“An Ass found a Lion’s skin left in the forest by a hunter. He dressed himself in it, and amused himself by hiding in a thicket and rushing out suddenly at the animals who passed that way. All took to their heels the moment they saw him.

The Ass was so pleased to see the animals running away from him, just as if he were King Lion himself, that he could not keep from expressing his delight by a loud, harsh bray. A Fox, who ran with the rest, stopped short as soon as he heard the voice. Approaching the Ass, he said with a laugh:

‘If you had kept your mouth shut you might have frightened me, too. But you gave yourself away with that silly bray.'”

Moral:
A fool may deceive by his appearance, but his words will soon show what he really is.

– “The Ass in the Lion’s Skin”, a fable by Aesop

As this ancient fable portrays, a fool can not always be identified at first glance. Yet if one looks closely (or as in the Fox’s case, listens closely), folly becomes readily apparent. All the Ass in the Lion’s skin had to do was to let what was inside reveal itself on the outside and his ruse was done for. Busted.

Unfortunately, since we live in a fallen world, foolish people make up a great part of the population. Some fools are easy to recognize, others hide their foolishness well – but there is one fool that can be so well disguised that he seems to forever stump even the cleverest sleuth. The fool of which I speak? We’ve known him for as long as we can remember. Why, he’s the man in the mirror! That fool at times is you…that fool at times is me.

When you hear the word fool, do you think of a completely obscure individual? Perhaps a real loser ex-boyfriend comes to mind, or a crooked politician, or an obnoxious movie star, or some whacked-out druggie who’s life is in shambles. We can easily think of lots of people who fit the description, and rightly so perhaps…but we rarely stop to think of our own foolishness. How much easier it is to see the folly of another than in one’s own self.

When we look into the mirror (God’s word), are we seeing an accurate representation of ourselves? Or are we in fact, like the Ass in the Lion’s skin, wearing a disguise so that we might trick ourselves into believing better of ourselves than we ought? Each one of us has the potential to become as regal as a lion in God’s sight…but only if we will first come to terms with that donkey in the mirror.

Come gaze into the mirror of God’s word with me, and we will learn how to identify The Face of a Fool…

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The first step in checking if you have the face of a fool, is to check your eyes. How’s your sight? Do you have an eye that’s gone awry?

We know that something has gone awry with our sight when we stop viewing our life through a spiritual lense. Few Christians recognize this error in themselves, but this mindset can creep up on us far more easily than we think. When we adopt the poor-me attitude in relation to our duties? Our eye has gone awry – we’re not viewing ourselves as humble servants as we ought. When we value entertainment far more than study? Our eye has gone awry – we’re not watching over our time as we ought. When we are harsh and judgmental towards others? We are not seeing them in the light of God’s love as we ought. When we rely on our own worldly ideals rather than God’s heavenly ideals, we become like a blind man without a helper…stumbling about and not getting very far.

The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness… – Ecclesiastes 2:14a

Don’t want to be a fool? Read God’s word regularly…make bible study a habit…listen to sermons with depth…conversate with Christians wiser than yourself when opportunity allows. Fool lack wisdom because they simply don’t make spiritual learning a priority…

O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. – Psalm 92:5-6a

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. – Proverbs 24:7

The further we allow ourselves to drift from spiritual perspectives, the harder getting back on track becomes. No one becomes a fool overnight, but rather little by little…with every choice we make. Foolishness grows with every choice that says “I love me” rather than “I love God”. It has nothing to do with our intellect, but everything to do with our worldview. Foolishness is not a head problem, but a heart problem…

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God… – Psalm 14:1a; 53:1a

Don’t allow the face of a fool to show up in your mirror. Check your sight!

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The second step in checking if you have the face of a fool is to check your nose. How’s your snub? Do you have a nose that’s gone froze?

A common characteristic of fools is misplaced arrogance. With nose perpetually stuck up in the air, a fool listens to no one but himself. Considering that every way of a man is right in his own eyes, we all struggle with this at times. When we brush off criticism without questioning if there is truth to it? Our nose has gone froze – we think we can do no wrong. When we pick and choose the verses that best align with our own wishes? Our nose has gone froze – we have set ourselves up as God. When we refuse to revisit bible topics to make sure our pre-conceived notions are in fact biblical? Our nose has gone froze – we think we have it all figured out. When we set ourselves up as a standard to ourselves, God will take us down a notch!

The wise in heart will receive commandments, but a prating fool shall fall. – Proverbs 10:8

Don’t want to be a fool? Be moldable…listen more than you talk…don’t be afraid to change your stance if you’ve been wrong…find glory in truth as opposed to opinions.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. – Proverbs 12:15

Don’t buy the “follow your heart” lie that’s so prevalent in our society. The wise seek after truth, whether it coincides with their feelings or otherwise.

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. – Proverbs 18:2

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. – Proverbs 28:26

Don’t allow the face of a fool to show up in your mirror. Check your snub!

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The third step in checking if you have the face of a fool, is to check your mouth. How’s your speech? Do you have a mouth that’s gone south?

Remember the Ass in the Lion’s skin? He was quickly identified by his big mouth, wasn’t he? It’s often the same way with fools. Our speech is very telling about the state of our hearts! When we feel the need to make a negative comment about everything? Our mouth has gone south – we have forgotten how to praise. When we have a fighting spirit, and enjoy jabbing others with our words when we feel angry? Our mouth has gone south – it is full of venom and hatred. When we love to make our opinion loud and clear, and always have the last word? Our mouth has gone south – we lack humility. It is far better to practice silence than to speak foolishness.

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. – Proverbs 17:28

Don’t want to be a fool? Practice tactfulness…pause before speaking when frustrated…walk away from heated arguments…let the little things go.

Seeest thou a man hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. – Proverbs 29:20

A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. – Proverbs 29:11

Those who are slow to speak save themselves from a world of trouble. Save yourself from making later apologies by holding your peace in the heat of the moment! Let your tongue move only when your spirit is calm and your listener is open to your words.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. – Proverbs 20:3

Don’t allow the face of a fool to show up in your mirror. Check your speech!

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In conclusion…

If each of us began to check our spiritual mirror for signs of foolishness as often as any woman checks a physical mirror for signs of blemishes and imperfections…we’d be sure to never be caught dead with the face of a fool. Let us all perform a daily check to make sure we never have an eye that’s gone awry, a nose that’s gone froze, or a mouth that’s gone south.

Don’t be a donkey. Let us don a lion’s skin without, and a lion’s soul within!

For God’s Glory,
CA Bolks

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Chelsea Bolks is a church of Christ minister’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.

Mary did you know that your baby boy
would one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy
would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary did you know that your baby boy
will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy
will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God

Mary did you know? (x6)

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy
is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy
would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect lamb?
That sleeping child you’re holding is the great I Am

Mary did you know? (x6)
Oh Mary did you know?

– Songwriters: Buddy Greene/Mark Lowry

So it’s December. Here we are again at that time of year when songs revolving around our Savior’s birth can be heard over the air waves, nativity scenes adorn many a doorstep, and candles are lit in honor of that humble yet holy night among the stables. At this time of year, sermons will be given about how “Jesus is the reason for the Season”. Other sermons will be given about how “Jesus is not the reason for the Season”. Still, some sermons will be given about how “Jesus is the reason for every Season”…and the list goes on. Google searches entitled “Was Jesus really born on December 25th?” will skyrocket this month, and there will be as many differing answers as there are stars in the heavens.

Time and space will not permit an in-depth look at this topic today, but let me suffice it to say this: for those who hold the belief that Jesus was not born in December, please remember to use this prime opportunity to talk about Christ while He is fresh on people’s minds (rather than squelch their passion in futile debate). For those of you who hold the belief that Jesus was born in December, please don’t forsake to honor Him all year round as well…He deserves so much more than a mere 25 days of remembrance.

Without further ado, this is not another lesson about Jesus’ birth day. It is, however, a lesson about Jesus’ birth mother – Mary.

Mary of Nazareth…who was she? To the ancient passerby, a pregnant traveler with an ordinary baby in her womb. To the practicing Catholic, a mediator between man and God. To the Atheist, a teenage girl of old who had a dirty secret and a big imagination. In truth, she was none of those things. She was an ordinary woman, but she carried no ordinary child. She assisted in bringing God to man (through pregnancy), but she does not assist in bringing man to God (through prayer). She had a big secret, but it was not the result of sin…

Mary was handpicked by God to be the vessel carrying the Savior into the world. Why? Was she some kind of superhuman? Was she sinless, perhaps? Or was it healthiness of body that made her fit for this role…a perfect reproductive system? None of these things are inferred by God’s word. Instead, I would propose that what made Mary fit for her role was, in a word…her heart. See, only an individual with A Mary Heart is qualified to fill the job position of Christ-bearer. And are we not all to bear Christ in our bodies, as temples of the living God? (2 Corinthians 4:10, 1 Corinthians 3:16) Therefore, the question I would like each of us to ask of ourselves this day is: “do I have a Mary heart?”

Come see for yourself! There are three essential qualities that distinguish A Mary Heart. Firstly, A Mary Heart is…

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A merry heart doeth good like a medicine… – Proverbs 17:22a

The Bible tells us that a merry heart does good like a medicine, but did you know that a Mary heart does the same thing? Ironically, when we put on a heart like Mary, our hearts in turn will become merry.

A Mary Heart is a heart that defers. To defer means to submit one’s will to the will of another.

Who remembers the pitiful feeling of being sick as a child? On such occasions, you likely turned to your parents for comfort – yet immediately regretted it once a medicine-laden spoon made its way toward your mouth. If you were anything like me, that spoonful of bitter tonic was the bane of your existence. It would appear (in the moment) that eternal sickness would be better than ingesting one drop of that foul tasting medicine! Your parents perhaps said, “it doesn’t taste good, but it’s good for you”…yeah right, you may have thought, mean old Dad and Mom just want to see me suffer! However, once the bitter taste faded from your tongue and the sweetness of relief set in, all thoughts of distaste turned to gratitude. The benefit of the relieving outcome ended up outweighing the cost of the temporal discomfort. At the end of the day, your parents knew something you didn’t: medicine does good.

Practicing deference is a lot like taking medicine. Deferring our will to the will of another can be hard to do. Because of our selfish pride, deference is hard to swallow and leaves us with a bad taste in our mouth. Yet it does us good! The Christian life calls us to defer to God and those He has put in authority over us. The Lord, being the loving parent that He is, knows that a healthy spoonful of deference is just what the doctor ordered for relieving us of our sin-sickness. Instead of fighting our Father, we should realize that He knows best. Just like medicine, deference can seem foul in the moment. Yet an obedient, deferential life works the wonders of a  healthy tonic. It will bring much needed relief to us – if only we will forsake our stubbornness and send it down the hatch!

Now what does all this have to do with Mary, the mother of Jesus? Allow me to point out what a powerful example of deference she was…

We are all familiar with Luke’s introductory account of Mary found in Luke chapter one: Gabriel travels to Nazareth, visits Mary, and apprises her of the upcoming role she has as mother of the Messiah. As only an engaged woman, she was shocked at such an announcement…sinning by fornication was not on her radar, and the wedding was not for some time! When Gabriel assured her that she would conceive by miraculous measures and that it was indeed God’s will, listen to what she said:

Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. – Luke 1:38a

This has to go down in history as one of the most inspiring sentences ever spoken. It is evident from her words that Mary had a deferring heart! The Lord’s will was her medicine, and she didn’t ask for a list of ingredients. She didn’t ask to sample a drop first to see how it tasted. She didn’t ask if she could spit it out if the flavor didn’t sit well with her. Rather, her attitude was one that deferred: Father said this tonic is good for me? I know He always wants what’s best for my life. What are you waiting for? Hand over that spoon! I’m ready to drink every last drop…I know great things are coming for me once I do. Medicine does good.

Now, none of us are going to be visited by an angel in this dispensation. In this day and age, God’s will is revealed to us in the Bible. Even so, this does not negate our responsibility to answer to God’s will in the same manner that Mary did. Regardless of the means by which we are apprised of God’s will, we all have to decide whether we will speedily defer to Him, or do things our own way…

Ask yourself: When I read the bible and the Lord’s will is revealed to me, do I try to fight His design for my life? Or will I be like Mary, and say “God wants [xyz] from me? Alright, sign me up! I may not know all that such a choice will entail, but I know obeying Him will always do me good just like medicine”

Having a heart that defers is having a heart like Mary – and a Mary heart is a merry heart!

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A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance… – Proverbs 15:13a

The Bible tells us that a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but did you know that A Mary Heart does the same thing? Remember, when we put on a heart like Mary, our hearts in turn will become merry.

A Mary Heart is a heart that delights. To delight in something is to take great pleasure therein.

There is a misconception in our world that happiness is everything. “Do what makes you happy”…I have heard this expression countless times. The problem with over-emphasizing happiness is the fact that happiness is little more than a feeling…a fickle thing that comes and goes with whatever outside circumstance we find ourselves in at the moment. We feel happy when people are kind to us, and unhappy when they are unkind. We feel happy when we have a full bank account, but unhappy when the numbers decline. We feel happy when the weather is to our liking, and unhappy when it is too hot or too cold. Frankly, chasing happiness is exhausting…the moment you catch up with it, there it floats away again when circumstances change. Happiness is unsubstantial. You can’t count on it to stick around beyond the present moment; far less tomorrow, next week, next month or next year! I do not at all recommend chasing happiness, but I absolutely recommend seeking joy. Joy is not dependent upon outside sources, but comes from within. The joy of the Lord within us is durable, lasting, and has eternal merit. Joy has the power to cheer your countenance from the inside out…it is truly delightful.

Mary gives us a potent example of what it means to have true inner joy. One instance that gives us a peek into this joy was on the night of her Son’s birth. We all know the circumstance surrounding Jesus’ birth – the long, uncomfortable ride in the days preceding it; the lack of space at the inn upon arriving in Bethlehem; the unorthodox delivery in the midst of reeking livestock. The whole scenario would make most women’s heads spin. Yet I hardly believe it coincidental that there is no record given of Mary hurling complaints towards God, shrieking at her husband in frustration, or griping to the townspeople about her sorry lot. It would appear that the state of her heart kept any such actions in check. Truth be told, there are no recorded words of Mary on the night of Jesus’ birth to make an extraordinary case for what she did or did not say or do. However, listen to what is said about Mary on that evening:

…Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. – Luke 2:19b

An angry, discontented, woe-is-me individual is not one who ponders the ways of the Lord in their heart. When happiness is disturbed because of unfavorable circumstances, such people are volatile and irrational, unable to think of anyone but themselves. I don’t believe we see any such attitude in Mary. On the contrary, we see her inner joy…we see a woman delighting in the Lord regardless of the environment in which she found herself. We even see another instance of this later on in Luke chapter two. In Jesus’ twelfth year, He and His family were in Jerusalem and He stayed behind talking with learned men as His group went on without Him (you know the account…). When His location was discovered, and He explained to His parents that Him doing Lordly things was something they were going to have to grow accustomed to…what did it say of His mother?

…his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. – Luke 2:51

Bear in mind that this is over a decade jump from the first time we heard similar words of Mary. Her heart had remained as joyous and delightful as ever…this was a woman who craved the things of God. Do we ponder the things of God in all circumstances? Do we rely on joy to carry us through life, as opposed to fleeting happiness? Do our hearts maintain good cheer throughout the years?

Having a heart that delights is having a heart like Mary – and a Mary heart is a merry heart!

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…he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. – Proverbs 15:15b

The Bible says that when you have a merry heart you have a continual feast, but did you know that a Mary heart does the same thing? Remember, when we put on a heart like Mary, our hearts in turn will become merry.

A Mary Heart is one that declares. To declare is to proclaim something in an emphatic manner.

I don’t talk about sports all that much. It’s not that I hate sports, or even find them foolish or a waste of time. Bottom line, I’m simply just not very interested in them. I don’t play sports, I don’t watch sports on television, and I don’t watch sports from the bleachers. Therefore you would hardly ever hear me carrying on a conversation about sports…I would have nothing to say on a matter I’m unfamiliar with and uninvolved in. You surely wouldn’t hear me declaring my ideas about sports (frankly, I don’t have any) – the passion is not in me.

Now whether someone like sports or not is neither here nor there. Yet such a concept can easily illustrate our heart towards God. Let’s turn the previous paragraph to a different light:

I don’t talk about God all that much. It’s not that I hate Him, or even find His ways foolish or a waste of time. Bottom line, I’m just not very interested in Him. I don’t pray to Him, I don’t fellowship with the church, I don’t read my Bible. Therefore you would hardly ever hear me carrying on a conversation about God…I would have nothing to say about Someone I’m unfamiliar with and uninvolved with. You surely wouldn’t hear me declaring my ideas about God (frankly, I don’t have any) – the passion is not in me.

Whether we’re talking about sports or the God of the Universe, it is a fact that people tend to talk about what they love. When people are passionate about God, it is as if a continual feast is pouring from their lips…an invitation to others to come and “chew on” spiritual matters. If we have little ability to carry on a spiritual conversation, it is an indication that our spirit is stunted and we have work to do! Let us look to Mary’s beautiful example of declaration, which is yet another proof of her beautiful heart…

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever. – Luke 1:46-55

That girl had some serious passion! The words we just read were the overflow of a grateful heart…a heart that was compelled to share the goodness of the Lord with others. She spoke of what the Lord had done personally in her life, she spoke of His character and His ways, and she spoke of what He had done in the lives of His people before she was even born! Her declaration left a continuous, bountiful feast before her cousin Elisabeth, and the richness of the truths she spoke has extended even unto us in this modern age.

Are we passionate about the Lord? Are His praises ever on our lips? Do we enjoy engaging in spiritual discussion, or are we bored stiff at the very thought?

Having a heart that declares is having a heart like Mary – and a Mary heart is a merry heart!

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In conclusion…

Mary, did you know?

As the classic song suggests, Mary likely didn’t know all that she was signing up for when she agreed to conceive, birth, and raise the Savior of the world. Likely, she didn’t think at first about how she would be judged as having fornicated with her groom-to-be when her growing midsection began to show. It probably didn’t cross her mind that she would one day be fleeing for her baby’s life at the hands of a cruel king. I bet she didn’t guess that her child would grow up to be mocked, ridiculed, and falsely accused. I guarantee she didn’t know that she would watch her cherished Son be tortured and murdered in front of her very eyes. All she knew was that the Lord asked her to perform His will…and she said yes. I want to have a heart like Mary…what about you?

A Mary Heart is a heart that defers, a heart that delights, and a heart that declares. Put on these virtues, and the words might equally be spoken to you that were spoken to the mother of our Lord:

Fear not, Mary [and your name here]: for thou hast found favour with God. – Luke 1:30

Every “Mary Heart” merits favor. Want to be a woman with a merry heart? Then you must begin to cultivate a heart like Mary.

For God’s Glory,
CA Bolks

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Chelsea Bolks is a church of Christ minister’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.

A man is sitting in his living room when the news is interrupted by news of a devastating rainstorm hitting the area. The man’s wife says, “Goodness, Honey, that sounds like it might flood the area where we live”.

The man replies, “I have prayed to God to save me, and I have faith that He will answer my prayer”.

Well, about 12 inches of rain later, the streets are starting to fill with water. The man’s neighbor knocks on the door and says, “It’s going to be a pretty bad flood, but I can still drive my truck. I’ve got room to take you and your wife to higher ground”. The man’s wife gets up to go, but stops when he says, “I have prayed to God to save me, and I have faith that He will answer my prayer”.

Some time later, the water has entered the house, and it looks like a river outside. The local fire department sends a boat out to look for people who are stranded, and they pull up to the window. “Come on! This may be your last chance to get out!” Again the man replies, “I have prayed to God to save me, and I have faith that He will answer my prayer”.

Finally, the man and his wife are standing on their roof, water rushing by, the house obviously about to collapse. Suddenly, the sound of the storm is drowned out by the roar of the search-and-rescue helicopter. They let down a ladder and motion for the couple to climb up. The wife can stand it no more and climbs up, but as she climbs, she can just barely hear her husband shouting, “I have prayed to God to save me, and I have faith that He will answer my prayer”.

The man drowns.

At the entrance to Heaven, he is a bit peeved. He asks to speak with God.

“Father, I had such faith that you would save me. How could you let me drown?”

God replies: “What more did you want? I sent a news report, a truck, a boat, and a helicopter!”

– Author Unknown

Oh boy. Here is a prime example of a problematic prayer! In this story, even though the man was praying continuously and fervently, he never saw his request (to survive the flood) come to fruition. Why? Because his request ran into a roadblock – in this instance, his own lack of action.

Just like the man in the story, there are times in our lives that our requests will run into roadblocks. We could be praying all day every day, continually laying our requests before God…yet never see any real results. We think if we just believe a little more, pray a little harder, or pray a little longer that we will receive a favorable response – yet there continues to be only silence from Heaven.

“How can this be?!” you might ask…”I thought the bible says ‘ ask and ye shall receive‘!”

The Bible certainly does say that, but we must learn to take God’s word as a whole and balance one truth with another. Did you know that the bible also teaches that our requests can run into roadblocks? It’s true – there are occasions when God turns down our requests with a resounding “no”…case closed. For what reason? Maybe it stems from a lack of action on our parts, or maybe from another reason altogether.

Are your requests running into roadblocks? Have you perhaps been guilty of saying a problematic prayer? Let us look into three questions that we would do well to ask ourselves of our prayers when we find Heaven to be silent…

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If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. – James 1:5-7

Have you sought the Lord on behalf of your heart’s condition?
Do you ask God to change you for the better?
Are you continually begging Him to make you more righteous, more wise, more holy?
Are you getting only silence in return?

If this is the case, then perhaps your request is running into a roadblock…a lack of faith.

Like the passage above states, one mustn’t think they’ll be receiving anything from the Lord unless they make their request in faith! Now don’t misunderstand…biblical faith is not merely believing (as even Satan and the demons do), but rather a belief coupled with action. Faith is equal parts substance (belief) and evidence (action)…both are mandatory. (Hebrews 11:1)

Remember the man in our story? He had a believing faith, but he did not an active faith. He prayed, but then failed to follow up by doing his part. We make the same error when we ask God to change us, but put in little to no effort towards our side of the deal…

When we pray, “Lord, help me to control my temper!” yet allow ourselves to lash out at our family, we are not praying in faith.
When we pray, “Lord, help me to be generous!” yet keep our pocketbooks shut tight, we are not praying in faith.
When we pray, “Lord, help me to bring others to you!” yet don’t talk about God in public, we are not praying in faith.

As our James passage previously stated, we have a God who is liberal with His gifts. He longs to impart wisdom to us, but He will not impart so much as a drop to a double minded man, who will only waste the wisdom in his instability. Our prayers will produce no fruit when we are inactive, for an inactive life is a faithless life. Pray fervently for God’s intervention over your spiritual life. Believe wholeheartedly, but do not stop there. Look for the opportunities the Lord is presenting you with to put your request into action…

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does He give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does He give them opportunities to love each other? – “Evan Almighty” (2007)

Next time your request runs into a roadblock, ask yourself: Is my prayer in faith? 

The second question we are to ask of our prayers is…

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Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. – Psalm 37:4

Have you been praying for the right spouse to come into your life?
Do you ask God to bless you with that promotion you’ve been after?
Are you asking the Lord for an intervention with the enemy who makes your life difficult?
Are you getting only silence in return? 

If this is the case, then perhaps your request is running into a roadblock…a lack of favor.

Did you notice the important stipulation in our previous passage? “Delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Note that this is a two-fold deal. First, you delight yourself in the Lord, then (and only then) will you be given the desires of your heart. Once you have aligned your will to the will of the Master, then your desires will be worth His favorable response. If your heart is steeped in sin, you can not possibly be delighting in the Lord, thus you can not possibly expect to receive the desires of your heart. IF we truly delight in the Lord, then of course He will give us of the desires of our heart – because our heart will be seeking only after those things which are of Him!

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. – Psalm 112:1

Want to be blessed? Find favor with the Lord. Want to find favor with the Lord? Delight in His commandments! Before we go hurling our requests towards the sky, let us make sure our attitude is such as this:

I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. – Psalm 119:58-60

For the parents out there, try to imagine this scenario…your child has been out of control off and on all day. They have disobeyed continually and been testing the limits (and your patience) from sunup to sundown. Every thing asked of them has been met with distasteful sighs and eye rolls. They have fought with their siblings, been moody and irritable, and downright disrespectful to Dad and Mom. Now imagine at the end of the day your child approaches you (all smiles and putting on the dog) and asks to be taken out for ice cream. Would you take them for this treat even though their bad behavior has not been truly repented of? I daresay a loving parent would do no such thing. Such an act would train the child to believe that misbehavior brings about no consequences, and that gifts of favor are unconditional. This poor kind of parenting raises entitled, self-centered, sinful adults! In much the same way, our Holy Father will not bestow gifts of favor on His unruly children, but rather will chastise them until their spirit is truly made right (Hebrews 12:5-8). Are you after a treat from the Lord, children of God? Seek His favor first and foremost, and then you may approach Father’s throne…with confidence that your request will be heard.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.  – 1 John 5:14-15

Next time your request runs into a roadblock, ask yourself: Is my prayer in favor? 

The third question we are to ask of our prayers is…

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Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. – Galatians 6:7-8

Have you prayed for God to overlook that sin in your life that you just can’t seem to kick to the curb?
Are you requesting that the Lord miraculously allow your errant family member passage into Heaven?
Do you beg God to make an exception, just this once?
Are you getting only silence in return?

If this is the case, then perhaps your request is running into a roadblock…a lack of fate.

We’ve all heard it before: you reap what you sow. This is what my husband calls the Law of Harvest. Whatever you plant in this life will be the harvest that you collect later on…whether in this life or the next. This is the true definition of fate! What truths God has ordained (i.e: sin brings forth death, righteousness brings forth life) will never be swayed by human cries for the contrary. God will not be mocked! It is pointless to ask the Lord to change a law that He has already put in place…

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. – 1 John 5:16

My understanding of this verse is that one may in good conscience pray for an erring loved one to change their ways that they might be saved. However, one may never pray for God to overlook the sin and give the person a free pass. What is meant by “a sin not unto death” and “a sin unto death”? Does this mean some sins are worse than others and are unforgivable, but that we can ask God to overlook the little bitty, insignificant ones? No way. I have said it before and I will say it again: sins are not on a rating system. There are only two different kinds of sin: the one you will repent of, and the one you won’t. It is the latter that is the “sin unto death”. The sin unto death is any sin that you love…any sin that you will allow to drag you down into Hell with it. We all have sins that we wrestle with, but here’s the test on our spiritual condition: Do we continue in sin without trying to change? Or do we have the upright spirit of Paul who served the Law of God in his mind even though he often battled with his flesh (Romans 7:14-25)? If we are not in a battle…if we don’t try our hardest…if we just lay down and let sin reign over us…then we are sinning a sin unto death. If you or someone you know is living this unrepentant lifestyle, Heaven will never be your fate unless you change. No amount of praying will change the Law of Harvest. You will reap what you sow…please sow in righteousness, friends.

Next time your request runs into a roadblock, ask yourself: Is my prayer in fate? 

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In conclusion…

We all may have times in our lives when it seems our prayers are getting nowhere. We might think “am I wasting my time with all this praying business?” when we do not receive an affirmative answer to our requests. Remember that prayer is not merely a platform to state all of our wants and needs to the “Spirit in the Sky” as some may view it. Rather, prayer is an amazing opportunity to grow closer to God and mold to HIS desires for our life. We must approach our prayer time with a heart to seek the Lord’s very best for us and others, which will sometimes be in direct opposition to what we originally thought best. Let us take on the spirit of humility that Jesus had, who said “not my will…but Thine” even during the most daunting of circumstances. Next time your request appears to be running into a roadblock, check your prayer through these three tests:

Is it in faith? Is it in favor? Is it in fate?

If the answer to all three is yes, then continue to beseech the Lord with patience for His perfect timing. If the answer is no, ask the Lord for acceptance, contentment, and even gratitude toward His holy will…and then practice these virtues with all diligence. Our Father truly knows best. Trust him!

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. – Ephesians 5:17

For God’s Glory,
CA Bolks

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Chelsea Bolks is a church of Christ minister’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.