iPray Fridays: That your faith may not fail

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22: 31 -32

The beautiful thing about God's word is the way a verse or passage you have read so many times can literally just jump off the page at you as if seeing it for the very first time. I had that experience this morning with the Scripture above. Later on in this same chapter, Peter is tested and he does fail...yet Jesus said he would pray for him that his faith may not fail. This means there is a difference between making a mistake (failing) and your faith failing. 


I don't know how it is that we become conditioned to believe that hard times and the challenges of life have to do with God punishing us. I must admit that in recent times I have been pondering on my understanding of who God is and how He relates with His children. Sometimes the God I see in the Bible is different from the God I have been taught about. Satan is the enemy, he wants to sift us as wheat..I just realised something as I write...wheat must be sifted to separate the chaff from the grain...it is uncomfortable but then how do we know that we know what we think we know if we aren't tested (I hope that makes sense)? 


Sometimes we find the sifting process too hard or too difficult or too long and somewhere our faith fails...we don't believe what we used to believe, we don't trust who we used to trust. However today like Jesus I pray that our faith does not fail, that we hold on through the sifting process. That even though like Peter we fail...the seed of faith on the inside of us remains viable and like a mustard seed no matter how tiny it is under the right conditions it will germinate and become a mighty tree. Most importantly, when we turn back to the right path we must share our story and encourage our brethren back to the Ancient paths.


Selah.


Let's pray together. Click comments.

iWorship Wednesdays: Mighty to save

We fear what we do not understand. Life is full of things we may never understand and questions we may never be able to give answers to. I'm beginning to learn that all that I can do is learn how to put my trust in the One who understands all things and has answers to all questions. He is indeed mighty to save. I pray to get to the place that I can say 'Even if he doesn't deliver, I will put my trust in Him.' God bless HillSong for their awesome worship ministry and for this song.

Everyone needs compassion,

Love that's never failing;

Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,

The kindness of a Saviour;

The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,

He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,

All my fears and failures,

Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in,

Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is Mighty to save,

He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave. 

Shine your light and let the whole world see,

We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus (x2)

My Saviour, you can move the mountains,

You are mighty to save,

You are mighty to save.

Forever, Author of Salvation,

You rose and conquered the grave,

Yes you conquered the grave

iPray Fridays: Works of my hands

May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us yes, establish the work of our hands.

 Psalm 90:17

I'm so excited about an iPray Friday today...it feels like its been a very, very long time. I was going to pray about jobs because this is an area where I and a few friends need a testimony but I decided to look at it in a different way...looking at the bigger picture. The works of my hands. There aren't specific prayer points about jobs in the Bible but we know that God delights in us making profit. I still believe that children of God were created for more than just a job. We must all work and we all have been blessed by God with unique talents, skills and abilities that we may make profit from and use to the glory of God. I just don't want any job to keep body and soul together..I want to be a blessing in any organisation I find myself in and also be blessed by them. In this season I'm also praying for God to open my eyes to those abilities that I possess that I can use for His glory and that I can also turn into cash.


We take too many things for granted, our writing skills, our culinary skills, our organisational and communication skills. Dear Lord, open our eyes that we may see, may your favour rest upon us, establish the works of our hands..


So today, pray in your own words about the works of your hands, what do you want God to do for you and through you while you are here? Click comments and join us in prayer!


Let's pray together..

iWorship Wednesdays: Every season

I haven't listened to this song in years and when it came up via Shuffle I kept in on repeat...I just realised that even when I don't understand its wonderful to be loved by One who remains there through changing scenes and seasons. Its hard sometimes to see God as good through the horrible things that happen in life but which season is best...summer for its heat or spring for its newness? All seasons are necessary aren't they and does He cease to be God in winter's chill or autumn's nakedness?...Selah! Thanks Nicole Nordeman..

Every evening sky, an invitation 

To trace the patterned stars 

And early in July, a celebration 

For freedom that is ours 

And I notice You 

In children’s games 

In those who watch them from the shade 

Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder 

You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered 

To the harvest time 

Forfeiting their leaves in late September 

And sending us inside 

Still I notice You when change begins 

And I am braced for colder winds 

I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come 

You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven 

Finally falls asleep 

Wrapped in blankets white, all creation 

Shivers underneath 

And still I notice you 

When branches crack 

And in my breath on frosted glass 

Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter 

You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced 

Teaching us to breathe 

What was frozen through is newly purposed 

Turning all things green 

So it is with You 

And how You make me new 

With every season’s change 

And so it will be 

As You are re-creating me 

Summer, autumn, winter, spring

Je ne comprends pas...

Hi everyone

I miss writing, I miss blogging. I've been working on my dissertation and writing simply became a chore and I just needed a break. I'm still kind of on a semi-break but I hope I am gradually coming out of my comatose state because I have really missed it. I was talking to a friend at the weekend and he gave a description of me that made me laugh. Its funny how people can see strength where we only see weakness and imperfection.

A week ago, a friend shared about how her friend had passed away in childbirth. She asked a question 'Does God not answer prayers?' Hmm, it was an honest question and it got me thinking about so many other questions I had that I like to gloss over with my 'religious varnish', there is a way that I think that to ask a question is to doubt....that to say "Je ne comprends pas....I do not understand" means I am one of little faith.

I do not understand why we prayed and she died. I do not understand why Elisha died of an illness and yet his bones raised a dead man. I do not understand the ways of God. I do not understand what part I play in the scheme of things, I always see my life as a piece of a big puzzle where only God sees the big picture. I don't think I need to understand, just trust. Sometimes my faith is so weak, I wish I was perfect but I am not. I wish I always had answers but I don't.

One thing I have learnt in the past few months...God doesn't give up on us, usually we give up on Him. My prayer is that even when I do not understand...I reach out my hand to Him even in the dark and cry..'Lord help me.' I just needed to write that today, seems so random. Oh well! Have a blessed day people.