I have been drifting away from prayer. I know which ones that cause me to drift away and yes, I have no will to overcome it. It's sad to know this because I know what's wrong but I still end up letting it happen to me.

Is it simply because I am away from fellowship? I grew up where a church can be accessed in less than a five-minute walk, but I am isolated now, church is an hour's drive and I don't know any SDA near me.

But when I think about it somehow, the thought "It is God's will" that causes me to stumble and think "what can prayer do when it is His will to happen?"

I don't know..is my trust in Him misplaced? Or do I simply think too much?

It's been two years now that I've been trying to establish a personal devotional but I always end up not making a habit out of it.

What should a person do when he knows what's wrong, tries to do something about it but ends up empty?

Miahnie.

What was/is your relationhip with your parents like?

I think that happens to sll of us. Its deffenitly (spelling) being away from others to help encourage each other. Your trust in God is never misplaced. And I think that we all get discouraged on and off. You just need to remember that God will never abandon you, even though we think that. just keep the faith. Continue to read your bible, and even if you think that praying isn't helping, pray anyway.

Happy Sabbath

pkrause

Hi, Miahnie and all the others!

Sorry that I have been out of touch for so long. I have been (and still am) in an isolated place, but can access my email where I am tonight. I will be home again in a couple of days, and then I will be back and talking. So glad that you have been having a bit of a conversation during my absence -- and I hope that you will continue on my return!

Miahnie, I understand the situation that you are in. Being isolated can be very disheartening, but God still loves you, and longs to hear from you. Hang in there! I will write to you more as soon as I get settled again at home.

God bless

Beryl

Jesus told us to find a quiet, secluded place when we pray. Prayer is supposed to be a very private communication with the LORD. We may share our thoughts, feelings, needs, and concerns for others. We are, of course, already connected to him via our Spirit/Angel/Messenger, and that's how our thoughts and needs are already known and recorded.

Those who are chosen for the next life will have a private, 2-way telepathic communication with our Master who will tell us what to do and where to go. Private prayer in this life points us to what will be possible in the next life.

Public prayer today probably isn't worth much because it's performance is contrary to what Jesus told us to do. Maybe a moment of silence in a church service would be much more appropriate than a long or grandiose sermon-in-a-prayer.

Just knowing that we are continuously connected to the LORD may be enough to influence us to chose to be obedient servants to him rather than obedient servants of the Evil One. The realization that our minds are being constantly monitored can give us the motivation we need to be faithful servants of the LORD.

Hi, everyone! I'm home!! Not yet unpacked, but I am home, and the computer is unpacked and set up. Why would I ever want to unpack anything else first???

Miahnie has raised the question of unanswered prayer, of not "feeling" the presence of Jesus. I am sure that each of us has gone through times like that. Yes, they have all been different, and yet they happen.

This same feeling has been expressed in the Bible. So, let us all think for a while of Bible characters who felt that God had abandoned them because they couldn't feel His nearness. And yet, He was with them all of the time.

Psalm 13. "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

"Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoiced in your salvation, I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me."

David knew what it was like to talk with God, but he also knew what it was like when he felt that God had forgotten him.

God referred to David as "a man after my own heart", and yet He allowed David to go through these times of testing, and that resulted in the building up of David's faith, because he realised that, although he seemed alone, God was still there for him.

Can any of you recall a time when God seemed far away from you? Would you like to share your experience to help Miahnie keep her faith in God? I hope that you will do so.

God bless,

Beryl

Hi, Aliensanctuary, I couldn't help noticing this sentence from your post:-

 Quote:

Those who are chosen for the next life will have a private, 2-way telepathic communication with our Master who will tell us what to do and where to go. Private prayer in this life points us to what will be possible in the next life.

We won't need to have a private, 2-way telephathis communication system to talk with our dearest Friend, Jesus. We will be able to speak with Him face to face! David said in Psalm 17:15, "And I -- in righteousness I will see Your face: when I awake [from death] I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Jesus said (Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Before Adam and Eve sinned they had the privilege of talking with God face to face. When they disobeyed God, and sinned, they became afraid (Genesis 3:6-24) and we have the sad story of how God could no longer talk with them face to face because of sin.

On Mount Sinai Moses talked with God, but, because Moses was one of us, he could not see God's face, but we have a wonderful promise in Revelation 22:5 that, speaking about the New Jerusalem, John tells us that "The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve him. They will see His face, and His name will be in the foreheads." That will be a wonderful day -- to be able to sit down with Jesus, and talk with Him face to face!

God bless,

Beryl

Well, finally I am REALLY home! Not just for a few nights, but home until???? OK, no known appointments away until the beginning of June!

In the meantime, let us pick up from where we had left off in the study of "Steps to Jesus", in the chapter "The Privilege of Prayer".




When Jesus came to this earth, He did not come as a heavenly being -- He literally became part of the human race through birth. Jesus had to learn to walk, to talk, to pray -- just as we do. And, in a way, I guess He had to get to really know His heavenly Father.

Jesus was 12 years of age when He made the trip to Jerusalem with His earthly parents, and realised that He was the One represented by the lamb that was sacrificed.

Jesus' time on earth was guided by the Holy Spirit -- and He is also willing to guide us, if we will allow Him to do so.

Jesus spent much time in prayer, talking to His heavenly Father -- and we have access to the same Father in heaven. It is only as we spend time with a person here on earth that we really get to know them -- and it is only as we spend time with our Heavenly Father that we really get to know Him.

God has given to us His Word -- the Bible, so that we can get to know Him. It is only by reading the Bible that we can see the God Who is there for EVERYBODY!

There are times when it seems that He is not listening -- but He is. There are times when our faith is stretched to the utmost -- because He loves us and needs to allow that faith to be stretched in order for us to grow in faith.

It is when He doesn't SEEM to be listening that we need the power of prayer more than at any other time.

God bless,

Beryl

Ever been convicted of some enjoyable "sin"? I have. No, it was nothing major, just something that I found enjoyable and relaxing, but became aware that it was putting a barrier between me and time I should have been spending with God. I acknowledged the problem, and, with God's help, broke the habit. I now enjoy extra time with the Lord, in prayer and His Word. I am glad that God valued me enough to point out to me that failing.

Does that mean I am now perfect? OH, NO! I know that God still has a lot of work to do in me, but I know also that I can trust Him to do that work in me when He knows that I am ready to make the next step.

I am so glad that God will not only point out our sins, but will give to us the overcoming strength, because He loves us each one, and wants us to spend eternity with Him. And I want that, too!.

God bless,

Beryl