Pray that God will do what God has done

How do we pray for Israel? How do we pray for our own country? What should we be asking for specifically?

My husband Jim was recently speaking about the issues surrounding the conflict in Israel. Truthfully, peace seems to be an impossibility unless God intervenes. I watch the news reports from some of our significant college campuses. Many of these schools are considered “Ivy League,” and one reporter called these disturbances “Poison Ivy.” 

How do we pray for nations of people to unite when unity isn’t their goal?

First, pray for God’s priorities to become yours.

Jesus taught his followers to pray saying, “Your kingdom come, your will be done,” and then said “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus was teaching them to pray that God would be the ruler, the king of everyone on earth, just as he is the king of heaven. 

God can’t change the hearts of people until they submit to him as their sovereign king. In heaven God is the only king. On earth, we must make the daily, moment-to-moment, free-will choice to make him our king. Even after we have asked Jesus to be our Lord, we must yield to him as Lord while we dwell on this side of heaven.

In other words, the thing we should be praying for when we pray for the nations is that they would realize there is one true God who because of his great love, gave us his only Son. While Jesus was preparing to die, he prayed for the unity of the body of Christ and for all people (John 17). 

We should pray for what Jesus prayed so that God will do what God has done. The book of Acts describes the early Church, the body of new covenant believers, saying, “And all who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44).

Second, believe that God will do what God has done.

American Christians tend to underestimate the value of faith and over-estimate the value of hard work. Both are important, but faith matters more. Why?

The author of Hebrews wrote, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

This is a tricky life lesson that I had to learn the hard way. As a busy preacher’s wife, I spent a lot of time doing the work of the ministry. I believed if I was busy, then I was serving God, and he must be pleased with my efforts.

In my personal testimony, I speak about the time I almost died of pneumonia because I just had too much to do to stop and go find a doctor to help me (we had recently moved to Atlanta and I had not yet found a doctor). I just assumed I would get better and kept going with my busy schedule filled with responsibilities I had decided were God’s. 

It took a month to recover, and I spent that time with God. I remember praying a broken prayer. I was working hard but lacked the joy I saw in the book of Acts. I was willing to serve but what was I supposed to be doing? I knew I had been given the Holy Spirit, but I didn’t know if I was Spirit-led. I had godly intentions, but I had placed my faith in my ideas about God rather than trusting his voice to lead.

One of the most important times of my spiritual life was that month I spent learning that God was the king of my life and the director of my path. My ideas had placed me on a treadmill, and I was running hard but never moving forward with God’s plan. My entire life and ministry were changed as a result of learning to place my faith in God’s ideas and not my own.

If we want to learn how God works, look at how God worked in Scripture. He told Moses to step into the Red Sea and trust him and start walking. He told Joshua to step into the flooded Jordan and all would be well. He told Jonah to go to the worst, most violent city and tell his enemies that they were all wrong. He told the disciples to walk away from their profitable fishing business and become fishers of men. 

Why does faith in God matter most? Because God asks us to do some things that we would never do ourselves, apart from our faith in God. If you have never experienced a faith assignment, you are missing out on the most significant joy this life can provide.

God still does what he has done in the past.

Finally, trust God to do great things, because he has done great things.

The conflict in Israel and the conflicts we see on our college campuses seem to have no lasting solutions. That is exactly what the disciples must have felt when the stone was rolled in front of the entrance to Jesus’ tomb. 

The disciples lacked faith, but only until Sunday. They didn’t have the proof that you and I enjoy. But, have we allowed biblical history to guide our faith? Have we trusted in our own thoughts more than God’s? Do we work for God, or do we allow him to work through us?

How will God answer our prayers for the leaders in this world? God will do great things we cannot imagine.

After Stephen’s stoning the church was scattered (Acts 8:1). The young man who was surrounded by the cloaks of others became the great persecutor, the great terrorist, of the New Testament. Saul of Tarsus, with amazing energy and intellect, served his ideas about God rather than God himself. Then Jesus showed up on the road to Damascus and changed everything.

How do we pray for the world leaders of today? How do we pray for the young people on our college campuses? How do we pray for today’s terrorists?

We pray for Jesus to meet them in a miraculous way, just like he met Saul of Tarsus. We pray for the Light of the world to chase away the darkness from the minds of people. We pray for God’s people to be Spirit-led followers of their king. We pray that faith will drive our thoughts and ideas because we know that God wants to do, and will do, what God has always done. The great terrorist of the early Christian church became the great theologian of Scripture. 

How do we pray for our world today? We pray that God will do what God has done.

Do you know about Jesus or do you actually know Jesus?

My thanks to Trace Kennedy for writing today’s blog. Trace is the very talented brand manager for our Foundations brand. We are blessed to have her at the ministry, and I think you will be blessed by her words this week. I’m grateful for her, and for you, our readers. —Janet Denison 

If you’re a baseball fan, you’re likely watching the playoffs and more than likely know who Adolis Garcia is. In case you don’t, he is the Cuban right fielder for the Texas Rangers who has a smile that can light up the field and enough power behind his swing to make baseballs soar to the top-tier stands. 

I have to admit I’m new to baseball fandom. My son graduated from college in May and is living with us for a season. I’ve gotten to know the Rangers through his love of the game and his enthusiasm for this particular team.  

Garcia has become my favorite because of his radiant smile, his obvious rapport with his teammates despite a language barrier, and his ritual of kissing his fingers and lifting them and his eyes up to the sky when he comes up to bat. To me, it looks like he is saying, “This one’s for you, Lord.” 

He must be doing something right because he ended the regular season with thirty-nine home runs (tied for seventh) and 107 RBI (tied for sixth). He was also awarded the ALCS Most Valuable Player after helping the Rangers earn a spot in the 2023 World Series.  

I’ve told people I adore him and have even asked for his jersey for Christmas. Yet if I encountered him in person, he might say hello, but he definitely wouldn’t hug me like a friend or a loved one. I could know every stat about him, his personal journey to the major leagues, and even how he grew up, but until I meet him face-to-face and develop a personal relationship with him, I only know things about him.  

Just one encounter with Jesus

We’ve been walking through the book of Matthew in the Bible study I attend, and a few weeks ago we were in Matthew 2. This very topic came up when we were discussing the magi.  

As you probably know, the magi, or the wise men, are only mentioned in Matthew. They were Persian kings who had traveled a thousand miles to meet the King of the Jews. They had seen “his star when it rose and . . . came to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). They traveled to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, because it was the most likely place for a king to be born and asked the current ruler, King Herod, where they could find him. 

Disturbed by their inquiry, Herod called the religious leaders and teachers of the law together and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel’” (Matthew 2:5–6 NIV). 

In the next several verses, Herod finds out when the star appeared and tells the magi to go to Bethlehem, find the child, and then report back to him. He told the magi that he wanted to worship Jesus too, but Scripture tells us he, in fact, wanted to kill him. So the magi set out, and verses 10–11 tell us they were overjoyed when they saw the star and found the child with his mother: “They bowed down and worshiped him.”  

One encounter with Jesus, and they knew he was Messiah, Immanuel—God with us. They met the Savior of the world, and their lives were changed that day and eternally. 

When the know-it-alls know the least

Isn’t it interesting that those who knew about the prophecy of the Messiah, those who studied Scripture and obeyed the Law—those who knew the most about him from what was foretold— chose not to go with these wise men and discover for themselves the King of the Jews?  

Over and over we read in Scripture that the people who should have recognized Jesus chose to believe their own narrative about who the Messiah would or wouldn’t be. Their pride and personal agendas got in the way of encountering Jesus, the Son of God, who stepped out of heaven to come and give us the abundant life (John 10:10).  

When was the last time you encountered Jesus and were so moved by your time with him that you responded with heartfelt worship? 

Do you go to church every Sunday, do a morning devotional, or attend Bible study without fully encountering Jesus? 

Do you walk away from church, your quiet time, and Bible study more informed about Jesus but not transformed by your time with him?  

The difference between knowledge and intimacy

I oida Adolis Garcia. 

Oida translates “know” but leans more toward a knowledge about facts. It’s the kind of knowledge acquired through observation. All that I know about Garcia has been acquired through other people or resources that report about him. Oida is knowledge that educates us, makes us smarter for sure, but doesn’t necessarily impact our hearts.

Ginōskō, on the other hand, describes the kind of knowledge that comes from developing an intimate relationship with someone over time. It means to perceive, understand, realize, come to know. Ginōskō impacts you deeply and personally, like how our most treasured relationships change us and bring value and depth to our lives. 

Ginōskō is one of my favorite verbs in the Bible because it describes the knowledge involved in building an intimate relationship with a person and beautifully illustrates a deeply personal, experiential, growing knowledge of God. 

Jesus chose ginōskō to describe the intimacy between the Father and the Son, as well as the connection between himself and his sheep: “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:3–4 NIV). 

I seek to ginōskō the Lord.

Changed to be change-makers

The magi left from their encounter with the Messiah changed and more than likely took their newfound knowledge of Jesus back to their own lands, resulting in even more changed lives.  

That’s what Jesus does, and that’s why Jesus came to earth. He came to save and transform, to “give us life and give it abundantly.” He came to change our lives so we could then be used by his Spirit to transform the world around us.  

He wants everyone to know his peace, joy, and hope—for today and for life eternal. 

When last did you meet Immanuel, God with us, and walk away from that encounter renewed, restored, and known? 

Why not take a few minutes right now to meet the Savior of the world and allow his love to transform your day? 

It’s his great joy to get to know you more deeply, and he is waiting with open arms.  

_______________ 

If you would like to spend this upcoming Christmas season with a new focus on Immanuel, God with us, I want to encourage you to order Janet’s latest Advent book, The Gift of Immanuel. It’s the perfect devotional to fix your heart, mind, and soul on our greatest gift of Christmas—Jesus. An email that has “Discover the gift of Immanuel” in the subject line will hit your inbox this Friday around 10 am CST with all the details you need to order the devotional.

 

A before-and-after story

How did your salvation change your life?

This blog post is especially for people who were raised in the church or have gone to church for much of their lives. 

Chances are, your testimony isn’t usually described as powerful—but it should be.  

Paul and Peter 

Paul’s salvation testimony is exciting to teach. 

His story begins with Paul as a young man witnessing the stoning of Stephen while surrounded by the cloaks of those throwing the rocks. 

The story continues with his subsequent persecution of Christians, his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, and a visit from Ananias. 

The scales of blindness fall from Paul’s eyes as he dedicates the rest of his life to preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. 

There isn’t a more dramatic salvation testimony in the Bible! 

Or is there? 

Peter grew up faithfully attending the synagogue and was strong in his faith. 

He was likely a disciple of John the Baptist before he was a disciple of Christ. Peter, with James and John, was chosen to be in the inner circle of Christ. 

Peter was the first leader of the Christian movement after Pentecost. He was “the rock” God used to build his church. 

We know about Peter’s life before the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s life after Pentecost. 

Here’s my question: Is your personal testimony more like Paul’s or Peter’s? 

How did Jesus change your life? 

I’ve often said that the lifelong believer has a challenge that a late-in-life believer often doesn’t. Except for your promise of heaven, how did your salvation change your life? 

When you are raised in the church, that question is crucial. It can be the difference between living as a Pharisee and living as a Spirit-led disciple of Christ. 

If you were raised in the church, your daily life might not have been dramatically changed the day you became a Christian. You knew about the Lord before you were saved and you knew about him after. The Holy Spirit entered your life and affirmed your values more than he changed them. 

So then, how did the indwelling Spirit, who is Jesus, change your life? 

Scripture’s answer to that question is likely found in Peter’s testimony. 

How did the indwelling of the Holy Spirit change Peter? 

I’m writing Bible studies out of 1 and 2 Peter right now. I spent some time comparing the stories of Peter in the gospels to the wisdom of Peter from his letters.  

I’ve spent most of my life thinking of Peter as the man who walked with Jesus, but those gospel stories represent less than three years of his life. Most of Peter’s testimony takes place after Pentecost.  

If you grew up in church, that is a point to ponder. 

Peter was the foundational leader of the early church. He was the one called and gifted by the Holy Spirit to teach and maintain the accurate theology of the Christian movement. Peter knew Jesus and loved him. He was the disciple Jesus spoke to, saying, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15–17). 

Jesus called Peter to that ministry and then gave him his Spirit for that ministry. 

Is Peter’s “before-and-after” story similar to your testimony? 

Peter: Before and after 

Peter was the disciple who climbed out of a boat in the middle of a storm to walk to Jesus. When Peter sank, he understood it was Jesus who had provided the miraculous power. He was a man who understood the power of God.

When the Holy Spirit entered Peter’s life at Pentecost, he was a familiar presence of power. Peter recognized that holy Presence, and Peter left the upper room and walked with Jesus—again. 

Peter didn’t just know about Jesus; he walked with him and served him with his life. That is exactly what happened in each of our lives when we became Christians. Your daily choices might not have changed dramatically when you were saved. But your lifelong choices probably did. 

When did you step out of the boat? When did you sink? 

When did you know you were walking with Jesus? Are you aware that he is guiding your thoughts right now?  

Our before-and-after testimony is this: Before we became Christians, we knew about Jesus. After we were saved, we were able to live with his constant, holy Presence in our lives.  

The power of a lifelong believer 

Paul also grew up with faith, but it was Peter whom the Lord called and used first. It wasn’t knowledge about Jesus that mattered most; it was knowing Jesus.  

That is the difference between a Pharisee and a Spirit-led believer. That is our daily, moment-to-moment choice. We can live with what we know about Jesus or we can live with Jesus. 

Never underestimate the great power that comes from the lifelong knowledge of God and his word. 

If you grew up in the church learning God’s word, you were equipped with the ability to be a foundational leader of the faith. Paul taught Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).  

Paul chose Timothy, a lifelong believer, to continue his earthly ministry. Timothy knew Scripture and was competent and equipped for good works. But Paul wouldn’t have chosen Timothy if Timothy weren’t also a man who walked in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  

Our before-and-after testimony 

If all that is happening in our world is causing you to “sink” just a bit these days, consider Peter’s story. Never underestimate the power of a person who walks with Jesus. Peter left the upper room and started sharing the gospel with everyone who would listen. 

But Peter didn’t preach until he had been gifted with the empowering presence of Jesus. In fact, Jesus told him not to speak until he was.  

If you are sinking these days, is it because you know what you know? 

It’s easy to be a Pharisee these days! But, the only way for miracles of change to happen is to know it is Jesus that has the power, the knowledge, and the plan for the needed change. 

Jesus can help scientists create a vaccine. Jesus can help heal racial divides. Jesus can calm fears just like he calmed storms. Jesus can use all that you know to help you become the person you need to be.  

It is common for God to choose those who have a strong foundation to be leaders. Your testimony might not be dramatic, but it is likely the story that will guide most people to place their faith in Christ. 

A lifelong testimony is difficult to question, and a life that exhibits the presence of Christ is difficult to ignore.  

Live your testimony 

Jesus told Peter, and Scripture teaches us, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13). 

What is the Holy Spirit of Christ guiding you to know, speak, and do today? 

Spend some time listening for that answer right now. 

That will be your testimony for today.