God Makes us Fruitful

It is not something that we do for ourselves, although it may be something that we believe we are in control of. I have a job and I earn money and that makes me fruitful. I have the common sense to be nice to people and multiply goodness to them and that makes me fruitful. I am the one who provides for my family and ensures that they have what they need to be successful and that makes me fruitful.

“⁶I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.” – Genesis 17:6 (ESV)

God did not say to Abraham that he, Abraham, would make great nations. What He said was that He, God, would make Abraham into nations. God would make Abraham fruitful. God controls it all for me as well. My success. My fruitfulness. My growth. My provisions. All of it is granted by God. He makes/made me what I am.

Don’t get me wrong, I have work to do in order to realize all that God has made and promised for me. I have to follow His commands. I have to do His will. I have to ensure that I am always moving toward Him. And when I am, I will be blessed with fruitfulness all around me. God will ensure that He keeps His part of the covenant He made with me.

God makes us. From the beginning in day six to eternity He makes us. Not just our form, but our entire selves. He makes us even to be fruitful in the growing of His kingdom from here on earth to there in heaven. I am made fruitful by God and not of my own.

Where does your fruitfulness come from? Are really believe that you are in control of you being? What if you allowed God to continue as He did on the sixth day of creation, to make you all that you are and will become?

Be Fruitful to the World

“¹And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.’” – Genesis 9:1 (ESV)

Upon Noah and his family exiting the ark following the flood, God gave him a task to “fill the earth”. And that is what was done. We know this by our simple existence here in this world as God’s flood of the earth removed all others from it and left it to Noah and his family.

Now, Noah and his family filled the earth that they knew, the one that was where they were. He did not send His sons to the “Americas” to fill here, but he and his family filled the world they were in obedience to God and knew that God would do the rest.

I have to remember that it is my duty to “fill the earth” beginning with the world I am in. I believe that is one reason that I identify with the church vision of where we as a family attend. We long to see “A gospel movement that reaches every person in the hill country and is carried to the ends of the earth.” We are not being fruitful in all the earth, just our little corner of it and then it is carried further, allowing for our filling of the earth. It all starts with doing the work where we are.

I do believe that too often we do not recognize and realize the impact we make or can make due to our want to do the big thing. I have to remember to be fruitful where I am and do the work of the LORD here. I have to allow for God to work through me where I am and not ignore the need right in my backyard because I see a “bigger” more “visible” need in the yard over there.

God calls on me to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”. Even when calling on Noah, He called on him to start right where he was and do the work there. I am called to do the same, do the work in the world I am in.

What are you maybe not doing because you are looking to far away? Are you focused on making the big splash? What if you did the work where you are and filled the earth by starting in the world you are in?

Fruitful with and Multiply Good

This morning I have moved to the study of the word “fruitful” and what better place to start my study than where I was lead in Genesis chapter 1. With every step in God’s creation of the world, He recognized that it was good. He saw that light was good, land was good, vegetation was good, fish and animals and even man was good, very good. In all of His creation, God saw good.

This being the case, that all is good, I see also in God’s Word, that he wanted fruitfulness and multiplication. Although as I read, I can only think that there may be more being fruitful and multiplying than just extension of the species. I can think, as I mention in the title of my writing this morning of being fruitful and multiplying good.

Let’s dig in a bit. It is not in the nature of animals to be evil toward one another. Violence in the animal kingdom is meant for food and for dominion in the area (defense of that area). So the animal kingdom is made up of good and that good is spread throughout the species. With man, we hold the same as we are of the animal kingdom, only we are gifted free will from the Father.

As man, I am to spread (multiply) goodness throughout just as the other animals. The difference is that I have free will to do or not do the spreading. God has given me the option of doing so and it is up to me to be the example of Him and spread goodness. I was created good and am filled with good and it is my duty to spread that good throughout this world. God did it with His creation of the world and I am to continue His work as I live in this world.

“²⁸And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” – Genesis 1:28 (ESV)

It is easy for me to sit here and believe that all of this was meant for me. Even reading God’s Word where He says that I, as man, am to have dominion over all living creatures. Yet it is not specifically mentioned to “fill the earth” with men and women. I feel as I am to “fill the earth” with good and multiply that good over all living creatures on this earth.

God created good with His creation of the world. It is my duty to be that good and spread it far and wide.

When you think of fruitful and multiply, what comes to your mind? Are you thinking of your being and you? What if you took the chance to take that which God created, goodness, and spread that far and wide?

God Awaits Our Prayer

Oh how much it seems as though I am waiting on God to act on my behalf. But, what if I am waiting for something that I have not given to Him and therefore there really is nothing I should be waiting for. Although, doesn’t God already know that which is in my heart without me even speaking?

“¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

— 1 Peter 3:12 (ESV)

God is waiting on me. He is paying attention to me like I did/do with my boys. I watch them and watch them as they move through this world and am always at the ready when they call. I am here to help them when they are in need. I am waiting for them to cry out for my help. God is doing the same with me. He is watching me and guarding over me and will step in when the time is right for Him to do so. Otherwise, He will simply wait for me to cry out that I need His help and then He will be right there.

Just because we are struggling a bit does not mean that we need help. Sometimes we will just have to work through it and learn from the struggle and the resolution to move forward to the next thing. God wants us to succeed, yet He is only going to step in when it is something that we are not able to complete or we need the extra boost that only He can provide. If God were to do all things for us, what would be learn from that.

And yes, God knows what we are in need of, even without us saying it. The thing is, He still wants us to reach out to Him in prayer. I mentioned earlier that I am/was always watching my boys. I know them (as well as I can of course). I know when something is not right. And yet, I am not able to jump in and help without be asked. God wants to hear from me. He wants me to ask. Even if I do not know what to ask, I have to pray to Him and let Him know that I need His help. When I open to Him in prayer, my needs are understood and He is there to provide for those needs in only the way He can.

Maybe, just maybe, it is not that I am waiting on God to jump in and help. Maybe I have missed the step of reaching out for help through prayer and He is waiting on my petition. I have to ask for help in order to receive it. And yes, God knows what I am in need of, but I have to come to Him and open my heart to Him. When I do, I may not know what to ask for, but He knows now that I am seeking His help and He then jumps right. God is awaiting my prayer.

What are you in need of? Are you just expecting God to jump in and help and cannot understand why He has not as of yet? What if you went to Him in prayer to let Him know that you are in need of His help and allowing Him the opportunity to jump in?

Pray for One Another

There is definitely more to it than just what I have in the title this morning. It is our duty and frankly the right thing to do, praying for others that is. We are to bring our petitions to the LORD and He will grant them. So, even if we do not know of a need in the world, we are to come to the LORD and ask Him to do His will. But, there is another element that I believe to be of great importance. We are to pray for one another with the needs that they have brought to us.

“¹⁶Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” – James 5:16 (ESV)

James writes here of praying for one another related not to the unknown, but for the known. I am to bring my needs to my brothers and sisters and ask/allow them to take those needs and lay them at the feet of the LORD. I am to take their needs to the LORD. We are to petition the LORD on behalf of one another.

“¹⁹Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 18:19 (ESV)

I come with another in petition for them and the LORD will take action. I have to be willing to bring the exact needs of another and do so with them. The LORD will know that we are together on the petition and will fulfill His promise as He made in the verse above. Yes, the words above are those of Jesus and when He speaks, He promises.

So, when I pray, I pray for the unknown that the LORD will do His will in this world. I must also pray for the known that is shared from others. We should pray together and bring it to the feet of the LORD and He will take action as He promises.

What needs do you have that you have not shared with another? Are you out there trying to go it alone? How much more would you give with sharing with another and bringing your petition to the LORD together and allowing the LORD to take action as He promises?

Prayer of Faith

One has to mean it. I remember growing up and doing something that was not exactly nice to my brother and sister (I am sure most of us have been there). And then, after being ratted out to the parents, I was “forced” to give the obligatory apology, the “sorry”, under the breath and includes the roll of the eyes just to satisfy the parents. Everyone knew it was not sincere, yet it satisfied in the moment. Prayer, can be similar to that apology.

This morning I was brought to the passage in James titled “The Prayer of Faith”. After reading the passage, I was reminded of the sincerity that is to accompany our prayer. I even have some notes in my bible from earlier study that identifies the depth to which we are to pray.

“¹⁵And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” – James 5:15 (ESV)

This verse brings home the power of prayer. But not just any prayer, the prayer of faith. When praying, I have to remember that I have to have faith in God to answer those prayers. I have to know and approach God with the knowledge that His will be done in all that we ask for and seek from Him. And that is where my prayer has to be the right prayer and something that I recently explained to someone asking for me to pray for their situation. I have to pray for the will of God and not just for Him to give me the answers I may be looking for. I have to understand that my “want” is of less importance than God’s Will.

“Pray for God’s will with Faith. Remember to pray deeply, not just on the surface. Not our request for action we want, but action for and about God’s Will.” This is the note I have in the margin of my bible in this passage. This is the message of the prayer of faith. It is not about me and what I want. It is about God and His will be done. I have to pray deeply, with the faith that His will be done. He will answer our prayer as He says He will. By praying deeply and for His will to be done, I am prepared for the result of His actions and not looking for the outcome I want.

What kind of prayer are you lifting up to God? Are you going through the motions and giving your obligatory prayer to Him for your wants? What if you were to pray with faith, deeply, and pray for His will to be done?

Through God and Prayer, All is Made Holy

This morning I was reminded that all things are made holy through God and prayer with the verse in the book of 1 Timothy that says as much.

“⁴For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” – 1 Timothy 4:4-5 (ESV)

Paul is writing to Timothy in encouragement to continue in the faith. Here he is letting him know that even though there are those who reject the faith, and frankly those that turn away from it, that is not the end of things. It is up to Timothy and those who believe and are faithful, to pray continue praying to bring back to holiness. I am to continue in faith and even though things around me may be falling away, I have the ability to bring them to God through prayer and He can/will bring them back to holy those that are in His Will.

This may feel a bit confusing to some, and to me without additional study of God’s Word. I have to remember that just because I want something to be holy, does not mean that it will be. It has to be within God’s Will to make it holy and it has to come from the heart and not just the mouth. I may want ill gotten gains to be made acceptable for my own personal reasons and begin praying for God to make it so. Without it being part of God’s Will, He does not make it holy.

When I am wanting something to be brought back into the fold of God, I am to offer it up in prayer and supplication. But, before doing so as a person of faith, I have to first study to understand if it is something of real value to the Will of God or is it something personal that is a want of man (me). It is in this study that I am remaining in the faith and working to find the Will of God in my life and when finding His Will, He grants holiness of my petition in His name and for His Will.

One has to be careful, as I have noted before and will continue to do so, when reviewing the scripture. It is very easy to pick and choose words and verses from God’s Word to meet the thoughts and views that we hold personally. Even the two verses above can be misconstrued in meaning to fit what is selfishly wanted. For example, I may want something and read that all created by God is good and if I pray for it, I am entitled to it from God as made holy through prayer. Just because something is prayed for does not make it holy. One has to read the rest of the passage and understand that all things created by God and are for His glory, not my own.

Yes, those things brought to God through prayer are made holy when they are brought to Him for His glory. When they are brought from the heart and with God’s Will in mind, He will accept those that are in line with His Will and work. It is not for me to say what or how God will work with that which I bring to Him. It is simply for me to determine the goodness through His Word and bring to Him in prayer, allowing God to decide what and how that will be used according to His Will.

What are you bringing to the LORD in prayer? Are you bringing for your own selfish gain? What if you first put your requests to the test of the Word of God and then brought to Him those that to His Will be decided on by Him and made holy by Him through prayer and supplication?

Prayer for You and Others Too

Prayer is our way of talking with God and voicing our glory for Him, our thanks, and our requests. In my time of prayer it is natural to go through my expressions in selfish ways for just me. And it is okay and certainly part of the process that I am there speaking with God on a personal level for me.

“²Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 4:2 (ESV)

Paul, in his letter to the church at Colossae encouraged them to continue in their prayer and does not detour them from their way, only encourages. I think that Paul wanted first to let them know that they are doing right and should continue doing that (prayer) in the interest of right actions.

I have to know that what I am doing is what I should be doing. Even in business, I ask for feedback on the actions I am taking to ensure that what I am doing is right and what adjustment I should be making. In the interest of being a lifelong learner and continuous improvement, I should be seeking out the views of others in order to move forward.

Although it is natural and Paul encourage the continued prayer for myself, there is also the element that I have to pray for others. And Paul makes that known in the next verses in his letter.

“³At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— ⁴that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” – Colossians 4:3-4 (ESV)

Paul it seems is making the plea for prayers on his behalf. And where yes, he is right to do so, there is in my thinking more to it than his asking selfishly. I see here that Paul is reminding me that I have to be aware of and praying for the needs and actions of others and not just myself. He is telling me to continue what I am doing and add in the piece for others as well. This is the move from the selfish action to the selfless action and ensuring that ours and the petitions of others are lifted to God for His guidance.

And there is the feedback from Paul on the improvement that can be made in my prayer life. Not that what I was doing by praying for me and my requests, but that there is more to be added and offered to God. I have to be engaged in prayer for me and for other too.

It is the continuous prayer that I am able to do both and make my prayers and supplications to the LORD. Remembering that I should be coming to God all the day long, in all situations. I have to bring Him glory, thanks, and requests. And it is with that continuous constant prayer that I am able to bring prayer for me and for others too.

How selfish are your prayers? Are you reaching out to God for your benefit only? What if you took the feedback from Paul and lifted up prayer for you and others too?

Reduce Anxiety with Prayer

“⁴Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)

Seems simple enough. Pray to the LORD and allow Him to take away the anxiety. Give your troubles to Him and He will relieve the stress of the situation. Just talking with God will allow you to speak to what ails you and He will comfort you. It does seem simple enough.

But, is it. Well, yes it is. The LORD is here to guard us and protect us and comfort us. He is our Father in heaven and only wants what is best for us, and even will work to relieve the anxiety we have developed.

The thing is, yes here it is, God will remove the anxiety, we are responsible for truly giving it to Him. It is one thing to make the statement that we have given it to God to work through for us and then it is something else to actually allow Him to do His work.

Supplication: to make a humble entreaty, to ask humble and earnestly of, to ask for earnestly and humbly – Merriam-Webster Online

Paul uses the word “supplication” here as well as in other letters. What a lovely word for us to remember when we are praying to the LORD to take away our anxiety and take things over for us. It is truly about the earnest and humble plea to the LORD where He will do His work. Not that He would not work for us without it, just that with supplication of our prayers, it is from our heart and fully understood that we are not able to do it alone or simply without the help from our Father.

I title this writing, “reduce anxiety with prayer” to indicate that all that we are anxious about, does not have to be. There are things that are fully out of our control and can/will be handled by others. God is those others. I have to remember to supplicate and pray to the LORD and allow Him to take these things from me and work them to His glory and plan. When I do, I will find it refreshing to get on with the rest of things in the name of the LORD.

What things are you giving to the LORD? Are you giving them to Him in just your words? What if you were to supplicate and pray to the LORD and give all to Him from your heart to remove the anxiety?

Prayer to Stay Alert

The whole armor of God is just that, armor to protect against the evil that will come at us each and every day. That armor is described in Ephesians chapter 6. By putting on the armor, we are able to walk through this world knowing that when something comes at us, we are left to completely fend for ourselves. There is one part that may not get its due when we referencing the armor of God and the protections that come with that armor, and that is prayer.

“¹⁸praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” — Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)

There is a saying used in the sport of American football as well as other sports, “keep your head on a swivel”. This saying references to stay alert as anything can happen so be aware. Paul’s words above speak to this directly. It is important that even as we put on the armor of God, we have to stay alert and prepare for anything that may happen. We have to ready ourselves for battle and that means understanding that we cannot know all that will happen. We have to be alert and adjust to that which we are presented.

Prayer is our way of preparing. Getting in the right frame with God in the morning and at all times as Paul states in verse 18 above will allow us to keep alert to what might come.

No, we will not be able to avoid all negative events that come. We will not see it all before it attacks us. That is the reason for the armor of God. In American football, even being alert for what might happen one wears the equipment to protect when we miss something. The armor of God gives us protection when we miss something. It allows us to take the hit and then fight back.

In my walk of Christianity, I get up each morning and put on the armor of God and then pray for guidance through this world. I pray to align with God and stay alert to what might come and be prepared for the battle ahead. I will miss some things and hence the reason for the armor to protect when the hit comes, and then I am given the chance to call on God for His assistance in overcoming.

What are you doing to prepare? Are you just putting on the physical protection? What if you were to pray to stay alert in addition to wearing the armor of God?