Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Hello, how are you? It's so typical of me to talk about myself, I'm sorry I hope that you're well Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened? It's no secret that the both of us Are running out of time So hello from the other side  Those are just part of the lyrics from Adele’s song Hello , but that might sum up some of our prayer life.   Disconnected.  Confused.  Struggling.  If we are honest, that is.  Yet that is not what God intends for us when we connect with Him.  In fact the thing that He wants most is for us to connect. It was in the Garden of Eden after He created Adam and Eve that God desired to have a relationship with those He loved.  God still desires that.  We have the blessing and opportunity to connect with, be loved by and walk with God.  Think about it. Jeremiah 33:3  NLT   Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. Matthew 6:6  NLT ...

  There are many different ways to connect with the people around us.  Think about the ways you choose to connect with them.  Connections are important and ought to be strong.    Technology is mot likely the way we run to most to connect with others.  But do you remember when all you had was a phone or even before that with pen and paper or even smoke signals.  Whatever you might remember, these are the ways we chose to connect with people.  It was always slow.   There are faster ways to connect and to stay connected.  We stream movies and files that are huge.  Very different from the old dial up connection.   Connecting with people mean a lot.  Think again about how we connect to people.    Colossians 3:12-14  NLT Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s fault...

Our connection to God is a promise that we claim.  It is based on His love for us and the gift of His son.  There is more to faith than going to church or living right.  In fact those two things are the outcome of our faith. I encourage us today today to remember what calling our to God does to us.  There are some choices we make that change us and the people around us.   Here are a few verses that will help us understand our connection to God.  Take these at the the value of what you see.  Then apply them.  Promises from God and warnings should be held close. 2 Timothy 2:22  NLT   Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. Simply put, stay away from wrong.  Stay close to God.  Enjoy time with people who know and love God.  Those people will help you stay close. Deuteronomy 10:12...

It is time to pray.  Prayer the foundation of our relationship with God because without communication you do not have a relationship.  The Apostle Paul knew this well because he built the churches or the people around him through discipleship, like he did with all the churches he helped.  It wasn’t a casual relationship at all.  It was built on what mattered most which is God.   1 Timothy 2:8  NLT   In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. There is a starting place.  Prayer.  Know the power of prayer.  Connect to God because you want to and have to.  We need Him like we need our next breathe.  Prayer is as essential to us as breathing.  Prayer is what we need to connect to Him … In the sermon yesterday I talked about Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1.  I used several verses from Colossians 1 that highlight the connection we have to God through our pray...

Yesterday I shared some things with you about prayer.  Today let’s walk a little further and ask God to help us understand what prayer does to us and the people we encounter.   Prayer focuses our hearts and eyes.  Prayer prepares us to encounter God.  Prayer is connects us to the most important of all things. PSALM 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children. NAHUM 1:7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. MATTHEW 6:31‑33 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ROMANS 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciousl...

  There are many different ways to connect.  Today I want to challenge us to think about the ways we choose to connect with the people around us each day.  Connections ought to be strong, or communication that is.  And there are many ways to connect with others. Let’s take a little trip.  Depending on how old you are there has been lots of change in technology.  Take for instance the internet and how we connect there.  Do you remember the dial up connection?  Your computer would literally have to call a number and hear those funny tones, like a fax machine machine, and connect to the internet.  It was very slow. Now there are much faster ways to connect and to stay connected much longer, like all the time.  We even stream movies and content that is huge, and that old dial up connection couldn’t hardly play a short and grainy video. Connections mean a lot.  Again, how do we connect to people?  There are many ways to connect and ...

Prayer is a big deal.  It is what connect those who follow God to God.  As I referenced last week in a devotion, you spend time with someone to get to know them; how can you claim to know God and not spend time with Him? It really doesn’t make much sense to have a relationship but never connect, never talk, never spend quality time together.  Make that change, if you need to.  Spend time with God today.  It is a spiritual discipline that might just change your life, change the way that you look at yourself and others. Here are just of the few things the Bible says about prayer: 1 Timothy 2:8  NLT In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  NLT Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Ephesians 6:18  NLT Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay aler...

  Focused prayer is a big deal.  It is also something that God helps us with as we realize what matters.  Our calling, our passion and even the things that get our attention often are the things God desires for us to pray about. Over the next week I will be adding a part to the e-devotions that coincide with the Week of Prayer from Vision Virginia (our partner in Virginia SBCV).  These will be prayers for mission endeavors close to us but that also happen around the world.  I ask you to join me in praying for these things over the coming week: English as a second language ministry, worship equipment for new churches, mission team training, deaf ministry leaders, disaster relief, church planting, evangelism and church revitalization.  I will share these next week in the e-devotions. Luke 5:16  NLT But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Jesus stopped to pray.  He would spend extended time and many different times in prayer.  Con...

What are you seeking?  Last night 2 teams sought the biggest win of the football season and companies paid huge amounts of money to have the biggest and best of all commercials.  All of that really seems big at one time but will be gone before you know. All around us people are seeking all different kinds of things.  Some are looking for success through jobs or fame or education.  Others are seeking a quick fix from drugs or an addiction.  Some are seeking satisfaction through some experience or feeling.   What God wants us to seek is Him.  Seek His heart and His vision for our lives.  Seek His will for our families, our churches and for the blessings God has brought in to our lives.  Just seek the Lord! Isaiah 55:6  NASB Seek   the   Lord   while He may be   found; Call upon Him while He is near. Seek the Lord when all things seem to be going in ...