John 17:20-26

God has complete authority over all people and events. He knows thehearts of men, how they will act, and what steps to take to accomplishHis purposes. At the same time, He calls us to pray.Colossians 4:2 says we are to be devoted to prayer. In fact,communication with God is so vital that we are told to pray withoutceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Continuous listening, talking, andrelating to our heavenly Father should characterize our lives.

The Scriptures explain why this is so important:Prayer changes us. As we seek God's face and spend time in His Word, wewill be transformed. Our desires will be replaced by His, and ourthinking will align more closely with His thoughts. As our understandingof His character grows, we will have a better idea of how to pray inaccordance with His will.

God answers prayer. (James 5:16) God has promised to listen and respondto the prayers of His children. (Isaiah 65:24) He assures us that Hewill act when our petitions are in Jesus' name - that is, matching Hiswill and His timing. (John 14:13)Prayer invites God to act.

Prayer doesn't alter any of God's divinepurposes or plans; nor does it cause Him to change His mind. What He hasdecided will occur, and His decisions will be exactly the right ones to accomplish His will. Our prayers are powerful when, without reservation,we invite God to do His work in our lives and the lives of others.What impact does prayer have? It allows an inadequate people to connectwith an all-sufficient God. Hallelujah!

 
Working for the Lord
Dr. Charles Stanley

When I was a boy, I used to get up at 5 AM to deliver newspapers. It wasalways pitch black outside. Sometimes it would be very cold, raining, oreven snowing heavily. I remember lying in my comfortable bed and tellingGod how much I dreaded going outside. I didn't want to get wet. I didn'twant to be cold. Worse yet, I was afraid of the dark! Yet God worked in my heart to help me see the situation differently. Ibegan to say, ?I'm not delivering these newspapers for my customers. I'mdoing it for Jesus. He's going to receive this paper.?

Suddenly my attitude turned around. I would get started no matter whatthe time or weather! In my own childish way, I had stumbled on thesecret of success in the Christian life, the key to fruitful service:Whatever you are doing, do it as if you are doing it for the Lord.

In the sixth chapter of Ephesians, Paul tells us ?With good will renderservice, as to the Lord, and not to men...? In Colossians 3:23, he saysit again: ?Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord ratherthan for men...?

In other words, it doesn't matter if you are leading a corporation ormopping its floors-you are called to serve God in and through everythingyou do. Once you adopt this attitude, once you learn to focus on Whomyou are serving instead of what you are doing, amazing changes willhappen:

?The quality of your work will improve. After all, now you are notworking for an earthly boss, but for your Father in heaven.?You will be protected from discouragement. It does not matter whetheror not you've been complimented or thanked for your work-because youalready know how much He approves of you and loves you.?You will grow in self-esteem. We all have a need to feel competent,important and worthy. God always rewards us for our service with a senseof satisfaction and belonging we will not find any other way.?You will not be afraid to fail. In fact, when we serve God we cannotfail because true service is not something we do for God, but rathersomething God does through us.

In First Thessalonians 5:24, Paul says, ?Faithful is He who calls you,and He also will bring it to pass.? God assumes full responsibility forenabling us to carry out the work He's called us to do, whatever thatmay be!

This truth provides us with incredible comfort. It certainly is to me.Consider that In Touch Ministries is preaching the Gospel in more than100 languages to millions of people around the world every day. If Ithought for one moment that I had to accomplish this in my own strength,we would be in real trouble! The truth is that you and I should neverfeel pressured to accomplish great things for God-it is up to Him toaccomplish great things through us!

I'll never forget the job I had during my seminary years. I mopped andswept the floor in a food shop. Parts of it-especially the area behindthe meat counter-were a real mess. I didn't like the working conditions,and for the first few days my heart was full of complaints. Eventually Irealized that complaining wasn't going to help. I decided to approachthe job just as I had when I was a young paperboy. I decided I wassweeping for Jesus. One day I was sweeping near my boss when he turnedto someone and said, ?Don't get in Stanley's way. He'll sweep you rightout of the store!? I may have been cleaning floors, but I was motivated,I was fulfilled, I was dedicated to doing a great job!

My friend, I challenge you to do everything as unto the Lord. When youclean your home, clean it as if Christ lived there. When you prepare ameal, imagine that the Lord is sitting at your table. When you serve aclient or customer, behave as if that customer was Jesus. If you takethis simple step, it will be one of the most rewarding changes of yourlife.

 
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."