We often speak of “mountaintop” experiences where we spend time alone with God. These encounters bring peace, joy, wisdom and revelation from Him and of Him, sometimes in a profound way. Ascending to the high places to abide with God will often transform us—He knows that. God is always calling out to us to come up higher.

Anticipation lasted for weeks. The event? Barely four minutes. It didn’t change anything.

“If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads

into all truth. John 14:15-17 NLT

No words could express more simply or more powerfully the inconceivably glorious place

Christ gives to obedience.

He (Jesus) made the things we can see and the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 NLT

Many years ago, God helped me understand, and better comprehend, the unseen world that exists around us. He graciously gave me the privilege to see the workings of the spiritual world through a vision.

We are all wounded, and every wound represents the potential to hurt other people. We sometimes do crazy things to try to cope with our wounded hearts. When a person lashes out at you, God wants you to see that person through His eyes, and to realize there is a hurting heart buried in the rubble of pain. Only God can heal a broken heart, no matter the source of the offense, whether self-inflicted or brought about by another person. It does not matter your station in life, whether you are at the pinnacle or the bottom of the heap, God offers His relentless love to heal your aching and wounded heart.

I hate to be late.

I don’t mind so much if others are—things come up. That’s understandable and we all have to be gracious and patient.

It’s no big deal.

A family emergency? That’s quite a different thing. We’ll leave immediately and head to the one we love. We’ll get there as soon as we possibly can. We’ll dodge traffic, speed, and might even go through a red light or two to get there.

One thing we wouldn’t do is delay. We wouldn’t get distracted or forget. If it’s urgent and immediate, then it’s the priority. We go. Fast.

“Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” When we abide with God in prayer, our yielding to Him will bear the fruit we seek. This seems to be a paradox and backward to our finite earthly minds, but the power for the answer comes from laying down our concerns and burdens and choosing to abide in Him.

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalms 119:9-11 NKJV)

We just finished the backyard. In a short time, we’ll need to attend to the front. It’s a perennial tag-team. That’s because the two oaks in the back are not the same kind as the three oaks in the front. They shed their leaves at different times.

Still, I love the trees. I’ve always loved trees. Ours have grown in the time we’ve lived in the same house for over twenty years. They’ve been silent witnesses to the changes in our lives during the time we’ve been in Texas.

The terms “faith” and “believing” are synonymous, but these two concepts often have different meanings in Scripture. Therefore, I feel it necessary to distinguish between them. While studying the Scripture references that help define “faith” and those defining “belief,” I discovered a subtle shade of difference between the words.

We all have our own unique life story. Our story is our past and the myriad of influences and life events that shape us. Our narrative is how we express our outcome, as well as define ourselves to others based on our perspective about our story. In other words, what we tell others about ourselves, based on our story, will define who we are.

Knowing your position in Christ, who you are in God’s sight, will allow you to see and experience life from an eternal perspective. Your walk with Christ will no longer be a hum-drum experience weighed down with rules, worries, lack, and woes. Moreover, knowing and then realizing that you are a child of the King, will vanquish low self-esteem and any lingering feelings of unworthiness.

Prayer is to be intricately woven through every square inch of your life’s tapestry.

Your workplace can be transformed as you pray for your co-workers, your supervisors, and the

owners. The person who works beside you may have severe marriage problems—Jesus is the answer

and you carry His message—prayer goes before you to prepare his or her heart to receive your healing

words. The company may have financial problems, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of

workers—Jesus is the answer and you carry His message—prayer goes before you to open doors for

peace and prosperity to return to your workplace.

How does life transformation happen? It takes place when we take God’s Word back to Him in prayer. God’s Word is transformative. We can “hear” His Word from many sources. Jesus often said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”

There are many unforgettable characters found in the Bible. Some are strange, some are evil, others great. They represent struggles of the flesh and triumphs of the spirit; failure and achievement; debauchery and nobility; goodness and greed. Ambition and humility. The stories of their lives and exploits have filled many a Sunday school lesson, illustrated many a sermon, and become legendary to those of us who cherish the great and wise Book.

At Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina a beautiful thing happened. On New Year’s Day, twin boys were born. Adonis and Adrian will have no recollection of this special occasion. They have no past to fondly remember or bitterly forget.

They’ve made no mistakes, caused no trouble, had no regrets, celebrated no triumphs, made no resolutions, suffered no sickness, and reached no milestones other than being among the earliest arrivals of this new year.

This year we started the Christmas season by watching the Frank Capra classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life, which stars Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. We have seen this movie many times, but this year we were struck by the contrast between Bedford Falls and Pottersville, and we saw in it a message for times such as ours. Sadly, it seemed to us that our world today looks much like Pottersville.

I learned early on that praise and worship is the highest calling for a believer because it fulfills the “First Greatest Commandment” given to us by Jesus. It’s true. However, we must also consider that praise and worship is a manner of prayer because we are communicating our love and adoration to God.

Often at church or in a Bible group meeting, there is a time of prayer among those gathered. Prayer requests are given and the group takes the needs to God in prayer. Of course, this type of prayer can take place anywhere two or more believers gather. Agreeing in prayer is an ultimate expression of unity in the body of Christ

The Essence of Prayer - Inquiring, Abiding, Listening

Prayer is and should be, a means of two-way communication more than an avenue to make requests.