Quote from Forum Archives on May 12, 2011, 11:14 pm

Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 7499 new subscribers since January 1, 2011!!
There were 4010 new subscribers during 2010!!
Classic from 2003

05.12.11

Learning to Drive

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God. - John 3:3.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of
God, to those who believe in His name. - John 1:12.

On New Year's Day 2003 in Canada (Edmonton, Alberta), a couple of guys (One
17-years-old and the other 18.), had a bright idea. They thought they would
carjack a pizza deliverer, along with the pizza, and money. They ran into
one little problem. When one of the guys began to drive away, he discovered
that the car had a manual transmission, with a stick shift. The clutch and
the stickshift were too much, and finally in frustration, they simply made
off with the pizza, and the money. However, the police spotted the robbers
going into the very same home where the pizza had been ordered. They were
arrested, and the pizza, and the money were recovered. A police spokesperson
said, "It was a toss-up between pizzas and the car, and they knew how to
operate pizzas."

One of the most frustrating things for a new Christian, is that the
Christian life is more complicated than it first appears. You've received
Christ as your Savior, you've been born again, and the Holy Spirit lives
within you; but living the Christian life still can appear overwhelming. It
is much like trying to drive a car with a stick shift and manual
transmission for the first time. To successfully drive the car, there are
some things you need to do in the proper order. First, depress the clutch.
Second, while the clutch is depressed put the stick shift into first gear.
Third, slowly release the clutch while giving the car more gas by depressing
the accelerator. Repeat the process for other gears.

How do you start moving forward in the Christian life? The very first thing
that the first Christians did after Christ ascended to Heaven, was to pray
(Acts 1:13-14). They waited in the upper room, and prayed. Prayer is much
like the clutch. Without prayer, nothing else is going to work. Before
shifting gears, depress the clutch. Before doing anything in the Christian
life, pray!

So you have prayed - what's next? Read the Word of God. "All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)." As
you read God's Word, listen for His Voice (This is also praying.), and ask
Him to speak to you. After you finish reading, pray again. If God gave you
instruction while you were reading His Word, pray again before proceeding,
and pray while you are doing what He has told you to do. Pray after
finishing. Prayer is a constant activity for the Christian. Reading,
studying, memorizing, and meditating on God's Word is a daily activity.

An at least weekly activity for the child of God, is assembling with other
believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). Before you do so, pray. Pray for other
believers, pray for the pastor, and ask God to speak to your heart.
Afterward pray again.

Just as with driving a vehicle with a manual transmission requires certain
mechanics or steps every time, so does the Christian life. The mechanics of
the Christian life do not change. So if you have been trying to shove the
gearshift into third without the clutch of prayer, why not stop, and pray
for a moment? I think you will find, everything will go so much more
smoothly, with everything bathed in prayer.

Copyright © 2003-2011. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush
website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather began
writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of these first
devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison
facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer
Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be
forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always in need
of prayer - please pray for me.).

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www.kkbifm.com/
Several videos of Clark's sermons can be found at his church website:
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