ctivated CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CHANGE YOUR WORLD.
STREAMS THAT NEVER RUN DRY Promises from God that will change your life
THOUGHT POWER Turn your thoughts into a power for good
THE BEAST IS YET TO COME What’s next for the world
Activated Ministries P.O. Box 462805 Escondido, CA 92046-2805 USA info@activatedministries.org (1–877) 862–3228 (toll-free) Activated Europe Bramingham Pk. Business Ctr. Enterprise Way Luton, Beds. LU3 4BU England activatedEurope@activated.org (07801) 442–317 Activated Africa P.O. Box 2150 Westville 3630 South Africa ActivatedAfrica@activated.org 083 55 68 213 Activated India P.O. Box 5215 G.P.O. Bangalore – 560 001 India activatedIndia@activated.org EDITOR Keith Phillips DESIGN Giselle LeFavre
personally speaking
For a wide range of books and audio and video productions to feed your soul, lift your spirit, strengthen your family, and provide fun learning times for your children, please contact one of our distributors below, or visit our Web site at www.activated.org
When you stop to think about it, our modern means of communication would probably be totally incomprehensible to someone living only a few generations ago. Yet without a second thought we pick up the telephone and talk with someone thousands of miles away, or send a letter via e-mail to a colleague on the other side of the world, which we’re confident they’ll receive in a matter of minutes. Although the concept is probably as inconceivable to those who have never tried it as the telephone or the Internet would be to our ancestors, connecting with Jesus through prayer is just as simple, just as real, and just as practical as picking up the phone and calling your closest friend.—And you’ll never hear a busy signal, you’ll never get an answering machine, and there are no long distance charges! In this issue of Activated we’ve got some great articles on prayer—our “hotline to Heaven” and channel of communication with the Lord. We would also be happy to pray for you or a loved one, if you need some prayer support. Just let us know what to pray for, and we’ll bring your request before the Lord along with you. Jesus promised, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in Heaven” (Matthew 18:19). Until next time, may God bless and keep you and yours!
ILLUSTRATIONS Hugh Westphal, Ana Fields PRODUCTION Francisco Lopez
Keith Phillips For your Activated family
VOL 1, ISSUE 4 © 2002 Aurora Production AG All Rights Reserved Printed in Thailand www.auroraproduction.com Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations in Activated are from the New King James Version of the Bible © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2
activated issue 4
HOW MUCH DOES A PRAYER WEIGH? Author unknown
HOW MUCH DOES A PRAYER WEIGH? The only man I ever knew who tried to weigh one still does not know. Once he thought he did. That was when he owned a little grocery store on New York’s West Side. It was the week before Christmas of 1918 when a tired-looking woman came into the store and asked him for enough food to make a Christmas dinner for her children. He asked her how much she could afford to spend. “My husband was killed in the war,” the woman answered. “I have nothing to offer but a little prayer.” The man confesses that he was not very sentimental in those days. A grocery store could not be run like a breadline. “Write it down,” he said with a huff, and turned to attend to other customers. To his surprise, the woman pulled a piece of paper from her pocket, unfolded it, and handed it to him over the counter. “I did that during the night, while sitting up with my sick baby.” The grocer took the paper before he could recover from his surprise, and then regretted having done so. What would he do with it? What could he say? Then an idea came to him. Without even reading the prayer, he placed the paper on one side of his old-fashioned weight scales and said, “We shall see how much food this is worth.” activated issue 4
To his astonishment, the scale would not go down when he put a loaf of bread on the other side. And it still didn’t go down as he added more food—anything he could lay his hands on quickly, because people were watching him. His face turned redder the more embarrassed and flustered he became. Finally he said, “Well, that’s all the scales will hold. Here’s a bag.” And he turned away. With a little sob, the woman took the bag and started packing the food, only stopping to dry her eyes on her sleeve from time to time. The grocer tried not to look, but he had given her a big bag and couldn’t help but see that it wasn’t quite full. Without another word, he tossed a large cheese down the counter. Had he let down his defenses enough to actually look at the woman, he would have been rewarded with a timid smile and look of deepest gratitude. When the woman had gone, the grocer examined his scales, which had worked fine for the previous customer. He never figured out how or when it had happened, but they were broken. The grocer had never seen that woman before, and he never saw her again. But for the rest of his life he remembered her better than any other woman that ever came into his shop, and he always kept that slip of paper with her simple prayer: “Please, Lord, give us this day our daily bread.” • 3
i
STREAMS
can never forget the day when it dawned upon my consciousness as a reality, a fact, that the promises of the Bible were practical, that they could actually be applied to my everyday needs. It was a revelation to me that God meant exactly what He said in the numerous promises given in His Word, and that He would fulfill them to the very letter if I, in faith, would reach out and claim them in a definite manner. God’s Word said that I had been given “exceedingly great and precious promises,” that through them I might be “partaker of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). But to my limited understanding, those promises were only beautiful scripture language, never meant to be taken seriously or applied practically. I was like the very ignorant woman many years ago who had lived most of her life hidden way back in the highlands of Scotland, and who was so poor that her church had to pay her rent for her. One day when her pastor brought the monthly rent, he said, “Mrs. McKintrick, why is it that your boy does not support you? I understand he has a very good job in Australia, and that he is a good boy who loves you dearly. Is this not the case?” 4
THAT NEVER RUN DRY By Virginia Brandt Berg
“Oh yes,” said the mother, “and he never forgets me. Every week he writes me the most loving letter.” Curious to know more about a son who could so love his mother and yet leave her without support, the pastor asked to see some of the letters. Soon the woman returned with two packages. “These are his letters,” she said, handing him the fi rst package, “and these are the pretty pictures he sends me with every letter. They fit nicely in the letter, and it shows he thinks about me.” “A picture in every letter.” The pastor was more curious than ever. “May I see them also?” “Oh, surely,” she answered. “Some are of a man’s head, some of a man sitting on a horse, and some have the king’s picture on them. See, this one here has the King of England. Long live the king!” “Long live your son!” said the astonished pastor. “Why, my dear friend, do you know that you are a rich woman? This is money. You have wealth here! And to think of how you have suffered and done without, when right here in the house all the time you had riches that you thought were just pretty pictures!”
Little did I realize just how literally God wanted me to take His promises!
activated issue 4
Prayer for the Day Dear Jesus, Thank You that You understand my heart. Thank You that I never have to worry about whether You understand or not. When I feel that I can’t explain properly and I fumble over my words, or when I can’t find the right words to express what I really want to say, thank You that I can just rest in Your arms and know that You make sense out of these words I speak. Thank You, Jesus, that I don’t always even have to talk to You in words. You just understand everything I’m trying to say, as I pour out my heart to You.
This was surely my trouble when it came to the promises in God’s Word. I thought they were just pretty pictures, just beautiful language. Little did I realize just how literally God wanted me to take His promises! In God’s Word you and I have been given exceedingly great and precious promises—and there are hundreds of them. Limitless resources! Streams that never run dry.
Expectancy Christians are divided into two different classes: those who pray and really expect something to happen, and those who just pray and do not expect anything to happen. Prayer is first a means to an end, a connecting link between our human needs and God’s divine resources. Prayer is not meant to be a “pious reverie” that has only a subconscious effect on us. Prayer is an intensely practical thing, as real, as uniform, as genuine as using the telephone. And the party at the activated issue 4
other end of the line—God Himself—says to us, “Ask and it will be given to you. You do not have because you do not ask” (Matthew 7:7; James 4:2).
Acceptance It is our part to do the taking, His to do the giving. The Scripture says, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24). When we ask in prayer, then is the time to believe—and if we do, we will receive. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14–15). It does not say we are going to have, but it says we have. We have it now, not because any of our senses testify to it, but because God has said so. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is believing that God is going 5
to answer, even if you can’t see the answer yet. It is not what we think about it, but what God says about it that counts. It is not what we feel, but what faith claims.
Appropriating faith In a desperate attempt to teach the principle of appropriating faith to the members of his church, a preacher once offered his expensive pocket watch to a group of boys sitting on the front row. “Sonny, would you like to have this watch?” he asked the oldest boy. “You can’t fool me! I know you don’t mean it,” answered the boy. The question was repeated to the next boy, and again and again down the line. Each time came a similar answer. At last the preacher offered the watch to a little fellow about five years old, who was sitting on the edge of his seat, his bright, eager eyes focused intently on the preacher’s face. “Little man, would you like ...” That was enough. A chubby hand quickly grabbed the watch and instantly pocketed the gift. While wiggling back on the seat, the boy said with a satisfied, grown-up sigh that it was just what he had been wanting all the time. After the service, the other boys crowded around the preacher and protested. “How were we supposed to know you really meant it?” “That’s just the kind of watch I was wanting.” “If you really meant it, why didn’t you put it in my hand, or ask me again, so I’d know?” Only the youngest boy had appropriating faith and put his faith into action. 6
Action Many people believe the promises of God, but in sort of an impersonal, indefinite way: “Oh yes, they apply in general, but not specifically to me or this situation.” Whereas the person who gets results is he who, when he has asked God for something, acts on his faith and proceeds as if he possesses. He takes God at His Word on some promise, and counts it done. This is often called the “stand of faith.” A splendid illustration of this is found in the Bible passage where Jesus told the lepers who came to Him for healing to go show themselves to the priest for cleansing. Jesus hadn’t healed them yet, but the scripture says that, “As they went, they were healed.” As they put their faith into action and obeyed, even though they hadn’t yet seen the answer to their prayers, God met them (Luke 17:12–14). When we put forth the effort of a believing will, God honors that step and meets us. As someone once said, “When faith goes to market, it takes a basket along.”
Faith is the hand of the spirit that reaches out and receives.
activated issue 4
The stand of faith One time I had prayed and done everything else that I knew to do, yet there was no answer to my prayer. I had come to the end of myself and could do nothing more. Why didn’t God answer? As I turned the pages of my Bible and prayed, my eyes fell on these very words: “Having done all, stand” (Ephesians 6:13). Immediately I saw the truth. I had been virtually blaming the Lord for not answering my prayer, when I had not been doing my part at all. I hadn’t taken the stand of faith. So I began to praise and thank Him that the answer was on the way. Within six hours I saw that answer, but it was no more mine then than when I had first taken the stand
the
of faith. It had already been mine by faith. We see because we have believed, not believe because we have seen. Faith is not some great thing, not some glorious feeling, not some wonderful sensation, as many think, but it is simply taking God at His Word. Just as your hand reaches out and takes ahold of something, so faith is the spiritual hand that reaches out and takes ahold of the promises of God and appropriates them. So make the connection with God today through prayer, bringing your requests to Him and claiming His promises. He never fails! • (Excerpted from Virginia Brandt Berg’s book of the same title.)
MISSED BUS
Contributed by Ben and Rebecca Waters, Christian volunteers in Ecuador.
activated issue 4
“I’VE MISSED MY BUS AGAIN,” sighed Miguel, who was working later than usual. Just then Pablo came into the office. “I thought you went home a while ago,” Miguel said. “Why did you come back?” “I forgot my Bible,” Pablo answered, “and now I see that I’ve missed the bus too!” Just then they heard the screech of brakes and tires, followed by a loud crash. There had been a serious accident! Miguel and Pablo were shocked to learn what had happened. The brakes had failed on a freight truck loaded with iron as the truck started down a steep hill. The driver lost control and it crashed into the very bus that the two of them usually rode! Twelve people died and 35 were badly injured. Every day, Miguel’s wife Maria prays for her husband’s safety, and this day God had miraculously answered! • 7
Donna
By Maria David
THE BIBLE HAS A LOT TO SAY about our thoughts, and it makes an interesting study. For example, it says the Lord’s [good] thoughts toward us are innumerable, and that we’re supposed to hate vain thoughts but love His law (Psalm 40:5; 119:113 KJV). One of the best ways to put our thoughts to good use is to turn them into prayers. Think of all the things you do throughout the day, all the things you think about, all the thoughts that run through your head. Now consider your thoughts. Size them up, take stock, analyze, weigh them up, and ask yourself what your thoughts are accomplishing. Where are they going? Are you transforming your thoughts into power that will bring about some good in the lives of others? If you want to do more in prayer, consider your thoughts. Thoughts are real things. They can help or they can hinder. Are your thoughts helping to sustain a soul in need? Or are they silently turning a blind eye to the one who cries for help? Where are your thoughts running? Are they reaching out to answer a call? Are you tapping into heavenly thought power through prayer? Are you directing your thoughts to where they can do some good and really make a positive difference? God has equipped each of us with this great gift, and He wants us to learn to use it, to learn to convert our thoughts into powerful prayer—that is, praying for someone or something instead of just thinking about them. Thoughts turned into prayers will materialize into God’s blessings, God’s intervention, God’s protection, power and strength, and God’s healing balm poured out on those for whom we care. Thoughts turned into prayers will accomplish great feats, make the impossible possible, and change the course of history! On the other hand, thought power left running idle has little worth and will only float off to oblivion and fade away to rust and ruin. Watch your thought power and take care, lest thoughts left
Jesus, please bless my friend Donna with as beautiful a day as You’ve given me.
8
Activated4_2ndPrint.indd
activated issue 4
8
1/3/2002, 7:05 PM
unattended catch you unaware! For thoughts left idle can slip away into the gray mass of nowhere land, into the cracks and crevices of complacency, where they will rot and ruin and go to waste. Every time we think a thought, we can turn it into a prayer—all the time, anywhere, even when we’re all alone. For example, if you’re at home cooking and your thoughts turn toward your kids at school, pray that they’ll have a fun day. Or if while at work you start thinking about an upcoming difficult project, turn that thought into a prayer for the Lord’s strength for the task. Or maybe you pass by an accident while driving home—pray for those who may be hurt, and for your own safety and that of your family. All day long, no matter what else we’re doing, we’re thinking thoughts, but it’s how we filter and direct them that can make a difference. What we decide to do with our thoughts and where we direct them is what counts. As we learn to direct our thoughts in prayer, filtering them through the sieve of God’s Word, sending them on to where they can genuinely accomplish something, we will be able to fulfill this mission of prayer. Turning every thought into a prayer is a great privilege and a great gift—the privilege of tapping into “heavenly thought power”! Use it, and it will serve you well. It will make your life easier and bring about miracles. Thoughts can be a burden or a blessing. Turn them into good by turning them into prayer. Tap into Heaven’s thought power! • activated issue 4
the impossible PRAYER
A NATIVE AFRICAN CHRISTIAN in a remote village moaned and tossed as his fever raged higher and higher. The doctor who was helping to care for the boy did what he could to bring the fever down, but what he really needed was an ice pack. He quickly dismissed the thought. The nearest ice was a difficult day’s journey away. “Cannot God send ice for my dear son?” the sick boy’s mother asked. Then she reminded the Christian doctor of what he once said about how God delights in doing miracles for His children. “That’s true,” said the doctor. “But ice?—Here?” Paying no attention to his doubts, the mother asked again matter-of-factly, “Shall we not pray?” And so they did. The doctor prayed a vague and general prayer, but then the boy’s mother got right to the point. “Lord, if ice is necessary to my son’s healing, You can send it. I believe it!” No sooner had she ended her prayer than a hailstone the size of a walnut rolled into the hut. When the two looked out, they saw hailstones plummeting from the sky. “God has answered in His own wonderful way!” the mother exclaimed. The hailstorm was local, and did not damage the village’s crops. The son recovered completely. News of the miracle spread to neighboring villages, and increased the faith of everyone who heard it.— And the doctor was reminded that God answers “impossible” prayers. • 9
THE BEAST is yet to come “The Antichrist is coming” (1 John 2:18).
ONE OF THE FINAL SIGNS OF THE END of man’s rule on earth, to which the Bible devotes numerous chapters, is the rise of a oneworld government headed by a Devil-possessed tyrant known as the Antichrist or “the Beast.” The 13th chapter of the Book of Revelation says that the world is going to actually worship Satan in the person of this bestial world leader. “And they worshipped the dragon [the Devil] which gave power unto the Beast [the Antichrist]; and they worshipped the Beast” (Revelation 13:4 KJV). The stage is rapidly being set for the world to accept global leadership. Famed British historian Arnold Toynbee (1889–1975) was correct when he said, “The nations are ready to give the kingdoms of the world to any one man who will offer us a solution to our world’s problems.” The president of the United Nations first General Assembly, Paul-Henri Spaak, who was also a prime minister of Belgium and one of the early planners of the European Common Market, as well as a secretary-general of NATO, is quoted as saying, “We do not want another committee, we have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all the people and to lift us up out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man, and whether he be God or devil, we will receive him.” 10
He will outlaw all religions, except the worship of himself.
activated issue 4
The New World Order We are hearing more and more about the “New World Order” or the “global community.” U.S. President George Bush popularized the term when he said in a speech before the U.S. Congress during the Gulf War, “We stand today at a unique and extraordinary moment. … Out of these troubled times a New World Order can emerge. … Today that New World Order is struggling to be born.”1
The Jerusalem Peace Accord It appears that this coming world leader will rise to power on a wave of global euphoria as he arrives on the scene to temporarily save the world from its desperate economic, military and political woes. Like Satan himself, who frequently appears as an angel of light, this man will deceive most of the world into thinking that he is a great man of peace, a hero. The prophet Daniel wrote of the Antichrist, “By peace he shall destroy many,” and “he shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries” (Daniel 8:25; 11:21 KJV). The Bible indicates that an ingenious seven-year peace agreement or “covenant” will be pivotal to his claim to world leadership. This pact will temporarily resolve the Middle East crisis, working out a compromise between the Jews and the Arabs regarding Jerusalem and its holy sites. A focal point will be Mount Moriah, in Jerusalem, sacred to Jews (their temple stood there before being destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.), and sacred to Muslims (their holiest shrine in the city, the Dome of the Rock, stands there today). Scripture indicates the Antichrist’s covenant will enable the Jews to rebuild their temple, where they will revive their ancient rituals of animal sacrifice (Daniel 8:23–25; 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4).
land known as Magog is a powerful country or region of peoples to the north of Israel. “Rosh” is believed to refer to the Russian people. For these reasons many Bible scholars believe that the Antichrist will rise out of the former Soviet Union. Scripture further indicates that the leading nations of Europe will be key players in the Antichrist’s world government, and that their leaders will fully unite behind him. “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the Beast” (Revelation 17:13 KJV).
A Savior Turned Sour
Enter Russia
Although most of the world will initially hail the Beast as a political savior, three-anda-half years after the enactment of the sevenyear covenant, he will revoke the peace pact and show his true colors. At this time he will invade Israel and establish Jerusalem as his world capital. He will also outlaw all religions, except the worship of himself and an image of himself, possibly a supercomputer of some kind, that will somehow be empowered to speak and “cause those who refuse to worship it to be killed” (Revelation 13:14–15 KJV). Jesus said that when you see this image, the “abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place [temple] ... then shall be great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world” (Matthew 24:15, 21 KJV). It will be a time of ruthless repression and persecution of believers in God by the Beast and his regime. (See also Daniel 7:21,25; 8:23–24; 11:31–35; 12:10; Revelation 13:5–7.) It is at this time that the Antichrist imposes his infamous “666” one-world credit system. For an eye-opening explanation of this impending development, don’t miss the next installment of The Future Foretold in the next issue of Activated! •
The prophet Ezekiel calls the Antichrist “Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh” (Ezekiel 38:2). Scholars agree that the ancient
(Excerpted from The Future Foretold by Michael Roy.) 1 Johnston, Jerry. The Last Days of Planet Earth. Eugene, Or.; Harvest House Publishers, 1991, pp. 129–131.
activated issue 4
11
Answers to your questions Q: How can I cope with the extreme loneliness that I feel? IF YOU’RE LONELY, YOU’RE NOT ALONE! Many people today are lonely—especially in cities, where life has been aptly described as “millions of people being lonesome together.” Just living in the middle of a lot of people won’t necessarily relieve loneliness, because loneliness comes from being insulated from others, not only isolated. And sad to say, it is often self-inflicted. People build walls around themselves instead of bridges. So what is the cure for loneliness? Loving others! Consider this true story: There once was a very lonely woman who was always seeking a new lover, but never finding one that satisfied or lasted or that relieved her loneliness. Why? Because she was always seeking to get love, to be loved! Then one day a friend suggested that perhaps she needed to learn to give love unselfishly for the benefit of another. After years of searching, this thought struck the woman as an entirely new idea! She went out and tried to find someone to make them happy, and soon found what she had been looking for all the time—true love! So that’s the key, the simple solution to loneliness: If you give love, you’ll get love! If 12
you’re sincerely concerned about others and show them love, they’ll be concerned about you and show you love. As Christians we can also share with others the love of all loves from the Lover of all lovers, Jesus Himself, who alone can satisfy that deepest yearning of every human heart for total love and complete understanding. Jesus even satisfies that empty, lonely feeling that we all sometimes feel, no matter how many friends or loved ones surround us. The Lord has created a special place in our hearts that only He can fill. Although the body is of this earth and is satisfied with the things of this earth, the human spirit, that intangible personality of the real you that dwells in that body, can never be completely satisfied with anything but utter union with the great and loving Spirit who created it. Jesus wants us to love and be close to others, but first He wants to fill that aching void with His own love. Even when we have someone dear and close to us physically, there will always be that certain deep feeling inside that can only be satisfied by giving Him our whole heart and drawing close to Him! • activated issue 4
hotline TO HEAVEN THE STORY IS TOLD OF A CERTAIN MINISTER who was disturbed to see a shabbily-dressed old man go into his church at noon every day and come out again after a few minutes. What could he be doing? He informed the caretaker and asked him to question the old man. After all, the place contained valuable furnishings. “I go to pray,” the old man said in reply to the caretaker’s questioning. “Come, come now,” said the other, “you are never long enough in the church to pray.” “Well, you see,” the old man went on, “I don’t know how to pray a long prayer, but every day at twelve o’clock I just come and say, ‘Jesus, it’s Jim.’ I wait a minute and then come away. Even though it’s just a little prayer, I think He hears me.” When Jim was injured some time later and taken to the hospital, he had a wonderful influence on the ward. Grumbling patients became cheerful, and often the ward would ring with laughter. “Well, Jim,” said a nurse to him one day, “the men say you are responsible for this change in the ward. They say you are always happy.” “That I am! I can’t help being happy. You see, it’s my visitor. Every day he makes me happy.” “Your visitor?” The nurse was puzzled. She had noticed that Jim’s chair was always empty during visiting hours, for he had no relatives. “Your visitor? But when does he come?” “Every day,” Jim replied, with a light in his eye. “Yes, every day at twelve o’clock He comes and stands at the foot of my bed. I see Him and He smiles and says, ‘Jim, it’s Jesus.’” • activated issue 4
Our prayers will be answered. Some are answered just as we wish; some are answered in other ways. Some are answered by a change in us; some by a change in others. Some are answered when we are given greater strength to bear our trials; some by the lifting of the trials. Some prayers are answered immediately, some in years to come, and some will wait till Heaven—but all will be answered. 13
your new life of love
j
DAILY PRAYER
ust as every healthy newborn baby cries for his mother when he needs her comfort, help or nourishment, so crying out to the Lord in prayer is something that should come naturally to everyone who has received Jesus and established a personal connection with Him. Prayer is not just a religious ritual or tradition; it is personal, living communication between you and God! It is the royal telephone that keeps us in touch with Heaven! Jesus wants to be your closest and best Friend, and He will always hear when you cry to Him for help. He says, “Call unto Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). He will answer your prayers by supplying your needs for help, healing, guidance, comfort, and spiritual and material needs (Philippians 4:19). So make a list of people and situations that you would like to pray for, and then take a few minutes each day to ask Jesus for His help and solutions. It doesn’t even have to be a set time—you can be praying while traveling to work or preparing a meal. You can even shoot up a quick prayer while walking down the street. Keep at it, and you’ll be amazed at the results! •
(For more on communicating with God through prayer, read “Prayer Power” from the Get Activated! series. See enclosure for details.) 14
t a kt ei m e I got up early one morning And rushed right into the day. I had so much to accomplish That I didn’t have time to pray. Troubles just tumbled about me, And heavier came each task. “Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered. He answered, “You didn’t ask.” I tried to come into God’s presence. I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, “Why, child, you didn’t knock.” I wanted to see joy and beauty, But the day toiled on, gray and bleak. I called on the Lord for the reason— He said, “You didn’t seek.” I woke up early this morning, And paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish That I had to take time to pray. —AUTHOR
p rtaoy .
UNKNOWN
activated issue 4
Feeding Reading The Book of Psalms Coming next… What’s it all for…? If the whole purpose of our existence is to find and receive God’s love in Jesus, then why doesn’t the Lord just take us home to Heaven the minute we do?— Because once we’ve found the Savior, we have a job to do; we have a responsibility. There are lots of other people who need to know Jesus, and we are the means by which He has chosen to make Himself known. Jesus alone saves, but He doesn’t want to save us alone. He wants to save the whole world, but in order to do that He needs us to tell others about His love, to give His love and message of salvation to the whole world. Jesus told His closest followers, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). He says this still to His followers of today, calling them to give their lives daily in loving concern and care for others, to share His heart and love with those who are seeking for “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). He came to love the world, and He calls us to do likewise. —D.B.B.
Read the next issue of Activated to find out how you can share God’s love with others too!
The book of Psalms is full of precious promises and also contains many beautiful uplifting prayers written by King David of old. Here are a few all-time favorites to get you started. As you continue to delve into this amazing book, you’ll no doubt find favorites of your own. Psalm 1 How to grow and bear fruit Psalm 8 God is wonderful! Psalm 19 God’s life-changing Word Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd!” Psalm 27 Our light and salvation Psalm 34 Be full of praise at all times
I can take my telescope and look millions of miles into space; but I can lay my telescope aside, go into my room and shut the door, and while in earnest prayer I see more of Heaven and get closer to God than I can when assisted by all the telescopes and material agencies on earth. —Isaac Newton activated issue 4
Psalm 37 Don’t worry! God’s in control! Psalm 51 A prayer of repentance Psalm 91 Protection in times of trouble Psalm 100 A song of praise Psalm 121 Help from the Lord
15
Put Your Hand in Mine! I wish that all My children would desire to hear My voice and to be fed at My hand; that they would ask Me for the direction that they need, the guidance that they seek; that instead of stumbling in the darkness they would ask Me for the light to light their way. I am a great light, but I can only shine upon those who seek and ask. How much better it is to find your way in the light than in the darkness! How much better to put your hand in Mine and to let Me lead you where you should go, than to try to find your own way and stumble down the wrong roads and have to backtrack, or to get lost in the brambles. How much better to ask the guide! Why don’t you ask? Haven’t I said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” and, “Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know”? These are My promises to you. They that love Me most, follow closest. If you love Me, you will spend time with Me. And if you spend time with Me, you will speak to Me. And if you speak to Me, I will speak to you and show you the way. Thus you can follow closely—ever so closely. —Jesus