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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #899 September 4, 2003 Of Geese and Prayer For all those who have been asking about the status of my lonely one winged goose check out this link for an update. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out these two back issues of Gleanings From The Word. Lonely Goose and Quick Fix. The pending rescue of the goose is an answer to the prayers of many of you who have written and shared their concerns about his well being. Without rescue he wouldn't live through the winter. In normal circumstances, he wouldn't even be considered for rescue, but he's been getting some good PR. God is interested and involved in every detail of what goes on in our lives. He even cares about a goose with one wing. He wants to answer our prayers (in fact He does answer all of them, sometimes He says no or not yet). He' know things we don't know and in His wisdom sometimes refuses to grant them. If we're honest with ourselves, there are many prayers where it was blessing in the long run that He said no, or that His answer was different than anything we could ever imagine. Over the years I've prayed some pretty dumb and selfish prayers and am glad God didn't just grant them like some mindless genie. Often what we want is not what's best for us. If you don't believe that just listen to the wish lists of many teens (or adults for that matter). Please God let me win the lottery, I promise to give you 10% (as if he needs our money). Please God let me get away with it just one more time (how many times have you asked this identical prayer?). Please God, don’t let anyone know it was me who stole it. Please God, don’t let my parents find out. The list goes on and on. Sometimes we don't get because we ask for the wrong thing or with a wrong heart When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3 NIV The closer we draw to the Lord in our faith walk, the more our heart begins to resemble His. We develop compassion for others, a heart for those who are lost and a true desire to see His will be done. As that happens, we often see more prayer answered yes. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV When our hearts grow more like His, our prayer life changes. It becomes more outward focused and less "I" focused. A perfect example is the Lord's prayer. Nowhere does it say I or me. It talks about us, our and your. `Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' Matthew 6:9-13 NIV Until next time, may your heart grow to be more like our Lord's and may your prayer life be filled with God's will for those around you. May your prayers be richly answered. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are a co-heir with Christ. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:16-17 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without you. HELP FOR THE HURTING Today is the day to get right with God. Don't procrastinate, He's waiting for you with open arms. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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