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A Man Named ‘Manaen’
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. Acts 13:1, NIV In this verse, a man named Manaen was mentioned. He was someone who grew up with Herod the tetrarch. This was the same Herod who beheaded John the Baptist. Imagine, they grew up together, but they lived a totally different life. Herod became selfish and prideful about his position. But here comes Manaen, who became a Christian and followed the ways of Jesus. Sometimes, we believe that people who grew up in the same environment will have…
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When You Find It Hard To Believe That God Answers Your Prayer
“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” Acts 12:15, NIV When Peter was arrested by King Herod, the early church fervently prayed for Him. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to Peter and set him free from prison. Peter then went to the house where the Christians gathered and to their surprise, they didn’t believe what the servant named Rhoda said. She recognized Peter’s voice and said to the disciples that he was knocking at the door. They won’t believe her that they even said to the servant that she’s out of her…
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Let’s Not Focus On The Pain And The Bad Things That Happened
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. Acts 5: 17-21, NIV When the apostles were arrested, God sent an angel to rescue them. After that, they were instructed to continue preaching…
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Romans 12:12, NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans12:12, NIV Let the joy of the Lord penetrate your soul. Remember that in Him, you will always receive everlasting hope. So when you go through suffering and challenges, just stay patient. Hold on to His promises. Do not give up. Focus on the blessings around you. He provided you with more than enough resources. So, instead of thinking about the bad things that you experienced, just remember that God is always there. His grace surrounds you. He is giving you the strength that you need. Focus on His power, and lift up everything that you can’t control through prayers. …
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Dear God, Please give me the strength to hold on to your Promises
This life is not easy, Lord. Many times, I’m easily tempted to give up, especially when I experience pain in life. I am not a superhero who can solve all my problems. But even if I have limitations, I know that I can ask for some strength from you. So this is the cry of my heart. Please teach me how to hold on to your words, especially in the midst of the storm. I just find it so difficult to believe in your promises when negative things surround me. It seems so impossible. But even if I can’t see them yet, please give me the courage to still believe.…
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John 17:20, NIV
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, John 17:20, NIV Jesus was not just praying for His disciples, but He also lifted all the believers to God. Jesus was praying for you. It means that you are in His mind even before you know Him. That’s how much He cares for you. So if you think your life is unimportant, remember what Jesus did for you. He died on the cross and saved you. He went through pain just to give you a chance to experience eternal life. Not only that, but Jesus also prayed for you…
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John 17:15, NIV
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. John 17:15, NIV Jesus didn’t pray to God that He would spare His disciples from the sufferings of this world. He knew that it was part of the process. Whether we like it or not, we will go through seasons of pain where our faith will be tested. But trust that God will protect you from the evil one. You may experience hardships, but He will never allow you to go through things that you can’t handle. Jesus will be there to give you the strength and grace that…
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John 17:9, NIV
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. John 17: 9, NIV Jesus prayed for His disciples. He knows that His prayer is so important. That’s why don’t stop praying for the people you love. You may not instantly receive the answers to your prayers, but keep in mind that God is listening. He takes note of the things that you surrendered in His presence. Never underestimate your prayer time because it’s more powerful than you think. Keep connecting to Him, and know that He is always there, giving you all the blessings you need. Submit…
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Prepare yourself First for the Things that you Prayed for
You won’t be able to value God’s blessings if you don’t know how to properly steward them. You still need to grow and learn so many things. Allow God to mold your character so that when He answers your prayers, you won’t be easily destroyed by the responsibility that you will carry along the blessings that He will give. Humble yourself in His presence and seek His wisdom. Patiently go through the process. This won’t be easy because there will be moments when God will take away the roots of your negative thoughts. Your life will appear messy in a certain season, but if you will just hold on and…
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Your Prayer is more about What you See than what you Say
Prayers are not just asking God to do what we want but more about believing in God’s grace and glory. It is about believing in His immeasurable power and wisdom. Our prayers are powerful. They hold our connection with the Father. However, it is not just a one-way dialogue. It is a communication wherein you need to listen. Prayers are not just for provisions. It is more than that. It is about how we grow in the presence of the Father and how we will obey Him. He listens to us genuinely. He understands why we utter the words that we did, what is living in our hearts, and what…
