Friday Morning Prayer:) June 18, 2014
June 19, 2014 - 9 minutes readBeloved In Christ,
“Transformation and intimacy both cry out for ministry. We are led through the furnace of God’s purity not just for our own sake but also for the sake of others. We are drawn up into the bosom of God’s love not merely to experience acceptance but also so we can give his love to others.” Richard Foster
I pray YOU are being nourished by our gracious God every moment of everyday this week and in turn loving on someone else with overflowing supernatural love:).
Friday Prayer: We are meeting at Calvary Chapel in Alpine. 2267 W. Victoria Dr. You are invited to join us and pray for Alpine and the surrounding communities. We meet at 0730. Men representing different churches join to ask, seek, knock as the Spirit leads. A great way to start your day! Come pray and worship our holy gracious God:).
Women’s prayer: sisters in Christ are meeting at First Baptist Church at 0900. 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine.
Franklin Graham wrote,
“A mystery and wonder of prayer” my father once said, “is that God often waits until someone asks.” Are you praying bold prayers of your own? Which friends or loved ones are you lifting up to God, who desires to rescue the lost? What cities or nations are you praying for? Ask boldly.
This reminded me of Luke 11. You recall Jesus teaching the disciples how to pray. The scene is of a sleeping family and a neighbor friend coming over in need of bread to provide a welcome meal to a hungry visitor. So, we have a persistent neighbor in need of food, and a friend who is tired, reluctant, with bread, but in bed with his family. “The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed, I can’t get up and give you anything….yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.” v. 5-8.
Our Lord, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” v. 9-10
Persistence, shamelessness, boldness, In Christ, we cry out to our gracious and benevolent God who delights to hear us, especially as we earnestly ask, seek, and knock through the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray pray pray and unlike the human friend who grudgingly satisfied the needs of the one who he perceived as a nuisance, OUR God is loving, more gracious, compassionate, caring about ALL our anxieties, wants, needs, worries, in every area of our lives. HE answers our prayers as our ABBA Father:). Just thinking about how powerful this truth, brings singing!
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Foster (1992) writes about “Praying the Ordinary.” If you don’t already, let’s join together in praying the ordinary in three ways: “first, by turning the ordinary experiences of life into prayer; second by seeing God in the ordinary experiences of life; and third by praying throughout the ordinary experiences of life.”
I’ll share a couple of ordinary events today that led to prayer: I noticed I missed a call from a brother this morning. I called him back. He said, “oh I called your # by accident.” Oh no! No accidents brother! Maybe it wasn’t his intent to call me at that moment. However, God intended I call him back and overflow all over my brother!:). He’s going through it, but persevering! He needed to be encouraged and God knew that! Praise our sovereign God!
At the gym today I overheard a guy saying he was moving to Seattle. I remembered Mars church in that area, so I told him about it. He thanked me and went on his way. Another guy overheard and asked if I was from there. I never been. I couldn’t think of the pastor at the moment…he said Mark…oh yes… then…here we go… he said, “That guy Mark Driscoll is critical of Joel Olsteen!” Oh man! Pray! “….gentleness and respect…” 1 Pt 3:15 :). I let him talk for a while… “Robert Schuller, Norman Vincent Peale…” Okay… I just said, “we have to stick close to the gospel.”
Ordinary experiences for sure, but full of opportunity and transforming power as I pray pray pray and allow God the Holy Spirit to use me. Pray with me now for this guy, who I will run into again I am sure. Prepare the way Lord, soften this man’s heart, give me boldness, full of compassion, grace, patience, and LOVE. May You Lord be made known because of Your love manifest through me, as well as many brothers and sisters in similar situations wanting to share Your saving grace and mercy only accessible through the cross. Empower us Lord we pray. AMEN.
Finally, just one more. At dinner tonight with my wife Heidi and my boys Luke and Dylan. We intentionally meet to pray and seek the Lord after dinner as many days as practically possible. So, Luke (12) he always says as he opens in prayer, “Lord forgive me for my sins.” It’s good, but seems to have become more ritual. Tonight, the Spirit moved him…it was really cool! He opened with “Lord prepare me…” then he stopped and laughed… that was not his intent… The Spirit moved and we all sung in prayer before the throne:):
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true, with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you…. Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true….
Thank you for your unceasing prayers: Alpine Youth Center, our local churches in Alpine and the surrounding areas: Pastors, Elders, Leaders, Youth Leaders, Worship Leaders, etc., those who week after week show up to serve and love the Body of Christ…. thank you!
Keep our brother Joseph and his family in prayer, especially as we join together with others to love and serve in the powerful Name of Jesus! :).
LoVe YOU much!
Randall:).
0 Comments