Prayer Connect: "COMMITMENT: How Committed Are We To...?"

COMMITMENT

How Committed Are We To…?

We will always be committed to what is important to us. Jesus said, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. According to an online version of the dictionary, the word “commitment” means the following: “the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc. A pledge or undertaking. An engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action”. When our relationship to God is important to us, we will strive to be committed to His Word and ways. God understands our humanity. This is why Scripture tells us that we should examine our heart daily, even though only God knows what is truly in them. King David, a man after God’s Heart, prayed that God would reveal what was in his heart, and lead him to the way of everlasting life. Our hearts are “deceitful and desperately wicked" (see Jeremiah 17:9). According to Strong’s Concordance, the heart of mankind without the influence of the Holy Ghost and God’s Word, and a mindset to act righteously, is crooked, deceitful, polluted, and hopelessly sick. We must guard our hearts because out of our hearts flow the issues of life. The word “issues” implies the very source of life. Therefore, we must guard what we allow to come into our hearts and minds.

Everything we do and say, the choices we make, good or bad, are a result of what is in our heart. This includes whether or not we remain committed to God, His ways, and His Word. This even affects our relationships with our fellow man. These things are important to God. Haven’t we read that if we say we love God, but hate our brother, we are liars? The question we must ask ourselves, myself included, is how committed are we to God, others, and ourselves? This dynamic is very important in keeping the first commandment, as given by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And one thing is for certain, we will not remain committed to any of the above without consistent, daily prayer.

God sees what is in our hearts, even though we don’t always know. We can have a clue by judging what we say, but even then, we must understand that we need God, who is the Mighty Counselor, and His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, to help us. We cannot have the Spirit of God influencing us without prayer. We cannot hope to know God without prayer. Religious tradition might try to tell us otherwise, but this is a lie for the convenience of those who are at ease in Zion. They are deceived. Nobody can know all there is to know about God, but we must seek Him while He can be found. We should not seek God solely for His blessings, even though He desires to bless us. God allows rain to fall on the righteous and the wicked because He is love, and He is always good. However, scripture shows us how Jesus felt towards those who sought after, followed, and believed in Him only because they saw the miracles He did.

The Bible tells us, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” (John 2:24-25 KJV). The following are Strong’s Concordance definitions, showing what the word “commit” implies in the original language: “to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), commit (to trust)”. When interpreting scripture, it is helpful to consider the historical, grammatical, and geographical context of what we are reading. This means to consider when, where, and what language was used at the time of the writing. But knowing that God does not change, we must examine our hearts to determine whether or not God can commit to us. Do we only desire to follow Him for the loaves and the fishes? Are we only seeking God to get us out of a bad situation? There is nothing wrong with asking God for things, but we should be committed to Him on a daily basis, regardless of what is going on. Let’s possess our hearts and souls with patience, waiting on Him, being content in our present situations, while we seek God on a daily basis. Let’s be people who He can trust, in good times, and in bad times. Let’s love Him because He first loved us.

Beth Marie Evans

Apostolic Author

Associate Minister

International Christian Fellowship

Brookfield, Illinois

Adam, Where are You?

“And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9)

This is such a poignant question. Obviously, God knew where Adam was. The question was did Adam know where he was?

"Where are you" triggered several ideas in my mind. “Where are you” connotes your location. This could be asking where are you positionally, physically, emotionally, and even where are you on commitment. It also speaks to where you are on a particular point of view. Where do you stand on that issue? Where are you in relations to your family life? Where are you spiritually? Where are you psychologically?

By this, hopefully, you can see where I am taking this thought process. I'm asking you today to examine yourself and see where are you on God's agenda? When He comes, what will your response be when He asks, where are you on what I have given you to do? Will your response mirror that of the stewards who were given talents to invest?

Are you a five-talent responder? Are you a two-talent responder? Or are you a one-talent responder (see Mathew 25)?

The Second Adam, in the person of Jesus Christ, at age 12, had to respond to that same question, Jesus, where are you? Jesus had the correct response. He said, "I am about my Father's business" (Luke 2:48-49).

So what would your response be when you're asked, where are you? You are the only one that can honestly answer that question. So let us all take inventory, and make the appropriate adjustments so we too can respond like the second Adam.

Let's pray these verses as David did in Psalm 139:23-24:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Amen.

Margaret Banks

WNOP International Harvest Prayer Coordinator

Mt. Vernon, New York

Author of "The 5 Principles of Powerful Prayer"

https://pentecostalpublishing.com/products/the-5-principles-of-powerful-prayer

World Needs:

Pray against the destruction of the harvest field and for all that have lost loved ones. As in countries such as Norway, Lebanon, and Taiwan people are being killed. In Norway five people were killed and two injured in a bow and arrow attack, Lebanon saw its worst violence in over a decade as snipers on rooftops fired at a crowd of protesters, and in Taiwan, a high-rise fire leaves 46 dead with dozens injured.
Pray for the Lord to lead Brian Laundrie to turn himself into the police.
Continue to pray for the church economy, the world economy, and for the Lord to give direction to all leaders.
Pray for the peace of Israel and the return of their land.
Continue to pray against Covid-19. Cases in the US are decreasing, however, the quantity of new infections in children remains “exceptionally high” with 148,222 cases being reported on the weekend of October 7^th. Experts are concerned that cases could increase as winter approaches.

POA HOPE Prayer

Fall ’21 "90 Day Prayer Journey"

It’s that wonderful time of year!

Rosh Hashanah, on the historical Jewish calendar, brought the beginning of the year 5782. Celebrating those special days with God’s chosen people only added to the feelings of expectancy and urgency many are feeling.

Fall; beautiful Fall. The colors are simply glorious. The weather is marvelous. Everyone wants to be outdoors, by a fire, cooking, working, and just enjoying cool, brisk breezes.

It’s time again to unite with POA’s HOPE Prayer Family around the world to pray. What a blessing to come together for a cause so close to the heart of Jesus; His covenant children who have lost their way and those who love them and refuse to give up hope.

October 1, we will commit to pray our 14th season of “90 Days of Prayer” for our beloved prodigals and those who love them. Some of us have been together 7 years, praying faithfully every Spring and Fall. What journeys we’ve had of love, grace and mercy!

We will again pull our thoughts and prayers from the scripture-based book by Dr. James Banks, Prayers For Prodigals. We may deviate some, however we like staying with the scriptures Dr. Banks has compiled for each day.

We invite you to join our HOPE Family for these 90 days of binding together in hope and faith. If it is your first time, we welcome you to a family who cares deeply about all prodigals.

“And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border” (Jeremiah 31:17 KJV).

Believing for the harvest,

Don and Dy Anne Long

POA HOPE Prayer

Email: hopejer3117@aol.com

FB: HOPE2Hope15

IG: HOPE2Hope15

Photo Credit: Timothy D. Heard

“Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things” (Joel 2:21).

When the people of God gather together in one mind and one accord, and cry out to Him, God hears and He takes notice. We see Him do great things; greater than we could have ever prayed.

Registration is $25 per person. Click the link below to register now.

2021 UPCI Leadership

Access Challenged Nations

Join the World Network of Prayer and Global Missions in praying for the nations that currently do not have an apostolic work. We will focus on one nation each week.