Here’s a great book to refresh that zeal to chase after God: Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer.
Tozer in his book confronts various life transitions that permeate our lives, steal our attention in seeking God and leaves us complacent. You will find that though this book is over 50 years old, that is still very relevant today.
Pursuit of God can be a good warm up to restart your chase after God!
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. (I Chronicles 4:10 NKJV)
The prayer of Jabez was a cry of a man, in his pain, to God for a breakthrough of blessing for his life. Dr. Bruce H. Wilkinson popularizes Jabez’s prayer in his book, Prayer of Jabez. From his focused study, Wilkinson reveals Biblical evidence that God wants to answer our prayers. He wants us to center ourselves around Him and He also wants us to bless our lives. We deprave ourselves of betterment in life when we neglect to involve God into our lives. Jesus himself said,”You have not because you ask not.”
Wilkinson leads readers to allow God transform their lives to be blessed and influence people to see Christ by personalizing the prayer of Jabez into our daily lives, taking Jabez’s initiative to just ask God. Wilkinson dissects the prayer into four parts: first Jabez ask God to bless him. Second, He ask to expand his territory or increase his responsibility. Third, He asks God to draw close to Him. Lastly, He asks for safety. It’s not prayer for prosperity, but a plea to change and succeed in order to exalt God.
I’ve used this book as a devotional, and I can say in this little prayer, there are giant openings to experience God uplifting your circumstances and directing your passion in prayer to be changed and blossom for God.
Astounding quote. We have to be careful in our effort to know more about God, we don’t domesticate Him.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9 NKJV)
Want to pray for the world, but don’t know what to exactly pray for? Operation World is great pick-up to get informed about the prayer needs of the world. Just find the country profile, read and pray!
Click on the photo for the on-line version!
Two days ago I received a book in the mail entitled,”The Peace and Power of Knowing God’s Name” by Kay Arthur. The book presents the many but glorious names of God that describe His awesome character.
Among them was the name Elohim, the Creator. This name reveals to us the Author of Life.
John 1:3 says,” All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” From God’s mouth He spoke our universe into existence. Galaxies, auroras, bananas, tigers, planets, lizards, sea weed were all crafted by our God.
Arthur gives the most fitting passage for this name of God- Revelation 4:11, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” God deserves our glory simply because were made by Him.
Summer is a great time to read books. Let me first say that I’m not a healthy, habitual book reader. I am the reader that faithfully reads the first five chapters -gets impatient with the conflict- so cheats by reading the climax; and then, to console my suspense, skips the meat of the book to finish the last chapters. I know I’m terrible.
Things were different when I picked up this book. I got my hands on it last Tuesday and finished reading it that Thursday.
“Do Hard Things” by Alex and Brett Harris aroused my spirit by its message for teens to combat culture normality and strive for God-purposed potential implanted in all of us.
Like the sting of cold water in the face, it awoke me to the culture-bred “adolescent myth” that so rampantly infects this generation to believe that they can achieve little wise or no good during the adolescent years of their life. Teen years is a long vacation for trouble making and free fun before the weighed responsibility of adulthood. Join me in shouting, “Lie!”
By personal testimonies of the Harris brothers and other high teen Christian achievers, the book proves that age doesn’t matter in performing good deeds for God’s glory. It advocates as Christ’s workmanship, we were created to do great works.
The book is centered on a word that echoes a challenge to break the mold: the word rebelution. Combing the words, “Rebellion” and Revolution”, rebelution is defined: “a teenage rebellion against low expectations”. It’s not a call for open rebellion against authority, but rather it’s a rally for teenagers to combat comprise to settle for less than what they are capable to achieve.
Although I lost my merits to be called a “teenager” five years ago, I was really consoled by this book, because I know that this generation can do far more than take out the trash and turn in their homework on time. I don’t believe we only have to refer to David and Esther to see great things young people can do for God; and this book sends that message.
The book hinges on 1 Timothy 4:12 which says, “Let no one despise you because your youth, but be an example to the believers in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Even God says not to succumb to relative ridicule, but influence others to righteous living and Godly character.
Don’t take the short stick. Do hard things. Start by taking God at His Word and then get a copy of this book. It’s a must read for anyone -even us non-teenagers- who wants to see this world turn upside down for Christ and be a part of it.
FOLLOW THE SON 