Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

Tag: god

  • Relationship

    A Harvard study on Health and Wellness.

    The project has followed 724 men since they were teenagers in 1938. (Approximately 60 men, now in their 90s, are still left.) The group consisted of men from various economic and social backgrounds, from Boston’s poorest neighborhoods to Harvard undergrads. Over the years, the researchers have collected all kinds of health information, and every two years they ask members questions about their lives and their mental and emotional wellness. They even interview family members.

    Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, says one of the biggest surprises they encountered was that what makes people happy is also what helps keep them healthy — relationships. We started wondering whether we could look back at our participants’ lives in middle age and see what the biggest predictors were of who’s going to be happy and healthy by age 80. We thought that cholesterol level or blood pressure at age 50 would be more important. They were not. It was satisfaction in their relationships, particularly in their marriages, that was the best predictor of a happy and healthy life.

    The Harvard Study has found a strong association between happiness and close relationships like spouses, family, friends, and social circles. “Personal connection creates mental and emotional stimulation, which are automatic mood boosters, while isolation is a mood buster,” says Dr. Waldinger.

    The Study goes on to talk about increase in all aspects of health and happiness, living longer and better mentally and physically. Why? Because of healthy relationships.

    This study is just confirming what God’s word has been trying to teach since it was written. It is about your relationship with Jesus that saves you and increases your lifespan to eternity. 

    It is very important to live a healthy life, eat right, exercise, etc. Yet those that did it in social isolation did not have the same benefits as those that did it in a loving relationship. It was good to follow all the rules of healthy living, but it did not bring about the same results as living with a relationship that is filled with Love.

    Keeping all of Jesus’s teaching, the laws and commandments are very beneficial to your life.  Yet they have no association with the greatest benefit, which is eternal life.  Only a relationship with Jesus can get you that benefit.

    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” Ephesians 1: 3-8 NIV

    Oh, what peace these verses bring to my life today.  I was chosen to be holy, blameless, and forgiven for my sins before the world was ever created. How you ask?  “blessing in Christ” and “in Him”.   Because of Jesus, God the Father has chosen me to be forgiven of my sins, blameless before the throne and holy.  I am wearing a white robe that has been washed in the Blood of Jesus.

    My name is written in the book of Life.  It did not get there by any action, behavior, habit, law keeping, or being perfect.  The only thing I can do is accept this free gift and to start living a life that shows I value this free gift.  Start living in a relationship that shows I appreciate that He loved me before I was born.

    I worship on the sabbath because I value what Jesus did for me.  I do not worship or go to church because it earns me any salvation. Not everyone in your church understands this free gift.  You can tell it by how they are praising Jesus for the gift of salvation. Are they singing and praising God uncontrollably or barely whispering the words.

    King David sang, danced and praised God, like no one was watching.  “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might”. 2 Samuel 6:14 NIV

    God is watching how you praise and worship Him for saving you through Jesus.  Are you singing, dancing and praising Him like no one is watching? Does God know by your enthusiasm of worship every day that you appreciate what He has done?

    A simple thank-you is not going to work.  A life that is living in a relationship with Jesus is the only way to show your appreciation for what God did.

    There are people that are living by the law, living it perfectly, and they will list off all the times they went to church and did what they felt would get God’s attention, and yet on that Judgement Day Jesus will look at them with tears in His eyes and say “I do not know You”.  Matthew 7:22-33.

    Remember it is not a religion, It is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry 

  • Weakness

    “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength”. Philippians 4:13 NIV

    This Verse is quoted by many people but is probably one of the most misunderstood and misquoted verses in the bible.

    The first word is what messes up most people. It starts with the letter “I” and that leads most to think of themselves. Then they just quote the first part of this verse. “I can do all things through Him”.  Again, they are emphasizing the “I”.

    The Trap is that you are putting the emphasis on you and your wisdom, your skill, your intelligence, your ability.  If you just use your skills in what you believe you received from God, then you can accomplish anything.  You are giving yourself all the credit.

    The Second trap is people think this verse is about worldly accomplishments. I can gain everything in this world if I just work hard at it and do it through God.

    This all-sounds good but the verse has nothing to do with your accomplishments.

    The Second part of that verse tells you who gave you the strength.  It is only accomplished through the Strength of God. 

    The Verse is about your weaknesses. We do not like to talk about our weaknesses. Yet it is only through our weaknesses that the Glory of God can shine forth.

    “Therefore, I have cheerfully made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses, because they mean a deeper experience of the power of Christ. I can even enjoy weaknesses, suffering, privations, persecutions and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For my very weakness makes me strong in him”. 2 Corinthians 12:10 JB Phillips New Testament

    “For where there is weakness, my power is shown the more completely”. 2 Corinthians 12:9 JB Phillips New Testament

    I personally like this translation of the verse better. 

    “I am ready for anything through the strength of the one who lives within me”. Phillippians 4:13 JB Phillips New Testament

    Ultimately, Philippians 4:13 is an assurance that no matter what life throws at you—whether it be loss, frustration, disappointment, or prosperity—you can face it with peace, resilience and contentment by relying on the continual strength that Christ provides.

    God is reminding you that through His strength and power anything is possible.  Nothing is impossible.

    On your own you cannot accomplish anything but death. The ultimate accomplishment is eternal life!  That can only be accomplished through total trust in God.

    It is your weakness that is bringing Glory to God.  Not your strength

    Stop asking that the thorn in your side be removed and start living in the strength of God.

    Remember it’s not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for All.

    Larry

  • Awe

    Living in AWE of God.

    Webster’s definition of Awe is a complex emotion characterized by a deep blend of wonder, admiration, and respect, often combined with a touch of reverence. It is typically triggered when encountering something overwhelmingly vast, powerful, beautiful, or mysterious that challenges your understanding of the world.

    Living in awe of God means holding deep, reverent respect for His greatness. It is a posture of humility and wonder that transforms how we live, worship, and interact with the world around us. It makes you feel small in the presence of greatness, leading to a sense of connection to something larger than yourself.  It is a deep, humbling acknowledgment of God’s supreme holiness, majesty, and power, which inspires worship, obedience.

    “Frankly, I stand amazed at the unfathomable complexity of God’s wisdom and God’s knowledge. How could man ever understand his reasons for action, or explain his methods of working? For: ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his counsellor?’ ‘Or who has first given to him and it shall be repaid to him?”. Romans 11:33 JB Phillips New Testament

    “Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes”. Romans 11:33 The Message

    I remember as a young boy my family was traveling, and we stopped at the Grand Canyon.  I still remember the feeling of “Awe” when we walked up to the edge of the Grand Canyon on the south rim lookout.  There were no words to describe what my eyes saw and the vastness my senses felt.  Yes, you can feel the Grand Canyon.

    The only other time I approached this sense of Awe was the first time I saw my wife, Donna. There were no words to describe the radiant beauty that was walking toward me. I was even in greater Awe when she said Hi to me. I did not have any words to respond. 

    Yet, all this awesomeness is pale when compared to what I experience daily from God. When I walk through the Garden and take in the vastness of colors, shapes, textures and scents.  When I look up at night and see the milky way, the stars and planets all moving in the path that God has put them in.

    When I see the face of complete Joy or happiness on one of my grandsons faces when they experience something new to them.  When I stop to contemplate that through Donna and I, God brought into this world three awesome Children and so far, eight grandsons. 

    David Platt serves as a lead pastor of the Mclean Bible Church.  He has written some mighty books that have affected how I live my daily life.  The one that affected me the most is “Radical, Taking back your faith from the American Dream”.

    This is a prayer that he suggests we pray every day.

    God, we bow our heads, our hearts, before you. Even on our knees right now, just saying, you are greater that we can fathom. Forgive me for oftentimes being so quick to speak, and not stopping and pausing and realizing who I’m talking to when I’m praying, not realizing, or just forgetting, the wonder of the One whose Word I’m reading. God, we praise You. We stand in awe of who You are. You are unsearchable, Your ways inscrutable, the depths of Your riches, wisdom, and knowledge unimaginable. We can’t even begin to comprehend Your greatness, Your glory, Your might, Your majesty, Your justice, Your wrath, Your mercy, Your love. All of these attributes in You are beyond our broadest, widest imagination. God, we worship You. We bow before You in awe of who You are, and we pray to help us to live in fear of You, in reverence before You. Help us to live every facet of our lives just in awe of You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

    Today, ask the Holy Spirit to grow inside you the reverence of the Awesomeness of God.

    Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for All.

    Larry

  • Words not needed in Prayer

    Two words that are not needed in a prayer.

    “Be With”

    We all have made the request for God to be with, a grandson, a child, a friend, an acquaintance, a doctor or nurse. Yet you are asking God to do something He has already promised to do.  He does not need reminding of His promises.  

    “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NIV

    “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you”. Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

    Flip the request and ask that the person, by name, will be with God!  That their heart and mind will be attuned to the presence of the Holy Spirit. That they will walk with God and be in His presence and will.  Not that God will walk with them.

    It says that Enoch walked with God.  It does not say that God walked with Enoch. Enoch chose to follow God’s will and path.

    I pray that each of my kids and grandkids will walk in the path God has chosen for them today.  Not a path of their own understanding and then pray that God will be with them.

    You should pray and desire them to be in the pathway and presence of God’s will for their life.  I am not interested in praying that God will be with them in the pathway of life they choose.

    “People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord’s plan will happen”. Proverbs 19:21 NCV

    We will be traveling this weekend. We are not going to pray that God will be with us in this traveling time.  We have no doubt He will be.

    We do want to pray that we will be traveling in a manner that brings glory to God.  We want to leave home at the time He wants us to leave.  We want to be at the gas station when He wants us to be there.  We want to be driving at the speed He wants us to travel at, so that we are where he wants us at the time he wants us there. We want to be in His presence when we travel. We want the atmosphere in the car to bring glory to Him. We want to be on the route and in the time frame He has chosen. Yes, we have our favorite stopping spots. Yet we still pray before stopping that we will be guided to the fueling place He wants us at.

    We don’t want any car problems or any accidents.  Yet we read that God allowed Paul and Silas to be arrested for a greater cause of saving the Jailer and the others in that jail.  We have no doubt that God will be with us no matter what happens.

    We just need to pray that myself, my spouse, my family and others will all set aside the desire for control and selfishness and walk in the path that God wants all of us individually in. 

    God is already at the door of your grandchild, friend, neighbor, child, spouse.  He has promised to be there, and God is always faithful and true in His promises.

    Your prayer and focus should be that they and you set aside your and their personal ways, your desires, your wisdom and open the door to God’s ways and let Him in!

    It is not about me and my best interests.  It is about bringing Glory to God.

    Remember it is not about Religion it is a Relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Delight

    “But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night”. Psalm 1:2 NIV

    What a wonderful verse and so misunderstood by many. 

    Let’s unpack what daily instructions God is giving us.

    The Hebrew word for “law” in Psalm 1:2 is Torah (תוֹרָה).In this verse, it generally appears with a prefix as Torat (תּוֹרַ֥ת), meaning “the law of”. It does not mean a strict set of rules but teachings, instructions, direction and refers to God’s guiding wisdom for daily living.

    The Hebrew word for delight in Psalm 1:2 is חֵפֶץ (pronounced khay’-fets). Its meaning is inner joy, finding great pleasure and having a strong desire. It comes deep from within, it is not superficial smiling or outward enjoyment.  It is a longing from deep inside the heart.  

    A longing that can only be filled by following the next part of the verse.  “meditates on His law day and night”.  A deep desire to be in the presence of God’s word and His Spirit both day and night.

    In God’s world meditating is not emptying the mind.  It is filling the mind with God’s instructions and teachings.  Therefore, throughout the day in every circumstance or situation you will be guided on how to act and respond. You will have buried deep within your mind and heart the proper way to bring Glory to God.

    This teaching is not about keeping a strict set of religious rules or behavior.  You find no joy when you feel that you are forced to keep a strict set of laws or you are only doing it because someone told you that is the way to heaven.

    You find great joy when you follow the instructions of someone when you find that it brings joy to the person giving the instructions. God loves and delights when a believer finds great internal joy from following His instructions.

    “Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.” Luke 15:10 The Message.

    In short, it is about shifting your focus from the world’s negative influences to God’s wisdom, and making His Word the baseline for your thoughts and life. 

    You want to make the angels have a party in Heaven? You want to bring Joy and a big smile to God’s face?

    Turn off the noise of this world and spend time in His word!  Turn off that news program, turn off the instructions from man on how to live. Turn off the voice that is telling you how bad things are. Stop following the political world and its two parties.  They do not have your best interest in mind. 

    Who has your best interest in Mind? GOD!

    How much better would you feel, and God would delight, in the fact that you shut off the world noise and spent time in His word?

    Remember it is not a religion but a relationship.

    Prayers and love for all.

    Larry

  • Billboard

    In the advertising industry they have a 3 second rule for billboards.  The driver of a vehicle should be able to read, process, and understand your message in roughly three seconds or less.

    What do billboards do? They represent the company or service or organization that they are advertising for. Whether it’s a product, service, or idea – that organization is represented by that billboard. That billboard reflects the belief or morals of that company or organization.

    Just like a billboard you are called to reflect God. Every day, every circumstance, every situation, in every word or action. Every second of every day you’re a walking billboard for God. You are the lens that people are experiencing God through.

    The way you dress, the way you eat and drink, the tone of your voice, your choice of words, your positive or negative attitude.  This is just to name a few of the ways that you are a billboard. 

    Somebody is driving by your billboard every single second of the day.  Your billboard never goes dark or is unreadable. It is always reflecting something.

    They don’t even have to be able to see you.  They can be talking to you on the phone. You can text them. You can be on the internet leaving a comment or post. You are still a billboard for God.  You can do nothing incognito.

    “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” Colossians 4:6 NIV

    You are to be an enhancer. An enhancer is anything used to improve, strengthen, or add value to the quality of something.

    Are you doing that today?  In your work, at home, with friends, on the internet, in the aisle of the grocery store, on the phone to the insurance representative, getting a soda at the gas station or your cup of coffee at Starbucks.  Does the person at the drive up window see God’s reflection when they get the order wrong?   

    Today you will only have 3 seconds to show God.  Are you in the right relationship with God to properly reflect His Image?

    It is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers and love for all.

    Larry

  • Where is Your Desire

    “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the Lord”. Hosea 5:4 NIV

    “The wicked things that the people have done keep them from returning to their God. They have a spirit of prostitution, and they don’t know the Lord”. Hosea 5:4 God’s Word Translation.

    This explains that the people of Israel could not return to God because their sinful habits and love for idols controlled their hearts. They ignored God’s ways and chose a “spirit of prostitution,” meaning they chased after worldly things instead of knowing and obeying the Lord.

    Can someone lose their Salvation? Can someone lose God? Maybe we are considering the wrong question.

    What if the real danger isn’t losing God, but losing your desire to return to Him?

    While I fully believe that God never shuts the door of Salvation. The Gate is always open, and the Shepherd will always let into the fold any sheep that knows His voice.

    This verse is telling you that your habits and desires may get you to a time where you do not desire to hear the voice of the Shephard.

    This doesn’t mean that the Shepherd shut the gate on their salvation. It means their actions were the result of their choices and those choices changed their desires and changed them. The sheep stop desiring to come into the fold.

    Even when the Shepherd left the flock and went to find the one that was lost.  That Sheep did not want to return to the fold because it thought the grass was greener where it was. It said, “I am fine on my own”.  I don’t need a Shepherd. I can find green grass and nice water on my own.

    The desire to listen to the Shepherds voice was no longer there. 

    This is how sin works.  What begins as a decision slowly becomes a pattern. Patterns begin to shape desires. And over time, those desires change our identity.

    You have heard me say that you cannot eat one Lays Potato Chip.  One chip leads to eating a whole bag.  Once you start you are destined to eat them all.

    Once you have eaten the bag you no longer want the fruit of the Spirit. You are full of what the world has to offer, and you no longer have room for the guidance of the Shepherd.

    This is the sin against the Holy Spirit.  Constantly not listening, not acknowledging the prompts and nudges from the Holy Spirit.

    This does not mean that God is unwilling to forgive or offer Salvation. Both are always available. What this describes is an attitude of permanent, unrepentant rejection of God.  The Voice of the Shepherd is no longer reaching the internal parts of the brain.   

    You keep wanting Control and will not listen the Shepards voice.

    If you constantly choose to look for satisfaction in the wrong places, you cannot experience a close relationship with God. God wants a heart that acknowledges its mistakes and actively seeks Him.

    Keep your eyes and ears on things above.  Not on worldly desires, news shows and the draw of social media and the internet.  You cannot hear the Holy Spirit when the noise of this world is drowning it out.

    Shut it off! Be honest with yourself and ask what your desires are today.  The World or the Voice of the Spirit?

    You cannot serve and listen to both.  You can only serve one master.

    Prayers and Love for All.

    Larry

  • Who Are the Righteous

    “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again”, Proverbs 24:16 NIV

    What a wonderful promise from God to all those that strife to follow Him in this world of evil.

    First, we need to look at the biblical definition of what a Righteous man is.

    The Bible says that Abraham believed God, and it was “credited to him as righteousness”. It is a gift of God’s grace, not something a man can earn by his own strength.

    Righteousness is gifted to you.  You do not earn this by your perfection of keeping any or all religious rules.

    In the original Hebrew, the word for Righteous is tzaddik. It means to live in a right relationship with God and others. It is about trusting God and showing mercy and humility, rather than just following a set of strict rules.

    A righteous man is someone who lives in a right relationship with God and treats others with justice, mercy, and truth. He is not a flawless person, but one who genuinely trusts God, repents when he fails, and strives to obey God’s commands.

    The Bible tells us that these are the characteristics of a righteous person.

    He acts justly: He is fair, honest, and treats the poor and vulnerable with respect.

    He keeps his word: He does what is right, even when it costs him.

    He controls his tongue: He does not gossip, lie, or use his words to hurt others.

    He loves mercy: He forgives others and shows grace, just as God has shown grace to him.

    God gives another promise to the righteous person.

    “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all”, Psalm 34:19 NIV

    “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous”, Psalm 1:6 NIV

    To put it simply a righteous man is one whose focus is solely on building a relationship with God.  Trying to let the Holy Spirit control and guide his life.  Not believing that any rule keeping will ever get him to attain eternal life. The Law is very important because it points out where my relationship needs work on.  The Law in of itself has no saving power.  Only a relationship with God does.

    How do we know that God loves to save the righteous?

    Look no farther that the story of Peter.  The disciples were sent by Jesus to go across the sea by boat.  In the middle of the night while they were rowing hard against the wind and waves. Jesus came to them walking on the water.  Peter upon hearing that it was his master, teacher, and savior asked to be able to walk on the water to Jesus.  A huge step in Faith for a fisherman who knows that no one can walk on the water.  He steps out of the boat and is walking along fine, keeping his eyes on the one that can give him the ability to walk on the water.  Peter is a righteous man, trusting Jesus with everything at that moment.

    Then Peter starts letting the problems of the world confuse him about where his eyes and mind should be focused on.  He starts to see the waves and the wind, and he gets distracted and immediately starts to sink under the pressure of the moment. 

    Yet, what is the first thing Peter sees when his eyes and focus go back to his Savior.  He sees that perfect hand of Jesus reaching out to save him from the depths.

    Jesus was there immediately when Peter cried out for help.  No condemnation, just a saving hand. Jesus was there for the righteous man.

    You are going to have bad times.  The world and its evil are all around you.  Your mind may be getting distracted by the news and happenings of this world.  You may be in pain and depression.  God does not expect you to live a perfect life.

    “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again”, Proverbs 24:16 NIV

    God promises to pick you up and raise you up to Him.  To those whose eyes are on Him.

    Work on your Relationship. Nothing else matters.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Repentance

    In Hebrew, the primary word for repentance is Teshuva (תְּשׁוּבָה), which translates literally to “return”. It represents an action-oriented process of turning away from wrongful actions and returning to one’s true, positive path.

    Shuv (שׁוּב): The foundational verb meaning “to return,” “turn back,” or “turn around”

    Teshuva focuses on restoration. It implies that a person is not defined by their mistakes and that by choosing to “return” to a state of purity and alignment with God, they can redirect their destiny.

    The primary Greek word for repentance in the New Testament is metanoia (μετάνοια).

    Literal meaning: “A change of mind”

    In the Bible, repentance is not merely feeling regret or sorrow; it is an active, transformative decision to turn one’s mind, heart, and actions away from sin and toward God

    Repentance in both versions is an Active word not a passive word.  You actively and purposefully turn and go the opposite direction. You actively pursue a different course of living, thinking, behavior.

    Repentance is not merely saying I am sorry and then going about business as usual.  Repentance is not about asking God to remove the temptation, deep grained behaviors, control issues and the draw of the world.  You must purposefully stand up, turn around, and go in a direction that brings you back to God. You must stop doing the items that are keeping you from experiencing the full blessings of God.

    Do we always realize that we need to repent?  The answer is a very big NO! We need a spouse, friends or a person sent from God to wake us up to the fact we need to change.

    Take the time to read 2 Samuel chapters 11 and12, which is the story of King David and Bethsheba.  In Chapter 11 David committed sins against the Lord and he was just living and acting like nothing happened.  In Chapter 12 God sent Nathan to tell King David a story.  David’s reaction to the story was to demand that the rich man in the story be punished. Then Nathan pointed out that the story was about King David.  Then and only then did David repent and go about changing his life.

    King David got so caught up in the desire for Bethsheba that his eyes were clouded by Satan.  He could not see his own wrongdoing. 

    This happens to us many times and we need a messenger from God to wake us up to the fact we are living and acting wrong.

    Yes, believers can absolutely be blinded to their way of life. When people become deeply comfortable in their habits, they often fail to notice faults in their own behavior. Over time, these daily actions form a rigid pattern that hides the truth from the very people living in a way that does not glorify God.

    People usually cannot see their own blind spots without help. Trusted friends, or a deep personal reflection are needed to point out these errors. Taking an honest, open look at your actions is the first step to seeing the truth clearly again. The Mirror is important.

    The believers in Matthew 7:22-23 fully justified their actions and way of life.  They believed with all their heart they were living a life worthy of going to heaven.

    God’s response was “I do not Know You”!

    God sent the Holy Spirit to guide you to what is an eternal way of life.  The Holy Spirit may move your spouse, friend, pastor or elder to point out your errors.  Lay down the defensive mechanisms, turn and walk a new path with God.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Believe Your Prayer Has Been Answered

    Asking God, Believing God, Praising God!

    “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit”. 2 Kings 2:9 NIV

    “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt” James 1:6 NIV

    “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army” 2 Chronicles 20: 21 NIV

    Some may wonder what these verses have in common or why did I put them in the same discussion?

    Let’s look at them individually and then tie them together.

    In 1 Kings 19:16 we are told that God has told Elijah that he needs to anoint Elisha to become the next prophet. Elijah went and put his cloak around Elisha, who left everything, and became Elijah’s attendant.

    The Story then picks up in 2 Kings chapter 2 where we are told that God is about to take Elijah to heaven in a dramatic pickup event. Elijah was not just going to disappear. There was not going to be a question about what had happened. In fact, we are told that God had already told the prophets of Bethel and Jericho that this was going to happen today.

    “The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” 2 Kings 2:3 NIV

    “The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” 2 Kings 2:5 NIV

    This taking of Elijah was not going to be a secret and there was a very good reason God wanted all the prophets to see and know about it.

    The reasons God told the other prophets about Elijah going to heaven and doing it in a dramatic fashion and then seeing the cloak falling from Elijha to Elisha, was so no young upstart of a prophet would get the idea that they were the next anointed prophet from God.

    Before Elijah was going to be taken, he asked Elisha, “what can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ Elisha responds with a request, “let me inherit a double portion of your spirit”. Elijha responds that this is too difficult for him to do and that if Elisha sees him taken up it would be Elisha’s.  Signifying that it was in God’s hand to answer that request.

    You see, in those days the first-born son always got a double portion of the estate so that the other children would know who the head of the family was after the father passed away. Elisha wanted to receive the double portion so that all the prophets would know that God had picked him to follow Elijah.

    We know that God answered that request.  Your bible records that Elijah performed fourteen miracles and Elisha performed twenty-eight miracles. A double portion!

    In the first chapter of James, the author tells us that when we request anything from God, we are to believe that God has already answered the request.  We are not to doubt for one second about the answer. We are to step out in faith from that moment on in total belief that the miracle is performed. Not acting like it may happen but believing that it has happened.  There is a big difference.  

    In 2 Chronicles chapter 20 we are told that a vast army had formed against Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah. Jehoshaphat called on all the people of Juday to fast for three days and inquire of the Lord.  Then we are told that Jehoshaphat was told that the battle was not his battle but that it was God’s battle. Jehoshaphat was to march down against this large army the next morning. 

    To show that Jehoshaphat believed that the battle was God’s he put the choir and band out in front of the army and had them sing the victory song on the way to the battle. They were praising God for the victory before they ever got to the battlefield. They did not wait to see if God provided a victory, they believed and sang at the top of their lungs about the victory. The second they started praising the Lord, He set ambushes up and the whole enemy army was wiped out. The only thing the people of Judah had to do was pick up the spoils.

    Ask God, Believe in God, Praise God before the answer and victory! 

    God loves when you ask for the impossible. “Double Portion”. God loves when you don’t doubt the answer and start singing His praises before you’re done asking your request.

     “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. Ephesians 3: 20 NIV

    “For with God nothing shall be impossible”. Luke 1:37 KJV

    “Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”. Mark 9:23 KJV

    Where is God when He hears you Praise Him before you get the answer?

    “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel”. Psalms 22:3 KJV

    Praise creates a spiritual environment where His presence dwells. When you praise, God says “there is a heart that I can live in” and He sees that the door is open for His presence.

    Praising God before seeing an answer redirects attention away from anxiety, worry, and your perceived size of the problem, focusing instead on His character, faithfulness, power and Love. Showing God your gratitude for His answer before He gives His answer shows a complete trust in Him and a trust in whatever form the answer may come in.

    Paul and Silas were stripped, severely beaten with rods, and thrown into the inner dungeon, their feet locked in heavy stocks for preaching the gospel. We find no bible verses where either of these two men prayed for deliverance from imprisonment or for God to take away the pain they were in.

    They just started singing the praises of God and how great He was. How did God show His excitement about this praise?  An earthquake rocked everyone’s world and ripped the chains off their feet and everyone’s feet. Yet Paul and Silas never moved a muscle to run out of the open doors.  God had other plans for their praises.  The prison warden and his family needed saving!   The pain and suffering of Paul and Silas did not save the warden, but their praising of God brought the Holy Spirit into the heart of the warden.

    Ask for the Impossible, Dress like you have received the impossible.  Praise God from the mountain tops, for all to hear, that His answer to your impossible situation has already been provided.

    This world today needs men and women that are walking with an attitude of Praise and Thanksgiving for greatness of their Savior.

    People saw that in Jesus and it drew them to Him.  Are you drawing others to God today with your attitude of praise in all situations?

    Walk in the Faith of your great God and all will be yours.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry