Prayer Journal

Friday, December 5, 2003

What have you heard that is so important that paying attention to it, will keep you from drifting away? And what does "drifting away" mean and how can you know when slippage has occurred?

The writer of Hebrews answers question number one for us in verses 2:2-4. He says it's the message of salvation that was preached to us that is so important. As for drifting away, that's the result of failing to pay attention to God's message and messenger(s).

Is it possible to lose one's salvation. If it's YOUR salvation, then yes you can lose it. However, if it's the Lord's salvation of which you're speaking, than I submit that it is not yours to keep or lose. Simply stated, salvation is in God's keeping based on the integrity of His word. I don't know about you, but that fact alone makes me feel pretty secure in my faith.

As for knowing when you're slipping, that's fairly easy. Redeemed people enjoy being in God's presence in prayer; they enjoy spending time with God's people in worship and they enjoy spending time in God's word. If you have no real pleasure in those things, you've got a problem. Please note that you might not have slipped at all; you may simply have never been saved in the first place. If however, you came to a point where Jesus saved you and today you find the joy of your salvation is gone, you'll find it was you that moved and not Him. Go meet Him (prayer) and make things right (confession); you'll find your desires can be changed if you ask God to do it.

A word to the wise: if you want to avoid slipping altogether, be faithful in doing those things successful Christians do. They hear, read, study, memorize and meditate on God's word; they spend a lot of time in prayer and seldom miss an opportunity to meet other people in God's house and worship. Do those things and you won't have to be warned about not paying attention. Instead, you'll more than likely wonder why you ever stopped in the first place.

Just Thinkin'... WebServant

Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright © 1998-2003 James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
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I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
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* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans

* My church
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* Other churches
* Persecuted church
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* Myself