Not Just a Book on a Shelf ...

A few weeks ago, I presented a devotion to our AWANA clubbers.  I really enjoyed it and I think it went pretty well.  The kids were engaged and I think they "got it" but there were also several adults / other leaders there that commented about it and shared that it was good for them too.  So, I thought I would share it here on this blog.  

 

Earlier this year, I blogged this LONG POST ... CLICK HERE TO READ

This is sort of like Part Two of that post and my continuance on this journey that I started at the beginning of the year.  

An immense struggle for me in recent years has been "PRAYER", as I discussed in the above-mentioned post.  I realized that there were several things that have happened in my life in the last few five to eight years that have caused me to move further and further away from prayer.  We think we know exactly how to pray and how to give prayer advice and throw around the all-inclusive "I'll be praying for you ..." phrase, but when it comes right down to it ...  I bet there's a whole lot of us who, when faced with serious challenges, freeze, tense up, forget to breath and certainly don't immediately turn to prayer.  

I'm one of those people.  

I've known that I should pray and I've wanted to pray in some small ways ... but ... 

I lost the will to pray.  
I didn't know what to pray.  
I no longer trusted the effects of prayer.  
I didn't believe that praying would make a difference.  

Now, interestingly, the various happenings that are crossing my mind as I type this that have actively contributed to my prayer shortcomings ... well, they weren't directly things that happened to me ... like, actually me.  They were things that happened to those that I love, so more indirectly to me, but still made it all the harder for me to deal with.  My prayers were intercessory ... not even specifically for myself ... and those prayers seemed to just bounce off the sky like a rubber ball.  So, as these things began to pile up without my understanding, I began to really complain to and question God ... 

"I'm a believer.  One of Your Own.  Aren't you even listening?  How can you let these things happen that affect me so greatly but I can't at all control?"

Nothing. No response. Nada!

SO I STOPPED PRAYING.  I mean, I still prayed sometimes but nothing too intense, ... merely going through the motions ... just basic. 12 second prayers. not really even faithfully addressing God. every half breath filled with doubt as I mustered a few words here and there.  
And I became an ineffective believer. 
just.what.the.devil.wanted

After my mom passed away, well, that seemed to be the final straw for me and I was in the very pit of my ineffective, highly doubting, spiraling out-of-control faith.  I went through months of despairing thoughts and tormenting memories and dreams.

I knew that ONLY God could help me yet I didn't really want to turn to Him.  So, I started writing letters to God.  I wanted my prayers to mean something, to be effective, to matter.  And because I was finding it difficult to pray anything other than complaints, I believed in my heart that I needed to get my hinder in-gear and get more in the Word, the Bible, so that I could use God's OWN words to pray.

And do you know what??

I found that there was something in the Bible for EVERY emotion I was feeling or could feel, for every problem I had, and every situation I was in.  Certainly, I am not an expert now and I don't know everything or have all the answers (this is a Long Journey to be Sure) ... but one thing I do know ... I'm definitely more likely to go to the Bible and pray it out when a situation arises now.  

(Watch for a future post about using God's Word in prayer but for now, here are several verses of Scripture that can be read or applied to prayer for various situations.)

You see, I wanted the kids in the AWANA club to know that the Bible is for them too.  I wanted them to know that whatever they are facing, God wants them to come to Him so that He can help them through it.  

First and foremost, I wanted them to know that the Bible holds the key to their Salvation and that the whole reason we leaders go to club week after week is to guide them and encourage them to know, understand, and accept the free-gift of Salvation that God offers to us in His Son, Jesus.  

There are numerous verses in the Bible that talk about Salvation (as depicted in my poster picture above) but one of my favorites is:

  The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. - 2 Peter 3:9 

I used the following posters to give a few examples of the importance of reliability of the words that are written in the Bible.  

All Scripture is inspired by God and useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right (nlt).  Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work (ncv). - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

God's word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword.  It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones.  And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. - Hebrews 4:12

But the basis for my presentation was from the following verse that is shown below.  Sometimes, life is not what we expect ... it can be messy and miserable and maddening ... and sometimes you just want to know how you're going to get through the next minute, let alone the rest of your life.  Well, the second part of the verse is what has really struck me recently and it helped to propel me to dive in to my Scripture study this year.  

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us ... (niv) ... the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled. (nlt) ~ Romans 15:4 (underlining mine)

You see, I know A LOT of Scripture.  I have memorized A LOT of verses!  Over the years, I have lived by a verse here ... and a verse there ... and there have been some very meaningful verses that have carried me through a moment in time.  But the words of God are not disposable; they're not meant to be used once or twice and then tossed out.  They are meant to last ... to endure and stand ... unchanging and uncompromising ... for ALL TIME and in ALL TIMES.

Sometimes, it's easy to praise and to cling to the words in the Bible when 

it suits us or when we are feeling really good about something but I have learned ...

I am not in control. 

Things are constantly changing.

I am, unfortunately, not living in a bubble of perfection.

I cannot stop [things that I perceive as bad] from happening

(read more about "things that I perceive as bad and what they really are" in a future post)

 ... and I have heard from God ...   

"... Bad things will happen but you must cling to what you know is good."

I know that the Word of God is good.

There IS validity in turning to the Bible and seeking out God's Words in all situations and here are some of those:

Often times, a situation arises that we think is just too difficult and we say, "It's TOO hard!  I can't do it!"  

For the kids at club, memorizing certain verses or accomplishing a homework project was cause for these statements.  

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh.  Is anything too hard for me? - Jeremiah 32:27

Ah, Lord God!  It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too hard for you. - Jeremiah 32:17

I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

ALL of us have had this look at one time or another.

"I Just Don't Know What To Do!"

Sometimes, we're confused and we don't know what to do.  We are uncertain of the steps we should take or how to make an important decision.  

Ask, and God will give to you.  Search, and you will find.  Knock, and the door will open for you.  Yes, everyone who asks will receive.  Everyone who searches will find.  And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. - Matthew 7:7 ncv

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. - Proverbs 3:5-6 nlt

What about this one? Ever been bullied, felt like you were the target in somebody's crosshairs?? OR what if you were the one targeting someone ... have you been a bully?

Are You Being Bullied or Are you Being a Bully?

                             

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, ... - Matthew 7:12 

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. - John 15:12

Another one that is probably pretty common for some of us is Anger.  At one point or another we all get mad about something.  Anger, in itself, isn't too terrible but when we act out of anger ... that can be a problem.  The verses below explain Anger that is Acted Upon.

"I'm So Angry!!"

Do not become angry easily, because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants. - James 1:19b-20 ncv

Don’t become angry quickly, because getting angry is foolish. - Ecclesiastes 7:9 ncv

This next one is a big one for me - fear and worry. It's one of those things that threatens to consume me more times than I really would like. No matter how strong I think I am or how brave I tell myself to be, I can very easily get tripped up by "Fear or Worry".

Fearful or Worrisome!

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. - Psalm 56:3 niv

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9b

Here's one we might not often think about as far as looking to God for guidance or searching the Bible for His Word on this topic. But there really is plenty in the Bible about the types of friends we should have and the people that we should and should not become attached to ... (This section is not to say or try to relate that a person professing to be a Christian cannot and should not be friends with a non-Christian. Jesus made a point of seeking out those who did not know God. This is more along the lines of lasting strong and close relationships, especially in a committed relationship, such as Marriage.)

Friendships/Making Friends

Do not be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.” - 1 Corinthians 15:33  

Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a trap for your soul. - Proverbs 22:24-26

Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? - 2 Corinthians 6:14

In this world, there sure is plenty going to make us sad. Be it the world news or personal circumstances, there is always someone suffering with sadness as a result from a circumstance or loss of some sort.

Sadness

I will change their sadness into happiness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sadness. - Jeremiah 31:13b ncv

Why am I so sad?  Why am I so upset?  I should put my hope in God and keep praising him … - Psalm 42:5 ncv

What about when you're feeling particularly happy ... something great happens ... you have a good day ... etc. God is happy when you're happy!! He rejoices with you when you rejoice!!

HAPPINESS!!

A happy heart makes the face cheerful … - Proverbs 15:13

A joyful heart is good medicine … - Proverbs 17:22

Even when there's nothing going wrong in your life, God is there with you and delighted in you. If everything is going GREAT and you're feeling exceptionally blessed, even just blessed ... God deserves Your thanks and praise and there are verses in the Bible that do just that!

Everything's going GREAT!!

Psalm 107:8-9 - Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

Psalm 28:7 - The LORD is my strength and my shield.  I trust him with all my heart.  He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.  I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

God deserves our prayer ... our emotion ... our trust ... not just when things are going well, but ALL the time.  Because He loves us and He is for us and He is with us ALL THE TIME.

I explained to the clubbers that searching the Bible is like playing one of those video games where you play the various levels in the game and you're completing all the levels and you're moving further and further until you've reached the point where you've mastered the game when all of a sudden you find the key that unlocks a whole other platform, a whole other world that you never even knew was there to be discovered ... 

... that's like the Bible!  You can know what you know and have read it all the way through and then all of a sudden portions and chapters and words, that you never even realized were there, just come alive and practically call out to you ... encouraging and inviting to go a little deeper ... to seek and discover that there's so much MORE than you ever even knew there could be.

No matter what path we're on, He is with us and HIS WORDS can speak to us if we only just go to Him.

Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path. - Psalm 119:105

The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. - Psalm 119:130

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. - Deuteronomy 29:29