Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/gCrg_cpn4t4/emergency-prayer-requests-4.html

All His gifts are promised on condition of obedience. God has a heaven full of blessings for those who will co-operate with Him. All who obey Him may with confidence claim the fulfilment of His promises. But we must show a firm, undeviating trust in God. Often He delays to answer us, in order to try our faith or test the genuineness of our desire. Having asked according to His Word, we should believe His promise. and press our petitions with a determination that will not be denied.

God does not say, Ask once, and you shall receive. He bids us ask. Unwearyingly persist in prayer. The persistent asking brings the petitioner into a more earnest attitude, and gives him an increased desire to receive the things for which he asks. Christ said to Martha at the grave of Lazarus, “If thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God.”

But many have not a living faith. This is why they do not see more of the power of God. Their weakness is the result of their unbelief. They have more faith in their own working than in the working of God for them. They take themselves into their own keeping. They plan and devise, but pray little, and have little real trust in God. They think they have faith, but it is only the impulse of the moment. Failing to realize their own need, or God’s willingness to give, they do not persevere in keeping their requests before the Lord.

Our prayers are to be as earnest and persistent as was the petition of the needy friend who asked for the loaves at midnight. The more earnestly and steadfastly we ask, the closer will be our spiritual union with Christ.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 145, 146.
With God at Dawn p. 90
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Prayer Requests
—-please pray for Danny’s Mom. Sally
—-Please pray for some friends whose marriage is in serious crisis. Rachelle
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Dear Friends,

Until I was ten, I lived with my grandparents, Edwin and Ida Harmon. There were only two children in the neighborhood, Janey who lived with her grandmother in the court behind our house and across the field and Gary who lived several blocks away. Amazingly, five-year-old Gary’s parents used to let him walk a block on his street, cross Burdick street, and walk the two blocks to my house to play. From that time until, at age ten, I went to live with my mother and her new husband, Gary, Janey and I spent many happy hours playing. I really missed my playmates after I moved and often wished I could see them again.

Imagine my delight when the summer I was eleven, Gary invited me to spend a few days at his cottage on Wall lake. The fact that I could barely swim didn’t deter me a bit. I happily accepted the invitation. We spent many hours swimming or rowing along the edge of the lake in a rowboat.

One day, Gary and I were standing in the water talking when he suddenly pushed me down. I was shocked. Then my shock turned to anger. He knew that I never liked to get my face in the water, yet here he was not only pushing me under the water but holding me there. I thought I was going to drown. I struggled and fought him, but he held me firmly. Suddenly, I felt something whiz directly over my head. Then he helped me up. My anger melted away when he explained to me the reason he had held me under the water. A boat pulling a skier had come too close to shore and too fast to let the skier off, and when the person had let go of the rope, the handle was coming straight at us at a high rate of speed. I had seen the boat and the tow rope coming, but I didn’t understand the danger. Gary, who had been taught to be watchful, saw what was happening and reacted immediately. His quick reaction saved us both from great injury or perhaps even death.

In this world, there are many dangers which could end our life (phyiscal or spiritual) just as quickly and unexpectedly as that tow rope could have our lives that day over fifty years ago. How important it is that we “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” Col 4:2 What are we to watch for? “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Mark 14:38 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8 The evil one is trying every moment to cause us to look away from Jesus and enter into sin. We must be on the lookout for the dangers he throws in our path, just as Gary was watchful for any possible danger. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we recognize the danger and be victorious over it. Only through His enlightenment can we discern the way of escape He has provided. (1 Cor 10:13)

Peter advises, “the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7 “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt 25:13 Jesus is coming soon. “It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Rom 13:11 Paul reminds us, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [that is, unexpectedly] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thes 5:2-6

Every moment, we are one step closer to the end of this sinful world. Every moment we are closer to meeting our dear Savior face to face. Jesus has given us signs that show that His coming is near “even at the doors.” Matt 24:13 In the great prophecies of Daniel, Revelation, Matthew 24, and countless numbers of other places within God’s Holy Word, we are forewarned concerning the final events of this planet’s history, that when we see these things begin to come to pass, we may look up, and lift up our heads; for we will know that our redemption is soon to take place. (Luke 21:28) Our Dear Saviour tells us, “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” vs 29-31

Now is the time to prepare for that glorious day, that when we see our King coming in the clouds of heaven, we will, in joy, lift up our eyes and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Amen! Isa 25:9

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/ZwQLaZrLpk4/gods-promises-are-conditional-on-obedience.html

“Ask.” The asking makes it manifest that you realize your necessity; and if you ask in faith, you will receive. The Lord has pledged His word, and it can not fail. If you come with true contrition, you need not feel that you are presumptuous in asking for what the Lord has promised. When you ask for the blessings you need, that you may perfect a character after Christ’s likeness, the Lord assures you that you are asking according to a promise that will be verified. That you feel and know you are a sinner, is sufficient ground for asking for His mercy and compassion….

“Seek.” Desire not merely His blessing, but Himself…. Seek and ye shall find. God is seeking you, and the very desire you feel to come to Him, is but the drawing of His Spirit. Yield to that drawing. Christ is pleading the cause of the tempted, the erring, and the faithless. He is seeking to lift them into companionship with Himself. “If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee.”

“Knock.” We come to God by special invitation, and He waits to welcome us to His audience-chamber. The first disciples who followed Jesus were not satisfied with a hurried conversation with Him by the way; they said, “Rabbi, where dwellest Thou?” … Let those who desire the blessing of God, knock and wait at the door of mercy with firm assurance, saying, For Thou, O Lord, hast said, “Every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”—Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 130, 131.
With God at Dawn p. 88
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Annie as she recovers from back surgery. Rose
—-Please pray for my fiance who is seriously sick at the moment. EN
—-Please pray for my sister-in-law, brother and family. She is given 1 week to live. She has been fighting for her life for two years. Pray God’s mercy and peace. Becky
—-David and his family needs your prayers. His depression is worse again. Buck
—-Please pray for my friend Susan. Her husband passed away yesterday from Covid. She is getting over it herself and now must plan his funeral. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,

In the days of long ago, the ships that traveled along the waterways of this country would occasionally come to a area where huge boulders lay beneath the surface. If their vessels hit one of these rocks, a large gash could be cut into its side causing the boat to sink. The captain would order the helmsman to stop at the beginning of the area of danger and wait for someone who knew where the safe channel was. As this pilot stepped aboard the ship, those on board trusted themselves to his care. He would take the helm and guide it safely through the place of danger.

This sinful, old planet is like those waterways—full of dangers on every side. Some of these dangers are recognized, and we tremble in perplexity and fear. Some are hidden from our view, and we continue on, unaware of the danger we are in. How much we need a Pilot to guide our “vessel” safely through to our destination. Praise God! We do have a Pilot Who knows the way! He assures us, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8

Emily D. Wilson wrote a hymn that we used to sing that illustrates this very thing”

“Sometimes, when my faith would falter And no sunlight I can see, I just lift mine eyes to Jesus And I whisper, “Pilot me.” “Fear thou not, for I’ll be with thee; I will still thy Pilot be. Never mind the tossing billows; Take my hand and trust in Me.”

Often, when my soul is weary And the days seem, oh, so long, I just look up to my Pilot And I hear this blessed song: “Fear thou not, for I’ll be with thee; I will still thy Pilot be. Never mind the tossing billows; Take my hand and trust in Me.”

When temptations ’round me gather And I almost lose my way, Somehow, in the raging tempest, I can hear my Saviour say, “Fear thou not, for I’ll be with thee; I will still thy Pilot be. Never mind the tossing billows; Take my hand and trust in Me.”

May our response to our Dear Saviour be, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” Ps 56:3; 31:1-3

Rose

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/AvM4Mv4SSzc/we-must-claim-gods-promises.html