God's on Your Side — the Winning Side

by Rick Warren

“We are helpless in the face of this large army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you for help." (2 Chronicles 20:12 GNT)

When you feel overwhelmed, it's important to go to God in prayer and confess your inability and inadequacy. You need to be honest if you're afraid and tell God exactly how you feel.

In 2 Chronicles 20:12, Jehoshaphat says to God in prayer, “We are helpless in the face of this large army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you for help" (GNT). Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt like there was a problem in your marriage, your career, or somewhere in your life that you thought was overwhelming? You start at the beginning of the week thinking maybe you can handle it, but by Wednesday you're out of power.

Faith When You Can't See a Thing

Written by Jack Hayford

How many times do obstacles get in the way and seem to turn your future opaque? The Bible says that now we see through a glass darkly. But there are times when we don't even see through the glass; all we see is darkness.

The story of Bartimaeus and the ministry of Jesus is one of the greatest stories in the New Testament because of the dynamism it displays about how to trust God when you can't see a thing.
Jesus was traveling southward, towards Jerusalem, coming into Jericho, when He came across a blind man seated by the road. The man couldn't see a thing. It always seemed ironic to me that Bartimaeus was seated in a city in which one of the most important events in the history of people of God took place. The trumpets sounded after the march of Jericho, the place was overwhelmed with the power of God, and spiritual break-through occurred. And yet, with all that history at that site, a man sits there unable to see a thing. Then Jesus came. And in that interaction, we see principles of faith about how to believe, how to stand firm in faith, and how to function when you can't see a thing. It's a lesson to us about how to lead our lives under the leadership of Jesus Christ, how to be led by the Holy Spirit of God, and how to be shaped by Him. Let's look at this text in Luke: 

When We Don’t Have the Words to Pray

J. LEE GRADY

 

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54

 

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A woman prays at a candlelight vigil to support victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting (Reuters/Michelle Mcloughlin)

When tragedy strikes like it did last week in Connecticut, it’s OK if you are speechless

Some members of my church gathered near the altar last Sunday to pray for those affected by the recent school massacre in Connecticut. Our pastor had a list of the victims, and he asked that we mention each of the families by name.

It wasn’t easy to read that list. It included Daniel Barden, age 7; Charlotte Bacon, 6; Olivia Engel, 6; Chase Kowalski, 7; and Jack Pinto, 6. A total of 20 children died in the shootings, plus six adults, including Victoria Soto, the brave first-grade teacher who herded her students into a closet when the gunman approached her classroom. She was 27, the same age as my oldest daughter.

Sex addiction laid bare

Cosmopolitan


Sex addiction has more exposure today than ever, with household celebrities such as Russell Brand speaking openly about the condition; but what causes sex addiction and what does the problem entail? Dr Abigael San, a clinical psychologist at The Priory Hospital, says, “Sex addiction, like other addiction problems, is a way of escaping when things get difficult. It’s a coping strategy and it can be very preoccupying. Sex addicts might find themselves spending lots of time sourcing pornography, looking at it and trying to get hold of it.”

Most people think that a sex addiction must stem from a sex-related issue, but usually it comes from the nature of addiction itself and is more about the feeling of helplessness. Dr. San explains, “Sex addiction runs a lot deeper than just sex. Of course, factors like a high sex drive are going to be relevant but they’re rarely the cause of sex addiction.” 

Entering the Highway of Healing

In April of 2001, my pastor solemnly announced from the pulpit that he’d had a vision and in it I was healed. I didn’t believe healing was “for today,” but my face lit up and I smiled back at him from my pew. The Lord showed him that He was going to open me up to hear the truth.

At the time I was sick with an incurable disease called multiple sclerosis. I felt hopeless and helpless. Seismic tremors wracked my body. There were multiple malfunctions on every front. I was in a losing battle.

Later, Pastor “Doc” asked if he could come over once a week to show me what the Bible said about healing. He was a Class A+ worshipper, and he told me two things were required before I could enter the highway of healing and he wouldn’t begin working with me until they were done.

He said, “Here’s the first thing. Are you right with God? Do you willfully disobey Him?”

Hey, what kind of question is that? I go to church. I believe in Jesus. Though briefly offended, I knew I needed to pray. That night, I lay on my bed, alone, and I timidly asked, “Lord, am I right with you?” I heard no answer.