Word and found hope in God's promises. In Daniel 9:1-3 (ESV) we read: "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans--in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

"Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes."

Our country and our leaders need the prayers of God's people. Consider some of the following Bible passages and write down the answers to the questions.

    * Daniel 2:21 with Romans 13:1. What relationship does God have to human governments?
    * In Titus 3:1, what did the apostle Paul tell Titus to teach Christians about governing authorities?
    * Romans 13:2. How does God view those who resist His appointed leaders?
    * Romans 13:6-7. Besides taxes and revenue, what else do you owe to your leaders?

My Thoughts

Carefully read all of Romans 13:1-7. What do you see there that convicts you of having an attitude toward your country that is not pleasing to God? What do you need to do to prepare properly for coming to God in prayer for your nation? What bearing does 1 John 1:9 have on your personal preparation for prayer?

The New Living Translation paraphrases Proverbs 28:2 as follows:

"When there is moral rot within a nation,
its government topples easily.
But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability."

My Part

Take another look at Romans 13:1-7 and Titus 3:1. Add 1 Timothy 2:1-4. Read through them and write down a list of the things you see that God tells you to pray for your country and its people today; then keep the list in your Bible and remember to pray regularly for our nation, its leaders and its citizens. Make the National Day of Prayer a special time in your own prayer life. Make your nation a regular target of your daily prayers.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 7, 2010
Topic: Prayer


A Critical Conversation

Think of one of your closest relationships. Maybe it's with a spouse, a sibling or a best friend. Now, ask yourself, How often do I talk to that person? What do I talk about? More than likely, you'll find that you talk to him or her all the time and about everything! Our relationship with God should be like that as well. In fact, it should be our number one priority. He should be our closest friend, yet many times we talk to Him the least! Is prayer really just talking to God? Are there certain things I have to do and say? Sometimes we don't pray because we get confused about what prayer is really all about.

What Does God Say?

"Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it" (James 4:2, NLT).

"If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened" (Psalm 66:18 NLT).

"It's your sins that have cut you off from God.
Because of your sins, he has turned away
and will not listen anymore" (Isaiah 59:2, NLT).

"Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises" (James 5:13, NLT).

Consider these questions:

What is one of the reasons we don't get what we pray for?
What causes God not to hear our prayers?
When are we to pray?

My Thoughts

Prayer is our communication with God. It's our way to spend time with God and strengthen our relationship with Him. Prayer is about thanking Him for everything He's done for us; it's confessing our sins. Prayer is asking God for the things we want and need. Some people only go to God when they need something. Others only go to God when things are rough. What kind of friend would you be if you only talked to a person when you needed something from him or her?

Ask yourself:

How often do I spend time talking with God in prayer?
When do I pray? Is it just when I need something?
Am I making sure that there is no known sin in my life so my relationship with God can grow?

My Part

We are called to consistently pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We don't just have to pray before our meals or during our usual devotional times. We can pray any time of the day. Spend some time today giving your prayer life a serious check up. Think about when you normally pray and what you are praying for. If you need to, make a list. Write down all the things that you're thankful for, all the things you need to ask God for, etc.

If we learn to view prayer as our way of communicating with God and developing our relationship with Him, our attitude toward prayer will completely change--and, more importantly, our relationship with God will grow.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 10, 2010
Topic: Prayer, Sin/Temptation


How You Treat God

If I were to start treating my boss like a servant, you can bet I would experience some consequences pretty quickly. If I were to start treating my best friend like a common criminal, he wouldn't be my best friend for long.

It's obvious: the way I treat the people in my life will directly affect the way they treat me. Does the same rule apply to the relationship I have with God? Yes, it can. While God's faithfulness to us never changes, our attitudes and actions can cause His responses toward us to change considerably!

What Does God Say?

"'Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger.... Therefore I will act in wrath....And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them'" (Ezekiel 8:17-18, ESV).

"If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened" (Psalm 66:18 ESV).

    * While it's not an exhaustive list, look at Proverbs 6:16-19 and list the items mentioned that are an abomination to the Lord.
    * What does it mean to cherish iniquity in your heart"?

My Thoughts

It feels almost blasphemous to say that there are times when God doesn't hear my prayers, but there it is in the Bible. But along with the predicament (God not hearing my prayers), the Bible also points out the problem: my sin. Not just the sin that comes as a result of being chained to a corrupted body (See Romans 7:18.) but the sinful habits and lifestyles we hold on to even after accepting Christ.

This isn't God being petty and juvenile. This is God saying, "I take this relationship seriously, and I want you to demonstrate that you take it just as seriously."

My Part

Are you feeling like God isn't hearing your prayers? It could be a test--God is demonstrating whether you will be faithful even if you don't feel His presence or see His hand responding to your prayers. On the other hand, there could abominations (sin) in your life. Ask God to show you anything in your life that is displeasing to Him. Use the list in Proverbs 6:16-19 as a starting point to reveal any thing that might be hindering your prayers.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 11, 2010
Topic: Prayer, Christian Living/Situational


Surprised by Scripture

Are you ever surprised by Scripture? Not just amazed but almost unable to believe a specific passage is actually in the Bible? Jeremiah felt the same astonishment when he heard God tell him that his prayers for the Israelites were just a waste of time.

What Does God Say?

"Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don't beg me to help them, for I will not listen to you" (Jeremiah 7:16, NLT).

Why would God tell Jeremiah that? Don't you think He wants His people to pray for each other? What is the difference in this situation? God explained it to Jeremiah. The difference was because of how the people had treated God. They had defiled God's house, lived wicked lives, refused to repent; and they had to bear the consequences.

"Don't you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the LORD, have spoken!" (Jeremiah 7:11, NLT).

My Thoughts

God is a God who expects to be treated like God. And any nation, any people who live like they don't need God should not be naive enough to believe that God will ignore their behavior and also help them whenever they ask.

Is God a God of grace, a God of mercy, a God of goodness and love? Most certainly! But He is also a just and holy and fair God. And we, especially His children, should treat God like the God He is. Or we might discover that one day our prayers will be left unanswered because God is not listening.

My Part

Does this seem right to you? Is God being mean and vindictive? Or is God refusing to bless sin and rebellion? Praying and asking for God's help does not begin when we voice our needs and troubles to Him. Our prayers and our behavior are inescapably related. Our prayers are nullified when we live lives of rebellion toward God.

Understand that, today, the way you live reflects what you truly think of God. Ask for His help, and commit to do your best to walk worthy of your God.

"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God" (Ephesians 4:1 NLT).

"Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better" (Colossians 1:10, NLT).

"We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:12, NLT).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 12, 2010
Topic: Prayer


First Things First

"First things first"--you've heard that before, haven't you? Your mom yelled, "Come to lunch! Wash your hands first!"

Your boss told you, "Don't ever take out the company car without checking the oil first."

Your spouse warned, "I just vacuumed the carpet. Take your shoes off before you come in."

You know your car won't start unless you turn the ignition key first, and you can't read your email without booting up the computer first; but did you know there is a "first thing first" in prayer too? Let's see what the Lord says.

What Does God Say?

You are probably aware that your relationship to God should be right if you expect Him to answer your prayers. Proverbs 15:29 (ESV) says:

    * "The LORD is far from the wicked,
    * but he hears the prayer of the righteous."

But there's another condition to be met before your prayers can be effective--something that Jesus said you need to consider before you approach God. He said: "So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24, ESV).

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses" (Mark 11:25, ESV).

Jesus is saying that "first things first" applies when we go to the Lord in prayer. God looks at our prayers as offerings to Him (See Revelation 8:4.). If you go to the altar of prayer and your brother has something against you, your offering won't be acceptable to the Lord until you have restored your human relationships. If you go to prayer with an unforgiving spirit, God will be deaf until you have first forgiven the one who offended you.

My Thoughts

Look up these verses and answer the questions:

    * Psalm 145:18--What is God's condition for nearness to those who call on Him?
    * Proverbs 15:8--Whose prayer is acceptable to God?
    * Proverbs 28:9--Whose prayer is an abomination?
    * John 15:7--Who may ask what they wish, and it will be done?

My Part

You should be very careful about rushing into the presence of God. A little preparation time before you go to the Lord can help you be on better "praying ground." Yes, Christ has given us the right to appear confidently before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), but He has also warned us not to appear disobediently.

Set aside a few minutes in your devotional time to prepare to meet with the Lord. Ask Him to show you anything in your life that is hindering prayer. Try doing this for the next several days and see if it doesn't make a difference in the way you come before the Lord. Keep the first things first.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 13, 2010
Topic: Prayer, Bible Study/Theories


How You Treat the Bible - 1

Some things just seem to go together--for example, bacon and eggs, Abbot and Costello, Simon and Garfunkel. Certainly one can exist without the other, but they're even better if you put them together.

The same is true of prayer and reading God's Word. You can certainly read the Bible by itself, but when you put it together with prayer, you have a dynamite combination. Let's see what the Bible says.

What Does God Say?

Scripture indicates that Bible reading should be an integral part of your prayer life. Take a look at Proverbs 28:9:

"If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer is an abomination" (ESV).

Law is often used in Scripture to refer to the Word of God--the Bible itself. For many more synonyms (and a wonderful reminder of how important the Bible is in our lives), read Psalm 119.

But this wasn't just an Old Testament idea. Jesus said much the same thing to His disciples but in a positive way. "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7, ESV).

*—� What does it mean to abide in Jesus?
*—� Give at least two ways you can have God's Word abide in you.
*—� How does prayer enter into this promise?

My Thoughts

Where does the Bible fit into your prayer life? Do you only open God's Word once a week at church, or do you make time for it every day along with prayer? If you want to know how to pray successfully, find out from God's Word what He wants you to pray about (See Matthew 5:44, Luke 10:2, Philippians 1:9).

My Part

Here are two way to integrate God's Word into your prayer life. For the next seven days, stop to pray before you open God's Word. Confess any sins that might hinder you from hearing what God might want to say to you from His Word. After you've read the Scriptures, pray again--asking God to apply what you've read to your life.

Another way of combining God's Word with your prayers is to take your Scripture reading and turn it into a prayer. If you've read, "you shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15), you might pray: "Lord, help me not to steal today. Help me not to steal time from my employer but put in an honest day's work. Help me not steal from my spouse by looking inappropriately at something (or someone) that would damage our relationship. Help me not to steal from my friends by saying anything that would hurt or cause them to feel badly about themselves. Amen." Your prayer can be written out or spoken spontaneously. Try this at least once a week for the next month.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 14, 2010
Topic: Bible Study/Theories


Helps to Biblical Literacy

You come to this Bible Minute website to learn what God says about your life here on earth and in eternity. You come because you want to know more about God Himself and your relationship to Him. Perhaps you have come because you are searching for answers to needs you are experiencing in your life.

Bible illiteracy--ignorance of what the Bible says and what it has to do with life--is a disgrace around the world today. In America hundreds of thousands have Bibles, but they neglect them. These Bible Minutes are written to help you get to know God's Word better and apply its lessons to your life.

Reading God's Word with understanding begins with knowing some very basic facts about the Bible itself. Pick up your Bible and let's look at some of those things today.

What Does God Say?

First, look at two statements from Psalm 119. This is a wonderful psalm. It is the longest chapter in the Bible and nearly every verse says something about God's Word.

Psalm 119:89 (ESV)
"Forever, O LORD, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens."

What does this verse tell you about God's Word?

Psalm 119:160 (ESV)
"The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever."

What insight into God's Word does this verse give you?

My Thoughts

With the kind of book described in Psalm 119in your hands, you'll want to understand it as completely as possible. Your most important responsibility is to read it. As you read it, ask God to give you understanding and life-changing insights.

Many resources are available to help you better understand your Bible. Here are some suggestions. It will help you to consult a trusted pastor or Christian leader about which books are good, since there are also some bad ones out there.

    * A Bible dictionary. You may look up names, places and unfamiliar words. It will also give you brief outlines of each book of the Bible and biographical information on each person.
    * A concordance. Some Bibles have this included. A concordance is a list of Bible words with the verse references where they are found. Be sure your concordance is for the Bible version you use since Greek and Hebrew words are not always translated exactly the same way in every version.
    * A Bible commentary. Start with a one-or two-volume commentary. Commentaries cover each book of the Bible in order and shed some light on each section. There are also separate commentaries by trustworthy scholars that deal with individual Bible books.
    * If your budget is too tight to obtain these study helps, one of your best starter purchases would be a good study Bible. These Bibles contain many notes and helps that are found in commentaries or dictionaries. They usually contain a reasonably good concordance.
    * In our day, there are many Bible study resources on the Internet such as this one, but be careful! Cults and false teachers also use the Internet.

My Part

Today's Bible Minute study is a bit different because we want to help you dig deeper into God's Word and learn how to apply it to your life. We pray for you to be one of the "biblically literate.″

Dr. Woodrow Kroll says, "God only wrote one Book. And in that one Book, He reveals to us what's on His heart and what's on His mind. Now, if we don't care enough about God to read what He said to us, why would we think that God would be eager to answer our prayers?"

Now, take some time to investigate God's marvelous Book and look up the following verses in Psalm 119. Write down what each of the verses says God's Word will do for you.

          o Psalm 119:105
          o Psalm 119:9
          o Psalm 119:11
          o Psalm 119:42
          o Psalm 119:169
          o Psalm 119:16

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 17, 2010
Topic: Prayer


When We Get in the Way of Prayer

Imagine that you're getting ready to drive to work. Before you get into your car and start on your way, you lay down nail-studded boards at the end of your drive; you situate huge barricades across your street and then drain all but a cupful of gas out of your tank. Sounds a little crazy, doesn't it? It doesn't make sense. If you want to get from one place to another, you don't want anything preventing you from reaching your final destination. Yet, that is exactly what we do in our own prayer lives. We set up obstacles that prevent us from getting our prayers answered. Let's take a look at some of those obstacles.

What Does God Say?

"Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it" (James 4:2, NLT).

"Listen! The LORD'S arm is not too weak to save you,
nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
It's your sins that have cut you off from God.
Because of your sins, he has turned away
and will not listen anymore" (Isaiah 59:1-2, NLT).

"If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened" (Psalm 66:18, NLT).

What is one of the obstacles the Bible gives for us not getting what we want from God?

What is another obstacle that causes God to not hear our prayers?

My Thoughts

How many times do we blame God when our prayers don't get answered? The problem is we're trying to find fault with the wrong person. Instead of looking at God, we need to take a good look at ourselves. Isaiah 59:1-2 reminds us why our prayers aren't answered--it's because of our sin.

Ask yourself:

Is there any sin that would be an obstacle in my prayer life?

We're also told that we don't get what we want because we don't ask!

Am I remembering to ask God for what I need? Or am I just trying to do everything on my own?

My Part

Prayer is one of the ways that you have a relationship with God. It takes two people to make a relationship work, and you have to do your part.

Make sure that you're talking to God every day. It doesn't matter where you are, what time it is or for how long, just make sure that you're spending some time each day talking to God.

Also make sure that you're not setting up obstacles in your prayer life because of sin. Ask God to reveal to you any sin you have in your life.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 18, 2010
Topic: Prayer


Hindrances to Prayer - 2

Oh my! Brake lights flashing up ahead; traffic's slowing down. What's the problem? Train? Accident? Construction? Flat tire? Whatever it is, it can hinder you from getting where you're going. Hindrances in our physical lives are no fun, neither are the hindrances that can interfere with our prayer lives.

What Does God Say?

If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear" (Psalm 66:18 NKJV)

Sin in our lives hinders us from getting through to God. But even Christians sin, don't they? True. Only when we get to heaven will we be completely free from sin and 100 percent delivered from sinning.

So, what is the Bible saying? Perhaps another translation would help us understand.

Psalm 66:18, "If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened" (NIV).

What does the Psalmist identify as a hindrance that interferes with our prayers?

Sin that we hold onto, sins that we refuse to let go, sins that become part of our lifestyle--these are hindrances that keep God from answering our prayers. Such things also interrupt our fellowship with God, keep us from spending time in His Word, dilute the joy in our lives, interfere with our worship and undermine our assurance and trust in God.

Are there any hindrances in your spiritual life?

Are there any situations or relationships that are not pleasing to God that you are holding onto?

My Thoughts

What will remove those hindrances? The apostle John gives us the steps in 1 John 1:8-9, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (NIV).

According to John, what is the first step?

What does God promise to do?

Deal with the sin. Acknowledge it; confess it; and turn away from it. Then, let it go; walk away from it; get rid of it; don't go there; get new friends; make a clean break with that sin.

Can you do that? Not on your own. How does Philippians 2:13 below encourage you?

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose" (Philippians 2:13, NIV).

What does this scripture teach you about God's help?

Who is working in you?

For what reason is God working in you?

My Part

Take time now to shore up your prayer life. Set aside those hindrances and spend time in prayer, enjoying intimate fellowship with the Lord, confident that God is listening to your prayers.

*Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.

And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

*"Sweet Hour of Prayer," William W. Walford and William B. Bradbury. Public Domain.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 19, 2010
Topic: Prayer


Check Your Motives at the Door

Ever heard the saying, "Never judge a man's actions until you know his motives"? Why is that true? Because motives are what cause a person to act in a certain way. Why are we so interested in the motivation behind someone's actions? Well, it's because a wrong assumption (about someone's motives) determines how we view something someone does. If we know that something's done purely to make an individual look better, we won't appreciate it. Although, we might guess at someone's motives, God knows with certainty each person's motivation.

What Does God Say?

"And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong--you want only what will give you pleasure" (James 4:3, NLT).

"But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted" (John 15:7, NLT).

   1. What is one thing mentioned in these verses that keeps us from getting what we ask God for?
   2. When our motives are wrong, whose best interests are we looking for?
   3. How can we make sure our motives are good?

My Thoughts

One of the biggest roadblocks in our prayer lives is asking God for something for all the wrong reasons. God isn't going to honor us by answering prayers that don't honor Him. We want what benefits us--not what is pleasing and right with God. Ask yourself:

What am I really after when I pray?

What are the things I'm praying for right now?

What is my motivation in those prayers?

My Part

When we realize that we're coming to God with wrong motives, we must deal with it like the rest of the sin in our lives. We have to confess it to God and move on. We have to change our motives and then come before God with the right motives.

Take some time today to conduct a "motives checkup." Make sure that when you come before God with a prayer request, you have the right motive. Remember, we can't hide our motives from God.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 20, 2010
Topic: Prayer


Wrong Motives

C. S. Lewis wrote in his Letters to an American Lady, "Humans are very seldom either totally sincere or totally hypocritical. Their moods change, their motives are mixed, and they often themselves are quite mistaken as to what their motives are."

That's also true in our prayer lives. Sometimes even we don't realize what our motives are. But you can be sure that God knows our motives all the time. So, what happens if we're praying for the right thing but for the wrong reason?
Let's see what God's Word says.

What Does God Say?

"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions" (James 4:1-3, ESV).

    * What are some of the "motives" given in this passage?
    * What does it mean to "ask wrongly"?
    * The word "passions" can be translated "pleasures." Can you think of a time when you prayed for something simply to use for your pleasure?

My Thoughts

Nobody, as C.S. Lewis observed, has totally pure motives. But what do you do when you discover that your primary motive for praying for something is based on a "wrong motive"? Look at 1 John 1:9 and consider the following questions:

    * What does John tell us that a Christian should do with sin in his or her life?
    * What is God's response to this action?
    * What do we find in this verse that assures us God will forgive us and purify us from unrighteousness?

My Part

If you're not getting a response to your prayers, it might be because you're asking with the wrong motive. Ask God to reveal any wrong motive that might be hindering your prayers. Then follow the directions in 1 John 1:9 to deal with these motives.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 21, 2010
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Time to be Quiet

It sounds crazy! Impossible! The idea of waiting before God and especially waiting in silence doesn't seem to fit with our noisy, busy world. We can't even wait at a stoplight or for our order at a drive-thru without making noise about it. But waiting quietly is an important part of connecting with God and listening to Him.

What Does God Say?

King David put it like this in Psalm 62:

    * "For God alone my soul waits in silence;
      from him comes my salvation.
      He only is my rock and my salvation,
      my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken (Psalm 62:1-2, ESV).

Waiting means...waiting. The dictionary refers to "delaying action for a specified time or until some event occurs; to be expectant or on the watch." Waiting on God means stopping long enough for Him to speak, expecting Him to respond, being alert to His work. And you can't do that very well if you're rushing about, filling every moment with noise and activity.

David also talks about waiting silently or in stillness in verse 5 of this same psalm:

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him" (ESV).

Silent waiting means you're not doing all the talking--in fact, you're not doing any of the talking. You're ready, eager and confident that you'll hear from Him.

If you're willing to slow down, be quiet and wait, you might hear great things from God. David mentions:

"Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work" (Psalm 62:11-12, ESV).

Tapping into God's power and steadfast love, putting your confidence in Him as your rock and salvation--those things make the quiet waiting worthwhile.

My Thoughts

Psalm 62 isn't the only place that talks about waiting on God. Take a look at these passages.

Psalm 27:13-14
Psalm 33:20-21
Psalm 37:7
Psalm 130:5-6

    * What can you do while waiting?
    * What is not part of waiting silently?
    * What do you gain from time spent listening to God?
    * What do you learn about God in these waiting times?

My Part

You can't "wait" in a hurry; you'll need more than 30 seconds on your way out the door in the morning. So, plan it into your time with God once or twice a week.

Historically, some Christian orders or communities would practice the discipline of silence, setting aside a period of time when talking was not allowed so a person could devote that time to prayer and listening to God. You also may want to set aside a quarter hour or so when you turn off all the other noise in your life, put your own voice on hold and be quiet before God. Keep your Bible handy because that's His Word to you.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 24, 2010
Topic: Bible Study/Theories


Praying for Difficult People - 1

Any difficult people in your life? Ever pray for them? Not a "give-them-'what-for'" type of prayer because of the way they've treated you but a real prayer. The Bible teaches we ought to do that.

What Does God Say?

Jesus says it like this: "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you" (Luke 6:27-28 NLT).

Not only did Jesus tell us He expects us to pray for difficult people, He lived it.

"When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified--one on his right and one on his left.
"Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.' And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice" (Luke 23:33-34 NLT).
And His followers have tried to do the same. The Bible records that first Stephen followed the example of Christ:

"As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' He fell to his knees, shouting, 'Lord, don't charge them with this sin!' And with that, he died" (Acts 7:59-60 NLT).

And then much later, Paul followed the same course: Paul wrote: "The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them" (2 Timothy 4:16, NLT).

How is it possible to react like that when someone is trying to hurt you? It's impossible for us in our own strength but it is possible with the Lord's help. It begins with having an attitude that acknowledges there will be difficult people in our lives, and we will sometimes bear the brunt of their words and actions. But the Bible teaches we are not to return evil for evil or try to get even. Instead, we are to pray for them and bless them. Here is our attitude:

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it" (1 Peter 3:8-9 NIV).

My Thoughts

Relationships are our greatest joys and our greatest sorrows. The poet wrote that "No man is an island." Our lives intersect and connect. Sometimes we experience hurt and disappointment and frustration with others.

Describe an experience in your life when this has been true?

How have you responded?

In light of the above Scriptures, how do you think Jesus wants us to respond?

Are you at a place spiritually where you can genuinely and sincerely pray for the difficult people in your life?

If so, thank the Lord for His work of grace in your life. Ask for His help in continuing to do that. If not, is it because you honestly do not want to? Why not ask the Lord to give you a desire to pray for your difficult people? And when He does, then ask for His strength to go ahead and truly pray for them.

Remember, Paul tells us that God will help us to want to do the right thing as well as help us live it.

"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13, NLT).

My Part

Take time now to thank the Lord for what He has revealed to you of His Word and His will. Pray, asking the Lord to bring to mind two people from your past or present that at the very least have been difficult. Read again the above Scriptures. You'll know, then, what to do next.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 25, 2010
Topic:


Prayer or Complaint?

I had just committed a flagrant violation of sibling etiquette, caused, of course, by my younger sister--I had pushed her and she pushed me back! In response to my protests, my mom's only response was: “Nobody likes a tattle-tale!"

I wonder what my mom would have said if I had presented my situation in more "prayerful" tones. "Dearest mother, I am concerned for my younger sister, who despite my best efforts, remains ignorant of the respect she owes her older brother. Would you please help her not be so violent toward me in the future and let her recognize the value of sharing the cookies she made and not be so selfish." I have no doubt my mom would have responded the exact same way.

What Does God Say?

Have you ever mouthed a similar prayer to God? Maybe not about a sibling but someone who was annoying you or causing trouble in some way. We pray to God for them, thinking we're doing them a service. But all we're really doing is complaining.

Miriam and Aaron had a similar complaint about their brother Moses. Moses had married an Ethiopian woman and his siblings didn't approve. The story is recorded in Numbers 12:1-15.

Now, Miriam and Aaron didn't specifically lift this complaint up to God in prayer, but that doesn't mean God didn't hear their grumbling. We must never think God only hears us when we preface our statements with the words, "Dear God." He knows our thoughts and feelings.

God responded directly to Miriam and Aaron. "If there is a prophet among you,

I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision....

Not so my servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house" (Number 12:6-7, NKJV).

Sometimes our prayers reveal more about our hearts than they do about the people we are praying for. So, the first step in bringing any request before God, concerning another person, is to ask God to reveal any attitudes in our own lives that need to be addressed first.

My Thoughts

As you read through Numbers 12:1-15 think about the following questions:

What truth about Moses did Miriam and Aaron miss because of their complaints?
How could Miriam and Aaron have handled this situation better?
Was Miriam's punishment excessive? Why or why not?

My Part

Mark 11:25 says, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses" (NKJV). Pride is one of the biggest obstacles to our prayers. Pride that keeps us from forgiving a friend will also keep our prayers from reaching heaven. Before you pray today, ask God to show you if your prayers for others are just complaints. Ask God for the wisdom and humility to address your incorrect motivation if they are. Pray that your relationship with both God and your friend will be strengthened.