8 June 2013 by Adeline Lum CM-
Dr Benjamin George is an 85-year old prayer warrior who despite his wearied knees, would wake up at 5 every morning to pray and kneel like Apostle Paul (Acts 20:36).
“I help young adult believers to grow in their experience with God and not just being Sunday Christians,” said Dr Benjamin, speaker for the Full Gospel Businessmen (FGB) Fellowship in TA One Chapter on 7th of June, from 1 to 2 pm.
The Word of God is alive and active, which should pierce in to our hearts and transform our lives. But many of us have not experienced God because we don’t spend time with Him.
Our day typically starts with a mad rush to the office, followed by working late, coming home exhausted and then hitting the sack early. When can we find time to fit in a Bible-reading time?
To answer that, Dr Benjamin shared in his book –One Hour that Can Change your LIFE– on how a successful Christian middle-aged woman still felt a nagging emptiness in her. Confiding her feelings to a friend, her friend said to her:
“You’re trying to fit God into your life. Five minutes here, ten minutes there. You need to fit your life around God and you do that with a commitment. An hour a day; now, that’s commitment. The idea is to take a chunk of time big enough to mean something to you and then give that chunk to God.’
What do we spend most of our time in? Many of us mostly spend it in getting worried and anxious about things in life. But God tells us that we do not need to feel anxious because He knows and will provide everything we need.
Matthew 6:25-32
25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
In fact, instead of worrying, God asked us to ‘seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’ (Matthew 6:33).
“Some of you have been Christians for many years. But have you seek His Kingdom first? That means are you seeking Him first thing you get up in the morning?”
“Are you thoughtful about Him in whatever you do? Even when we eat and drink, or whatever we do, we can do it unto the glory of God (Corinthians 10:31),” said Dr Benjamin.
Do not be anxious because Jesus said in Psalm 127:2 that He would grant his beloved ones rest by providing them their needs.
Psalm 127:2
‘It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.’
“Also, some of us stopped praying because we do not see the fruits of our prayer. For instance, some of us prayed for our family or friend to be healed from their sickness but to no avail. However, even though God did not heal, we must decide in continuing to pray!” said Dr Benjamin.
Like the valiant Hebrew men who served in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – they were unafraid even if the King wanted to throw them into the furnace. These three men refused to bow down and worship the god image Nebuchadnezzar made, even if they were not saved in the burning furnace.
Daniel 3:16-18
16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
“These men made their stand and decided to continue worshipping the Lord even without His deliverance. Likewise, choose to pray even if you see nothing happening.”
“And guess what happened? God came down Himself and delivered these men from the flaming fires of furnace!” said Dr Benjamin.
Hence, seek first the Kingdom of God whatever problem and sickness you have. When you seek the Lord with all your heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
“Let me ask you, have you found God? Finding God is only the beginning. I am still searching for my God. I want Him every day of my life! I want to see His Glory. And I know that I am not alone,” said Dr Benjamin.
Like Moses who despite leading two million people out of Egypt, witnessing the splitting of Red Sea, going up to Mount Sinai twice in the presence of God and performing all sorts of miracles, Moses still desired to see the full glory of the Lord when he was old.
Exodus 33:12-13; 17-18
12Moses said to Yahweh, "Behold, you tell me, 'Bring up this people:' and you haven't let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' 13Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight: and consider that this nation is your people."
17Yahweh said to Moses, "I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." 18He said, "Please show me your glory."
“Throw your Sunday Christianity away! Throw yourself to Him! Say to God, I want to see your glory. My problem and sickness did not go away but I still believe in Him. Show me your glory, Lord,” said Dr Benjamin.
Although Dr Benjamin had been preaching for 40 years and knew people would get excited during sermons, he felt that people would forget the commitments they made during the sermon and return to their old ways after the sermon.
“I want you to make a commitment today to seek first His Kingdom unto the Lord. Sometimes, you pray to God and you listen to the sermons about Him in church, but first and foremost, have you obeyed his command to seek first His Kingdom in your daily living?” said Dr Benjamin.
Hence, to disciple the people who yearned to grow in the Lord, Dr Benjamin is currently sending daily devotionals to 5000 people via email to disciple them.
“One hour a day with God can change your life. And that means you got to wake up early in the morning and be discipline,” said Dr Benjamin.
In another book Dr Benjamin wrote called – ‘Principles of Breakthrough to Transform Your Life! – he also shared about the following excerpt on why praying in the morning before our day starts is the best!
It is best to begin the day with God, however difficult it may be or short the time available, rather than seeking Him after the day is over! It needs determination and discipline! To begin your day without seeking God’s face and His direction before embarking on your day’s duty, would be like putting the cart before the horse. It would be as foolish as not putting fuel in your car before begin a trip!
But if we pray and meditate on God’s Word from daybreak till night, we will be prosperous and successful in whatever we do (Joshua 1:8)
Joshua 1:8
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
“I’m asking you to have a deeper relationship with God, only then you will see Him. And when the day comes, we will be like Him. So, now… let us grow more and more in knowledge of His Word, until God becomes real.”
“At that time, you can tell everyone then that my God is alive. My God is my present help in trouble,” said Dr Benjamin.
And here’s a poem taken from Dr Benjamin's book – ‘Principles of Breakthrough to Transform Your Life!’ – to remind us of what morning prayers can do for us:
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish,
That I didn’t have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came each task.
“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered.
He answered, “You didn’t ask!”
So I woke up early this morning
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.
(Author unknown)
May you be inspired to wake up early in the morning like Dr Benjamin George, and take time to pray and meditate on God’s word.
Remember ‘seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’ (Matthew 6:33).
Note: If you are interested in the daily devotionals by Dr Benjamin George, please email him at george@george.com.my to be included in his mailing list.
Dear Viewers in Christ, if you find this article edifying to you, please share with your friends or loved ones by using the social media plugs (Share, Email to this article). The Lord will surely bless you as you bless others. May the Lord’s peace and love be with you.
Reference for pictures:
http://www.georgeplasticsurgery.com/doctor.html
https://www.lds.org/images/Manuals/tchg-pix.nfo:o:12a.jpg
http://jackbaumgartner.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/img_6732.jpg
http://www.lds.org/topic/prayer/images/prayer-jesus-praying.jpg
Leave a Reply