Encouragement ~ Prayer:). November 18, 2014
November 19, 2014 - 6 minutes readI am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:22-25
Faithful In Christ,
I sincerely pray that this week has begun for you with a sense of God’s sovereign leading and a supernatural joy in the midst of every storm. I am thankful for your prayers and the opportunity to offer encouragement and spur you on to continue praying on behalf of many in our communities, churches, our leadership, pastors, volunteers, youth center… and praising much our gracious God for His mercy and grace overflowing through our fervent and unceasing prayers.
Do I really believe Jesus? He is saying that the greatest possible difficulties can be removed when I have faith. I think of the father in Mark 9:24, his boy was possessed with an evil spirit. Even there Jesus said, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” v. 23b-24. So often I am weak, all the more I cry out in prayer… we rely on our strong, mighty, all powerful God who works through our weaknesses.
God grants us faith and He is the object of our faith. Even as my faith is that of a mustard seed, the object of my faith, God! He is all powerful and cares very much about all our struggles, disappointments, failures, broken hearts, emotional and physical pains, recurring sins, etc., “Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” In God’s sovereignty… we are given a “faith” that prays unceasing, believing our gracious God according to His plan! :).
Wessel (1984) highlighted, [Our] “Prayer is the source of its power, and the means of its strength–God’s omnipotence is its sole assurance, and God’s sovereignty its only restriction.” Therefore, let’s pray! May our In Christ lives and our faith in the only all-powerful God grant us forgiving hearts so our prayers will be effective beyond all human expectation!
I am praying with brothers for God to move in our midst in big ways! Pray for that end too! There are many who need to hear the gospel, repent, and experience supernatural transformation! Only God can do that… we want to hear God’s voice and go where He leads, water, plant, and then trust trust, trust, for our God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit to cause the change and increase! Let’s cry out intently, in our closets, fervently, with tears individually, in groups, couples, …
Empower us Lord! Give us aching hearts, and strong desires to pray and not doubt that You can move every mountain, and soften the most calloused heart…open doors that we can’t… create avenues for healing, shelters for the poor, use us as You determine… give us willing and available hearts… to Your glory alone! Amen.
In writing about prayer, Spurgeon wrote, “Equally necessary is it with the definite object for prayer that there should be an earnest desire for its attainment…. When you have your object in your eye, your soul must become so possessed with the value of that object, with your own excessive need for it, with the danger which you will be in unless that object should be granted, that you will be compelled to plead for it as a man pleadeth for his life.”
Yes! Oh how I need this intensity with God through my prayers! You do too! Let’s pursue it, live it, share it together! :). Only then will we experience the power of God to transform our communities, families, churches, youth, marriages, ministries, outreaches, etc.,
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee
When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Pray! Pray! Pray! all the more as God moves you to excitement, and grants you supernatural power to move mountains! :).
Overflow!
LoVe You! Much!
Randall:).
References:
Expositor’s Bible Commentary. 1984. Gaebelein, F. E. (ed.)
http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0328.htm
Just a Closer Walk with Thee > Lyrics | Anonymous/Unknown
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