Tag Archives: a last resort

Praying in Vain

Whether you are old, young or somewhere in between, hopelessness can lead people to question what they are doing?  When things don’t go your way, creating a snowball effect, minds might begin to wonder if God really cares about you and your situation?  If these trials persist, doubt often enters the scene causing individuals to begin to believe, “what’s the point of praying?”  “Why should I continue to pour my heart and soul into prayer, when nothing seems to change.”

This is where you will find David in Psalm 5.  In the midst of his circumstances, this servant of God wanted to make sure he wasn’t praying in vain.  Thus, he reminds God of his attributes, character and personality early in the morning.  Using God as a crutch, David realizes the Lord is his last resort, the only force able to transform his predicament.  Tired of seeing arrogant, deceitful, evil and wicked individuals proper, David pleads with God based upon Moses words in the Old Testament.  Not worthy to be called righteous, David rests in mercy, Psalm 5:7, entering God’s presence with reverence and respect.  Prayers like this one inspired the Lord to call his humble servant a man after God’s heart, 1 Samuel 16:7.

Wherever this blog may find you, confidence lies in results.  As soon as you see direct answers and progress, your attitude will improve.  However, if your words offered up in faith return unanswered, one of 3 things may be true,  First, God may be keeping you from something that might steer you away from Him.  Second, God’s timing is likely not aligned with your prayer, resulting in a “not right now” response, Ecclesiastes 3:11.  Finally, there is a chance that someone, something or an unconfessed sin from the past is blocking God’s reply, Isaiah 1:15-17.  Follow the principles of Isaiah 1:18-19 and you will leave vanity for sanity, experiencing a slice of heaven here on earth, Matthew 6:33-34.

by Jay Mankus

Forgotten Prosperity

At church last Sunday, I heard a verse from the Bible that struck a nerve.  When reality hits home, its hard to ignore, especially when a verse sums up the last 15 years of your life.  Lamentations 3:17 references Jeremiah, who is speaking a message to Israel given to him by the Lord.  In essence, God’s chosen people had forgotten what is was like to experience prosperity during their years of exile.

As for me, I moved to Delaware a wealthy man, at least in my own eyes.  Wise investments after getting married resulted in enough money to pay for our first house in cash.  However, being told to rely on first time home buyer tax breaks, my wife and I decided to save most of this for the future.  Unfortunately, when many of the .com companies went belly up in 2000, I lost nearly $65,000 dollars in the stock market.  With this slush fund basically gone, the hits kept coming as my teaching salary wasn’t enough to support a family, losing on average of $2000 a year.  Thus, our savings account quickly became an accumulating debt which has taken a toll on both of us, sending my family into our own sort of financial exile.

However, if you’ve never had a bad day in life, you won’t be able to appreciate the good ones.  Thus, the James 1:2-4 principle applies to forgotten prosperity.  When your money is gone, God is a last resort, a crutch to help you stand back up.  I wish the last 15 years had a different ending, but for now what’s done is done.  The hard part is moving on, swallowing your pride and trusting God for daily bread, Matthew 6:11.  I’m not sure what God has planned, yet it’s never too late to pray for a Job like conclusion, Job 42:12-15.  Go with God and God will go with you!

by Jay Mankus