Just give me money, that's what I want!

I came to a realization today after reading a book called "Weird" by Craig Groeshcel (Which I recommend you read) when he talked about how as Americans we are always wanting more. Income, Stuff, money. More; More; More; More. And guess what I am as guilty as anyone else.

As a Christian, for one, I should not be worried about money. I should have faith that God will provide for me. I should not or ever need to worry about my money or if there will be enough or if I can live on that money.

My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6, and it says "do not be anxious about anything, but in everthing by prayer and supplication (Supplication is a prayer asking the Lord to provide things) with thanksgiving let your requests be made to God" ESV

This verse is fairly simple if we break it down. Don't worry about anything. Simple stop worrying, God wants you to trust him and not on yourself.

In everything with prayer take your request to God. Okay, just as simple: Pray everyday and don't be afraid to take your request to God.

I remember when I was little and I was afraid to pray for myself. Mostly because I felt guilty when I would pray what I called selfish prayers. Well this last verse said that we should pray for everything including ourselves. Now this doesn't mean that if you are going to pray for that video games system or a new car that God is some magical Genie that grants wishes on command. That is just not how God works or how it should work.

You can pray for your needs, like health and money needs, but don't think that just because you ask for it God has to answer your prayer. It may just not be part of his will. Also, without faith in God your prayers none of your requests will fall on deaf ears.

Now, there are a few other verses on prayer so I want to take a look at those.

James 5:16 says "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" ESV

You may wonder why your prayers may not be working or getting answered. James lays it out very clearly in the last scripture. Righteous men have great power in their prayer. You may ask, "What is righteous? It is defined as being upright or exhibiting high morality.

Now I know that the word righteous can set many people off. Some people interpret is as someone who is religious and that looks down on others by pointing out their downfalls. Well that's not even close by definition. Those folks are judgmental jerks and those people are really Christian Atheist by all accounts.

Let's look at 1st John 1:9. It says the following, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ESV

In James 5:16 we just got done talking about how an unrighteous men's prayers aren't powerful but God gives us a way out of that. If we confess our sins (sounds like 1st John 1:9 doesn't it) daily, and give up those to the Lord, because he is faithful and just he will forgive us of our sins. How great is our God! He loves us so much that he expects perfection and forgives us ultimately because he knows that we can't always live up to that expectation, because we are all sinners.

Now let's look at John 14:13-14 and it says, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." ESV

This helps to wrap up this blog, if we get close to God and are righteous and ask God to work in our lives within his will in mind. He will meet our needs and follow through with our requests. So, are you close enough to God that you talk to him everyday, or is it a Facebook friendship? One that you only see his status updates to keep in touch. I hope you are the first of the two.