Offering

The second movement in our freedom to COME, is the Offering. This comes as a direct result of the Call.

But in all your prayers ask God for what you need.

Did you hear that? Have you ever recognized that you are being offered prayer to God, as the way to conquer your worry?

Have a look at Jim, who is terribly worried about paying his electricity bill this month, due to unforeseen financial constraints. He is worried to the point of despair almost. You see, he has a wife, a young child, and a baby at home, and they depend heavily, as we all do, on having electricity. Andrew hears about Jim. He calls him and tells him not to worry, just as prayer has called you and told you not to worry. In the same breath, Andrew’s offering of help, to Jim, is that which will totally eradicate Jim’s worry and anxiety. He offers him the needed money as a gift, not a loan. It is Jim’s choice whether to believe and accept, or feel too proud, even in his worried state, to believe that he can really be worry-free, concerning this need.

Paul’s Call for us, not to worry, is followed straightaway with his Offering, that of praying and asking God for what we need. What Paul offers is also that which will completely extricate us from the evil bondage of worry and anxiety. What Paul is offering you and me is the needed resource – prayer power - as a gift, not as a loan to be repaid. Look at the Offering again. But in all your prayers ask God for what you need.

As has been pointed out in this true-life experience, it is Jim’s choice whether to believe and accept Andrew’s offering or disbelieve and refuse this offer, as too good to be true. One of the most deadly and sure killers of belief, if not the most deadly, is pride. Do you know that Jim, even in his worried state, can be so proud, that he is held from believing that he can really be worry-free, concerning his need? Never be fooled! Pride comes in all forms and fashion as the evil deceiver, in some of the most camouflaged garb. He will never ever tell us that we disbelieve our given offering in prayer, yet still we are in a rocking-chair state, perpetuating, upholding and giving visibility to the evils of worry in our lives.

Have you ever stopped to think that Paul is writing in the Spirit? Has it ever arrested you that his inspired words are backed by God, the Holy Spirit? If you and I believe this, then we will pray, we will go to God and ask Him for what we need, believing, by faith, that we will receive. If you know that your need has been taken care of, is there anymore need to worry? This is plain and honest. Think about it!

Return to Andrew and Jim. Now Jim’s light bill has to be paid. The fact is that today, the unpaid bill is still before him – that’s unchanged. The date for the cutting off of the electricity is still on the computerized system – that’s unchanged. His wife and two children have not gone by family members to stay, anticipating the dark times to come. No, they are with him in the house – that’s unchanged. So what then has changed? Yes, you got it perfectly correct. Worry has changed, because Jim now has the resource to meet his debt.

Is this unlike you and me where our problems are concerned? Whatever it is, may remain the same, the actual cause of the worry may remain unchanged, a threat over our heads, but we can change. We must change in mind and heart, for prayer has been offered to us. We pray, we take hold of prayer, because it has been offered to us. But in all your prayers.

Does this not tell me that we are free to pray as often as is needed? Does it not guarantee you the same outcome, each and every time worry would take hold of us? Hasten back to the walkers and their refreshment posts. Remember, each manned post is filled, yes well-stocked with refreshment, in all available and needed forms. The guarantee is that at no time will a participant in this charity walk, be left wanting for refreshment. At no time will any participant come to a post for refreshment, and be told, wait please, not right now, or even be given a definite refusal of no.

At this prayer post, you have come with a free offering for all your prayers. But note that prayer is to God, no other source. Ask God for what you need. Indeed, you must direct all your prayers to God, not just believing, but ensuring that your needs, nothing else are being prayed for. Let you and I be warned sternly however, that if your need is to pacify and satisfy your selfish pride, greed and self-appeasing, you will receive nothing.