Expectant Prayers ®

When we were kids, we used to play the old game,  "Truth or Consequences" (or as some call it: Truth or Dare).   It was a favorite game at slumber parties I attended back in the 1980's.  I know that dates me a little bit!  The game consists of being asked to choose between having to tell the truth about something you may not want to (eg. do you like so and so... have you ever..., do you snore... etc)  or take a consequence.  The consequence usually ended up being something disgusting that you don't know in advance - say, like having to comb your hair with toothpaste slathered all over the comb... or worse.  You only learn what your consequence is after selecting it.  Fun, huh?  From what I can remember, I usually chose "truth" because it was usually far better than the consequences/dares.  Some of those girls were pretty creative with the consequences... and it was scary.  Of course, I'm sure I came up with some doosies myself!  Once I chose to take the dare and had to run around the circle of girls (like Duck, Duck, Goose) with underwear on my head singing something like: "Underwear Keeps Falling on My Head" to the tune of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head".  Come to think of it, I wonder where the underwear came from... hopefully my friend's clean underwear drawer!  ICK!

My point today is:  since when does a consequence demand a negative response?  The term "consequence" does not have a definition of negativity.  It actually means: the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier.     Aren't there good consequences in life?  Sure there are!  Just imagine how fun Truth or Consequences would be if you chose the consequence and you ended up being handed a ten dollar bill or a candy bar.  Hey, now that's my version of the game - or at least play it with the option of a good reward/consequence!

The Word says, "A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."  

This principle goes for things such as telling the truth (which in my opinion is its own reward), kind deeds, laboring at something and producing a harvest, or even building up others in the faith.  Whatever it is that you are doing today will reap some sort of end result or consequence.    Some consequences are bountiful and plentiful; supplying joy, provision, and blessing.  Yes, we all need to take to heart that we are producers of consequences... so what are we sowing????  What we sow is what we will reap.

In connection with this idea, what I have been feeling in my spirit today is the word "persevere".   In fact, the direct impression I got was that 2009 was a year of perseverance, but if we do not give up we will reap a harvest.    I turned around a few days later and the same word showed up in a devotional I was doing...not once but three times!

I have talked about persevering in the past, but to remind you - to persevere means:
 to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.

Perseverance in itself has a consequence.  What is it?  Romans and James tell us that:  suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.    We need character and hope springing out of our hearts and lives!

Think about the consequences of your life today and let's all work at persevering in 2009 so that we can yield good consequences. 


My prayer for us today is actually a verse (2 Thessalonians 3:5) -

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance."  Amen.