Prayer Of The Destitute, Judy Olang

Psalm 102:1-28, “1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly……. 17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.”

I usually like to share the word from my experiences, I find it easy to share with people what I have already gone through just to encourage and give them energy to keep going because sometimes we feel like we are going through a lot but someone else went through worse and they survived, and so if you hear their story it gives you the oomph to push on. So my devotion today kind of ties up with what my husband shared on “God can” message sometime bac. I am sure we have all prayed a similar prayer like the one above in Psalm 102 and there are times it did feels like God never answered. Have you ever prayed for something for years and years and then you prayed with someone about the same thing for God to open those doors for that someone and it happened within hours or a couple of days or weeks or just months? And here you are, been praying for years and years and nothing?

Keep Hope Alive, Evans Olang

Colossians 1:28, “… Christ in you, the hope of glory”

Most times, hopeless people have no reason to live. Most suicides are as a result of hopelessness. Over one million people commit suicide every year. The World Health Organization estimates that suicide is the thirteenth-leading cause of deaths worldwide. The National Safety Council rates it sixth in the United States. Suicide is the leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under 35. I further discovered that worldwide, an estimated 10 to 20 million non-fatal suicide attempts occur every year. In the midst of these startling statistics, I take comfort in knowing that hope keeps man alive. As long as hope remains alive, it doesn’t matter what we go through, including pain and suffering because hope propels us to continue fighting until the end. People who lose hope throw in the towel and call it quits; however, hopeful people keep standing through time and seasons. Hope is an expectation and an anticipation; something to look forward to. Hope isn’t about uncertainty, it’s a certainty that just hasn’t yet been realized.

See What I See, 2of2, Evans Olang

2Kings 6:17, “And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw”

There is a great difference between SEEING WHAT YOU BELIEVE and BELIEVING WHAT YOU SEE. I prefer the first one, it teaches you to see things through the eyes of faith. Faith negates facts, it sees beyond the natural and presents a whole new picture of things which produces hope. People can see something the way it is, you are seeing what it can be, that is seeing what you believe.You can be in a situation that everyone has stopped hoping for good for it or you can be like the woman with the issue of blood who saw far beyond the natural that she could be healed and in the midst of it encourage yourself into the victory, trusting in the One who is able and touched the hem of His garment.

See What I See, 1of2, Evans Olang

2Kings 6:17, “And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw”

Have you ever been frustrated because someone or some people did not see what you see? You have vision, shared it but the impression they gave you indicated they did not see it, catch it or were unwilling to see it? You sit and wonder why they can’t see what I see? I’ve been there, been frustrated and in the midst of it, the Lord taught me something profound.

2Kings gives us a picture of Elisha and the Syrians. Elisha discerned the plot the Syrians had against the Israelites and he sent a message to warn the king of Israel of what awaited them.

I Am Not Where I Was, Part 2of2, Evans Olang

Matthew 9:20-22, “And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment”

As we looked at the woman with the issue of blood in Part 1, we could glean some principles from her story and apply it to our lives as we start a New Year.

1. Be a Jesus seeker: This woman in the midst of her situation became a Jesus seeker. She made it upon herself to find Jesus. Mathew 9:20, “And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment”. She decided to make a quick move before the opportunity passed her by.

I Am Not Where I Was, Part 1of2, Evans Olang

Matthew 9:20-22, “And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment”

While many look forward to the New Year, a number make resolutions for the New Year only to fail early due to human efforts. Instead of making resolutions, I prefer making declarations for the New Year. I commit these declarations to God knowing they are possible through Him.

My Eyes Sees You, Evans Olang

Job 42:5, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You”

All his life, Job had learned to trust in the Lord, praying to Him, living for Him, leading his family in the things of God, But in the storm Job saw God. Having questioned God, God turns around and gives him 101 questions that leave him thinking and humbles him the most.

When God Seems Silent, by Evans Olang

In the light of what happened in connecticut about 10 miles from where I work, lets us find comfort in God’s word, He carries us through.

Let us pray for the families affected.

Blessings Ev

Click here: When God Seems Silent, by Evans Olang.

Psalm 42:5, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? …. Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance”

There are days we feel like God is distant or He is present but not saying anything in our situations. To make it even more painful, we sometimes battle people who add more flame into the fire. They lie on you, they try to make your life difficult and you sit and wonder, how can a loving God allow such terrible things to happen to the ones He calls His own?

It’s All Been Paid For, Evans Olang

Luke 18:9-12, “9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’”, (NIV)

To live a Christian life is never easy, there are ups and downs in this walk. I mentioned recently how we often measure the success of our walk by what we accomplish rather than what He has accomplished for us on the cross. We say something like this, “dying on the cross for our sins was something we could never do, but living the life of a Christian is something we are most capable of doing”. I come across many sermons preached on “How to” rather than what “He has”. A while back I was in a Christian book store, it’s shelves were filled with self-help books, filled with “how to’s”. Examples, “how to write your ticket with God”, “7 steps to being blessed”, “how to get God’s attention and favor”. We say we are saved by grace and behave as though our salvation is kept and maintained by the law.