Zechariah 10, James 4

(Zechariah 10)

Name it and claim it, right? Wrong. We are sometimes so confused on how prayer should really work. Does God really want to bless us? Yes. But does He bless in His language of love or ours? I’d be lying if I said I knew for sure how that worked, so would both of us, but it seems He blesses in both ways. We just seem to see it mostly in our terms. One thing we can be assured of, His blessings are timely and appropriate. Zechariah says, “Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.”

There is so much more in this scripture than just asking God for rain. It talks about a timing (springtime) in which the result of this prayer is most effective. It recognizes God as the provider of not only the rain, but also the storm clouds that they come from, and reminds us that the fruit of that rain is available to all. How cool is our God?

Father, may we seek your best as we pray. May we seek your timing and trust your provision to provide fruit not only for us, but also for others. Take away our selfish prayers, dear Lord, that all may see your Glory and love.

(James 4)

“You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

What do we do with this scripture? That completely depends on how you interpret what it’s saying. So many times we use it as an indictment on another person for having friendships with those who are not Christ followers. So many times we feel like it means to stay far away from the word and keep isolated as believers, out of protection. If so, it would significantly impact the ways believers should do church or ministry. But I don’t think that is what it’s saying. This scripture does not tell us to keep away from people, instead it tells us, to keep away from having affection for their ways.

The word friendship comes from the Greek word meaning “actively fond”. To take it a bit further, let’s look at what the dictionary says about the word “fond”. It’s defined as having a liking or affection for. Loving. It even goes so far as to describe it as excessively tender or overindulgent or cherished. The root of the word “fond” means foolishly credulous our trusting. That’s awfully telling in my book.

This scripture is not a calling to isolation. Remember, isolation does not mean holiness or purity. Jesus did not remain isolated from the world. But NEVER and I mean NEVER did he hold affection for the methods of the world. Never did he have a sense of overindulgence or cherish the world’s ways, much less find a trust in them.

I believe with all my heart that this is what this scripture means. If we find places in our hearts that cherish the methods and ways of the world, we have to do business with it. Understand that those methods and ways are the ways that required the death of Christ on the cross, the exact opposite of God’s ways and standards. Scripture tells us that when we are in that place, we become enemies of God. If you were look at the original text, you would see that the word enemy is the same word to describe Satan. It’s that significant.

God, help me identify in my life, the areas in which I still use worldly standards as my base foundation. Give me distaste for those ways. Give me strength and wisdom to turn to you and place them at your feet and seek your ways as we seek to be used in this world in a way that shows your love. “For God so loved the WORLD, that He gave His only begotten Son.”