I'm not sure if anyone remembers the Bagel bites commercials from the 90's, 2000's era of advertising, and I don't know when the first or last time I had ever heard it was, yet the jingle is still jangling around my head "Pizza in the morning, Pizza in the evening, Pizza at supper time, When Pizza's on a bagel, you can eat Pizza any time." Some years later, we bought my kids one of those "150 worship songs for kids" cds, and I heard the Bagel Bites song, but this time it was a Hymn! "Praise him, Praise him, Praise him in the morning, praise him in the noon time." It's amazing how simple truths from simple hymns could be used to sell Pizza...but that's beyond the point of this post. This idea of eating Pizza, and especially Praising God in the morning, noon time, dinner, or whenever has me thinking. Today, as I was sitting in chapel at the conference I'm attending, National speaker, preacher, and chair of the Billy Graham foundation at Wheaton College, Ed Stetzer, spoke to us about prayer, and how important it was, foundational even, to that early church in the book of Acts. they prayed when they were waiting in the upper room, they prayed when selecting a replacement for Judas, they prayed before appointing deacons, they prayed before sending people out, they prayed when bringing in, they prayed for boldness when persecution happened, they prayed for missions, they prayed when settling disputes; for all things, in all circumstances and for all people they prayed. This teaching pierced me to my heart! I long to see the Holy Spirit move in power, but how is my own prayer life? I long to hear from God, but do I pray as a first or last resort? Church, if we want to see the Holy Spirit move in power, we MUST prayer. It is not a suggestion, and some are more natural in it (or Super Natural, as they are gifted by the Spirit in it), but we are ALL called to a strong prayer life. We are called to go "boldly before the throne of Grace" in prayer (not disrespectfully, but in Boldness AND Power through the Holy Spirit). The more we pray, we draw nearer to the Father. Brother and Sister in Christ, pray. Even if you don't know what to pray for, even if you don't know how, Jesus died to restore us to the Father, so pray! Romans 8:26 gives us an assurance inn such prayers: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." If you don't know what to do, you are certain of it, you need wisdom, guidance, peace, joy, comfort....don't try and handle it on your own, just pray! I will pray for you, that you will daily, before all things, go to the Father in prayer, and I will ask that you do the same for me. Prayer is the breath of our soul, and it is the way we can come to our Heavenly Father for all we need. No matter where you are at in life, just Pray....and let the God of all things handle it. Hebrews 4 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.[a] 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God[b] would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Footnotes:
Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers
Hebrews 4:8 Greek he
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