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Scripture for the day: Philippians 4:11b-13 I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Thought for the day: Here is the confession of a winner. We all want to be winners, don’t we? O.K., raise your hand all those of you out there who want to be losers. No one? That’s what I thought. We all want to think well of ourselves. We all want to be able to look back over our lives and point to areas, talents, relationships, goals, etc. in which we can honestly say we were successful, don’t we? Of course we do. One of the problems we so often run into, I’m afraid, is that we don’t truly believe this assertion Paul makes in his letter to the Philippians. We love to quote this verse from time to time – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – but when it comes time to get involved or step out into some new or unfamiliar area our most often used word is “can’t.” “Oh, I could never do that, I don’t have the talent for it.” Oh, I can’t teach that class, speak to that person, go to that place, take part in that project; I just don’t have the abilities to do it.” Now let’s be honest, how often have you heard just such excuses? How often have you used them? Don’t get me wrong, sometimes they’re even true, in rare instances and in particular people. But for the most part, the excuses we give are a quiet admission of our lack of faith in the God who promised that we could do all things asked of us by Him through the power of His risen Son.
So let’s spend a bit of time talking about what it takes to be a winner in God’s eyes. A friend once told me of his final encounter with his father. On the day his father died they had gone to church in the morning and, after a good luncheon meal shared around the family table, they sat together in the comfortable living room of his father’s house. At one point his dad looked at him and said, “You know, I think God would be pleased with the way I’ve lived my life.” Those were the last words his father ever spoke. Within a few hours he slipped quietly into glory to spend eternity with his Lord. I’ve never forgotten that story because I recognized immediately the value of being able to say such a thing as we near the end of our time on this tiny planet.
Paul said, “In everything by prayer … let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6) The fact is, those who do not pray do not win. We can spend countless hours organizing, planning, coming up with brilliant strategies, working through the night but experience tells us clearly that we will not accomplish anything of eternal value aside from prayer. As I said yesterday, prayer is hard work, which is why so little of it actually takes place. But the Bible teaches us that, without doubt, the power of God is released through prayer (and for all practical purposes, in no other way). Matthew put it this way in quoting the Master Himself: “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt … whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Think about those powerful words for a few moments. Are we losing the battle against secularism in our churches? Have we prayed about it? Are you frustrated because you’ve not been able to accomplish the things you believe the Lord would have you do? Have you given it to the Lord in prayer? Is there something that absolutely needs to happen in your family, your personal life, your church? Have you truly taken it before the throne of grace? Oh, I’m not talking about the usual laundry list of wants we present to the Lord when we pray. I’m talking about spending whatever time is necessary on your knees before the sovereign of the universe, struggling in prayer until you know beyond a doubt that answers are on the way. Unfortunately for so many of us, we don’t have – no wait, that’s not true – we won’t take the time to struggle through the night until the blessing comes as Jacob did at Peniel. We’ve convinced ourselves it’s not necessary; after all, “Your father in heaven already knows the needs you have.” So we go on, trying with all our might to bring about the things that can only happen through the avenue and power of prayer.
Do you want to be a winner? The first step is prayer; there is no substitute. We can accept this biblical truth and go on with Him or we can reject and keep on with our losing ways. The choice is for each of us.
Now go take on your world. - Bill