A nation that trust in God

Rick Hawbaker Praying 4 U Ministries

“So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan.” ~ 1 Samuel 13:22 (NKJV).

The Israelites were badly outnumbered by the Philistines in this story of Saul and Jonathan heading into battle and we are told in scripture that they were at a huge technological disadvantage. The only way they could win was to become a nation that trust in God for everything!

The way things are stacking up against us, I think God is building our nation to become one that will trust in Him for everything. We need to drop to our knees, pray for our nation, pray for patience, and trust in Him for everything.  

It is time for us to shine and not whine. Be thankful for all the things you have and walk in victory with JESUS. He is our all in all and our goodness is nothing without Him.

King David wrote in Psalm 16, “…you are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from you.” Hmmm. David had figured out that he was nothing without God. Maybe that is why David is said to be a man after God’s own heart.

We, too, need to surrender to the LORD, ask for forgiveness, repent, and come to know that our goodness is nothing without Him.

 

Soldier of the Lord,

 

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4 U Ministries

Go to the LORD with expectancy

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” ~ Luke 1:37 (NKJV).

It really seems odd to me that knowing ‘for with God nothing will be impossible’ that I have not seen more miracles in the years I have been on earth.

Where were the miracles when I was a child going to church with my family? Where were they when my wife and I  raised our children. We read about the miracles God did through Jesus, but I can’t recall a single miracle in those days that happened to any of the people.

I think the major difference is that now I hang with people who go to the LORD with expectancy.  We now expect God to show up and that’s why I am seeing miracles. If you don’t expect anything to happen when you pray, then probably nothing is going to happen.  

God’s holy word in Jeremiah 32:17 (NKJV) says, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” 

Tap into the Kingdom power. You will see the mighty power of God flow through you just as it did JESUS. That is what we were missing years ago and that is why nothing happened. We were connected to the power source but didn't ask for and didn't expect anything to happen.

 

Walk with the conviction that all things are possible because they are!

 

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4 U Ministries

 

 

Thank You Papa!

Rick Hawbaker, Praying 4 U Ministries

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV).

Thanksgiving Day has come again. I am truly thankful for many things. I am thankful that my first love in life has become the LORD God Almighty. I am thankful for God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, His word, grace, forgiveness, salvation, unending love, and more.

I am thankful for my wife, my family, my home, my job, my health, my friends, and more. I am thankful for clean air, fresh water, the many freedoms we enjoy, and for days off.

But the thing I am most thankful for is the ability I have to feel the very presence of God. I have moved from having the holy spirit  in me to being able to feel His warmth upon me. I am loving it and I know He loves it and wants the same for you. 

I only felt God’s presence previously when I was having a spiritual high at family camps, men’s retreats or advances.  I have now grown closer to my Father, my shepherd, as I pray with friends or as I seek Him in solitude. After years of following me and chasing after me, I have become the follower and am chasing Him.

Through praying for others, studying His word, and spending time alone with God seeking to build a relationship with Him, I have become closer to my Father. I now feel I truly walk in the presence of God and have him upon me. I am not alone as I go through everyday life situations releasing His presence.

What a great life together God and I have going on. I am only sorry I didn’t surrender to Him sooner and come to experience His presence like I do now every day. How simple it is. He loves me and I love Him. That's it!

The greatest way to experience His presence is to release His presence to others. You do that by telling others what he has done in the past and what He is doing in your life and in the lives of others around you.

I am thankful that the list of things I am thankful for goes on and on.  It is unending just like the love He has for me and the love I have for Him. I have been greatly blessed to have been chosen to be a son of God and to have inherited His kingdom.

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” ~ Revelation 7:12 (NKJV).

Thank You Papa!

 

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4 U Ministries

Jesus intercedes for us...

“And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”” ~ Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV).

Knowing that Jesus is praying for us and interceding on our behalf to the LORD God Almighty blows me over, but yet it encourages and comforts me, and makes me strong.

This scripture refers to the fact that there is a spiritual battle going on for us. Evil is out to destroy us, but Jesus is the Savior of the world and He intercedes for us. “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” ~ 1 John 2:1

Jesus knew Peter was going to fail and was going to deny Him, just like he knows we are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 8:34 tells us, “He is at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us.”

Surrounded by evil in this dark world, we must stand firm and draw on the strength of the LORD. When we have fallen, be encouraged to know that God is waiting to restore anyone who repents.

Jesus will strengthen us with His prayers and like God's word says we are to “strengthen your brethren”. When we deny Jesus in any way, return to Him immediately, ask for forgiveness, be restored, and reach out to strengthen your brothers and sisters.

Our mighty Savior has the power to defeat all things known and unknown. He can rescue you from outer darkness. Come to know Him and walk daily in His presence.

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them”. Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV).

 

Go JESUS!

 

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4 U Ministries

Carrying the breathe of God…

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” ~ Genesis 2:7 - (NKJV).

We are all carriers of the breathe of God. Are you building up others daily so that they can face and overcome the mountains that are before them? Or are you running everyone down around you as you nag and complain about everything. Maybe you don’t see the mighty works of our creator around you.

My life is full of the LORD as I see him in every blade of grass, on mountain tops and in dry valleys. I hear him as children play on the swings and splash in water. I feel him as I reach out to others and when others reach out to me.

In God’s Holy Word in the Book of Job, Elihu, one of Job’s friends tells Job, “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” ~ Job 33:4 (NKJV).

The breathe of life that Elihu is telling Job about is the very same spirit that was breathed by God into man as He formed him from dust in Genesis 2:7.

Take a deep breathe of the living God and get out and help others as that is the greatest way to obey God. Build each other up and join together in furthering the kingdom.

JESUS told the apostles as He commissioned them, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” ~ John 20:21-22 (NKJV).

May you so be filled with the love of Christ that you roll over people daily as you bring heaven to earth. No matter how much or how little you have, give to someone with less. Become the very hands and feet of JESUS!

 

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4 U Ministries

Wait on the LORD...

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” ~ Psalm 27:14 (NKJV).

You have probably heard this bible verse quoted many times. I know I have. But have you ever considered that the “wait” in the thought ‘wait on the LORD’, may mean to actually wait as a waiter or waitress on the LORD? Like you actually serve him?

I love my friends and all they bring to the table for us all to ponder. We certainly do sharpen one another. A friend tossed out this idea the other day. Does ‘wait on the LORD’ mean to serve the LORD while you wait for something to happen?

I am thinking that as God told us to ‘wait’, that he didn’t mean for us to literally wait, like just lay around in the weeds and wait for him to do something.  No, he probably did mean exactly what my friend suggested. We are to wait on the LORD as a servant of his.

As we wait on the LORD, we can do a lot of helping others and loving on each other. God likes this idea and the angels are dancing for sure. This serving others may prepare us to get our answer we are waiting for sooner.

It is not so easy for us to wait for anything. It is one of the hardest things to do. There are many examples in the bible of those who waited on the LORD and those who didn’t.  Being able to wait on the LORD is a great quality of a man of God.

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.” ~Psalm 130:5 (NKJV).

Soldier of the LORD,

Rick Hawbaker

Praying 4-U Ministries