Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
—1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The word stress was originally an engineering term used to refer to the amount of force a beam or other physical support could bear without collapsing under strain.
In our time, the word has been expanded to refer not only to physical pressure but also to mental and emotional tension. As human beings, you and I are built to handle a normal amount of stress. God has created us to withstand a certain amount of pressure and tension. The problem comes when we push ourselves beyond our limitations, beyond what we were intended to bear without permanent damage. But like so many people, because I have things to do, I just keep pushing myself even though it is causing me physical damage.
Of course, when sickness tries to come on Dave or me, we immediately pray for healing. But if you become sick as a result of running your body down by pushing it beyond the limits God set for you to operate in good health, you need rest as well as prayer to restore your health. The boundaries He has set for us are for our own good.
God’s Boundaries
by Joyce Meyer - posted April 30, 2016Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.
—1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The word stress was originally an engineering term used to refer to the amount of force a beam or other physical support could bear without collapsing under strain.
In our time, the word has been expanded to refer not only to physical pressure but also to mental and emotional tension. As human beings, you and I are built to handle a normal amount of stress. God has created us to withstand a certain amount of pressure and tension. The problem comes when we push ourselves beyond our limitations, beyond what we were intended to bear without permanent damage. But like so many people, because I have things to do, I just keep pushing myself even though it is causing me physical damage.
Of course, when sickness tries to come on Dave or me, we immediately pray for healing. But if you become sick as a result of running your body down by pushing it beyond the limits God set for you to operate in good health, you need rest as well as prayer to restore your health. The boundaries He has set for us are for our own good.
A Unique Request
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
Luke 11:1
Dr. John Rice told a story about prayer that highlights a trap many of us fall into. When their oldest daughter Grace was a little girl, the custom of their family was to gather at the table and pray before their meal. Dr. Rice said that he noticed a peculiar trait in his daughter. Just before he would finish his praying, she would begin saying, “Amen, Amen.” He then said, “As I thought, I realized that I was just saying the same words day after day, and she said ‘Amen’ because she knew I was almost finished.” Prayer is not just a ritual featuring meaningless repetition of words we say with our eyes closed. Prayer is pouring out our hearts before God.
Though Jesus taught the disciples many things during the three years they shared together, the only thing recorded in Scripture that they asked Him to teach them was to pray. As they traveled and ministered across the land, they watched Jesus pray again and again. Early in the morning, throughout the day, and late at night, they saw Jesus seeking His Father’s face, and eventually they asked Him for instruction in the matter of prayer.
One of the greatest tragedies of our day is the lack of prayer on the part of Christians. While many people wouldn’t think of eating without praying first and we routinely pray at the beginning of church services, Sunday school classes, and meetings, there is a great lack of serious, intense, and fervent prayer. The power and provision of God flow into our lives in response to our prayers. And if we have not prayed as we should, we should not be surprised to find ourselves lacking those things.
Luke 11:1
Dr. John Rice told a story about prayer that highlights a trap many of us fall into. When their oldest daughter Grace was a little girl, the custom of their family was to gather at the table and pray before their meal. Dr. Rice said that he noticed a peculiar trait in his daughter. Just before he would finish his praying, she would begin saying, “Amen, Amen.” He then said, “As I thought, I realized that I was just saying the same words day after day, and she said ‘Amen’ because she knew I was almost finished.” Prayer is not just a ritual featuring meaningless repetition of words we say with our eyes closed. Prayer is pouring out our hearts before God.
Though Jesus taught the disciples many things during the three years they shared together, the only thing recorded in Scripture that they asked Him to teach them was to pray. As they traveled and ministered across the land, they watched Jesus pray again and again. Early in the morning, throughout the day, and late at night, they saw Jesus seeking His Father’s face, and eventually they asked Him for instruction in the matter of prayer.
One of the greatest tragedies of our day is the lack of prayer on the part of Christians. While many people wouldn’t think of eating without praying first and we routinely pray at the beginning of church services, Sunday school classes, and meetings, there is a great lack of serious, intense, and fervent prayer. The power and provision of God flow into our lives in response to our prayers. And if we have not prayed as we should, we should not be surprised to find ourselves lacking those things.
Today’s Growth Principle:
The Christian life requires serious, continual, habitual prayer as a foundation for all that we do.
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