will – Westchester Men's Ministry

Christmas Prayer Request

November 28, 2012 by nymensministry 1 Comment

I received this prayer request from one of the men in our ministry and he said that I could share it here. I would bet that we can all agree with the sentiments of this prayer. May the true meaning of Christmas shine through this season, for all of us!

Men,
My prayer is that coming into this holiday season, we not forget the true meaning of our celebration and that we guard our hearts and minds from distractions, subtle behaviors and not so subtle behaviors that could pull us away from God and grieve the Holy Spirit.

I know in the past, it has been very easy for me to conform to the world’s point of view and start setting up and worshiping idols. It is in these times that Screwtape gets a hold of me and says it’s okay to participate in certain behaviors and attitudes because it’s the holidays and it won’t offend the Lord. That leads to a very slow and steady decent into self deception and before I know it I am far far away from God.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2 NIV

Three wise men “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil. ” -Proverbs 4:14-27 NIV

Christmas Prayer Request by Westchester Men’s Ministry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at http://nymensministry.com.

Filed Under: Christian Men, Christmas, Discernment, Husbands, mens ministry, Prayer Tagged With: Christianity, Christmas, christmas shine, Distractions, do not conform, eyes look straight ahead, faith, Fellowship, God, God's will, Jesus, Men's Bible Study, prayer, subtle behaviors, Temptations, true meaning of christmas, will

Listening to God’s Word

March 23, 2011 by nymensministry 1 Comment

“Did not our hearts burn within us?” – Luke 24:32

From “My Utmost for His Highest” for March 22nd

“… the only test we should use to determine whether or not to allow a particular emotion to run its course in our lives is to examine what the final outcome of that emotion will be. … if it is something God would condemn then put a stop to it immediately …(but) if the Spirit of God has stirred you, make as many of your decisions as possible irrevocable, and let the consequences be what they will …

We can not kindle when we will the fire which in the heart resides, the Spirit bloweth and is still, In mystery our soul abides; But tasks in hours of insight willed, Can be through hours of gloom fulfilled.”
– Oswald Chambers

I’ve been journaling through Lent and I’m in a dry spot. I have been amazed by God’s word and upset that I haven’t written it down earlier. Then my oldest brother died and things changed. Over the last few days, it has been very hard to hear God. It seemed clear that I had piled my concerns, anxieties, list of tasks, and many other things on top of God’s word, crowding Him out.

The last sentence of this entry really got to me. We can’t control when God will inspire us and talk to us but we can control our faithfulness even when we can’t hear him “hours of gloom”.

God Bless!

image courtesy of: developingyourspirit.blogspot.com

Filed Under: Discernment, Prayer Tagged With: discernment, God, listening, prayer, will, word

How to Ascertain the Will of God

September 27, 2010 by nymensministry Leave a Comment

From “Answers to Prayer from George Müller’s Narratives”

1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.

6. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgement according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving more important issues, I have found this method always effective.

George Müller