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- Apr 25, 2006
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- 18,404
Renovation Work (1)
''And He ... said, "Behold, I make all things new"' ' Revelation 21:5
You know those programmes where two wannabe property developers (let's call them Keith and Sonia) try to transform a messed-up pile of bricks into luxurious accommodation all on a budget of fifty quid - it never quite goes to plan does it? They expect too much return for too little investment (and they never listen to the experts).
Well maybe there are warning signs there for us as we look at renovating our lives.
First, do we expect too much when investing very little? John Wesley said, 'God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it'. We know that God works through prayer. We read or hear testimonies of people changed by the power of prayer.
All of Jesus' significant moments are prepared in prayer: Before he picks his disciples, he's up all night in prayer; he walks on water following a quiet prayer time; before the cross, he is sweating blood through prayer.
It's clear - we can't expect a great change in our lives without first investing in time alone with God.
Second, do we listen to the expert? Prayer can easily become a one way dialogue. We want God to bless our agenda, our shopping list. But prayer should be the moment we lock into God's will. We need to make time to listen to the expert through reading our Bible and expecting to hear His voice. 'God's there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it' (Psalm 145:18 TM).
written by Bob Gass
''And He ... said, "Behold, I make all things new"' ' Revelation 21:5
You know those programmes where two wannabe property developers (let's call them Keith and Sonia) try to transform a messed-up pile of bricks into luxurious accommodation all on a budget of fifty quid - it never quite goes to plan does it? They expect too much return for too little investment (and they never listen to the experts).
Well maybe there are warning signs there for us as we look at renovating our lives.
First, do we expect too much when investing very little? John Wesley said, 'God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it'. We know that God works through prayer. We read or hear testimonies of people changed by the power of prayer.
All of Jesus' significant moments are prepared in prayer: Before he picks his disciples, he's up all night in prayer; he walks on water following a quiet prayer time; before the cross, he is sweating blood through prayer.
It's clear - we can't expect a great change in our lives without first investing in time alone with God.
Second, do we listen to the expert? Prayer can easily become a one way dialogue. We want God to bless our agenda, our shopping list. But prayer should be the moment we lock into God's will. We need to make time to listen to the expert through reading our Bible and expecting to hear His voice. 'God's there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it' (Psalm 145:18 TM).
written by Bob Gass
