At first glance this statement might seem like heresy. After all, God has done it all. Through grace and grace alone we have our salvation provided for us by Jesus death and resurrection. It is His Holy Spirit who makes us holy and blameless before God. It is only through Him we have peace and assurance, so how can we add to our faith?

This is a Bible verse found in 2 Peter 1:5 where it says, ‘Add to your faith virtue.’ What is virtue? The dictionary defines virtue as an ‘admirable quality’ or a ‘good habit.’ So what is this verse saying? Simply this: practice good habits. Habits are learned. We are not born with the habit of dressing ourselves. It is a learned habit and becomes second nature to us. After we become Christians and are still babes in Christ, we have to learn good habits, from the Bible, from other believers and from our consciences. God will not clothe us with good habits or character. He will urge us to learn, but he will not force His will on us. We have to take the initiative to learn.

‘And to virtue knowledge’ v6 is the next part of the process. He wants us to be continually learning these habits that they become part of what we really know well. This is what we call character building.

Next in line to knowledge comes ‘self-control’. Thankfully we are not expected to have the self-control until we have the good habit and the knowledge. Before that it would be difficult to have self-control when we don’t know what we are doing. We don’t expect a child to have dry diapers until they have leaned the good habit of being toilet trained. When we are sure they know what we they are meant to do we expect them to show self control.

‘To self-control, perseverance’. Here is where it begins to hurt! How do we get perseverance except we have trials! None of us like trials and testing but the end result is perseverance and this is character building indeed. ‘Perseverance through tribulation works patience’ and how important it is for us to be patient and wait on what God has for us. You may be patiently waiting on God to save a close family member, while He is allowing you to build character that you will be a better example of Jesus Christ to them.

‘To perseverance, Godliness.’ Wow! finally, these are the kind of habits and virtues He wants to build into our character till we become more like Him and more useful for the extension of His Kingdom. Salvation is a free gift, the Holy Spirit to help is free, the privilege of prayer is free too, but the initiative to be willing to build character has to come from us. I sometimes notice people who come through trials and tribulations shining bright, while so often I go through the same thing and just be relieved to be through it! Well, that is how it is! The attitude of perseverance and patience if shown will allow character to build and make us more like Jesus in our actions and reactions. If we did not learn that habit we can’t move on to the next and isn’t godliness one of the habits we all want to be seen in us! !

These past months have required that I in many ways ‘be patient’. I am not fond of being ‘a patient’ and not being able to do for myself, and I am certainly not patient by nature!! Having gotten through the months of pain, casts and airboots, I somehow figured that after a couple of weeks of physio, things would be close to normal and I could do all the usual activities. But that is not what I was taught as a nurse or what I had conveyed to others in similar situations, so why did I expect it to happen like that?
One thing I have realized is that it is not getting through an experience which makes it a valuable life lesson, but it is how you come through it and what you learn from it. I don’t personally think I have learned to be patient through this experience, but I have realized a few things. I can empathize much better with those who have to be in wheelchairs. It is so unbelievably hard to reach up to shelves and worktops etc from a wheelchair. So often you need the help of someone else to get things.
I realize that there is ‘no gain without pain’ in the area of physiotherapy and rehabilitation. A definite amount of determination and stamina is required to be able to continually hurt yourself with the goal of getting healthier! This is where I am at the moment in this process, and believe me, I am still impatient to see quicker results!
In our Spiritual lives, every experience we go through can be seen in this way! Sometimes we go through an experience and come no better out the other end, while at other times depending on our reaction we can learn from it. If we are willing to take each day as it comes, trusting the Lord to use us because of what has happened we can be sure He will. If we firmly believe that nothing can happen to us which is not according to His divine and Perfect Will, then He can use us in every situation He allows us to be in!
Why do some people who are very sincere believers go through periods of doubt or depression? Could it be to help those who suffer from these ailments? If that is the experience you are in at the moment, hang on in there, He has allowed it for a purpose and will use you in the lives of others for His glory if you allow Him to. How much easier it is to accept advice from a person who has been through the same experience as you and knows exactly how you feel.
If you are not in any situation you would rather not be in at the moment, don’t judge those who are or their reaction. Chances are you will go through some stuff someday and be called upon to come through not somehow but triumphantly. Dr, Harold Willmington often said, ‘Believers are either in trouble, coming out of trouble or about to get into trouble!’ How do folks manage, without Christ to lead them through?
As I grit my teeth each day to the pain of trying to mobilize this ankle joint, or at the fact that it takes so long to do what I used to be able to do in a half the time, I have to remind myself continually that it has been allowed for a purpose in my helping others along the way, and in that case, it is worth it.
I have had more time to read and pray for people who need it, more time to concentrate on the needs of so many of our friends. I have time to reflect on the events which have passed and recognize why they happened as they did. How important it is to pray for those struggling to come to terms with health issues, who need that special touch of our Heavenly Father, and not only that they will be made healthy, but made whole, having learned that no experience is wasted if God allows it to happen to you.
And maybe also, just maybe, I could become a little more patient after all!

This week Derek Bingham, a Northern Irish bible teacher and author went to be with the Lord after a year long battle with Leukemia. For him the battle is over and the effect he left behind with all his teachings and books will live on for many years. He finished well and is now happier than ever before, having reached the goal and brought many souls to Christ along the way.
We send deepest sympathies to his wife and family and know the lord will bring comfort and solace to their hearts. But again we need to take a look at the example we are leaving behind. Who will remember we existed a year after we leave this earth? More importantly, who will be in Heaven because we told them about Jesus or helped them in some other way to find Him?
Children are often asked in school to write down a few words which characterize their parents and what they say can be amusing. I remember, our son Bryan telling us that all the kids in school were asked to say what jobs their fathers did. I know nowadays that question would be politically incorrect as half the kids don’t know their dad’s and of those who do half the fathers have no work! But in those days it was still a valid question.
Bryan was a bit upset and when we asked the cause, he said it was unfair that all the other dads were truck drivers, mechanics, even a doctor and a racing driver. Still we did not see the problem until we asked what profession he had chosen for his dad and he replied, ‘I told them Dad preached at people and stuck stuff with Superglue!’ Bryan obviously did not see that as a glamorous profession at that point in his life!
We had a good laugh at that before explaining to Bryan that his dad had the most important job there is, to be an Ambassador for Jesus Christ and have the privilege of bringing other people to Jesus to be healed, forgiven and made ready to live in the heavenly Kingdom. (He did also do many repairs on homes, toys etc and was often seen with duct tape or superglue to do the job).
While Derek Bingham was known to many, will be remembered for a long time and obviously loved His job of serving the Master, there are believers who have spent their lives quietly witnessing for Jesus, selflessly giving to missionaries and believingly praying for those in the forefront of the battle. Although these folks will possibly not be remembered by many on this earth, they have built up their treasure in Heaven and will reap their reward when the Lord tells them they did their job well. We are aware of many who remember us daily before the throne and know the feeling of being upheld in prayer as we partner with them in spreading the Good News.
As believers, we should be telling and showing others the way to Jesus first and foremost in our lives and everything else will fall into perspective, as we realize that ‘only what is done for Jesus will last.’ Recently we met a man who buys Bibles with any extra money he has and he gives them away to people he meets. You think that is not spectacular, but he is not even a Christian. He began reading the Bible and found so much good stuff in it, he decided to share this happiness with others and give out as many as possible. Do we as believers have such a willingness to share or even give literature to those who need to hear? I think we would do more if we realized the importance not only of the legacy we leave behind, but the fact that we bring our treasures with us to share in our heavenly home. Ask the Lord to help you see opportunities this week, to prepare the hearts of the people and then in His Strength speak for Him. You will be amazed how needy people are and how open to the Gospel.

My mother was looking at my son Jon Marc on Skype recently. She was thrilled to be able to talk to him, and even more excited to be able to see him on web-cam, Mum has not seen Jon Marc or Jennifer since their 2006 wedding so it has been a while. It was an obvious thrill for her to see their daughter Evangeline on screen and she remarked on how cute and adorable Evangeline is. Great grandmothers are even more excitable than grandparents, if you can believe that!
But long after the conversation with Jon Marc was over, Mum just kept talking about how like my father he looked. Jon Marc has always had a similarity to my Dad but as he gets older he becomes even more like Dad as we remember him. Since Dad passed on a few years ago and Mum still misses him, she was delighted to see just how like his granddad Jon Marc had become. Somehow it gave her a great lift to see that the older Jon Marc gets, the more he looks like my Dad did at that particular age.
In Ephesians 5:1 we are encouraged to become more like Christ by ‘becoming imitators of God.’ Would it not be the best compliment we could be given to be told we are like Jesus?
Obviously, Jon Marc resembles my Dad because of his genetic make-up and he can’t do much to change that! But in reality, at least before salvation we can’t do much to change ourselves either, but be willing to allow Him to change us.
From that moment onwards, the more we learn about Him and from Him the more likely it is that we become like Him. Ephesians 4:32, ‘Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.’ Luke 6:36 ‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.’ As we show mercy, kindness and tenderness, we will be known by these fruits of the Spirit evident in our lives. So often we forget what He took us from and how much we have been forgiven when we are judging others!
Due to our mission work, Jon Marc did not have as much time to spend with his grandparents as most kids do, meaning that he had not the same opportunity to ‘imitate’ his grandfather, but for us as believers, we do not have the excuse of geographical distance. If we are not as like the Lord as we should be, we can alter that by spending more time with Him! As we learn more about Him through the Word, through prayer and fellowship with others of like mind, we can learn how to become like Him.
If it is exciting for us as parents to see traits and similarities of our parents in our children, then I imagine when we are told in so many verses to become like Christ, it must also bring joy to the Lord when others can see Christ in us. This hymn by Wm Kirkpatrick, words by F.O. Chisholm and can be found on FAVORITES gospel songs #5, sums up the longing we have in our hearts.
Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing,
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Recently, David had a fall and hit his nose on the edge of a wooden rail. Ouch, it was a pretty sore bang, but it did save him hitting his face full on and damaging either an eye or a cheekbone. So he told the congregation in the next meeting that, because of his built in crumple zone, his face was saved a lot more damage. They all agreed and had a good laugh with us.
Bu there is a far more serious side to the crumple zone. It was discovered first by the motor company Mercedes and eventually other car manufacturers were told of the discovery and used it in their products. When asked about it, Mercedes said, ‘Of course we had to share this news as it can save lives and was therefore too good not to share!’
If they had not been willing to share the news, how many more people would have been killed? In fact, only those who owned Mercedes would have had this protection in the event of an accident!
As Christians, we have made a great discovery which saves our lives and our souls. Others from other religions, those with no belief or who have not realised the soul-saving, life-giving power is there, because Jesus died for everyone and wants to have a relationship with us, need to hear our news. It is too good not to share with everyone! I Peter 3:15 ….’Always, be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in you.’
Share it simply like the Mercedes people did and soon others will be excited and run with the news as well. Don’t save the news only for family and friends, share it with those you meet along the way. Ask the Lord to open up the opportunities and to give you words to say. You have news that will certainly save souls and the earlier people hear it, the earlier it will change and save their lives as well.
If you have not yet trusted in the Lord and asked Him to forgive your sins and save your soul, I encourage you to do it now! I want to share the news with you that you can experience the help of the Lord through life and the assurance of eternal life. Read John chapter 3:16, ‘God so loved the World that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ Tell Jesus you believe in Him, ask Him to forgive your sins and take over the reins of your life. He wants to and He will do it!
That is quite the crumple zone and certainly too good news not to share!!!

This verse has been precious to me especially over the past month.
I am one of these folk who must be organized and know what and where I am going. I had spent hours on the internet working out our travel plans for coming home and for the various visits we had to make. I was a little apprehensive that the timing may have been off and we might miss a boat or plane. But as we crossed the Continent it seemed all the plans were taking shape as I imagined and any fears I had were unfounded. Arriving at Dover, we were asked would we like to take an earlier boat at no extra cost! This was amazing and would mean much less of a rush at the other end.
We arrived close to the airport in plenty of time and I decided to pick up a card for a birthday. Then it happened! In seconds, the plans I had made so carefully over many days were changed and suddenly God’s plans and our plans were not in agreement. I slipped on ice and was rushed off to hospital for surgery on a nasty broken ankle. The expected flight to Ireland left without David and it all seemed like such a waste! At first, I tried to make all the already agreed plans work out, until I finally accepted that it was out of my control.
For me, it is not easy to relinquish that control and see His new plan to be the better one! Why did He allow me to book the flights if we were never going to make it? What else of the planned program would have to be changed? But the more I asked, the more the Lord assured me of the above verse and of the fact that ‘His ways are Higher than ours!’ I can’t describe to you the perfect peace to learn to rest and to lean on Him so completely. I believed, I was already totally dependent on Him for my everyday existence, and what else is there? But no, He wanted me to learn that He still holds the reins and has the better plan for me.
There have been many changes and alterations in plans over these past weeks and I have no doubt there are more ahead!! However, there have been people we met and have spoken to that we never would have known under normal circumstances. Gospel booklets, tracts and witnessing have been placed in situations where the good news badly needed to be heard. Friendships have been made which will not be easily forgotten. And I have seen God’s Personal Plan for me unfurl.
I don’t believe God caused this to fulfill His plan, but I know, He permitted it for the purpose of bringing us to others, of showing us His Power, continued love & care. Only eternity will show how precious needy souls are to Him that He will orchestrate an opportunity for them to hear the gospel. Personally, I see His gracious hand in that I was on British soil and did not have to battle with a foreign hospital, good surgery was performed and there were Doctors and nurses available to do the work. Christmas time with family was different than anticipated, but special too and the lessons being learned, continue daily.
When did you last have to remember to ask for His help before carrying out a simple daily task, as the logistics were challenging? Many of His people in other parts of the world have to do exactly that on a daily basis to survive. Our hearts, and whatever assistance we can give, go out to the many who are suffering in Haiti today and I am sure those who love the Lord are pleading with Him for understanding of that situation. Our finite minds can’t understand, but we can pray that in spite of the circumstances many survivors will respond to the Gospel as it is shared by helpers and other believers! He is the Lord, He does not change, His ways are higher, but He has a plan for each of us!

This has been a busy month or two, but this past two weeks have had just about every hour accounted for. Still we were very privileged to visit around 300 homes and firms to give them a daily reading for 2010. More than 95% of the people reading these calendars are not Christians and yet they are willing to read about God and learn more of their need, therefore we are thrilled to be the vessels to distribute the Word.

It has been a great experience as most folks have questions and items for discussion. They ask for prayer for their problems and in general are very open and warm towards us. We look forward through the year to meeting up with many of these people and seeing what they have discovered through the readings.

On one occasion, David drove past the home of a believer and had the urge to go in and let them know we were leaving this week. Now, as time was short and the folks were not on the calendar list he decided against calling as he had never called uninvited before. However, as he later in the day past the house again he had the same feeling and decided he should call in case there was a good reason for the ‘urge.’

The lady who opened the door was surprised to see him but invited him in. No sooner was he there than 6 other ladies arrived and the said lady’s daughter. It turned out it was a school reunion for this mid sixty year old lady and David had about an hour to explain the Gospel to each one of them. They gladly accepted a Gospel calendar to read more for themselves and begged him to come to the next reunion and explain more.

Luke 12:6-7, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Not only that, but as David was saying he had had no idea why the Lord was urging him to call, the lady’s daughter said, ‘I know, because I need your help.’ This girl had been praying about a specific thing and here God provided someone to help her in her dilemma. They had another long talk on the subject and David was able to pray for her and leave.

Divine appointment? Certainly not coincidence!

We need to be ready to listen to His voice, as he sometimes leads us in different directions from we think to meet the need of another. If we do listen and follow His leading, we are generally, the most blessed to see that He is willing to use us and speak so definitely. The person we go to is encouraged and blessed to see their pleas for help being answered and assured that He has it all under control and it is an amazing witness to the unbeliever who is watching. These ladies were astounded at how God is interested in each one of us. They won’t forget that graphic lesson for a good while!

Psalm 145:18-19, “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them”

We got the work finished in spite of time given to ‘divine appointments’, and as we set off for our travels, please excuse the lack of contact and blogs as internet will be sparse, but I will return as soon as possible to this page

This month in UK is the month of Harvest Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day Parades, when we remember those who have fought and died to protect us. For the USA, this month is synonymous with Thanksgiving, but in actual fact remembering causes us to be thankful.

I talked with my aged grandmother today and asked her how she was and she answered simply, ‘I have a lot to be thankful for.’ When I think back over her life and how as a young mother of four she lost her husband and eldest son to tuberculosis. This was of course before the second world war, so there was nothing for it but to struggle on to provide for the family. Eventually remarrying and having another little girl, her new husband was killed in battle, leaving her once again with four young children to bring up alone. I am sure the fact that she is almost 100 years old and pretty fit for her age, is due, at least in part, to the fact that she has a thankful heart for how the Lord has guided and helped her through great sorrow as well as joy.

As we think back over our lives, all the times God has provided and guided, comforted us or given us great joy, we can’t help but be thankful for all He has done. In retrospect we can look over the troubled times, the difficult and painful times and be thankful, since we already know the outcome and how He carried us through. Even after Jesus performed bread-multiplying miracles by feeding 5,000 women and children (not to mention the men), healed people before their eyes, turned water into wine, still his disciples, having witnessed all of that, worried about empty pantries. Jesus rebuked them: “Do you not yet perceive or understand? Is your heart still hardened …….and do you not remember?” Mark 8:17.

Short memories harden the heart. Let us take careful note of God’s blessings and be able to say with David: “I will hope continually. I will praise you more and more, my mouth shall tell of your Righteousness and your Salvation all the day. ….I will go in the strength of the Lord God. O God you have taught me from my youth and I will declare your strength to this generation” Psalm 71:14-18.

Recent research shows that grateful people report higher levels of positive emotion, are more satisfied with life, and have more energy. They also found being thankful lowers levels of depression and stress. Furthermore, those who write down what they are thankful for and daily count their blessings, are more likely to do regular exercise and report fewer physical symptoms while being more enthusiastic, alert, and consequent. Doesn’t that sound good? We could all do with that kind of lifestyle! But I don’t think we should be surprised as the Bible tells “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

He has fed you, led you, guided, provided, and shown Himself trustworthy to continue to do so.  Meditate on memories and it will make your heart thankful. If you know him you can remember his gift of Salvation and tell others about it. If you don’t know Him, be thankful He has given you another opportunity. Ask Him into your heart and life, to forgive your sin and make you His child. You will then have much more to remember to thank Him for!

After last weeks blog, I had a call telling us of a good friend who is very ill with cancer. My first reaction is, of course, to pray for her. I want God to heal her and I want Him to answer my prayer in the fastest and most positive way. I was tempted to demand, to ‘name it and claim it.’ As the conversation continued and I was given more details of the illness, I heard a statement that changed all that!! The statement was, ‘She told her dad not to worry about her, as if this is what God has for her she has peace with that.’

I know this girl has a young family, she is much needed and has everything to live for. I know she would love to be healed and if God chooses to heal her physically (and I still pray to that end), she will give Him all the glory. Yet, she is accepting whatever He has for her and using her remaining time on earth concentrating on other things rather than wasting it worrying about what God is doing. That is exactly the point we rob ourselves of so much, if we continually beg or demand God for our will, instead of His Will.

David Watson, in his book ‘Fear No Evil’ writes words he penned 48 hours before his death from cancer. He said that he wished he had spent the last months learning from his circumstances and learning a closeness to Jesus – instead of asking God to change the circumstances. Maybe we need to learn from some of the situations God puts us in instead of naming and claiming the change.

I can hear you ask, What about His promises? He has given us so many in the Bible and they are ours to claim! I ask myself that question often as I look around at those who love God and follow him actively, yet are very poor and often don’t have enough to eat. Paul in the same chapter of Philippians 4 says, ‘I have learned in whatsoever state I am to be content… I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. We all know Paul suffered immensely to bring the Gospel to Europe and to us. But he also writes in verse 19, ‘My God shall supply all your need according to His riches.’

This is no contradiction even though it appears to be. Some of the most happy and satisfied people I have ever met are those who have very little of this world’s goods. God has supplied, first the acceptance and the peace and then the food to still the hunger. It is like the three friends of Daniel who were placed in the fiery furnace. They knew His Power and ability but were prepared that if He did not rescue them, they would still worship Him in His presence.

He will answer our prayers, He will fulfill His Promises, but it may be in a way other than what we think or would wish. Yes, we should pray and pray earnestly, but it should be according to His Will. Sometimes we know things that are His Will, like the salvation of those still unsaved, so we can continue to plead for their souls, but oftentimes we don’t know what to pray for as we ought and need to let the Spirit ‘present our prayers before the father‘. I for one am glad He does that!

As a parent, it is always more pleasant and rewarding to give to a child who is thankful. Not that we give for that reason, but when we hear and see gratitude, we know our effort was worthwhile. As we thank God for what He has given us, for how He has cared for us, even for the difficult circumstances He has carried us through, then we give Him pleasure and glory and we gain peace, acceptance and assurance that He is in control.

Thanksgiving in the USA, a time to thank those we love for what they have done or do, a time to remember all that God has done and all He has given us, a time to accept with a loving heart His plans for us and be thankful we only have to know the last step and the next one. He knows the way that we take in between.  As we praise and worship Him, He reveals His plan and uses our experiences to help others find the way of acceptance and peace.

This week I have been challenged afresh as to my approach or attitude to God in prayer. There is a whole new teaching out there that we have to ‘name it and claim it’ before God and at first, I was not sure if it was just me, my upbringing or what it was that makes me feel that claiming something is demanding it! I can’t imagine me being very pleased if one of my kids had named and claim something before I even gave it to them. Is that not just a little presumptuous? I would think my child was disrespectful if he demanded his rights, and I certainly don’t want to spend time and effort being disrespectful in prayer, yet neither did I want to miss something if it was important. I decided to look into this further.
I guess the first prayer to look at is the one taught by Jesus Himself to us. The model prayer in Matthew chapter 6 is full of respect and yet clearly states what we want God to do for us and in us, according to what He has promised, but also in direct relation to what we have done for others. ‘Thy will be done,’ it is important to remember that we pray and ask according to His Will. ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ (He has promised to provide our daily needs and we can expect He will provide in His way.) ‘Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors,’ I wonder how much claiming we can do on this one, as it is always easier to ask God to forgive us than it is to forgive someone who has wronged us.
I note this name/claim philosophy especially in the area of healing. When someone we love is sick then of course we want to claim every promise Christ has made for their healing. That is true! We can and should plead for them in prayer, but in a humble manner, not demanding that God answer our prayers, our way, but rather in the way which will bring the most Glory to Himself.
The Apostle Paul, was one who asked God on three different occasions to remove whatever was afflicting him. Yet, God chose not to, but rather told him that, ‘My Grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. Sometimes we can glorify Him better with our debilitation, as He gives the needed strength to carry it and to use it for His glory.
If Jesus could ask his Father to remove the cup of suffering from Him and then accept God’s Will as perfect, who are we to think we can do different? Knowing the answer would be that He had to die bearing our sin, did not however stop Jesus asking for it.
We are to ‘ask and it shall be given us (according to His Will), seek and we shall find (sometimes what we find might be peace in acceptance), knock and it will be opened unto us (humbly and pleadingly knocking, not barging in and demanding.) Matthew 7:7
The Shorter Catechism, which being brought up in the Highlands of Scotland, I was privileged to learn from, teaches that ‘Man’s Chief end is to Glorify God and enjoy Him for ever’. Larry Crabb in his book, Finding God – isn’t that Attractive, writes, that as Christians we have changed the teaching from this to, ‘the chief end of God is to gratify people.’ How sad!
I know this is a huge subject and don’t be surprised if I come back to it again as I work on it. I want God to answer prayer in many ways, dramatic ways, assuring ways, but most of all I want Him to be glorified, in even my prayer life. Let us ask, believing, taking comfort from His Promises and having the deep assurance that He has it all in control, and will work things out according to His Will for our greater good.