From the Editors Desk: Lets Change the Conversation Pt 2. More Than Wishing Wells. Understanding Our Role as Gods Servants. God is Not an ATM.

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Hello ePrayer Circle Tribe,

I was thinking of a great movie I recently saw on Netflix, “The Equalizer 3″ starring Denzel Washington. There was a scene of a mobster who would do awful crimes then go into a church and pray. This scene showed the obvious disconnect in being a better person verses talking to God as a wishing well and asking God for success in his business.

Ever feel like you are using God like a wishing well rather than being in a true relationship?  Lets talk about the difference between treating God as an ATM to fulfill our desires and understanding our role as His servants, committed to doing His will. We’ll dive into scriptures and real-life scenarios like the church-going mobster, to uncover genuine faith and the responsibilities that come with it.  Get your coffee or tea or drink and lets go. 

Keywords: change the conversation, wishing well, God, faith, relationships, service, obedience, expectations, prayer, Catholic Church, James 4:8, Matthew 7:7-8, Micah 6:8, Hebrews 10:26, John 13:15, Netflix, Equalizer 3, Denzel Washington, free online bible lessons, free bible study, 45 days to study the Gospel

 

 

The Wishing Well Fallacy:

Imagine a magic well that grants any wish you throw in. That’s how some folks, even well-meaning ones, can see God. Pray for a new car, poof! Pray for good grades, done! But treating God like a cosmic vending machine misses the heart of faith.

Setting the Record Straight:

God isn’t our servant, handing out goodies like a genie in a bottle. He’s our Deliverer, saving us from sin and darkness. Just like the Israelites weren’t freed from Egypt to sit back and expect manna to fall from the sky, we have a part to play. Think of it like a big team project – God provides the strength and guidance, but we gotta step up and do our part.

Scriptures to Guide Us:

The Bible is full of reminders about our role as God’s servants. James 4:8 tells us, ““Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

It’s a two-way street, not a one-sided wish list. Matthew 7:7-8 encourages us to “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” God wants us to actively engage, not just throw random desires into the air.

From Church Pews to Everyday Action:

A scene in the movie The Equalizer 3 starring Denzel Washington highlights the disconnect between prayer and living a God-pleasing life.   I saw this movie on Netflix. It is a great.

In a chilling display of ruthless power, the mobster orchestrates the gruesome hanging of a helpless elderly man. The brutality, meant to scare the entire town into submission, leaves a heavy weight of dread and injustice on the town. 

Yet, amidst the fear and moral decay, the mobster seeks solace in prayer, entering the quiet space of a church. His friend, observing, confronts him with a biting question: “Are you praying? I don’t think God is listening.”

This brief exchange packs a powerful punch. It shows the disconnect between the mobster’s outward act of piety and the brutal violence he just condoned. His prayer comes across as hollow, a desperate attempt to find comfort in a higher power (Jesus Christ) while clinging to a life steeped in sin and immorality.

This scene offers a potent commentary on the danger of treating faith as a mere tool for personal gain or seeking absolution without true remorse or change. It shows the disconnect between seeking God’s favor and aligning one’s actions with His principles.

Micah 6:8 sums it up nicely: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” God wants us to be better people, not just better wishers.

Serving, Not Self-Serving:

John 13:15 KJV gives us a beautiful image of what servanthood looks like: “I have set an example for you that you should do as I have done for you.” Jesus, the Son of God, chose to serve. So should we. Hebrews 10:25-26 KJV tells us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaine no more sacrifice for sins,”

Our service isn’t just about individual prayers; it’s about building each other up and living in community.

Beyond the Big Wishes:

The truth is, God knows what we need before we even ask. Our prayers should be less about demanding things and more about aligning ourselves with His will. It’s about listening, surrendering our desires, and stepping into our role as active participants in His grand plan.

So, ditch the wishing well mentality and embrace your calling as God’s servant. Serve Him with open hearts and dedicated actions, and watch the real magic unfold, not from some cosmic jackpot, but from the joy of living a life truly connected to our Deliverer.

Remember, this is just a starting point. There’s so much more to explore in scriptures and in your own journey. Keep seeking, keep serving, and keep growing in your relationship with God. He’s not a wishing well to exploit, but a loving Father to walk alongside with open arms.

• What does genuine faith look like to you? Is it solely about prayer and rituals, or does it involve actively aligning one’s actions with moral principles?  It is important to see ourselves the way God sees us and not the way we think we are. Ask God to reveal to you how he sees you so that you may repent, correct and deepen your relationship with him. 

 

Walk in peace and grace,

 

 

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CALL TO SALVATION:

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9-10  9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. 

John 3:5-6  5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is the Spirit.