Expect Results

"Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss." (James 4:2-3)

Are all your needs met today? If not, why not?

According to the Word of God, it's either because you're not praying about them at all or because when you do pray, you're praying wrong.

What does it mean to pray wrong? In many cases it simply means to pray without expecting results. Many believers do that, you know. They use prayer as a kind of spiritual wishbone. They just play around with it. "This probably won't do much good," they think, "but who knows? It won't hurt to give it a try."

If that's been your attitude, then change it! Start getting serious about prayer. Stop praying just because it's proper. Stop praying just because you always pray at this point in the church service. And start praying to get results.

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6)

by Rich Miller

Where you sit makes a difference.

At the reception, the wedding party has a special table of honor and they often are served first. In a courtroom, the judge has his own chair, presiding over the proceedings, and people may only come near him if invited. A kid would never think to walk into homeroom and take the teacher's seat as his own. You just don't do that! Even around our dinner table, everyone has their designated spot and Shirley and I occupy the two head seats, facing each other. If one of the kids decided to "feel their oats" and take one of those seats, they would receive a stern look and probably a growl!

While growing up I remember holiday feasts where there was never enough room around the main "adult" table for the kids to sit there too. We children had our own place to eat, often an old card table dragged out of the closet and recruited for duty. Usually, if we wanted food we had to wait for the adults to get their fill and then petition them to pass it from the main table. It was very clear who was honored and important and who was not! It was a memorable moment when one was invited to sit at the adult table.

Seasons of Favor

Written by Andrea Debruin

Favor is inevitable when walking in step with the Father. Jesus experienced the favor of God immediately after He was baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Father spoke an affirming and grounding word to Him saying:

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3: 22)

Favor can be defined as being chosen as a child of God. In being adopted into God’s family, as a son or a daughter, there is complete access to the throne of mercy and grace.

One well-known woman in the Bible experienced an extraordinary season of favor: Hadassah or more commonly referred to as Esther. A Jew, in a foreign land, Esther was chosen to be Queen of Persia, which gave her influence to save her entire race from genocide.

Our Intercessor in Time of Need

by: Alan Bullock

When you consider the weakness and failing of modern man, is it any wonder that God sent Christ to die for our sins?  He saw to it that a Mediator bridged the great divide between the holy and unholy, thus securing our access to Him so that we might come with assurance to the throne of grace (1 Timothy 2:5).While still living behind the Iron Curtain, my wife Anoosh was attending a large secular University studying linguistics.  Many of her professors were Communists and disliked the fact that Anoosh was an outspoken Christian.  Before her graduation and final exam, they planned to find a way to cause her to fail by asking her questions on her philosophy exam that she couldn’t possibly answer. Our Cornerstone
Unmarred and multi-hued Cornerstone,
Holy One of Israel sits upon His throne.
The spotless Lamb, slain for humanity,
Intercedes for us in His glorious Divinity.
In Him, no stained soul of imperfection,
Our Father of lights of infinite perfection,
Shining bright upon His opulent throne,
The Rose of Sharon calls us His very own.
Oh Great God of peace and Holy love!
The Messiah Incarnate, Sacrificial Dove;
Wondrous Redeemer, ransomed Son,
Because of Calvary, our victory won.In addition to studying, Anoosh prayed and asked God to deliver to her the answers to the questions they would ask.  That night in a dream God did exactly that.  During the exam the next day she was able to answer every question correctly because the Lord had given her the answers. The professors were amazed and two of them ultimately became Christians because of Anoosh’s faithful witness and outspoken faith in Christ.

While Christ isn’t there as our Santa Claus, ready to shower us with presents or provide a solution to every small issue that may arise, He is always there to intercede during times of adversity.  He is most certainly there when He knows the outcome will touch lost souls, leading them into the Kingdom and bringing glory to the Father.

Take heart, dear friends.  To this day Christ continues to insure our blessedness as He stands in the gap on our behalf.  He is able to do far more abundantly than we can ask or think (Eph 3:20-21).  What strength, what love and what hope!

Who is he that condemns?  Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

Hope in Christ gives us a spiritual confidence and conviction that there is a better tomorrow.

http://www.daystar.com/devotions/our-intercessor-in-time-of-need/