Ruth Bell Graham's Prayer

Many years ago, the future wife of Billy Graham prayed the prayer at the end of this post. Her prayer was undoubtedly answered. 

Have you ever made a note of your prayers? It’s the only way to know if your prayers are answered. God hears and answers prayers. 

The first prayer we need to make is the prayer of repentance. Here are some verses that confirm this truth.

Before you read the verses let me explain what the word repent means. To repent means a change of place or condition, to exercise the mind, think, comprehend. It is a change of mind or to relent. 

Theologically, it involves regret or sorrow, accompanied by a true change of heart toward God. It is distinguished from mere regret - summary of definition from 'The Complete Word Study Bible'. 

Facing our greatest fears - what coronavirus could do?

May I ask you a few questions:

1. Are you worried about the past?
2. Are you fearful about the future?
3. Are you not happy about the present?

Every list of people’s top worries has certain common items - money problems, health, getting old, relationships and death. It would be good not to worry but most of us do even if it’s only occasionally. 

At this moment in our nation, many people are worried. They fear the unknown! They are not sure what is going on? Who should they believe? How serious is this crisis?

The truth is - it is very serious and the potential for widespread disaster and indeed, death, is immense.

So please read and think about what I have to say today - you may regret not doing so one day.

Christians believe the Bible teaches why we are on this planet, why things go wrong and what’s important in life. The Bible teaches that the solution (salvation) is found in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the key summary statements from the Bible says this - ‘This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . .’, 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 15.

We believe that the message of the Bible is vital and demands your attention. Everything else will only affect the ‘here and now’ but the gospel of Jesus Christ will also impact your ‘forever’. Listen to this promise found in John’s Gospel chapter 3 verse 16 ‘For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life’. I know that by now many of you may be tempted to discard what I say but give me a minute of your time. 

This is a great opportunity for you to discover the answers to the questions you ask yourself. There are answers, life is not meaningless, God created you for a purpose, BUT

We need a change in life!

We need past sins forgiven!

We need our future safety to be guaranteed!

I am not being melodramatic but we are all in danger. More of us are in danger of God’s judgment (punishment) for our wrongdoing than are in danger of COVID-19. It applies to all of us for ‘we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God’, (Romans 3.23, the Bible). What we have done might be different but none of us is perfect.

We know that the answer that is provided in the Bible works which is why we want to share it with you. 

Thanks for reading this post.

A Hymn about Prayer by William Cowper

By William Cowper (1779) 

What various hindrances we meet

In coming to a mercy seat;

Yet who that knows the worth of prayer,

But wishes to be often there.

Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;

Gives exercise to faith and love,

Brings every blessing from above.

*Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;

Prayer makes the Christian’s armor bright;

And Satan trembles, when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.*

While Moses stood with arms spread wide,

Success was found on Israel’s side;

But when through weariness they failed,

That moment Amalek prevailed.

Have you no words? Ah, think again,

Words flow apace when you complain;

And fill your fellow creature’s ear

With the sad tale of all your care.

Were half the breath thus vainly spent,

To Heav’n in supplication sent;

Your cheerful song would oft’ner be,

Hear what the Lord has done for me

Struggling to do what is right!

Mar 14:36  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Are you struggling to do something the Lord has asked you to do? Take a look at what the Lord Jesus did for you!

Acts 19 - A City Break in Greece

Scripture Reading

Acts chapter 19

Scripture Verse

Ephesians 2.8 ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God’

Some people like travelling; some people don’t! Some people like their own beds; some people can sleep anywhere! I wonder what you are like?

I don’t know if Paul liked being at home but he didn’t seem to stay anywhere for long. We have already read about him travelling about a lot. “And where is he now?” you must be thinking. He has just arrived in Ephesus where he will live for a couple of years.

Acts 16 - From a Prayer Meeting to a Prison

Scripture Reading

Acts chapter 16

Scripture Verse

Acts 16.14 Lydia - ‘The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul’

Yesterday we discovered that Paul travelled a lot to tell people about Jesus and salvation. People who do that are often called evangelists or missionaries. Today Paul travels by boat and arrives in the city of Philippi.

Acts 13 - The forgiveness of sins

Scripture Reading

Acts chapter 13

Scripture Verse

Acts 13.38 ‘therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins’

I really like seeing new places. It’s great to visit different areas to learn about what goes on there! In Bible times people didn’t travel as much as we do, as there were no planes, trains or buses. Travelling would be by walking, on horseback or by sea. Sea travel could be quite dangerous. People often stopped travelling in winter when it got too dangerous.

Fearing tomorrow - Acts 12

Suggested Scripture Reading

Acts chapter 12

Verse for the Day

Acts 12.17 ‘He declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison’

Imagine that it’s time to go to bed and you are feeling really tired. You want to sleep but you can’t. Lots of things keep popping into your head. Maybe you are a bit worried about something! A new job, project or someone who is threatening you! Or maybe you are excited and can’t wait for the next day to come!

Jesus’ disciple, Peter, was fast asleep one night when an angel came to visit him. He was in such a deep sleep that the angel had had to hit him on his side to wake him up.

"Where am I?", Peter must have thought? "I remember now. I’m in prison. Herod, that wicked King, locked me up and says he is going to kill me! I was a bit scared until I remembered what Jesus had told me before He went back to heaven. He said I wouldn’t die until I was old. Wow, that helped me get to sleep last night. Jesus is in control and I trust Him".  

The angel was really in a hurry. “Quick” he said, “get up”. Suddenly Peter’s chains fell off. He had been handcuffed between two soldiers but all of a sudden he was free. When Peter looked one way, the soldier was asleep, and then the other way, he was asleep as well. Amazing!

While all this has been going on Peter’s friends has been praying for him. They prayed at breakfast, in the morning, at lunch, in the afternoon, in the evening and at supper. They even stayed up all night to pray as well. It seemed like Peter was never going to be freed! He had been in prison right over the Easter holidays (the Jews call it Passover). But God heard their prayers and Peter got home safe and sound.

God can answer your prayers and will help you sleep when you are scared as well.

Suggested Prayer

Dear Father, sometimes I am scared and I want to thank you for looking after me when this happens.

Going to Pray - Acts 4

Suggested Bible Reading - Acts 4. 23-31

Acts 4. 24 

‘And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God’

Can I tell you a secret? Promise not to tell anyone? Well here it is – when I was a boy I didn't like going to the church prayer meeting. It seemed quite boring to spend time sitting quiet. What was the point of meeting other people if you couldn't talk to them? When I grew up I discovered that the prayer meeting could be exciting! 

This was when I realised that prayer meetings are times when we speak to God.

85% of what we worry about never happens!

I am told that 85% of what we worry about never happens. 

Paul is writing a series of exhortations to the Christians in Philippi in his closing comments of the letter. In chapter four verse four he has encouraged them to ‘rejoice in the Lord alway’. This is something we all need to be reminded about from time to time. When things get on top of us we often forget to see the blessings that we have and to rejoice in what God has done. I am sure we all know people who can see the goodness of God in everything. We should all cultivate this way of thinking.