Hearts Ablaze Corner

This six part series is: The Flow. We'll consider the River of God flowing within us, as is promised in John 7:37-38... On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Picture the River of God, needing space within us to operate. How do we make space in our being for this River?

We'll talk about three things that help to "free up" space for the Holy Spirit to operate, or for the River of God to flow within us. These are: brokenness, dependence upon God and yieldedness.

We have to be vigilant, making sure that we are not being distracted. We must not allow the enemy of our soul/the kingdom of darkness to oppress and deceive us, using rights we give them, wittingly or unwittingly, to occupy space meant only for the Holy Spirit. One sad result is that the flow is restricted and our lives tell the tale!

This six part series is: The Flow. We'll consider the River of God flowing within us, as is promised in John 7:37-38... On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Picture the River of God, needing space within us to operate. How do we make space in our being for this River?

We'll talk about three things that help to "free up" space for the Holy Spirit to operate, or for the River of God to flow within us. These are: brokenness, dependence upon God and yieldedness.

We have to be vigilant, making sure that we are not being distracted. We must not allow the enemy of our soul/the kingdom of darkness to oppress and deceive us, using rights we give them, wittingly or unwittingly, to occupy space meant only for the Holy Spirit. One sad result is that the flow is restricted and our lives tell the tale!

This six part series is: The Flow. We'll consider the River of God flowing within us, as is promised in John 7:37-38... On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Picture the River of God, needing space within us to operate. How do we make space in our being for this River?

We'll talk about three things that help to "free up" space for the Holy Spirit to operate, or for the River of God to flow within us. These are: brokenness, dependence upon God and yieldedness.

We have to be vigilant, making sure that we are not being distracted. We must not allow the enemy of our soul/the kingdom of darkness to oppress and deceive us, using rights we give them, wittingly or unwittingly, to occupy space meant only for the Holy Spirit. One sad result is that the flow is restricted and our lives tell the tale!

Constant prayer is necessary to win battles. Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 18:1 ".... they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart." We are to "continue in prayer." The Greek word for "continue" speaks of persistence and constancy. When I think of persevering in prayer, I imagine my importunity opening the door wide and escorting the answer to my prayers.

Being constant or persevering in prayer also means that when seeming insurmountable mountains arise, we know that prayer is the place where mountains are scaled or leveled. Mountains become plains at the place of prayer!

Jesus said men are always, always, always to pray. Prayer, therefore, must run through every season of our lives. In the dark times or in Winter, pray! It feels like Springtime and God is doing some new, amazing things, pray! It is Summer time and real sunny, pray! It feels like Fall, pray! Pray! Pray! Pray!

We cannot afford to faint. God wants fervent, passionate prayer flowing from us. Jesus emphasized prayer. This is not something He simply told his disciples to do. He lived prayer. He breathed it. He prayed at all times, never fainting. The result: evil plans against Him were brought to naught. He was living out His Father's will, gaining the victories, not only for Himself, but for us all.

We are to emulate Jesus. Prayer is, indeed, the place where battles are won! It's time to persevere in prayer. There are battles to be won!

Constant prayer is necessary to win battles. Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 18:1 ".... they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart." We are to "continue in prayer." The Greek word for "continue" speaks of persistence and constancy. When I think of persevering in prayer, I imagine my importunity opening the door wide and escorting the answer to my prayers.

Being constant or persevering in prayer also means that when seeming insurmountable mountains arise, we know that prayer is the place where mountains are scaled or leveled. Mountains become plains at the place of prayer!

Jesus said men are always, always, always to pray. Prayer, therefore, must run through every season of our lives. In the dark times or in Winter, pray! It feels like Springtime and God is doing some new, amazing things, pray! It is Summer time and real sunny, pray! It feels like Fall, pray! Pray! Pray! Pray!

We cannot afford to faint. God wants fervent, passionate prayer flowing from us. Jesus emphasized prayer. This is not something He simply told his disciples to do. He lived prayer. He breathed it. He prayed at all times, never fainting. The result: evil plans against Him were brought to naught. He was living out His Father's will, gaining the victories, not only for Himself, but for us all.

We are to emulate Jesus. Prayer is, indeed, the place where battles are won! It's time to persevere in prayer. There are battles to be won!

Constant prayer is necessary to win battles. Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 18:1 ".... they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart." We are to "continue in prayer." The Greek word for "continue" speaks of persistence and constancy. When I think of persevering in prayer, I imagine my importunity opening the door wide and escorting the answer to my prayers.

Being constant or persevering in prayer also means that when seeming insurmountable mountains arise, we know that prayer is the place where mountains are scaled or leveled. Mountains become plains at the place of prayer!

Jesus said men are always, always, always to pray. Prayer, therefore, must run through every season of our lives. In the dark times or in Winter, pray! It feels like Springtime and God is doing some new, amazing things, pray! It is Summer time and real sunny, pray! It feels like Fall, pray! Pray! Pray! Pray!

We cannot afford to faint. God wants fervent, passionate prayer flowing from us. Jesus emphasized prayer. This is not something He simply told his disciples to do. He lived prayer. He breathed it. He prayed at all times, never fainting. The result: evil plans against Him were brought to naught. He was living out His Father's will, gaining the victories, not only for Himself, but for us all.

We are to emulate Jesus. Prayer is, indeed, the place where battles are won! It's time to persevere in prayer. There are battles to be won!

Constant prayer is necessary to win battles. Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 18:1 ".... they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart." We are to "continue in prayer." The Greek word for "continue" speaks of persistence and constancy. When I think of persevering in prayer, I imagine my importunity opening the door wide and escorting the answer to my prayers.

Being constant or persevering in prayer also means that when seeming insurmountable mountains arise, we know that prayer is the place where mountains are scaled or leveled. Mountains become plains at the place of prayer!

Jesus said men are always, always, always to pray. Prayer, therefore, must run through every season of our lives. In the dark times or in Winter, pray! It feels like Springtime and God is doing some new, amazing things, pray! It is Summer time and real sunny, pray! It feels like Fall, pray! Pray! Pray! Pray!

We cannot afford to faint. God wants fervent, passionate prayer flowing from us. Jesus emphasized prayer. This is not something He simply told his disciples to do. He lived prayer. He breathed it. He prayed at all times, never fainting. The result: evil plans against Him were brought to naught. He was living out His Father's will, gaining the victories, not only for Himself, but for us all.

We are to emulate Jesus. Prayer is, indeed, the place where battles are won! It's time to persevere in prayer. There are battles to be won!

I've come to realize that our gaze determines whether we walk in victory or not. The word "gaze" means staring, looking intently and steadily. When we think of our looking upon Jehovah, we can define " gaze" as, the habitual long, lingering look of awestruck wonder.

David was a God-gazer, so was Elisha, great examples in the Old Testament. David saw the big giant, and his strong army, but he also saw something even bigger. He saw the bigness of God: bigger than any giant, stronger than any enemy, greater than any army. David saw the armies Jehovah Sabaoth command, and he was emboldened. There was no comparison between his God and the uncircumcised heathen, Goliath. Elisha, when surrounded by the enemy, knew that there were more for him than against him. We see their fruitful lives and the authority they wielded because their gaze was right. What about us, today?

I believe there is one primary reason why we are not fervent and consistent in prayer. Our gaze is really not upon God! For example, we have not gazed upon God long enough to even see him as the Omnipotent One with limitless resources, made available to us. Does PS 18 make us leap with joy?

If our eyes are not fixed on God, if we have a penchant, a tendency, of moving our sight from God to circumstances, wavering between healthy life giving feelings and thoughts to deceptive ones, struggling between embracing God's counsel and the voice of stranger(s) with their unwise, deadly chatter, we'll find ourselves traveling along crooked paths of defeat. In this four part series, we'll talk about keeping our eyes riveted upon God, which will determine the outcome of our lives.

I've come to realize that our gaze determines whether we walk in victory or not. The word "gaze" means staring, looking intently and steadily. When we think of our looking upon Jehovah, we can define " gaze" as, the habitual long, lingering look of awestruck wonder.

David was a God-gazer, so was Elisha, great examples in the Old Testament. David saw the big giant, and his strong army, but he also saw something even bigger. He saw the bigness of God: bigger than any giant, stronger than any enemy, greater than any army. David saw the armies Jehovah Sabaoth command, and he was emboldened. There was no comparison between his God and the uncircumcised heathen, Goliath. Elisha, when surrounded by the enemy, knew that there were more for him than against him. We see their fruitful lives and the authority they wielded because their gaze was right. What about us, today?

I believe there is one primary reason why we are not fervent and consistent in prayer. Our gaze is really not upon God! For example, we have not gazed upon God long enough to even see him as the Omnipotent One with limitless resources, made available to us. Does PS 18 make us leap with joy?

If our eyes are not fixed on God, if we have a penchant, a tendency, of moving our sight from God to circumstances, wavering between healthy life giving feelings and thoughts to deceptive ones, struggling between embracing God's counsel and the voice of stranger(s) with their unwise, deadly chatter, we'll find ourselves traveling along crooked paths of defeat. In this four part series, we'll talk about keeping our eyes riveted upon God, which will determine the outcome of our lives.

I've come to realize that our gaze determines whether we walk in victory or not. The word "gaze" means staring, looking intently and steadily. When we think of our looking upon Jehovah, we can define " gaze" as, the habitual long, lingering look of awestruck wonder.

David was a God-gazer, so was Elisha, great examples in the Old Testament. David saw the big giant, and his strong army, but he also saw something even bigger. He saw the bigness of God: bigger than any giant, stronger than any enemy, greater than any army. David saw the armies Jehovah Sabaoth command, and he was emboldened. There was no comparison between his God and the uncircumcised heathen, Goliath. Elisha, when surrounded by the enemy, knew that there were more for him than against him. We see their fruitful lives and the authority they wielded because their gaze was right. What about us, today?

I believe there is one primary reason why we are not fervent and consistent in prayer. Our gaze is really not upon God! For example, we have not gazed upon God long enough to even see him as the Omnipotent One with limitless resources, made available to us. Does PS 18 make us leap with joy?

If our eyes are not fixed on God, if we have a penchant, a tendency, of moving our sight from God to circumstances, wavering between healthy life giving feelings and thoughts to deceptive ones, struggling between embracing God's counsel and the voice of stranger(s) with their unwise, deadly chatter, we'll find ourselves traveling along crooked paths of defeat. In this four part series, we'll talk about keeping our eyes riveted upon God, which will determine the outcome of our lives.