Martin Wiles tells us, "I’m a snake
handler of sorts.
Snakes fascinate me. I’ve never
been afraid of any snake as long
as I see it first, but my wife is
terrified of all snakes.
She was once sitting on our front porch when I brought her
a black snake I found lying in our back yard.
Her high pitched screams, horrified expression, and stern
words convinced me it wasn’t a good present.
Jesus mentioned snakes when teaching about prayer.
We should ask, seek, and knock because our heavenly
Father wants to give us our heart’s desires and will when
they’re in his will.
But what father, if his son asks for a fish, will give him
a snake?
Sometimes we pray for snakes, and when we do, God
doesn’t grant our requests.
 |
| What's your snake? |
Snakes are things outside God’s will for
our life.
While on his second missionary journey,
Paul experienced two occasions when
God’s Spirit forbade him to go into
regions he wanted to visit.
His desire wasn’t sinful, it just wasn’t
God’s plan for him to head in that
direction.
Snakes are attitudes, actions, and thoughts outside God’s will.
Praying with ulterior motives and sinful attitudes or acting in
ungodly ways places us in the company of poisonous snakes
and we’ll be bitten by God’s discipline.
Snakes are also things outside God’s timing.
David’s prayer asking God to let him construct a temple
wasn’t sinful, it just wasn’t the right time. He was a warrior.
Temple building was for peace. David’s son Solomon built it
with the inheritance from his father.
Learn to know God’s mind better through spiritual disciplines,
and when you do you’ll be less likely to pray for snakes."
"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a
stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?"
Matthew 7:9-10
Praying for Snakes – Martin Wiles
Photo courtesy of freeditigalphotos.net and Victor Habbick.
Martin Wiles is a native South Carolinian,
author and speaker currently residing in
Hodges, South Carolina.
He and his wife Michelle are the founders of
Love Lines From God
http://www.lovelinesfromgod.com/.
Wiles has authored Morning By Morning,
Morning Serenity and Grace Greater Than Sin and has served
as a regional correspondent for the Baptist Courier.
He has also been published in Proclaim, Secret Place ,Word
Magic and Fires of Genius.
He is a regular contributor to Christian Devotions, Christian
Writers, PCCWebDaily, The WOW Blog, Faith Writers, The
Eagle Record, and the Common Ground Herald.
Read Martin’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!
Used by permission www.christiandevotions.us
Let’s pray: Father, help me learn to know God’s mind better
through spiritual disciplines, and that when I do I’ll be less
likely to pray for snakes! In Jesus' name, amen.
through spiritual disciplines, and that when I do I’ll be less
likely to pray for snakes! In Jesus' name, amen.
Our Scripture for encouragement: Prov. 2:6 NIV "For the
LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding."
LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding."
Today’s quote:
simply happen to them. They float along. They wait. They react.
And by the time a large portion of their life is behind them, they
realize they should have been more proactive and strategic. I
hope that hasn’t been true for you.
If it has, then I want to encourage you to develop a stronger
sense of urgency and a pro-strategic mind-set. These things will
help you plan and develop strategies for your life and growth.
It’s not too late to maximize growth in 2013.” [1/01/13]
simply happen to them. They float along. They wait. They react.
And by the time a large portion of their life is behind them, they
realize they should have been more proactive and strategic. I
hope that hasn’t been true for you.
If it has, then I want to encourage you to develop a stronger
sense of urgency and a pro-strategic mind-set. These things will
help you plan and develop strategies for your life and growth.
It’s not too late to maximize growth in 2013.” [1/01/13]
Our thought for today: God tests us to see if we're still
willing to obey Him.
willing to obey Him.
Tomorrow’s post: Somewhere Down the Road Martin Wiles
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and one day pass down to her children. - Elaine W. Miller,
Speaker and Author of three books including,
We All Married Idiots: Three Things You'll Never Change
About Your Life and Ten Things You Can.
| Splashes of Serenity |
| elainewmiller.blogspot.com |
A 31-day devotional book for
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