The events of the last couple of weeks have demonstrated how volatile our world is, and the public forum suffers from no shortage of rhetoric as it relates to current events. Through our use of words, we have the potential to either heal or deepen the hurt. 

Careless words make matters worse, while carefully chosen words can mend fences, brighten hopes, and soothe hurting hearts. With the abundance of social media, email, texting, and other forms of electronic communication, we have more opportunities to use words now that ever before and with the increased opportunity comes increased responsibility to use those words wisely.

I recently took a Facebook quiz design to determine the size of my vocabulary.  Through my identification of synonyms and antonyms of 50 different words, the quiz determined I have a vocabulary of just over 30,000 words.  I am not sure how accurate the quiz is, but whatever words I use, I must choose in every situation how useful and beneficial my words will be.

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Church signs provide an excellent opportunity to spread information and share encouragement.  Unfortunately, many swing and miss.  At two former churches I pastored, I was at least partly responsible for creating and changing the messages on the church sign, so I know how challenging that is and I try to cut the sign people at churches some slack.

Trouble arises when we try to come up with a cute sound bite for the church sign, often at the expense of good theology.  The sign ministry people have good intentions, but something gets “lost in the translation.”  I saw an example of this scenario just the other day.

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When we read the account of the temptation and eventual fall of Adam and Eve, we see the devil’s trick, and he hasn’t changed in the 6000+ years since.  He hasn’t needed to change; we still fall for the same trick. He uses three insidious lies that we fail to recognize and manage.

When I played baseball in high school, I could hit anybody’s fastball – no matter how hard they threw it, but I could corkscrew myself right into the ground in the batter’s box trying to hit it. The sad part is that I would still do that even when I knew the upcoming pitch was a curve ball.  I knew it was coming but fell for it every time.

Such is the case with the devil’s tricks to derail us in our walk of obedience. He hasn’t changed his strategy since the beginning of time, so we need to know his scheme, look for it, and respond accordingly.

The Devil’s Three Lies

In Genesis 3:1-7, the devil successfully lures Adam and Eve into disobedience against God.  The three lies he told them are the same three lies he tells us today.

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“It was in the last place that I looked.”  Sadly, I have uttered that ridiculous statement more times than I care to admit.  Of course whatever I was looking for was in the last place I looked; only a complete idiot would keep searching after they found it…right?  Be careful how quickly you agree with rhetorical question. 

The answer to the literal question above is most certainly YES.  No one keeps looking for keys, glasses, a note, or whatever once they find it. When it comes to some of the more intangible things in life, however, often we search tirelessly when we already hold the answer in our hands…or more accurately, in our hearts. Consider God’s Word to His people through the prophet Amos:

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My Earthly Father

I had a great father.  He wasn’t perfect, and like any father-son relationship we had our good days and bad days, but he was a great dad.  My dad went to be with Jesus a little over 7 years ago and never does a day go by without a memory or thought. He left a legacy of doing the right things the right way. Never does a day go by without a thought or memory, and I  wish I could be half the father to my daughter that he was to his son.

During this Father’s Day weekend (just like at all other times), my dad will hold a prominent place in my heart and thoughts, but my primary focus will be my infinitely greater Heavenly Father. I have a high view of God as my Heavenly Father because of the lofty view I have of my earthly father. 

I understand the concept of “father” is not necessarily a positive impression for some.  Maybe your relationship with your father was not good, or maybe your earthy father fell way short in being the man he should have been in your life.  If that is you, I understand your hurt and I hope my words today encourage you. 

If you, like me, had or have a great paternal relationship, I want my words today to enlarge your heart and bring you to a new height of worship.  As good as your dad may have been or is, God is even greater and His presence in your life, as unimaginable as it may seem, does more for you than even the greatest earthly father. 

God as Our Father

Consider these ways God excels as our Heavenly Father.

He Brought Us into the World

Some fathers play a role little more than a sperm donor while others are guiding influences in their kids’ lives, but all of us owe our existence to a male person somewhere.  God, however, not only created all there is generally speaking, He designed you – specially, uniquely, and purposefully.  You are His masterpiece.  (Psalm 139:13-16)

He Is Our Infallible Authority

God gives us fathers as authorities, but since they are human, their authority is less than perfect.  No matter how hard I try as a father, and no matter how badly I want to do it right, the fact remains I fail more times than I succeed.  God never fails us.  His Word guides us down a perfect path (Psalm 19:7-11).

He Is Our Provider

My dad worked hard to meet our family needs.  Looking back, we really didn’t have a lot, but at the time it seemed we had everything.  Even more so, God has given to us all that we have and need.  James 1:17 reminds us that God has given us everything that is good for us.

Regardless of our relationship with our earthly father, God fills in the gaps and excels as our Heavenly Father in these few ways and many more. During this weekend, let me challenge you to spend some time reflecting on the goodness of God and worship Him for all He is to you and thank Him for all He does for you.

To get your worship started, click on the video below and enjoy this awesome Chris Tomlin song about our Good, Good Father.

Some people have a fear of asking a “stupid question.”  I believe the only stupid question is the one raised but not asked.  Questions provide a way for us to learn, and as long as we are unwilling to ask, we will remain unlearned.  As we read and study the Bible, questions prompt us to dig more deeply to learn and apply God’s Word you our lives. 

Ask Questions. Take Notes.

Let me encourage you to keep a notebook and pen handy when you read and study the Bible.  Not only can you use them to record truths you want to remember, but you can also write any questions that arise as you read and study. 

3 QUESTIONS THAT HELP APPLY THE BIBLE TO LIFE

Three questions can help me understand a Scripture passage’s intended teaching and its specific application to my life at a given time and place.  Consider asking these 3 every time you study the Bible.

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Prayer that Connects

We recently completed an election cycle in our area, and our phone rang often with recorded messages from candidates and endorsers of candidates soliciting our vote.  While the recording featured the voice of the candidate, and even though the candidate did at one time speak the message to which I listened, it would be misnomer for me to say I “spoke” with that candidate or the candidate with me.  The call provided me the “opportunity” to hear a message from the candidate.

Often, our prayers amount to little more than a recording that we replay with God so that we can claim we have spoken with Him  Unfortunately, I can think of too many times when I spent the time I allotted for prayer merely reading off a menu of things I wanted to say to God and that I wanted Him to do for me.  I want a more meaningful conversation and fellowship with God than some impersonal “pre-recorded” prayer that I offer Him; and He deserves much more respect and attention than that also. 

There is a difference in saying a prayer and praying.  Today, I want to share with you some elements of prayer that I believe will help you connect with God in a meaningful way and focus on God’s presence in your prayer time.

Seven Elements of Prayer that Connects with God

1.  Praise

Praise focuses on the character and nature of God.  When we praise God, we declare our recognition of His attributes and qualities that make him worthy of worship.  We do well to begin our times of prayer focused not on our prayer needs, but instead on the ONE to whom we pray and His value in our lives. Psalm 150:6

2.  Thanksgiving.

While praise declares our recognition of who God is, thanksgiving expresses our gratitude for what God has done, is doing, and will do.  Thanksgiving takes the time to admit that every good and perfect thing we have has come from the Father.  We teach our kids to say “please” and “thank you,” and we would be careful to say thank you to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

3.  Confession.

Prayers should include two kinds of confessions.  First, we should confess our sins.  While the blood of Jesus has provided forgiveness for our sin, the Bible instructs us to continually confess – simply admit – when we sin, knowing the He has already provided our forgiveness.  This confession removes barriers that develop when we presumptuously approach Holy God when we are keenly aware of sinful actions and attitudes we have harbored. 1 John 1:9

In prayer, we should also confess our dependence on God.  At it’s core, prayer is a declaration that we cannot succeed on our own, and that we need God to guide and nourish our lives.  Prayer admits, “I need help.  I cannot do this alone.”  God loves it when we realize that obvious truth.

4.  Intercession.

Intercession takes place when we bring the needs of others to God and addressing them before we bring our own needs is an act of unselfish love for others.  We pray that God would make His presence known in their circumstance, that He would do what He deems best, and that the one FOR who we pray would better come to know the One TO whom we pray. 1 Timothy 2:1

5.  Supplication.

Supplication involves our petition to God for our own needs and burdens.  God delights that we bring our concerns to Him, because in doing so we recognize His worth and value and our lack of self-sufficiency.  Just as we pray for others, we pray that in our circumstances, God would help us see Him more clearly and grow closer to Him.  James 1:2-11 gives us a good understanding of how we should pray about our circumstances.

6.  Submission.

After we have prayed, it is important that we declare our surrender to God’s answers.  He may choose to answer our prayers quickly just as we prayed them, delay an answer, or answer differently than we expected – maybe even denying a request.  Submission declares that God’s way is best and is a promise to accept God’s answers and walk in obedience to Him, and is an essential element to praying. Matthew 6:10

7.  Listening.

I have often wondered how many times I prayed and asked God for something, quickly said “amen” and closed out my prayer, then got up and went my merry way JUST AS God was about to answer me.  Prayer is not a monologue or an occasion for me spill my guts before God and then move on.  Prayer can instead be a dialogue in which God and I communicate with each other.  Jeremiah 33:3

As you pray the next several days, enjoy these elements in your prayer time and focus on communicating with God.