Cursed!

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; … and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, … cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Genesis 3:16, 17.
Eve was told of the sorrow and pain that must henceforth be her portion…. In the creation God had made her the equal of Adam. Had they remained obedient to God—in harmony with His great law of love—they would ever have been in harmony with each other; but sin had brought discord, and now their union could be maintained and harmony preserved only by submission on the part of the one or the other. Eve had been the first in transgression; and she had fallen into temptation by separating from her companion, contrary to the divine direction. It was by her solicitation that Adam sinned, and she was now placed in subjection to her husband….
Eve had been perfectly happy by her husband’s side in her Eden home; but, like restless modern Eves, she was flattered with the hope of entering a higher sphere than that which God had assigned her. In attempting to rise above her original position, she fell far below it. A similar result will be reached by all who are unwilling to take up cheerfully their life duties in accordance with God’s plan. In their efforts to reach positions for which He has not fitted them, many are leaving vacant the place where they might be a blessing….
When God made man, He made him ruler over the earth and all living creatures. So long as Adam remained loyal to Heaven, all nature was in subjection to him. But when he rebelled against the divine law, the inferior creatures were in rebellion against his rule. Thus the Lord, in His great mercy, would show men the sacredness of His law, and lead them, by their own experience, to see the danger of setting it aside, even in the slightest degree.
And the life of toil and care which was henceforth to be man’s lot was appointed in love. It was a discipline rendered needful by his sin, to place a check upon the indulgence of appetite and passion, to develop habits of self-control. It was a part of God’s great plan for man’s recovery from the ruin and degradation of sin.16
Conflict and Courage p. 18
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Eileen as she had an appointment this morning with a specialist to see what is wrong with her back and legs. The doctor brushed her off once again. She is very discouraged. Pray for them also as they drive back home also as the roads are very slippery. Rose
—– Urgent prayer needed: My right hip is giving out. Severe pain…..please pray for the doctor appt.. Jerry n Doreen will meet with the top doctor Today. My pain is severe n I need better coverage. Thank you very much! God is faithful & enough! Carol
—– 36 hours smoke free. I’m starting to crave. Please pray for me. Missy
—– Thanks for all your prayers regarding my mom. They are releasing her tomorrow from the hospital to a private home. Just got off the phone with my brothers we had to make the final decision on which one. My mom is not understanding what is happening and she thinks we are abandoning her which is just heart breaking for us. Please continue to pray that she finds peace and solace in her new place. Lisa
—–Please pray for Paulina who went in for a bunion operation and ended up losing her leg. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Prayer, what a privilege, yet how seldom we take advantage of it. Through the eye of faith we can come into the Holy of Holies, into very presence of God where Jesus, our Great High Priest intercedes for us. Yet, how seldom do we focus on His greatness, His power, His love while we are praying. How often our prayers are “give me” prayers focusing on our needs, our wants, our desires.
How different were Jesus’ prayers. How filled with praise to His Father. How filled with pleading for others’ needs. When Jesus was upon this earth, He spent whole nights in prayer. “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12 Think of it! Our Creator, our Redeemer, the Ruler of the Universe, the One Who all Heaven adores spent all night in communion with His Father in Heaven. Yet, how often do we forget to commune with Him throughout the day and just say a few hurried words before we crawl wearily into bed.
Jesus taught about prayer. In Matthew 6:5-13 He not only speaks about our motives for praying, He also gives us a model prayer for us to pattern our prayers—not to recite in rote, but to meditate upon and incorporate its principles in our own words. “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
How different the Lord’s prayer is from our prayers. The model prayer that Jesus gave is totally focused upon God and His greatness, His power, His might. It addresses our needs, yes, but it puts them in their proper perspective. Our loving Heavenly Father, Who knows our needs and desires better than we ourselves do. Jesus explains it this way, “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not, and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:27-32
May our prayers be mixed with praise as we realize His love and care for us and may we claim all the precious promises He has given in His Word is my prayer.
Rose