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And he [Jesus] said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?” --Matthew 26:40 Have you ever noticed how often our self confidence leads to a lack of dependence upon the Lord in prayer? You and I get so busy that we take our eyes off him and when our focus is off the Lord, we are set up for spiritual failure. If you don’t believe me, ask Simon Peter. Remember before his arrest, when Jesus found Simon Peter sleeping rather than praying? Well, at that moment, prayerlessness was Peter’s downfall. I believe prayerlessness is one of the biggest issues facing the American church today. We know we need a cultural revolution and that we are headed for disaster unless God’s people return to him. But too often the church tries to fight the cultural battle with physical weapons. So let me remind you that the agenda of the church is not just stopping abortion, or the gay agenda, or the demise of the culture through the media. Even though we want these things to stop, the only way we will win these battles is on our knees in prayer. The only way America will change is one life at a time… one heart at a time. And that means God’s people must be in prayer. Let’s get our eyes off ourselves and back on God. Without him we can do nothing. THE ONLY WAY AMERICA WILL CHANGE IS ONE LIFE AT A TIME… ONE HEART AT A TIME.

How the World Gives

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.”
John 14:27–29

The night before Jesus’ crucifixion (which despite His repeated teaching the disciples still did not expect) Jesus gave them a promise of peace. Because He knew what was about to happen, He knew that they were going to be in great need of comfort in the coming days. In this time of final preparation, He not only told them about His peace, but He told them that there was a difference between the way God gives and the way the world gives.
The gifts of the world are usually not what they appear on the surface, and even when they are good things, they come with strings attached. The world does not give freely. And the gifts of the world are not permanent. It was realizing this truth that prompted Moses to choose to endure the hardships of standing for the truth rather than taking the easy route and enjoying the temporary pleasures of Pharaoh’s palace. “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).
There is nothing in this world that compares to the immeasurable love of God for His children. When we understand the depth of His love, we understand why He gives differently than the world does. He has no ulterior motives or hidden agendas. He only wants what is best for us.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

All of God’s good gifts are offered to us as His children freely and without any strings attached.