Weekly Wisdom

Along with a daily verse, I get a weekly wisdom as well. This weeks wisdom spoke directly to me. I have been lacking an acceptable prayer life, and it shows my true maturity and heart at this moment. I have lacked a desire to approach God. I've been cruising, partially due to a busy schedule, but we know that is not an excuse. But here is what was sent to me for this week. This is from christnotes.org. Enjoy!


What are you praying for? Are you asking God to give you more stuff--a bigger house, a new car, a bigger salary? What you pray for indicates what is important to you.

It is a great lesson to examine what the people in the Bible prayed for.

King David, in Psalm 27:4, prayed, One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. He asked God for just one thing: that he would dwell in God's presence. David clearly knew that in God's presence he would receive everything he needed (see Matthew 6:33).

Paul also didn't pray for worldly things. Instead, in Philippians 1:9, Paul prayed that the church would walk in love: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more. Paul knew the importance of love, and so he made it a point to pray that the church would grow more and more in love.

Furthermore, he prayed that believers would be strengthened spiritually: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being (Ephesians 3:16).

In short, your prayers can tell what you consider to be important. If you are only praying for worldly stuff, then you are neglecting what is of lasting value: knowing God, dwelling in His presence, walking in His love, and being strong spiritually.

Therefore, decide to adjust what you're praying for. Learn to listen to your prayers, because they locate your level of spiritual maturity.

What's church for?

I was listening to a sermon from Cornerstone Church, and the pastor said something along these lines...


"Back in the day, church was used for replenishing and restoring people because they were so broken down from being used so much by God."

I wish that's why I went to church. Nowadays, I go to church to be redirected not replenished. I don't go about my week trying to pour out God's love to people. It seems like it's a sprinkle here, a sprinkle there, and maybe even a constant stream every once in awhile. I get a picture people crawling, limping, and struggling to push open the doors to the church. People beaten, broken, dirty, bloody, hungry, thirsty, pale, and sick. They enter questioning why they keep doing this, why they are being martyred, beaten, abused, and persecuted. I think I would be constantly questioning what is going on. But maybe they just come in silent. They come in humbled, broken (emotionally), understanding a portion of what Christ went through, wiser, stronger, and lesser so He will become greater.

Are we being persecuted, stretched, broken, challenged, educated, faithful, righteous? If we're not, then church doesn't seem like anything other than a quick "check" of where we're at. I want church to be a necessity, not a "maybe." "Are you going to church?" I want to be so used by God that I have to go to church in order to survive. I want church to be a survival essential; fresh water, food for my soul, and a roof over my head.

It's a bold statement. But I'd rather be thrown into it than sit on the sidelines. If God throws me into it, I want to be so unready that I can only rely on Him to live through it.

Lord, rock my world. Use me. Throw me out of my comfort zone. Break me so that I can only rely on your for everything. Here am I. Send me.

What do you smell like?

Last night and earlier today, I was out playing basketball and then running a workout, so just exercising/working out. Well after basketball a couple of us went to a Bible study over at a friend's house (more from that coming later) and I realized how terrible I smelled. Even today after running my workout, I could smell the sweat and odor after being in 94+ degree weather. Obviously I didn't smell like a fresh spring water creek, or a mango smoothie, or a vanilla scented candle. I stunk. Duh. So my physical smell was pretty vomit-worthy. But in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (read 14-17 for context) it says "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?" This got me thinking... yes I prolly smell like death after playing a couple hours of basketball or running a workout in the blazing sun, but what spiritual aroma do I give off? Do I smell of a fragrance worthy of resembling God? Honestly, I don't really know if this is even true, but it just made me think of it in terms of smell. Similar to the question, "do people see God when people see me?" Do people "smell" God when people smell the aroma I give off? Or is it more of an unpleasant odor? Is your fragrance that of a heavenly, gentle fragrance? stay with me here for a second... when you go out for the day, do you put on your "Deodorant"? Are you reading God's Word in order to present a good smell to people? I know lately I've prolly been stinkin it up both spiritually and physically speaking, but do you realize how you smell? What do you smell like?

it may be far out there, but its just a thought...