WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO PRAY

Today’s Text: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)

Today’s Thoughts: Ever felt that your prayers weren’t good enough? Ever felt you didn’t know how to voice the prayer on your heart? Ever felt that you didn’t know how to word your prayer? Ever felt that you’d run out of words, and yet weren’t sure if you’d said enough? No matter how insufficient you’ve felt your prayers were – God can read hearts. This text tells us that the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf because we don’t truly know how to pray. I think that’s totally amazing. Our prayers are all so inadequate, but God still hears them because the Spirit has purified them.

Today’s Testimony: Julie, my twin sister, and I were greeting for an evangelistic campaign a few years ago. Our meetings were held at a school in a room upstairs, and one evening the school was having a function downstairs in the main hall. Due to all the noise, Julie and I were standing outside our room with the door closed to keep the noise out. We opened the door to see how the meeting was going and discovered that they were having problems with the computer. Satan didn’t want the message to be presented.
Then Julie said, “It’s because we aren’t praying enough,” so both of us started praying individually outside the door. I prayed. I prayed this and that and was still waiting for the Lord to intervene. Then finally I said something like, “Lord, I don’t know what else to pray,” or “What else must I pray?”
I believe it was right about then that the computer started working. We opened the door shortly thereafter and the problem was solved.
When our prayers aren’t answered in the way we want immediately, it doesn’t mean that we aren’t praying the right prayer, God’s timing is perfect. But our prayers do fall so far short of what they should be. That’s why Jesus disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. It’s important for us to realise that the answers to our prayers often have nothing to do with the words we pray. Some people pray long and eloquent prayers, while others pray short, simple prayers. God hears them all. And that’s because the same Holy Spirit alters our prayers so that they are acceptable in God’s site.
I’m so glad that my prayers can be acceptable to God. I’m so glad that even the prayers I cannot voice are taken to His throne. I’m so glad that when I don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit will pray on my behalf. Aren’t you?

Today’s Task: If you ever feel that your prayers are inadequate, remember that the Holy Spirit will make them acceptable to God. If you ever run out of words, leave the rest of your prayer in the Lords hands, His Spirit will finish it for you. The most important thing that I encourage you to do is pray. Take everything to the Lord. Tell Him everything. God hears prayer. He wants to hear from you.

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that You hear every prayer we pray. Lord teach us to pray. But I thank You that You hear the shortest, simplest prayer. Lord help us to talk to You about everything. I thank You for the Holy Spirit who intercedes on our behalf. Lord help us to trust Your wisdom in all the answers. I thank You for Your love. Amen.

GOD CARES ABOUT YOU

Today’s Text: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Today’s Thoughts: Do you know what makes our God different from all the other gods that people worship? The most distinguishing factor is that our God loves us. None of the other gods care about their followers. They are usually thought to require human sacrifice and self-torture. But our God cares about us. He died so that we could have life. He cares about every detail of our lives. If it matters to us – it matters to God.

Today’s Testimony: When I wrote matric, Biblical Studies was my favourite subject. I started focusing too much on that, and then had to leave it for a while so I could focus on my other subjects. I eventually wasn’t happy with the amount of time I’d spent on studying Biblical Studies; I new I could have done better. But those that know me know that I love studying anything that has to do with the Bible. As people say, “Maths is his/her subject”, anything Bible was mine.
I really wanted to get a distinction for Biblical Studies, but I also knew that I hadn’t put enough effort into it to deserve one. I asked the Lord to please at least help me to pass, but I also mentioned that He knew how badly I wanted a distinction. A distinction for matric is 80%. I got 80% on the dot. God is so good!!!
For the Bible subject that I wrote for university my exam paper was white. That meant I could take it home. If the paper is a colour, it remains property of the university. I was so happy. It wasn’t really that I needed the paper, I was just really glad that I could take it home. I told you – Bible is my subject.
When the papers and answer books were collected after the exam, the invigilator that collected in my row collected my “white” paper. I then started analysing the situation. “I guess I don’t really need the paper, but I still would have liked it, and it was mine to take home.” “Maybe I could go and ask the head-invigilator if I could have my paper back.” (I was sitting near the front, and I was the only one that turned up for that paper so it would have been easy to ask and to find my paper. It was also only one of two white papers in my row.) “If only I’d held on to it, maybe she wouldn’t have collected it. Or then I could have queried her wanting it.”
I can’t remember if I prayed. It was probably one of those times where we start making plans to fix a problem without stopping to think that we serve an almighty God. I might have asked the Lord what I should do, but I don’t think I asked Him to intervene.
The invigilator walked to the front of the hall and then the head-invigilator started telling her something. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but from what I could see, it looked as though the Lord had heard the prayer I hadn’t prayed. It was then that I prayed. I sat in awe. The head-invigilator told her to hand the white papers back. I got my exam paper back!!!
I didn’t need a distinction for Biblical Studies; I didn’t need my exam paper back, but God cared enough about me to intervene. He cares about the smallest details of our lives. And if He cares about the tiny issues, He definitely cares about the greater issues. If it matters to us –it matters to God. He loves us so much. Believe it.

Today’s Task: Got any “unimportant” things you’d like to take to the Lord? Take them to Him. He encourages us to cast “all” our cares upon Him, because He cares so much for each one of us. Take your problems and desires to the Lord, if it’s in His will, He will grant your request. He cares about you. Believe it!!!

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that You care about us so much. I thank You that nothing is unimportant to You and that nothing is too big for You. You love us and want us to be happy. Help us to trust You more. Help us to cast “all” our cares upon You. I thank You that You are a caring and loving God. Help us to love You back. Amen.

TO HIM THAT BELIEVES

Today’s Text: Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23)

Today’s Thoughts: A man had brought his son who was possessed by an evil spirit to Jesus to ask Him to free his son. Jesus said that if he could believe, all things were possible. The father of the child then cried out, and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Jesus then cast out the demon.
It’s not always easy to believe that God can do what we think is impossible. That’s when we need to be like this father and ask the Lord to help our unbelief. With God all things are possible. We just need to believe. And then trust that God will do what is best.

Today’s Testimony: When you think of the “impossible”, what do you think of? Big problems or small problems? Sometimes it’s the tiny things that we think of as insignificant. Other times it’s the mountainous problems that we see no way out of.
Today I’d like to share a story about one of those things that is humanly impossible, but also thought to be such an insignificant problem compared to the problems we often have to face. God cares about all the things that bother us, and if we ask Him to intervene and believe that He will, if it’s in His will, He will help us.
While my sisters and I were in Cape Town visiting my dad last year, my mom and step-dad, with the help of some friends, moved house back home in Durban. The former owners of our new house had owned 10 dogs and bred cats. The house was therefore over-run with fleas.
On my first morning in the new house I climbed back into bed after we had family worship because it was the only place that was safe. I dreaded getting up. I needed to have my personal devotions, but with that came kneeling for prayer. On that floor?!
I thought, “Do I kneel, or don’t I kneel?” Then I took my problem to the Lord. I asked Him to please let the itching stop, and to take away the fleas.” The itching stopped!!!
I slept a bit longer and then knelt on the floor to pray. The Lord and I had a long chat, so I landed up sitting cross-legged on the floor at His feet. I did not get attacked by fleas!!! I asked, I believed, and the Lord intervened. My God can do anything!

Today’s Task: I encourage you to take all your problems to the Lord, no matter what they are. He can do what we think is petty or impossible. Don’t ever think that your problem is too silly to bother the Lord with – He loves to take care of His children’s needs, You can never be a bother to Him. Give Him a try, He won’t disappoint you. Ask God to intervene, and then believe that He will. He will. Even if He doesn’t intervene in the way you thought best. He knows better. Trust him. Ask Him, Believe Him, then watch and stand in awe.

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that all things are possible with You. I praise You that no problem is too great or insignificant for You. If it’s significant to us – it’s significant to You. Thank you Lord. Please help our unbelief. Help us to take all our concerns to You, and help us to believe that You will intervene. I thank You that You will do what is best in every situation that we bring to You. I thank You that You care about each one of us so much. Amen.

GOD DOES NOT LEAVE US IGNORANT

Today’s Text: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11)

Today’s Thoughts: Satan is not happy with this ministry. He has been trying to prevent these messages from going to the world from the day the Lord told me to start this ministry. Satan wants to get the better of us. He wants to destroy us. He wants to defeat God’s plans. But God is in control. He has told us that we have a very dangerous enemy. He is able to thwart Satan’s plans. Sometimes it is simply by informing us of what Satan is doing. When things go wrong – know that it’s Satan. When things go right – know that it’s God.

Today’s Testimony: Yesterday I sent out an e-mail to inform all Today’s T’s recipients about Today’s T’s blog and Google Group. The only problem was that the address I’d given for the blog was incorrect.
I also announced the Today’s T’s blog address in my church this weekend – also the wrong address. Satan must have been smiling both times.
My cousin e-mailed me yesterday to tell me he couldn’t access the blog, and it was then that my technical manager and I discovered that I’d given the wrong address. We also discovered another problem and we sorted both of those problems out.
As for announcing the wrong address in church, I’ll work on fixing that problem too, it’s just not as quick and easy as e-mailing all the present recipients.
Satan was smiling with all these problems that would prohibit people from accessing Today’s T’s blog. God allowed him to have his fun, because he is the prince of this world, and knowing that it can all be fixed, but God did not leave us ignorant of the problems. This is His ministry and He won’t have Satan destroying it. It has been blessing and touching too many lives.
We have a very real and dangerous enemy, but God has told us about him. He tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 that our “adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. God has warned us, and will often interrupt Satan’s plans. Sometimes he may even open our eyes to what Satan is doing so that we can fix the problem. God is so good. He has not left us ignorant about the war going on for our lives. Satan wants to see you and I destroyed, but God wants to spend eternity with us.
We may have a very real and dangerous enemy, but we also have a very real and loving God. He can protect us from the Devil. I want the Lord as my Refuge – how about you?

Today’s Task: I hope you’re all convinced that God is very real and loves us all so much. It is also vitally important to realize that we have an extremely dangerous enemy, Satan. Don’t play with the Devil, you may not come out alive. Choose to follow the Lord and Him alone. Ask Him to keep your eyes open to Satan’s traps, and to give you the wisdom and strength to avoid them. God cares about your safety.

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that You have not left us ignorant about our arch enemy. I thank You that You are able to ruin Satan’s plans. Please help us to realize how dangerous the Devil is. Lord please protect us from his evil plans. Give us the strength to remain faithful to You no matter what he throws our way. I thank You that You care about our safety so much. Lord help us to know You more. We love You Lord. Amen.

GOD CAN PROTECT YOU

Today’s Text: There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (Psalm 91:10)

Today’s Thoughts: God has the power to protect us from anything and everything. But then why do we still see so much pain and disaster? We’ve talked about this question before, and yet because it is a very common question in the world today, I’m going to go through it again.
Have you ever sinned? We’ve all sinned. Do you know who we chose as our master when human beings first sinned? Yip, we chose to follow Satan rather than God. Many of us have since realized the terrible mistake of believing Satan rather than God, but right now, Satan is still the prince of this world by our own choice. God would love to protect us from everything, but legally, he can’t. Satan would not allow it. But our loving Heavenly Father knows how much we can handle. He still, believe it or not, protects us from so much. I’m glad that I have chosen the Lord as my Master now. Satan is still prince of this world, but God is my King. I don’t need to fear. He
will protect me from all that He will, and He will be with me through the rest. Is He your God too?

Today’s Testimony: I usually teach Grade 3 and 4 for Vacation Bible School, but one year I had to teach Grade 0 with Julie, my twin sister. I had taught that grade before, but that year was extremely exhausting.
There wasn’t a classroom available for us, so we were situated at the bottom of a staircase in a partially enclosed area. We do often get kids that are younger than Grade 0-age if their older siblings attend, and one little three-year-old got “clever”.
While Julie was telling the story, he decided to crawl under his table. He was under the table facing upwards. Then he decided to pull himself up. The table fell over and would have smashed his little face in, but because we were in a small area, it hit against the wall. It all happened so fast. He got such a fright – so did I. But God knows all things and placed us in a space where we would avoid serious injuries.
Then later that same day we took the kids to play on the field. This same little boy was halfway down the stairs, and another little boy at the top of the stairs decided he’d let the ball bounce down the stairs. It wasn’t a soft ball and as I called to the boy at the top of the stairs to tell him not to let go – he let go. The ball came bouncing straight toward the other boy’s head. He was holding the railing, and I honestly believe an angel pulled him away, because while the one second he had been holding the railing, the next second there was a gap in which the ball bounced past just between his head and the railing. I told you I had an exhausting week – same little boy; same day. God protected him twice. Kids can be quite a handful, but God’s
hands are big enough for all our problems, and His heart is even greater.
God does love you. He does care about you. He knows how much you can handle. He will protect you from all harm that he knows you cannot handle. Don’t doubt his ways – trust His heart.

Today’s Task: Do you ever feel that God is just not there for you? He is. I don’t know what you would think if He wasn’t. He cannot place a hedge around us, because Satan would accuse Him of being unfair. But He can still protect us from anything and everything. He knows what we can handle and what we can’t. He loves you. Believe it. Trust Him. Ask Him to protect you. Ask Him to give you strength to face your trials. He will not leave you to face them alone. He cares about you too much.

Today’s Thanks: Lord I thank You that You protect us from so much. I thank You that you care about us so much, even though we often cause You so much pain. I thank You that You are with us in every trial. I thank You for the strength and comfort You give in times of need. Help us to trust You. Help us to come to know You for who You really are. We need You Lord. Amen.

NEVER TOO LATE FOR A MIRACLE

Today’s Text: Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. (Luke 7:22)

Today’s Thoughts: The blind had not seen for years, if ever; the lame hadn’t walked for years, if ever; the lepers’ bodies were probably in an extremely poor state; the deaf had not heard anything for years, if ever; and the dead, to the human mind were beyond help. The poor who were thought to be hopeless received hope through the Gospel message. What does this tell us? It’s never too late for a miracle. No matter what you’re going through, do not give up hope, if it’s in God’s will to intervene –it’s never too late for Him to work a miracle.

Today’s Testimony: Yesterday I shared a story about George, our Basset Hound, today I’m going to share a story about Rolo, our Golden Labrador cross Golden Retriever.
Rolo is terrified of loud noises, and when there are fire-works in the neighbourhood, he goes absolutely berserk. One night when there were fire-works being set off in the neighbourhood we let him in the kitchen for a while. I washed dishes and sang to him until he fell asleep. I’d often calmed him down by singing to him when he was a puppy, and it still worked.
But then we had to get to bed. We couldn’t leave him in the kitchen, and the bathroom wasn’t dog-proof either. He and George lived in the court-yard just of our kitchen, so he would have been in an enclosed area, but even that didn’t seem safe enough to him. We let him out into the court-yard for a while to see if he would calm down before attempting to renovate the bathroom, and he just didn’t seem to be calming down. I had been praying the whole time. One thought that the Lord brought to mind was that it’s never too late for a miracle.
Toni, my older sister, and I were the only ones still awake, but she was in bed. I went into her room to discuss what we were going to do. I figured I’d leave him for just a little while longer and see. But then just before leaving Toni’s room I prayed again mentioning something about the Lord being able to do a miracle even at the “eleventh hour”. That is another way of referring to the last moment.
Silence! It really is never too late for a miracle.

Today’s Task: Are you in need of a miracle? It’s not too late. God can still work a miracle for you now no matter how long it’s been, no matter how complicated the situation may be. Trust Him. Never lose hope. Ask him to work a miracle in your life today.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I praise You that it’s never too late for a miracle. I thank You that you care about what we are going through. I thank You that You can intervene. Lord please work a miracle in each of our lives. It’s never too late. We love You. Amen

JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING

Today’s Text: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

Today’s Thoughts: God hates sin. He doesn’t hate the sinner, He hates the sin. He is never pleased when we sin, but His displeasure only lasts a little while. When we repent we can once again find favour with Him. God’s anger is but for a moment, but His love endures forever. When we repent, God forgives us and we can find joy in being restored to His favour.
We see pain and heartache all around us. These are the sad results of sin. Our weeping over sin and its results will all be over soon. Jesus is coming back to destroy sin forever. In the mean time, God is with us in every trial. Our troubles usually only last a little while, but if they are more permanent – soon they will all be over. We will spend eternity in a sinless, unscarred environment with our Saviour. The choice is yours. Will you be there?

Today’s Testimony: We have two dogs. One is a Golden Labrador cross Golden Retriever, Rolo, and the other one is a Basset Hound, George – we got him with that name. The Basset Hound by default is my dog. He’s huge and slobbers everywhere and I’m the only one who loves him.
One day while resting on my bed, I was woken up with everyone screaming my name. The two dogs had been playing outside fighting over something and it had landed on our trampoline. Now George always wants better than Rolo. And although they both hesitated to climb on the trampoline, George decided to take the risk. He got on just fine, only to have Rolo snatch his prize from the other side. Now George had to get off. He walked around surveying the situation, and then made his attempt. His paw-pad on one of his hind feet got stuck in the triangular clip connecting the trampoline to one of the springs.
We somehow got him to turn around and sit on the trampoline. His paw had swelled, thus making it even more difficult to get him loose. My step-dad was out at the time, but the tenant staying in our garden-flat came to help.
Sadly it wasn’t my first thought, but at some stage I started praying. I was there trying to comfort and calm George down. He was in a lot of pain; it was terrible to hear him complaining. I said to him, “It will all be over soon.” I had absolutely no idea how on earth we were going to get him loose, but I knew that somehow or another, the problem would have to be sorted out. We eventually got him loose. And he then started trying to find his way off the trampoline “again”. I got my step-dad, who was home now, to rather carry him off the trampoline instead.
Later while I was thinking about everything that was going on in my life at the time, the Lord reminded me of what I had said to George, “It will all be over soon.” I did not know how and when, but God said it would all be over soon, and I believed Him.
I don’t know what you’re going through right now, but I do know that God is right there with you. He will give you the strength to endure your trials. And the best part – it will all be over soon.

Today’s Task: Trust God. You can allow Him to give you peace and joy right now in the midst of turmoil. Weeping endures for but a little while; but true joy is everlasting. Give your burdens to the Lord, He wants them. Turn away from sin and find peace in Christ. He will give you a peace and joy that you won’t be able to describe.

Today’s Thanks: O Lord I thank You for the peace and joy that only You can bring. I thank You that You are a forgiving God who will give us everlasting joy when we deserve everlasting sorrow. Lord if we accept You into our hearts You will give us everlasting life that is full of joy and peace. We want You. We need You. Please come into our hearts today. Amen.