Rom 7:15 (NIV) I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Jesus, teach me that like me, this is a person who has had a lot of world training. They have had A LOT of success in their human life. But, now that they are a Christian, also like me, they are finding that all they have learned and all they have got good at isn’t working in the Christian life. Show me that like all Christians, I have become a child of God, a member of His family, and a citizen in His Kingdom by using a procedure that would NEVER work in the human world.

Rom 10:8 (NIV) But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your MOUTH and in your HEART,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: Jesus, teach me that this isn’t a technique I learned in my human school. All through life I have been learning how to use my hands and legs to get things done. You were trying to show Your disciples how the spirit realm works; so You explained it this way: Mat 17:19-20 (NIV) Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have FAITH as small as a mustard seed, you can SAY to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Gal 4:1-2 (NIV) What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. Jesus, make it clear to me that I am like a child playing with toys; the earth is like a child’s play room with all kinds of training devices designed to help me learn how the adult, spiritual world works. Show me that as a child of God, I am going to be receiving incredible opportunities and power, once I enter into eternity. So, my heavenly Father is keeping me in this physical “play room” where I will only be able to do as little damage as possible.

Jesus, use the illustration in Luke 19:12-26 to help me understand how my succeeding on earth effects my opportunities in eternity. Luke 19:12-13 (NIV) He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

Luke 19:14-15a (NIV) But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ He was made king, however, and returned home.

Luke 19:15b-17 (NIV) Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘BECAUSE you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

Luke 19:18-19 (NIV) The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

Luke 19:20-23 (NIV) Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

Luke 19:24-26 (NIV) Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. Jesus, let this illustrate the fact that what I do on earth has EVERYTHING to do with who I am and what I do in eternity.

Jesus, teach me that as a Christian, my life may not look all that different from someone who hasn’t accepted You as their Lord, Savior, and King. I may have just as much money, possessions, positions, power, popularity, prestige, pleasure, and accomplishments as an unsaved person. BUT, HOW I got it and WHY I got it will be the deciding factor as to how successful I am. If the reason WHY I got these things was because I LOVE money, possessions, positions, power, popularity, prestige, pleasure, and accomplishments, and if I USED people to get them, I am a failure on earth and in eternity. However, if I use these things to help people, my prosperity will help me win in this life and in my eternal life.

Jesus, use this next spiritual illustration to help me see the difference between hording and sharing: Luke 12:16-19 (NIV) And He told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to STORE my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will STORE all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things LAID UP for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”

Luke 12:20-21 (NIV) But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will GET what you have PREPARED for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who STORES up THINGS for himself but is not RICH toward God.” Jesus, use these courses to teach me a way to get money, possessions, positions, power, popularity, prestige, pleasure, and accomplishments so I can share them with hurting, helpless, needy people. And, show me how to use them without it being a handout. Help me not be a superior person helping an inferior person. Help me be a loving person sharing the wonderful blessings of God with people You direct me to.