Hard to Work With!

In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley It is really a good thing to remember that when we harden our heart’s that no one wins and we are still miserable. This is right where Satan wants us is in disobedience to God. But make the better choice allow the Holy Spirit move on your heart.

December 5, 2008 Brokenness: The Protest The Life Principles Bible Jonah 1 The children’s story about Jonah and the whale presents the prophet in a rather rosy light: After three days in the fish’s belly, he relents and goes merrily on to Nineveh. End of story. The Bible narrative has the same components (storm, big fish, repentant Ninevites) but a totally different context. From the moment Jonah chose to flee till the end of the book, his heart was in rebellion against God. The inhabitants of Nineveh were Assyrians, a people known for their aggression and cruelty. Since they were the sworn enemies of Israel, Jonah had good reason to despise them. However, God loved the Ninevites and desired their repentance. The challenging task of ministering to them carried an additional purpose: breaking Jonah’s unloving spirit–an attitude so strong that he preferred to die rather than see the enemy saved (Jonah 4:3). God longed to mold the prophet’s character to reflect His own–He wanted a willing, loving servant, but Jonah resisted at every turn. Pride and hatred drove him ever deeper into rebellion. Note that while he agreed to go to Nineveh, he didn’t repent (Jonah 2:9). The Lord wasn’t fooled; He knew Jonah’s heart remained hard. So as the Ninevites rejoiced over deliverance, their minister stewed in his bitterness. Emotional and mental anguish were high prices to pay for resistance. What keeps you from serving the Lord fully? You probably already know the area of your life He is trying to break. The process is painful, but it’s done for your good and His glory. Give in to Him. FEATURED RESOURCE       This Bible combines the wisdom of Scripture with the principles that guide Dr. Charles Stanley’s life and empower his ministry. Order your copy.     To see more resources from In Touch Ministries, please visit us at www.intouch.org or go directly to our bookstore at In Touch Ministries.     Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2008 All Rights Reserved.

Prayer

As I have started my Prayer for Obama blog I got this Devotion from Charles Stanley. This is a great daily Devo to get in your e-mail. Please take note of these words as we set out to have our world changed by our new president. Thank you for your reading this blog. Shawn Thornton   In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley Welcome to the In Touch Daily Devotional, a free devotional courtesy of Crosswalk, the world’s largest Christian website. We honor your privacy and time If this newsletter no longer meets your needs, please use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this newsletter and you will be removed immediately.

Thursday November 13 The Power of Prayer  2 Chronicles 20:1-15 In Scripture, we find examples of people who prayed with spiritual authority. Elijah boldly challenged the prophets of the false god Baal because he knew the Lord would hear and answer. King Jehoshaphat heard that a great army was coming against Israel, so he sought God for direction and strength–and called upon the nation to do the same. These examples can teach us important lessons about praying powerfully: Dependence on God. The petitions of both men showed their deep reliance upon the Lord. Knowing that victory over Israel’s enemies was beyond their own abilities, they asked the Lord to intervene. A Focus on His plan. The prophet did things God’s way against tremendous odds and at great personal risk (1 Kings 19:1-2). The king called for the nation to fast as he sought to discover the Lord’s strategy. Purity of motive. Both leaders had God-centered intentions with a goal of furthering His purposes. They were not trying to gain anything for themselves. Confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness. Neither man hesitated to ask publicly for divine help. Elijah told the plan to the 450 enemy prophets, and Jehoshaphat called upon all of Israel to join him in prayer. If your prayers seem to be having little impact, ask yourself, Have I been relying upon my own strength to resolve matters? Is there a selfish basis for my request? Am I lacking confidence in God (James 1:5-7)? If so, turn to God, confess, and seek to follow the example of the prophet and the king. FEATURED RESOURCE    This Bible combines the wisdom of Scripture with the principles that guide Dr. Stanley’s life and empower his ministry. Order your copy.  To see more resources from In Touch Ministries, please visit us at www.intouch.org or go directly to our bookstore at In Touch Ministries.