Powerless Except For

    Have you ever had a time where you couldn't help someone because you just couldn't. It may have been an instance where they didn't need something physically, you couldn't cheer them up, or you just didn't know what to do for them because maybe they didn't even know what they needed. I've experienced that. It has happened many times but one time it happened within two days there were two instances where I was powerless to help someone I loved.

    The first time was when he didn't feel well. All I could do was give him meds and offer to get him something if he felt he needed it. Then I just sat there and watched as he was in pain. The next day he said he didn't have the greatest day because he was with a childhood friend who was struggling. I didn't know what was said in the conversation, but it was weighing on him. I tried distracting him, but I don't think I was that successful.

  In both situations I was powerless. I wanted to have something I could do, something I could fix. Something I could fight for him. But I couldn't. So, what I did in both situations is I prayed silently. I prayed for healing. I prayed for strength. I prayed for God to move in his life.

   Prayer is powerful. It is always powerful. But it is especially powerful when there's nothing, we can do ourselves. It's the first step we should take instead of the last. It's what we should do in every instance and not just use it as a cop out. You are not powerless because you have the God who created everything on your side. He loves you and created prayer so he could have a relationship with you. Are you conversing with him and asking him to move in your life?

https://youtu.be/DcqWc7QvSs4

The Power of Prayer

   Have you ever wondered what is going in in America? We have over 50% of people who claim to be Christians in America and things just seem to be getting worse. Why is that?

   Well, there are people who claim to be Christians but that's just a name to them. Others go to church Sunday but the rest of the week they live for themselves. Still, others go to church but are hypocrites and use the church to gain things for themselves.

   I've mentioned this book before but there is a book called Demon by Tosca Lee. In it, a man is tasked with writing a demon's Memoir. The man tried to avoid the demon by visiting a church. But the demon came to the church anyway. The man said he was surprised the demon was able to come in. The demon replied that some of the people who come to church are the worst of all (or something along those lines). 

   Later in the book, the man asks the demon why he never visited him at his apartment. The demon replies by saying there is too much spiritual static there. See, across from the man lived an older woman. She was a Christian, cared for the man, prayed for him, hosted a Bible study, etc. She walked the faith. 

   This shows the power of prayer. Prayer can change events. Prayer can move mountains. Prayer can change hearts. Prayer has power. It has spiritual, wonderworking power. God shows us that through his Word. And he is still showing that today. We just need to be looking for it.

   So, are you following God? How often do you pray? Do you have faith that moves mountains?

   Mat.17.20

https://youtu.be/CSVP65-Vo4E

I Can('t) Fix It

 I enjoy asking random questions. My boyfriend ends up being on the receiving end of most of these questions many times. One day I asked him, “if I had a superpower what would it be?” I was expecting something like flying or turning invisible with a thoughtful reason. Instead, he said, “your power would be to fix people.” What he meant by that is I have a tendency to see potential in people and I know how far they could go if they would just do one thing. Or I see people who are hurting, and I want to help them.

I thought about it, and he did have a good answer with good reasons. It showed that he knew my personality and it was unique and creative. But the more I thought about the answer the more I thought that I would not want that power. While it’s true I care for others and want to help them in any way I can, it would be me helping and fixing to my standard. 

My standard is not perfect. I would be biased at times. I would be selfish at times. I would not see the bigger picture. God is the only one who can fix us. He sees our potential. He sees our challenges. He can fix us and them. 

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” God works all things for our good. He knows what we need and what we want. He is a good Father. He gives us what we need. He loves us no matter what.

Now, while we may not be able to fix people there is one power, we do have to help those people: prayer. It’s true that sometimes the answer to our prayer will be no. But God knows our heart. He wants to hear from us. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to communicate with him and to grow in Him. To do that, sometimes the answer is no. Other times the answer is not what you expect. But God, in his infinite knowledge and mercy, chooses to hear you. It’s amazing when you think about it.

So, have you ever thought about what your life would be like if you could fix people? How can you pray for others today? How can you grow in God?

https://youtu.be/SfQpsjTe4F8?si=a8kYfhA3ajj4b7S6

I'm Struggling With...

   "I'm struggling with faith." "I'm struggling with anxiety." "I'm in a battle with drugs." "I can't seem to stop gossiping." The list can go on and on. We all have struggles, problems that come along, sins we can't seem to shake, etc. Jesus promised us life wouldn't be easy.

   John 16:33 which says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." In the world we will have trouble, but Jesus has overcome the world. Because of that, we can have peace no matter what struggle or battle we face. 

   Now, there is something we can do no matter what struggle we face. We must choose if we will give more power to the struggle or to God. If we focus too much on the problem, sin, or struggle we give it power. Instead, we should focus on God. He gives us strength to defeat the struggle. God is with you in your struggle. Fix your eyes on him. Trust in him. He will not let you fall.

   So, are you focused too much on your struggles? How can you focus more on God during struggles? How can you pray for those who are struggling today?

https://youtu.be/dYTRpPKP-mA

Pray First?

   If you know me, you know I'm a fixer. If a problem comes up, I try to think of ways to solve it as quick as possible. There are times that works and times it does not. Its especially hard for me when someone I care for is hurting because of a problem. More than anything I want to take the problem away. Most of the time that's not possible.

   One time this happened when my friend's grandfather died. I was sad because I knew the grandfather. But I knew my friend was sadder. Each time I saw him, I asked how he was doing. I asked if I could do anything for him. This eventually annoyed him because there wasn't anything anyone could do. 

   I didn't know what else to do. I wanted to show my friend I cared but how could I? That's when I decided to pray. Now, it's good that I decided to pray eventually. But after things had settled, I asked myself a question: why was my last step prayer?

   Many times people, like me, don't want to ask for help. We want to be independent, self-sufficient, and it makes us proud when we are. But that's the problem: not admitting we have a problem and need help. When we pray, we are inviting our creator into our lives. When we pray, we are admitting we can't do it all on our own. When we pray, we are working on growing in God.

   See, prayer should not be the last step. It should be the first. The Bible says we are to pray without ceasing. We pray in the morning when we get up, at breakfast, as you are driving in your car, at work when that coworker or customer annoys you, when things are going well, when problems happen, and every second. Our thoughts should be on our creator and growing in him. Prayer should be first, not last.

   So, when problems happen, what's your first step? How can you be better at praying consistently? How can you grow in God today?

https://youtu.be/RUKMybfebzk?si=Zw6sZutCDSxio-dP

The Power of Prayer

   I went on a missions trip to Florida with the Lancaster Bible College Women’s Soccer team. We were on our way to the Edgewood Children’s Ranch. Along the way, we had a lot of inconveniences. First we got caught in a lot of traffic and did not make it to the place we were staying in NC until 11pm. Next, our credit card got stuck in a gas station machine. That was not good because that was all the money we had for the trip. I asked the girls to pray that we got it out and they kind of gave me looks of unbelief. I prayed and the card was finally removed.

   When we finally got to Florida, we were going to spend some time at the beach. Then as we were on our way, it started to rain. We waited out the rain by shopping. I told the girls we should pray that the rain go away. Again, I got the strange looks, but they tried it. The rain eventually stopped. We didn’t stay at the beach long. So, we tried it again the next day and it rained again as we headed down to the beach again. This time the girls prayed on their own.

   On our last day in Florida, we were going to a professional soccer game. As we were headed to the game, it rained again. That created a rain delay that went on for an hour. As time went on, one of the girls asked the other girls to get in a circle. Then she prayed that the rain would go away.

   It seems crazy that we would pray for something as simple as rain to stop but we did. Sometimes our prayers get an answer of yes, other times the answer is no. But we need to be willing to ask for those things.

   Mark 11:24 says: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Many times, we try to solve problems on our own before taking our concerns to God. There was no way we were going to get that credit card removed from the gas machine without a miracle or someone taking the machine apart. After prayer, the card was able to be pulled out. It may not seem like a big deal, but it was a reminder to me and the girls on the trip that prayer is powerful. We just need to be willing to pray, ask, and believe.

   So, how is your prayer life? When you have a problem, what is the first thing you do? How can you grow in your relationship with God and have more trust in him?