CHAPTER 19: PRAYING FOR WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE 2024
They say a cat has nine lives. From the things I’ve pulled in my life, I could be dead way more than nine times. A cat looks at me and wonders, “how did he do it,” get it? So what do I have already to pray for? My life. The prayer is what to do with it, everyday, for Him not me. That is how I do better than my best. My best thinking, very best, super best thinking can get me killed. With God all things are possible including a better Patrick. Praying for what I already have was a great relief. I could just talk to Him about what to do and wait for direction or just take the direction. How did I know it was Him? Because I was happy doing what needed to be done and things started happening strong and real and solid. Since I had nothing when I started with Jesus, everything I felt, touched and experienced was an overwhelming emotional gift and my heart was happy for each moment, in the anticipation of what was happening and what was to come.
Philippians 4:11-13
New Living Translation
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
A man once told me, “I’m okay with what I have today and I’m grateful as long as I know I’m going to get more later.” His life is full of trouble, all the time, never ending.
1 Timothy 6:6-10
New King James Version
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
I’m going to tell you a statement I’ve never said. I’ve seen terrible things happen because of it. Said by a Believer blessed many times over in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Bob the confused Believer: “Are you kidding me, no way, you only live once, and I’m just gettin’ started, hell, I got in trouble a few times, but I learned my lesson, don’t get caught, more is better and better I’m gonna be. I got my health, a good life, a job, the kids are doing great, it’s time for me, and I gotta new plan, a side hustle, plan B. Hey, God wants me happy, doesn’t He!” STOP. STOP. STOP. Those words are all too familiar to all of us. And they’re real, very real and powerful, very powerful, seductive and doable, very, very doable. Greatness is not all it’s cracked up to be and if you believe scripture, in the end, worldly greatness, finds terror, and hides from the wrath of God.
Revelation 6:15-17
New Living Translation
15 Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 reads, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” James 1:17 teaches that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” 1 Timothy 4:4 says, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.” There is nothing written that says and when you’re not satisfied with what you’ve got, I’ll give you more. Rather Luke 16:10 that says, “one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
Praying for what I have, did not mean praying for more, it meant praying to God for the wisdom to use what I have to bring glory and honor to Christ and His kingdom. That points me to what I call the treasure chest. Ah, one of my favorite concepts. The Treasure Chest.
A “TREASURE CHEST” filled with God’s gifts for me. In it I find direction, Holy Spirit who prays for me when I don’t know how, gives me Discernment in all matters, explains and utilizes talent, affords wisdom in matters I know nothing about, intercessory prayer to the Father by the Son, Jesus on my behalf.
I’ve learned that I can’t change my shortcomings, really important lesson. I can’t change them, but I can learn to walk around them. I’m always going to like whiskey, that doesn’t mean I should ever drink it. I’m always going to want to shoot my mouth off, doesn’t mean I should. I’m always going to want my way, do I need to complete that sentence?
My shortcomings, if I purposely choose not to engage them, if I stubbornly withstand temptation, by my own free-will, guess who gets better? Why? Because I can’t do it without God, so “me and God, we have an understanding,” as quoted by the Blue’s Brother’s character Jake, played by John Belushi.
2 Corinthians 10:5
New International Version
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Take captive every thought, send it to Jesus for direction, Yes? God will direct you away from sin and disobedience in the moment, every time. However, He has not taken from me those things that cause me great pain. “A thorn,” as Paul says.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
New International Version
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
I will boast about my sinning nature? Yes, and how God, every time, is right there saying, “you want my help, or you got this? Do I ever “got this”, probably not, if I don’t sin, God had to have a hand in it, because my nature is to immediately deploy my temperament. Again, praying for what I already have, even my shortcomings bring me closer to God, so I give thanks for even my temperament and the challenges that temperament causes.
Romans 8:28
New King James Version
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Praying for what I already have, including my sinful nature? Wow, that’s a new one. Yes, it’s hard enough to call Him when I know I need Him, much less when I’m tempted to do something I should not and every fiber of my being tells me it’s the right thing.
Consider yourself a silver dollar. You have a top and a bottom. Without a top and a bottom, the coin is worthless. I work the coin and take care of the coin so my worth to the Lord is good. Let’s break it down. The top of the coin represents administration, responsibilities, day to day, 9-5. The bottom is things unseen. Creativity, God, wisdom. The top is the linear mind, 9-5, the bottom, non-linear/imagination. Here 9-5 doesn’t matter.
The top is useless without the bottom. They work together to make you, to make me. You get it, a new idea comes from the bottom of the coin, creativity, the breath of God. And that idea now moves to the top into administration to be a functioning part of life. Could take five seconds to make a good idea, could take much longer. Is that part of my treasure chest? Part of what I already have to pray for? It actually is your treasure chest working, doing the job, the question is, are you praying that you are using it correctly?
The coin can work in reverse, just like everything else. The top used for the administration of dishonorable tasks and the bottom creating and imagining new dishonest and hateful ideas. That coin put in motion would be as they say, “a plug nickel”, certainly not a silver dollar. Pray, my friends, that your mind is guided by the Holy Spirit, nothing else.
Proverbs 4:6-7
New International Version
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,[b] get understanding.
Pray I do, and ask to teach me the tools in my treasure chest and give thanks for the rare and infinite coin He has made of me. A Treasure Chest, all for me, powerful and made from a Devine God, Devine gifts, Devine understanding, all for me to use and give back myself as a silver dollar to the One who allows me to shine. How much prayer will it take to learn these gifts? A lifetime comes to mind, each day being better than the last. Why would I pray for anything else? Because I’m flawed, afraid and weak. I forget to align myself with scripture, the promises and prophecies, rules and direction given by God. He has promised if I can hold myself together in prayer, and withstand the arrows, well read it.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
New King James Version
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [a]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Do I think in November either candidate can change the course of God? I do not. God will do what God will do. Still I pray for what I already have, the freedom to vote. All I know is there will be less babies dead with one candidate, less children mutilated by government standards and more parents able to actually parent children without government intervention. Yea, kids, it’s sounds horrible and it is and it’s here.
Things are looking pretty bad out there from a biblical perspective and by the fire of war. Stand firm in your prayer for what you already have, it pales in comparison to what I think I want.
Revelation 3:8-15
New King James Version
11 [c]Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
What would I say to both candidates given the opportunity? Same thing I say to the mirror.
1 Peter 3:11 New International Version
They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
Chapter 19: Praying for what you already have. Best you understand that everything you have could be taken away from you in a heart beat. This moment, this very second is worth many, many prayers of what God could do with what you have, while you have it.
Be a shiny silver dollar worth the crown of life, give to God back what He has given to you, better than your best, in supplication and prayer ask Him, “what do I do with what I already have, show me Jesus, help me, direct me.”
James 1:12
New International Version
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Do either candidates approve that message? Does either candidate even know of that message? Ask yourself these important questions, God will give America what we deserve, and if you remember, He did the same for Israel, He gave them the King they wanted, long story short, nothing worked out for 400 years and there was a great deal of pain and suffering. Pray for what you already have, and ask Him if you can keep it, and continually ask what would He have you do with what you already have and oh, by the way, one of those gifts, the freedom to raise your children according to the Bible.
Amen.
