I lay inverted on the emergency room gurney, ready to die. I was in hemorrhagic shock from a GI bleed–losing so many pints of blood that my heart couldn’t pump blood to my organs–and my organs were on the verge of shutting down. I was inverted so what little blood I had left in my body would go to my brain. My face was numb, I could no longer walk, and my vision was blurring.

I was used to figuring things out for myself, but God made it clear that this situation was not one I could think my way out of. This was a time for me to remember that He alone is in control.

I looked at ceiling as my body violently shook to try and warm itself as we all waited for the ambulance to arrive. I remember thinking that it might be my last night on earth, and that if it was God’s will, so be it.

But then, I also remembered how prayer can unlock life paths God only makes available to the prayerful. So I first asked Him, as I always do, to forgive me where my praise fell short, and thanked Him for His forgiveness. I then asked Him to bring me back from the brink of death so I could serve Him through my family and other circles. I asked Him to make Himself seen through my recovery so I could tell of His work. I left those pleas at His feet.

The ambulance took me to the intensive care unit at a nearby hospital, where a massive blood transfusion team snapped into action. After the doctors cut into my neck and installed a central line (catheter) into my left jugular vein, several pints of blood were restored to my body. I stabilized over the next couple of days, and after a few more procedures to make sure I was okay, I was released to go home and recover.

God answered my prayers. He made Himself seen through the hands of the medical teams who worked on me, and brought me back from the brink of death. He gave me another chance to serve Him.

He then asked me, “What will you do now? How will you serve me with this new opportunity?”

Every moment, breath, morning, hour, week, month, and year are new chances God gives us to do better for Him than we did before–or if we weren’t here at all. What will you do with them?

Today’s soundtrack

We the Kingdom’s “Holy Water” is a refreshing take on modern praise music, describing how God’s forgiveness refreshes and revitalizes us in our desert valleys.

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. -Luke 18:1 (ESV)

I heard an interesting fact about bamboo the other day on KSBJ radio: once you plant bamboo seeds in the ground, you must faithfully water them for a very long time…and then, finally, they will sprout. And once they do, they grow explosively. The on-air personality, Carlos, then explained how it was much like prayer.

I was intrigued, so I read more about it: when watered and planted appropriately in soil, bamboo seeds slowly extend roots and store minerals and water. When the season is right, the culm (cane) grows upward through the soil to the surface, eventually growing leaves, and the plant rapidly grows at that point.

Wow. That’s a lot like prayer and blessings, isn’t it? It can take a lot of persevering faith to keep watering a seed that you don’t even see, and wonder if it’ll ever sprout. And, it won’t sprout till the season is right…but that season won’t come if it’s not faithfully watered. It’s tempting to give up…but don’t.

Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and don’t lose heart. If you need to, ask Him for more faith to carry you in this seemingly endless fruitless season as you pray confidently for things yet to come (1 John 5:14). Ask Him to help overcome your unbelief (Mark 9:24).

The sprouting season comes to the faithful and prayerful who persevere in nurturing even mustard seed-sized faith. Don’t give up on that bamboo!

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 *(NASB)

With electric rail systems, like many subway systems today, there are two rails on which the train rests, and a third rail that provides power.

The third rail is essential to the movement of the train.

In his book, Let Us Pray, Watchman Nee goes over three essential aspects of prayer…and the third item is often overlooked:

1. We pray according to God’s will.
2. We pray for what glorifies Him.
3. We pray for what will drive back Satan.

That third rail of prayer, I believe, is especially moving to the heart of God. To include it is to voice the desire to attack and drive back the one who tempted man into his downfall, and his separation from God.

To pray for all three points is to surrender ourselves to be His instrument and agent of light in this dark world, and speak rails into our lives so He may come our way to His glory.

Today’s prayer

Father God,

We love and praise you, and ask that you forgive us where our praise falls short…and thank you that your forgiveness is swift.

We come before you asking you to boost us to Your glory in all we say and do. We pray specifically that You hear the cries of Your servant to ________, to glorify You, and to drive Satan further in the shadows.

We thank You for inclining Your ear to your servant, and for giving us prayer to reach out to You. We thank you for making a way where there seems to be no way. Please continue to show us the way.

In Your Son Jesus’ holy and powerful name we pray, knowing it will be done.

Amen.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. -Luke 18:1 (NIV)

She made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” -1 Samuel‬ ‭1:11‬ ‭(NASB)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)

Do you believe? To have faith in God and what He can do, no matter how things look, is what’s demonstrated over and over in Scripture.

In the first verse above, Jesus tells the disciples to always pray and not give up, and then launches into the Parable of the Persistent Widow.

In the second verse above, a barren Hannah prays and vows to God that if He would hear and remember her plea for a child, she would give that child to God all the days of their life. And God heard her vow and granted her plea. Her son, Samuel, grew up under the tutelage of Eli in the tabernacle, and went on to become a prophet, used by God to select Israel’s first kings, Saul and David.

Is there an area in your life that is a dead end by any human estimation? What if you prayed to God in faith, obedience, and surrender, for an outcome that would glorify Him? You’d be amazed at what faith can do. Keep praying and believing!

Prayer

Father God,

As always, no matter how things look, we come before You with thanks and praise. Even if You did not give us one more blessing, we would be far more blessed that we ever deserved.

Please forgive us when our praise falls short. Though we do our best, there are times when we lose sight of you. We thank You that Your forgiveness is swift.

Continue to heal, strengthen, comfort, carry, and guide us and our loved ones, reminding us that it is joy in You that is our strength.

Incline Your ear to the cries of Your afflicted children, Lord. Hear our vow, like Hannah, that when you answer our prayers and grant our requests, we will glorify You like never before possible.

We persistently pray up everything–our lives, hopes, and dreams–to you in faith, obedience, and surrender. Thank You for making a way where there seems to be no way; please continue to show us the way, and boost us to Your glory.

In Your Son Jesus’ holy and powerful name we pray. Amen.

Today’s soundtrack

“What Faith Can Do” by Kutless testifies to faith that moves mountains, answers silent prayers, and making broken hearts new.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. -Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)

We all make mistakes in our lives, and constantly have the threads of our lives intertwined with others who also make mistakes. So, we’re all a bunch of fallen, broken people. That’s the truth, and that’s perfectly okay.

But if we ever want to move onward and upward, we’ll never get there without letting go of the baggage of unforgiveness. Maybe it’s something that someone did to you years ago…or maybe last week…or even today. Maybe it’s even yourself you can’t forgive. Some of us are so good at unforgiveness that we don’t just drag around our baggage, but have it in a case with wheels! We’ve sadly adjusted and normalized unforgiveness.

But unforgiveness is such a toxic weight, poisoning our hearts and souls, hardening them against the conviction of the Holy Spirit. And it’s a boat anchor that we choose to keep us from ever climbing the road to Christlikeness…which is also the only road to salvation.

The verses above come right after Jesus instructs the apostles how to pray. If we aren’t forgiven, then we cannot enter His gates. And if we don’t forgive, He will not forgive us!

Lord, thank you for showing us the better way…the only way…your Son’s light yoke, rather than the shackles of our sinful, hardhearted unforgiveness. Please continue to show us the way, and give us the grace, strength, and love to walk your way when we don’t have it ourselves!

Today’s soundtrack

Matthew West’s “Forgiveness” speaks to the unforgiveness we may know or receive all too well…but also speaks to the amazing freedom and power that comes from forgiving others.

Did this song speak to your heart? Consider getting it on Amazon Music »

Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, -Isaiah 29:13 (NASB)

“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.”
‭‭- Proverbs‬ ‭12:22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

When you’ve hit rock bottom, and you have nothing but desperate cries and whimpers to God for comfort and strength and help, those cries are so genuine. They’re the cries of a soul that can no longer try to hold things together in its own strength. The cries of a soul that is open and receptive to complete surrender. The cries of a soul that is finally ready to get out of the way and let God work.

That’s a stark contrast to the prayers of those whose hearts are far from God, who pray to be seen and praised, and who live for themselves. These are the prayers of those who are not vehicles of God’s glory, but insincere facades of real Christ followers. These are the prayers of those who are Christians in name only.

Rest assured that God knows the difference, and that He detests lip service. He is ready and listening to heartfelt cries and prayers. Such prayers are musical notes coming from hearts ready to praise Him and properly live in dependence on His provision. Let your heart cry out to the Lord, and He will hear you.

Today’s soundtrack

Amy Grant’s “Better Than A Hallelujah” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5kx3xqmg0 tells us that God hears our sincere cries to Him as music to His ears.

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. -Nehemiah 1:11 (NIV)

I’ve had some colleagues ask for prayer to support them in a difficult conversation they needed to have with others, where they knew they would meet resistance or rejection, whether it was in business or personal matters. To unbelieving eyes, they were up against the impossible.

You know the feeling. One part of your heart wants to avoid a conflict or obligation or consequence. Another part knows you need to face it. The Holy Spirit will nudge your heart in the God-honoring direction…and that direction may not be comfortable for you.

As I learned with the collision of belief systems–and the resulting spiritual warfare–with my father’s Buddhist funeral, God urges our hearts to face matters and heat head on. He wants us to deal directly and dive right into the heart of an issue.

But we are called to serve, and when He calls on us, we have the privilege of being just the person(s) He needs on stage to advance His grand story. So, the next time He’s telling your heart you need to do that difficult or inconvenient thing you really don’t want to, trust that He has a larger story and outcome that will play out when you act in obedience. And, we are to pray always–and specifically–for His will to be done through His servants and to His glory. Prayer unlocks pathways inaccessible to the prayerless!

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, and prayed specifically for God’s ear and action before he went to ask the king to let him leave his post as cupbearer and oversee the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall. And guess what? The king easily granted his request, and even wrote letters of safe passage and permits for enough timber to help with the construction!

As of this writing, I know of two colleagues who had logically inexplicable breakthroughs and softening of hearts as God made a way where there seemed to be no way. Be courageous, for the Lord is with you…you are not alone!

How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? -Psalms‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭(NASB)

I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. -Psalms 40:1 (NASB)

These are dark times. Lawlessness seems to be the order of the day, whether in the news with terrorists worldwide, or in the chaos of our own lives. I had a colleague tell me about his personal torment, and he lamented, “God, where are you? You can show up any time now!”

I promised him that God is right there with him, and will use even these times to His glory, as He has shown throughout Scripture. But sometimes, the assurances of God’s unfailing love can fall on deaf, hurting ears.

On social media, especially at the time of this writing, I see the recurring question: what is happening in the world? People are being killed, people are violently protesting the killings, and friends and family are drawing their battle lines on these and other issues.

In some ways, that’s nothing new. But what was especially distressing to me was what one friend wrote on Facebook. She said that God won’t fix anything, and neither will prayer…and that only our actions will make any change. She was particularly annoyed with all the PRAY FOR _____ images and petitions making the rounds on social media.

For these two people, my colleague and my friend, they are hurting people whose pain and frustration is ringing louder in their ear than God’s promises. And if we let them, the enemy’s lies can deafen us to the truth.

In truth, God commands us to pray. He calls us to act. He calls us to believe He’s working, even when we don’t see what we want to see. Where is God? He’s sitting on His throne. He sees all. He controls and allows all. He’s also right here with us, working out all things for His children, and to His glory.

Are we to pray? Absolutely. Prayer can unlock outcomes God won’t fulfill without our choice to pray…to switch to a path only reachable through prayer.

God is very much there, and prayer is the powerful connection to our Creator, who absolutely does see and reign over all. Because of Him, our hope is right before us, if only we believe.

Today’s soundtrack

Danny Gokey’s “Hope In Front Of Me” reminds us that there is always hope, because He is our hope…and He is always there.

Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? -1 Kings 3:9 (NKJV)

We often treat God like He’s Santa Claus, or some sort of cosmic servant, to grant our wishes…as if He were here to do things for us! No, as true believers, it’s quite the opposite. We’re here, with every breath He grants us, on a planet He made for us, on a new day He decided to create for us, to serve Him and make Him known.

The above verse is Solomon’s amazing request of the Lord. Solomon didn’t ask for riches, or anything selfish. What he asked for was discernment and wisdom to better rule his people. And because of his God-honoring request, God gave Solomon the wisdom he asked for–in fact, making him the wisest man who ever lived!–and also much more! God granted him riches and honor on top of the gifts of wisdom and discernment.

So when you pray to the Lord, are you asking for personal gain and comfort, or for gifts that will ultimately glorify Him? As His obedient children, the more we walk in obedience, the more our hearts will align with His will, so that we will pray for things that glorify Him. And what child doesn’t want to please their Father in heaven, who smiles and blesses His obedient children?

We thank the Lord for all the gifts and blessings we take for granted, and ask Him to give us greater discernment, wisdom, grace, strength, and love we don’t have to give to the world, and to show Him through us. As it is written:

It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. -1 Kings 3:10 (NASB)

And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. -1 Samuel 8:7

We know we have a patient and loving God. Look at His special chosen ones, the Israelites, and how they not only were disobedient, but even rejected Him! As a parent, there are few things on earth more heartbreaking than your own children’s rejection.

But God is also loving in His demonstration of consequences. After so much complaining and whining from His children, who wanted a king to rule over them like their neighbors (“all the other kids are doing it!”), God tasked Samuel with giving them a king. The Israelites would have to reap what they chose to sow.

Samuel first warned them that a human king would be very demanding, and even unjust or cruel, but they didn’t care. They wanted what they wanted, and Samuel gave them Saul, who did well…at least for the first twenty years.

Like the Israelites, we should carefully consider what we’re asking for.

I’ve learned to put my petitions to a litmus test before bringing them to God: Is what I’m asking for glorifying Him, or just serving me? Am I possibly rationalizing my way into thinking my way will also please Him?

If my petitions pass the test by glorifying Him and not serving my needs, and that I’m wanting to please Him through that for which I pray, then I bring them before Him.

If you’re asking for something that dethrones Jesus–the One True King–in your heart, and doesn’t make Him famous, you’re asking to be ruled by the world. You’re asking to be like the unbelievers around you.

But He has set you apart as one of His elect. Boldly bring Him your petitions that make Him known, and He will bless you in your obedience, faith, and surrender.