Devotions

Often when God’s people appear to be in some of the worst positions imaginable, He does the impossible! During such times, we must make the conscious choice to believe Him and what comes out of our mouths must be what God has spoken — we cannot be silent. I believe we are now living in just such a moment.

In Psalm 115, the psalmist paints a grave picture, saying, “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down into silence” (Psalm 115:17). In the Hebrew, “any who go down into silence” means those who cannot speak.  

Unbelief can close your mouth — you lose your speech, your song, your testimony, your sense of awe of who God really is. A story in the book of Luke gives a clear illustration of this type of strange silence. The angel of the Lord appeared to a righteous priest named Zacharias and told him his barren wife, Elisabeth, would bear a son.

God said, “I am going to act supernaturally in your life. In spite of your lack of ability, I am going to do something sovereign, and it is going to turn people back to Me” (read the account in Luke 1:5-22).

Like Zacharias, you may be as righteous as possible — attending every prayer meeting, reading the Bible faithfully, living for Him daily. But we all come to a point of hopelessness when we call out to the Father, seeking Him for answers.

In such moments He may speak something so deep and profound that it would be impossible to imagine unless God Himself performed it. That is when you come to a road of decision. Are you going to believe God or are you going to believe the frailties of your own heart?

I strongly urge you to believe God’s promises and receive what He has provided for you. Do not shrink back in unbelief and doubt, as Zacharias did.

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001. 

“I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state” (Philippians 2:19).

Here was Paul sitting in a jail cell in Rome, not thinking of his own comfort or his difficult situation. He was concerned only about the spiritual and physical condition of his people and he told them, “My comfort will come only when I know you are doing well — in spirit and in body. So I’m sending Timothy to check up on you on my behalf.”

Then Paul made an alarming statement: “For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state” (2:20). How sad! As Paul wrote this, the church in Rome was growing and being blessed. Clearly, there were godly leaders in the Roman church but Paul said he had no man who shared with him the mind of Christ. Why was this so?

“For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus” (2:21). Evidently, not one leader in Rome had a servant’s heart; not one had cast aside reputation and become a living sacrifice. Instead, everyone was set on pursuing his own interests. None had the mind of Christ and Paul could not trust anyone to go to Philippi to be a true servant to that body of believers.

As we look around the Church today, we see the same things going on in many congregations. Ministers and parishioners, alike, are going after the things of this world: money, reputation, materialism, success.

Paul’s words here cannot be softened: Everybody is out for himself. The ministers seek only to benefit themselves, so that is why there is nobody I can trust to care for your needs and hurts — except Timothy.”

Friends, we are called to serve the Church of Jesus Christ and, like Timothy, we must have a mindset of sacrifice, love and concern for others. 

If your heart is motivated by the approval of others and this influences the way you live, your loyalties are divided. You will always be striving to please someone other than Jesus.

A few years after the apostle Paul was converted, he went to the church in Jerusalem to try to join the disciples there. “But they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple” (Acts 9:26).

The apostles knew Paul’s reputation as a persecutor. The churches in Judea had heard only that, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy” (Galatians 1:23). But Barnabas helped the apostles get over their fear of Paul and they offered him fellowship. Paul decided to itinerate among the Gentiles and he was careful to describe his calling very clearly, explaining that it came “not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead” (Galatians 1:1).

Then Paul added emphatically, “I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. . . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood” (Galatians 1:11-12, 16).  

What Paul is saying here applies to all who desire to have the mind of Christ: “I didn’t have to read books or borrow men’s methods to get what I have. I received my message, my ministry and my anointing on my knees.

“These things came while I was shut in with the Lord, interceding and fasting. Any revelation of Christ I have comes from the Holy Spirit, who abides in me and leads my life. I cannot allow myself to follow the trends and devices of others.”

Paul was not a proud, arrogant preacher. He had emptied himself of all self-ambition, and had allowed the Holy Spirit to become his teacher! 

There are dire consequences for neglecting to pray. The Word says, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).

I know what it’s like to have the well of living water choked at the spring, drying up every blessing in my life. This happened to me during my periods of carelessness about prayer. During those periods, I had quiet times but no effectual fervency in prayer. I let the cares of life rob me of my time with the Lord.

What happened to me in those times? Servanthood turned to self-pity, and ministry seemed like a burden rather than a blessing. Misery upon misery flooded my soul. I battled loneliness, weariness, unbelief, and a troubling sense of having accomplished little in life plagued me. Amidst thoughts of quitting the ministry, God’s blessings were hindered, relationships soured, and discernment vanished to the point that fresh revelations of Christ no longer came.

Yet I also knew the glory of returning to be with the Lord in prayer. As soon as I returned to my prayer closet, the blessings began flowing again. Joy and peace enveloped me, relationships were healed, and God’s Word came to life.

Scripture makes it clear that praying servants find blessing and rest on every side:

[Uzziah] sought God in the days of Zechariah . . . and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper” (2 Chronicles 26:5).

“We have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side” (2 Chronicles 14:7). 

“All Judah . . . sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around” (2 Chronicles 15:15).

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:17-18). 

When the disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1), it was because they truly wanted to learn to pray in a way that pleased him. Likewise, many Christians today would love to be faithful in prayer — but they don’t know how. Because they simply do not grasp the vital purpose of prayer, they do not maintain a meaningful life of prayer.

Many pray out of a sense of obligation, thinking it is something they are supposed to do. Others pray only in times of crisis or tragedy. But it is important to understand that while prayer is for our own benefit, it is also for the delight of the Lord! Without these two elements, we do not have a foundation upon which to build a prayer life.

We are not just to intercede for things we need, but we are to ask for the things He desires. And his deepest desire is fellowship with us — intimacy and communion.

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. . . . Look at the birds of the air . . . your Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26).

“For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (6:32-33, emphasis added).

God is saying to us, “When you come into my presence, focus your attention on fellowship with me, on getting to know me. Don’t let your focus be on material things. I know what your needs are and I will take care of them all. Just seek me and let us enjoy sweet communion.”

The kind of prayer that most pleases God is very simple and easy to understand; it is so simple, in fact, that a little child can pray in a way that pleases him.