Friday, August 8, 2014

poll dancers











“So what do you think?” we often hear or say ourselves.  In regards to anything from clothes, cars, motorcycle,where to worship, or who to date, we value other people’s opinions.  Many times ignoring the facts, and acting on what is the best price or what is the most convenient for us.  And then when the facts get in our way, we run another opinion poll on who to blame.  Web sites such as Angie’s List, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and many others guide us to make decisions.  But even there we find that businesses sometimes write their own good reviews, and the 90% in the middle who were just happy, we never hear from.  Years ago Coca Cola did a survey, if you are upset you tell over 20 people about the experience, but if happy only 10.  And some businesses have signs, if unhappy tell us, if happy tell others.  Word of mouth still being the most effective advertising, but maybe not the most truthful. What do you think?
I know to many people when faced with a crisis, one where they were caught in sin, seek scripture, trying to find solace that their actions were OK.  Not their fault,as in the devil made me do it, not scripturally correct.  God has given you a free will, stupid hurts, and can be a self inflicted wound.  Happily spread to others via your opinion.  So we have to make a decision and be responsible.  This is where prayer comes in.  I get many prayer requests, and have to sort through them, many times asking God if I should pass them on.  Some think that just because I pray a lot, that my prayers are special, and get through to God easier.  Not true, God favors no one, but since I spend more time with Him, we talk of more things, notice I said we, and we have conversations.  A dialogue, not a monologue, where only one speaks, we interact.  And as you spend more time listening, your prayer life changes.  You don’t ask the same foolish things as much, you know God’s character, and what He expects. Rather than asking “what would Jesus do?” you know.  And because you know what He did, you are guided by the spirit, who does know. 
Others are under the illusion that the more prayer lists you are on, that it causes God to react quicker, or to act more favorably.  God only knows one way, His way, the only way and the best way, and it is always done in love for our benefit.  Yet I bombarded, and I hear bragging, and bragged myself about how many pray for me.  There is no magic number of prayers that cause God to act, it is not like signing petitions to get it on a ballot. He hears all prayers, it is us who fall short not listening to or for His answers.  And Isaiah 65:24 tells us He has already put a plan in process before we even ask.  He knows what is going on, He is in and under control.  I know first hand, as when having heart problems, it happened so fast we couldn’t stop to pray.  But God already knew.  And although I am grateful, and touched by all the prayers, God took me even deeper.  When confronted with Isaiah 65, I asked Him, “then why do we ask others to pray?”  Did it make a difference in God’s response?  His answer again was simple, and found in at least two places in the Bible He showed me.  Revelation 1, it is written that John bore witness of what he saw.  God did it for His glory, not us, although we reap the benefit s and blessings.  The only book that we are told if we read it we are blessed.  Note-it is the last book in the Bible, and we win.  The other is found in John 11:4, God allowing a sickness, and then performing a miracle so that Jesus be glorified. God told me that the more who prayed for me, the more would see His love and mercy in His answer, and be encouraged.  Suddenly prayer isn’t so personal, and more personal all at once.  Only God... Do you glorify Jesus in your prayers?  Or are they just demands, requisitions, or I wants.  Do you glorify Him in His answers?  Is it all about you, or all about Jesus?  You may not wish to poll your friends here, because you may not like their answer. My opinion, based on fact.  For in Proverbs it tells us not to put our ear to the wall, we may not like what we hear.  So what do we do?
Ask Jesus into your life.  Without Him, you are in no position to hear His answers.  Pray, ask, but then listen.  And when His disciples could ask Him anything, they chose to ask “how do we pray?”  And they were face to face with Him everyday!  Read your Bible, and let the word confirm what the spirit has told you.  Perhaps Sherlock Holmes, said it best, “never theorize before you have data, you invariably wind up twisting fact to prove theories, instead of  theories to prove facts.”  Sound familiar?  Aren’t you glad that God forgives, and offers us the truth?  But worst of all is when you pray, and God answers, and since you don’t like the answer, you pray more, even asking to put on prayer lists.  And it is then that calamity meets you firsthand, as you enter in God’s judgment, while He is just trying to get you attention.  There are times we resist the truth, just because seems inconvenient, and will even deny anything is wrong.  They aren’t listening, are you?  Why can your friends see your problem, and God’s answer when you can’t, or won’t?  Just how big is that log in your eye? God cannot make a log so big He cannot remove it.  Is that the God you pray to?  Then why aren’t you listening to His answer?  Who has known the mind of God that he can counsel Him?  Yet we have Jesus, the wonderful counselor.  Some choose therapy, some drugs, some even let motorcycles become their answer, but nothing beats gong directly to Jesus Himself.  You know His answers will be the best for you, what are you waiting for?  If it is a poll, I hope you don’t find one where they believe God is dead. 
So we have a choice, our choice to make.  Spend some tie just listening for and to God today.  And be prepared to have your life, you prayer life, and witness changed drastically.  A witness can only tell what he has seen or heard, no hearsay.  We have heard Jesus...are you listening?  Are you still reading books, listening to tapes, or going to church just to find out the secret way to God and His blessings?  Psalm 1, starts with “blessed is the man...” you look up the rest.  And see where you fit in.  If Sherlock Holmes knew how to find the facts, shouldn’t you?  Jesus never said “to him who has a tongue, let him speak,”  but to “those who have an ear, let them listen.”  This Jesus guy seems pretty smart to me...may His will be done in your life, on earth as it is in heaven.  So what do you think?  Don’t be a poll dancer.  What does Jesus think?  What would Jesus do?  You have to ask?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com