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One way to increase personal grace is to pray for others. Intercessory prayer is a means of grace to those who exercise it. It is in the paths of intercessory prayer that we enter the richest fields of spiritual growth and gather priceless riches. To pray for others is of divine appointment, and it represents the highest form of Christian service.
I had a sweaty day as I was drenched in the ammonium-scented singlet after my 4 stations of various exercises and a 2.4km run, components for my IPPT test which is required by the army yearly. I have passed. Thank God for his grace!
I thank God for the past weekend which was very fruitful though I was totally drained and squeezed dry. On Saturday, I did some social work collecting can and dry foods for the needy associations with a group of enthusiastic, selfless youths from my church – we built rapport and friendship. And then on Sunday, I welcomed and played host to a friend to the Gospel service at my church (he was the one I was praying for for weeks) - we shared a table of good food for breakfast and a good discussion on the sermon “The greatest wealth” after the gospel service. He appeared to me as being very receptive to conversations of spiritual and philosophical issues and so I see the possibility for him to come again in the future. Praise the Lord, I’ll continue to intercede for him in prayers.
2 Sam 11:1 Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.
This verse was the start of the narration of David committing adultery with Bathsheba. It was a moment when he, as a king, should be going out to battle but rather, he chose to rest in the comfort in his palace, where he was tempted by the nakedness of Bathsheba bathing. Just a little lust of the eyes was sufficient for the devil to gain foothold in the life of David, eventually developing into a full-blown sin of adultery and murder. And that happened when David stopped fighting.
Since January 12 this year, I started being a disciplined prayer warrior interceding for others and myself even though it was a very difficult discipline. This happened after I realized during a 2nd job interview this year that Jesus wasn’t really my Lord all the time, sometimes pride takes over, other times money will have his say in my life, and the worst thing was, it kept changing. I was awakened from my slumber, and decided that my thoughts must not be ruled by the devil anymore.
Upon closer reflection, I accepted Jesus Christ since 13, started attending church at 15, my life was only a shame and disgrace to God instead of glory to him – I didn’t glorify him in school, at the workplace, in church, in my family, with my friends, with my relationship with the opposite sex and so on. It all happened even when from the outside I was a christian on fire to seek God – reading and studying the Word of God avidly, immersing myself in reading christian books peaking at 3 a week with no problem, and attending expository preaching once every week. However, my prayer life was not strong, it was wobbly. There was a period in my life (when I sinned the most and disgraced God), i prayed the least or even none. There was 1 year 2007 I couldn’t remember myself praying at all.
I could say I was taken over and used by the devil instead of glorifying God especially in the years 2005-2007. That was also the period I prayed the least, or even none. I had no awareness of what’s running on my mind. Sometimes I wanted this, then i wanted that. It was never aligned with pleasing and loving God. The foothold which eventually became full-blown sins in my life included unforgiveness towards family and friends, rebellion against the church authorities, being impatient to wait upon to Lord’s providence and taking things into my own hands, thinking only about my own needs in the church which were not met then and abandoning my christian family, and taking on new pursuits if they gave me a high when I seemed to do well but eventually giving up on them. Eventually, God brought his judgment on me in 2007. My rebellious and wilful way of living resulted in me resigning in a job I was dissatisfied with, health problems and mild depression.
I turned back to Him at the last weekend of 2007 and went back to the church which I rebelliously left and has been attending the church since. I have not seek forgiveness from the church authorities and I don’t know what’s the best way to do it and when to do it. However, I so much wanted to serve God now but because of my sins, it was no longer possible for me to serve at the frontline ministries like being a worship leader or a youth leader like before. I began praying at first initially to gain respite from the pains, regrets and hurts in life but since Jan 12, it became more regular, 2 times a day, it became intercession for others and myself. The more I prayed, the more I find there are things to be prayed for, friends who backslided and unsaved; prayed against, dangerous accusations and lies which could implant themselves in my thoughts, gain a foothold and eventually became a full-blown sin in my life if I was not careful to rebuke them quickly and ask for forgiveness.
For example, yesterday I received a phonecall from an ex-colleague out of nowhere she said she was given my number to call. After acknowledging it was a mistake, I recognized her identity and kindly struck a conversation with her. She congratulated me on finding a new job! This information was only told to my ex-superior whom I was close to. I was mad at my ex-superior because sending her sms to update her my life wasn’t an intention for her to share with everyone else in her office, my ex-office. That night I had to pray immediately for forgiveness and not to harbour any hatred for her. Maybe she had just over-reacted and was loquacious.
I realized the battle is never against flesh and blood, but invisible foes. And you have to continually fight it without ceasing. The moment you are no longer alert and stop fighting, the devil gains his territory; you are devoured! Learn more? Read this article!
“You are full of gratitude for me, however, you have not acknowledged me!”
Do you find the above sentence ambiguous? Being a young man, I have always failed at showing acknowledgement to people who cared for me. At most a – thank you. A thank you, is, only a statement of gratitude, and it’s at its simplest form. A more complex way to show gratitude is to say: ” I thank you for helping me with my school assignment,” or “I thank you for spending time with me.”
A statement of gratitude becomes a statement of acknowledgement when we laud the person of a beautiful, intrinsic value the person possesses derived from our keen observation of him/her performing that act for us.
For example, we may now say: ” You are a selfless friend to give up your own free time to help me with your assignment,” and “I could tell you really treasured our friendship to take time off your busy schedules to spend time with me.”
I thank you, whoever you may be, to drop by and read my blog. It means you care for me and is interested to know what’s going on in my life.
God bless you. :)
I had a fun and fulfilling time doing social work today with the guys from my church, namely Peter, Bingzheng, Raymond, Jordan, Jun ling and Meishan. We went from doors to doors of HDB flats and covered a small area of terrace houses collecting can and dry food for the less fortunate.
The outcome was better than I had expected, some families whom I least expect would give gave. In a moment, I felt so blessed living in a society where people have compassion for others around them. A sense of strong camaraderie was also formed between my group and I which I very much appreciated. God is good and I thank Him for this day!
“When will christians more thoroughly learn the twofold lesson that they are called to a great warfare and that, in order to get the victory, they must give themselves to unsleeping watchfulness and unceasing prayer?” (E M Bounds)
According to E M Bounds, a methodist minister and devotional writer, christians have a twofold duty to be watchful and pray unceasingly.
In the new testament, there are three different words that are translated to “watch”.
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“absence of sleep”, keeping a wakeful frame of mind
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“fully awake”
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“calm and collected in spirit”
Why watchful? The Bible in 1 Peter 5:8 reminded us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” He never falls asleep, so we must be watchful.
The spiritual walk is a battle fought against invisible foes who are alert and seeking to entrap, deceive and ruin the souls of men. Therefore, the christian needs to realize that he will be defeated utterly, unless he gives himself to constant vigilance and unceasing prayer.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Eph 6:18)
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