The Battle Is Won In The Minutes

TODAY’S READING - Job 22; Mark 7; Mark 8

SCRIPTURE:  Mark 8:34-37 

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?’“

OBSERVATION:

What a sobering passage.  To think of the things that people trade eternity for - or even trade a minute with God for.  Careers, success, financial gain, or other things that one can build his life on and around.  Definitely not worth it.  I think that most people who follow Christ have understand the folly of that and at least are engaged in the struggle to balance their life.  I think in the big picture and in the whole of life, we would say that we have submitted to Christ.  I think of the minutes though.  The minutes that we give to anger, or lust, or myspace, or complaining, etc..  I think that is where most of us win or lose the battle - in minutes.  The scales are tipped against us one minute at a time.

On the flip side the scales can be stacked for us if we go beyond submission to Christ to true denial of ourselves - losing our life in Christ.  Giving up our rights to anger, giving up our desire for sexual gratification, finding community in Christ rather than online, and the like.

APPLICATION:

I need to be mindful of the minutes.  Not just feel complacent that I’ve given my future to Jesus, but that I would find true security and fulness by giving Jesus my entire life minute by minute.  I need to take inventory of my time, emotions, behavior, and thought life.  I need to make my brain “punch a clock” so I can be mindful of what I spend my time meditating on.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you for the life that you have given me.  It’s not a life reserved for the future, but one to be experienced now.  Help me to give myself to you and the gospel, Lord, so that I could find the life you have for me.  Help me to give you my minutes.  In Jesus name, AMEN!

Jesus Knew His Ministry Environment

TODAY’S READING: Job 20; Mark 3; Mark 4

SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:33-44

“With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.”

OBSERVATION:

Jesus knew who He was talking to and when and what they needed to hear.  Most people need to hear an encouraging word -”God is on your side.”  Everyone got the Word but not everyone got Jesus personal discipleship - the explanation of everything.  Not because He was not willing, but because they were not ready.  Where they were in life and faith was not conducive with life on life discipleship; however, that did not disqualify them from relationship.

Jesus discipled twelve to reach the entire world, to invite all who will hear into a relationship with God.

APPLICATION:

I need to get a better handle on who the masses, the crowd, the congregation, and the disciples are in the church.  I don’t want to discourage someone who is simply needing the love of Jesus with too heavy a burden.  I don’t want to overlook someone who is ready to be trained into the ministry by simply giving them a “God is on your side message.”  I want to make the difference that God wants to make i people’s lives.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you for the great privilege of serving your church.  You have called the church your bride and I am honored to minister to her.  Help me to know who I am ministering to when, and how to best serve them.  Give me discernment into your heart for individuals and for the different ministry environments and help me to minister that same heart to your people.  In Jesus name - AMEN!

The Sabbath Can Serve You Well If You Don't Serve The Sabbath

Today’s Reading:  Job 19; Mark 1; Mark 2

SCRIPTURE:  Mark 2:23-28

“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’

 25He answered, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.’

 27Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’”

OBSERVATION:

This really shows the heart of God behind the law.  The law was really birthed out of the heart and wisdom of God and is intended to benefit mankind.  Most of the law if followed would really provide health for us.  It kept us from harm and unhealthy living, it established habits that reminded us of our submissive position before God, it set us apart before a world who needs to know God.  The problem is that we began to serve the law rather than the God behind it.

APPLICATION:

The Pharisee’s could not follow the law without becoming legalistic.  I want to to find God’s heart and His wisdom for life.  I want to be who God intended me to be.  But I don’t want to serve a system, just my God.

PRAYER:

Father thank you for your word - both the Old Testament and the New.  In it we find your wisdom and your heart for people.  Help us to read it and find relationship with you in it.  Speak to us thru it.  Protect us from making a “10 steps to heaven ladder” out of it, but use it to make us more dependent and more in love with you everyday.  In Jesus name - AMEN!

Paul Can Talk The Ear Off A Cornstalk

Today's Reading: Job 15; Acts 19; Acts 20

SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:6-12

“Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.  Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!"  Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.  The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.”

OBSERVATION:

This stands out to me mainly because it is hilarious.  The dude fell asleep because “Paul talked on and on.”  HAHA!  Not only did he fall asleep but he fell to his death.  CRAZY!!!

Even crazier is that Paul didn’t miss a beat.  He went downstairs and raised the guy from the dead and continued on and on with his talking and eating until daylight came.  Was this an appropriate reaction to what just happened?  It seems like too normal a behavior for such a very abnormal circumstance.  Paul preaches the guys to death and then simply says “My bad.  I fix it.”  Was the miraculous such an ongoing thing that it became natural instead if just supernatural?  If that’s possible I want it.

APPLICATION:

I want the miraculous to be normal in my life.  It seems that we have to puff up the little things that happen in our lives to make them of miraculous proportion.  I want the miraculous presence and power of God so strong in my life that when something happens we simply say “Yep, Jesus is doing His thing again.”  I’m sure the miraculous is there to experience.  After all Jesus didn’t change His business or even His mission statement.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  I want to believe for things of miraculous proportion.

PRAYER:

Father, you are able.  You can.  You are.  Help me to believe.  Help the supernatural be natural in my life.  I don’t want to seek the power and miss your presence, but I do want to see the sick healed and the like.  In Jesus name - AMEN!!!

God Is Found Along The Way

Today's Reading: Job 11; Job 12; Acts 15; Acts 16

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 16:6-10

“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.  So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.  During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."  After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

OBSERVATION

The thing that really stands out to me about this passage is how this Supernatural God works so naturally in our lives.  Unlike Moses, Paul & his crew didn’t have a burning bush that contained the audible voice of God, or a staff that could be used as a sign and a reminder of God’s power and plan.  Instead, they found God along the way.  “Let’s try this place and see if God is here.”  “Uhhh, nope.”  “How about over here.”  Hmm, uh, nope.”  Finally, Paul has a dream about a Macedonian man calling for help, and they concluded that God had called them to Macedonia.  Wonderful things happened there, people gave their lives to the Lord, the presence of God filled a prison and shook it off its foundation, entire households were getting baptized.  Paul and his crew found God along the way.

APPLICATION:

It has been said that God can’t steer a parked car.  I know that there are some heretical theological implications to this saying but you get the point.  I think that sometimes when God shows up there are  pyrotechnics (the burning bush).  We all love miracles.  However, most of the time, I think we find God along the way.  We have to be mobile.  Moving.  Just doing something - trying something for God’s sake.  “Is God in this?”  “Is He blessing this.”  This is definitely organic, trial by error, church planting.  It’s a little messy but it finds God.  I want want to be a guy who is mobile and steerable by God.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you for directing our lives - for closing doors that we don’t fit in, or don’t fit us, or are just not right for now.  Thank you that our time trying to honor you is not wasted time, even when our efforts find closed doors.  Help me to not be discouraged by these types of circumstances, but keep moving so you can keep steering.  Help me to find you along the way.  In Jesus Name - AMEN!

OUT OF TOWN

Sorry Guys - I'm out of time w/ limited internet access.  I will be back to blogging my SOAPS on Friday.

God Beyond The Clouds

Today’s Reading: Job 3; Job 4; Acts 8; Acts 9

SCRIPTURE: Job 4:3-6

“Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands.  Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees.  But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed.  Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?”

OBSERVATION:

It is so easy to give advice to others, but so hard to remember it or apply it to ourselves.  It is advice that we really believe and know to be true, yet when we are in the thick of darkness it is hard to grab hold of it for ourselves. I don’t think that this inconsistency is necessarily hypocritical in nature.  I think it is more human nature in nature.

We all have this wonderful sunny blue sky that we live under - God’s truth, goodness, and faithfullness.  But storms roll in and all we experience is dark clouds, cold rain, and fierce lightening.  We are in crisis, and that’s all we can see.  We forget that the blue sky is still there, just on the other side of the clouds.  

APPLICATION:

The key is to develop my spiritual man so that I can live in a fallen world (under the clouds) while still being anchored as a citizen in the Kingdom of God (the blue sky). I need to spend time each day beyond the clouds with God - sitting quiet, singing in worship, reading His word, praying.  

As I do the Holy Spirit will enable my spiritual self to live above the clouds even if my earthly self experiences a storm.  Experiencing the hardship of the crisis and at the very same time experiencing the hope, comfort, peace, and power of God as a citizen in God’s Kingdom.  The Holy Spirit helps us to keep outside storms from becoming internal storms.  If I want to find God I have to look beyond the clouds.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you that you are always there.  I may be clouded by my circumstances, but you never change.  The Kingdom of God is established, though not yet fully.  Help me to stake my life there and experience you and all your fullness, even if outwardly I am experiencing a storm. Lord, you are good and your mercies endure forever.  Bless you God and thank you for your love toward me.  In Jesus name - AMEN!

Worship In Dark Times

Today’s Reading: Job 1; Job 2; Acts 6; Acts 7

SCRIPTURE: Job 1:20-22

”At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
       "Naked I came from my mother's womb,
       and naked I will depart.
       The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
       may the name of the LORD be praised."

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

OBSERVATION:

Job lost everything at the hands of evil and still praises God.  I think of the things I get upset with God about.  I Think of all the God talk that takes place in our country when crisis hits.  “Where were you God?”  “How could God let this happen?”  “Is this punishment from God?”  I grew up with the understanding that if life was good it was because I am good, but if things were going bad I was being punished.  My mindset was almost, “Life is good until God shows up.”  I believed that he only showed up to do an audit on our behavior and punish us.

I see Satan’s craftiness here.  His strategy is to wreck our lives and have us curse God for it.  It’s amazing that in the midst of crisis and tragedy we ignore the author of evil and point our finger at the maker of all things good.

I see Job who has lost everything and in the middle of his mourning he is in worship to God.  He didn’t lose his grounding in God - he kept a right perspective of who God is and how he work in his life.

APPLICATION:

Though my belief about God has changed, my human nature, or should I say sin nature, still beckons me to anger when bad things happen.  I know God is good, faithful, and loving.  I know that it has always been Satan’s plan to get us to curse God by wrecking our lives.  I will strive to worship God with a right heart and a right perspective in every situation.  God doesn’t change when my circumstances do.  He is not a commodity that increases in value with the principles of supply & demand.  He is God, He is good, and He is always worthy of my praise.

PRAYER:

Father, you are good and your mercies are never ending.  You are the giver of all good things.  You never leave us nor forsake us.  You see those in need, in pain, in crisis, with perspective that is biased with love.  You are the one who brings us thru hard times, comforts our hurts, and calms our storms.  You are forever good, forever faithful - you never change.  Help me not to weigh you on the scale of my circumstances.  Forgive me for ever trying to do so.  Help me to find your goodness in the midst of every situation, good or bad.  Help me to maintain right perspective and maintain a heart of worship.  In Jesus name - AMEN!

Pick Your Battles, But Don't Fight God

Today’s Reading:  Malachi 3; Malachi 4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 5:38-39

“...I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

OBSERVATION:

The problem was not that these religious leaders were simply wrong about the apostles.  It is not that they just lacked understanding, wondering if the Apostles ministry was from God or not.  They were not trying to preserve true ministry.  Verse 17 tells us that thy were persecuting the apostles because they were angry and filled with jealousy.  A wise Pharisee among them stood up and let them know that by trying to intimidate God’s people they are putting themselves in the ring with God himself.  Do you really want to tangle with God?

The only thing worse than fighting temptation, fighting the devil, fighting the flesh, etc. is fighting God.  It is impossible to win that fight.  It would have been easier for these men to fight against their own issues of anger, fear, and jealousy than to take on God.

APPLICATION:

I never want to tangle with God.  Yet there are times that I have anger, jealousy, a competitive spirit, or a bad attitude toward something or someone.  I know that God’s plan is that I be healthy in my heart.  However, sometimes it seems easier to take on the people or the the circumstances that are “causing” me grief than to unpack the issues of my heart and wrestle with them.  

The problem is that when you ignore the issues of your heart you are definitely out numbered - you are taking on your heart issues, your circumstances, and God Himself.  However, when you focus on your heart it is a fair fight - God is on your side.  It is 2 against 2 - you and God against the issues of your heart and the circumstances that brought them to the surface.  With God for us, who can be against us.

PRAYER: 

Thank you Father that I have you in my corner.  Help me to never shrink back from the issues of my heart.  Help me to face them head on as you bring them to light and as you instigate the battle.  I know that as I purpose in my heart to pursue rightness of heart with you, I can count on you to win the battle on my behalf and for your glory.  Thank you for accepting me where I am and growing me into the person you designed me to be.  In Jesus name - AMEN!

Take Note That I've Spent Time With Jesus

Today’s Reading:  Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1; Malachi 2; Acts 4

SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:13-14

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.”

OBSERVATION:

This is what happens when ordinary people experience God. Crazy things happen and people take note that theses ordinary people hang out with Jesus.

Peter has just come off the spiritual slump of his life.  He denied that he ever knew Jesus.  When Jesus gave Peter a second chance, the best Peter could commit to was a second place kind of love.  But Jesus started fresh with Peter right where Peter was and with what Peter could offer.  

Here is Peter who had, not too long ago, denied Christ and is now filled with the Holy Spirit and couldn’t deny Him if he wanted to.  He is preaching life in Christ, healing people, and leading thousands into life in Jesus.  The officials see these ordinary men and take note that they have been with Jesus.

APPLICATION:

If I am going to do anything of eternal significance in this life it has to flow from a relationship with Jesus.  People have to recognize Jesus in me.  There is nothing special outside of that.  God will take me, an ordinary person, and cause people to take note that Jesus is my Lord. Ministry is an overflow of what Jesus is doing in my life.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you that you choose and use ordinary people.  Jesus, you did not come into this world as a man of earthly status and wealth an you continue to show yourself to the world thru ordinary people.  Help me to spend time with you Jesus so that people will take note and give you praise.  As I offer myself to you each day, I pray that others will lose sight of my ordinary self and experience your extraordinary presence.  In Jesus name - AMEN!

Forever Faithful God

today's reading: Nehemiah 5; Nehemiah 6; Psalm 146; Luke 24

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 146:3-5

“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.  When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God...”

OBSERVATION:

Then the Psalmist goes on to list out all the things God does for people.  He helps the oppressed, feeds the hungry, frees the prisoners, heals the blind, lifts the humble, watches over the misplaced, and takes care of the orphans and widows.

God really is our all in all - there is nothing that we ever really want or need that is not found in Him.  The problem is that we look for what we really want in other people who are just a fallible as we are.  We look to be completed in our spouse, we look for our provision in our boss, we look for freedom in our government, we look for self-worth in the compliments from cute girl in the cubicle next to you.

All these venues for a “whole life” fail.  Only God is trustworthy to faithfully and consistently meet our true needs and bring fulfillment at the deepest level in our lives.   He is “the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.”  He is “the LORD, who remains faithful forever.”

The biggest cause of conflict is a sense of unmet expectations.  When we expect people to be, give, and do things that are only found in God we can be sorely disappointed in people.  We can be upset that they did not live up to our expectations or we can realize that we have put our expectations in the wrong place.

APPLICATION:

I will fight the urge to find happiness, fulfillment, or wholeness in any other venue.  Only God can save, and only He is faithful forever.  I will find my help, and place my hope in Him.

PRAYER:

Father, you are my all and all.  There is nothing that I lack in you - I shall not want.  You are my source and my strength.  Help me to fight the urge to seek for fulfillment in any unfruitful place.  Thank you for giving me people in my life, but help me not to give them the place that only you can truly hold in my life.  Thank you, God, for being consistently and forever faithful.  In the name of your son Jesus, I pray - AMEN

Remember The Why In The Midst Of The What

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 3:8

“Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.”

OBSERVATION:

It is interesting how it says that “They restored Jerusalem”.  Obviously, they played a role - they had a section that was their task.  They had a job, but Nehemiah gives a reminder of what they were really doing.  They were really restoring Jerusalem - God’s Holy City.  If you were to walk around the construction site and asked them what they were doing, some would say, “I’m framing.” while others would say “I’m the mortar guy” and others would say “I’m just running around getting these guys tools and water.”  Nehemiah, their leader, saw beyond their individual tasks.  He saw that they were a beautiful symphony of laborers that unified their individual tasks toward a specific purpose - the result was a song called “Restoring Jerusalem.”

The other thing that jumps out at me is that the entire chapter says “Next to him”, “Next to them,” or defines a person or group of people nearly 26 times.  It says their were civil leaders who rolled up their sleeves and got to work, and next to them were local business owners like perfume-makers and goldsmiths, next to religious leaders, next to ordinary community folk.  They all laid down their agendas and their personal expertise and unified  around a common purpose.

APPLICATION:

I imagine the church this way.  This guy next to that guy, next to that family, next to that gal, next to that group, all working toward the common purpose of making disciples.  Maybe if we were to ask what each was doing they might answer, mixing the sound, or setting up tables, or leading a small group, or caring for kids, but I will work hard at building a sense of the big picture in our volunteers.  My hope is to be a reminder that while we may be focused on a specific section, we are building God’s church - we are leading people to Jesus and making disciples.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you for the opportunity to be a part of building your church.  Help us to remember the “Why” in the midst of the “What”.  That while we are doing our section of the puzzle, we would keep the big picture in mind.  Help us to walk side by side with one another in unity and accomplish the great commission “make disciples” by obeying the great commandments “Love the Lord our God” and “Love our neighbors.” In Jesus' name - AMEN!

A Picture Of Ceaseless Prayer

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 2:4-8

“The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.’

 6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, ‘How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?’ It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

 7 I also said to him, ‘If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?’ And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.”

OBSERVATION:

This  passage revealed something to me about prayer and relationship with God.  What really jumps out at me is the picture of a normal and ceaseless prayer life.  Paul talks about prayer without ceasing and about being in constant prayer.  We drum up pictures in out minds about what this looks like.  We imagine being locked up in a prayer closet for most of our day, we imagine walking around focusing on nothing but asking things from God...  Most humans being extreme are typically pulled to two possibilities - we can end up being so heavenly-minded that we are no earthly good, or we can think that ceaseless prayer is impossible so we don’t even try.  Nehemiah, shows us what ceaseless prayer looks like and it is rather normal.

“The King said to me, ‘What do you want?’  Then I PRAYED to the God of heaven and I answered the king.”  When you have the king’s attention you need God’s favor and you don’t have time for a half-hour worship set to get you there.  I love how it says that Nehemiah prayed and answered the king.  I don’t know, but I don’t think he rolled out a prayer carpet and knelt down in prayer for 10 minutes before answering.  I imagine it wen something like, “God help.”  or “Here we go God, do your thing.”  or “Holy Cow!  God, I can’t believe he just asked me what I want.  What should I say?”

APPLICATION:

I want my prayer life to be this normal.  I want to remember to quickly invite God into the “real time” conversations that I am having.  To pray “God help” in those spur-of-the-moment opportunities that have major implications and eternal consequences.  I am going to begin a habit of ceaseless prayer today.

PRAYER:  

Here we go God, do your thing.  In Jesus name - AMEN!

Devotion, Desire, Favor, & Keys - October 7, 2008

Scripture: Ezra 7:6-10

...this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. 7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Observation:

I see a direct correlation between the favor of God toward Ezra and Ezra's devotional life. There are many different ways to accomplish the same task. I think of opening doors to get where you want to be. You can try and pick the lock, but this may take a while. You can get a running start and put your shoulder into it, but you may need some ibuprofen afterward. You can use a battering ram but that can make a real mess of things. Then there is the novel idea of using the key and turning the knob.

I really do believe that the life we want is the life that God intended us to have. Not the superficial/materialistic desires, but the deeper desires of our hearts - peace, joy, hope, acceptance, love, purpose, etc.... Unfortunately, many times we try to open the door to these things thru conniving (picking the lock), brute strength (putting your shoulder into it), or thru the use of other things like a battering ram (the battering ram may be money, status, power). I believe that the door to the deep desires of our hearts has a key that God holds.

Application:

Access to that key is tied in to our access of God's heart. If we grab hold of his heart, like Ezra, through devoting ourselves to scripture and His desires for our life then we will have access to the Key that will open the door to the future God has planned for us. One of internal joy, peace, purpose....

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the hope of a wonderful future in you. Thank you that as I connect myself to you thru my devotional life (prayer, scripture, obedience, etc.) I have favor with you and with men. Doors will be opened to me that take me further into your plan for my life - which really is the desire of my heart.