Author Archives: vickitillman

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About vickitillman

I've finished homeschooling my 5 kids. I still have a life :)
Feb10

Prayer, Doubt, and Unbelief- What’s the Difference and WHY?

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Wow, THAT post title sounds encouraging, huh? What I want to talk about is the DIFFERENCE between doubt and unbelief- and WHY it matters.

I’d like to share a story about doubt and one about unbelief. Then I’d like to challenge you to a special prayer…

Read the story in Matthew 14 of Peter walking on the water (thanks to Biblegateway.com):

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

In this story, Peter had the awesome opportunity to participate in the supernatural. I mean, how many folks get to walk on water? He was doing fine while he was going to Jesus (as in, steering himself in that direction by looking toward Jesus). Then he looked around and saw the wind boisterous- and became afraid. He doubted when he remembered how bad the weather actually was. The DOUBT came from outside him.

Doubt comes from outside. (Remember the story of Adam and Eve in the garden. The serpent sowed doubt by saying, “Hath God truly said…”. It wasn’t Adam and Eve’s idea- it came from an enemy…). The word doubt here is distazo– which literally means dividing your sight- taking your eyes off the thing you should be looking at. It is the result of an enemy from the outside trying to distract you!

When Peter doubted, Jesus fussed at him. Peter was not rejected for his doubt but he certainly was chastised.

Want to see a DIFFERENT reaction from Jesus? Let’s read the story about unbelief in Mark 9 (thanks to Biblegateway.com, again):

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

Jesus didn’t chastise the poor father at all- He just casted out the evil spirit and healed the boy. The father was trying- he believed but his belief was apistia- incomplete faith. The father’s belief was immature.

I think most of us probably fit in the UNBELIEF category at times. In this we are compassed by a great cloud of witnesses (there’s also one of those for the times our faith is spot-on, see Hebrews 11). Take a look at  Psalms 10, 22, and 74- and the whole book of Job for examples of WHY GOD- incomplete faith. God doesn’t fuss at us in these times- it is our job to turn to Him with our honest emotions (anxiety, anger, sadness, fear) and ask for His help and mercy.

So, WHY am I bringing this up?

I ran into the writings of a post-modern so-called theologian, Peter Rollins, who states it is his job to sow doubt into people’s faith. In fact, he says his “Omega Group” will help people loose their Christian faith in just 12 sessions. Ugh. Why would that be pleasing to God? (Well, what does it matter to him, if as he says in one of his stories, there is no God?)

On the other, there are honest wrestlers with faith. You could say that wrestling with faith is unbelief because it is incomplete faith that is longing for answers. That is a good thing. God gave us wrestling minds. So keep wrestling and keep seeking God’s answers. The key is the seeking God and His answers. (Here’s a blog that, in my opinion does some honest wrestling.)

Here’s the prayer project. Ask God to help you grow in your faith, to give you wisdom and understanding, to help your unbelief. Ask Him to protect you from the wiles of the evil one and to help you keep your eyes on Him at all times.

Feb4

Wonder Prayer

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blog pix joanna's flower pixSometimes we look at God’s wonderful works and it is easy to praise Him. Just one look at a clear, starry sky can fill us with wonder!

Sometimes God’s working is mysterious and we don’t understand. Still, in those times we can trust His wonderful work in our lives and praise Him. We can praise Him because He is with us always. We can praise Him because the story isn’t finished yet. We can praise Him simply because He is.

Prayer project:

Psalm 107 is a psalm about God’s wonderful, mysterious works. It is a psalm that helps us see that the events happening are just part of the story. The rest is yet to come- and it is wonderful. Try reading through this psalm with a thoughtful heart. Then go back and read it as a prayer to God.

Psalm 107 King James Version. Thanks to biblegateway.com.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

13 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

15 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.

28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Dec10

Prayer of Willingness

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One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of the angel announcing to Mary that God had chosen her to be the mother of Christ.

What a blessing. And a responsibility. And an opportunity to be ostracized (unwed pregnancy). And overwhelming- can you imagine being the mother of God’s Son?

But Mary did not flinch from her calling. God said it, she would make herself willing to carry out His plan. “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”- Luke 1:38 (KJV biblegateway.com).

I can relax about being asked to do anything for God as huge as Mary’s task. However, each day He asks me to do small things for Him:

-exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control)

-love Him, my neighbor, myself

-abide in Him

I want to be willing, so I pray that God will work Philippians 2:13 in my life “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (KJV, biblegateway.com).

What do you need to be willing to do or experience? Try this: Pray for Him to work in you to will and to do His good pleasure. See what happens!

 

Nov25

Knowing Christ by Name (part 4)

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When we pray, it helps to know who we are praying to. Jesus took the time to tell John some of his names in Revelation 1:8. Each of His names reveal something about him.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. -Revelation 1:8 KJV

The last name he lists here is The Almighty. This is the Greek word pantokrator, which means: Ruler Over All, All Powerful.

In our culture, we are used to athletes and celebrities announcing that they are The Greatest. It is easy to become immune to the truth of Almighty when we are immersed in human hyperbole.

Let’s play an imagination game. Imagine that each of the greatest athletes in the world are pebbles (makes them rock stars, huh?). Imagine that the greatest rock stars are pebbles, too. Imagine the greatest political leader alive is a pebble. Now, line them up. You can have your favorites be twice as big as their peers- but they are still pebbles. Now, imagine God the Son, Jesus- He’s Mt. Everest… or more probably, the entire Milky Way Galaxy.

His power is omnipotent (power without end or bounds).  His power is full of justice, love, grace,and holiness. Another imagination game: imagine a hurricane made up of love, holiness, and justice. Kind of weird, I know, but He is omnipotent, almighty in these ways. When He chooses to exert his Almighty Rule over man and nature, amazing, miraculous things happen- like Calvary, for instance.

Think about The Almighty Christ. Spend some time meditating on this name. How does it affect how you pray?

Nov12

Knowing Christ by Name (Part III)

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Prayer is conversation with God. If we know Him well, we can pray more comfortably. Jesus gave us some of his names in Revelation 1:8:

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. -Revelation 1:8 KJV

The name Lord is the Greek word, Kyrios. It means “master”- a superior person with the right to hold authority. Kyrios is the New Testament translation of the Hebrew word, Jehovah (or Yaweh). Jehovah is God’s name for Himself when He is showing us that He is the Superior, the Covenant Maker and Grace Giver.

A lot to think about: superiority, authority, graciousness all at once. Power and grace. We submit to His authority because of His greatness and His love.

In your prayer time, can you pause and think on His name: Lord– and worship Him?

 

Nov4

Knowing Christ by Name Again

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Prayer is relationship with God. It is easier to have relationship with someone if you know his name. Christ, being God, can’t fit into just one name. Here is another name from Revelation 1:

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. -Revelation 1:8 KJV

Another one of Christ’s names: Which is, and which was, and which is to come.

That’s a long and descriptive name. God told Moses a version of this name in the book of Exodus: “I am that I am“ (Exodus 3:14).

He is the God who IS. There never was a time that He wasn’t. There will never be a time that He isn’t.

We, humans live in linear time. There was a time we weren’t here, we are here right now, but there will come a time we aren’t here (but we will be somewhere else eternally).

God, on the other hand, lives outside of time. He isn’t affected by time, but He can affect time. (Joshua 10 has a story about that).

Since God isn’t stuck in time, He can guide our footsteps. He knows where He is taking us.

As we talk to Christ, who is, who was, and who is to come, we can turn each day and all our future over to Him. He can handle it- He knows what He wants for us.

 

Oct29

Knowing Christ by Name

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Welcome to the new blogsite. Glad you could join. My purpose, as in the former prayer blog, is to enable conversation on prayer.

Prayer is part of our relationship with God. Just like any relationship we talk and listen together.

Relationships deepen as we come to know each other better. God already knows us better than we know ourselves. We can come to know Him better by knowing Him by name.

Here are some ways Christ referred to Himself:

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. -Revelation 1:8 KJV

Here’s a cool bit of trivia about that name “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending”:

For thousands of years, the teachings of the great philosopher, Aristotle, defined how people thought about important things. Aristotle taught that all things had several  “causes”:

One was the efficient cause (which is philosophy-speak for “the being who made a thing”).

One was the final cause (which is philosophy-speak for “the purpose of that thing that was made”).

The Greek word for efficient cause is arche (translated beginning in Revelation 1:8).

The Greek word for final cause is telos (translated ending in Revelation 1:8).

In other words, Christ is saying to us, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the One Who Made Everything AND the Purpose For Which Everything Was Made”.

His name says a lot. He made you (and everything). He made you (and everything) for Himself.

Prayer project: Give a few minutes’ meditation on His name, Alpha and Omega, the Arche and Telos. Give Him praise and ask Him what that means regarding your own purpose in life.