A LIGHT IN THE DARK

2 Corinthians 6:17-18

^14-18Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

"I'll live in them, move into them;
I'll be their God and they'll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise;
leave it for good," says God.
"Don't link up with those who will pollute you.
I want you all for myself.
I'll be a Father to you;
you'll be sons and daughters to me."
The Word of the Master, God.

2 Corinthians 7

¹ With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let's make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let's make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.

We are bombarded everyday with things that are not of God. Many of us are surrounded by people that are not Christians. If you are not a Christian you are a child of the dark. A child of satan. They might be great people but if they don't know the Lord they are dark. As Christians we are light. We need to be friends with non Christians and try to lead them to God. But...we need to separate ourselves from their lifestyle. We are God's holy Temple, His dwelling place, and we shouldn't do the things they do that are sinful. If you have friends that like to party you shouldn't go there with them. If you do, eventually, you will be doing the same things they are doing. The scripture says...Don't link up with those who will pollute you, or...get you to turn from God, and start living as satan wants you to live. Not only might you pick up their actions but also their attitudes. Have you ever noticed how some people who are Christians, but start hanging with people who aren't, will pick up different things from them. It could be a negative attitude or an attitude that everyone owes them. Whatever the 'tude is, if it's not pleasing to God...you don't want it. Even though you think that it won't affect your walk with the Lord, at some point it will. We need to dedicate ourselves to the Lord and live like we mean it. We need to live this way everyday. Not just when we feel like it or we need something from God.

One of the big things satan does is to get people that are living for him to recruit their friends. He wants them to make their sinful lives look good to people that may be on the fence. People that are trying to decide which way to go. When you are in those lifestyles you don't even realize that satan is getting you to work for him. When I was into drugs one of the big things we did was try to get other people to do them with us. We always thought we were having a great time. We couldn't understand why our friends, that didn't do drugs, wouldn't want to have a good time also. We thought that they were the ones who were missing out. In reality...it was just satan using us to try to get more people on the road to hell with us. I remember one time specifically that I tried to get one of my friends to come and smoke a joint with us. I kept telling her how great it was and how she would feel better than she had ever felt her whole life. I think I talked to her for 30 minutes trying to convince her to try it. She was smarter then me. She just kept saying no, she didn't need it. Today I'm glad she made that choice. If she hadn't who knows what may have happened to her. Back then I was a child of the dark, satan, and I did the things he wanted me too. If you know anyone that is like I used to be...Pray for them! They need God.We need to work to bring people to the Lord as hard as satans followers work to win people over to his side.

I am so thankful and glad that I found God. He wasn't lost, I was. But...today, He is the most important person in my life. You need to pray and witness to all your friends and family that are not Christians. You don't always have to say something to them, you just have to let them see Jesus in you. I used to think that was strange when I heard Christians say that. Now I know it's true. There are people that I know, that through their lives, I can see God. That is a good way to be. It's a goal that as Christians we all should have. It's one of my main goals that I hope to achieve someday.

Remember...Finding GOD is the most AWESOME thing that has ever happened to you! Share Him and His love every way you can. Be a Light in the darkness. You won't be sorry. God will give you what you need to do this.

NEXT THING I KNEW

To continue on with my last post...What do you do when "all hell" breaks loose in your life? I use that phrase because, quite literally, that is what happens. Satan is the "prince of darkness". What that means to me is, he is the "ruler over fear and torment". He is the one that tempts you, brings thoughts to your mind, tries to trip you up and get you to go back to your old ways. Sometimes he wins. Next Thing You Know...you slip back into your old habits from your past. Things you did before becoming a Christian. Whatever your problems were, satan tries to get you to go back to them. Could be that the worst thing he can do to you is mess with your head. Get into your thoughts and tell you lies. Make you believe things that just aren't true. That's what was going on with me when I wrote that last post. Well.....Next Thing "I" Knew.........

Things were going well for me personally and spiritually. Then...Next Thing I Knew...it was like I went backwards in time. I started having a lot of the same fears I had before. People would be in the room with me, I'd turn around and they would be gone. Now...all that happened was, they had left the room. But, I immediately thought...Jesus came back and I didn't go. I was "Left Behind"!! (This used to happen to me all the time before I became a Christian.) Believe me, a few times I was close to the panic stage. Then I started having nightmares. This used to be a major problem of mine also. When they finally stopped occurring I was ecstatic. Unless you have been plagued by nightmares most of your life you have no idea what it's like. Basically, for a couple of weeks I have had a lot of fear come back into my life. To me fear is very debilitating. Besides that, you don't get a lot of sleep. So...what do you do when satan starts bringing the things of your past back? He tries to get you to blame God and go back to your old ways? I'll tell you what I did. Next Thing I Knew...

After a few days of all this happening I started to question whether or not I really was a Christian. That is exactly what satan wants you to do. It's kind of like when you are a prisoner of war. Your captors try to break you down so you will turn on your people and tell them what they want to know. That is what satan is doing. He's trying to get you to turn your back on God and go back to serving him. He just keeps at you with the thoughts and the nightmares and anything else he can throw your way. He might try to stir up trouble at your job, or even worse, at your home. The more trouble he can cause for you at one time, the better it is for him. The more likely you will trip up and go back to doing things you used to do. Sometimes if he can get you to slip up you might give up on yourself, and then God, altogether. That is his goal. Well...I didn't do that. I did have some bad days, lost some sleep. But...in the end...I didn't give up.

What I did do was...read my Bible, continue to pray and seek counsel from a Christian friend. I know that satan will still tempt me. He will try to discourage me and keep me from doing the work that God has given me to do. He will still try to torment me with things from my past. That's what he does. He is the father of lies and the prince of darkness. He rules over this world we live in. BUT...he "DOES NOT" rule over us as Christians. God is our Savior and King!! HE is ultimately in charge of everything that happens. All you have to do is trust HIM and HE will take care of you!!! Sometimes it's not easy, but if you stick with the LORD...Next Thing You Know...

You won't have to worry about being left behind. When the trumpet blows, or death takes you...You will be taken up to live with the Lord, forever, in Heaven. Satan won't be able to tempt or torment you anymore. There is no "Fear" in heaven. Jesus Loves You.

If you don't know Him today you need to do something to change that. Just pray a simple prayer to ask Him to come into your heart and forgive you. Then live for Him.

Psalm 9:10 (New Living Translation)

¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Proverbs 18:10 (New Living Translation)

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;
the godly run to him and are safe.

John 8:44 (New Living Translation)

⁴⁴ For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you. —Isaiah 43:1-2

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

—Deuteronomy 31:8

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (New Living Translation)

⁵¹ But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵² It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

Proverbs 19:20 (New Living Translation)

²⁰ Get all the advice and instruction you can,
so you will be wise the rest of your life.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW

Have you ever noticed that just when you think everything in your life is going well...the bottom falls out? Maybe you have a great job...next thing you know your unemployed. You've never had any real health issues...next thing you know your in the hospital. You're kids have never been in any trouble...next thing you know the police are calling you to come to the station. Yep...life is like that. You never know what's around the next corner. For the most part we recover and go on with our lives but you do have to work at it. You might have to get a new job, change the way you take care of yourself, and maybe change a few things about your relationship with your kid. Sometimes it takes a while but we usually get back on track.But...how about your spiritual life? Well...Next thing you know...

In my experience I've found that it really works just about the same. Your going along thinking your doing quite well. Your old habits or addictions don't seem to be a problem anymore. God is blessing you beyond what you ever thought would happen. You seem to be able to break out of your box a little more all the time. You used to have some major issues in your life that kept you fearful but...you seemed to have worked through the biggest part of them. And then...Next thing you know...

It starts out as just a little thing and you think, "Whoa, where did that come from?" So...you get your thoughts back together and go on. Things are still going well for you. Your doing things you never thought you could ever possibly do. You know it is God that has changed your life so tremendously. And then "Wham", there it is again. Now, understand, this thought is not happening all the time. Just ever so subtlety it seems to be getting in there more and more. So you pray and read your bible and try to figure out what the problem is. At least that's what I do. I think about everything and try to rationalize it. Find a solution. But...I don't seem to be able too. It could be a lot of different things that might trip you up. I don't know what it is for you. For me it's FEAR! I have found in my life that fear is debilitating. So...Next thing you know...

First thing you need to do is pray and ask God to help you and read your bible. It may seem like doing these things aren't helping you. I've always been told, "Do it anyway". Then try to figure out why your problem has resurfaced. You might say you don't know why. And, quite honestly...that's usually what you think. It's what I think. One big problem could just be satan. He will try to get you to mess up. He wants you back. You know all these things but you still can't get a handle on it. Well...Next thing you know...

DON'T LOOK BACK

Did you ever read the story about Lot and his family leaving Sodom and Gomorrah? God told them to leave and not look back. Lot's wife really screwed up. They were out of the city, on there way to a new life, and what did she do?? She turned and looked back! She didn't get another chance. God turned her into a pillar of salt. Wow! God was offering them safety. All they had to do was get out of the city and not look back at their old life. That's really how it is with us. When we ask Jesus into our hearts He forgives us and we have a new life. We just need to look ahead at all the new and wonderful things that God is offering us from that moment on.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New Living Translation)

¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Revelation 21:5-7 (New Living Translation)

⁵ And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. ⁷ All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

Lot's wife was probably looking back thinking about all she was leaving behind. Sometimes we look back too. The problem with looking back is that it opens the door for satan to tempt you with the things of your past. Temptations come and we start thinking about how we liked the things we used to do. In all honesty, I did have fun doing the things of the world. But the thing is...just like the bible says, it doesn't last. It's only for a short time.

Hebrews 11:25 (New International Version)

²⁵He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

When you are being tempted all you're thinking about is how good you felt when you were drinking or getting high. You're not remembering how you felt the next day. You aren't remembering the times you were scared you might die or even the times it was so bad you seriously wished you would die. Satan doesn't remind you of the bad times he only reminds you of what you considered to be the good times. For me after being tempted for a while, I then would get scared of falling back into my old habits and have to ask God and other Christians for help. Once you become a child of God you need to only look ahead. Put your past behind you and just go for the finish line.

Philippians 3:12-14 (New Living Translation)

¹² I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. ¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,^[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

For a long time I let my past control me. There is a saying; "Don't let your past dictate your future." Once you ask for forgiveness you have to let it go. It's not always easy and some things may take longer than other things. But...that's our fault. Jesus forgives you as soon as you ask.

Hebrews 10:17 (New King James Version) ¹⁷ then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Jeremiah 31:34 (New King James Version)

³⁴ No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

We aren't like God. As ordinary people we will always remember the things we've done. But...as Christians we can't let our past sins affect our walk with the Lord. We just have to lay everything at the foot of the cross and carry on with what the Lord wants us to do for Him. Our job, while we are here, is to win every one we can for Him. We have to make the most of every opportunity we have. Tell everyone you can about Him and what He's done for you. Don't listen to anyone that tries to tell you that you are doing the wrong thing. Only listen to what God tells you. Use what ever means you have to get the message of Jesus out. We are told as Christians to:

Mark 16:15-16 (New Living Translation)

¹⁵ And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. ¹⁶ Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

I also think there are things you need to do to prepare for this. You need to go to church on a regular basis. Pray and study the word, it helps to know what you're talking about. Personal testimony is great but you need to back up what you say with the bible. And...if you haven't been a Christian for a long time learn everything you can from those that have been.

The world is a dark place. As Christians we know the One who is the Light. We need to share Him while there is still time.

John 8:12 (New International Version)

¹²When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

A DO OVER LIFE

Do you ever wish you could declare your life a "Do Over"? Probably everyone at one time or another has wanted to redo an event in their life. Maybe even a year. But how about your whole life? Think it would make any difference if you got a second chance at it? Would you really do things differently? Suppose you got to go back to a specific age in your life and start over from there. You might have good intentions and start different but before long you would probably be doing most things the way you did the first time. You might do them with different people but they would probably be the same types of people you were with before. The reason for that is because you would have the same heart, the same mindset. You would still be the same person. More than likely you would make the same mistakes as before. The great thing is you don't have to go back and try to change your past life. All you have to do is change your present. Of course we all know that we can't do it alone. Only Jesus can help us do that.

With God you don't need a "Do Over" life. He will make you a new person. He takes your life, as it is right when you give your heart to Him, and starts changing it. The way He does that is He starts changing you. I think with me He had to put in a lot of overtime before there was a lot of change. LOL But what's important is...if you don't give up, He doesn't give up. He keeps working on your heart and your mind. With me my heart was ready for a change, it was my mind that had the problem with it. With some of us our minds need to be renewed. They say your mind is a battlefield. I kind of look at it as satan's playground. It seems that once he gets his "claws" into our minds it is very hard to break away. I remember after being a Christian for a year I was still having a lot of problems with things from my past. I was at a revival service and went up to be prayed for...next thing I knew I was lying on the ground. I had been slain in the spirit. Someone that was praying with me just kept repeating over and over, "More healing, more healing." Whenever I started to get up she would start praying with me again and I would be back on the ground. I don't know how long I was there but that seems to be when things "really" started changing for me. I started noticing that everything just seemed clearer. My thoughts were a lot less negative than before. My mind seemed clearer. Even though at times, things that happened that week were a bit overwhelming, I believe that was when my mind really started to heal. I know now that was when I finally started to break loose from some of the things from my past. Sometimes you are bound to the patterns of your old life, and until you decide to let God really have control, to set you free, He won't. With a lot of people God immediately takes away any desire for the things they did in their old life. For other ones of us He lets us deal with it a little longer. I'm not sure why it's that way. It could be that we just haven't decided to really let them go yet. Or...maybe it's because He knows that if He completely took everything away at the start we wouldn't grow in Him the way He wants us to. And maybe...it's so we can just keep the pain there a little bit longer so we can help others more. I don't know. One thing I do know for sure is that I will never go back to the way I was before. I believe God has completely healed me from any desire to do the former things that had a hold on me.

Before I came to know the Lord I wanted to have a "Do Over" life. Even though I knew that wasn't possible, I thought it sounded like a good idea. But now...I don't need it. God has given me a new heart and mind. God is still working on me with a lot of it. But the good thing is...He doesn't give up on us. I know as long as I do my part, He'll continue to do His. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to the things of God.

This is just another part of my testimony. I know that God has me share these events in my life for a reason. I can only guess that someone reading this might have some things in their life they need to give up so that God can start the healing process. All I can say is, it's worth it, but it's not an overnight fix. I still have issues from my past that I need help with. Memories of things that happened to me and things that I did. I know that God has forgiven me but sometimes you still need healing in some of those areas so you can move on. If you have things like this, ask God to help you. Find someone that's a "good" Christian, that you can trust, and talk to them.
Get them to pray with you. Sometimes just talking about something and saying how you feel about it helps you.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)

Psalm 107:20 (New King James Version)

He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.

Proverbs 4:20-22 (New Living Translation)

20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.

Ephesians 2

We Now Have Life

1 In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God.2 Yes, in the past you lived the way the world lives, following the ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth. That same spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God. 3 In the past all of us lived like them, trying to please our sinful selves and doing all the things our bodies and minds wanted. We should have suffered God's anger because we were sinful by nature. We were the same as all other people.

4 But God's mercy is great, and he loved us very much.5 Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God's grace.6 And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus7 so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus.8 I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.9 It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it.10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (New Living Translation)

22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

GOD IS WITH US

Yesterday God helped me,
Today He'll do the same.
How long will that continue?
Forever, Praise His Name!

If your a Christian you've got to know that what that poem says is true. How many times in a day does God help you with things? How many times in a day do you ask Him to help you? I hear people all the time ask Him for help with all kinds of things. Some are big and some are as small as asking for help to find a parking place close to the door. There are many times during my day that I just ask for help not to get stressed over what I'm doing at work. Just recently I've been training someone to help in our department at work. I asked Him to give me someone that was easily trainable, someone I could relate to so it would be easier to train them. Not only did He send me a quick learner but she is also a Christian. That's helpful because she is also praying that He helps her to understand what I'm saying. One of the things that's great about God is...We don't always have to ask for His help. He just helps us because we are His kids. That's an amazing thing. When we have kids and they're in trouble that's what we do. We just help without having to be asked. When God knows that we are in trouble He sends us help too.

About two weeks ago I was driving to work and I didn't even know that there was potential trouble waiting for me. I go to work in the early morning so most mornings traffic is minimal. The road I travel is straight with two lanes heading east and two lanes heading west. I'm heading east and up ahead of me I notice the light has turned red. In the right lane is a semi so I switched to the left thinking by the time I got there the light would be green and I wouldn't have to slow down. I was traveling between 40 and 45. The light changed and just as I got close to the intersection I noticed the truck put his signal on to turn left. Then he veered a little to the right as if going to make a wide turn left. Well...the problem with this was that I was on the left and fast approaching him. I couldn't stop and I don't think he even knew I was there. He traveled about halfway into the intersection and started turning in front of me. I don't even remember thinking what to do. I didn't apply the brakes, which was good because I would have just slid into the side of him. All I did was grab the wheel with both hands and turn with him. I was going much faster so as I did this I just zipped right in front of him and next thing I knew I was headed down the street that runs north and south! Not only didn't we collide but I didn't slide or roll. My car is a Jeep Liberty so it's short and a little top heavy. At the speed I was going I was lucky to not flip it. The truck just acted like he didn't even see me and continued making a "u-turn" right in the middle of the road. When I stopped and looked back at him he was going the other direction as if nothing even happened. I turned around and went on to work. Now, I know that it wasn't just luck that I didn't hit him and that my Jeep didn't roll. It was only God that kept me safe that day. I didn't have time to say a specific prayer about the situation. I didn't even ask God to help me. He just did because that's what He does. We are His kids and He helps us when we need Him.

God is our ever present help in times of trouble. He won't leave us or forsake us. He is our constant source of help. We need to always be communicating with Him. Always praying to Him. Then when things happen and we need His help He's there. I try to make it a habit to pray while I'm driving to work everyday. Now...I'm not perfect by any means and somedays I don't pray for long. But...that day I was and I believe it helped. I also know that since I am His child, that He will take care of me as long as I'm living for Him. We just have to trust Him. He loves us and He keeps us safe. He is always working on our behalf. And...I will continue to pray when I go to work each day!

Psalms 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalms 9:10
Those who know your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You.

Psalms 91:14
The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name."

KEEP PRAYING

I haven't written about my past for a few posts now. It seems that God was having me write some different things. I've been trying to figure out why but as usual I don't have a clue. He keeps bringing this one event in my life to memory the last couple of weeks and I think I'm supposed to write about it. I'm not sure where this is going to lead so I guess we will find out together.

During my high school years my friend and I decided to have a party at her house. Her parents were gone so we went and bought a bottle of gin,a bottle of vodka and some mixers and settled in for a good night. We smoked a couple of joints and decided to call some friends. It was going to be hours before they showed up so we started drinking. We were getting a little wasted with everything we had so we weren't thinking real well. We decided to have a smoking contest, along with everything else, and chain smoked a pack of cigarettes+ a piece. It was getting late and other people from school started showing up. They all brought whatever they had and before long people were passed out everywhere. I woke up at some point in the early morning hours not feeling too good. Imagine that!! It was winter and raining like crazy. Apparently, I didn't care because I went outside anyway. I remember sitting down out on the lawn and next thing I knew I was waking up drenched from the rain. Well...I thought I got up and went in the house but, I didn't. My friend lived on a gravel road with about six more houses on it. They all had to drive by her house to get to the main street. It was just a one lane road with no lights and lots of trees. Really, I was quite lucky I survived the night. I was so wasted I didn't know what I was doing. When I got up the first time I thought I was going to the house but...next time I came to I found myself lying on the edge of the road with my head and shoulders in the tire path. I kept passing out but finally managed to get up. Actually, (and it's amazing I remember this), it was more like I crawled off the road and back over in front of the house. As I was doing that a car came whizzing up the road right where I had been laying. Had I not moved when I did...well you probably wouldn't be suffering through this blog.

The reason I think I wrote this is for a reminder to any one reading this that is a Christian. Basically God just wants me to tell you to not give up praying for family and friends. I would imagine that even though my parents didn't know that I drank and did drugs they were still praying for me. I believe it was their prayers, and the prayers of other Christians that knew me, that kept me from being killed or injured. You just have to continue to pray, for all the people you care about, that God will take care of them until they give their lives to Him. Sometimes when you're involved in those things you are looking for a way out. If people don't continue to pray for you that escape may never come. I believe it's only by the grace of God, through prayers of Christians, that you do get out. So...don't ever stop praying. It might not even be that they are doing these kinds of things. They just might not be living for the Lord. Whatever the case...continue to pray. God hears the prayers of Believers. No one can find eternal life without finding Jesus. You don't know what kind of a difference your prayers can make in someones life.

James 5:16b
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

John 9: 31
Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears Him.

John 14:6
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.

ONCE BLIND

There's a story in the Bible that talks about healing of the eyes. A physical healing. But, it is also about healing of the heart. As Christians who were once sinners...We were all "Once Blind" but now "We See".

I never was physically blind but I was definitely spiritually blind. I just couldn't believe that Jesus could love me. But...I was wrong and if that's how you believe your wrong to. I had been blinded to the fact that Jesus loves all of us, no matter what we have done. Sometimes, the more you do the more that satan convinces you God doesn't love you. That's just not true. I believe that the harder you work at trying to get away from God, the harder He works at trying to bring you to Him.

In the Gospel of John the Bible talks about a man that was born blind. The disciples asked Jesus...Why, was it because of his sins or his parents?

John 9:3-5
3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Sin wasn't the reason for it. He was born this way so that Jesus could perform a miracle in his life and reveal the healing power of GOD. Jesus came to earth to be "The Light of the world". So, as long as He was on the earth He had to do what God sent Him to do. One thing was-to bring "Sight to the Blind". Not only physically but spiritually as well. It's the same as when He opens the "sinners" (our) eyes and shows us how much we need Him.

John 9:6
Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.

I recently read that in Jesus time saliva was thought to be the "essential being of a person". So...in actuality Jesus was giving of Himself to the blind man. It's the same as when Jesus died on the cross for us. He gave the "ultimate" part of Himself. HIS LIFE

John 9:7
He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

After the blind man obeyed Jesus he could see. Can you imagine what it must have been like to see for the first time! Try to imagine it. Just to look at the sky and see the clouds. Maybe there were birds flying. All the different colored flowers and the animals. The people...You sat at the gate and begged with them everyday. This has been your life for as long as you can remember. And now...You Can See!! You would probably be the happiest you can ever remember being. But...there's something even better. Not only does Jesus heal us physically, He also heals us spiritually. As soon as we ask for forgiveness...Jesus cleanses us. In a sense our sight is restored. Where we were once blind to the things of God we now can see. Just like the blind man. It's really like seeing for the first time. Life seems brighter. We are happier, people seem nicer. You see things through different eyes. Everything that God has created just seems more alive.

When the blind man went home no one could believe it was him. Some said, "he was just like him." But the man said, "I am he." Many times that's how it is for us when we become Christians. Our friends and family can't believe it's us because we are different. People ask us what happened and when we tell them what Jesus did for us some will believe and some won't. You can't convince people that don't want to believe. You can just answer the way the blind man did, he said;

John 9:25b
One thing I know; I was blind but now I can see"!

It doesn't matter if people believe that Jesus "healed" you or not. All that matters is that you believe. Jesus has "healed" you from the inside out. What a testimony that will be. "once I was blind but now I can see."

So many times we are like the blind man. No hope and no where to turn. Friends can't help us, family can't help us, and we can't even help ourselves. Only Jesus can help us. He is the Master Healer of our souls...our bodies...our minds. Many times we are Christians and physically we are well. But...because of our sin Jesus needs to heal our minds. Sometimes we just need to be able to get over our pasts and look towards the future. He can help you to do that. Sometimes it's harder to be healed from your past memories because you have to be the one to let them go. There kind of like habits. As long as you want to hold on to the habit, or the hurt, God will let you. But once you really decide you want to let it go He will help you to do that. Just surrender it to Him. He's just waiting for you to make the choice.