“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A few years ago, the Holy Spirit began to impress on me the importance of prayer. Developing this spiritual habit can be awkward and challenging, but it is worth it.

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“...it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“He had it coming!” Whether or not we say these words, I wonder how often we think it. When someone who has done wrong suffers the consequences of their actions, do we rejoice in the wrong that’s done to them?

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“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

There is a war going on. It’s largely unseen and not talked about. And in most cases, it’s being lost. It’s the war for our minds.

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“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Words matter. They speak into our world what our hearts truly feel. And when our words reveal that our hearts are out of alignment with the Living Word - Jesus - we cannot ignore this. It must be addressed.

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“Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

To think that God not only hears our prayers, but answers them. And then to think that He goes beyond that and gives us something so much better. He truly is a great God.

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“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How would we live if we truly understood that our Shepherd is leading and protecting us when we face the trials and evils of life?

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“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

James goes on to describe what that prayer looks like, using the prophet, Elijah, as an example. This example might surprise you.

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“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We think if sacrifices as being offerings made in ancient temples. But in in the New Testament era, the Temple has changed. And with it, the sacrifices.

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“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.”
‭‭John‬ ‭13:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Talking about humility is one thing. Waking in humility is something very different. Jesus - God; King of Kings and Lord of Lords - lowered Himself to the place of heaters humility in His culture. Then, He commanded us to do the same thing.

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“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This opening phrase seems like a contradiction. Blessing and trials seem to cancel each other out, at best. But that’s because we haven’t yet experienced the full blessing.

Let’s talk about it!