Wisdom fills the pages of the Book of Proverbs. It is here we find some of the most profound phrases from the entire Bible. Some scholars believe King Solomon wrote all the proverbs while others acknowledge multiple participants, such as King Solomon as the most prominent author, Agur son of Jakeh, King Lemeul, and various wise men. Difficulty in pinpointing the date of origin of Proverbs is prevalent, but many historians date these words between the 6th and 10th century BC. The source and/or date are not actually important points to stress over. What is important is that God’s wisdom fills the thirty-one chapters with knowledge and instruction designed to give us a guideline for godly living.
Recently I read the Book of Proverbs. Choosing one special verse from each chapter was difficult, but I did. The verses are below, and I pray that they will guide you as you encounter this new year.
Proverbs
Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. (Proverbs 1:5 NLT)
Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:3-5 ESV)
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:6 NASB)
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (Proverbs 4:5 KJV)
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:18 NIV)
My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. (Proverbs 6:20 NLT)
My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teachings as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend. (Proverbs 7:1-4 ESV)
I love those who love me, And those who diligently seek me will find me. (Proverbs 8:17 NASB)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10 KJV)
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:11 ASV)
A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. (Proverbs 11:13 NLT)
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. (Proverbs 12:25 ESV)
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. (Proverbs 13:3 KJV)
Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! (Proverbs 14:23 NLT)
A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 NASB)
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Proverbs 16:3-4 KJV)
The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. (Proverbs 17:27-28 NIV)
It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. (Proverbs 18:5 ESV)
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. (Proverbs 19:1 ESV)
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. (Proverbs 20:19 KJV)
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered. (Proverbs 21:13 NASB)
Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. (Proverbs 22:24-25 NLT)
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. (Proverbs 23:4 KJV)
Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers. (Proverbs 24:6 NIV)
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2 NASB)
Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. (Proverbs 26:11 ESV)
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:1-2 ESV)
Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all [things]. (Proverbs 28:5 KJV)
Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. (Proverbs 29:23 NIV)
If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame. (Proverbs 30:32 NLT)
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, [But] a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30 NASB)
Conclusion on The Wisdom in Proverbs
May God bless and keep you safe from all harm. May His power and strength keep you on the straight and narrow path because it is only when we follow His path that we encounter true joy, peace, and contentment in our lives.
Think about making a commitment to read the entire Book of Proverbs. Since there are thirty-one chapters in the book, you can finish the entire book in approximately 1 month by reading only one chapter each day.
In this blog, I just shared a “sprinkling of God’s wisdom” with you. Why not get a “downpour of His wisdom” by starting today with a Proverbs reading plan!
Prayer and Bible study will revolutionize your personal life. The mixture of these two powerful disciplines can provide the comfort and security we all desire in our lives.
Prayer
In the charming children’s story The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, a child’s extended clan gathered one afternoon to enjoy each other’s company amidst laughter, love, and family festivities. What better summer day could any child have, other than relishing the comfort and security of aunts, uncles, and cousins?
In 1962, while on a summer vacation in Connecticut, my relatives came from everywhere—California, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Vermont for a similar “kinfolk” reunion.
As an 8-year old child, dressed in my blue-flowered tunic and denim jeans, I stood in my aunt and uncle’s backyard mesmerized by the hustle and bustle of summer activities. The adults were running around, in and out of the house, preparing for the long-awaited summertime barbeque. My relatives were laughing, smiling, and just plain old happy to be together.
The picnic tables and card tables were covered with red and white checkered tablecloths; the tea was being poured; the aroma from the barbequed hot dogs and hamburgers permeated the backyard.
From my vantage point, I could see the bright blue sky surrounded by the tall New England trees. I remember vividly that my mind was centered on God. I wanted to see Him work that day. I wanted to test His power. Yes, right then and there—on that beautiful summer day.
I wanted to know if God was real. I wanted to know if He would listen to an 8-year-old little girl. I wanted to know if I could pray for rain even though no sign of rain was evident anywhere, knowing full and well that rain would ruin our family celebration.
I prayed for rain. And rain it did, just as Psalm 77:17 says, “the clouds poured out water . . . “
As we readied ourselves to eat, small droplets of rain slowly landed on my head. Before long, larger, heavier drops began streaming down from the sky.
My aunt made the final call as she waved us all into the house. “Hey kids and everyone, we are moving everything inside! Grab something and get inside immediately!”
Within a few short minutes, my enterprising prayer was answered!
Do I believe God answered my prayer? Yes, most definitely! I asked, and God answered. I am not saying He always answers so quickly or so affirmatively, but He did that day. Why? Because in the big scheme of my life, maybe God needed me to experience His “realness” and His “power.”
I never told my relatives that I was the cause of the rain that day, but God chose that incident to show me that He can not only move mountains, but He can also change the minute events in our lives through honest, sincere, childlike prayer.
We pray prayers like . . .
“God, give me strength and healing in my sickness.”
“Lord, I don’t understand why my son my son/daughter has turned against You.”
“I don’t know when to retire. I am seeking Your timing as I move into the next stage of my life.”
These prayers and others like this reach the throne of God day after day. God hears them all and
He is ready to answer them. But, we must do our part—and that is to pray and to seek out His wisdom and direction through becoming familiar with His Word—The Bible.
Bible Study
The Barna Group, a market research firm specializing in studying the religious beliefs and behavior of Americans, has carefully and strategically tracked the role of faith in America, developing one of the nation’s most comprehensive databases of spiritual indicators. They state that:
“Americans continue to own Bibles—but readership is not as ubiquitous as ownership. About one-third of Americans read the Bible at least once a week, and this proportion has remained fairly stable. Likewise, the two out of five American adults who read the Bible less than once a year or never has thus far proven to be a stable proportion. Unless something dramatically changes among Millennials, however, Barna researchers expect reading frequency in the general population to trend downward in coming years . . . “ ¹
Prayer and Bible reading are inseparable. The two go together. Prayer is us communicating with God. The Bible is God communicating with us.
Embracing the Word of God and expanding our Biblical knowledge is the key to learning the wonderful truths of our God.
I learned early in my Christian walk to value the Word of God.
Many prayers later — 14-years after praying for rain — I prayed again and made a “deal with God.”
As my second year of teaching wore on, however, my lofty hopes were rudely dashed, and I really just wanted to go home and be with my family in Houst0n. But, it had to be because God chose that path for me, rather than my own pain and frustration doing the selection for me.
I had previously resolved that I would read the Scriptures until God clearly showed me which way to go. Yet, I had already read the ENTIRE Bible under this mandate, and God still had not given me an answer!
In my early twenties I got a job teaching second grade in Aledo, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth. I chose that location because the area offered promise for my life ahead, as I was just out of college, full of rosy dreams and great expectations.
As my second year of teaching wore on, however, my lofty hopes were rudely dashed, and I really just wanted to go home and be with my family in Houston … but it had to be because God chose that path for me, rather than my own pain and frustration doing the selection for me.
I had previously resolved that I would read the Scriptures until God clearly showed me which way to go. Yet, I had already read the ENTIRE Bible under this mandate, and God still had not given me an answer!
The choice was forced upon me one day by the school where I worked. I remember the date – April 1st. My principal knocked on my classroom door and handed me my contract for the next school year and declared, “I need this back by the end of the day today.”
I had to specify whether I would be returning to the school next year, and decide, one way or the other, in the next few hours.
The advantage of staying, of course, is that I had a guaranteed job for next year, without the hassle of having to move. But it would be at the expense of my family and me having to navigate my despair without their close support.
So, what do good teachers do? They give their class some busy work, pull out their Bible, and plead with God for an answer. That, at least, is what I did.
God’s answer came in the form of a Bible verse from Ecclesiastes 11:5, “Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.”
I can’t really explain why that verse confirmed I should move to Houston other than His Holy Spirit revealed that I should move. As I have pondered that verse over the years, I believe that even though we don’t understand how bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant mother, I didn’t need to understand why I was led to move back home, but I was to obey His leading. In addition, God was gracious enough to confirm that this verse was especially for me by allowing the verse numbers to parallel my birth date—November 5.
Appreciatively, I turned in my unsigned contract that very day with unbelievable poise and confidence. I was at peace, because this long drawn out decision process was finally over, and God had finally “weighed in” with His choice.
God’s Word PLUS prayer gave me the confidence to follow His will. He will do the same for you However, some believers just don’t pray or read the Bible. Their reasons vary. They might say . . .
“Why pray and read the Bible when God is going to do whatever He wants to anyway?”
“Nothing will happen when I pray.”
“I don’t have the time or the discipline to pray or read the Bible.”
“I tried praying before and nothing happened.”
“The Bible isn’t relevant to me.”
There are many reasons why we should pray and read God’s Word. They are . . .
Prayer and Bible reading makes us become more like Jesus.
God will comfort us through prayer and His Word when we need it.
Prayer and reading the Bible teaches us how to model ourselves after Jesus.
We need to find, know, and understand God’s will for our life. Prayer and the words of God with the help of the Holy Spirit help us to discern His will.
Prayer and Bible study makes us aware of evil while helping us to recognize our own sin and how forgiveness is necessary.
Prayer and embracing God’s Word helps us to submit to God and resist Satan.
Prayer and Bible reading protects us from evil.
Concluding Assignment
I want you to think of prayer as the yolk of an egg. Then, I want you to think of Bible reading as that same egg’s white part.
You can make scrambled eggs with the yolks and whites separately, but they just don’t taste the same until they are mixed. That is the same with us. When we combine prayer and Bible study together, we will receive His comfort and security. And as a bonus, we receive the confidence that He knows the big picture for our lives.
Bible Verses:
In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. (John 16:23)
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? (Mark 12:24)
Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, (Philemon 1:8)
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, You are my confidence and comfort. Motivate me daily to pray and study my Bible. Lord, show me Your will through Your words and Your Holy Spirit. With arms open to You, I commit today to put You first in my life. Guide me, help me, and lead me to be the person You want me to be. I commit my ministries to You. May all I do glorify You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
God Bless,
Member Inspirational Writers Alive; Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2
Edited by E. Johnson; Bible verses are taken from the NASB if not noted otherwise.
If you found this post helpful, please like/share it so others can get the benefit. Thanks. If you would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe.
Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer by Patti GreeneAnchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and PrayerAwaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer
Bibliography
¹ Barna. https://www.barna.com/Accessed November 10, 2017.
All human beings experience inconveniences every now and then. The word “inconvenience” and its derivatives come under different terms such as disruption, aggravation, hassle, trouble, stress, difficulty, and more.
This past week (Thursday, to be exact), I had my day scheduled—Bible study, writing my blog, cleaning closets, working in the yard, but in the afternoon, my mother became very ill: the kind of “ill” that required a trip to the Emergency Room.
After evaluation, my mother was admitted to the hospital. Being the only daughter, I am the designated sibling to stay at the hospital with my mother each evening—not that I minded in the least. During the four-day hospital stay, my schedule was disrupted and I didn’t accomplish anything on my “to-do” list.
This is NOT the kind of inconvenience I am talking about.
The kind of inconvenience I am talking about is the annoying inconveniences that cause one’s stress level to heighten, one’s blood pressure to elevate, and one’s heart rate to become erratic. These usually happen because our mind is set on what we want to do, but then something gets in our way and produces a different schedule other than our anticipated one.
To Illustrate
On Tuesday, I went to the drug store. I arrived home only to realize that I forgot to pick up a medicine I really needed. I sighed and berated myself because I had to drive back to the store during Houston’s horrendous rush hour traffic. It was inconvenient!
On Wednesday, my computer wasn’t cooperating. My husband wasn’t home to fix it. I moaned and groaned. Why? Because I wanted to do what I wanted to do right then and there without having to wait—because waiting is inconvenient!
It sounds foolish that I stress out over trivial and insignificant things. I am a Christ-follower who is supposed to be patient, kind, and self-controlled, but just a small inconvenience can upset my spiritual life, my thought processes, and my physical health dramatically.
I know God sees my inconsequential aggravations and stress. I wonder, though, what He thinks about my petty annoyances while He is handling big problems like wars, death, floods, earthquakes, false prophets, shootings, child abuse, drug abuse, and evil.
The Bible is full of people who were inconvenienced. Some are only inconvenienced for a short period of time—others for years.
Saul was inconvenienced when he was charged to look for his father’s lost donkeys. When Saul decided to return to his father without locating his donkeys, Saul’s servant suggested they look for “a seer” in a different town to inquire about the journey they had set out upon. In those days, seers were also known as prophets. Saul had been inconvenienced again by having to go to a different city than he had planned. However, while there, God arranged for the prophet Samuel and Saul to meet and Saul was anointed to be the King of Israel. Here we see that disruptions and inconveniences of are often part of the Lord’s plans for our life. (1 Samuel 9-10)
Jesus was inconvenienced when the people kept following him wanting His attention, but He welcomed and ministered to them in love. (Luke 23:27-29)
The disciples were tired and wanted to rest, but Jesus inconvenienced them by asking them to feed the 5,000. (Matthew 14:15-21)
Paul was inconvenienced by being arrested and put in prison time after time when all he wanted to do was spread the gospel. (Acts 21:31-37)
In each of these situations, the Bible reveals that great things occurred out of inconveniences. A king was crowned. Ministry took place. People were miraculously fed. And the gospel was spread through Paul’s writings in prison.
Have you ever thought about how we should respond when we experience difficulties?
How to Respond to Inconveniences, Disruptions, Aggravations, Hassles, Inopportunity, Troubles, and Difficulties
Recognize that the inconveniences we encounter are there to grow us closer to the Lord and to prepare us for what else might come in our future.
Pray immediately by giving the situation to the Lord and seek His purpose for it.
Understand and meditate on the Word of God with thanksgiving.
Look at inconveniences as divine opportunities.
Control anger.
A Look-Back
Referring to my earlier illustrations . . .
When I returned to the drug store, I found a lonely soul who needed my smile.
When my computer didn’t work, I was able to find something more constructive to do.
If only I wouldn’t have allowed those inconveniences to get the best of me before I saw the benefits.
Well, maybe next time I will!
Bible Verses:
“In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Please let me look at my inconveniences and disruptions through Your eyes. Let me understand that everything I experience is meant to draw me closer to the destiny You have for me. Thank you for the plans You have for me. Grant me the ability to accept what comes into my life. Let me follow where You lead and let me become closer and closer to You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
God Bless,
Member Inspirational Writers Alive; Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2
Edited by E. Johnson; Bible verses are taken from the NASB if not noted otherwise.
If you found this post helpful, please like/share it so others can get the benefit. Thanks. If you would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe.
Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer by Patti GreeneAnchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and PrayerAwaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer
One of my relatives is a hoarder, and a friend has two middle-aged sons also affected by this condition known as hoarding. Being someone who loves to research social issues, the topic piqued my interest enough for me to investigate hoarding disorders for myself.
Famous brothers Homer and Langley Collyer, well-known wealthy Manhattan residents, are recognized as hoarders. After the death of their parents in the 1920’s, the two men withdrew from the public. They split their time between the family’s Manhattan residence and their Harlem brownstones.
In 1947, a neighbor notified the police about an overpowering odor coming from their home. When the police arrived, they found Homer, who was blind and crippled, dead and surrounded by trash. David K. Israel, author of “7 Famous Hoarders” said, “His corpse was amid tons of junk, including an early X-ray machine, the jawbone of a horse and bundles upon bundles of old newspapers.”
After a full and lengthy search, Langley’s dead body was found in one of their brownstones, buried by newspapers. His death had occurred weeks before. Israel noted that Langley “had been dead for weeks and rats had eaten most of his body. It was ultimately determined that Homer died of starvation when Langley, who fed his crippled, blind brother, was crushed to death under . . . a bunch of junk.” ¹
History of Hoarding
The study of hoarding is a relatively new study. In the 1990s, many psychologists and neurologists assigned hoarding into the category of an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for lack of a better classification. However, owning many possessions makes a person with OCD feel anxious and unnerved while a hoarder finds extreme delight in finding bargains and purchasing a good deal. In 1993, psychology professor Randy Frost at Smith College attempted the first methodical study on hoarding. Now 24 years later, there has been an obsession with TV shows such as TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive and A&E’s Hoarders.
Hoarding is a brand-new disorder. In The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5 published in 2013, hoarding is now listed among other psychiatric diagnoses.
In the article “Why Do You Hoard?” by Bonnie Tsui states that most scientists believe hoarding has three defining characteristics:
the excessive acquisition of things that appear to be of little or no value
the inability to discard possessions; and
the disorganization of those possessions, which clutter up living spaces and make them impossible to use for their intended purposes.” ²
Hoarders
Hoarders often live alone and other people are frequently unaware of their hoarding. Other times hoarders are just considered “pack rats” by those who know them.
Hoarders may save newspapers, papers, plastic bags, pill bottles, shoes, food, mail, photographs, magazines, household supplies, flyers, bottle caps, beer bottles, clothing, or more. Some people even hoard animals.
Jill, a recovering hoarder whose last name was withheld, says about her hoarding:
“I just have too much stuff. I’m a “packrat.” There is stuff everywhere in plastic containers and in drawers. I have enough clothing to dress all the neighbor women for a couple of weeks each. This stuff is mine and I see a use for all of it. I just can’t bring myself to throw away any of it. I like it all! I really wish every space in my house wasn’t a collect-all.
We don’t even get to sit at the table as a family. My husband complains we hate to have unexpected family, we eat out because there is no space on the counter to cook, important papers get lost and we buy more stuff because so many things get misplaced. Everyone passes the blame on someone else. To top it all off, we live in a small ranch home with little closets. How will I ever overcome all of this hoard? I want to live like the normal tidy person—Stuff is ruining MY LIFE.” ³
Types of Hoarding
Many types of hoarding occur because of one’s background, education level, different personality, DNA, and other factors.
The “Address Our Mess” website discusses five main types of hoarding. ⁴
Shopper or Shopping Hoarder
This individual might shop daily. Many of the items purchased find themselves years later in the hallway or closet with the original price tags still on – unused. They might purchase clothing, collectibles, technology. They may feel incapable and experience severe anxiety if they pass up this “basement bargain.”
Food Hoarding
Some shoppers make runs to the grocery stores even when their refrigerators, freezers, and pantries are at full capacity. Throwing away outdated food seems wasteful and rarely occurs. Dealing with spoiled food, diseases, and unsanitary conditions may lead to severe illnesses and possibly death.
Garbage and Trash Hoarding
This type of hoarder is unable to discard their waste and trash. Some hoarders are known to go through other people’s garbage to see if they find valuable items. One might find trash hoarders storing garbage in their homes, garages, yards, or storage facilities.
Animal Hoarding
Many animal hoarders believe that they are helping animals by keeping them safe and loved in their living quarters or on their land. However, they fail to take into account that the lack of grooming, accumulation of waste, and non-existent exercise creates an unsatisfactory environment. Due to deplorable situations, animals are being starved and/or disease-ridden.
Paper Hoarding
Paper hoarders cannot throw away, shed, or discard anything on paper, i.e. bills, flyers, magazines, newspapers, forms, books. Stories abound of people who have been missing and later found injured or dead from being hidden under an extraordinary amount of paper products.
An excellent article written by the National Study Group on Compulsive Disorganization was reprinted in the Dec. 1, 2010, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper issue. The article was titled, “Levels of Hoarding: Some Guidelines for Recognizing the Problem.” The organization created a scale for professional organizers making their initial contact with their clients. Although the study took place in the early 1990s, it is still relevant and informative today. Click here to read the article:
Genetics, anxiety disorders, lack of organization skills, loss, being raised in poverty, fear, psychotic tendencies, and even dementia are reasons why someone might hoard.
For many hoarders, it is incomprehensible to pass by a bargain. They love to shop or purchase items online which they don’t need. They feel they might need the item one day in the future. Hoarders pile things up around their home, office, or yard in an unorganized fashion. Afterwards, they become emotionally attached to these things to the point of being unable to part with them. A vicious cycle occurs with purchasing and saving items. Year after year, the hoarding becomes more harmful and unhealthy.
However, hoarders rarely realize the extent of their hoarding. While it may be obvious to an outsider, the hoarder’s mind may not see the devastation and destruction occurring due to their accumulating and stockpiling.
Carol Mathews of the University of California, San Francisco, and others have studied the cognitive patterns of hoarders. Mathews’ MRI studies try to simulate emotions relating to hoarding, i.e. how a hoarder sorts, categorizes and thinks about discarding items. ⁴
Signs and Symptoms of Hoarding
Hoarders may not recognize how much of a burden their possessions create on their physical, social, emotional, psychological, and spiritual life. Many signs and symptoms indicate potential or established hoarders struggle to pay bills because they keep repurchasing items or devices they have “misplaced.” A few hoarders even lose custody of their children when their environment creates a needless safety or health hazards for their family.
Other indications of a hoarder may include having . . .
Limited or no livable space in their home.
An isolated and depressed life.
A regulated or non-existent social life.
Things replace human relationships.
Marital problems. (Many divorces occur due to the spouse’s inability to deal with the appalling living conditions.)
Children who will not invite their friends over to their home.
Financial problems.
An inability to organize their possessions.
An unfounded fear of running out of items, i.e. shampoo, boxes, food.
An inability to sell, give away, or part with their possessions. (This often creates an intolerable anxiety in hoarders.)
No power to keep their home functioning due to their clutter, i.e. not being able to reach a light fixture to replace a light bulb.
To live with broken household items in their home for fear of inviting repairmen into their extremely cluttered home.
An inability to bathe or reach their toilet.
An inability to cook due to broken equipment or being able to reach their stove, oven, or microwave.
Hoarding vs. Collecting
Hoarding and collecting are different entities. Both are characterized by acquiring possessions, but their purposes and intentions are different. Having a collection involves a sense of pride about what a person amasses in their acquisitions. Collectors usually display their items in an orderly fashion—on a shelf, in a curio cabinet, over the fireplace. A collector loves to talk to others about their collections.
On the other hand, a hoarder may be embarrassed by their “prized” possessions and they may be uncomfortable with others seeing their accumulation of “stuff.”
Recovery for Hoarders
Ample reasons abound regarding why hoarding should be addressed and why hoarders should be treated. However, the most important reason is that all the accumulation affects the health and safety of the individual and those around them. Hoarding can lead to hospitalizations, children being taken away from parents, fire, evictions, homelessness, and even death.
Help is available for hoarders. A clutter specialist, accountability partner, a 12-step program, and/or a physician is often needed to help with the remediation of this disorder. Understanding that recovery is a continual process is imperative. If someone came into a hoarder’s home and cleared out everything so the home was relatively clean and orderly, the home would quickly become ‘unlivable’ to the average person unless the emotional aspects of hoarding had been dealt with. To overcome a hoarding lifestyle, group involvement must occur. A hoarder needs to find a friend, family member, or support group to help with the initial stages of cleanup.
Many great articles are available on the Internet where support groups and help can be found. Talking to one’s family physician about the problem is an excellent starting point.
Christian Perspective on Hoarding
Just like any other difficulty we face in life, we need hope to overcome it. Making wise choices give us hope while addressing the problem and reaching an actual solution. Hoarding is difficult to treat. God is willing and waiting to help. Nevertheless, there must be a desire in the individual to want to do something about their hoarding problem. God and others will help hoarders free their attitudes regarding possessions and He will help in maintaining a clutter-free lifestyle. This is accomplished through God, therapy, friends, and PRAYER!
GotQuestions.org speaks to hope on its website. “No matter where a hoarder falls of the spectrum, there is hope. A hoarder needs to learn how to make healthy decisions that will lead to resisting the urge for more buying/acquiring, disposing of unneeded items, and putting things in a regular place . . . The underlying cause of hoarding is our human tendency to want things and our inability to discern what is truly valuable. For those with severe compulsive hoarding, anxiety or loss or genetics may prompt the behavior and limit a person’s ability to discern value and worth. But for all of us, Jesus is the most precious treasure we can possess, and His followers should value what He values. Trusting in Him means we no longer should rely on ourselves in a hopeless effort to meet our needs or satisfy our souls. Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)” ⁶
Conclusion:
Informational blogs like this one sometimes lack the compassion which should accompany them. My desire for believers is to have compassion for those unable to free themselves from anything they find themselves in bondage to—including hoarding. When held in bondage, we are unable to be a useful witness for the Lord to others. But, when we are released from that bondage, we open ourselves up to living a full and meaningful life. Let’s be compassionate and caring. At times in our lives, we might find ourselves in difficult situations. We don’t need judgment during those times. We need love, compassion, and help.
If you like this article, let me know, because the flip side to hoarding is when people possess an extreme and excessive need to PURGE themselves of their possessions. It’s a tough concept to comprehend, but it will make for an interesting blog topic someday! And just remember, we are all on the spectrum between the two extremes!
Where do you find yourself?
——–
Bible Verses:
Thought: We live in a word filled with idolatry. Our cars, our homes, our stock portfolios, and our vacations have become idols to us. It’s not rocket science to see how a person can become a hoarder. But believers should be set apart from idolatry no matter what form it takes. The Bible tells us not to love our money or possessions but to serve the Lord with our entire heart. The verses below will help us to see God’s perspective on storing possessions, greed, compassion, and how to overcome any problem we might be facing.
You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3)
There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. (Ecclesiastes 5:13
Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God.” (Isaiah 40:27)
Ah Lord God, Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You. (Jeremiah 32:17)
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
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 wealth. (Matthew 6:24)
Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)
Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:33-34)
You, in Your great compassion,
Did not forsake them in the wilderness;
The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day,
To guide them on their way,
Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go. (Nehemiah 9:19)
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17)
Prayer:
My heavenly Father. Thank you for teaching me daily more about Your people. Help me in the areas I struggle with and give me compassion for those who are different from me. Give me Your wisdom and grace. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
God Bless,
Member Inspirational Writers Alive; Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member
Edited by E. Johnson; Bible verses are taken from the NASB if not noted otherwise.
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Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer by Patti GreeneAnchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and PrayerAwaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer
Works Cited
¹ Israel, David. “7 Famous Hoarders.” Mental Floss, 22 Oct 2009. http://mentalfloss.com.
Accessed 11 Aug 2017.
² Tsui, Bonnie. “Why Do You Hoard?” Pacific Standard, 29 Apr 2013. https://psmag.com.
Accessed 10 Aug 2017.
³ “How to Recover from Hoarding—Getting Organized.” Living on a Dime. Livingonadime.com.
Accessed 10 Aug 2017.
⁴ Types of Hoarders. Address Our Mess. https://www.clutterhoardingcleanup.com/types-of-hoarding/
Accessed 17 Oct 2017.
⁵ Got Questions. “What Does the Bible Say about Compulsive Hoarding?” Accessed 10 Aug 2017.
Ezekiel was called to do a job that required him to speak only when God told him to speak. God had conveyed that He was finished with their disobedience and hard hearts. Enough was enough, and He was ready to judge and punish His people for their rebellious spirit and actions.
Ezekiel, The Son of Man
In many respects, I relate to Ezekiel, an Old Testament priest, and prophet. Every time I write, I want to write only what God wants me to share with you. I try to write when He speaks to me, just as Ezekiel did when he spoke.
When Ezekiel spoke, he was to proclaim God’s message which was disregarded by the people and caused his peers to laugh and disrespect him. Ezekiel’s task was to foretell the future of Jerusalem and Judah to the people. He was to prophesy about the siege of Jerusalem, the desolation of Jerusalem, the idolatrous worship, the punishment for their wicked behavior, and their blasphemous disrespect for the temple.
In Chapters 4-7, where these issues were the major topics of interest, Ezekiel is called the “son of man” at the beginning of each chapter. In fact, Ezekiel is the only prophet regularly called the “son of man” by God. Some say that Ezekiel was called the “son of man” to show his humanness and to differentiate himself from the supernatural and bizarre visions he had—some of which occur in these chapters.
As we travel this journey together with Ezekiel, let’s remember that he is like us and human in many respects. He was brought up by religious parents and married in his 20s. He differed because he was exiled to Babylonia and he was receptive to God’s call on his life. Ezekiel had been filled with the Holy Spirit to do a BIG job. He is a believer in following God’s call on his life.
For 20 years, God called Ezekiel where people criticized him, made fun of him. He even continued his call through the untimely death of his beloved wife. He was called to proclaim the fall, turmoil, and restoration of Judah and especially Jerusalem.
Ezekiel knew that he was to be obedient. God shared this doom through action sermons. Action sermons consisted of Ezekiel acting out vivid physical depictions of God’s impending judgment in front of the people.
Are we willing to be obedient and endure being made fun of to be obedient to God? Some of us would if we had God’s continual assurance we were operating in His strength for His purposes.
Let’s look closer . . . Let’s see how Ezekiel did it by first looking at some prominent verses in Ezekiel 4-7.
Now you son of man, get yourself a brick, place it before you and inscribe a city on it, Jerusalem.Then lay siege against it, build a siege wall, raise up a ramp, pitch camps and place battering rams against it all around. Then get yourself an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city, and set your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This is a sign to the house of Israel.
As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword; take and use it as a barbers’ razor on your head and beard. Then take scales for weighing and divide the hair. One-third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take one-third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one-third you shall scatter to the wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.
And the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against themand say, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord God!’ Thus, says the Lord God to the mountains, the hills, the ravines and the valleys: “Behold, I Myself am going to bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places.
Then you will know that I am the Lord, when their slain is among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree and under every leafy oak—the places where they offered soothing aroma to all their idols.
Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, “And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel, ‘An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land. Now the end is upon you, and I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways and bring all your abominations upon you. For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the Lord!’
Let’s Consider the Atmosphere
At the time, there was a spiritual battle going on between God and His people. The people were involved in deliberate and continual rebellion and they were about to reap the consequences. According to The Broadman Bible Commentary, they were worshiping pagan cults. They were morally corrupt. Their leaders were not guiding the people. Their priests gave no wise counsel. Even their court officials led with despair.
God was not going to tolerate their sinful behavior anymore.
At this point, God has called Ezekiel. He told him to prophesy to the people by using signs, action sermons, and visions. He was asked to do strange things to describe the desolation that was going to happen in Jerusalem. God gave him three specific prophecies regarding how the people will be punished—one-third will die by plagues or famine; one-third will fall by the sword; one-third will be scatted to every wind.
Ezekiel was told to denounce idolatry and tell the people of upcoming famines and diseases. He was obedient although up against calloused people who had no interest in hearing the word of God or prophecies of disaster even though he reminded them that God will leave a remnant of His people.
Let’s Consider the People
The people were enjoying their sinful lives. They took pride in their gorgeous jewels. They worshiped their vile idols and enjoyed their wealth to the fullest. The people continued to enrich themselves with material possessions, but their possessions were used for evil.
But, the Bible talks about disaster upon disaster about to be released upon them.
The people could not believe God would punish or hurt them. We hear this today, too, when people say, “God is good, and would never do anything to hurt us.”
It is rather devastating when a Trojan Horse “pop-up” warning appears on your computer screen while you are looking at a website. When it happened to me today, I immediately went to an authoritative source who could fix the problem—my husband.
But, that is not what happens in the book of Ezekiel. The people of Judah were so involved in their own pursuits they ignored the prophecies which instructed them to repent and turn to their own “authoritative source who could fix the problem”—God. They were not prepared to hear God through His servant Ezekiel. Today, Godly ministers experience many people who sit and listen to this same message, but it goes in one ear and out the other.
Let’s Consider the Leaders
The leaders themselves were not accountable to God. But regardless, God was making the people individually responsible for their actions even as their leaders were failing them.
Let’s Consider God
God’s patience was all used up and the penalty for their disobedience was coming NO MATTER WHAT. He was ready to unleash his anger and judge them for their conduct. Basically, God was sick and tired of the people’s shameless sinning. He tells Ezekiel that he is about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem and only give the people rationed water. He tells Ezekiel the people will waste away because of their sin. In Ezekiel 5:10, we are told that parents will eat their children and children were going to eat their parents. They were to be scattered to the wind. Nations would hate them. The wild beasts will be against them. And plagues and bloodshed were coming. Bones were going to be scattered, towns laid waste, and the high places of idolatry were going to be demolished. God was not going to spare the people or look at them with pity. God was going to withdraw from them. He was not going to have any more pity on them. A crisis was lurking around the corner!
Nevertheless, in His graciousness, God tells why He is going to cripple the people. In Ezekiel 6:14b, God states that His desired result is that, “They will know that I am the LORD.”
In Ezekiel 5:11b, God says, “I myself will shave you. I will not look on you with pity or spare you.” Shaving in the Bible is associated with drastic measures. And drastic measures were coming. Remember ten years ago when pop singer Britney Spears shaved her head amid a personal meltdown? It was during a desperate time in her life. And God’s people were about to become desperate.
What Happens When God Has Had Enough of Our Sins?
He warns us by confronting us with our sin. Sometimes He speaks through our conscience, other times by other people, sometimes through the Word of God. This gives us a chance to confront our sin and change. Sometimes He warns us multiple times over an extended period.
We have a choice whether to turn from our ways, or not. Choosing to disobey is never a good idea.
If we do not turn away from our sins, He warns us judgment is coming. It comes in God’s timing, but it always comes—in this life or in the afterlife.
God decides on the judgment. It is always God’s prerogative in how He will judge you for a defiant and/or stubborn spirit.
God punishes us. It is also God’s choice in how He chooses to punish us.
Pastor Tony Evans has a quotation in one of his books that states, “Sinners have a jar. Once the jar is full, it’s over. Every time a sinner rebels against God, they fill up the jar. When the jar is full, God judges them.” ¹ When God’s jar is full and He says enough is enough, it’s never a good sign. Punishment will come. It may come in the form of suffering, misfortune, heartbreak, disease, or any kind of catastrophe of His choosing.
Ezekiel’s call was to warn the Jews of the upcoming judgment in Jerusalem and Judah. He was obedient; he obeyed God in the task. Many people of the land chose to continue in their sin. No matter what side of the spectrum you are on—following the LORD or rebelling against the LORD, we are all called to be obedient.
In a rebellious state, repentance is the only suitable option. We may be the remnant that will be restored. We are reestablished by looking at the source, Jesus Christ. If we are already living a holy and acceptable life, let’s encourage others to be restored before something ruinous happens to them. In the case of the Jews in Judah, it was, unfortunately, death!
On January 24, 1994, in his State of the State Address, New York Governor Mario M. Cuomo, said, “In baseball, it’s three strikes and you’re out. Here [in the law], it’s three strikes and you’re in for life. ²
Let’s not “strike out” in life. Let’s not get to the point where God says, “Enough is enough!” Let’s look at the source before it is too late because when all is said and done, God’s purpose is that we will know that He is the LORD.” (Ezekiel 6:14b)
Bible Verses:
[Blessings of Obedience] You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 26:1)
“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. (Isaiah 1:11)
Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, bear now the punishment of your lewdness and your harlotries.’” (Ezekiel 23:35)
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father. Help me in my life to always desire to follow You. If I am led to a life that is dishonorable to You, please show me my wicked ways. Give me the courage to turn back to You. I need You every day Lord. I need Your protection, guidance, and wisdom to be all You have called me to be. Lord, I ask for Your forgiveness in the ways I have been living. I toss all sins and undesirable associations out of my life to follow You. I’ve had enough of my sin and I desire to live the life You have called me to live. Thank you, Jesus. In Your name, I pray. Amen.
God Bless,
Member Inspirational Writers Alive; Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member
Edited by E. Johnson; Bible verses are taken from the NASB if not noted otherwise.
Works Cited
¹ Evans, Tony. Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from more than 30 years
of preaching and public speaking. Chicago: Moody, 2009.
² Spinrad, Leonard and Thelma Spinrad. Speaker’s Lifetime Library. Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall. 1997.
Bibliography
Losch, Richard. All the People in the Bible: An A-Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren. Be Reverent: Bowing Before Our Awesome God. Colorado Springs: David Cook, 2000.
If you found this post helpful, please like/share it so others can get the benefit. Thanks. If you would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe.
Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer by Patti GreeneAnchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and PrayerAwaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer
Over the years, I have been fascinated by the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel. His colorful character, his crazy antics, his visions, his ability to withstand criticism, his capacity to move on after his wife’s death, and more has created my unparalleled interest in his life. I have always wanted to delve deeper into the man who wailed, ate a scroll, dug a hole in the wall, slapped his thighs, experienced visions, and more—all to get God’s message to the people God called him to reach. So, I did.
I spent a dedicated portion of my Bible study time every Monday through Friday studying the Book of Ezekiel. What I learned is what I want to share with you in this series on Ezekiel.
The main theme of the Book of Ezekiel although not the only one is the restoration of Israel—a nation that had turned to rebellion and sin. Ezekiel was called to warn the people that Jerusalem would be turned to rubble and terror. And it was coming soon.
For the Record: Nebuchadnezzar II
Ezekiel lived during the time of King Nebuchadnezzar II, King of Babylonia. Nebuchadnezzar II is not to be confused with Nebuchadnezzar I, who are unrelated and both go by the name of just Nebuchadnezzar.
Nebuchadnezzar I lived from 1125–1104 BC. He was the fourth king of the Second Dynasty of Isin and Fourth Dynasty of Babylon. He ruled for two decades and was the most important ruler of this dynasty.
Nebuchadnezzar II ruled from approximately 605 BC-652 BC. As a founder of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Judah in 598 BC. He exiled many people including scholars, religious leaders, and government officials to Mesopotamia. “Babylonia was an ancient Akkadian-speaking state and cultural area based in central-southern Mesopotamia.” ¹ It was during the second exile/deportation in 597 BC Ezekiel was uprooted along with 8,000 others to live in Mesopotamia for five years before experiencing the vision that changed his life.
Ezekiel
At the age of 30, after living five years in this exiled land, Ezekiel, a Zadokite priest, experienced the vision in which he received a call and underwent a commission to serve the Lord in a mighty way. Zadokite priests were known to remain faithful to God while other priests were known to go astray and they were to be respected as an authority figure in the community. However, during the time of rebellion, these true priests were mocked and not taken seriously.
After Ezekiel’s vision, the next 20 years of Ezekiel’s ministry involved saying and doing many bizarre things to get the attention of the people. He was to prophesy about the fall of Jerusalem, the judgment on Israel, and its glorious future. At the same time, Nebuchadnezzar II was expanding the Babylonian Empire, Jerusalem remained rather peaceful for a few years and it was during that time Ezekiel warned the Jews of the impending crisis and the upcoming fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
The first three chapters in the book of Ezekiel are filled with extraordinary verses about Ezekiel’s preparation, call, and commission. Let’s move on.
Ezekiel 1: A Chapter Summary
1:1b “The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.”
1:3a “The word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi.”
1:4-5 “And as I looked, beyond a storm wind was coming from the north . . . And within it, there were figures resembling four living beings . . .”
1:15 “Now as I looked at the living beings, beyond, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings, for each of the four of them.”
1:20a “Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction.”
1:28 “. . . Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.”
Ezekiel’s Vision
It is easy to get bogged down in minute details of Ezekiel’s vision. But, let’s look at the overall meaning of what is going on in this vision.
In this vision, Ezekiel saw four bizarre creatures braced on wheels. This would frighten anyone. But God showed Ezekiel that he had a purpose in this vision—Ezekiel was being shown that he was going to see things that other people would not be able to see.
Before starting his ministry, God was showing Ezekiel that God and His spirit was still in control of the world he was living in. The chapter ends with Ezekiel experiencing God’s glory. Ezekiel needed this reassurance before proceeding to receive his call and commission. God was preparing, strengthening, and encouraging him to face the things to come . . . just as He does with us!
How Did God Prepare Ezekiel for His Upcoming Call and Commission?
God confirmed the vision was from Him; Ezekiel 1:1
God convinced Ezekiel that He knows what He is doing; Ezekiel 1:20
God revealed His glory to Ezekiel; Ezekiel 1:28
In our lives, God wants us to be so close to Him that we recognize His presence when we see it. God is in control of everything and when we look for His glorious presence, it will be shown to us.
2:1-2 “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you! And as He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet and I heard Him speaking to me.
2:7-10 “But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious . . . Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you. Then I looked, behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it. When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back; and written on it were lamentations, mourning, and woe.”
Ezekiel: The Prophet’s Call
In a nutshell, God tells Ezekiel to stand, listen, speak, be courageous, and obey the Word of God. Many times, in the Bible, when God says to stand, it is because He has something very significant to tell us.
I was called to write my books while standing up. God impressed upon me to get up off the couch, stand up, and go into my closet. It was there that God impressed me to look up and see the 42 years of prayer journals I had kept. It was then that God’s Spirit revealed it was time to start writing my devotional books because He had already been preparing me.
While Ezekiel was standing, God’s spirit entered him and he heard God speaking to him. God proceeded to tell him who He is sending him to (a rebellious people), how he should respond to these rebellious people (speak and do not be dismayed), and what to do (be obedient and eat the scroll provided.)
How to Know Your Calling
Many Bible believers recognize that to have an effective ministry for God they must be called into ministry. Many stories abound regarding famous people being called by God in the Bible. These include Moses, Daniel, Isaiah, Elijah, Esther, and Jesus’ mother Mary. But, I am not talking here about being called into full-time ministry here. I am talking about regular people being called into service for God.
I know in my life when I feel called to do something, like teach a class or work in a ministry, I am more confident in the abilities God has given me to use in whatever the capacity is. People are called by different methods. Ezekiel was called through a vision. You might be called through a whisper, a mighty voice from God, or a quiet communication from the Holy Spirit.
God wants our lives to be committed to Him before He can show us His plans.
God does have a plan for our lives.
God can (and most likely will) change or modify our plans so we will go in the direction of His will for us.
God calls all believers to make disciples.
God will provide open doors, but we must actively look for them.
God wants us to ask Him for direction, guidance, and wisdom.
Ezekiel 2 talks about Ezekiel’s Call while Ezekiel 3 speaks about Ezekiel’s commission. Missionary evangelist Daniel Kolenda describes it in the best way I could find using an example from the New Testament. He says,
“When Jesus called His disciples, He didn’t call them to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers. He simply called them to follow Him. And as they followed Him, Jesus promised that He would make them into “fishers of men.”Now the disciples left their nets immediately to follow Jesus, but they were not made into fishers of men immediately. There was a season of training between when Jesus called them to follow Him and when He commissioned them to preach the gospel.” ²
Moving On . . .
Ezekiel 3: A Chapter Summary
3:1 “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”
3:2 “So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll.
3:4-5, 7a “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel … yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you since they are not willing to listen to Me.
3:22-24 “And the hand of the LORD was on me there, and He said to me, ‘Get up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you. So, I got up and went out to the plain; and behold, the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory which I saw by the river Chebar, and I fell on my face. The Spirit then entered me and made me stand on my feet, and He spoke with me and said to me, ‘Go shut yourself up in your house.
3:26 “Moreover, I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be dumb, and cannot be a man who rebukes them, for they are a rebellious house.
3:27 “But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth, and you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refused, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel’s Commission into Service
Ezekiel’s mission was multifaceted. He was called and commissioned to:
Warn the exiles of the impending disasters which were to come on them
Show the people of Israel the consequences of their rebellion and sin
Prophesy about Babylon’s victory over them
Prophesy about the restoration of Israel, and
Give specifics about the new temple of Israel
All this was to be shared with people who would not listen to him and his prophecies from the LORD.
In Ezekiel 3, we see God muting Ezekiel’s mouth so He will speak only when he is absolutely led to. This was most likely his preparation time. After we are called into service, there is usually a time of preparation. I call it my PREP TIME!
We live in a fast-paced world. We have trouble waiting and being patient. But, we must.
It is through reading our Bible, listening to spiritually mature people, and waiting on God in prayer we will know what to do, where to go, how to get there, and how to act. We must patiently watch for open doors of ministry.
When God is calling us to do something for Him, He will do what is needed to get His purpose accomplished.
He will:
Confirm His will
Get us into position,
Change our plans if necessary, and
Get us going in the right direction
I wish I could say it is always a pleasant experience. Sometimes it is, but in Ezekiel’s case, obeying his call to service wasn’t an easy ride for him, but being obedient to God was more important to him than his personal comfort—as it should be for us too!
Conclusion
A story has been told about an uneducated miner in Scotland who preached among his fellow workmen with great power. “Soon his witness took him far beyond the confines of the mining towns. Someone asked him how he had received his call to preach. He replied, ‘Oh, I had such a burden on my soul for those who did not know the gospel, I argued with the Lord that I had no education and no gift. But He said, to me, ‘Jamie, you know what the sickness is, don’t you?’ I answered, ‘Yes, Lord, the sickness is sin.’ ‘And you know what the remedy is, don’t you, Jamie?’ I answered, ‘Yes, Lord, the remedy is the Lord Jesus Christ.’ And He said to me. ‘Jamie, just take the remedy to those who are sick.’ The uneducated miner said, “That [was] my call to preach.’ ²
God calls every believer to be a servant. What is your calling? Are you willing for Him to show you? Why not ask the Lord to show you now? God may not speak to through a vision like He did to Ezekiel, but He will speak. He always does!
Bible Verses: See above.
Prayer:
O heavenly Father, I so want to do Your will. I want to do anything You ask me to do, but it is scary. I need You to confirm Your presence, show me Your will, and give me the strength and power to follow heed the call You have on my life. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Coming Soon:
Ezekiel: When God SAYS “Enough is Enough” at www.GreenePastures.org.
Works Cited
¹ Wikipedia. Babylonia. https://en.wikipedia.org. Accessed 7 June 2017.
² Kolenda, Daniel. The Call vs. the Commission. Charisma Magazine. 14 Oct 2015. http://www.charismamag.com. Accessed 8 June 2017.
³ Barnhouse, Donald. Let Me Illustrate. Grand Rapids: Revell, 1969.
Bibliography
Losch, Richard. All the People in the Bible: An A-Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren. Be Reverent: Bowing Before Our Awesome God. Colorado Springs: David Cook, 2000.
Edited by E. Johnson; Bible verses are taken from the NASB if not noted otherwise.
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Caregiving: How to Prepare, Embrace, and Survive the Final Moments. Ask any recent mother about her child delivery experience and you will not hear the same run-of-the-mill stories. Each woman’s childbirth experience is different. As a point of comparison, there are just as many accounts about the dying process. Just as we come into this world in our own unique way, we will also leave it in our own distinctive fashion. But, one thing is for sure—we will all die someday. Our life stories will be different, as evidenced in obituaries and hand-me-down family stories. We hate to admit it, but simply stated, death is a part of life.
One day your parents might be sitting on the couch chatting with you. A week or so later, they may be lying in bed struggling with labored breathing and experiencing hallucinations. You may be alarmed with the death rattle you hear in their chest. Shortly thereafter, they might die in your arms or while you are in a different room. But, then what?
When a loved one is close to passing away, we know we will face impending pain, grief, and sadness especially when that final moment occurs. Often times we wish we had time to rest, mourn and cry right after the death of our loved ones—but we can’t. We are thrust into dealing with the practical steps that need to be taken. Being prepared for this moment is tough, but it is by far one of the most important steps you can take.
Commit your works to the Lord. And your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)
Before the Final Moment: Preparing
If your loved one is lucid, having information available will be very helpful to you when the time of death occurs.
iInformation may include:
Instructions pertaining to burial and funeral arrangements, pastoral information, favorite Bible verses or hymns to use at funeral
Location of important documents. Examples include the will, people to notify upon death, personal documents, debts, keys (car, home, and safety deposit), pension papers, bank account information, insurance information, social security number, usernames and passwords, business instructions.
Personal information, e.g. name of colleges and degrees, certifications, past and current employers. All this is helpful to those left behind for probate, obituaries, and other important duties that need to be carried out.
If a person has been disinherited from a will, it is important to get an explanation in writing as to why in the will. This will help in resolving any disputes and/or contesting of the will.
Signs that Death is Near
As death becomes closer, you might notice that your parent might sleep more, be less verbal, eat less, drink less, encounter more pain, develop changes in blood pressure, experience a change in heart rate, undergo changes in skin, go to the bathroom less, become incontinent, suffer with confusion, experience erratic breathing, exhibit restlessness, endure difficulty swallowing, see visions, show evidence of glazed eyes, and extremities may appear bluish in color.
Saying Goodbye
Knowing when to call the family to say goodbye is difficult to gauge. When you notice symptoms, you may want to let family and close friends know so an opportunity to say a final farewell may occur. Obviously, at this point, you don’t know the exact time that death will occur, but most loved ones would appreciate a “heads up!”
It is interesting that many people have noted that sometimes before death, a person has a moment of lucidity. It happened the night before my father passed away. All the family was standing around his bed. He opened his eyes, looked at everyone and gave the biggest grin ever. It was so remarkable that he knew and loved seeing his family around during his last hours with leukemia. After seeing us all, he clapped for us. What a blessing that was!
Encountering the Final Moment: Embracing
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever. (John 14:16)
If death occurs in a hospital or facility, the staff will usually guide you as to the steps that must take place.
If the death occurs at home under a hospice situation, there is no need to rush to call the funeral home. As reminder, “hospice” is not a place—It is a concept. Lingering around your loved one to say goodbye and comfort others is acceptable. When the hospice agency is called, they will support you and the family through your grief. They can also help you by contacting the designated funeral home if you have one. A death must be pronounced by a medical doctor or hospice nurse. Having hospice already in place will help the family during this difficult time.
It is worth mentioning that without hospice, the process will be more complicated. You will be responsible for making arrangement for your loved one to be picked up. But first, you will need to call 911. When an ambulance arrives, you might be asked when the time of death occurred. Be prepared to show a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate Order) especially if you have waited over an hour to call them.
After the Final Moment: Surviving
Request Death Certificates
When my father passed away, the funeral home told us to request at least 20 copies of the death certificates. There will be many instances where you will need them as you clear up their estate, personal affairs, and business. If the funeral home you are using does not supply those to you, they can be obtained by contacting the Vital Statistics office in the state where the death occurred. Most organizations will require an original death certificate, not a copy.
Inform All Financial Establishments
After you receive the death certificates, it will be time to contact all institutions regarding the death. Insurance companies, credit card companies, mortgage companies, brokerage firms, banks and more should be notified. Be aware that once banks are notified of a death, the accounts are usually frozen until new accounts are set up with the survivors; this may take longer than anticipated, so be sure the family has enough money/cash to get by until this is taken care of.
Get in Touch with Providers
Contact utility companies (telephone, cable, Internet service providers) for cancellation or name changes. It is not imperative to cancel home services such as gas, water, electric, lawn services, pest control until a later date. This will ensure that the home or apartment can continue to be maintained until decisions are made.
Report the Death to Government Agencies
Notify the Social Security office and the Veteran’s Administration about the loss of your loved one. While some benefits might be canceled, others may be adjusted for survivor benefits. If your parents were veterans, survivor benefits may be available depending on the eligibility for you or other family members.
Contact Employers and Former Employers
Contacting current or former employers is essential. The Human Resources departments of these organizations will help you sort out benefits, life insurance, stocks, and beneficiary information. By contacting former companies, you might be surprised to find out that there is a death benefit that you are unaware of. It is your responsibility to find out about that, not theirs!
Probate the Estate
If the deceased had a will, there is usually an executor who is responsible for handling the distributing of wealth and property once a person dies. If there is no will, each state has rules and lists of qualified individuals to help you with distribution. If you have been named an executor, you must show proof of your role before working in that capacity; this is usually stated in the person’s will or an addendum. Depending on the deceased’s estate, it can take up to a year or longer to sort out all the details.
Spiritually Speaking
One simple fact is when our loved one dies, there are no easy answers or exact protocol to follow. There will be pain, grief, and sadness. When the apostle Paul spoke of death, he desired that “according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20) As we face our death and the death of our family members, let’s view it as the beginning, not the end—a time to exalt and glorify God. When we envision that our real home is in heaven, it may be a little easier to let our loved ones go.
Saying that we cannot trivialize death. We will miss our parents or family members when they pass away. It’s easy to focus on ourselves and the loss that we will/have encountered both before and after they die. Many people who spend the days, weeks, and months before an impending death giving their loved ones’ support, compassion, love, and care finding it very comforting to their souls.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 states, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—a time to give birth and a time to die.” Let’s be prepared for God’s moment and His timing by being wise, fruitful, and loving while we embrace our loved ones’ last days—in both the practical and spiritual sense.
Bible Verses:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
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. (James 1:5)
In my distress, I called upon the Lord, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears. (Psalm 18:6)
Prayer:
Most gracious God. Please be with me as I face the final days of my parent(s). Let me care for them as You care for me. I need Your wisdom, Your grace, and Your peace. I need You now more than ever during this time when decisions need to be made. Let me be pre-prepared—both physically, emotionally and spiritually to know Your will during this difficult time. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
God Bless,
Member Inspirational Writers Alive; Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member
Edited by E. Johnson; Bible verses are taken from the NASB if not noted otherwise.
Works Cited/Bibliography
Preparing for the Death of a Loved One. [2016]: MetaMd. National Caregiver’s Library. Accessed 15 Oct 2016. www.caregiverslibrary.org.
Randall, Clark. 5 Things to Do Immediately After a Loved One Dies. USA Today. 24 Oct 2015. Accessed 15 Oct 2016. www.USAToday.com.
What to Expect When Your Loved One is Dying. WebMD. Accessed 15 Oct 2016. www.webmd.com.
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N0-Nonsense Prayers for a Divided Country: The First 66 Days / by Patti Greene
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What a WEEK!
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Pre-inaugural events—Swearing-in ceremonies—Fancy dresses—Speeches—Parades—Marches—Vulgarity—Activists—Signs—Creepy men in face masks—Pink hats—And, kids!
I have tried three times to write this blog over the past few days. Each time was for naught. Each blog just didn’t seem pertinent enough for the current state of affairs in the United States. When I prayed hard for direction the word “Scripture” kept coming up in my mind.
So, I finally found what God wanted me to share. SCRIPTURE. Below you will find 66 prayers along with 66 Scriptures that address how we can pray for our leaders, government offices, and agencies. There is one verse from each book of the Bible.
Commit today, on the first FULL day of Donald Trump’s presidency, to pray daily for a smooth and peaceful transition into this new era.
66 No-Nonsense Prayers for a Divided Country: The First 66 Days
Day 1: Pray that the Spirit of God will hover over the world.
Genesis 1:2 – Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Day 2: Pray that Christians will be fed through church and Christian ministries.
Exodus 20:8 – Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Day 3: Pray for our leaders to remain pure.
Leviticus 20:10 – If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife–with the wife of his neighbor–both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.
Day 4: Pray that our leader’s burdens are given to God.
Numbers 11:14 – I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.
Day 5: Thank God that our leaders are taking oaths in Your Name.
Deuteronomy 10:20 – Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.
Day 6: Pray for strength not to be discouraged with all you see happening.
Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Day 7: Ask God to place good, honest judges over our land.
Judges 2:16 – Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.
Day 8: Pray that God will become a refuge to the people of the land.
Ruth 2:12 – May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
Day 9: Pray that pride and arrogance be kept from our leaders.
1 Samuel 2:3 – Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
Day 10: Pray that God’s anointed will be appointed to be officers.
2 Samuel 7:8 – Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel.
Day 11: Pray that the Judicial Branch will recognize liars.
1 Kings 22:23 – So now the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you.
Day 12: Pray that the Lord will remove the sins of the people before his anger prevails.
2 Kings 17:18-20 – Because the LORD was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the LORD their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced. The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence.
Day 13: Pray for evil in the land to be stopped.
1 Chronicles 21:22 – And David said to Ornan, Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the LORD—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.
Day 14: Pray for our leaders to pray and seek God’s face.
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Day 15: Pray for our leaders to have courage to take matters into their hands.
Ezra 10:4 – Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.
Day 16: Pray God’s anointed to not rationalize the sins of this nation.
Nehemiah 4:5 – Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.
Day 17: Pray for Israel.
Esther 4:14 – For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Day 18: Pray for the force of evil attacking our nation.
Job 1:6 – Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Day 19: Pray that you will not fret over evildoers.
Psalms 37:1-2 – Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.
Day 20: Pay that our country will be established by righteousness.
Proverbs 16:12 – It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Day 21: Pray for the proper time and procedure for all negotiations our leaders encounter.
Ecclesiastes 8:6 – For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him.
Day 22: Pray for sexual integrity when leaders make decisions on sexual issues.
Song of Solomon 8:4 – Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
Day 23: Ask the Lord to renew the strength of those in authority over us.
Isaiah 40:31 – Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
Day 24: Pray that our leaders will ask God where the good way is and strength to walk in it.
Jeremiah 6:16 – This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.
Day 25: Pray for the Department of Housing that laws and decisions are fair and just.
Lamentations 5:2 – Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
Day 26: Pray for the Legislative Branch to make good laws and to eliminate bad laws.
Ezekiel 5:6 – Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not followed my decrees.
Day 27: Pray that our President will give attention to God’s truth.
Daniel 9:13 – Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.
Day 28: Pray for our citizens to accept and respect the Office of the President and vice-President.
Hosea 1:11 – The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.
Day 29: Pray our Armed Forces’ protection and focus.
Joel 2:7 – Like warriors they charge; like soldiers they scale the wall. They march each on his way; they do not swerve from their paths.
Day 30: Pray for people to be healed for the offenses and sins prevalent in our country.
Amos 5:12 – For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
Day 31: Lord, help me not to ever gloat over the misfortunes of others.
Obadiah 1:12 – Do not gloat over your brother’s day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast In the day of their distress.
Day 32: Lord, show our leaders who is causing the trouble in our nation and how to address them.
Jonah 1:8 – Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
Day 33: Pray for the Secretary of State to make wise decisions in settling world disputes.
Micah 4:3 – He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Day 34: Pray that our Armed Services will be strong and mighty.
Nahum 3:13 – Your troops will be as weak and helpless as women. The gates of your land will be opened wide to the enemy and set on fire and burned.
Day 35: Pray that injustice and violence will cease in our land.
Habakkuk 1:3 – Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Day 36: Pray for swift punishment for those with violence and deceit in their heart.
Zephaniah 1:9 – Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies, and those who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.
Day 37: Pray for your state governor to possess godliness and wisdom.
Haggai 1:14 – So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God,
Day 38: Pray for the Supreme Court and judges to administer true justice.
Zechariah 7:9 – This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.
Day 39: Thank God for freedom of religion and for that freedom not to be diminished.
Malachi 1:10 – How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, and I will not accept your offerings.
Day 40: Pray that our leaders will be servants to those God has given them to serve.
Matthew 20:26 – Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
Day 41: Pray for the House of Representatives and the Senate to be at peace with each other.
Mark 9:50 – Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.
Day 42: Pray that the men or women voted into office choose God’s salvation in Jesus Christ.
Luke 18:18 – A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Day 43: Pray that our leaders will finish the work God wants them to accomplish.
John 4:34 – Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
Day 44: Pray for the President to speak words of encouragement to the people.
Acts 20:2 – He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,
Day 45: Pray for God’s authority to rule our land.
Romans 13:1-4 – Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
Day 46: Pray that our leaders will lead with speech that enrich and encourage.
1 Corinthians 1:51 – For in him you have been enriched in every way–with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.
Day 47: Pray for godly sorrow to lead to repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:10 – Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Day 48: Pray that our leaders do not grow weary of doing good.
Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Day 49: Pray against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Day 50: Pray that we do not become anxious about issues facing our nation.
Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Day 51: Pray for wisdom as our nation’s leaders deal with outside countries.
Colossians 4:5 – Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Day 52: Pray to proceed with good motives in all our dealings.
1 Thessalonians 2:3 – For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
Day 53: Pray our leaders will recognize the works of Satan.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 – The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie.
Day 54: Pray for all who have been put in authority over us.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 – First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Day 55: Pray our nation’s leaders will turn to the Bible as their source of truth.
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
Day 56: Pray that the religious leaders of our government officials are blameless before God.
Titus 1:6-7 – An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
Day 57: Thank God for the leadership of our country when we pray.
Philemon 1:4 – I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers.
Day 58: Pray that our leader’s eyes will be fixed on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Day 59: Pray for our leaders to be peacemakers.
James 3:18 – Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Day 60: Pray that those who lead our nation have alert and sober minds.
1 Peter 1:13 – Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Day 61: Pray for God’s divine power to abound in our nation.
2 Peter 1:32 – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Day 62: Pray for those who practice unlawfulness.
1 John 3:41 – Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
Day 63: Give thanks for the joy you give us when we walk in your truth.
2 John 1:4 – It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
Day 64: Pray for health and healing for our nation’s leaders.
3 John 1:23 – Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
Day 65: Pray freedom and peace in your local cities.
Jude 1:7 – In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Day 66: Thank God for his prophecy of hope for a new nation.
Revelation 21:24 – The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
God Bless. And as always, please share and forward this email to your friends and family.
Patti Greene, Member Inspirational Writers Alive
Bible Verses:
See above.
Prayer:
Dear God, the election is over. We have new leadership in our country. As believers, let us unite in prayer. Use me to pray for our country, its leadership, and for your truth every day for the next sixty-six days. Fill me with your Holy Spirit as I pray. Let my prayers be in accordance to your will. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Verses taken from various Bible versions: ESV, NIV, KJV, NASB, and NLT.
Five Simple Steps for Making Your Own Devotional Prayer Journal / Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti
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For the past 44 years I have put together a prayer journal of one type or another. During that time, I have improved my journals each year until I felt that I had perfected them. These journals change from year to year depending on my personal and spiritual needs. The photo above shows my personal homemade journal for 2017! It’s easy to make. You can be as creative as you want or not creative at all. As Nike says, “Just Do It.”
Five Simple Steps to Make a Comprehensive Prayer Journal
1. Purchase or find a 3-ring notebook.
2. Purchase some notebook paper, dividers, pens, and/or markers if needed.
3. Come up with several categories and write them on your dividers. A good starter-set of categories might include “Prayer Requests”, “Bible Study Notes”, “Notes from Christian Books”, “Dear God Letters”, “Sermon Notes”.
4. Place the titled dividers and notebook paper in your binder. Put some notebook paper behind each divider. You may need to buy more notebook paper during the year.
5. Then, commit to using it daily with your Bible!
And, VOILÀ! You have a comprehensive devotional prayer journal!
You can add a zippered three-ring pencil holder for pencils, pens, and markers. This year I added a three-ring envelope for cards and special correspondence from friends and family.
And if you don’t like creating your own, I have written three devotional prayer journals that are already formatted and on sale at Amazon. They are Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer; Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer, and Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer. Click here to read more.
The important thing is not what type of prayer and Bible study mechanism you use, just use one. There are different options for keeping track of your prayer requests and Bible Study. Not everyone likes to start from scratch designing and organizing their own journals. But, for those of you who do, go for it! And then, please let me know how the Lord uses it in your walk with Him!
And, I’d love to see photos of your own created devotional prayer journal!
Heavenly Father, thank you for all the ups and the downs in 2016. All that happens to me works for good according to your purposes if I allow it. Let me follow your steps in 2017. Show me power in your word and when I pray. Convict me of my sins – both big and small. Let my studies seep so deep into my soul that I will not fear whatever is put in my path. Allow me to be consistent in my quiet time and please help me to honor you by having daily devotions. In your holy name, Jesus, I pray.
Test Your Knowledge [Thanksgiving] / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti
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Many of you know the Bible contains many sentences about thankfulness, being thankful, thanks, and thanking. So, let’s do something fun this Thanksgiving! Let’s test your knowledge on Biblical phrases or sentences using derivatives of the word “THANK.”
Below you will find 20 fill-in-the-blank Bible verses from the English Standard Version [ESV] version. See how many you can get correct. If you have an ESV Bible, feel free to use the open-book option to find your answers.
The answers are listed at the end of the blog. Please share this blog with your friends and family – especially educators who love tests they don’t have to make up!
Thanksgiving Bible Trivia Quiz
From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of _______________. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained. Jeremiah 30:19
a. bells b. music c. rejoicing d. gratitude
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all _______________ ; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
a. cities b. things c. situations d. circumstances
It was the duty of the trumpeters and _______________ to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 5:12-13
a. singers b. saxophones c. musicians d. choir
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all _______________, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
a. love b. wisdom c. words d. praise
With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with _______________ of leavened bread. Leviticus 7:13
a. cakes b. loaves c. muffins d. sticks
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his ________________, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. Psalm 7:17
a. holiness b. perfection c. righteousness d. precepts
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make _______________ to him with the harp of ten strings! Psalm 33:2
a. melody b. music c. dances d. praises
To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and _______________, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter. Daniel 2:23
a. might b. justice c. love d. knowledge
But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. _______________ belongs to the Lord!” Jonah 2:9
a. Patience b. Tithe c. Salvation d. Eternal life
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “_______________ of it, all of you . . .” Matthew 26:27
a. Sip b. Drink c. Swallow d. Gulp
Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “_______________” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 1 Corinthians 14:16
a. Blessings b. Amen c. Praise d. Exaltation
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to _______________. Philippians 4:6
a. your Heavenly Father b. the angels c. Jesus d. God
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of ________________, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
a. Everlasting God b. Yahweh c. the Lord Jesus d. your creator
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his ________________ with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalms 100:4
a. courts b. gates c. door d. mansion
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the _______________! Psalm 147:7
a. harmonica b. keyboard c. lyre d. harp
For everything created by God is _______________, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 1 Timothy 4:4
a. heavenly b. first-class c. good d. marvelous
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your ________________ is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3
a. love b. faith c. hope d. confidence
And let the peace of Christ ________________ in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
a. control b. rule c. grow d. be powerful
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, _______________, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. Luke 18:11
a. unjust b. liars c. murderers d. robbers
First, I thank my God through ________________ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. Romans 1:8
a. praise b. Jesus Christ c. the Holy Spirit d. Abraham
Scroll all the way down for the answers.
Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful day. You are a mighty God and you do so much for me. I am so grateful for your love, your kindness, your patience, and your direction. Thank you for my family and friends. Thank you for my well-being. Thank you that I can trust in your guidance and love every day of my life. Thank you for giving strength and protection to me. You are a generous and holy God. In Jesus’ name.
God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving,
Patti Greene, Member Inspirational Writers Alive
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]
Edited by E. Johnson
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Answers to Test Your Knowledge [Thanksgiving] – 5 Points for Each Correct Answer!
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