by David Brenneman
"Ask yourself am I just saying my prayers, or am I praying my prayers."
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3.
2 Thessalonians 4:3a "This is the will of God, your sanctification".
"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2.
All too often in the history of mankind, when interacting with Jesus, be it when He was known only as the Lord Almighty, or Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, people more often than not did not understand that words rolling off their lips were not enough when interacting with Jesus.
That opening quote was from a devotional on the book of James. But it stood out so plain and simple as a very very deep truth.
The section of James that it was referring to is the portion that I quoted.
How often have you, my Dear Reader, prayed for God's will for you? The other passages that I quoted are often seen as places where it appears to be clearer but here in James, the will of God for you is also stated.
"let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,"
ARE you laying aside the things in life that are slowing you down in your race to your finish line that is in Heaven for you?
ARE you running in such a way as a man or woman who's trying to win? Or are you not giving Him your best efforts?
ARE your thoughts towards preparing for the Lord in your today or are they elsewhere?
ARE you praying or are you actually, mindlessly, reciting words?
Do you put your heart into your prayers or is it not engaged?
My Dear Reader James said that these things:
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16.
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17.
Are you giving your best to Jesus or not?
Are you seeking to grow in Christ or are you just trying to skate by?
Does sin bother you at all? Does your heart really follow after Jesus or are you really calling the shots?
Jesus taught a parable on the seeds. You should go read up on it as a reminder. You are one of those varieties. There's not a human being who's lived that isn't one of those. That would be Matthew 13.
Are you more interested in the life the world wants you to live than the life that Jesus wants to give you?
You can't live it both ways. You cannot give part of your heart to the work of the Spirit of God for you.
Half-hearted prayers shouldn't expect a full-hearted response from God. Think about that question deeply.
Further after James spoke about prayers and praying he mentioned Elijah's prayers. In Hebrews we have what's been referred to as the Faith Chapter. You show the world the depth of your relationship with Jesus by the depth of the prayers you pray. Is your heart in your prayers?
My prayer are that whatever I am directed to write leads people either to Jesus for salvation or points the way for people to come back to the life in Christ that He desired for them...for you.
It's a daily struggle to keep shrugging off the things that so easily entangle. The world is a professional at getting people entangled. Satan's been practicing for centuries. Know your enemy.
Satan's so good at deception that you won't even know it's a deception...until it's too late.
Put your whole heart into the race set before you.
Put your whole heart into your prayers.
Jesus doesn't want part-time visits with you. He's to be your personal Lord and Savior. Treat Him as such.
Does the music you listen to honor this race you are in?
Does the reading material you take in honor the race that you are in?
Does the videos you watch honor the race that you are in?
Does your hobbies honor the race that you are in?
James says you are in a race.
Therefore the Spirit says that you are in a race.
Those racing to win train to win.
Maybe it's time you took it seriously. Give Jesus your whole heart.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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