Prayer is Not Passive!

It seems to me that there is much hostility towards the response of prayer. People seem offended and at times, even disgusted, when the call for prayer is made. Yet, as believers, we know that nothing in Heaven will be fulfilled on Earth, unless we call out to God in prayer. 

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" - 2 Chronicles 7:14

As individuals, a generation and a nation, it seems to be that we have declared war against prayer when it doesn't work for us. But we need to clearly recognize what prayer is and what it is not. Prayer, according to God and His scripture (the manufacturer of prayer) makes it clear that first, we must humble ourselves and then second turn from any wrong doing that we may be practicing. The results of doing both is a miraculous move of God.

From my own personal experiences, and I cannot speak for everyone, my Father instilled in me from my early ages that prayer was a necessity. He would volunteer me to pray in our home, as well as in church. My father surrounded our family with prayer in every opportunity imaginable- weather it be over our homework, over our travels, over our social issues in school, our food, our family... you name it, my Father would lead us in prayer over it. With that being said, I grew up with such a comfort to pray that I don't think I ever considered the honor and privilege that prayer really holds in the life of a true believer.

I remember a sermon my Father once taught and a quote of his that I wrote down in my Bible, many, many years ago. He said, "Prayer is not a tool that we use to change God's mind, it is a gift God uses to change our hearts". That has always stuck with me. You see,  prayer is a gift that God gives us to use, continuously, because He wants us to include Him in all of our affairs. God loves us and wants to be involved in our living. Like any relationship, communication (prayer) is vital. If we expect to see God change things, move things, bring healing, bring salvation, send answers and reveal truths, we must be in prayer... and, even more so, we must make sure that we are praying effectively.
We must check our hearts, to make sure it is lined up with the word of God and that we do not have cherished sin in our lives (Ps. 66:18). We must make sure that what we pray is lined up with God's will, which is His word (John 15:7). We must come with a confidence that we believe that God is able to work His will in our lives, through our faith, prayers and lifestyle that reflect Him (Hebrews 14:16). When we pray, we must be humble, knowing that our God is mighty and sovereign over all (2 Chronicles 7:14).

And when we prayer, we must be prepared for what ever answer we recieve, because an answered prayer is not always a "yes". But we know that all things will work together for our good, according to God's plans for us, if we love Him and stay obedient (Romans 8:28). whatever our plans are...His are much better!
No plan that we could ever hope to come to pass will ever exceed God's plans for us. As children of God, it should be our natural response in every area of our lives: as women, as students, as daughters, wives, friends, sisters, professionals. Prayer should be our first response because we know that God is our first responder! Prayer, like breathing, must become an intricate part of our spiritual and natural lifestyle. Not to manipulate situations to please us, but rather to align our hearts with God to please Him!

 As Jim Cymbala put it, "prayer is the barometer by which one can gauge the spiritual maturity of another". In other words, a Christian who understands their calling, Christ's expectations and who longs to be effective for the Kingdom will invest themselves in prayer- not because they have to, but because they understand that they need to. Prayer is not passive... it is the initiation of spiritual action which is what is truly necessary if we ever hope for any change or direction in our lives, in our families or in our country.
I am not perfect, as no one is. I do not have all the answers, as no one does, but I am now understanding and appreciating prayer in an entirely new way. I am a woman who wants to be a warrior... a prayer warrior! I don't not want my life to be lived silently, but I want to shine like a beacon in the night! God has given us all what we need to shatter sin and evil that haunts this world, but to talk first and pray last is unproductive. We can prayer with confidence while talking with conviction! And this is what we must do! All of us! It is a shame how the church has grown so silent! Where is our courage and our bravery? Where are our shouts around Jericho?

Ladies, you have more power in prayer than you ever will in gossip! We have more power seeking God, then we ever will have seeking comfort. Let's not be afraid to stand up for truth! Let's not be so discouraged that we won't lift up our voices to our God who loves us! We are not here on accident! Our existence in this generation was very calculated and purposeful. Now, you and I must go and put this calling to use. We must be the one who is willing to stand in the gap for those who cannot stand on their own. We must be willing to go into battle for our nation, our unsaved family, friends and for the future. We are each privileged and purposed to do just that, now more than ever! I am a woman on a mission, and I need prayer to accomplish all the hopes and dreams that Christ has instilled in me. Will you join me? Can we do this together?

I thank God for prayer and for the power that is required to operate a sincere prayer life. My prayer for all of you is that you learn the joy of coming to the Father, not only on behalf of yourself, but for others who are relying on the strength of your prayers to get them through. Be used of God, today and each day forward. Remember, He loves you and He is waiting to be invited in our circumstances, struggles and aspirations.

Prayer is not passive. Let's take action, together!
~Pearls

The Beauty of Rejection

It's 1:56 in the morning currently and I am tossing in bed. I tried so hard to get myself back to sleep, but I keep having these thoughts...which turned into frustrations, which turned into a heartfelt prayer to the Lord... "God, today I tried to start a conversation with... It was completely awkward and it was obvious that they had no interest in talking to me. I'm tired of reaching out to that person! I don't want to do it any more... I'm done!" (Amen). lol.

I think sometimes, in our walk with Jesus, we each have the best of intentions for others who God has placed on our hearts. In our minds, we think, as long as we are kind and loving and reach out, they will reciprocate those efforts and appreciate them. But the truth is, you can't make someone love you, even if your motives are pure. Sometimes, that person who you are trying to witness to will reject you. Sometimes, it's awkward, because you try so hard to show them Jesus. Sometimes, they just plain won't be interested in what you have to offer, and that can really hurt! Part of the frustration is that when we do something for others in a genuine spirit and it is not appreciated, we feel personally

wronged and if we don't deal with those feelings of rejection or hurt (meaning if we don't forgive them) then we ourselves begin to operate in sin against God, who constantly forgives us, over and over and over again. See, when we love like Jesus, we must actually put on the heart of Jesus, who has no time frame, no criteria and not ultimatums. He is always patient with us and asks us, time and time again to love others the way He does;  regardless of the other person's actions or responses. That's how He loves us; so that is how we must love others.

Colossians 3: 12-15 states, "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another...And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..."

Let's break portions of this scripture down, shall we? On the surface, it seems like a sweet little advice for daily living, but it is so much deeper than that. First, we see that Paul is calling us to acquire a God-like heart and attitude of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. That in itself is a mouth full and one of the most difficult challenges of being an effective Christian, because it requires us to deny us!

Compassion, according to the dictionary, means to be concerned for the affairs of others. How easy that is when the one you extend this expression to is just as concerned for you, but what about those who don't seem to be moved by your efforts? What about that co-worker who seems too obsessed with their career to get to know you? Or that family member who always acts annoyed when you walk into the room? Showing compassion can be easy at first, because we expect it to be received well, but what happens when it's not? Do we give up (the way I really want to right now)? No! We are called, by God, to wear compassionate hearts and there are no exceptions to that request. 

Compassion is not possible without kindness and kindness puts us in vulnerable places which ushers in the need for humility and meekness. To be humble is to put someone first. To be meek is to be yielding. I for one hate to be yielding. I hate to feel as if I am being stepped on. I hate to feel as if I am being taken for granted; yet scripture demands it. 

In our natural ways of thinking, "You scratch my back and I scratch yours" makes so much sense! It's comfortable, because you know there is a guarantee that you will get something out of the deal. But this verse in Colossians expects us to expect nothing in return! As we learn to love like Jesus, we have to develop the maturity to recognize that not everyone will love us back (John 15:18), not everyone will appreciate us and not everyone will desire a relationship with us. It's just the facts. Sometimes, its intimidation: people see a strong Christian woman and compare themselves... feeling inferior because they recognize the standard to which you live by is higher than theirs. Sometimes, its envy: people will assume that you think you are better then they are because you live without compromise and so, instead of them dealing with their own sin, they reject you because you have renounced sin in your life. Sometimes, it's feelings of unworthiness: they might consider themselves not good enough to associate with you because they see Jesus in you and mistake that for perfection; and sometimes, they just plain won't like you, for no apparent reason at all. Yet, Jesus still requires us to love, anyhow.

When Christ puts someone on your heart to reach out to, realize that it is strategic for your growth and development and it is a spiritual calling. There is beauty in rejection, because it shows us the daily position that Christ allows Himself to be placed in for mankind. He willingly offered Himself to the world, knowing that some would not appreciate Him. He calls us to do the same. 

The natural question will always be: How much is too much? When is enough enough? As I write to you, I am battling theses exact same questions in my heart. "Lord, I've been dealing with this disappointment in reaching out to this person over and over again and it seems to only get worse. I give up! Please don't make me do it any more."... Yet, I know that I cannot give up; not if my goal is to please Jesus. I'm not saying it's easy... Lord knows I'm not saying it's easy! But odds are, we aren't living this Christian life because it's easy. Being a Christian is a daily struggle in so many areas at once. It is a constant battle against our own natural selves, allowing the Love of Christ and the Power of God's Holy Spirit to take over in our hearts and mold us to look like Jesus. Molding is a process and it requires lots of patience and a willing heart.

My heart is so willing!!!!!!!! Isn't yours? Even in the hurt and the frustration and the trying and the efforts and the rejection and the disappointment and the tears and the confusion and the unfairness and the humility, kindness, patience, meekness and compassion, it's my hearts desire to look like Jesus, love like Jesus and live like Jesus. I'm confident to believe that it is your heart's desire as well.

We who profess Christ do so at the risk of being rejected. But we cannot let that fear intimidate us or cause us to give up! We cannot allow ourselves to be discouraged! So, instead of praying for God to make things easier or to give us an out when it comes to loving difficult people, let's start praying that God give us more opportunities to share His love with others. Let's seek God in asking Him to give us a stronger heart that won't give up on "so and so", regardless of the hurt you may feel. In this way, we are being more like Jesus than we may realize. We will be operating with His heart towards someone who doesn't realize how much they need Him, and regardless of their response (whether they begin to come around or push you further and further away) our Heavenly Father will be so pleased and one day, we will hear Him say, "Well done".

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

It seems like an impossible burden I have towards someone whom I know you love. I've tried all I can think of to reach out to this person. I've tried to be kind and loving like you, but sometimes the rejection just seems too heavy for me. Sometimes, I just want to walk away and give up. I get tired of being kind with no response from their end. I get frustrated when my efforts aren't appreciated or received well. But Lord, I know that loving others is not about me; it's about you. Help me to love like you do. Help me to have compassion in my heart and kindness towards those You love! Help me, Lord, to seek opportunities to extend myself in hopes that my love will point them to you. Give me discernment on when to speak and when not to. Teach me to wait on your perfect timing and in the mean time, help me to stay diligent in prayer concerning others. Give me confidence and courage to continue to try. Thank you Lord for loving me and thank you Lord for teaching me to love others. I pray that you will be pleased in everything I say and in everything I do.- Amen

Love them for no reason at all. Love them because Jesus loved them first!

~Pearls

Let Our Faith Be More Than Anthems

In light of recent tragedy that has yet again struck our nation, there has been a lot of debate on prayer vs action. People seem to be overtaken with feelings of anger, unfairness, bitterness and ultimately, unbelief. To some, the tragedy in Charleston was an act of an angry and unconcerned god- too preoccupied with the affairs of other groups of people than to be bothered by the slaughtering in South Carolina. One Facebook quote, which received a multitude of "likes" stated:

"I say how about we stop praying all together and start doing...it's time for change and none of that peaceful [stuff]...We pray, we get beaten. We pray, we get robbed. We pray...we get shot up in our own churches with our heads bowed...action is what is needed, not more prayer".

To read such statements is shocking, to say the least, but what is more absurd is that people, collectively, seem to agree and commend this mindset. I realize, not to belittle anyone's experience, frustrations or sorrows, that people are suffering, but we cannot become so blinded to our own hurts that we fail to realize that others all over the world are suffering too. It is the situational circumstance of sin that ushers in the pain and sorrow that we so heavily feel, and the only victor of sin and death, is God, through Christ alone. If we stop praying, then where is our victory? If we stop seeking the face of God, then we will surely be overtaken.


"The worse thing we could ever do is stop our communication with God"~ Brittany Crenshaw, Pearls of Hope.

Prayer is a tool that God uses to access our hearts. When our hearts change, our outlooks change and when our outlooks change, our action changes. The issues that are among us, whether Black, or White, Middle Eastern or Asian, is not what we can see with our own two eyes, but rather what is working invisibly against us, which can only be combated through prayer. Yet people will insist, "Prayer doesn't work. I've tried praying and nothing ever happens".  My response to this argument is this: When we pray, we must first recognize that God is not a genie to grant our every wish. There are certain criteria, based on scripture, that give us access to this Supreme God, and anything less than what He requires will result in unanswered prayer.
In this article, let's take a look, through God's on Word, on what institutes effective prayer and what we need to do in order to see results from Heaven.

1) First, before we can expect to hear from God, we need to realize that it is a relationship with Christ that turns His ear and gains His attention. We cannot ask of someone who does not know us and then be shocked when their response is not what we seek. That's like me asking your father for $20. He might have it, but he doesn't know me, so why should he give it to me? When we pray, we must humble ourselves and offer our hearts to God, acknowledging our need for Him and receiving His love for us. So the first step in answered prayer is developing an honest relationship with God (John 15:7).

2) Next, we must live a life of obedience, which Christ tells us is synonymous with Love. "Jesus replied,"Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them (John 14:23)". Loving Jesus means more than pretty words on bended knees, or making promises to get out of a jam. It's a true life commitment and service- a courageous act of following His ways, no matter the cost. When we live a life of obedience and love, God's Spirit grows strong within us and the requests of our hearts are heard (Proverbs 28:9; 1 John 3:22).

3) In alignment with living in obedience, we have to be sure that we are confessing all sin and turning away from what is evil. God is light and light cannot entertain the darkness. Yes, we sin every day, but cherished sin- sin that is purposefully practiced and repeated out of enjoyment, excuses or lust, lays up a wall between our prayers and God's answers. Sin cuts us off from The Lord; but obedience opens the door (Psalm 66:18; 1 John 1:7-9).

4) When we have examined our hearts, we can pray with confidence to a God who loves and cares for us. It is not His desire that we suffer alone. Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)". Pain, suffering and issues are automatic with life. It's the effects of sin- which is a sickness of the soul as well as of the human experience. We live in an ungodly and evil world, yet we do not need to fear, because Christ has already won the victory and given it to those who bear His name in obedience! When we pray, we can trust that God hears us if we are living according to His word. And if He hears us, he will answer us; so we can pray with boldness and confidence, not doubting, but believing with great expectation! (1 John 5:14-15).

5) The last criteria for answered prayer is to be sure that when we do pray, we are without grudge or unforgiveness towards anyone. This one is so detrimental, because we often overlook the significance of our forgiveness towards others. If we ask of God to forgive us and pardon our mistakes, how dare we with-hold the same opportunity from someone of whom we are just as guilty as? Remember, we are all sinners and full of fault. It is by God's grace that we can access a freedom through our sin. It is not our right to deny the same gift that we have been given. In so doing, we block ourselves and our prayers from God, who does not tolerate what is evil. So, if your desire is to have answered prayers in you life, forgive without complaint. Don't seek restitution or revenge. Let it go and be free! (Matthew 5: 23-24; Matthew 6: 14).

In this time of trouble and uncertainty, there is only one absolute truth: Our God has given us His love, though Jesus, and has made a way for us to have open communication with Him, through His Holy Spirit, because He is a good Father who loves to hear from His children. Yes, there are terrible things that happen in the world. Yes, there are times when God does seem so far away, but we can believe that He is always near, based upon His word and promises within the scriptures. Though, on the one hand, people seem to be too impatient to ask of God, it is obvious that the hearts of mankind are eagerly looking for a way to reach Him. They want to take matters into their own hands because they are not aware of how to access God and so, in their frustrations, they give up. I urge you, Don't Give Up! Keep praying, keep seeking, keep asking and keep knocking! Seek the Lord with your whole heart and He will show Himself to you.

Prayer is a powerful tool, yet on the other side, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26).

As we pray in confidence, we should seek The Lord to determine what action He would want us to take! He will guide us if we keep our hearts steady on Him! Our faith is more than platitudes and pretty words. It is deeper than an anthem that we sing when times are good. True faith becomes revealed during the hard times and tragedies that are inevitable in this life. Yet it is through these difficult and confusing times where God's Spirit addresses the faithful and produces power through our prayers.

Be encouraged, and Never Stop Praying!

~Pearls

With Hearts Lifted Up

It's been over a month since the last time we all met together for Bible Study. We believe that, as the holidays approach us, it is important to take time away from each other to enjoy our families, invest in our other friendships, get plugged into our church responsibilities and just rest and enjoy the holiday season. It's a much needed time to refresh and take a break, but I must admit that I have missed our Tuesday meetings and cannot wait to gear back up in January... which is right around the corner!!!

During our break, we have had two opportunities to just hang out with each other and celebrate birthdays. In addition to this, yesterday, we also celebrated our first PRAYER BREAKFAST!!!! It was an amazing idea that evolved from some conversations we all had one evening, via text message. There are just so many needs that our hearts are crying out for: our friends, our unsaved loved ones, our future, our past, our country, each other. We want to grow in Christ, and not go backwards. We want our love to be perfected for the Lord, for each other and for our world. We want to know and experience the presence of God, not just hear about it. We want our lives to be a passionate example of who Jesus is in us and who He can be in the lives of others.

Today, 5 of us came together to pour out our hearts. Some of us cried, some were silent. With hearts lifted up, we confessed hidden sin that we knew would hinder our prayers and our growth in Christ. We prayed for one another, we prayed for our families and we prayed that God would continue to be pleased in our meeting together and in our accountability towards one another. We worshiped the Lord, for His faithfulness, for His love, for His compassion over us. We thanked Him for His goodness and for Salvation in Jesus. We asked Him to make us bright witnesses for His name! It was an amazing time. I know that God's presence entered into that kitchen and the Spirit of the Lord lovingly listened to every cry from our hearts! Scripture says that when we call Him, He will answer us:

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. 

-Jeremiah 33:3

I know this promise of God was answered today. I know that He will answer our prayers to make us more like Him!

Never stop praying. 

~Pearls

Practicing Prayer

For the next 2 months, Pearls of Hope will be learning and practicing the gift and privilege of prayer! Last Tuesday, we entered into this very important topic with hearts wide open and optimistic spirits. It's amazing how many Jesus-believing people are either too afraid or too self conscious to practice consistent prayer, yet this is what scripture teaches us to do.

"Pray without ceasing"

-1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Ask and it will be given"

Matthew 7:7

"Pray for others"

-Hebrews 13:18

Pages and pages throughout the Bible encourage us to ask the Father, to cry out to God, to intercede for others and to approach the throne of grace with confidence. What love the Father has for us, that He allows an open door of communication to be set between Himself and His children. Yet, so many find fear, hesitation or uncomfort when put in the position to pray, especially in public. For this study, it is my hope and prayer that many of the girls find joy in praying out loud and for each other. My prayer is that we all experience a sweet presence of the Holy Spirit throughout this study, as we come together in sincere and open hearted prayer, for the next 6 weeks.

If you find fear or hesitation in your prayer life, please search the scriptures, and ask the Lord to replace your timidity with courage and boldness! Our Father loves to hear our hearts! Our brothers and sisters in Christ need to know that we are lifting them up in prayer! We have not, because we ask not. Let's all join together in asking and seeking a spirit that delights in prayer to our Loving and Gracious King!

Stay encouraged!

~Pearls

In and Out of Season

The curtains of summer are beginning to draw in closure, as the world makes ready for the crisp and lulling of fall beginnings. The malls have already begun to display autumn fashions and even the Sun is making it's exits a little earlier, as of recently. Yes, the world is preparing for those quiet months of gusty winds and whispered nights; of cool afternoons and the sound of crunched leaves, lingering behind each booted step. I savor the summer months, because I dread the cold, yet in my region of the world, it has been a particularly mild summer. Not at all typical of a North Carolina.
Yesterday afternoon, I noticed that the Sunflowers beside the freeway were drooping and half naked, from fallen off petals. Normally, Sunflowers bloom and last until late September. I figure, the humbling sight must be due to a lack of sunlight, as it has been cloudy as of late. I was disappointed to see how my golden beauties, usually standing proud and tall this time of year, were colorless and stooped over, instead. A part of me felt sad somehow, for one reason or another, and I began to think about how we, as Christians, can sometimes allow the unexpected cloudiness and circumstances of our lives to hinder our growth and display of Christ, amidst our surroundings.

Even in an environment where growth is suppose to be taking place, we can find ourselves feeling as if we are withering away. We can pray, yet have a sense of disconnect; we can worship, yet feel powerless between the spaces of each word we sing; we can read our Bibles and recall scripture, yet feel as if our lives are some how exempt from promises expressed in certain passages. Sometimes, in our Christian lives, there are signs of Autumn or even Winter, in what should be our spiritual Summer.

As of lately, I've felt that way in my prayer life. See, in my opinion, I am in my spiritual Summer: my Bible Study group is growing (in number as well as in confidence), my marriage is a dream (if you overlook the inclusion of the NFL, NBA and the World Cup), our new Church is sincerely feeding us the meat of scripture and my extended family is happy and successful. I feel loved, I'm busy, I'm happy... but I'm also unsatisfied. I'm unsatisfied with believing Him for answers, yet feeling as if I'm talking to the pots and pans that I am scrubbing. I feel like my prayer life is hibernating, when it's clearly Summer time!
Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever experienced so much blessing in one area, yet at the same time, felt a disconnect in another? If so, it's normal. It's life.

Psalm 9: 10 states,
"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you".

To me, this scripture brings "Summer" back to my heart. There are times when our moods and experiences don't reflect our spiritual state. There are times when our circumstances overshadow what we know to be true. There are even times when Sunflowers droop, even in the middle of summer. But it doesn't change the season. Even if all the flowers died and all the leaves on the trees turned brown in July, it would still be Summer. Even if you feel far away from God, or you feel unproductive in your relationship with Him, you are still His child and His promises are still effective in your life! All He asks us to do is simply trust and seek Him! Don't loose heart. If you feel as if your prayers are disappearing, even as you are uttering them, continue to pray, anyway. If you feel as if your worship is in vain, lift your hands higher and your voice louder. If you feel as if your attempts to live a pleasing life is backfiring, don't quit-keep going! The Lord will not forsake you! He has given us His word! We must believe, and eventually, spiritual summer will come to us in that area, and then in the next one and in the next one.

Let's be faithful, in and out of season!
Trust God!

~Pearls