Tag: prayer

Run to Obtain

Published on by thestillsmallvoicesaysLeave a comment

Imagine writing a 100,000-word essay—and your laptop shuts down before you save it. Or running a marathon, crossing the finish line, only to be told you’re disqualified because you didn’t follow the rules. Frustrating, right? That’s how it can feel when we run our Christian race without paying attention to how we run.

The Bible compares our lives to running a race, with a heavenly prize in view:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
I Corinthians 9:24 NKJV

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”
I Peter 1:3–4 NKJV

Hidden within these scriptures is a gentle warning: our lives as Christians is a race and we must be careful how we run the race.

If Paul encourages us to run in such a way as to obtain the prize, it means it is possible to run and not obtain it.

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
I Corinthians 9:27 NKJV

There are disciplines and rules we are expected to live by in this kingdom. Simply put, the end does not justify the means.

We receive both the end and the means from God’s Word.

Another way to say this is: we cannot do God’s work using the world’s methods and still expect God’s reward. We obey His instructions, using His methods, to receive His reward.

It is wonderful to run—but we must run the right way.

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
I Corinthians 3:12–15 NKJV

This scripture warns us to take heed not only that we build, but how we build and with what materials, because our work will be tested at the end. Only that which endures the testing will be rewarded.

For the purpose of this post, I would like to highlight two traps we easily fall into that may compromise the reward we receive for our good works.

  1. Doing things to be seen by men.

In Matthew 6, Jesus, while teaching on giving, praying, and fasting, repeatedly warned us not to do these things to be seen by men. Believe it or not, this is a very easy trap to fall into.

We rarely start here, but along the journey people may begin to commend us for our good deeds. They may say things like, “Wow, you are so prayerful,” or “You break down Scripture so well.”

If we are not careful, our hearts begin to tilt, and we slowly start doing what we do for the praise of men.

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
I Corinthians 13:3 NKJV

Have you ever wondered about this scripture?

How can someone give all their goods to the poor and yet not have love?

I know at least one answer: the praise of men.

According to Jesus, when we live this way, we lose our reward.

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 6:1 NKJV

  1. Never truly seeking to know Christ

Christ died so that we may have eternal life. And what is eternal life? That we may know God and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3).

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!’”
Matthew 7:21–23 NKJV

Just like the people in the scripture above, it is possible to go through the motions of being a Christian and yet never truly seek to know God and His Christ. These individuals even worked miracles and cast out demons, yet they were not known by God. They were living life by their own rules and according to their own ambitions, rather than by obedience to God.

Let us therefore walk carefully, with our steps ordered by God and guided by His Word, so that we may live lives pleasing to Him and, in the end, receive that imperishable crown.

⸻

Prayer:
Lord, please grant me the grace to run this life’s race in such a way that I will receive my heavenly reward. Amen.

Living from the Inside Out

Published on by thestillsmallvoicesaysLeave a comment

As we step into a new year, many people are drawing up long lists of resolutions they hope to keep.

According to ChatGPT, the three most common New Year’s resolutions are:

1. Improve physical health : This often means exercising more, eating healthier, losing weight, or being more active overall.

2. Improve finances : Common goals include saving more money, paying off debt, sticking to a budget, or spending less.

3. Improve mental well-being: These are usually resolutions to get better sleep, reduce stress, or improve work–life balance.

Many of us can relate to one or two of these goals. And while they are all worthwhile, there is one area we must not neglect: our spiritual health.

Human beings are made up of spirit, soul, and body.

While we often attend to the needs of the soul and body, we sometimes forget that our spirit also has needs—and these needs should be prioritised.

“The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?”

— Proverbs 18:14 (NKJV)

Our spirit man actually carries the rest of our being. It is the support system for both our soul and our body. When the spirit is strengthened, it sustains everything else.

We live a richer and more fulfilling life when we live from the inside out, prioritising our spiritual needs.

Jesus Himself emphasised this truth:

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

— Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

Here, He highlights that while physical food is necessary, it is not sufficient. True life and sustenance come from the words that proceed from the mouth of God.

So where do we find these words?

In the place of personal fellowship with God and in the gathering of fellow believers.

So before you sign up for that annual gym membership or that healthy eating workshop, pause and ask yourself:

How can I tend to my spirit man?

How can I practically position myself to consistently receive the words that proceed from God’s mouth this year—and in the years to come?

In other words:

How do I spend even more time with God this year, both personally and corporately?

A Counter-culture

Published on by thestillsmallvoicesaysLeave a comment

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch not the unclean thing; And I will receive you,” – 2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to forget that as Christians, we are called to live differently from the world.

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” – Matthew 5:13 (KJV)

In the scripture above, Jesus, referring to believers, implies that we Christians are meant to bring flavour to the world around us.

But how can salt bring flavour if it blends in completely with the food? It can’t.

It’s our difference – our Christlike nature – that brings flavour to the world.

The Bible makes it clear that as citizens of God’s kingdom, we subscribe to a different way of life.

This kingdom lifestyle is clearly spelled out in the Bible.

If we don’t make an intentional effort to study God’s word and discover what He says on various life issues, we’ll end up following the way of the world, which is often the path of least resistance – the convenient path.

I encourage us today to return to the Word and discover how God expects us to live our lives. What does God say about our relationship with others, our attitude to money, our approach to work, our values, and many other issues?

As we begin to walk in the kingdom culture, we will bring the much-needed flavour to the world around us.

Jesus Prayed – Part Two

Published on by thestillsmallvoicesaysLeave a comment

In my last post, we saw how Jesus’ prayer life highlights the necessity of prayer. Today, let’s focus on the efficacy of prayer: if Jesus prayed, then prayer works.

As Christians, we may engage in the religious practice of prayer. Yet sometimes, deep in our hearts, a question lingers: Does our prayer even go beyond the ceiling of our room?

If prayer was only an empty religious practice, Jesus would not have bothered with it. However, He believed that prayer works. Think back to what He said at the tomb of Lazarus in the scripture below.

“And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” (John 11:4)

This conviction is further seen when, as He prepared to face the greatest test of His life—Death on the cross—He went to a place of prayer to gather strength.

Therefore, if Jesus, the only son of God, prayed for things to happen in His own life while on earth, then we should take our prayer lives very seriously.

When we partner with God in prayer, we see things move in our lives and in the world around us.

Myles Munroe once said, ” Prayer is earthly license for heavenly interference.”

Another popular saying goes, “Where there is a man to pray, there is a God to answer.”

When we have this understanding, it places a sense of responsibility on us as God’s representatives on earth.

We begin to see ourselves as change agents for God’s kingdom in our families, in our communities, and in our nation.

Prayer becomes about manifesting God’s will on earth as Jesus said in the Lord’s prayer.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Looking at scripture, it only takes one person who decides to engage God in prayer to change a nation. The scriptures are filled with numerous examples of men and women who engaged God in prayer and enforced His will on earth.

The Bible says, ” Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.” James 5:17 (BSB)

We also learn of Daniel, who realised that according to prophecy, it was time for the Israelites to be released from captivity, yet nothing was happening. So what did he do? He set his “face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3, KJV)

In summary, prayer is a powerful weapon in the hands of a yielded vessel. So, I challenge you: Decide today how you will use prayer to impact your world.