Breakthrough series 11: He is

Practical Christianity 7: James 1 makes it real

Lessons from a dog

Who are you?

Prayer 7: Come boldly before God and be heard

Prayer 3: Prayer invokes the New Covenant

Prayer 1: Prayer moves the hand of God

Walk in the shadow of a friendly giant

How many live with regrets that, if left unresolved, will go with us to the grave? How many have longed to take the plunge in life, to live an enviable life, to rise to the moment, to be more than we are instead of remaining trapped in a vicious cycle of doubts and fears?

The moment when Israel reached the River Jordan and spied out the land ahead, to decide whether they would push on into their inheritance, reflects the choices facing us all.

They turned back thanks to the negative perceptions of ten not so spiritual, faithless spies, whose influence swayed the vote against the two tried and proven witnesses who only saw possibilities ahead. Let’s face it, for every two voices of faith in you, there will inevitably be six voices telling you to turn back, to doubt, to question or to see giants where others see milk and honey.

On the offensive

A friend referred to a football concept as a model for prayer, as in defensive versus offensive prayer.

It is a great notion. A lot of our prayer, maybe most of it, is defensive: as in, “Lord I am battling to stand, our defenses are failing, please send in reinforcements; please help me”. That is the cry of someone under siege, defending their existence or the castle they occupy.

That my will may be done ...

Psalm 139: 5 says, "You hem me in behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me." Its a familiar feeling for many who have times of contradiction and frustration in their lives.

Root out the ants

The persistence of ants and the way they communicate with each other to target and attack food resources, is a good illustration of the persistent process that continually undermines our families and those we love. It will take concerted resistance and a sound strategy to push back those threats, but it always involves the mediation of prayer.

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