Most
of you know the folklore of a Genie in a bottle. You rub the bottle and
then you have three wishes. (Of course the first wish I would like is
to have a thousand more wishes.) A lot of you right now may be thinking
that this is horrible to write about Jesus in this way. But in reality
many of us want Jesus to be OUR Genie. A lot of times our prayers are
for something to happen right now! And if our prayers are not answered
right away we either get mad or lose hope and faith.
Most of the time God allows prayers to take time so we get to know God. We seek when we don’t have an answer. We keep asking. We keep praying. We keep wondering; and through days, months, or even years a relationship is built. If your answer was immediate, there would not be a need for a relationship.
If you look back at all your close relationships chances are those relationships were bonded when you had to go through tough times together. God has the same and perfect plan for you right now. Don’t become bitter when things are tough, when you have been diagnosed with a terrible disease, when you lose a job, or lose what is very precious to you. If God were to give you everything you asked for then He would be your slave, not your God.
Jesus was God in the flesh who left the glorious realms of heaven to come and feel sin even though he did not sin. Then God turned His back on Jesus as God cannot look at sin when Jesus was on the cross. That is love, that is a relationship, and that is redemption. Today you may want pain and suffering to go away right now. While it is OK to keep praying for that, please use this as a time to get to know the ONLY one in the world who loves YOU unconditionally.
Jesus is out to get you - but not in the way you think. At times we think that God has been so mad at us that we can’t be forgiven. But the opposite is true. Jesus loves us enough to get us because He loves us! Don't believe the lies of the devil. Jesus loves us too much to fill the role of a genie. Look to God; give Him your praise no matter what storm you are going through. Then that relationship which passes all understanding will flourish. Then and only then will peace flood your soul.
Most of the time God allows prayers to take time so we get to know God. We seek when we don’t have an answer. We keep asking. We keep praying. We keep wondering; and through days, months, or even years a relationship is built. If your answer was immediate, there would not be a need for a relationship.
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” Proverbs 2:1-8 NIVThis is a relationship. Hidden treasure is not found overnight. But any treasure hunter will tell you that it is as much fun trying to find the treasure as it is uncovering it. Not for us though. Most of us will not be happy until we finally see the new job, extra money in the bank, a new________ or_________. Why can’t we enjoy the journey? Why can’t we enjoy the presence and a relationship with God when things are rough or when we are in the middle of a desert? It is because we want God to be a Genie and to get us out of the mess right away.
If you look back at all your close relationships chances are those relationships were bonded when you had to go through tough times together. God has the same and perfect plan for you right now. Don’t become bitter when things are tough, when you have been diagnosed with a terrible disease, when you lose a job, or lose what is very precious to you. If God were to give you everything you asked for then He would be your slave, not your God.
Jesus was God in the flesh who left the glorious realms of heaven to come and feel sin even though he did not sin. Then God turned His back on Jesus as God cannot look at sin when Jesus was on the cross. That is love, that is a relationship, and that is redemption. Today you may want pain and suffering to go away right now. While it is OK to keep praying for that, please use this as a time to get to know the ONLY one in the world who loves YOU unconditionally.
Jesus is out to get you - but not in the way you think. At times we think that God has been so mad at us that we can’t be forgiven. But the opposite is true. Jesus loves us enough to get us because He loves us! Don't believe the lies of the devil. Jesus loves us too much to fill the role of a genie. Look to God; give Him your praise no matter what storm you are going through. Then that relationship which passes all understanding will flourish. Then and only then will peace flood your soul.
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19 days ago
Tami Baker
John: 23,24
When
that day comes, you will not ask me for anything. I am telling you the
truth: the Father will give you whatever you ask of Him in my name. 24
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will
receive, so that your happiness will be complete.
These are
the words of Jesus, and kind of negates this entire message. Part of our
problem is that we are not to pray to Jesus. We are to pray to God the
Father in the name of Jesus who made us sinless in the eyes of God. Our
prayers don't get answered for a couple of reasons but one of the
biggest reasons is lack of faith, plain and simple. The Bible says
repeatedly that your prayers will get answered if you believe that God
can and will. Are you praying for outrageous things that you don't need
or will ultimately get you in trouble? Then God doesn't just not answer,
He doesn't hear you because those things don't come from the Holy
Spirit. Yes, you can pray for material things, God promises we will be
clothed and fed, and well!
God also has no problem with
anyone being rich as long as their heart is humble and they put God
first, which is typically very difficult for rich people.
This
article was very disappointing. If I were not already a Christian, this
would turn me away. It's outlook is very bleak. If you accept Jesus and
the gift of salvation, your sins have been cast away from God as far as
the East is from the West. You already have a relationship. Yes, you do
mature in Christ. The challenge is to trust and have faith and lean not
unto thine own understanding. God makes lots of promises and He is not a
liar. I can't think of anywhere in the Bible where God says "I'll only
answer your prayers when I'm satisfied that our relationship is cool,
and you'll have to suffer a long time and jump through a bunch of hoops
to prove it." Nope, Jesus already did that.
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