It’s amazing what a difference a day makes.
“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”
― Søren Kierkegaard
What is your Jericho? What walls do you need God to knock down?
Today I met with one of our C.cada artists for a music rehearsal. This brother’s first CD will hit the stands in about a week. His debut album marks the culmination of a year-long Jericho march.
As we chatted over tea before practicing our special music for Sunday I listened to his heart about the process: the commitment it called for, the road blocks, the frustrations, the waiting, but most of all the promise! My friend has held fast to the promise God put inside of him over a year ago. He has never let go of it no matter what the road looked like. In fact we were talking about one of the very last difficulties he faced in the journey. A problem in production sent him and his partner back to the audio drawing board to remix and remaster the whole project from scratch. Instead of bemoaning his luck this musician praised God for the valuable intel he gathered in the process of having to personally remaster his own CD.
This visit coupled with the study God has me doing have revealed a very wrong mindset in me. You see, I look at my Jerichos and I see problems. They strike fear into my heart. My friend looks at his Jerichos and he sees promises. They give him faith.
I’m changing the way I think here. I am coming to see that problems become possibilities in the light of God’s promises. My Jerichos are not issues they are opportunities God is going to use to fulfill the passions of my heart!
Here are some quotes I reviewed from the first part of THE CIRCLE MAKER by Mark Batterson:
“The greatest moments in life are the miraculous moments when human impotence and divine omnipotence intersect.” Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker
” It is absolutely imperative at the outset that you come to terms with the simple yet life changing truth: God is for you.” Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker.
“God is not a genie in a bottle, and your wish is not His command. His command had better be your wish. If it’s not you won’t be drawing prayer circles; you’ll end up walking in circles.” Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker
And here is a simple song I need to meditate on in light of all this.
Reinventing the We'll 
POWERFUL!!! Lord, build my FAITH each and every step of this journey I am on. Thank you, Pastor J for this is so powerful.
Thanks Deb! May God hear your prayer!
Thanks Jay! Powerful thoughts here. Now to apply them and to recognize when we are in the midst of a bad mindset! The Valley of Love and Delight~ To turn turn will be our delight….indeed!
Thanks Sister! Sometimes turning is more delightful than at other times.
Thanks for sharing, Pastor J
““God is not a genie in a bottle, and your wish is not His command. His command had better be your wish. If it’s not you won’t be drawing prayer circles; you’ll end up walking in circles.” Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker”
I laughed out loud when I first read this excerpt. What an interesting take 🙂
“I’m changing the way I think here. I am coming to see that problems become possibilities in the light of God’s promises. My Jerichos are not issues they are opportunities God is going to use to fulfill the passions of my heart!”
I hear a sermon in this one. 🙂
Blessings,
ann
I am actually preaching next week on the “Pray Hard” section of this study Ann. Who knows maybe this will make it into my notes! 🙂
I’m so excited at what you have discovered! It’s going to bless and help all of us as well! God bless you as you see His promises today!
I am so glad some of my experiences track with others Deb!
Problems are opportunities – God-given opportunities to His own blood-bought, adopted children.
We do not welcome problems, but after He has undertaken for us and brought us through them, we can look back on them with thankfulness, for we can easily see that He was there with us *IN* them and that as a result, we have grown in maturity and in our walk towards Christlikeness.
Thank you for another reminder of the faithfulness of God.
You are welcome Angela! It is true we do not welcome problems. USually my first reaction is to run from them but God has been faithfully teaching me to try to see the possible blessings that can come from them. I am admittedly a slow learner.
Great reminder Pastor J to see the walls as opportunities to rely on faith that God knows the plans He has and our perspectives need to be shaped by faith in His omnipotence and our impotence! Blessings as we walk this spiritual journey together to trust Him and allow His Spirit to guide us. Thank you for allowing God to use your journey to make the journey of others clearly His.
I am glad that others can be blessed by my life lessons Tom!
Great quotes, thanks for sharing. Two wonderful musicians, too.
Thank you.