POSITIVE WRITTEN SERMON - Stressful Times Require God's Help
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“Why doesn’t God help me?” The woman shouts out when her life is in chaos, when things see, to be going strangely, and she was confused about what to do next.
One of the things many people do, in the state of confusion is to TRY HARDER, WORK LONGER, WORRY ALL-NIGHT and try make things happen themselves, believing that they alone are the ones who are responsible for everything.
People often forget to ask for God’s help in stressful times. The best time to ask for God’s help is BEFORE chaos.
I would like to share with you a letter that a fellow wrote to his insurance company because it really epitomizes where some people are. “I’m writing in response to your request concerning block 11 on the insurance form.
It asks for the cause of injuries, wherein I put ‘trying to do the job alone.’ You said you needed more information, so I trust the following will suffice:
“I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of injuries, I was working alone, laying brick on top of a four-story building. At the end of the job, I had about 600 pounds of brick left over, so I thought I would lower the bricks on a pulley rather than making several trips to carry them down. I went down below, secured the rope at ground level, went back up and loaded all the bricks into a barrel, and then I swung the barrel off the side of the building.
“Then I went back down, untied the rope (holding it tightly with my right hand so I would assure a slow descent). You can imagine my shock at being jerked off the ground so rapidly that I lost my presence of mind. “Somewhere between the second and third floors, I collided with the barrel coming down. This explains the injuries to my head and shoulders. “Colliding with the barrel only slowed my ascent momentarily as I proceeded rapidly up the side of the building, not stopping until my right hand was jammed in the pulley, which accounts for my broken thumb and fingers.
“Regaining my presence of mind, I held tightly to the rope. About the same time, however, the barrel hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel weighed about 35-40 pounds. At this time, I began a rapid descent. I met the barrel somewhere between the second and third floors as it was coming up, which explains the injuries to my legs and knees.
“I landed on the ground on the pile of bricks which caused minimal back injuries and internal injuries. (Fortunately, they were only minimal.) “At this time, however, I’m sorry to say that I lost my presence of mind, and I let go of the rope. As you can imagine, the barrel crashed down on top of me. I am happy to report, however, that I am finished trying to do the job alone.”
Doesn’t that say a little about how many of us have been trying to do the job alone, without God’s ever-present and willing help? We feel that we are responsible for everything that is happening in our lives, and everything that is supposed to happen. We take it all on, like we are the ones doing everything. God’s in charge! We are here today to remember God’s help.
One time, there was a lady who was on a passenger ship in the high seas. There was a fairly violent storm raging, when she happened to see the Captain going up to the top deck and said to him, “Captain, how serious is this?”
The Captain said, “Madam, if I were you, I would just say some prayers.” She says, “Oh no, has it come to that?”
We have been taught that if all else fails, pray. Has anybody else heard that before? We have heard about the power of prayer, but we seem to have it in the wrong order.
The ideal is to put prayer first because we are putting God first. In 1 John 5:4 it says, “For whatever is born of God conquers the world.” Whatever is born (or begins) in God can overcome any and all challenges that face us.
Put God first in prayer and meditation.
Remember that God answers your prayer even before you ask. Your part is to make prayer an open awareness within your mind through which God’s answer can come to you easily, understandably, and without personal human struggle. Prayer is power. All power of God is available to you. Your prayer should not be a wish but a conviction.
A wise gardener prepares the soil before the gardener plants the seed. One who prays must prepare their mind to receive that which they plant in the form of prayer.
Putting God first in our lives makes a lot of sense. Whatever is born of God overcomes anything in the world. The whole idea of putting God first comes down to the basic premise that we are all on this journey on this classroom called life, and everybody’s main lesson is the same–to awaken to the presence of God.
There are many ways to pray, as there are many ways to God. The way of the bird is not the way of the fish; the way of the baby is not the way of the adult. Advanced souls always pray in advance to relax themselves and keep themselves receptive to the guidance that is at hand from God. That is the basic, underlying thread that we all have in our lives. We are to awaken to who we are – as beloved children of God.
I am going to invite you to say that and feel what you are saying. “I am a beloved child of God. I am a beloved child of God.” Get the spiritual feeling of what you are saying.
Prayer is the most effective method of renewal and transformation in the human. In prayer, the human associates with God instead of the problem. We teach that you must pray in positive expectation. Negatives add up to negatives and negatives have no part in successful prayer. Do not pray in desperation, but in confidence and expectation of the best. You are responsible in your attitude for at least half the answer in prayer.
Jesus says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask for when you pray believe that you have received them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24
Jesus told us that He came that we may have life and have it abundantly. That means everything – the perfect, radiant health of God that is already with us, perfect employment, a comfortable home, perfect transportation, all good things are what our Divine birthright entitle us to.
To get there, we have to be aware of who we are in our relationship with God. As we get into the habit of putting God first in our lives, we see things from a higher perspective.
Putting God first, in prayer and meditation, is the most effective and quickest way most of us will awaken to the presence of God, in all areas of our lives. Get into the wonderful habit of praying or meditating in the morning. It sets the tone for the day.
We wake up in the morning in an awakened state. That is the perfect time to do the most important work that we do throughout the day, which is putting God first. Set the tone for the day. Invite God to go before us and do whatever is ours to do.
When you to bed at night go through the things you are going to work on tomorrow, inviting God to guide you to the perfect outcomes. Turning everything over to God, you realize that you cannot do it at all, but God can do it.
Have the inspiration to put everything in God’s hands each night and every morning – that makes your life special.
Putting God first in all areas of our lives. How important is it to put God first in all areas of our lives? I would like to share a piece of poetry with you that really sums it up beautifully.
It is called “The Difference,” and it was written by one of the most famous authors of all time — Anonymous.
THE DIFFERENCE
I got up early one morning,
And rushed right into the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn’t take time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came each task.
“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered.
He answered, “You didn’t ask.”
I wanted to see joy and beauty,
But the day toiled on gray and bleak.
I wondered why God didn’t show me.
She said, “You didn’t seek.”
I tried to come into God’s presence.
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
“My child, you didn’t knock.”
So, I got up early this morning,
And paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.
If you do not have time to do everything that you have to do in a chaotic life, then you must take time to put God first. When life gets chaotic and out of control, look back and say, “What did I forget to do today?” We usually know the answer – We get up in the morning, and hit the floor with our feet running. So, we make a minor adjustment, and we create a quiet prayer time every morning. Most of the time, we will remember to take time to pray first. But the days we don’t pray first, we will be able to tell the difference.
A good nutritious meal feeds the body and mind. Good prayer feeds the soul.
I invite you to put God first in every situation. As you go through whatever you are going through during the day, keep inviting God to go before you to make your way safe and enjoyable, to have clear guidance, or whatever you have to ask for. Ask for God’s help and God will respond. God will respond to you. God will help.
So, let’s close with an acknowledgment that I am open and receptive to putting God first in all my activities. Will you do this with me? Close your eyes.
I ask you to join me in prayer.
Dear God, I come to You in total expectation of the best. I believe in miracles because I believe in You. I cooperate with You by holding in my human mind the very best outcome. I do not come to You in desperation, but in gratitude and excitement of the result given to me ahead of any need. I live my days in prayer and my days bless me. I go to You first each day to prepare my human mind for the blessed life. I live my moments, day by day, in positive expectation and overflowing gratitude as I witness and take part in the miraculous results. I believe that spiritual power is the most important activity that I can take part in. I give myself to it, and it gives its power to me.
I am grateful and thankful for every moment spent in sacred prayer.
In Jesus Christ’s name … Amen
God bless you!
PRAYER / MEDITATION_____________________
I invite you to relax in the peace and silence of God’s loving presence. Take a deep breath and hold it for several seconds. As you gently exhale, invite your mind to let go of all outer concern.
For these next minutes, all your concerns can be lovingly placed in the hands of God, and you can turn your attention to the kingdom of God and all the help it contains.
Rest in the silence of prayer …
Take another deep breath, holding it for as many seconds as is comfortable for you, and as you gently exhale, invite your body to relax in an awareness of God’s loving presence, a presence that enfolds, loves, and blesses us.
For these next few minutes, allow my words to resonate within you; allow my words to go to the very core of your being and to be your words consenting to and accepting their truth as your own.
The radiant life of God flows through me now.
Rest in the silence of prayer …
I open my mind and my heart to this loving Presence of God that is moving through every part of my being.
I begin, again, today with God’s willing help.
With God’s presence with me, I know that whatever I would like to be, I have the ready help at hand.
Whatever I would like to see changed in my life can change. With God, nothing is impossible.
I let go of old beliefs, old worn-out systems of thinking and feeling, and error thoughts about who I thought I was.
I am a beloved child of God, and God’s loving presence flows through me now and always.
God’s presence brings a newness, a new awareness, of Christ.
I feel God’s love flowing through me now.
This is the time – not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, but right now to personally feel God’s help.
I open my mind and my heart to God’s love, to God’s radiant life, and to God’s wisdom which is clearly guiding me and inspiring me to live the glorious life I was created to live.
Rest in the silence of prayer for a few moments, I invite you to hold an awareness of God’s loving presence as radiant life in every cell, every tissue, every organ of your being. Know that all of these parts of your body, and all of your mind, are being renewed, refreshed, rejuvenated, and regenerated.
I invite you to rest in the awareness of God’s loving, healing presence active in us all right now …
Rest in the silence of prayer …
I am a new person in Christ today.
I awaken, as if out of a dream, to a greater realization of God’s loving presence in me, now.
I awaken to a greater awareness of God’s perfect radiant life flowing through me, now.
I am richly and wonderfully blessed as I open my mind and my heart to this living, loving presence of God moving through my life, now.
I follow Jesus by becoming an instrument of God’s love and God’s life.
Thank You, dearest God, for Your loving presence flowing through me now.
Accept this now … In Jesus Christ’s name …
And so, it is … Amen.
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