IS GOD A 'SPIRITUAL SANTA'?
By Greg Hooker
There are many people who use God as a 'spiritual Santa' - they go to Him in prayer only when they find themselves in need or a bind. The rest of the time the Lord sits in His 'Spiritual Workshop' until the next crisis rolls around and He is once again needed. Now right about here, sadly, I lose many of you because you don't want to hear the truth. But please bear with me.
Is that how you see and use God, a ‘Spiritual Santa’? Is the only time you call upon Him is when you want, or need something? Take a moment and think about that. Is the only time God becomes your God, is when you need a financial favor, a better health report from the doctor, a miracle in your marriage, or a fix on a broken-down-car? If so, then the only thing God is to you is a 'Spiritual Santa' - someone to 'bail you out' when the times get rough.
James 4:3 sums up this scenario: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
The reason most of us do not receive what we pray for is because we "ask amiss". In other words, we ask only when it benefits us - only when we are in 'crisis mode'. James goes on to say that we ask "... that ye may consume it upon your lusts." We ask out of greed and selfishness. We ask of things that are 'luxuries' and not needs.
Let me ask you this: when was the last time you came to God to give 'Him' something - maybe praise, honor, and glory? When was the last time you kneeled before His presence just to thank Him for His goodness? That's what I thought - most of us are using God as a 'Spiritual Santa' - just when we need something from him. Don’t call me, God, I’ll call you.
Here's what James tells us when we ask out of our own lust: "For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord" (James 1:7).
There's your answer. God will not allow Himself to be used as a spiritual Santa. Yes, God does supply our needs, but He is far more concerned about our relationship with Him. After all that is why the Lord created us. Then out of that relationship the Lord will provide for us our needs and then some. But friends, let me be candid, you will not receive anything when you ask amiss - when you use the Lord only as a go-to-Santa. It just doesn't work that way. You are wasting your time and praying to an empty Heaven. "Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."
I know I am stepping on some toes here, but I mean this as a help, not a hinderance. Some people pray only when they need ole Spiritual Santa to reach in His magic bag and pull out a miracle toy for them. The rest of the time they are no where to be found! It's like they fell off the grid. My friends, what's up with that? In your wildest dreams do you think God is going to open the windows of Heaven just because you showed up after months or even years of silence?
Where are you when your brother's and sister's need prayer? Where are you when the Bible tells us to "come before His presence with singing and making melody in our hearts?" Where are you my friends?
"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
Dear Father, help us all to put you first - honor, praise and glorify you. Then, and only then, will your blessings rain down upon our lives. In Jesus name, Pastor Greg.
By Greg Hooker
There are many people who use God as a 'spiritual Santa' - they go to Him in prayer only when they find themselves in need or a bind. The rest of the time the Lord sits in His 'Spiritual Workshop' until the next crisis rolls around and He is once again needed. Now right about here, sadly, I lose many of you because you don't want to hear the truth. But please bear with me.
Is that how you see and use God, a ‘Spiritual Santa’? Is the only time you call upon Him is when you want, or need something? Take a moment and think about that. Is the only time God becomes your God, is when you need a financial favor, a better health report from the doctor, a miracle in your marriage, or a fix on a broken-down-car? If so, then the only thing God is to you is a 'Spiritual Santa' - someone to 'bail you out' when the times get rough.
James 4:3 sums up this scenario: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
The reason most of us do not receive what we pray for is because we "ask amiss". In other words, we ask only when it benefits us - only when we are in 'crisis mode'. James goes on to say that we ask "... that ye may consume it upon your lusts." We ask out of greed and selfishness. We ask of things that are 'luxuries' and not needs.
Let me ask you this: when was the last time you came to God to give 'Him' something - maybe praise, honor, and glory? When was the last time you kneeled before His presence just to thank Him for His goodness? That's what I thought - most of us are using God as a 'Spiritual Santa' - just when we need something from him. Don’t call me, God, I’ll call you.
Here's what James tells us when we ask out of our own lust: "For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord" (James 1:7).
There's your answer. God will not allow Himself to be used as a spiritual Santa. Yes, God does supply our needs, but He is far more concerned about our relationship with Him. After all that is why the Lord created us. Then out of that relationship the Lord will provide for us our needs and then some. But friends, let me be candid, you will not receive anything when you ask amiss - when you use the Lord only as a go-to-Santa. It just doesn't work that way. You are wasting your time and praying to an empty Heaven. "Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."
I know I am stepping on some toes here, but I mean this as a help, not a hinderance. Some people pray only when they need ole Spiritual Santa to reach in His magic bag and pull out a miracle toy for them. The rest of the time they are no where to be found! It's like they fell off the grid. My friends, what's up with that? In your wildest dreams do you think God is going to open the windows of Heaven just because you showed up after months or even years of silence?
Where are you when your brother's and sister's need prayer? Where are you when the Bible tells us to "come before His presence with singing and making melody in our hearts?" Where are you my friends?
"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
Dear Father, help us all to put you first - honor, praise and glorify you. Then, and only then, will your blessings rain down upon our lives. In Jesus name, Pastor Greg.