Spiritual Growth

Now take seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. Then my servant Job will pray for you. I will surely accept his prayer and not deal with you as your folly deserves. — Job 42:8, CSB

Job’s whole world was shattered. He lost all of his children. He lost his flocks and his herds, which in today’s society would be the equivalent of losing your job along with any additional source of income.

If that was not enough, Job was afflicted with a horrible disease. He lived in constant pain and even his nagging wife would not comfort him. Three of his friends came to sit with him but after a time of silence, they began to reflect on what happened to Job.

They leveled some ugly accusations, insulting both Job and God. They insisted Job had committed some great sin and that the hardships he faced were proof of this.

When God restores Job, He sends his friends to apologize and beg his forgiveness. He says that Job should offer a sacrifice on behalf of his friends so that their offering would be accepted.

Interestingly, Job’s response is never noted. He does offer the sacrifice but there’s no record of the conversation with his friends. How easy it would be to proclaim his righteousness at that moment. It would be hard not to gloat about how right he was.

When someone else has sinned, it can be tempting to rejoice in their fall. But Job is an example of how we should treat friends who have failed to honor God. We’re not to delight in their sin but humbly ask God to forgive them.

God, I confess my own pride when I see someone else do wrong. I’m tempted to believe that I’m better than them but I’m not. So I humbly pray for (name). Please forgive their sins. Show them how to walk in Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” – 2 Kings 6:16, NIV

Elisha was a prophet living in Israel. When another king tried to attack Israel, Elisha knew it. He warned the king of Israel and the nation was spared many ambushes and attacks.

Finally, the king of Aram grew frustrated. He called his officers in, insisting that someone must be telling the king of Israel about his plans. He demanded to know who the spy in the room was.

One man pointed him toward Elisha, saying that he “tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom” (2 Kings 6:12).

Then the king of Aram decided to capture Elisha and end the problem. He rode into the city under the cover of night and surrounded it so Elisha would have no hope of escape.

When Elisha’s servant glanced out over the city the next morning, his knees started quaking. He quickly told the prophet what he could see. While his servant was focused on the physical army, Elisha focused on the unseen army around them. The battle wasn’t physical at all…it was a Spiritual battle between good and evil.

Like Elisha’s servant, we don’t always see what’s happening in the spiritual realm. Maybe you pray for a friend to get a job but they keep getting rejections. Perhaps you pray for an aging parent to be cured but they still suffer.

It’s easy to become discouraged in these moments and think our prayers aren’t working. But just as there was a Holy army around Elisha, there is a Holy army surrounding you, too. God is fighting your battle for you!

God, open my eyes to the Spiritual realm. Help me to remember that I am backed by the most powerful Warrior. I’d rather have You on my side than ten thousand soldiers. Please fight this battle for my friend or loved one. Let them experience peace and comfort during this time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints.” – Ephesians 6:18, NASB

Sasha had never been in trouble with the law. She hadn’t gotten so much as a parking ticket in her life but when she heard the metal door of the local women’s prison slam shut behind her, she still gulped.

She followed her friend to the visitor’s area. She was overwhelmed to see the incarcerated women with their families. She couldn’t imagine being separated for months or years from her children the way these women were.

When the visit was over, Sasha left with her friend. On the way home, she cried for the inmates of the prison. She’d sensed the hopelessness and despair many of them carried and she felt called to do something.

She got permission from the prison warden and she started a Wednesday Bible study. After each meeting, she stayed behind to offer prayer to any of them the women who asked for it. Over time, she became friends with many of the prisoners. She prayed for them, their spouses, and their children.

When praying for others, don’t forget those who are imprisoned. Although they may rightly be there, God still has deep compassion and mercy for inmates. You can consider praying for their healing, for their families, and for new opportunities to appear once they’re released.

God, I pray for the men and women in prison. I ask that You would show up in their lives. Heal those who need healing. Redeem those who think they’ve gone too far. Let them see that You are a God of mercy and compassion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” – Romans 8:34, NIV

Dwayne was in a motorcycle accident. Because he wasn’t wearing a helmet, he suffered head trauma and had swelling of the brain. His doctors opted to put him in a medically induced coma to save his life.

After his injuries stabilized, they stopped giving him the medications and waited for him to wake up. But he remained in the coma for several days afterward. Initially, the doctors had been optimistic he would wake up.

Now, they doubted it would ever happen. He advised his friends and family to give up hope. But one of Dwayne’s close friends, Lucas, came back day after day. He read the sports page to him, recited Psalms, and prayed over his friend.

Then after four weeks, Dwayne woke up. Despite the head injuries, he was fully alert and able to communicate with the staff. The first thing Dwayne remembers about coming back is hearing his friend’s prayers.

It can be hard when it feels like everyone else has given up on you. But just like Lucas continued to pray for and help Dwayne, Jesus prays for and comforts you. He is the friend who never gives up on you.

God, thank You for the gift of Jesus and His friendship! I would be lost without it. Help me when I’m feeling alone and need comfort to remember that Jesus is with me. In His name, Amen.

We have to be honest with people and explain what it truly means to become a bondservant of Christ. When we said yes to Him and allowed Him to be Lord of our life, we gave up certain rights. There are many, but I want to focus on 1 in particular, the body or temple. Paul explains in the following passage how important your body is to the members of Christ, members of the kingdom.

I Corinthians 6:15-20
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which is God’s.

The church, some but not all, focus on the sin of homosexuality and does not stress the dangers of heterosexual sin, I am referring to sex outside of the marriage bond.

When we said yes to Christ, our body no longer belongs to us. We died with Him and rose with Him. Our body was transformed into His likeness and He gained ownership. Therefore, we are to honor Christ by taking care of the temple that houses the Holy Spirit. The same spirit that rose on the 3rd day lives inside the temple now.

Sin is sin. I am not comparing one sexual sin to another. I am saying that when you take part in sexual sin, you are doing more than you may realize. You become 1 with the other during the sexual act. You also are bringing damage to God’s temple. You have breaches in the wall, open doors, or gates depending on how you see it. You are open to attacks from the enemy by agreeing to participate in that sinful act. The enemy seizes every opportunity available to him and tries to cause as much damage as possible during the breach. If we think fornication or adultery with a heterosexual partner is a little sin, we are gravely mistaken. Perversion comes in many forms and causes lots of damage. Too much to explain right here right now.

God is not going to allow the spirit of Christ to intermingle with the enemy’s spirit. You have to repent and allow Him to restore you. Continuing to take part in that act pushes you farther from the Father and allows the onslaught of the enemy to continue. The longer you allow the breach to be open, the more restoration will be needed to make you healthy again. If you do participate in such an act, do not give up or throw in the towel, but instead, quickly return to the Father so He can restore and heal you. He still loves you and wants you to walk in wholeness. Too many are walking around with breaches in their temple’s walls and do not realize the significance because it’s a heterosexual sin and not a homosexual sin. God does not love a heterosexual sinner more than a homosexual sinner. He abhors sin in general. Both sins can be purged from the temple, only if you allow the Holy Spirit to purge you and submit your temple unto Jesus. Then and only then can the restoration begin. Remaining in that place leaves yourself open to more attack and further away from God.

And pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel..— Ephesians 6:19 NASB

August’s mother was a prayer warrior. She had prayed for her son faithfully since the moment she discovered she was pregnant. Though he was born two months premature and doctors gave him no hope, August’s mother continued to pray for him.

He went home three months after he was born and this only deepened her belief that prayer mattered. But when August started attending a public high school, she worried about him.

Her son’s science teacher was about to start a unit on evolution. She wondered how she could pray for her son during this time. That’s when she stumbled across Ephesians 6:19.

While Paul was imprisoned, he asked the Christians in Ephesus to pray for him, particularly that he would boldly speak about the Gospel. Regardless of the year, location, or country you live in, it’s hard to stand up for what you believe in!

But don’t let the fear of what someone else might say or do prevent you from sharing the truth. You can offer Biblical viewpoints from a place of love and grace. 

God, give me the courage to speak up when I should. Guide my words so that love, grace, and mercy flow from them. Let me be kind and respectful towards everyone…even if they don’t share my views. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?” – Exodus 32:11, NIV

The Israelites had been freed from four hundred years of slavery in a foreign nation. God had rescued His people, leading them into the desert with the understanding that He would take them to the Promised Land.

But then Moses, who was the leader of the nation, was called up into the mountain to talk with God. He stayed there for a considerable amount of time, no doubt in worship and fellowship.

While Moses is gone, an interesting thing happens. The people begin to grumble. They doubt that God is with them anymore. 

Aaron, the brother of Moses, commands the people to give him their jewelry. He melts down the gold and creates an image in the shape of a calf. Impressed with his work, he proclaims this idol is the one that rescued Israel from Egypt.

It’s tempting to shake your head at the Israelites at this moment. To ask, “How could you do such a thing after God displayed His power so clearly?”

And yet, we’re often quick to do the same thing. After years of prayer, God sends you the spouse you’ve longed for or allows that adoption to go through so you can hold a beautiful baby. He arranges for you to own that house that you wanted for so many years.

In these moments when our deepest desires have been fulfilled, it’s easy to look to them as the source of all our joy. We, in essence, do the same thing Israel did—we trade the Almighty for an idol.

But just like Moses stood in the breach for the people, Jesus stands in the breach for us. He asks God to be merciful and faithful, despite our failings.

Jesus, thank You for interceding on my behalf! When I am given something I’ve longed for, help me not to turn it into an idol. Instead, let me look upon God as the source of all my joy. In Your Name, Amen.

First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1Timothy:1-2 NASB.

Jim was having an animated discussion with his wife in the living room. They were playfully arguing over the rules for their nightly chess game. 

When Jim looked over, he realized his teenage son was scowling at the TV. The headlines were proclaiming yet another politician who had been accused of a crime. “There’s so much evil in the world.” His son exclaimed. “How can I make any difference at all?”

Jim thought for a moment, then 1 Timothy 2:1-2 came to mind. “You can pray for your leaders…for your mayor, our governor, the Congressmen, and women. Even our president.”

“But how do I pray for them?” His son asked. “I don’t know where to start.”

“You could pray for their physical safety,” Jim’s wife offered. “That any evil planned against them would be thwarted.”

“That they would stand firm in the face of temptation,” Jim added.

“And that God would provide them with wisdom so they would lead gently, not oppressing the people they serve.” His wife said.

Praying for those in authority can be a wonderful way to show more grace, love, and mercy. When you regularly intercede for leaders, you become less concerned with which side is right and more focused on living a godly life.

God, I confess—sometimes the corruption and lies and viewpoints discourage me. But help me to remember that I can do something—I can pray for my country and its leaders. Teach me how to intercede for those in authority. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” – Matthew 4:2, NIV

Kayla’s plane had just touched down at the airport when she got the call. Her oldest daughter was in the hospital and the doctors didn’t know why she was sick or how to help her.

Without stopping at home to change, she went to be with her daughter. She’d just returned from a mission trip, building homes in an area that had been devasted by a tsunami. She’d felt God’s presence so strongly during her time on the island but when her daughter was sick, she didn’t have that comfort.

When a friend stopped by, she shared her fear that God had left her. “I felt such peace while I was there and now I’m just numb.”

Her friend reassured her that her feelings were normal. “Satan waited to go after Jesus until after He’d spent forty days praying and fasting. He waited until he knew Jesus was exhausted. Any time you experience a spiritual breakthrough, expect to be tested.”

Kayla’s daughter went on to make a full recovery and the experience caused Kayla to see Jesus in a different way. “I’ve always relied on feeling close to God. With my daughter’s illness, I had to lean into faith and trust that God was there, even when it felt my prayers for her went unanswered.”

God, give me strength when I’m being tested. Help me to remember that Jesus was tempted, too. Provide a way out for me so I wouldn’t stumble into sin. In Jesus’ name, Amen.