For the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them. Matthew 13:15.
“I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, a people who continually provoke Me to My face.” Isaiah 65:2-3.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
I tell you to pray without ceasing, to pray and never to faint, to call on Me and I will answer you, to ask and you shall receive, that you have not because you ask not, and I tell you that if you are suffering, you must pray. James 5:13. I work with you by your prayers for they acknowledge Me and open your heart to receive from Me, but above all they must be prayers of faith. And many of you have not because you ask wrongly, not in faith but beg in doubt and unbelief, accusing Me and blaming Me of abandoning you and not keeping My Word. You pray worried prayers. This kind of prayer caused Jesus to weep. And seeing Him you see Me.
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8.
And today’s Life Lesson on what to do when Satan attacks is simple but not widely adopted, “Never worry.” This is not an option; it is a command that I give you more than once. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life.” Matthew 6:25. For what reason? You will find it in the passage before this line begins, “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear (sincere, pure, healthy), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Mammon personifies the Babylonian system of the world, of taking and not giving, the spirit of living only for the purpose of acquiring worldly wealth. It glorifies the service of self and not others and certainly not Me. This is the system of the devil as “god” of this world, and this is the kingdom with which he tried to tempt My Son in the wilderness.
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-16.
People in the worldly system of Satan are worried. They are trying to get the advantage first before others seize it at any cost. They are trying to amass wealth so they can feel secure about their future. But you of the flock of My Son are not to live like that, you have entered My rest in Jesus, and you are not to worry about today or tomorrow or all eternity for you have My Kingdom as your source of supply. But you will not be able to receive that supply except by faith, and worry is not a companion of faith. It destroys faith and makes you double minded so you cannot receive even though I long to give.
And how do you show you are worried? By what you are focusing on and saying, “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the unbelievers eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33.
In My Kingdom you give to receive. You use My Word to change things. You believe and you receive. I show you the way to profit and the way you should go. My Blessing makes rich and adds no sorrowful toil with it. It is time you sought My Kingdom and My righteousness and all that is only in Jesus. My Word.
I tell you how to pray so that you can receive from Me. First, understand that I have made all My promises “yes” to you in Christ Jesus your Lord, that I DESIRE and LONG to answer all your prayers, address every one of you needs and give you an abundance on top for every good work. I long to open the windows of Heaven to you and pour out a blessing you cannot contain. I want the whole earth producing like a garden of Eden as I originally planned for you. I long to give you your heart’s desires but I only can when you ask with faith, otherwise, even though I try to give you the blessing you seek you are unable to let it in. Open WIDE your mouth and I will fill it. Open it wide to declare My Words and I watch over My Words to perform them. You will not return them to Me void, they will achieve the purpose for which I sent them.
I respond to prayer. I do not respond to need alone. If you do not call Me into the situation, I cannot intervene. What you permit in your life, I must permit, what you bind in your life, I will bind. Adam shut Me out of the world I made and out of the hearts of the men and woman I formed to be Mine, but the good news is you can let Me back into your life and your world. I have your miracle for you but you must initiate it or I cannot manifest it into your life. When you draw close to Me, and you do that by prayer, that is, initiating conversation with Me, then I draw close to you, and you will find I am not far, I am right there with you when you seek Me with your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13. It is with the heart you believe.
How I long to do for My people and give them all the goodness of My house, Psalm 36:, but you would not, you won’t let Me because you are worried. Worry is the primary reason that keeps believers from receiving My blessings. Most believers think worry is an option and a necessity about their lives and the lives of their family, children, friends and relatives, but I tell you clearly not to do it so if you are worrying you are sinning because it is an insult to Me, you are despising My Word to My face. Worry tells that you don’t believe My Word (the promises therein which are “yes” to you as believers in Jesus) and you think that I am not enough to solve your problem for certain. And that is no way to receive. It is double-minded and you cannot serve Satan and Me. Satan is the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning but he is also the father of worry, confusion, and fear. It means you are putting more importance on what he is speaking to you, causing you to surrender to his lies and take in all he is doing against you. You end up doing his will instead of Mine. You may think you are serving Me and not the devil but if you are worried, anxious, and “stressed out,” you are not.
“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” Mark 11:24. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:6-10.
Worried prayers are not answered prayers. Pray according to My Will and I hear you and when I hear you, you know that you have what you have asked. And you find My Will in My Word, both the written Word and the Words I give you in your spirit by the Holy Spirit who is in you as your leader, teacher, and guide. But He always leads you by My written Word, adding personal information and revelation for you.
Here are the three things you should be doing to pray answered prayers, which give both you and Me joy.
1. Take Me at My Word. No matter what Satan is telling you or what your surrounding circumstances or onslaught of trials are, believe and stand on My Word. Like the one whose builds his home on a foundation of rock that the storms cannot shake, this is hearing, believing, and doing My Word. The rock is My Word. Refuse to let go of your confession of faith.
“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:35-39.
2. Bring all your problems, needs, hopes, and dreams to Me first. Most people do not do this when trouble comes, instead they first go to tell others about it, and I mean everyone and anyone but especially those you think have the ability to solve your problem. Many people just go vent on others, and I mean over and over. Venting is NEVER good and never solves things but puts you in further anxiety and causes you to gossip and judge, which certainly will block your being able to hear and receive from Me. I tell you to first forgive when you come to Me to pray. Mark 11:25. Venting is not faith and it means you have not cast the care of it on Me. Put pressure on My Word and NOT on people to help you. Do not be someone people avoid because you always are asking them for money to bail you out and fill your needs. Do not ignore your Father in Heaven who has given you the Kingdom for just such a time as this. Come with confidence to My throne and find your answers and the grace to receive them.
3. Trust Me to undertake the performance of My Word. Trust Me to be working on your behalf. Trust Me to be providing all sufficiency for your need and an abundance for every good work. And if someone asks you about your problem, do not go off into a tale of woe, instead say that God is working on it and all is well. Like the Shunamite woman told her husband as she headed for the prophet when her son died, “Shalom, all is well.” You can get into bed and have sweet sleep at night saying, “My Father is working on it while I sleep and will let Me know just what to do every morning when I wake.” Know that once you cast it on Me, I am working it out for your good and My glory. But you should not then just walk away from it. NO. I tell you to hold fast to My Word of life and to pray without ceasing. How do you do that? You start the praising and the rejoicing in worship bringing it to My attention throughout the day. “Thank you Father that you are working on this matter (and you can be specific to what it is), I praise you that you are the LORD My (whatever the need is, such as Healer, Provider, Peace, Shepherd, Refuge, Fortress, Deliverer, Helper, LORD of Hosts, and any Name of Mine you wish to call upon that is appropriate to address your need).
You have cast the care so you are not going to take up worrying about it again but you are still keeping yourself in expectation for the manifestation of the result. Continue bringing it before Me in praise.
Worry to you should be a red flag and you should go after it and address it to leave immediately by specifically speaking to the whatever the worry is with the opposite from Scripture. Address fear of financial ruin or just lack, lingering illness, pain, disability, or whatever else Satan has found pushes you into worry and anxiety and counter it, that is, check it immediately and take his piece captive. He is good at watching you and finding out if you take it in and he can only tell if he has trapped you by your words and your countenance because he cannot read your mind though he can communicate thoughts around your head. Worry in your thoughts should be a sign to you that you are not letting Me help you as I long to do. You are grieving the Holy Spirit.
And here I would also address if you are worried about wayward children. I care about your children but you must bring this to Me in prayer and authorize Me to move in their lives if they have closed to Me. And once you have entrusted Me with the care, no longer worry, instead counter that worry with answering it with, “My God is working on it now. I thank you Father that you are working your power around my children and working in them a great work now.” Release your faith for this and you cannot do that is you are worrying. Worry is not a sign of loving your children, it is a sign of unbelief that I will answer you about your children. I have an intense desire that all people be saved and come to know and walk in the truth. I want My children to prosper and be in good health, even as their souls prosper.
Jesus wept in two places in the Bible. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus and over Jerusalem. And now I will tell you why so that you do not make Him weep even now.
Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, were friends of Jesus who believed in Him. Mary would sit at His feet and listen to His Word. They knew Him and that He healed. And yet when Lazarus became ill they panicked. They sent for Jesus and they were not like the Centurion. The Word was not enough for them, Jesus had to come in person. Lazarus died before Jesus got there. This did not stop Jairus from believing for his miracle when he got the news his daughter had died while Jesus was on the way to his home, he just kept believing and going forward and Jesus raised her from the dead just as he had faith. Martha and Mary both accused Jesus that IF He had come faster Lazarus would not have died. And the other people that came out to mourn with them asked the same question of why He had not done something for Lazarus like He did for others if He loved him. John 11:37. Martha at first even refused to roll the stone away from the grave of Lazarus telling Jesus that after four days there would be a stench. He was faced with the worry and unbelief of those who should have known better, who had listened to His Word, and believed in Him. And looking around at the weeping, begging, and accusing crowd, He wept. But they were fortunate that Jesus was among them in the flesh and still had dominion authority on earth in His own body, He went into faith action. And He told Martha, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:40-44.
I tell you in this passage that Jesus wept and that He was deeply moved. When the Son of Man comes will He find any faith on the earth? Worry is sin, it is from the devil.
And why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem on Palm Sunday? “When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Luke 21:41-44. Lack of faith. It pushed Him away so that He could not protect them from their enemies. It made Him weep. It still does. He died so you could be free of the enemy’s snare but if you will not receive Him there is not much I can do for you, like Adam, have shut Me out of your life. But Jesus keeps knocking.
Do not wait for Me to address your need without speaking to Me about it, if you care about something enough you will pray about it. And then do not give up and get sluggish about it. Keep the same diligence to the end through faith and patience so that you have the promise. Hold fast in perseverance releasing your faith. Thanking and praising but continuing to ask what you should do. It may be as simple as washing in a pool of water, dipping seven times in a river, catching a fish and looking in his mouth for the money you need, pouring oil in containers, speaking to a rock, lowering the handle of an ax in the river in which the axe head fell and recovering it, speaking to the sun and moon to stand still, laying your hands on the sick, or shouting at a wall so it went down. All these have happened and were as different and varied as the moment and the things at hand. What about you? You may be the next new way of having a miracle. If only My people would listen and obey . . .
I love you. Let Me work for you. I cannot fix your problems and ills if you keep holding onto them. That shows you do not trust Me enough to entrust them to Me. You have to put them in My hands so the master craftsman, the Potter, can reshape, remake, and make perfect in Christ. If you won’t listen through your worry, I cannot help you. Not because I don’t want to, but because you have blocked Me out.
Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed. John 20:29.
Oh that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! Psalm 81:13.