My Intercessor is My Friend
I, and many others I know right now, am going through a trial called COVID-19. My family and I have been very fortunate to have only minor symptoms, but we are able to understand many things about this virus even better now and are able to pray more specifically for others who find themselves going through this trial. The worst part, in my opinion, is having to quarantine. Not being able to just pick up and do anything you want whenever you want to is a real burden, and I feel sorry for anyone that doesn’t have a strong support group of family and friends there to help them with any of their needs. I pray for anyone like that to receive the help and support they need to make it through this! We are praying for others with COVID-19 in ways we had not up to this point, and I think that is perfect intercession. Being able to sympathize with the pain and hurts of others and to lift those things up to the Father who is able to grant us mercy and grace in our times of need!
Spiritual Access is Granted!
God is our Savior, Deliverer, Redeemer, Hope, Peace, Healer, Comforter, Truth, Holiness, Friend, Brother, Helper, Wonderful Counselor, Provision, Source, and so-on. Of which of these are you in need right now, and what is stopping you from crying out to Him while you look for that attribute of God to fill a need in your life? He is calling to you and telling you that it is ok to come to Him at all times to find grace in your times of need. So, go to Him and seek Him for the mercy and grace that you are in need of right now! He loves you and is sympathizing with you!
What is the Fruit that You are Displaying?
We must be careful not to forget that it is God who is at work within us to produce these fruits, not a vain effort of will from us. This is a hard concept to grasp, but I believe that many of us get caught up in defeat too many times because we do not understand this concept. This is a concept/principle that I believe is so critical in our walk of faith – Allow God to transform us without us trying to reform us! See, God wants to make us new creations, He isn’t trying to take the old us and form us into a new us. His work is a completely new life in Him. We get caught up in trying to take the old us and forcing it, or molding it, into this new life we are trying to live in Christ. This doesn’t work, and it causes all sorts of frustration. The Scripture above says that we were these things, but now we are made new! Why would a butterfly ever crawl on the ground like a caterpillar again? Why would we ever want to go back to our old ways? We are new in Him.
A Place of Peace
I hope that through this post you will more readily have the tools you need in order to find the peace you are looking for in your life! It starts with a relationship with Christ Jesus, because that makes us righteous, and righteousness creates peace. I find it very interesting to note that Isaiah 57:2 also states that the one who is upright and righteous also finds rest! Peace creates a restful spirit that is fully trusting in the Lord to care for all of our needs! There is nothing quite like having that restful peace as a result of having a right relationship with God and the people around us!
Where Do You Run When Pain Comes?
I heard this question form a lady that is part of the Prayer ministry that I have the privilege to lead. When I heard it I asked if I could use it for a title to my next blog, because I believe that it is a profound question that must be addressed by all of […]
Are You Real with God and Yourself when You Pray?
I can remember reading Psalm 42 & 43, along with a Sermon Series from the Pastor of my previous church, and being gripped by the honesty of David as he cried out to the Lord in desperation. He starts with saying that he is thirsty for the living God to show up (Ps. 42:1)! When was the last time you told God that you need Him to show up for you just like a deer needs the waters to be there when it goes to a stream for something to drink. Without His presence, we will not be able to continue on just the same as an animal deprived of water will not be able to survive. Is God’s presence that important to you? What are you willing to do to sense His presence and continually press into that presence? I am reminded of Moses telling God that unless He go with them, the Israelites will not go (see Exodus 33:13-17), and I hope that we will all be this honest about our need for God’s presence to be with us as we live out our lives by faith!
Who Do You Represent by Your Words and Deeds?
am reminded of the Biblical call to be Ambassador’s of Christ Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul commands us to be men and women who go out among the world around us making the case for Christ in the way we speak and act. Whenever an ambassador of a Nation goes to another Nation, they are doing so with the full and complete direction and mission of the Leader of their Nation. I believe that the same is true of us who consider ourselves ambassadors of Christ. We have His mission on our mind always, we know who He is, and we conduct ourselves in such a way that the world in which we are representing Him to is going to know who He is and what He stands for as well!
Is the Word of Christ Dwelling in You?
This is a reference to Christ’s teachings, the Gospel message, and/or the Bible as a whole. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly”, I believe this to be a call to allow the Word of God to be the most evident influence in the dish of your life! When we do allow this to influence everything about us, we will inevitably be a much more “tasty” treat for others to be around. The smell and taste of your life will begin to show forth fruits such as the ingredients that we have been discussing for the past several posts, such as; a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiving, etc. (I have been using a clothing analogy in previous points, but think of all of those virtues as ingredients to the dish of your life). This kind of a life is certainly a sweet smelling offering to the Lord and to the people around us!
What Do You Allow to Control Your Heart?
Colossians 3:15 (NET)“Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.” Such a short and sweet verse holding in it a profound statement! Let the peace of Christ be in control of your heart. As we have been […]
Love Ties Everything Together in Your Spiritual Wardrobe.
Have you ever said that you agape someone? I am guessing not. But have you ever had that type of love where you would do anything for them and literally lay yourself down for them? I know that I have an agape love for my wife and children, my mom and dad, my brothers and sisters, and others that are very close to me. I want to be sacrificial and unconditionally loving to all of those people in my life, and I make an effort to do so. The Bible tells me to have that love for everyone! That is a different standard altogether. I don’t want to love some people. I don’t want to like some people. But, God’s ways are higher than my ways, so I must make the choice to love them regardless of how I feel because love (agape love) goes beyond feelings.