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Luke 15:8-10 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
We’ve been sitting with the Father, joining Him in His watch. He’s watching and waiting for His prodigals. His eyes scan the horizon just waiting for the first glimpse of His beloved’s return. We are joining Him and praying. He tells us that our prayers are the force necessary to change the hearts of His children. He’s confident that our prayers will avail – so confident that he’s fattening up some of his livestock to prepare for the pending celebrations. He is full of faith.
So, we continue to pray.
I speak to the minds and wills of prodigals and say, “Reject perverse ideas! Stay away from every evil in the Name of Jesus Christ.”
I command doors to open that would bring godly influences into their lives. I slam shut every door of evil influence in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
I take up the call to ferret out the wicked and free Your child from the grip of evil. I call down the powers of addiction in Jesus’ Mighty Name. You must go now. I bind the spirit of pride and arrogance. You must leave in Jesus’ Name.
I ask You, Father, to remove the film over the eyes of the deceived. I apply the Blood of Jesus to these eyes and cry out for mercy. I cry out for justice. I cry out for repentance and returning. May these beloved prodigals once again believe the good news – the good news that You are loving, forgiving, and just waiting to celebrate their return.
Amen
After I prayed this this morning, I looked back at the tree where the Father was waiting, and He was not there, just a few apple cores and a dove. There is a note simply saying, “Be back tomorrow.” He loves it when we wait with Him.
“Okay, Father. See you then.”
In the distance I could hear someone whistling a tune… “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling…”
posted July 23, 2009 at 12:34 pm
So I’m agree on what you have been saying, but how would you explain test & suffering??? Many times you can see that we suffer when God test us…
Can we choose not to be test, even when we knowledge not to recive the promess or blessing that comes from God??
posted July 24, 2009 at 9:27 am
Test and suffering is oftenly used in all kinds of situation and in all walks of life.We all know about getting tested about our faithfulness in receiving God’s provisions if we are proved worthy
and faithful to His promises.If i have suffered so much in my life,i shall be full of wisdom and understanding and have gained so much lessons in life and shall be able to be more compassionate to other’s
issues in their life’s battles.but to tolerate a wrong action is not right,we can’t correct wrong by concealing.
posted July 24, 2009 at 10:01 am
In response to Andrea’s comment, I’d like to suggest the idea that God doesn’t necessarily place those tests on our shoulders – just living life does that.
I think the ‘test’ is what we do with those things. Do we turn to God? Do we call on Him? Do we stamp our feet and throw ‘it’s not fair!’ tantrums at Him, and want to know why? They’re all valid interactions with our Father, even throwing our anger at Him, because it’s part of reconnecting to our Creator.
Did God give me health issues as a test? I don’t believe so. I think it’s much more likely to be a natural consequence of us living outside God’s perfection, which is essentially what Eden is. Have I made some of those issues worse all by myself, by not listening to the little voice telling me I should see someone about it? Most definitely. I don’t think that one lies at God’s feet, either.
Does He refuse to heal me? Well, no, but He may not give me the healing I think is necessary. His healing might be something quite different. But if I’m turning to Him during those difficult times, I’ll find I have hope, and acceptance, and purpose, and love. In God I can find strength, encouragement, and my inner spirit becomes lifted up above the difficulties. That’s a healing all in itself.
I’m reminded of this bit in Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him…”
To me, that suggests God isn’t out to test us, but that God – “in all things” – uses our harder experiences to perfect us – “works for the good of those who love Him” – but it’s only if we allow Him to.
Which is not exactly the subject of this article, but was something I felt important to say nonetheless.
So, have I tested God? Yes, yes I have. His response? I was very kindly but firmly told He had things to work through with someone I dearly loved before she was ready to move on, so my time table for her was really not the best one. I’ve learnt to listen, now.
posted July 25, 2009 at 1:16 pm
In response to part of the article, sometimes God fulfills the test by causing a strong desire or a burning desire in our hearts to help resolve a matter, like mentioned regarding plight of peoples in Darfur. He will instigate us to feel strongly about a cause and it drives us to react and do something about it. It could be in this case, He wants you to get involve and do what ever it takes to help the people there. Gathering food, medicines and taking them there, working with some organization already trying to help them, get involve in the politics and help to changes others hearts to help in the plight of the people. By doing these things, not only does it help God to pass the so- called test but also it helps you to past his test for you, “Do you hear and respond to His will for you.” If you properly see Him as the source for your involvement, acting, and declaring it, that His grace and mercy has helped you and the peoples of Darfur, thus glorifying Him,.
Yes, we should test things we perceive to come from God, by using the word of God and does it line up with His Will and desire for us and in this case, it very well might be your calling.
It is through the faith that we believe God will do what He has promised us in His word. When we lean on Him in faith to deliver, help, heal, or forgive us as He says He will do for those that keep His commandments and those that do His will and follow in their walk in Jesus Christ. God tells us; we are to test spirits and things that are god-like to see if it is truly Gods spirit or of the evil type like in 1John chapter 4. Yes, we can and are expected to test God from time to time, but it is more testing our faith in Him; by what we do, not what He does, it is through our faith that His promises for us are fulfilled. It needs to be done with true faith and with no doubting our minds. However, this does not mean we will always like the answer. He gives us the answer sometimes we have to wait and wait is a proper answer at those times. God is using that time for two things developing a positive outcome to the request or situation and developing deeper faith in us.
posted September 12, 2009 at 3:52 am
I think God can be a real jerk sometimes. All this “testing” seems to be just senseless games and barbaric. I am glad I made the list, but this whole bit about “testing” God so that he will actually keep him promises that he has made in the bible just seems like a little too much ego to me.
A real father wouldn’t sit there and torture his own child just to he could “pass the test” to prove to the kid he’s his dad. No, he just is his dad all the time.
But, in the end he has the right to do things the way he wants to…he is God afterall. I just want to hurry this thing along and be done with all this crap…this is really a pitiful place and I think school should be out soon so we can get rid of all these childlike “tests”.