For some people it is just Arabic language, for others it the divine light. Yes, Quran is the way of spending our lives but to understand the core and essence of Quran one must open up the eyes of heart. What are the eyes of heart? It is a very interesting discussion, before explaining it we must need to understand a concept.
All of us see from our head eyes, but it’s not only the eyes that make us see, eyes can only make us see if we see in light. If there is no light no matter how good your eye sight is you just can’t see. Similarly for heart there is a divine light (Noor), if there is no divine light the heart can’t see as well.
Following the guidance of Quran makes our heart with full of Noor, we can only understand the Quran if our belief is right. The dangerous thing is that if we don’t follow the essence of Quran and sill read it, sometimes it can back fire.
Yes that’s harsh to say but it is a bitter reality that sometimes reciting Quran is a way of Lanat (the anger of Allah Ta’ala). the following ayats (verses) show that how sometimes reciting Quran becomes the reason of Allah’s anger.
Allah Ta’ala states “Beware, the curse of Allah is on the wrong-doers" and he exposes himself to this warning because of his wrong doings.” if someone is a wrong doer , doesn’t make him correct and still recites the above mentioned verse, he actually himself asking for trouble. One another place Allah Ta’ala says “The curse of Allah is upon the liars”, if someone is a liar and recites this ayat without repentance then he is asking for the curse.
The above mentioned verses were not to discourage people, but we seriously need to give ourselves a thought process. We need to learn Quran and then understand the essence of it. there is no doubt that Allah Ta’ala is very merciful, He gives so much to Quran followers but the real follower is the one who actually follows the core and guidance of Quran.
If we follow the guidance of Quran, it will surely save us from hell fire; there is a lovely Hadith that portrays how Quran is going to save us in judgment:
Narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said, “On the Day of Judgement, three things will be under the shade of the Arsh (Allah's Throne). One, the Holy Qur'an which will argue with men-the Qur'an has both an exterior and an interior. The second will be amaanat (trust). The third will be kinship, which shall proclaim, '0. Allah! Have mercy on the person who upheld me. And deprive him of your merry whosoever severed me.' "
Quran shows us how can we become successful but for that matter we really need to submit ourselves to Islamic beliefs and commandments.
Rabu, 21 Desember 2011
The Power of Prayer and Belief in God and Heaven
There is one question that comes to light from human beings everywhere. Be them Catholic, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or any other of the hundreds of religions out there. The question is both a personal one, and a social one. "How do I know God is real?" We know God is real when we experience His 'dimension'. The seemingly invisible touch which you feel when it happens. God wants us to know that He is real. One way you can find out for sure is through a fun little experiment. Join me for a second and say this prayer:
"God, I really want to believe in you, but I need a sign. Please God, I am asking you to show me you are real, otherwise I feel I may lose you"
You don't have to tell anyone this prayer, and it can be in your own words. If God doesn't exist, then He can't respond to anyone's prayer. If He exists, He will show you in a way that you will understand (and you alone). For this is the beauty of God. This is how he knows you, and you know him.
The Bible states that God has placed eternity in the hearts of the sons of men (Ecclesiastes 3:11). You have an intuitive knowledge in your heart that there is "something else out there" and that when you die you will not cease to exist - and not just as a memory for others to remember you by.
Right now you may believe in your mind and with part of your heart that you have well-grounded scientific or other reasons to deny the reality of your eternal existence, but God has made sure that something in you knows that this is not the truth. And this is why you are here reading this, correct? We try to educate people here at god Australia to try and make anyone with doubts in their hearts and minds, believers.
God is real. And he will touch you if you let him in. Just ask the question.
"God, I really want to believe in you, but I need a sign. Please God, I am asking you to show me you are real, otherwise I feel I may lose you"
You don't have to tell anyone this prayer, and it can be in your own words. If God doesn't exist, then He can't respond to anyone's prayer. If He exists, He will show you in a way that you will understand (and you alone). For this is the beauty of God. This is how he knows you, and you know him.
The Bible states that God has placed eternity in the hearts of the sons of men (Ecclesiastes 3:11). You have an intuitive knowledge in your heart that there is "something else out there" and that when you die you will not cease to exist - and not just as a memory for others to remember you by.
Right now you may believe in your mind and with part of your heart that you have well-grounded scientific or other reasons to deny the reality of your eternal existence, but God has made sure that something in you knows that this is not the truth. And this is why you are here reading this, correct? We try to educate people here at god Australia to try and make anyone with doubts in their hearts and minds, believers.
God is real. And he will touch you if you let him in. Just ask the question.
Being There
My father zt”l always told me that until I understood what motivated some Japanese during WWII to slice open their stomachs in order to protect their pictures of Emperor Hirohito, would I understand what it means to relate to God as king.
I tasted the experience in the Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Only royalty could see the art. There is a hallway one must enter as he approaches the main throne room that serves, even now, to intimidate anyone who passes through it walls. The sound of your footsteps echoes and bounces around you, increasing in volume as you approach the Throne room. The armor displays are intimidating. And then, one enters the throne room. The floor and the ceiling match to teach that the Czars power on earth matches God’s Power in Heaven, and that his reign is Divinely granted and blessed. The room, the rhyme and design, were my first true taste of the greatness of a king.
When Moshe taught Betzalel how to build the Altar, he did it by describing the Altar in Heaven. Moshe explained exactly what happened on the Altar – The Mizbei’ach – in the Hevenly Temple as Betzalel and his workers listened intently, mesmerized, hypnotized. Moshe brought the angel Gavriel to life as he told his story. “I know,” he said. “I saw it. I was there.”
The people who lovingly built, passionately shaped, and devotedly layered the Mizbei’ach, were not only building an altar, they were building the Heavenly Altar so powerfully described by Moses to them.
This is what the Midrashim and Zohars mean when they speak of God observing the Mitzvot of the Torah, or of God studying Torah with us. The Sages want us to give Tzedaka the way “they” give Tzedaka in Heaven. They want us to not simply open a book and study Torah, they want us to picture the Almighty sitting in the Yeshiva in Gan Eden, studying Torah, and then to desire to study with the same passion and clarity.
The Sages want us to imagine what Shabbat is like in heaven and to then, not simply observe the Shabbat, but to make a Shabbat Table that is just like God’s Table in Heaven. To sing as the angels sing at the heavenly Shabbat Table. To discuss important ideas as they do at the table at which God is sitting at the head. Ours is not just Shabbat, it can be the replica of God’s Shabbat shared with His angels.
I tasted the experience in the Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Only royalty could see the art. There is a hallway one must enter as he approaches the main throne room that serves, even now, to intimidate anyone who passes through it walls. The sound of your footsteps echoes and bounces around you, increasing in volume as you approach the Throne room. The armor displays are intimidating. And then, one enters the throne room. The floor and the ceiling match to teach that the Czars power on earth matches God’s Power in Heaven, and that his reign is Divinely granted and blessed. The room, the rhyme and design, were my first true taste of the greatness of a king.
When Moshe taught Betzalel how to build the Altar, he did it by describing the Altar in Heaven. Moshe explained exactly what happened on the Altar – The Mizbei’ach – in the Hevenly Temple as Betzalel and his workers listened intently, mesmerized, hypnotized. Moshe brought the angel Gavriel to life as he told his story. “I know,” he said. “I saw it. I was there.”
The people who lovingly built, passionately shaped, and devotedly layered the Mizbei’ach, were not only building an altar, they were building the Heavenly Altar so powerfully described by Moses to them.
This is what the Midrashim and Zohars mean when they speak of God observing the Mitzvot of the Torah, or of God studying Torah with us. The Sages want us to give Tzedaka the way “they” give Tzedaka in Heaven. They want us to not simply open a book and study Torah, they want us to picture the Almighty sitting in the Yeshiva in Gan Eden, studying Torah, and then to desire to study with the same passion and clarity.
The Sages want us to imagine what Shabbat is like in heaven and to then, not simply observe the Shabbat, but to make a Shabbat Table that is just like God’s Table in Heaven. To sing as the angels sing at the heavenly Shabbat Table. To discuss important ideas as they do at the table at which God is sitting at the head. Ours is not just Shabbat, it can be the replica of God’s Shabbat shared with His angels.
Quran Is the Guidance for Those Who Fear Allah and Believe
is the last book of guidance which was revealed on Our Beloved Prophet Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). The Quran deals with the ultimate goal of mankind. Allah Ta’ala has clearly explained the goal and aim of our lives as Allah Ta’ala says in Quran: “I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me”.
If someone wants to understand the core and essence of the Holy Quran he or she must have some characteristics and beliefs. Here are they:
• first: who believe in the Unseen
• second: who steadfast in prayer
• third: who spend money in the way of Allah
• fourth: who believe the Holy Quran and other books of Allah
• fifth : who have the assurance of the Hereafter
The second chapter of Quran talks about these characteristics as Allah says: “This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah. Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them; And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter”.
the companions (Sahaba (Radhiy allaho anho) of Rasulullah (SAW) used to say first we learned Imaan (belief) from Rasulullah (SAW) and then we learned Quran. one can’t really understand the core of Quran without Imaan however it is such amazing Book that it opens up gates of guidance for every single human being no matter he/she is a Muslim or not.
Quran says that the people who have the above characteristics would not only get guidance but also they are the ones who will prosper. The fifth verse of Surah Al-Baqarah / The Cow states: “They are on (true) guidance, from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper.”
on the other hand there are some unfortunate people who would not get guidance at all. Allah says to Rasulullah (SAW) that whether you warn them or not they will not become Muslims as Quran says : “As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe.”
The question is that why Allah says whether you warn them or not they will not believe in Me? the reason is told in Quran as well, the reason is given in the very next verse “Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur)” they are the ones who are “Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path)” primarily because whenever they are told about the Truth, they not only reject but also make fun out of it.
If someone wants to understand the core and essence of the Holy Quran he or she must have some characteristics and beliefs. Here are they:
• first: who believe in the Unseen
• second: who steadfast in prayer
• third: who spend money in the way of Allah
• fourth: who believe the Holy Quran and other books of Allah
• fifth : who have the assurance of the Hereafter
The second chapter of Quran talks about these characteristics as Allah says: “This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah. Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them; And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter”.
the companions (Sahaba (Radhiy allaho anho) of Rasulullah (SAW) used to say first we learned Imaan (belief) from Rasulullah (SAW) and then we learned Quran. one can’t really understand the core of Quran without Imaan however it is such amazing Book that it opens up gates of guidance for every single human being no matter he/she is a Muslim or not.
Quran says that the people who have the above characteristics would not only get guidance but also they are the ones who will prosper. The fifth verse of Surah Al-Baqarah / The Cow states: “They are on (true) guidance, from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper.”
on the other hand there are some unfortunate people who would not get guidance at all. Allah says to Rasulullah (SAW) that whether you warn them or not they will not become Muslims as Quran says : “As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe.”
The question is that why Allah says whether you warn them or not they will not believe in Me? the reason is told in Quran as well, the reason is given in the very next verse “Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur)” they are the ones who are “Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path)” primarily because whenever they are told about the Truth, they not only reject but also make fun out of it.
History Of Hinduism : Saptarshis Was The Founder Of Hinduism
History of hinduism has become a highly complex subject because of a lack of understanding of its foundations. When bothered with the question of who founded Hinduism, reactions given are as follows:
"Hinduism - as I see it - is a coming together of different philosophies. To find out the beginnings of Hinduism is like asking - Where did the Ocean Originate"
"Hinduism has no beginning--it precedes recorded history. It has no human founder. It is a mystical religion"
This article throws some light on the Origins of Hinduism.
Just as there has been a huge amount of migration in the last few centuries from all over the world to North American provinces, there was a time millennia ago, when mighty rivers like Saraswati were wetting Indian lands, India was the preferred choice of destination for migration. While a lot of places in the world were covered with ice, the Indian subcontinent, with its mighty rivers and its relative tropical climate, offered the most ideal place for settlements and habitations. Huge number of tribes used to frequently migrate onto the Indian subcontinent in large numbers. Each incoming community had its own tribal deity and the environment became highly polytheistic with every community of few hundred or thousand individuals having its own God. With thousands of deities present all over the place, the essence of religion itself was completely lost. It was necessary to arrest this polytheism and bring some sanity. That's when an institution called Saptarshis was formed.
The history of Hinduism started with the efforts of a well-formed organizational institution headed by Seven Sages, called Saptarshis, who aimed at arresting the excessive polytheism resulting from these migrations. Just as we have Pope for Christianity today, Hinduism, from the beginning, had this institution of seven sages who were mentioned in the Hindu scriptures as the patriarchs of the religion. They used certain scriptures called Vedas to arrest polytheism, and took excessive pains to integrate all these different deities under one hood of a universal religion. They very strictly guarded the Vedic body of knowledge, and the copy of the Vedas available with them was considered to be the final copy. Any changes to the Vedas were needed to be approved by this elite group of sages. If the reasons were justified, they approved the changes and incorporated them into the Vedas. Otherwise, they rejected it and kept the Vedas intact without any contamination. Any changes, to the extent possible, were always added as appendages rather than their being incorporated into the Vedas. So we have Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads as appendages to the Vedas. As more and more philosophy developed, all of them got incorporated into this body as appendages.
It is this institution of seven sages who founded Hinduism, by expending a large amount of effort over thousands of years in unifying a large number of traditions from across civilizations into one single religion of Hinduism that we see today. The Hindu trinity, the Hindu divine hierarchy, the Hindu festivals, and everything else that we see today were formulated by them. The religion got so excessively dependent on these sages that they started being considered as the representatives of the creator on earth. Excessive mythicization finally led to the relegation of this institution from the purview of the real world into the realm of mythology, to the extent that they started being regarded as mythical personalities. This institution got destroyed at the time of the three hundred year severe drought of 2200 BC. At that time, most of the Indians, devastated by the drought, left India for foreign shores, especially to European lands. The institution of seven sages got destroyed in the subsequent societal turbulence, as a result of which, the origins of Hinduism have once and for all become lost in the dungeons of time, becoming the source of intense mystery to this day.
The Institution of Saptarshis is the founder of Hinduism. The Seven Sages laid down the Origins of Hinduism.
"Hinduism - as I see it - is a coming together of different philosophies. To find out the beginnings of Hinduism is like asking - Where did the Ocean Originate"
"Hinduism has no beginning--it precedes recorded history. It has no human founder. It is a mystical religion"
This article throws some light on the Origins of Hinduism.
Just as there has been a huge amount of migration in the last few centuries from all over the world to North American provinces, there was a time millennia ago, when mighty rivers like Saraswati were wetting Indian lands, India was the preferred choice of destination for migration. While a lot of places in the world were covered with ice, the Indian subcontinent, with its mighty rivers and its relative tropical climate, offered the most ideal place for settlements and habitations. Huge number of tribes used to frequently migrate onto the Indian subcontinent in large numbers. Each incoming community had its own tribal deity and the environment became highly polytheistic with every community of few hundred or thousand individuals having its own God. With thousands of deities present all over the place, the essence of religion itself was completely lost. It was necessary to arrest this polytheism and bring some sanity. That's when an institution called Saptarshis was formed.
The history of Hinduism started with the efforts of a well-formed organizational institution headed by Seven Sages, called Saptarshis, who aimed at arresting the excessive polytheism resulting from these migrations. Just as we have Pope for Christianity today, Hinduism, from the beginning, had this institution of seven sages who were mentioned in the Hindu scriptures as the patriarchs of the religion. They used certain scriptures called Vedas to arrest polytheism, and took excessive pains to integrate all these different deities under one hood of a universal religion. They very strictly guarded the Vedic body of knowledge, and the copy of the Vedas available with them was considered to be the final copy. Any changes to the Vedas were needed to be approved by this elite group of sages. If the reasons were justified, they approved the changes and incorporated them into the Vedas. Otherwise, they rejected it and kept the Vedas intact without any contamination. Any changes, to the extent possible, were always added as appendages rather than their being incorporated into the Vedas. So we have Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads as appendages to the Vedas. As more and more philosophy developed, all of them got incorporated into this body as appendages.
It is this institution of seven sages who founded Hinduism, by expending a large amount of effort over thousands of years in unifying a large number of traditions from across civilizations into one single religion of Hinduism that we see today. The Hindu trinity, the Hindu divine hierarchy, the Hindu festivals, and everything else that we see today were formulated by them. The religion got so excessively dependent on these sages that they started being considered as the representatives of the creator on earth. Excessive mythicization finally led to the relegation of this institution from the purview of the real world into the realm of mythology, to the extent that they started being regarded as mythical personalities. This institution got destroyed at the time of the three hundred year severe drought of 2200 BC. At that time, most of the Indians, devastated by the drought, left India for foreign shores, especially to European lands. The institution of seven sages got destroyed in the subsequent societal turbulence, as a result of which, the origins of Hinduism have once and for all become lost in the dungeons of time, becoming the source of intense mystery to this day.
The Institution of Saptarshis is the founder of Hinduism. The Seven Sages laid down the Origins of Hinduism.
A Mathful God?
Thank God that he calls us by name, that our names have been written in the Book of Life. He knows us intimately. We are not just numbers to him, as the scripture above reminds.
That said, have you ever looked at the face of a calculator and marveled at how completely God is involved in all of those functions? He adds, he subtracts, he multiplies, he divides. Positives, negatives, rationals, irrationals, imaginaries, radicals... all indicate some aspect of God and what he does, how he interacts with his creation.
Let's take a look at some examples of the most basic of these functions, and how they suggest a perfect sum of completeness and trust. He's worked it all out. The numbers add up. The whole world - its time and history and future - is well calculated, and safe in his hands.
ADDITION
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. --Acts 2:46-47, NAS
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. --1 Corinthians 3:7, KJV
"Nothing in Scripture and in the life of Christ could be clearer: Wealth is not an objective of the spiritual life. When we encounter money on the path of life, we are encouraged to do one of three things with it: Turn and walk in the other direction; pick it up and give it away; or use it for the necessities of life. It's this last part that I think has become skewed over time. Our list of 'needs' is much greater today than it was in 1900 and their list of needs were certainly greater than during the time when Christ walked the Earth. Now I know that here in the year [2010], it is countercultural to give money away. It is countercultural to seek your security in things that aren't man-made. But, remember what Jesus promised, 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matthew 6:33, NKJV)." --Steve Scalici, "Should Christians Strive for the American Dream?"
SUBTRACTION
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! --John 1:29, NAS
If you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book. --Revelation 22:19, MSG
"Our spiritual engrafting provides an eternity of new life. While the struggles of our present earthly existence cause momentary, light affliction, the life to come for those who are in Christ Jesus will last forever. There will be no more heartaches, no more pain. He has taken our heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh. He died so that we might live." --Peter Beck, "Engrafted for Life"
MULTIPLICATION
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. --Hebrews 6:13-14, KJV
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. --2 Corinthians 9:10, NAS
"I would be afraid to bring children into this world if I did not know God. But because I know God, I am free to encourage you to have children... God's people are the ones who ought to be bringing a godly seed into this world. What does the world need? Jesus. How are they going to hear if the light goes out?" --Adrian Rogers, "Bringing Children into the World"
DIVISION
So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. --Ezekiel 47:21, NAS
And the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. --Matthew 25:32, GNT
"God is in the business of division. As in creation, He divided whatever was necessary in order to bring order. He divides light and darkness today also. That is why His people are in this world but not of it. God's children are separated from the world as they are sanctified, or set apart, for the things of God. As Christians, we think of the Lord as One who wants to make "everything ok" or to bring peace to a given situation. However, the Lord Jesus clearly said that He came to divide. 'Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword' (Matt. 10:34)." --Tonilee Adamson & Bobbye Brooks, "Division"
The Sum of the Equation
I know that whatever God does will last forever; there is nothing to add or subtract from it; and God has done it so that people will fear him. --Ecclesiastes 3:14, CJB
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." -- Job 1:21, NAS
You can't take any of this stuff with you. Enjoy it and praise God for all of it. Instead of counting widgets, count blessings, count it all joy. Let him do the math of your life: be your accountant, buyer, salesman, financial planner, marketer and profiteer.
That said, have you ever looked at the face of a calculator and marveled at how completely God is involved in all of those functions? He adds, he subtracts, he multiplies, he divides. Positives, negatives, rationals, irrationals, imaginaries, radicals... all indicate some aspect of God and what he does, how he interacts with his creation.
Let's take a look at some examples of the most basic of these functions, and how they suggest a perfect sum of completeness and trust. He's worked it all out. The numbers add up. The whole world - its time and history and future - is well calculated, and safe in his hands.
ADDITION
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. --Acts 2:46-47, NAS
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. --1 Corinthians 3:7, KJV
"Nothing in Scripture and in the life of Christ could be clearer: Wealth is not an objective of the spiritual life. When we encounter money on the path of life, we are encouraged to do one of three things with it: Turn and walk in the other direction; pick it up and give it away; or use it for the necessities of life. It's this last part that I think has become skewed over time. Our list of 'needs' is much greater today than it was in 1900 and their list of needs were certainly greater than during the time when Christ walked the Earth. Now I know that here in the year [2010], it is countercultural to give money away. It is countercultural to seek your security in things that aren't man-made. But, remember what Jesus promised, 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matthew 6:33, NKJV)." --Steve Scalici, "Should Christians Strive for the American Dream?"
SUBTRACTION
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! --John 1:29, NAS
If you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book. --Revelation 22:19, MSG
"Our spiritual engrafting provides an eternity of new life. While the struggles of our present earthly existence cause momentary, light affliction, the life to come for those who are in Christ Jesus will last forever. There will be no more heartaches, no more pain. He has taken our heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh. He died so that we might live." --Peter Beck, "Engrafted for Life"
MULTIPLICATION
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. --Hebrews 6:13-14, KJV
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. --2 Corinthians 9:10, NAS
"I would be afraid to bring children into this world if I did not know God. But because I know God, I am free to encourage you to have children... God's people are the ones who ought to be bringing a godly seed into this world. What does the world need? Jesus. How are they going to hear if the light goes out?" --Adrian Rogers, "Bringing Children into the World"
DIVISION
So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. --Ezekiel 47:21, NAS
And the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. --Matthew 25:32, GNT
"God is in the business of division. As in creation, He divided whatever was necessary in order to bring order. He divides light and darkness today also. That is why His people are in this world but not of it. God's children are separated from the world as they are sanctified, or set apart, for the things of God. As Christians, we think of the Lord as One who wants to make "everything ok" or to bring peace to a given situation. However, the Lord Jesus clearly said that He came to divide. 'Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword' (Matt. 10:34)." --Tonilee Adamson & Bobbye Brooks, "Division"
The Sum of the Equation
I know that whatever God does will last forever; there is nothing to add or subtract from it; and God has done it so that people will fear him. --Ecclesiastes 3:14, CJB
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." -- Job 1:21, NAS
You can't take any of this stuff with you. Enjoy it and praise God for all of it. Instead of counting widgets, count blessings, count it all joy. Let him do the math of your life: be your accountant, buyer, salesman, financial planner, marketer and profiteer.
The Life In Jannah (The Paradise)
Allah Ta’ala has made this world for our test., He has set this word as an examination hall and every one of us has to pass the test in order to Jannah (The Paradise). Allah Ta’ala states in Quran: “He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving”.
This is for sure that life and death is for our test. The time all of us would spend here in this world would actually define our life after death, it will define either we would go to Jannah or jahanum (The Hell Fire).
Many people (even Muslims) don’t practice Islam just because they don’t believe in the life after death. Believing in the life after death requires Imaan, Quran is the way that strengthens the Imaan because it talks about the life after death. Allah (SWT) says: “But the Hereafter is better and more enduring”.
What we need to do is to talk more and more about the Jannah which is made for Muslims. Talking more about Jannah would motivate people. Other than talking about Jannah we could explore the Jannah in Quran itself.
In Surah Yaseen and Surah Rahman, Allah (SWT) beautifully talks about the luxurious life of Muslims, here are the verses of Surah Yaseen and Surah Rahman respectively:
Surah Yaseen Verses: “Verily the Companions of the Garden shall that Day have joy in all that they do, They and their associates will be in groves of (cool) shade, reclining on Thrones (of dignity), Every) fruit (enjoyment) will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for, "Peace!" - a word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful!”
Surah Rahman Verses: “But for such as fear the time when they will stand before (the Judgment Seat of) their Lord, there will be two Gardens, Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?, Containing all kinds (of trees and delights), Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?, In them (each) will be two Springs flowing (free) Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?-, In them will be Fruits of every kind, two and two”
In Jannah the biggest of the rewards would be when Allah (SWT) would expose Himself. Scholars say the people of paradise would keep watching Allah (SWT) for 8 lac years; this would be a great reward. People of Jannah would be able to see their ultimate creator, the controller, Ar-Rahman (The All-Compassionate), Ar-Rahim (The All-Merciful); indeed it will be a great treat.
We all must do good deeds in order to find the one and only our Lord. In Jannah there would be no sleep and people of Jannah would enjoy big time. Allah (SWT) would eradicate all the bad practices in Jannah such as jealousy, leg pulling, distrust, lust, etc.
May Allah have mercy on us and grants us the Janna (Ameen)
This is for sure that life and death is for our test. The time all of us would spend here in this world would actually define our life after death, it will define either we would go to Jannah or jahanum (The Hell Fire).
Many people (even Muslims) don’t practice Islam just because they don’t believe in the life after death. Believing in the life after death requires Imaan, Quran is the way that strengthens the Imaan because it talks about the life after death. Allah (SWT) says: “But the Hereafter is better and more enduring”.
What we need to do is to talk more and more about the Jannah which is made for Muslims. Talking more about Jannah would motivate people. Other than talking about Jannah we could explore the Jannah in Quran itself.
In Surah Yaseen and Surah Rahman, Allah (SWT) beautifully talks about the luxurious life of Muslims, here are the verses of Surah Yaseen and Surah Rahman respectively:
Surah Yaseen Verses: “Verily the Companions of the Garden shall that Day have joy in all that they do, They and their associates will be in groves of (cool) shade, reclining on Thrones (of dignity), Every) fruit (enjoyment) will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for, "Peace!" - a word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful!”
Surah Rahman Verses: “But for such as fear the time when they will stand before (the Judgment Seat of) their Lord, there will be two Gardens, Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?, Containing all kinds (of trees and delights), Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?, In them (each) will be two Springs flowing (free) Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?-, In them will be Fruits of every kind, two and two”
In Jannah the biggest of the rewards would be when Allah (SWT) would expose Himself. Scholars say the people of paradise would keep watching Allah (SWT) for 8 lac years; this would be a great reward. People of Jannah would be able to see their ultimate creator, the controller, Ar-Rahman (The All-Compassionate), Ar-Rahim (The All-Merciful); indeed it will be a great treat.
We all must do good deeds in order to find the one and only our Lord. In Jannah there would be no sleep and people of Jannah would enjoy big time. Allah (SWT) would eradicate all the bad practices in Jannah such as jealousy, leg pulling, distrust, lust, etc.
May Allah have mercy on us and grants us the Janna (Ameen)
Scripture Prayer: Prayers of Faith and Power
Most folks who have grown up in Christian homes have been exposed to prayer, maybe even taught some prayer. Prayer is part of the culture - the Christian culture. Unfortunately, prayer that is cultural and not based in faith sounds and feels empty. At some point, people praying in this fashion begin to question the whole idea of prayer. Then they either go deeper or completely jump ship.
If this is you or anyone close to you, don't jump ship before finishing this article. Prayer is an exercise in power. Early followers saw this power as a result of Jesus' prayers. Remember, they flocked around with, "Lord, teach us to pray!" They experienced the power. They saw the results. They were incredibly impressed and inspired to do the same. Fast-forward two thousand years! Much of what passes as prayer are memorized words, faith-less repetition and a lot of whining, No inspiration here. Do not feel bad if you have gnashed your teeth when exposed to such prayer. Deep inside you know there is a better way. Take a look at one of those ways. Pray Scripture One rapid way to build a powerful prayer life is to pray Scripture. If this is totally new to you, no worry. A number of good sites on-line can instruct you. But for starters, try this. Take one verse of Scripture that has meaning for you and that you have need of. Try Psalm 91:11. He sets His angels to guard you in all your ways. Slowly repeat that verse several times. Let it roll around on the inside. Consider the meaning of it. Now reconstruct the verse to be personal and present tense. Lord, thank you. You have set your angels to guard me in all my ways. Can you feel the verse begin to root in you? Strengthen you? Fill you with some confidence? Give this activity some attention in moments of quiet. You will probably have to make the quiet. Well worth the effort! Find another verse in Psalm 91 and repeat the process. Can you feel the difference between this type of prayer and those prayers you have found so frustrating? To speed up your new prayer training and to ramp up the power of it, pray with two or three others. Each of you take time to pray aloud while the other two enter in silently. When a small groups prays Scripture in this way, you can feel the power being released and the faith levels arise. Understanding the Power. First: Words carry power. Solomon was clear on this issue. He told us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. That was thousands of years ago. Now you read of experiments of the effects of words on water. What a stir that has caused! Yes, life and death are in the power of the tongue...your tongue. If words, your words, coming out of your heart carry that kind of power, then what kind of power do you find in the Word of Psalm 91 that has come from God's heart? Jesus says those Words are spirit and life (John 6:63). Paul says they are living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). The Strong's Concordance lists the word powerful as energes in the Greek #1756. Energes means active, operative, powerful. Implication here is that the Word of God is energy, powerful energy at that! Pray the Word (Scripture) and you are releasing some of the energy. To repeat, just in case you find this almost unbelievable - pray Scripture, Psalm 91 for instance, and you release energy from Heaven. Second: Scripture builds faith. Paul tell you that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). That makes no sense until you try it, experience it, are impacted by it. Pray Scripture on a regular basis and see how your faith expands. As you pray in this fashion, you are exercising faith in what God has said. Faith is a force, You just released that force in prayer. Experience the difference! Most prayers you hear are prayers of hope rather than prayers of faith. Hope is a good thing, but faith is better. Do you remember how Jesus marveled over instances of faith when He found them? He loved it! He still does. Third: Scripture renews your mind. Praying Scripture is a sure-fire way to overwrite your negative thinking. And, negative thinking can severely hamper your ability to pray in faith. As negative thinking loses its grip, you are replacing those thoughts with life-giving thoughts from Scripture. You are beginning to think like God thinks!
When Joshua assumed leadership for leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, the Lord told him to not let the Book of the Law (Scripture) depart from his eyes. Joshua was told to meditate on it day and night in order to have success (Joshua 1:7-9). Joshua was learning to think like God and so will you. You have your Promised Land to conquer and you know it's a bigger job than you are capable of - unless you think like God. Praying Scripture is a great boost to get you on track for this. Fourth: Agreement is a power of its own. In Matthew 18:19 Jesus said that if any two of us on earth agree concerning an issue, anything we ask will be done by our Father in Heaven. That's how powerful agreement is. Pray a Scripture and you come into agreement with God Himself as well as agreement with other believers who are also praying and proclaiming the Scripture. What does the power of agreement look like in action? Jesus demonstrated it. To explain His three years of stunning miracles, He told us that He spoke what the Father was saying and did what He saw the Father doing. That is was agreement with Heaven can look like! This is Kingdom life and you are invited into it. So are you ready to leave those frustrating, whining prayers behind? The steps are simple. By praying Scripture you expand your faith, begin thinking like God thinks, agree with Him and speak what He has spoken through Scripture. Your prayer life will never be the same again: dynamic with power and laced with countless testimonies of answered prayer.
If this is you or anyone close to you, don't jump ship before finishing this article. Prayer is an exercise in power. Early followers saw this power as a result of Jesus' prayers. Remember, they flocked around with, "Lord, teach us to pray!" They experienced the power. They saw the results. They were incredibly impressed and inspired to do the same. Fast-forward two thousand years! Much of what passes as prayer are memorized words, faith-less repetition and a lot of whining, No inspiration here. Do not feel bad if you have gnashed your teeth when exposed to such prayer. Deep inside you know there is a better way. Take a look at one of those ways. Pray Scripture One rapid way to build a powerful prayer life is to pray Scripture. If this is totally new to you, no worry. A number of good sites on-line can instruct you. But for starters, try this. Take one verse of Scripture that has meaning for you and that you have need of. Try Psalm 91:11. He sets His angels to guard you in all your ways. Slowly repeat that verse several times. Let it roll around on the inside. Consider the meaning of it. Now reconstruct the verse to be personal and present tense. Lord, thank you. You have set your angels to guard me in all my ways. Can you feel the verse begin to root in you? Strengthen you? Fill you with some confidence? Give this activity some attention in moments of quiet. You will probably have to make the quiet. Well worth the effort! Find another verse in Psalm 91 and repeat the process. Can you feel the difference between this type of prayer and those prayers you have found so frustrating? To speed up your new prayer training and to ramp up the power of it, pray with two or three others. Each of you take time to pray aloud while the other two enter in silently. When a small groups prays Scripture in this way, you can feel the power being released and the faith levels arise. Understanding the Power. First: Words carry power. Solomon was clear on this issue. He told us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. That was thousands of years ago. Now you read of experiments of the effects of words on water. What a stir that has caused! Yes, life and death are in the power of the tongue...your tongue. If words, your words, coming out of your heart carry that kind of power, then what kind of power do you find in the Word of Psalm 91 that has come from God's heart? Jesus says those Words are spirit and life (John 6:63). Paul says they are living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). The Strong's Concordance lists the word powerful as energes in the Greek #1756. Energes means active, operative, powerful. Implication here is that the Word of God is energy, powerful energy at that! Pray the Word (Scripture) and you are releasing some of the energy. To repeat, just in case you find this almost unbelievable - pray Scripture, Psalm 91 for instance, and you release energy from Heaven. Second: Scripture builds faith. Paul tell you that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). That makes no sense until you try it, experience it, are impacted by it. Pray Scripture on a regular basis and see how your faith expands. As you pray in this fashion, you are exercising faith in what God has said. Faith is a force, You just released that force in prayer. Experience the difference! Most prayers you hear are prayers of hope rather than prayers of faith. Hope is a good thing, but faith is better. Do you remember how Jesus marveled over instances of faith when He found them? He loved it! He still does. Third: Scripture renews your mind. Praying Scripture is a sure-fire way to overwrite your negative thinking. And, negative thinking can severely hamper your ability to pray in faith. As negative thinking loses its grip, you are replacing those thoughts with life-giving thoughts from Scripture. You are beginning to think like God thinks!
When Joshua assumed leadership for leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, the Lord told him to not let the Book of the Law (Scripture) depart from his eyes. Joshua was told to meditate on it day and night in order to have success (Joshua 1:7-9). Joshua was learning to think like God and so will you. You have your Promised Land to conquer and you know it's a bigger job than you are capable of - unless you think like God. Praying Scripture is a great boost to get you on track for this. Fourth: Agreement is a power of its own. In Matthew 18:19 Jesus said that if any two of us on earth agree concerning an issue, anything we ask will be done by our Father in Heaven. That's how powerful agreement is. Pray a Scripture and you come into agreement with God Himself as well as agreement with other believers who are also praying and proclaiming the Scripture. What does the power of agreement look like in action? Jesus demonstrated it. To explain His three years of stunning miracles, He told us that He spoke what the Father was saying and did what He saw the Father doing. That is was agreement with Heaven can look like! This is Kingdom life and you are invited into it. So are you ready to leave those frustrating, whining prayers behind? The steps are simple. By praying Scripture you expand your faith, begin thinking like God thinks, agree with Him and speak what He has spoken through Scripture. Your prayer life will never be the same again: dynamic with power and laced with countless testimonies of answered prayer.
Psalm 91: A Safer Harbor
Why so many references these days to Psalm 91? Presently, most folks are looking for a safer harbor. Security and even the illusion of security has disappeared when you assess the world's systems we had so much confidence in five or ten years ago.
More and more, people of faith are going back to cultivate their roots, digging deeper with prayer and study. When the seen world shakes, it makes sense to turn to the unseen world for stability. It makes sense for a believer to get a firmer grip on the spiritual treasures of his or her faith base.
Take a look at this treasure. Psalm 91:1 reads: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (NKJ). Psalm 91 is a treasure chest to be carefully unpacked. Take a close look at what is offered in Psalm 91 and you begin to feel overwhelmed.
What, protection from every sort of dangerous and destructive circumstance? Wow! You think, "This is just too good!" Yes, it is that good! But, back up. These blessings are not free for the taking. Have a look at how to qualify.
Qualifying Conditions: Psalm 91:1 gives you the first step in obtaining the following promises. This requirement is to dwell in the Secret Place, to abide up under the Shadow of the Almighty.
Dwell and abide are the contemporary translations for the Hebrew word yada. When you check the meanings of yada in the Old Testament, notice that the word is indicating a deeply personal sort of knowing. Good example: Adam knew Eve and they produced a child. Yada-ing is an intimate and fruitful relationship. Now you see the first conditional requirement to experience the amazing promises of Psalm 91: develop a yada relationship with God, an intensely personal relationship that produces spiritual life. This is very similar to marriage. Here is a life of focused commitment.
Abiding (yada-ing) up under the shadow of the Almighty is a step to be taken, a life's priority and a focus to be maintained. Abiding is not something you can check off the list as "finished". This abiding is on-going and defines your life.
Defines your life! Is there any question why so few people of faith ever personally experience the promises of Psalm 91? But, that does not have to be you.
Some Action Steps for Qualifying: Abiding under the Shadow of the Almighty is a lifetime pursuit. Here are some strategies for pressing into the Secret Place. Read through to get some ideas. Then, go with what seems to speak to you from this page. Stay flexible. What works for you this week may not work next week. Be ready to try a new strategy or a combination of strategies. Stick with it. The effect is cumulative as you will discover. Here are some suggestions:
• Develop a mindset of thanksgiving. Be thankful in all things. In doing this, you will be seeing the Lord as central to all that happens in your life. And of course, He is!
• Spend time seeking the Lord. God is not hiding. Come close to Him and He will draw close to you. Cry out to the Lord and He will answer you. Cultivate the ability to hear Him, because He does answer. Find a mentor to help with this if you have difficulty hearing God speak.
• Set aside time each day to be silent before the Lord in prayer. You can find extensive tutorials online for doing this.
• Watch your self-talk. As you spend more time in the Secret Place, your self-talk will reflect it. Check to see what of your present self-talk is disagrees with what God is saying. Locate those thoughts and replace them with truth that comes from Scripture. You will need to do some research to find the appropriate Scriptures to use. Some effort, but well worth it!
• Bless the time and the atmosphere by playing low volume worship music through the night. Choose music that causes your spirit to be caught up in prayer and worship during waking hours. This is one way to know there is an anointing present. While your body rests, your spirit is soaring in worship. What an economy of time! Also, you know from Scripture that God inhabits (sets His throne on) the praises of His people. So it appears that the Lord is present in some special way when worship is occurring.
• Play recorded Scripture prayer when your hands are busy but your mind is idle. Take this opportunity to memorize Scripture, to proclaim it in prayer, to change the atmosphere around you as you release the living Word of God. Your mind is being renewed, causing you to think like God thinks. Yes, think like God thinks!
In Summary: Brief and to the point: Psalm 91:1 is an invitation to not only dwell with the Lord, but to draw up closely to His heart and develop a mutual life, a life lived together. Like marriage, this relationship requires an investment of time and focus. Like any good marriage, the effort is so worth it. No matter where you find yourself on the continuum of intimacy with the Lord, there is always room for improvement. There is no end to the depths of God. So cultivate carefully and water those roots. Get started today to be fully qualified for the blessings of Psalm 91.
More and more, people of faith are going back to cultivate their roots, digging deeper with prayer and study. When the seen world shakes, it makes sense to turn to the unseen world for stability. It makes sense for a believer to get a firmer grip on the spiritual treasures of his or her faith base.
Take a look at this treasure. Psalm 91:1 reads: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (NKJ). Psalm 91 is a treasure chest to be carefully unpacked. Take a close look at what is offered in Psalm 91 and you begin to feel overwhelmed.
What, protection from every sort of dangerous and destructive circumstance? Wow! You think, "This is just too good!" Yes, it is that good! But, back up. These blessings are not free for the taking. Have a look at how to qualify.
Qualifying Conditions: Psalm 91:1 gives you the first step in obtaining the following promises. This requirement is to dwell in the Secret Place, to abide up under the Shadow of the Almighty.
Dwell and abide are the contemporary translations for the Hebrew word yada. When you check the meanings of yada in the Old Testament, notice that the word is indicating a deeply personal sort of knowing. Good example: Adam knew Eve and they produced a child. Yada-ing is an intimate and fruitful relationship. Now you see the first conditional requirement to experience the amazing promises of Psalm 91: develop a yada relationship with God, an intensely personal relationship that produces spiritual life. This is very similar to marriage. Here is a life of focused commitment.
Abiding (yada-ing) up under the shadow of the Almighty is a step to be taken, a life's priority and a focus to be maintained. Abiding is not something you can check off the list as "finished". This abiding is on-going and defines your life.
Defines your life! Is there any question why so few people of faith ever personally experience the promises of Psalm 91? But, that does not have to be you.
Some Action Steps for Qualifying: Abiding under the Shadow of the Almighty is a lifetime pursuit. Here are some strategies for pressing into the Secret Place. Read through to get some ideas. Then, go with what seems to speak to you from this page. Stay flexible. What works for you this week may not work next week. Be ready to try a new strategy or a combination of strategies. Stick with it. The effect is cumulative as you will discover. Here are some suggestions:
• Develop a mindset of thanksgiving. Be thankful in all things. In doing this, you will be seeing the Lord as central to all that happens in your life. And of course, He is!
• Spend time seeking the Lord. God is not hiding. Come close to Him and He will draw close to you. Cry out to the Lord and He will answer you. Cultivate the ability to hear Him, because He does answer. Find a mentor to help with this if you have difficulty hearing God speak.
• Set aside time each day to be silent before the Lord in prayer. You can find extensive tutorials online for doing this.
• Watch your self-talk. As you spend more time in the Secret Place, your self-talk will reflect it. Check to see what of your present self-talk is disagrees with what God is saying. Locate those thoughts and replace them with truth that comes from Scripture. You will need to do some research to find the appropriate Scriptures to use. Some effort, but well worth it!
• Bless the time and the atmosphere by playing low volume worship music through the night. Choose music that causes your spirit to be caught up in prayer and worship during waking hours. This is one way to know there is an anointing present. While your body rests, your spirit is soaring in worship. What an economy of time! Also, you know from Scripture that God inhabits (sets His throne on) the praises of His people. So it appears that the Lord is present in some special way when worship is occurring.
• Play recorded Scripture prayer when your hands are busy but your mind is idle. Take this opportunity to memorize Scripture, to proclaim it in prayer, to change the atmosphere around you as you release the living Word of God. Your mind is being renewed, causing you to think like God thinks. Yes, think like God thinks!
In Summary: Brief and to the point: Psalm 91:1 is an invitation to not only dwell with the Lord, but to draw up closely to His heart and develop a mutual life, a life lived together. Like marriage, this relationship requires an investment of time and focus. Like any good marriage, the effort is so worth it. No matter where you find yourself on the continuum of intimacy with the Lord, there is always room for improvement. There is no end to the depths of God. So cultivate carefully and water those roots. Get started today to be fully qualified for the blessings of Psalm 91.
Psalm 91
Over the years Psalm 91 has been fondly referred to as the foxhole Psalm, and for good reason. Through countless wars soldiers have turned to Psalm 91 for encouragement and comfort. Soldiers have recited it, prayed it, confessed it. Even family members of those soldiers were doing the same thing.
Why turn to Scripture?
Faith-filled prayer is powerful. But, when destruction is knocking at the door or rolling over the horizon, it's hard to keep the emotions and intellect in line enough to pray with confident faith. Fear, anxiety and fretting take over. This is not the most effective stance from which to pray. Not at all!
So, a potent antidote: pray scripture, more specifically pray Psalm 91. The Psalm becomes a guide, a mentor for praying with confidence and belief, no matter how bad the situation you are facing.
Why turn to Psalm 91?
Authorship of Psalm 91 is not conclusively established. But, Bible scholars do seem to agree that either Moses or David penned this one in their later lives. Both of these men learned to trust God and walk with Him through the most hair-raising scenarios. The life of either of them could be turned into an action-packed, suspense-filled TV mini-series. And, it would all be true.
So, when a champion of faith is inspired by God to write encouragement to all who will follow, we sit up and take notice. Better yet, we stand up in prayer and fly the banner this champion is passing on. We take up the images and the wording of Psalm 91 to use in our own prayers.
God is faithful to protect and deliver. He is your fortress, high tower, the place where we can run to be safe. The key to this protection is in the first verse. We must stay close, abide in Him, let Him be the Secret Place, another reality in which to be rooted.
Praying Psalm 91 in a continual way is one method for staying close and abiding in God.
Why pray continually?
Keeping a scripture like Psalm 91 rolling over and over in prayer works wonders in overcoming negative, fear-filled self-talk. So two things are accomplished in this prayer:
One: The power of Heaven is released into the situation you are praying about. Remember, the Word of God is alive and active, alive with His power. And, you are now releasing it. Is that a mind-boggling concept?
Two: As you pray Psalm 91 your mind is being renewed according to the promises of God. Your thinking changes. And as your thinking changes, your behavior changes. That is how it works. Thinking controls behavior.
Back to the foxhole image: It has long been known that soldiers who are confident, who have fear under control are much more likely to survive a battle. Pray with Psalm 91 and way increase your chances of surviving the battle you now face.
Why turn to Scripture?
Faith-filled prayer is powerful. But, when destruction is knocking at the door or rolling over the horizon, it's hard to keep the emotions and intellect in line enough to pray with confident faith. Fear, anxiety and fretting take over. This is not the most effective stance from which to pray. Not at all!
So, a potent antidote: pray scripture, more specifically pray Psalm 91. The Psalm becomes a guide, a mentor for praying with confidence and belief, no matter how bad the situation you are facing.
Why turn to Psalm 91?
Authorship of Psalm 91 is not conclusively established. But, Bible scholars do seem to agree that either Moses or David penned this one in their later lives. Both of these men learned to trust God and walk with Him through the most hair-raising scenarios. The life of either of them could be turned into an action-packed, suspense-filled TV mini-series. And, it would all be true.
So, when a champion of faith is inspired by God to write encouragement to all who will follow, we sit up and take notice. Better yet, we stand up in prayer and fly the banner this champion is passing on. We take up the images and the wording of Psalm 91 to use in our own prayers.
God is faithful to protect and deliver. He is your fortress, high tower, the place where we can run to be safe. The key to this protection is in the first verse. We must stay close, abide in Him, let Him be the Secret Place, another reality in which to be rooted.
Praying Psalm 91 in a continual way is one method for staying close and abiding in God.
Why pray continually?
Keeping a scripture like Psalm 91 rolling over and over in prayer works wonders in overcoming negative, fear-filled self-talk. So two things are accomplished in this prayer:
One: The power of Heaven is released into the situation you are praying about. Remember, the Word of God is alive and active, alive with His power. And, you are now releasing it. Is that a mind-boggling concept?
Two: As you pray Psalm 91 your mind is being renewed according to the promises of God. Your thinking changes. And as your thinking changes, your behavior changes. That is how it works. Thinking controls behavior.
Back to the foxhole image: It has long been known that soldiers who are confident, who have fear under control are much more likely to survive a battle. Pray with Psalm 91 and way increase your chances of surviving the battle you now face.
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