I heard an interesting way to think about and approach issues in the world. “Look at the world through the lens of the Bible, rather than looking at the Bible through the lens of the world.” The point being that we should take the Bible as the infallible truth, and be suspect of ideas we hear in the world that contradict what we read in the bible. So often we are led in the other direction; dismissing the Bible based on worldly “knowledge.”

Yes, there are mysteries in nature, and incomplete details in the Bible accounts of history, that we have yet to understand. However, it is most important to put our faith in the right place, God and his word, and be skeptical of seeming contradictions that are “discovered,” particularly when they are “discovered” by people who reject that God exists.

Psalm 111:10 says “The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Romans 1:19-20. “For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day”

Dear Lord give us the faith to believe your word first and use the intelligence you gave us to explore and understand your creation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

You may have heard this one before, but the message is worth hearing again.

A man is is late for an important meeting and arrives at his destination to find the parking lot completely full. He drives around a parking lot looking for a place to park and cannot find one. He finally decides to ask God for help and prays, “Dear lord please help me find a parking spot, and I will go to church every Sunday.” Just as he says “Amen,” a car pulls out opening a parking space right in front of him. Then he says. “Never mind God, I found one myself.”

How often does something similar happen to us. It may not be us specifically asking for help, but we may be experiencing success in our life, or things are just going well. Do we stop and thank God for these things, or do we credit ourselves for our intelligence, discipline, business savvy, or skill with people.

In the old testament, Moses told the Israelites before they entered the “Promised Land.” In Deuteronomy 8:14, “Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.” then in verses 17-18 “He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”

Dear Lord, We thank you for the good things you have done in our lives, and we also thank you that you have given us challenges that make us stronger. Mostly we thank you that you have saved us, through Jesus Christ, and we have nothing to fear. You are always there for us. Help us remember to give You the glory for the success and joy in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

If you are like me, sometimes you may find it difficult to figure out what direction God is pointing for you; What is he calling me or you to do.

Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12. “So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him.”

I think what Paul is telling the people of the church in Thessalonica, and what God is telling us through this text, is that God has a calling for each of us and he is prompting us to pursue it. We need to listen for this prompting in a state of faith. I think what the last part of this text is telling us is, when we do this, it brings glory to God and it feels right to us. We know we are doing what God wants for us.

Dear Lord, As Paul prays, we also pray that you will enable us to live lives worthy of your call, give us the faith to receive your prompting and the power to accomplish your will. Thank you that when we do this, we will know that we are following your calling for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 9:14-29 is the account of Jesus casting a demon out of a boy who is possessed. Verses 22-24 begin with the boy’s father asking Jesus, “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

This happens to us as well. “I believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.” We find ourselves in a difficult financial situation, legal problem, or a situation where there is just not enough time for things to work out, so we pray for God to help, but deep down we have doubts. In those times we need to remember that we don’t have to figure out how God will resolve it, we just need to believe he will.

I like the expression, “God can find a way even when we don’t see a way.”

Let’s all remember to put our belief in God’s power, and when we don’t see how things can turn out well, remember the words “help my unbelief.”

Dear Lord, We know you have all power. Help us truly believe this when it comes to our own situations, that you can find a way when we cannot see a way. in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We never know, at the time, the good that will come from the struggles and tragedies in our lives, but as Christians we do know that God uses “all things” for our good.

The apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:28 “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” And says in verse 31 ” So if God is for us, who can be against us?” NIV

We can proceed in our lives with this power, knowing that if we love God…keeping His will as our priority, we have His almighty power coordinating “all things” for our good.

Dear Lord, we thank you that we know you are there for us; that our struggles and tragedies are not a surprise to you and you are using them for our good. Help us trust your will and be at peace in this knowledge. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.