How Do I Pray?

     Until a few years ago, I didn't have much of a prayer life. Like many misguided Christians, I prayed only when I really needed (or believed I needed) or wanted something or when my life was in turmoil. 
     I even stopped praying for a long time because I felt the words of my prayers were too inadequate to present to God. Others just seemed more eloquent in their prayer presentations. While I stuttered and stammered to find words to form even one sentence, others said prayers which seemed to last an hour. I felt I wasn't faithful enough. The idea that maybe I didn't love God as much as they did broke my heart. That had to be why it seemed God wasn't answering my prayers. I didn't realize at that time He answers every prayer. It simply may not be answered in the way we hoped.
     Fortunately, God provided me with insight which brought new meaning to the blessing of prayer. He led me to the right people who, along with inspired bible study, helped me learn what God really desires.
     So, is there a right way to pray? I believe there is. Jesus gave us what we know as the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Although it is a perfect prayer, Jesus didn't mean we were to pray His words verbatim every time we pray. I believe Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer as a blueprint for our own prayers. In Matthew 6:9, Jesus instructs us, "in this manner, therefore, pray:" He does not say we must pray His exact words.
     The following is a my breakdown of the Lord's Prayer and how we can use it to develop a richer prayer life:
     "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Your name." ~ Here we admit God is above all else and His name will forever remain the holiest of names. Without Him, none of us would exist. Praise Him. Thank him for everything. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
     "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." ~ Here, we acknowledge that from the beginning of time, through the glorious time we live in heaven, nothing can happen unless it is His will.
     "Give us this day our daily bread" ~ This is the part of proper prayer everyone seems to remember. The asking for our needs, or perceived needs to be met by God. Always remember God knows better what you need. He knows if something is beneficial to your growth or whether you are ready for it at that time.
     "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." ~ We must always ask for forgiveness of our sins. Whether we realize it or not, we commit sins each and every day. If someone betrays you and apologizes, then betrays you again, does the apology account for both offenses or just the first one? Not really. Why then do we assume if we ask for forgiveness from God, that it covers every offense we may commit in our lives? Jesus also tells us we must forgive our debtors, those who harm us, before God will forgive us (Matthew 6:14-15).
     "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen." ~ God doesn't actually tempt us into sin, but He does allow temptation to happen. If there was no temptation, there would be no true free will. Here we are actually asking Him to give us the strength to overcome temptation (sent by Satan) in His name. At the end of the prayer, we are again praising Him and acknowledging His power over everything.

     I have had many questions about prayer through the years. Some of them I have found answers to, while others remain elusive. I have listed ones I have found answers to below. If you have any other questions regarding prayer, let me know. I would love to find an answer and post it.

1. Why can't I pray as well as others? Does it mean they love God more?
~ Matthew 6:5 Jesus tells us, "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward."
2. What is vain repetition?
~ In Matthew 6:7, Jesus tells the masses, "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they will be heard for their many words." What Jesus means by vain repetition is the non-feeling droning on of memorized verses or prayers. God doesn't want that. He wants us to love Him. He wants us to communicate with Him because we want to, not because 'it's the thing to do' or because we are 'supposed to'. What we pray to God should be from our heart, not from memory or some
doctrinal rule. 
3. Is it okay to pray to saints or others instead of God?
~ There is nowhere in the bible which suggests praying through any mediator other than Jesus.
~ Ephesians 6:18  states, "praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for the saints-" (italics mine) Notice it does not say to pray to the saints, but rather for.
~ 1 Timothy 2:5 "for there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus."

My husband once told me of a priest he once knew who said to him about praying to saints,"why go through a middle man when you can go directly to the source."
4. How often should I pray? ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to, "pray without ceasing." This outright tells us we cannot pray too much or too often.
5. I don't need anything. What do I pray about?
~ Don't only pray when you want something. Think of it this way.... How would you feel if everyone you knew did nothing but ask you for things. If they never said thank you or even acknowledged you for anything you ever did or said. He wants us to share everything with Him, sorrows and joys. He wants to have the same relationship with us as He had with Enoch. 
   
     In short, pray unceasingly from your heart. Pray during good times and bad. Most importantly, pray to God.

About Me and My Blog

          Hi. My name is Jenna. Today I am embarking on a new journey to become a better Christian. I hope you will join me as I learn about God, Jesus, and the Word. I am not a scholar. I am no biblical genius. I am simply a woman on fire for the Lord who is searching for the Truth.
          While I was growing up, witchcraft ("white witchcraft" - like Glenda the Good in Oz), esp, spells, telekinesis, out of body experience, and more were common terms used in our household and those of our extended family.
          As you can tell, I wasn't raised as a Christian in the true sense of the word. I was raised in what is called "Christian Metaphysics," which in all actuality is an oxymoron. 
          Although I was taught about Jesus and God, I was not taught their true nature. I was taught They were constantly scrutinizing and waiting for every failure. That I would be punished ten-fold for every little thing I did wrong. I didn't know about the forgiveness granted to us by Christ's death. I lived until I was in my forties believing I was doomed to hell because I kept failing God. With pressure like that, it is no wonder I tried to commit suicide several times.
          Old habits die hard. Even after I had learned about the love and forgiveness of God's nature, what I had been raised with kept rearing it's ugly head, keeping me down on myself and feeling unworthy. 
          Sadly, it took the sudden death of my 23 year old son, Christopher for me to finally learn the true power and love of God. I was so distraught, all I could think of was the horrible way Christopher died and ways I wanted to end my life. I didn't fear dying or even going to hell for suicide. The love and compassion for my younger son, Jon, and my husband were the only things that kept me alive. I couldn't add to their pain by adding my own death onto their shoulders.
          I was so angry at God one night I screamed at Him, "You promised you would never give more than I could bear! But You lied! You gave me way more! I give it all back to you! I don't want any of it anymore!" I pictured in my mind being struck down for my insolence, but I didn't care.
          The very next day I received a message from my father's sister, both of whom I had been searching for for 30 years. She found me by "accident" and I found her message on a website I hadn't been on in over a year by "accident." Some say it is purely coincidence. But the timing was just to perfect and proved to me it was a gift from God. A salve for cover some of the pain I was experiencing.
          After that day, I have wanted nothing as much as I have wanted to learn the true Word of God and to share it with whomever I can. 
          In this blog, I use the New King James Version of the Bible. It is simply personal preference. I do not believe it is better or worse than any other version. Feel free to use which ever version you prefer, but keep in mind, not all versions say the exact thing and often can be interpreted differently. I also use a lot of direct scripture to back up what I say.
          I hope you find some knowledge, encouragement, and or hope in what I write. 

God Bless!

           
       

Drums: Devil's Music?

Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fire wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. ~ 2 Samuel 6:5

      Recently I was speaking with a friend about how traditional the music we sing in our congregation is and how I wish we could mix it up a little with songs of a slightly more contemporary style. My friend vehemently disagreed with me stating something to the effect that drum's and music with a beat were the devil's music. Her reasoning was music with a beat made you want to move your body in sinful ways. She told me even Ellen G. White, pioneer of the Seventh-day Adventist movement stated it was evil.

       First, let me list some definitions of instruments in the bible:

Timbrel or tabret (the tof of the ancient Hebrews, the deff of Islam, the adufe of the Moors of Spain), the principle instrument of percussion of the Israelites, similar to the modern tambourine - Wikipedia

The timbrel is used in the Old Testament in both singular and plural form, so as to suggest the former referred to a hoop of wood or metal over which was stretched a parchment head; while the latter was perhaps used to designate the tambourine with bells or jangles fixed at intervals in hoops. In Nahum 2:7, where the word "tabering" occurs, it means beating on the breast, as drummers beat on the tabret.  - Wikipedia

timbrel: n. a small hand drum or tambourine - Merriam-Webster

Bible Achaeology

Examples of timbrels or tabret being used in the bible:

Job 21:12  They sing to the timbrel and harp and rejoice at the sound of the flute.

Psalm 150:4  Praise Him with timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

Psalm 81:2  Raise a song, strike the timbrel, the sweet sounding lyre and harp.

Psalm 149:3  Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to him with timbrel and lyre.

Exodus 15:20  Then Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

I  Chronicles 13:8  Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.

Psalm 68:25  The singers went before,  the players on instruments followed after; among them were maidens playing timbrels.

     Proponents of the belief drums are evil, devil music, etcetera, use different sources to advocate their position. Some Seventh-day Adventists misinterpret Ellen G. White's words in her book Selected Messages Book 2, pg 36 as to mean all drums and music with a beat/rhythm are of the devil. What they fail to realize is she is referring to a particular for of fanaticism called the Holy Flesh Doctrine which had occurred at some revival meetings teaching what is called the Gethsemane Experience (EGW - Selected Messages Book 2 pg 31). If Mrs. White was referring to drums in her criticism of the Holy Flesh Doctrine, she would also be condemning organs, flutes, tambourines, fiddles, horns, singing, shouting and praying as they were also used in the same rituals. But in fact, she was not condemning the use of these things, but condemning the manner in which they were used.

          

          Others believe Ezekiel 28 is referring to Satan. In it, God describes the King of Tyre as once having been righteous in every way but then being overcome by pride and greed. This is similar to the fall of Lucifer. Lucifer took upon himself the glory of which solely belonged to God. God appoints kings. The King of Tyre took what God had anointed him with and perverted it into something ugly and evil. The prophecy of the King of Tyre has also been fully fulfilled. The prophecy of Lucifer will not come to pass until the end times. Ezekiel 28:13 says, "The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created." Perhaps some believe if Ezekiel 28 is about Satan, then the use of timbrels (hand drums or tambourines) and pipes must be satanic. But how can this be when they are also used many times throughout the bible to show praises to the Lord? It is a case of do we take a likely misinterpreted scripture as truth over several others which are plain to understand? Perhaps only prayer and God can answer the question for us.

 My conclusion: 

         A tambourine/timbrel is a type of hand drum with cymbals on it. It has been proven these are used by the Psalmists to glorify the Lord. If these were acceptable to God, would drums with cymbals really be all that different? After all, they are the same as a tambourine (timbrel), only bigger. Bongos and other hand drums aren't much different other than their size and no cymbals. Personally I do not believe the instrument has anything to do with whether it would be pleasing to God. I believe it is HOW it is used and where your heart is at when you use it. Just as many of us cannot carry a tune even with a bucket and our singing makes other cringe, God considers our singing beautiful if done with a heart for him.
          Anything can be used in an evil manner. Dancing can be a beautiful expression of emotion which can bring someone closer to God. It can also be used as enticement of the flesh, or to bring about worldly desires or emotions. If we were to eliminate everything in life which can be used to entice us to sin, we would have to cut out virtually every aspect of life, including individual thought. Although this may seem a bit of an exaggeration, consider how Satan often uses our own thoughts as weapons against us. Satan even twisted God's words in such a way when speaking to Eve in the Garden that she actually believed she wasn't doing wrong. That is why we should always check everything with prayer and the Word of God before we take it to heart.

Where Do We Go From Here? - State of the Dead

 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. Luke 12:37

          Who more than a mother who has lost a child can possibly want to cling to the thought of our loved ones going to heaven when they die? To think of our child frolicking happily, pain-free, spreading wings of lavish white feathers, being entertained by family who have arrived before them. To think of them beside us when we cry, watching over us as we experience life's joys and sorrows.  Do we truly "follow the white light" to the gates of heaven? Is this all biblically based? Or is it a misinterpretation of a few key scriptures, easier to believe because it is much more appealing than the alternatives? What are the alternatives?
          All my life I believed in heaven and hell. I've believed those who experienced violent or sudden deaths sometimes got lost "in between" because either they did not realize they were dead, or they had unfinished business to attend to before they could "follow the light", or that our refusal to let them go in our hearts would hinder their ascending to heaven. I've also believed some remain with vengeance in mind, while others were sent back to help other people as guardian angels. You may think of these beliefs as wacky or you may agree. The point is, these are things many people believe without any biblical foundation to back it up. Many will fight tooth and nail to protect what they believe even if it can't be proven with scripture. I personally was ready for war when the idea of not going to heaven the moment we died was presented to me. No way could that be true! But is it? I had to prove this theory wrong, and believe me, I tried.
          There is so much information in the bible and on the web about this subject it can be hard to know what to believe. Both sides sound so convincing. I will be listing scriptures which I believe will make it clear what the bible says. I will also be listing scriptures which represent the beliefs of those who believe different than I do. I may add a note in blue with a scripture to show how I read it just for food for thought. Please feel free to add scriptures for both sides in comments if I have missed any. I will be happy to add them.

Scriptures Used to Support We Go to Heaven When We Die
Followed by what I have found in the Bible

1. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ~  So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (Absent from the body-present with the Lord does not necessarily mean that we will actually be in the presence of the Lord the moment we die. If we are asleep when we die and know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6) as the bible says, the last thing we will remember is being alive, the next we will know is being in the presence of the Lord. This does not mean no time passes in between. Hundreds of years can pass and we will not know it. In our conscious thought it is but a moment. In reality it isn't.)
2. Philippians 1:21-23 ~  "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.  (Again, the next conscious thought after dying will be being in the presence of the Lord. Not necessarily meaning no time passes.)
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 ~  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.           
4. John 3:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.     (If we are go directly to heaven, why would we be asleep in Jesus? “God will bring with Him” means when Jesus returns to heaven after the second coming. “those who sleep in Jesus” is evidence we spend time “asleep” or dead before we go with Jesus to heaven. There does not seem to be any evidence to support this scripture meaning anything but that. 
5. 1 Corinthians 15:51 ~  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.                     (If this verse were taken on its own merits, one could assume by "We shall not all sleep" that some of us will go directly to heaven. But, if you take the next verse into account with it, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed," the meaning is plain. "At the last trumpet" are the key words to the meaning here.
6. Luke 23:43 ~  And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”                         (In the time the bible was written, punctuation did not exist. If you take what Jesus says here and read it how it was written originally, "Assuredly I say to you today you will be with me in Paradise", it takes on a completely different meaning)
7. John 11:25 ~  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.                                                                                 “though he may die, he shall live” : These words plainly state that we will die. But in the end, if we die in the Lord, we shall live. In other words, we will not die an eternal death, ever. We will be risen again from our “sleep” to live with Jesus and God when Jesus returns to earth. This scripture does not say that we will live instantly after we die. So if we wish to follow the word of God, what should we believe?
8. John 12:26 ~  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.                                             Many believe that this means we will go to heaven immediately after we die, which has always puzzled me even before I decided to really study the bible, which was often not what I was taught. If we serve Jesus, His Heavenly “Father will honor us.” When we are resurrected in the end times, will not God be honoring us? He will be honoring us by not letting us die the eternal death. He will be honoring us by allowing us to live in the the holy city with Jesus for all eternity. This verse really does not say anything about going to heaven the moment we die as far as I can tell.

OT Scriptures Supporting Death as a Sleep Until Christ Returns:

(This list is quite extensive. Please be patient, I am listing all for accuracy)

1. 2 Samuel 7:12 ~  "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
2. Deuteronomy 31:16 ~  And the Lord said to Moses: "behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them."
3. 1 Kings 2:10 ~  So David rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David.
4. 1 Kings 11:43 ~  Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
5. 1 Kings 14:20 ~  The period Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years. So he rested with his fathers. Then Nadab his son reigned in his place.
6. 1 Kings 16:6 ~  So Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah. Then Elah his son reigned in his place.
7. 1 Kings 22:50 ~  And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
8. 2 Kings 14:16 ~  So Jehoash rested with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.
9. 2 Kings 15:7 ~  So Azariah rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.
10. 2 Kings 16:20 ~  So Ahaz rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.
11. 2 Kings 20:21 ~  So Hezekiah rested with his fathers. Then Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
12. 2 Kings 21:18 ~  So Manasseh rested with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. Then his son Amon reigned in his place.
13. Job 14:10-12 ~  But man dies and is laid away; indeed he breathes his last and where is he? As water disappears from the sea, and a river becomes parched and dries up, so man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep.
14. Psalms 13:3 ~  Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.
15. Psalms 17:15 ~  As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
16. Isaiah 26:19 ~  Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
17. Jeremiah 51:39 ~  In their excitement I will prepare their feasts, I will make them drunk, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep and not awake,: says the Lord.
18. Jeremiah 51:57 ~  "And I will make drunk her princes and wise men, her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men. And they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not awake," says the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
19. Daniel 12:2 ~  And any of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

          Now that I have come to the last of the Old Testament scriptures I could find on death as a sleep, I should add that many believe that only those who died before Christ do not ascend to heaven directly after death. Their reasoning, or so I have been told, is that having died before Christ was born, they could not have died in Christ. But those who were righteous before Christ will still be allowed into heaven. Though this makes a convincing argument, I have yet to find anyone who can point to scripture which backs this theory up.

NT Scriptures Supporting Death as a Sleep Until Christ Returns:

1. Matthew 9:24 ~  He said to them, "Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping."
2. Mark 5:39 ~  When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping."
3. Luke 8:52-53 ~  Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping." And they ridiculed him, knowing that she was dead.
4. John 11:11-14 ~  These things He said, ad after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead."
5. Acts 7:60 ~  Then he knelt down and cried in a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.                                                                               (The man did not simply lay down to take a nap. He died.)
6. 1 Corinthians 15:6 ~  After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
7. 1 Corinthians 15:20 ~  But now Christ is risen form the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
8. Ephesians 5:14 ~  Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."
9. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 ~  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.     (If you take verse 15 along with verses 13 and 14, you can clearly see those who are asleep in Christ will precede us. They cannot precede us if we are already in heaven. Those who are asleep in Christ will be raised from the dead when Christ returns. Paul does not say anyone will come down in the clouds with Christ. - Consider this, Psalm 146:4 and Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10, state the dead have no thoughts. If they have no thoughts, they couldn't possibly be aware of the passage of time. So from your last aware moment (right before you die), to your next aware moment (the moment you see the Lord upon resurrection in the last days) would seem like “the blink of an eye”.)

          I am sure I have missed some scriptures in the bible which will support one of these beliefs. If you find any, please let me know. I am more than happy to list them.