From the last topics we seem to have trancended onto the topic of God's power at work today. Christianity is a living, active faith, based on the eternal, living and everlasting God - YHWH
In anycase, here are questions I have often wondered about, and will hopefully try to answer in the next post:
Can God heal the complete man? Does this include amputees?
Why are some babies born with deformaties?
If we believe so hard in an equal, love enveloping God, why does He not give everyone an even chance to know Him? And why isn't everyone healed when they accept Jesus - afterall shouldn't the body reflect the state of the soul?
Anyone think they can have a crack at these?!
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Healing the Complete Man
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31 comments:
I'll answer the first question.
There are enough evidences of amputees having limbs restored. Smith Wigglesworth, John G Lake, and our good old Welsh Borthers the Jeffreys, all saw these miracles in their ministries.
I do not doubt the 'Creative' miracles for one minute. Jesus reatached an ear after Peter chopped one off, I can't remember (no bible to hand) but didn't the one leper who came back to thank Jesus for healing him get his body restored?
I love it.
Tefion I remember you being prayed for once by someone (Richard & Tina) and he stretched your leg out a bit and realligned your back (i think it was). Your face was a picture. hee hee. You couldn't believe what had just had happened to you.
God is awesome.
Joe...
Joe...
Haha I've often wondered about that lol. It is interesting, but when I google 'amputee healed' or variations on that, I never seem to be able to find evidence on the web! I mean what is with that? Do we or do we not serve a God of miracles?
To me (as Ben once said) the proof of the word is in the power. We know it has the power to save, and it has the power to restore. If God can restore a man's life to him, then a work of the material realm is nothing. I've got a posting planned on 'the descent of man' in honour of my recent visit to the natural history museum to be enlightened on my ape-like heritage lol :-) got a picture to prove it too!
Haha, u got to love our scientific community. Find a monkey skull or some poor dude with rickets and 'wallah' monkey magic!
Joe I'd be very interested to hear more about these miracles - post away my friend. PS If you know where to find documented proof of some of this stuff it would be even cooler.
The Bible clearly connects sin to sickness. Jesus once healed a man that had been crippled for over 30 years.Jesus said to him. Now you are well make sure you do not sin again because if you do something worse may happen to you. (john 5. 1-15)
We are also told that if we don't take the bread and wine respectfully and in awe of it's significance of what we are doing we are told do it wrongly and we will be sickly and weak.
If a Christian becomes sick we are told to call for the Elders of the church to pray for us.(no instructions on prayer lines there)
Jesus didn't, and doesn't heal all the sick people.
Like you Teif I have been told about all these wonderful healings so I to would be interested in seeing some evidence.
Does the God of the Bible have sufficient power to heal all types of physical affliction today and even to raise and glofify those who have already died? Of course He does, for He said,
I Am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there any thing too hard for me? (jer 32.27)
No true christian will deny this and Elwyn Jones will ever deny this.
But our Wonderful God, has something more than this mere power.We have just got to study His Bible to find out His Will, His Plan and Programme for His world.
Why? towards the end of the ministry of miracles, even Paul the apostle could no longer heal people, because this was not God's Will.
Only His Truth can bring us freedom from fear and anxiety when pain and sickness comes our way. (thats what a christian brother said J.C.Whitcombe) I agree with that brother.
There is an interesting DVD released by Reinhard Bonnke telling the true story of a man raised from the dead. I watched it and found it really interesting.
I have a copy back home in the UK but can't for the life of me remember it's name. If you follow the link on my blog for 'Cfan' then you'll be able to find it.
As for the amputees I'll try and find some.
Also, I'm glad to see that you're not trying to talk away your encounter to the almighty healing God. hee hee. I'm picturing your face now. hee hee. so much glee
I have a link on my blog for world mission statistics. Fascinating Facts about the proof of our gospel. check it out
Joe...
There is an interesting DVD released by Reinhard Bonnke telling the true story of a man raised from the dead. I watched it and found it really interesting.
I have a copy back home in the UK but can't for the life of me remember it's name. If you follow the link on my blog for 'Cfan' then you'll be able to find it.
As for the amputees I'll try and find some.
Also, I'm glad to see that you're not trying to talk away your encounter to the almighty healing God. hee hee. I'm picturing your face now. hee hee. so much glee
I have a link on my blog for world mission statistics. Fascinating Facts about the proof of our gospel. check it out
Joe...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HsdV5s_r4YM
I like this one.
Joe...
As for talking away my story... :)
Do you know I never actually saw anything that day - only what people said had happened. It's funny but yes - my back felt better - but it also came 'back' again.
I think the big test for me was when Richard said 'does anyone else have any body ailingment issues' - and I actually did. You see I had been punched in the jaw when I was in school and it had caused a click in it which came out and locked my jaw every now and agin. Bearing in mind that this man had performed a growing leg miracle, he could do nothing about my jaw.
I have always questioned that day lol. Though there have been other times of divine intervention that I do not question.
Strange huh?
You make me laugh. hee hee.
I struggle too when I pray for sick people and they don't get healed. i used to ask myself alot of pointless questions. Now I just trust God. My job is to follow Jesus' words in Mark 16 "Lay hands on the sick..." its not my job to heal them. Lay hands & Believe. Well I can do that.
I've seen some pretty amazing healings when I've just done my part and left the rest up to God. I don't question anymore.
If they don't get healed then i say a prayer, to myself, to God, for Him to accomplish what He is seeking to accomplish in that person's life.
But i never doubt that God heals today as I have seen so much when I've laid hands on people that convinces me more and more that He loves to save and heal people. What a wonderful God we serve.
Joe...
This is the issue I have with 'faith healers'. See if anyone can help clarify this.
Using the example of the Gospel of John, we have here Jesus creating seven (I believe) specific miracles (signs) that point to God, point to Himself. They all serve the purpose to show that He is the way, the truth and the life (massive ethical/philosophical implications here). I have always stressed doctrine because ultimately it is what Jesus was trying to show/teach - whether through attitude, healing, prophecy, teaching it was all aimed at showing faith in God, in the 'Son of Man'.
So here we are... If a man shows miraculous powers (gift of healing), but lives a life that is unethical (christian ethics) and teaches heretical doctrine, should he be regarded as a brother?
Yes We Should!!!
We are prone to getting things wrong. That just shows the greatness of the Grace of God. None of us deserved it but still he gives it.
I think the saying goes like this - We can do nothing that will make Him love us less and We can do nothing that will make Him love us more -
Grace is unmerited favour. So His gifts are 'Grace Gifts' (Rom 12v6) and each has its place in the Body.
The other question is 'Define Unethical?!. Thats a hard one. Paul said, and I love this scripture, 1 Cor 10v29 "Why is my freedom judged by anothers conscience?".
We obviously disagree on certain theological viewpoints so the same could be said about our definitions on ethics.
EG. I can vouched for this one as I know the man. Roger Aubrey was in a meeting where the Holy Spirit told Him to give a girl a bottle of water to drink. She drank it and got healed of Diabetes. WOW!! thats only one of many.
Then I was reading in John Crwoder's book about Todd Bentley. My father has ministered with John and has said that he is stand-up guy. A bit different, but a good man. In his book he said that he was in Mexico with Todd Bentley and a boy with downs syndrome got healed of his condition. WOW x 2!!
These guys are different, maybe a bit eccentric, but they are godly men. Todd can spend up to 12 hours a day in prayer and contemplpation.
Then there are the ones who have great wealth. I have two opinions on this one. We spoke about this ne when we walked the mountains. The first is that they do deserve it. They travel extensively, spend hours writing books or prgrammes that they get paid for. Then they invest their 'earned' money into their personal wealth because thats good money sense. I would want to provide for my children after I'm gone. We have the ability to create wealth.
This is a problem because most of the church thinks that we should keep them poor and humble. Thats an old school way of thinking that is gradually, thank God, changing.
The second is that it also a matter of conscience and ultimately the Leading of the Holy Spirit. If you look in the Bible there were some seriously 'Unethical' men and women that God used. We would struggle with a John the Baptist today. An Elijah we would write off. Some in the church would even write off Jesus if He were on earth today.
I have seen some on the Christian chanel here that are rip-off artists and you can tell them a mile off. They anger me. They feed on the very weaknesses of the human condition and tell people lies "In the name of God". they will be accountable for their actions.
I have found that those kinds of people do not last long. Longevity can be a good measure of whats in a man or women.
I'll give another example that is close to your heart. Calvary Chapel was started in the 60s by the hippie- healing evangelist Lonnie Frisbee. This man was TOTALLY different to anything that had been seen at that time. I mean he saw powerful stuff during his short and eventful life. He started a group of churches that are still going today, one of which you attend, and later in his ministry he went with John Wimber and help to start the 'Vineyard' group of churches, inasmuch as suggesting the name. They are still going today.
He said that his biggest problem was the rejection by the churches that he founded. They rejected the power of the supernatural that was evident in this man's ministry. This was one of the reasons that he went with Wimber.
I'm not saying these things to criticize. Poor Lonnie ended his life dying of AIDS because he lost his path. That is tragic. I am committed to helping people finish their race for Christ however 'different' they would be.
The issue is always this - Remember the quote by some scientist who said "God must have an affection for beatles" because there are soooo many different speciaes of them. Well we can say it even more with the church. We are diverse and for that I thank God. The quote I always like to quote myself when evere I find something, or someone, difficult to grasp is this one - GOD SOMETIMES OFFENDS THE MIND TO REVEAL THE HEART -
OK. enough!!
A lot there Joe, I didn't know about Lonnie Frisbee, but I was aware that Vinyard was a break-off of Calvary Chapel and that Chuck Smith was the pioneer behind the hippie baptizing. It is unfortunate that the man lost his way - I think that it is something that is undeniably going to happen when we are removed from the solid foundation of God's word. This has been the hallmark of the Calvary churches - the teaching. To me things that deviat efrom this are only going to end up screwing you up, screwing up a good theological basis, and your perceptions. It's easy to see and believe a miracle, but then if a man's gift is in this area should he then be teac hing? What is the point in saving a man's body when his soul goes to hell?
The best way to help a man finish his race is by reminding him that it is the 'good' we chase and not the natural (even spritual gifts). Nothing is good in and of itself except God - therefore we should endeavour to keep ourselves unstained from this world system and humble before him.
It's sad that lonnie ended up this way, but not suprising. There are many examples of people who end up shipwrecked because they strayed from the tenents of the faith, that is, the narrow path.
Can you see why there is such a need for balance in the body - that we have to strip everything away to grass-roots, back to the foundation which is Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to build from there. No man is an island.
I also think that I will tackle ethics ina few postings, it will suprise you! If you want to do some digging you could look at works by St Augustine, Immanuel kant, and CS lewis (abolishion of Man).
I think it is unethical for a man to use a gift of healing to make money and live eccentricly, when he should be living in moderation. That's not a worm mentality. The key here is moderation. Benny Hinn lives like a child with an open sweet bag and has never allowed his finaces to be publically scrutinized. This is the issue I have with him. Wealth seems to be his motivation
Another point! Longevity. Such an important issue here, and I guess an issue close to your heart :)
When Peter was bought before the council/sanhedrin it was gameliel (Paul's mentor) who stated 'if this work is not of God it will die out'. How interesting a statement this is! This is also tied in with the 'straw or gold' pursuit, and more again intrinsicly with 'sowing and reaping'.
Longievity, longievity... If it lasts it must be true! If it prospers, it must be true! Oh dear, then we have a problem... All truth must be relative for this statement to be true - follow my logic:
Hinduism, Mormonism, JW's, Catholocism, Buddhism, Zorotharianism, Islam, Hare Krishna, Voodoo, Sikhism... Oh bugger, they've been round for ages and have loads of wealth! Pretty simple test huh - it's called the 'look around you' test.
So what does this indictment by Gameliel actually mean? Why Say it if a lie also lasts? Here Gameliel's statement is descriptive not prescriptive - He is a Jew, not a Christian and feared making a martyr - His statement was based on his experience not God's logic! He said what he thought would happen, he was hoping it would die out!
Testing comes through trials, and trials are a personal issue - this is where our application of Straw and Gold comes in - it is not standing the test of TIME, but standing the test of the CRUCIBLE.
You see we are under the law of 'sowing and reaping' which allows for free-will.
I thought we were under the law of the Spirit & life (Romans 8v2)? I believing sowing and reaping is another thing. Don;t get me started... lol.
I agree with your comment about 'longevity'. Sheesh Buddhism has been around for eons but that doesn't make it good. My point was this - The 'evangelist' (small 'e') who live off of the people rather than serving God are the ones that come and go. People get led astray for so long. Then the truth comes out and their works are seen for what they are.
Hinn, I believe, is a good man. Yes he is wealthy but we can't count that against him. You'd be wealthy too if you wrote books that have sold millions and millions of copies. YES, I think that he should just stick to preaching the gospel and NOT teaching. He is not a teacher (however, I did hear him teach once on the names of God. WOW, he's a hebrew speaker so he was able to tell it as it is written, but that aside he should stick to doing what he has a calling to do).
As to him opening up his finances well I don't blame him. You wouldn't want me to go looking through your personal finances would you? The ministry finances are open for people to read. They have to submit EVERYTHING and tell you even how much Benny Hinn receives from the ministry as a salary. Thats law.
I am just trying to put it from the angle of looking past some of the error. I don't believe for the most part that the error is necessarily heretical just not the 'whole' truth.
It would just be like me looking at you and wiping you completely off for some of the things that I perceive as 'error', or as I have just said 'Not The Whole Truth'. The average person in their lifetime influences approximately 10,000 people. So we could all be guilty of leading alot of people astray because of what people think, or how they perceive us (rightly or wrongly).
If we taught something in our younger days that with age and knowledge we know that is not true now, or not the whole truth, are we going to be found guilty or stricter judgement? I think that we can get too concerned over stuff that we can't control.
We have different viewpoints on whether a minister should live wealthy or moderately. You find both in the church today. I think that is right. I believe that there are so many variables that it is hard for us to pin-point everything into a neat little box.
If a man, or woman, is extorting people then their sin will find them out.
Just a short word on Lonnie Donnegan (www.lonniefrisbee.com).
I think that it is a number of things. Having been a student of following these type of men. I have read so many books on revivals, miracles, reformations, revolutions, biographies etc. I have found a few threads of commonality between them all. One is 'Criticism', any of the mover and shakers who dared to changed things have all come under strong criticism by the 'church' (small 'c'). This has two effects, it can harden a person's heart so that they become 'stubborn', or it can crush a person's heart so that they seek security in other things. Both extremes have dangerous pits. The first is 'Arrogance', and they will want to surround themselves with people who will only agree with them. The other pit is that of some form of vice eg, woman, wine, and wealth.
I'm not saying that these are exclusive but there does seem to be patterns that plague men and women of God who step out to change.
Thats why I have warned us against 'slagging' ministries and instead taking that which 'Is' Christ in them and leaving the rest. Thats what we are bascially doing here.
On my Blog since I have started it I have had over 15,000 hits. Most of which are people I don't know or who don't comment. I have, I think, some good things and some bad things. But DON'T YOU STILL LOVE ME, lol...
Sorry,
Stupid thing published my post before I could review it. hee hee.
The point i was going to finish on was this one.
There are things that you hold onto now which were usually started yesterday by the kind of people that you may have problems with today. ie. Benny Hinn's, Oral Roberts. For all of their faults they have changed things. ie. the fact that yu are so passionate about the word and being true to the word is because somewhere in the past (and today) there were, and are, men and women who are doing things that may not or are not scriptural. See we are in the Word because we want to give accounts of our holy faith and not just rely on Billy Hair-do and a gold ring to feed us.
Jesus is our source of everything we need. I tell myself this often in my mind "Jesus + none".
Joe...
In have to say you certainly do challenge me. I think we all have some difficulty in that we do assume an a-priory position on our understandings. As you once said, at least Christ is preached. I guess the important thing is that we strive for the unity of the faith, and as mentioned before 'in essentials unity...'.
I guess sometimes I can come across as being 'cesationalist' in my views (which I am not! Honest lol). It is because of experience with people who would rather tell a story than tell the truth. Make an encounter with God out of a dream, or pretend to smell jasmine when there is none.
Essentially I think that people can be really stupid, and really gullible when they do not take responsibility for their way of life. As much as we train our bodies we must train our minds, pushing beyond societies norms to discover the new world system that Christ will bring.
As I have said before, and it is unfair of you to say that I capitalize on peoples mistakes (I mean look at what happened with my marriage). My issue is with persistancy of leading people astray. And Benny Hinn did not make his money from books, he makes it from crusades and donations (becoming a covenant partner - what on earth does that mean? We are in the new covenant now, and unity is expected. Perhaps covenant partner means that when you are in financial need Benny Hinn will come and help you?). He also has a shop online selling allsorts of stuff.
I would love to see the Benny Hinn Ministries accounts. And I never referred to his personal one. In this country you can actually check accounts of charity's online at charity-commission.gov.uk
Do you know if america has the same service?
Hey say hi to ur Ma and Pa for me.
Hey - how do you check your hit count?
I don't know how to check my hit-count on this Blog. I use Blog-Spirit and they have a hit count.
Also, I wasn't saying that you were capitalizing on people's mistakes. I mean that its sometimes easy to see the bad, error, oddities, or a ministry and miss all the good that they do. I truly encounter God at Benny Hinn crusades. Thats all I know from personal experience. Just as much as I encountered God in Apostolic Conference in West Wales when I went there. Two or three gathered in His name and He promised that He'd be there. What more can I say.
The partner thing. It is law over here, I know because I was going to start a non-profit organization, that nobody can profit from the donations (partner contributions). Thats why its known as a 'Non-Profit'. Most ministries and churches over here are classed as non-profit organisation. Just as much as any charity. There are strict laws to prevent fraud.
The biblical example that these ministries use for 'partners' is found in Philippians 1v5 - "...because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now...".
Benny cannot make money from partners its against the law.
I agree with it in essence. I think I said before - YOU PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR BODY LIKE TO BE - i can't physically go to the countries that some of these ministers go to. So I partner with them to support them to go. It takes alot of money to fly a team out. they rely heavily on volunteers in those countries. These are good men and women from churches in the area who want to see that area touched for Christ. Its amazing to see.
If I can't go then my money can...
Just a 'positive' look at partnering.
I'll say 'Hi' to ma & pa for you.
You're a good man Teifion,
Joe...
Hi Teif. Very interesting exchange between Joe and yourself.If there is one thing i like about Joe. He's straight, He tells it as it is,He is open and shares his heart, such sincerity. I am glad that he said that there are some who rip off people and he does get angry with it.
I do not share his gladness in the diversity of christendom I find it confusing and sad.
Jesus said; many are called but few are chosen (matt 22.14)
It is my opinion after my studies and seeking God that the Bible plainly predicts that the churches in christendom will be in a terrible state of apostacy before our Lord Jesus returns. That is why we have got to be watchful and test and check everything out.
Whether I am a nutter, crackpot or a sincere seeker of God will not change what the Bible says.
I have noticed that charismatic christians focus on everything that appears to be "positive" in the Bible but when yourself and me challenge their quest for health, wealth and popularity they get defensive and do not like us mentioning the verses in God's Word that also need to be considered.
That Christians in Pauls day were regarded as scum of the world (1 cor 4.13)and rev 3. 14-18 is a sobering few verses for all of us to read and think about.
Keep on blogging butty.
Just a little point, When our Lord said "where two or three are gathered etc" that was referring to discipline in the church (matt 18) because His promise to us all is that He will never leave us or forsake us.
Context. Context. and Context.
Tefion - which question do I address :0
And why isn't everyone healed when they accept Jesus
The ulitmate healing is death for us as christians but there could be a whole load of answers to these points that you have raise. Anyway as Christians we go through life with trials and tribulations - please note that we go through them and we come out the other side. There are many people that have not been healed and yet continue in what God has called them to be. I do think that whatever the out come we still continue to pray and look to God for completness.
Richard B
OK.
Why are some babies born with deformities?
Well the 'Christian, Theological, Doctrinal" answer is the presence of Sin in the world.
The 'Real life, relating to people, not making you sound like a crazy freak', is "I do not know!".
I know from workig with Adults with learning difficulties that there are various medical reasons. eg. Smoking, Drinking Alcohol during the pregnancy, unknown side effects from medication that the mother is taking, rare genetic conditions. As you can see there are so many variables. I'm sure that there are more.
Thats my answer. In short, it is because of sin in the world. Not that Im saying that every parent who has a child with some form of disability is guilty of sin (there are some scriptural references to denote thats how some people thought in the Bible, rightly or wrongly). But you can get into the whole 'Curse' issue where a Witch Doctor has the power to do such evil to a pregnant woman. The variable are vast.
But in summary, "I don't Know"
I want to ask you Teif, Why the question?
Blessings,
Joe...
When I look at a baby, or a child who has been born in such a way into this world I wonder at how gracious it is to not even be born with the full number of faculties that should be a right by birth. It's pity that makes me ask why. I know the answer, but it still seems wrong that it happens!
Essentially though I do have an issue with atheism on this point. I was listening to someone on the radio making fun of the flood, making fun of us - calling our religion childish and as real as santa. I really have an issue with that. Deformity is a result of mutation in the dna - corrupt chromasomes. It can be horrific at times - and yet darwinists claim that this is the vector by which life has emerged. It sickens me that people should be allowed to teach these atrocities
I believe man is 'de-volving, not 'evolving'. That's why we se such chromosomal mutation, that's why we see so much cancer! Man is winding down in his dna as much as the earth is winding down in it's orbit.
True Words.
I'm praying that our light will shine brighter so that this world will see the Salvation that is theirs to be received.
I know you know the answer. Thats why I hate satan. Whatever he touches becomes deformed.
Joe...
I know. It makes me so sad. 'Who can save me from this body of death...'?
We can sit and diagnose the human condition to a tee, it's roots and manifestations. But the world just doesn't want to know - they would rather be in sin than in the light because that's what their lives represent.
The name of jesus is a rock of offence to some - very happy to talk about the world, but when it come to naming the 'Son of Man' it's 'sorry mate, don't want to know'.
I wonder - If satan can futher corrupt things the he can also 'seemingly' heal - maybe the removal of his futher corruption. However, Jesus' stand out miracle was raising the dead, he restored/made anew. Satan can no more stop the 'descent' of man any more than we can hold back the sea. Esentially he is only capable to steal, kill and destroy. A roaring lion who will devour what he can (takes with interest!).
Yeshua is life and peace... and power! :)
Just a little change of perspective -
Jesus said "The harvest is white" meaning that people out there do want Jesus and the good news. Perhaps its our delivery that is letting it all down.
What do you think?
Let me tell you a story, maybe you've heard it..
A shoe Sales man goes to a part of Africa with the distinct purpose of introducing his shoes to the area. After walking around the town the man is gutted. He calls his boss and says "Boss, it aint going to work out here nobody wears shoes". So he comes home dejected.
The company send out another sales man to the same area. He walks around the town, then returns to his hotel room and calls his boss, and says "BOSS, SEND ME 10,000 PAIRS, NOBODY WEARS SHOES HERE!!".
I heard that at a sales conference once. Its all about how you perceive the world. Thats why its important to see the world as a wonderful place filled with people who NEED Jesus, and that we actually have the answer.
Half Full? Half Empty?
Joe...
Hmm, optamist or pessamist... perhaps more to the point is idealist or realist :)
Maybe they couldn't afford to buy shoes.
It is true, the fields are white unto the harvest - but we also notice that though multitudes followed Jesus, they didn't start seeing mass conversions until after the Holy Spirit fell.
I'm not sure how I feel about gimmicks - I agree with making the gospel heard (mostly through the example of living, and for some through verbal preaching) - I always lean towards the calling of the Holy Spirit.
It's about conviction that leads to repentance, not hype or persuasion - a very personal salvation. I wonder what would happen to a lot of Christians who were removed from their church body for a while - would they continue to seek God?
But Joe you are right, if we do not preach how will they hear?
Romans 10:14
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Teflon, where are you man, did you loose all ten fingers, enabling you to type on your blog; it would be good to hear from you again.
Ben
And all God's people said "AMEN"
Joe...
Happy new year and I hope the following will encourage all of us who Love the Lord Jesus Christ.
Taken from William MacDonald's devotional book, "One Day at a Time":
New Year's resolutions are good but fragile, that is, easily broken. New Year's prayers are better; they ascend to the throne of God and set answering wheels in motion. As we come to the beginning of another year, we would do well to make the following prayer requests our own:
Lord Jesus, I rededicate myself afresh to You today. I want You to take my life this coming year and use it for Your glory.
I pray that You will keep me from sin, from anything that will bring dishonor to Your Name.
Keep me teachable by the Holy Spirit. I want to move forward for You. Don't let me settle in a rut.
May my motto this year be, "He must increase; I must decrease." The glory must all be Yours. Help me not to touch it.
Teach me to make every decision a matter of prayer. I dread the thought of leaning on my own understanding. "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jer. 10:23).
May I die to the world and even to the approval or blame of loved ones or friends. Give me a single, pure desire to do the things that please Your heart.
Keep me from gossip and criticism of others. Rather, help me to speak what is edifying and profitable.
Lead me to needy souls. May I become a friend of sinners, as You are. Give me tears of compassion for the perishing.
Lord Jesus, keep me from becoming cold, bitter, or cynical in spite of anything that may happen to me in the Christian life.
Guide me in my stewardship of money. Help me to be a good steward of everything You have entrusted to me.
Help me to remember moment by moment that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. May this tremendous truth influence all my behavior.
And, Lord Jesus, I pray that this may be the year of Your return. I long to see Your face and to fall at Your feet in worship. During the coming year, may the blessed hope stay fresh in my heart, disengaging me from anything that would hold me here and keeping me on the tiptoes of expectancy. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
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