The Word For Today

James wrote: 'Take the prophets...as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful' (James 5:10-11 NKJV). Here we are reminded to look back and be challenged and encouraged in our faith journeys by those who went before us.

Look back at Hosea: his wife deserted him, but he faithfully hung in and God restored their marriage (see Hosea 3:1-3). Look back at Daniel: thrown into a lions' den for standing firm in his faith, but God delivered and promoted him (see Daniel 6:1-28). Look back at Jeremiah: arrested, accused of being a traitor and thrown into a well to die (see Jeremiah 37-38). But he looked up, and God delivered him. Then there's the roll call of the faithful listed in Hebrews 11! Those of us who've been rejected by family members, look back to Abel (see Hebrews 11:4). Those who are misunderstood, look back to Noah (see Hebrews 11:7). Those battling a crisis of faith and who seem to be up against the impossible, look back to Abraham (see Hebrews 11:8-10). Those who've been used or abused, look back to Joseph (see Hebrews 11:22). Those confronted by seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life, look back to Joshua (see Hebrews 11:30). Those seeking to move beyond a sinful past, look back to Rahab (see Hebrews 11:31).

So, this is the word for today: look back and be encouraged.

Here are three reasons you need to partake of Holy Communion:

(1) To make you grace-minded. No one will ever stand in Heaven and say, 'Look what Jesus and I have accomplished.' If you had to pay one cent of your debt of sin, it would make you a co-redeemer with Christ. What an offence to the cross! (See Ephesians 2:8-9.) Hymnist Horatio Spafford wrote: 'My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!'

(2) To keep you sensitive to sin. 'Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself' (1 Corinthians 11:28-29 NKJV). It's the 'manner' in which you approach God that counts. You don't have to avoid the communion cup; you need only confess your sin, then drink deeply with gratitude.

(3) To keep you focused on Jesus' return. Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God' (Mark 14:25 NLT). Every communion service brings you one step closer to the greatest communion service of all: the marriage supper of the Lamb in Heaven (see Revelation 19:7). Are you planning on being there?

Neuroscientists tell us that every sound, experience, conscious thought and subconscious dream is recorded and literally engraved on our external hard drive, the cerebral cortex. Now juxtapose that with this: 'Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 2:5 NKJV). Simply put: the mind of Christ is the word of God. After all, Jesus is 'the Word' (John 1:1).

When you pray, or meditate or memorise Scripture, you're engraving Jesus on your brain. Neurologically speaking, you're recruiting new neuro connections and rerouting old ones. Slowly but surely, your brain is being rewired and renewed. Think of it as mind sync. You're downloading the very words and thoughts of God. And over time, those downloads are upgrades that form the mind of Christ in us.

Note what author Mark Batterson says about how he reads the Bible, 'I continue until I come to any verse that may suggest pausing. It's often something I need to think about or pray about. Sometimes it's the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and I need to have a conversation with God before I continue...When I come to one of those verses, I do three things: First, I underline it or circle it in my Bible. Second, I write it out in longhand in my journal. Third, I journal thoughts, confessions and ideas associated with it. Then, when I feel like the Holy Spirit brings closure, I go on to the next verse.' Those are three great ideas that will work for you too.

Jimmy Wayne never knew his father, and his mother spent more time in prison than out. When Jimmy was twelve, his mother was released from jail and took up with a troublemaker. They loaded him into the back seat of their car, and for a year that was his home. Then one day, they dumped him at a Pensacola, Florida, bus station and drove off. He had no home, no future and no provision. While wandering through a neighbourhood, he spotted an older man at work in a garage wood shop. He approached the elderly gentleman and asked if he had any work. Not only did he give Jimmy Wayne a job, but he also took him in to live with him and his wife. Having a home to live in was like Heaven to Jimmy. Still, despite their kindness, he refused to unpack his bag. For four days, his plastic bag sat on the floor, full of clothes, ready if the husband and wife changed their minds. It took several days, a dozen or so meals and more than one heart-to-heart conversation. But they finally persuaded Jimmy to trust them to care for him.

Perhaps you question your place in God's family or his love for you. What if he changes his mind? God answered that question at the cross. When Jesus died, the heavenly vote was forever cast in your favour. 'He has rescued [you] from the kingdom of darkness and transferred [you] into the Kingdom of his dear Son' (Colossians 1:13 NLT). PS: What happened to Jimmy Wayne? He took his place in the family, got an education and became a country music singer and songwriter.

In the early days of America, a stranger asked how he might identify George Washington among those present at Congress. He was told, 'You can easily distinguish him when Congress goes to prayer. Washington is the gentleman who kneels down.' Washington was known as a man who prayed. When the fate of the new nation hung in the balance at Valley Forge, he frequently found rest and relief in prayer. One day, a farmer approaching Washington's military camp heard an earnest voice. When he drew nearer, he saw Washington on his knees, his cheeks wet with tears. The farmer returned home and told his wife: 'George Washington will succeed, and the Americans will secure their independence.' His wife said, 'Isaac, what makes you think so?' He replied, 'I heard him pray out in the woods today, and the Lord will surely hear his prayer. He will, Hannah, rest assured, he will!'

When we have less, we're more aware of our need and pray more. But as we acquire and achieve more, we become more self-sufficient and pray less. That's a mistake. The more God entrusts to you, the more you need his strength, wisdom, guidance and grace. David sat on a throne and ruled Israel. Was he proud or arrogant? No. 'My enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me...in God I trust and am not afraid' (Psalm 56:9, 11 NKJV).

So, this is the word for today: more responsibility calls for more prayer.

From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion, we see absolute evidence that God answers prayer. Things that we think are impossible, God does when people pray! When we pray, we align ourselves with the purposes of God and tap into the power of the Almighty. Because we pray, God works through us in ways he wouldn't otherwise. God has made certain things dependent upon prayer, things that will never be done unless we pray. Could God do whatever he chooses without our prayer? Of course. But God has determined that he will use the prayers of his people to accomplish his purposes.

When we do not pray, we limit what God will do in our lives. Some may not like the sound of this, but if it were not true, what could James mean when he writes: 'You do not have because you do not ask' (James 4:2 NIV). Why would Paul ask some friends to, 'Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured...that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people' (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 NIV), if he did not believe their prayers had the power to change his circumstances? Both James and Paul believed that God might well withhold his hand of blessing from them if they neglected to pray. Since they wanted all the blessing available to them, they not only prayed themselves, they recruited others to pray for them. They never wanted to limit what God might be pleased to do in and through them by failing to pray.

If you want all the blessing God has available, you too must pray.