Kind Awakening

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find.” Matthew 7:7 (KJV) One of the deepest struggles believers face is unanswered prayer. Many quietly wonder: • “Why didn’t God answer?”   • “Did I pray wrong?”   • “Does God even hear me?” Often the issue is not whether God hears. It is how we understand prayer itself. I. Prayer Is More Than Requesting Things Many approach prayer primarily as a way to obtain results. • Fix this problem   • Remove this pain   • Give me this outcome While Scripture absolutely encourages bringing requests to God, prayer is meant to be more than a spiritual transaction. Prayer is relationship. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” James 4:8 (KJV) At its core, prayer is communion with the Father. II. James 4 and Misaligned Motives Scripture does address unanswered prayer directly. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.” James 4:3 (KJV) This does not mean every unanswered prayer comes from sinfu...

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) “Give it to God.” Few phrases are repeated more often in Christian conversations. Yet many people quietly wonder: What does that actually mean? Because surrender sounds simple until control feels threatened. I. Surrender Is More Than Words Many people say: “God, I trust You.” But internally they continue: • Replaying the situation • Obsessing over outcomes • Trying to control every detail That is not full surrender. It is divided control. True surrender is not verbal agreement alone. It is releasing ownership into God’s hands. II. “Cast” Means Release Scripture says: “Casting all your care upon him.” The word “cast” carries the idea of throwing something upon another. Not partially handing it over while secretly clutching it again. This is difficult because human nature wants control. We often trust God verbally while emotionally carrying the burden ourselves. III. Surrender Begins With ...

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 (KJV) There is a difference between visiting God and dwelling with Him. Many people today know how to attend church. Listen to sermons. Post Scripture online. But intimacy with God is cultivated in hidden places. The secret place is not about appearance. It is about abiding. I. The Secret Place Is a Lifestyle, Not a Location Psalm 91 does not merely describe a moment of prayer during crisis. It describes a continual posture. “He that dwelleth…” To dwell means: • To remain • To stay • To abide continually This goes beyond occasional spiritual activity. It speaks of ongoing communion with God. II. God Desires Relationship, Not Performance Jesus warned against outward spirituality done for human attention. “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are.” Matthew 6:5 (KJV) Then He said: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy...

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another… even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Colossians 3:13 (KJV) Forgiveness is one of the hardest commands in Scripture. Not because it is unclear. But because pain is real. Betrayal cuts deeply. Words leave scars. Memories linger. And everything in human nature cries out for justice. Yet Jesus commands forgiveness. I. The Standard of Forgiveness Scripture does not say: Forgive when it feels fair. It says: “Even as Christ forgave you.” That changes everything. Jesus is not merely suggesting kindness. He is establishing the pattern. II. Christ Forgave the Undeserving Jesus did not forgive because people earned it. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (KJV) At the cross, Jesus prayed: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 (KJV) He saw beyond the action. He saw humanity enslaved by sin. This does not...

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13 (KJV) Many believers live on a spiritual roller coaster. One day they feel close to God. The next day they feel distant. And because feelings fluctuate, assurance fluctuates with them. But Scripture teaches something important: Salvation is not grounded in feelings. It is grounded in Christ. I. Salvation Is Based on God’s Promise The foundation of salvation is not emotion. It is truth. “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) Grace is objective. Christ’s work on the cross is complete whether emotions feel strong or weak. Faith trusts what God has said, even when feelings shift. II. Feelings Are Real but Unstable God created emotions. But emotions were never meant to govern faith. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool.” Proverbs 28:26 (KJV) Feelings change because: • Circumstances change ...

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10 (KJV) Biblically, foolishness is not mainly about intelligence. It is about direction. It is possible to: • Know facts • Understand concepts • Even believe God exists And still live foolishly. Why? Because wisdom is not merely information. It is submission to God’s truth. I. The Fool in Scripture “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 14:1 (KJV) This does not only describe atheism. It describes a way of living. A person may verbally acknowledge God while practically living as though His authority does not matter. This is self-rule. It says: • “My desires come first.” • “My emotions determine truth.” • “My way matters more than God’s way.” That is biblical foolishness. II. Wisdom Is About Governance The deeper issue is this: What governs your life? “The law of the wise is a fountain of life.” Proverbs 13:14 (KJV) Everyone lives under some governing principle. Ei...