Effectual Prayer, Part 2

Effectual Prayer, Part 2

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another,

that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man

availeth much.”

James 5:16

Purpose, persistence, and patience—the work of the Lord in the one praying as He hears and answers the request.

Prayer is not trying to get God to do what we want but is learning to be watchful as we wait for the answer to be revealed.

• The purpose of prayer keeps our hearts bound together with God’s heart, desiring what the Lord desires.
• Persistence in prayer shows the depth of our desire.
• Patience grows our faith and keeps us watching for the answer.

“Do you really think Dad is going to be saved?” My husband wasn’t alone in his question. His dad didn’t believe God would save him.

“If I didn’t believe it, I would quit praying for him.” My faith in God, to do the impossible according to man, didn’t waiver until the Lord laid on my heart to stop praying for my father-in-law.

In pride, I thought I was the only one praying for him—remember Elijah in my last post? He thought he was the only prophet left, but four hundred prophets remained. There may not have been four hundred praying for my FIL, but there were definitely more than I.

During the fifteen or so years of praying for my FIL, the Lord did work in me. Prayer opens the petitioner to the work of the Lord in that person’s heart before the final answer comes.

The first work in me began in the beginning of my prayers for my FIL. I wanted him saved because of the way he treated others, especially my husband. I didn’t want to deal with his insults. Through praying and studying God’s word, the Lord taught me to love my FIL—which was the lacking purpose behind my prayers for him. Then came persistence, where the Lord revealed my pride and then came patience.

Believing God heard my prayers and my prayers being consistent with his will, my confidence in the Lord’s answer remained firm—until another obstacle appeared. My FIL developed Alzhiemer’s. The diagnosis tested my faith—Could the Lord save him in this state? As the angel told Mary in Luke 1:37—so He told me.

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

To make a long story short, the Lord worked the impossible into the possible when other family members led my FIL to the Lord. In the Lord’s grace, He allowed me, in my skepticism, to hear my FIL’s one word testimony.

I approached him. “They told me you received Jesus as your Savior, asked him to come into your heart. Did He?”

With eyes mirroring his soul, he answered, “Yes.” And as the infant John leaped in Elisabeth’s womb when Mary spoke, the Holy Spirit witnessed the truth of my FIL’s confession to my spirit. One day I will see him in heaven.

In the book of James, the Lord inspired James to write down four words concerning prayer—effectual, fervent, righteous, availeth.

Effectual—begins with an altar, a place of sacrificing our will to the will of the Father.

• Here we listen more than we speak as the Lord conforms our minds and our hearts to his.
• Here we learn to set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
• We unite with our Father in purpose and praise as He prepares us for the battle ensued in prayer.
• This is where the righteous person finds cleansing and strength to walk in the righteousness of God rather than self.

Fervent—comes with the work of the Holy Spirit’s power in us.

• He gives us a passion, a zeal for the purpose of God after we have spent time at the altar of God.
• We know what to pray, and if we don’t the Holy Spirit prays for us.
• We know the One we pray to is faithful and is the God of the impossible.
• Persistence is learned here. It’s like water coming to a boil. The water sits quietly until there is a stirring. Then comes the full out popping of the bubbles.

Fervency is not based on emotion but on the power of the Holy Spirit uniting the word of God with the power of God in the heart of the one praying. Faith is strengthened while we wait for the answer to be revealed. These prayers availeth much, allowing us to witness the power of God. We have learned confidence in our Father’s word.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him,

that, if we ask any thing according to his will,

he heareth us:

And if we know that he hear us,

whatsoever we ask,

we know

that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

1John 5:14,15

The Lord has heard us. He has answered us. And, yes, He answers us immediately, but often the answer is revealed a little at a time. Ours is to patiently wait for Him to finish the work. He is never late.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding

abundantly above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus

through all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20,21,KJV

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What does prayer mean to you?

Effectual Prayer, Part 1

Effectual Prayer

The word of the Lord, by Elijah the prophet, fell over the land as empty clouds floated across the sky. The parched ground yielded cracks in the dried earth. Fields remained empty and creek beds dried up. Hunger filled the bellies of the children of Israel—until the Lord spoke again by his prophet.

With his life hanging in the balance, Elijah came out of hiding and met with the evil king, Ahab, and issued a challenge. On top of Mt. Carmel four hundred prophets of the false god, Baal, went head to head with the Lord’s prophet Elijah. The God who answered by fire would be declared the one true God.

After the prophets of Baal could not raise their god, Elijah turned to his God and prayed.

“LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel,

let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel,

and that I am thy servant,

and that I have done all these things at thy word.

Hear me, O LORD, hear me,

that this people may know that thou art the LORD God,

and that thou hast turned their heart back again.”

1 Kings 18:36b,37

Fire fell from heaven. The Lord consumed the sacrifice and the people worshipped the Lord. But the day was not over. Where was the rain? Elijah declared its arrival to the king then—

“went up to the top of Carmel:

and he cast himself down upon the earth,

and put his face between his knees …”

1Kings 18:42b

 When nothing happened the first time, Elijah stayed before the Lord not one more time but six more times. After the seventh time, the clouds grew dark, the wind blew, and the rain poured.

Now that’s the kind of answers we want when we pray—certain, powerful, and immediate. Is it possible for us to be certain God will give us what we ask for? Will He work powerfully through our prayers? And will He do it now?

We are not Elijah, but we do have a similar task as Elijah. Elijah spoke the message of the Lord God. As citizens of the kingdom of God, we are to declare the message of the Lord to our generation. We serve the same God Elijah served and James, the brother of our Lord, tells us—

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

James uses Elijah(spelled Elias in KJV) as an example, letting us know he was a person just like us.

“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are,

and he prayed earnestly

that it might not rain:

and it rained not on the earth

by the space of three years and six months.

And he prayed again,

and the heaven gave rain,

and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

James 5:16-18

Elijah and James teach us what to pray for and how to pray.

1.With a right motive—God’s glory— that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

If what we pray for is simply for filling our own personal desires, James also tells us, not to expect to receive it. When our desires are in line with the Lord’s,  He is our delight, and not just his gifts, we find this word from King David in Psalm 37:4,5.

“Delight thyself also in the LORD:

and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.”

2. Be persistent in prayer—believe God when he tells us in 1 John 5:14,15—

“And this is the confidence that we have in him,

that, if we ask any thing according to his will,

he heareth us:

And if we know that he hear us,

whatsoever we ask,

we know that we have the petitions

that we desired of him.”

3. Wait on him to bring it to pass as He has declared. Elijah waited and so did the disciples and Daniel. The disciples waited for ten days to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit and when He came, He came in power. Daniel waited twenty one days and received his answer from a heavenly messenger who told him—

“Fear not, Daniel:

for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand,

and to chasten thyself before thy God,

thy words were heard,

and I am come for thy words.

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia

withstood me one and twenty days …

Now I am come to make thee understand …”

Daniel 10:11-14

Elijah, David, the disciples, and Daniel experienced the Lord in their prayer life. We serve the same Lord. His power is not diminished. He still seeks people He can show himself strong for. If we are not seeing the power of God in our lives, let’s go before him “fervently” and “earnestly”  and ask him to give us understanding, to teach us to pray in this way.

Hopefully we will look at the fervent and earnest prayer in our next post. Until then, may we examine our motive in prayer, be persistent in prayer, and wait on the Lord in prayer. But most of all let’s make prayer a practice.

A Cry for Truth

A Cry for Truth

In his novel Pudd’nhead Wilson, Mark Twain wrote, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.”

As writers of fiction no matter how outlandish the tale, the reader needs to be able to believe the story is possible—even if the world is make-believe. God’s truth transcends the believable and includes the impossible. Gabriel gave testimony of it to Mary as did Jesus to his disciples.

“For with God nothing shall be impossible …

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,

with men this is impossible;

but with God all things are possible.”

Luke 1:37;Matthew 19:26

The writer of Hebrews, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us that God’s unchanging promises and oaths show us lying is the only thing impossible to God.

“That by two immutable things,

in which it was impossible for God to lie,

we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge

to lay hold upon the hope set before us;

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,

both sure and stedfast,

and which entereth into that within the veil.”

(6:18,19)

We have the whole of scripture and numerous fulfilled prophecies proving the truth of God’s word.

• He created all,
• He delivered the  son of promise to Sarah when she was ninety years old and Abraham one hundred,
• He made Abraham into a nation,
• He parted the Red Sea,
• He raised the dead,
• and He has given life to all who will believe.
• Truth is our comfort and sure, steadfast hope.

A Cry for Truth

“O send out thy light and thy truth:

let them lead me;

let them bring me unto thy holy hill,

and to thy tabernacles.

Then will I go unto the altar of God,

unto God my exceeding joy;

yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.”

Psalm 43:3,4

A Promise of Truth

“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,

to all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him:

he also will hear their cry, and will save them …

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,

he will guide you into all truth:

for he shall not speak of himself;

but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:

and he will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine,

and shall shew it unto you …

For the promise is unto you,

and to your children,

and to all that are afar off,

even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

(Psalm 145:18,19; John 16:13,14;Acts 2:39)

With truth being a precious commodity in our world, we need discernment to recognize truth from error. It is time to cry out with the psalmist for the Lord to— send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; It is ours for the asking. We have God’s word on it, and as we already know He cannot lie. When we’ve asked and believed Him to be true, then we give—

Praise for Our Belt of Truth

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise;

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations …

I will praise thee with my whole heart:

before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

I will worship toward thy holy temple,

and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness

and for thy truth:

for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me,

and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”

Psalm 100:4,5; 138:1-3

Ask, believe His word, praise Him, and tighten your belt of truth to stand in the confidence and strength of the Lord.

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If you are not familiar with the “belt of truth” you can find it Ephesians 6:14 and read more from my blog, “Truth Comes in One Size.”

The Writer’s Heart: Prayer

The Writer’s Heart: Prayer

How is your prayer life? The apostle Paul mentions a fellow-servant of the Lord, a prisoner of the Lord with Paul, whose life was characterized by prayer and concern for others.

“Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings,

always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers,

that you may stand perfect

and fully assured in all the will of God.

For I bear him witness that

he has a deep concern for you

and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.”

Colossians 4:12,13, NASB

Family, encouragement, and a united purpose—These common bonds characterize the writers and publishers I’ve encountered through conferences, workshops, and working with editors. We cheer for each other’s success, encourage with our words, and offer help where we can.

We are as Epaphras—of the same number, like-minded, if you will. As Christian authors, we want our writing to point to God in truth and love. There are times we are discouraged, at a loss for words, and wonder if we are on the right track. Epaphras’ example speaks to our greatest weapon in encouraging one another. As he labored, earnestly for you in his prayers, may we do the same for each other.

Currently, I am working on a sequel to my first novel, which is in the last phase before publication. If the Lord brings me to mind, would you pray for me as my first comes to completion and for the Lord to lead in the writing of the second? What is your current project? How can we pray for you?

As we pray for one another, and the Lord prospers our work according to His purpose, we all share in the joy. The success belongs to us all with the Lord receiving the glory. Thank you for praying.

The Clay’s Glory

The Clay’s Glory

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory forever. Amen.”

Matthew 6:13b; NASB

Sammy mimed a “Wow!” as he gently brushed the bits of dust and dirt from the old clay pot. He laid his treasure in a nest of soft green grass. Maybe there was more. Sammy thrust both pudgy little hands into the hole of loose dirt. Nothing more.

The little boy swiped a dirty hand under his nose, leaving a dark smudge above his upper lip. With both hands, he turned the clay pot this way then that. Sammy saw beyond its dirty, scratched exterior. In a a child’s mind full of possibilities, the pot would become a thing of beauty. It would hold red flowers—but with no stickers, yellow happy flowers, and little bitty white ones riding on long sticks.

Like Sammy, our heavenly Father saw past the marred earthly vessel His thing of beauty had become and remembered the glory He made it to reflect. In time it would become beautiful again. It would be filled with His glory.

Our Glory

“But we all, with unveiled face

beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,

are being transformed

into the same image from glory to glory,

just as from the Lord, the Spirit …  

To whom God willed to make known

what is the riches of the glory

of this mystery among the Gentiles,

which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

And we proclaim Him,

admonishing every man

and teaching every man with all wisdom,

that we may present every man complete in Christ.

And for this purpose also I labor,

striving according to His power,

which mightily works within me.”

(2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 1;27-29; NASB)

Jesus’ Prayer for Our Glory

“And the glory which Thou hast given Me

I have given to them;

that they may be one,

Just as We are one;

I in them,

and Thou in Me,

that they may be perfected in unity,

that the world may know that

Thou didst send Me, and didst love them,

even as Thou love them,

even as Thou didst love Me.” (John 17:21-23; NASB)

Our Pray

“For God, who said,

‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’

is the One who has shone in our hearts

to give the light of the knowledge

of the glory of God in the face of Christ …

By this is My Father glorified,

that you bear much fruit,

and so prove to be My disciples.”

(2 Corinthians 4:6; John 15:8; NASB)

Heavenly Father, Thank you, for taking our marred soul and changing it into a thing a beauty to bring you glory through Christ dwelling in us. May we be faithful in proclaiming Christ, encouraging, and teaching all who will hear. May we, by your power working in us, be a light of the glory of God. May we bear the fruit of your Spirit to a world engulfed in darkness, so others will see the glory of Christ in us. May we live as vessels of honor for your glory.

“Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels,

but also vessels of wood and of earthenware,

and some to honor and some to dishonor.

Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things,

he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master,

prepared for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3: 20-21; NASB

“Thine is the … glory forever. Amen.”

A Kingdom Prayer

A Kingdom Prayer

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com

“For thine is the kingdom …”

Matthew 6:13a; NASB             

Have you had a dream so powerful it robbed you of a restful night’s sleep? One so horrible fear overwhelmed you? The bible tells us of one man who did.

The Account:

Satisfaction, success, power, and peace filled Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon. His kingdom flourished. He conquered his enemies—and now, he rested on his bed without a care—until an unsettling, fearful dream invaded his world. He could not shake the fear as the visions kept replaying in his mind. Filled with pictures he couldn’t understand shook him to the core. He found only one of his wisemen able to interpret it. Daniel was that one and the visions appalled  and alarmed him.

Because Nebuchadnezzar had not given God the glory for advancing him to greatness, God would cause him to lose his mind until Nebuchadnezzar recognized God as the supreme ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever He wishes.

After the interpretation, Daniel gave the king advice.

“Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you:

• break away now from your sins by doing righteousness,
• and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor,
• in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.” Daniel 4:27

Twelve months later, Daniel’s interpretation happened. It took seven years for Nebuchadnezzar to humble himself before the Lord God and recognize He makes great and He alone is worthy of praise.

Before we are too hard on Nebuchadnezzar, think about how often we take credit for our own success—“I’ve worked hard for everything I have.” “I would never do—(fill in the blank.  When we come to that place we need to remember Nebuchadnezzar and that—

“Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,

Than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

Proverbs 16:18,19

Our Prayer: Heavenly Father, all the good that comes to us is by your sovereign hand. May we not put our trust in ourselves for we are but human with our weaknesses. Be our strength to confess and be cleansed of pride or any other thing hindering our relationship with you. Help us to put our sinful nature far from us and learn to walk in the righteousness we have been given in Jesus Christ. May the power of Christ in us, your kingdom’s righteousness, be our strength to walk in the fruit of the Spirit. And you, Father, will give increase to your kingdom through the Living Word flowing through us for your glory, honor, and praise.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible,

the only God,

be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Timothy 1:17

For Thought:  In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first. Consider the things you desire most in life. What fills your thoughts? How are you seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness? Prayer is a good place to start.

Keep Praying

Keep Praying

“And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil …”

Matthew 6:13a, KJV

My last post concluded with, “So, we are to pray not to enter into the trial which may tempt us to lose hope and deny the One who will deliver and reward our faith.”

It helps to understand where our trial originates—and be sure in this world we will have trials, but we also have God’s promises, which we will look at in our next post. Before getting to the promises, let’s look at the trials.

Trials Born of Our Flesh:

‘“Keep watching and praying,

that you may not enter into temptation;

the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak …

and said to them,

‘Why are you sleeping?

Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.’”

Matthew 26:41; Luke 22:46; NASB

• Some trials come to us because of our own weakness or propensity to please our worldly desires rather then God’s kingdom desires.
• In short, believe Jesus when He says our flesh is weak, given to fear and sinful pleasures, and do not cease to pray.
• Be aware of your surroundings, the word of God, and the Spirit’s warnings to your spirit.

Again—PRAY.

Trials From Satan:

“Simon, Simon, behold,

Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;

but I have prayed for you,

that your faith may not fail;

and you when once you have turned again,

strengthen your brothers …

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.

Your adversary, the devil,

prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith,

knowing that the same experiences of suffering

are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”

Luke 22:31,32;1 Peter 5:8,9; NASB

• Satan cannot do anything to God’s children without God’s permission.
• Jesus is praying for us to have the victory found in our faith in Him.
• Sometime, we give in to our weakness, but God is not done with us.
• If the trial comes through Satan, it will be to lead us into sin, denying the Lord who saved us.
• Ours is to be alert to what is happening and resist him through faith in the One who is stronger.

Again—Watch and PRAY.

Trials From God:

“And you shall remember all the way

which the LORD your God has led you

in the wilderness these forty years,

that He might humble you, testing you,

to know what was in your heart,

whether you would keep His commandments or not.

And He humbled you,

and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna

which you did not know, nor did your fathers know,

that He might make you understand

that man does not live by bread alone,

but by everything

that proceeds our of the mouth of the LORD.”

Deuteronomy 8:2-3; NASB

• The Lord God is sovereign over all.
• All good things come from Him, which include the outcome of our trials.
• The trials God brings or allows are to strengthen our faith.
• He uses them to keep pride from filling our hearts instead of praise for all the goodness He has graced us with.
• Our trials keep us humble, reminding us of where our strength comes from.
• They remind us of what we need most to live the abundant life He has provided—His Word, written and living.

Again—Watch, Praise, and PRAY.

Praying For One Another:

Heavenly Father, don’t lead us into temptation, into trials that would tempt us to deny You. Help us to walk in your strength, fully clothed in the spiritual armor You have provided for us, remembering our struggles are not against others but the evil one and his forces. Keep us vigilant in prayer for one another and to stand firm in faith and—

“Fight the good fight of faith;

take hold of the eternal life to which you were called,

and you made the good confession

in the presence of many witnesses …

With all prayer and petition

pray at all times in the Spirit

and with this in view,

be on the alert

with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

1 Timothy 6:12; Ephesians 6:18; NASB

PRAYING ALWAYS

Praying for Daily Bread

Praying for Daily Bread

Our Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Matthew 6:11, KJV

• No more and no less but thankful for all.

“Keep deception and lies far from me,

Give me neither poverty nor riches;

Feed me with the food that is my portion,

Lest I be full and deny Thee and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’

Or lest I be in want and steal,

And profane the name of my God …

Not that I speak from want;

for I have learned to be content

in whatever circumstances I am …

always giving thanks for all things

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;”

Proverbs 30:8-9;Philippians 4:11;Ephesians 5:20

• Increase our hunger for that which feeds our soul and grows us in our salvation.

“But He answered and said, ‘It is written,

MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE,

BUT ON EVERY WORD

THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

Matthew 4:4, NASB

“‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord GOD,

‘When I will send a famine on the land,

Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,

But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.’”

Amos 8:11, NASB

“like newborn babes,

long for the pure milk of the word,

that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.”

1Peter 2:2,3; NASB

• May we always be ready to preach your word as you give it to us. Give us ears to hear your truth and turn away from all that is false.

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:

preach the word;

be ready in season and out of season;

reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;

but wanting to have their ears tickled,

they will accumulate for themselves teachers

in accordance to their own desires;

and will turn away their ears from the truth,

and will turn aside to myths.”

2 Timothy 4: 1-4 NASB

• Thank you, for giving us life-giving words.

“It is the Spirit who gives life;

the flesh profits nothing;

the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life …

How sweet are Thy words to my taste!

Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

John 6:63; Psalm 119:103

• May all who read, receive your invitation.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good;

How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

Psalm 34:8

All is asked in Jesus’ name for your glory, honor, and praise. Amen.

For Reflection: Do you have a daily diet of God’s word? Is it a snack? Or a whole meal?

Praying For Peace

Praying—

“Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:10, NASB

Is peace on the earth possible?

Thy kingdom come—

“Jesus answered and said to him,

Truly, truly, I say to you,

unless one is born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God …

For He delivered us from the domain of darkness,

and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins …

I tell you that in the same way,

there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents,

than over ninety-nine righteous persons

who need no repentance.”

John 3:3; Colossians 3:13,14; Luke 15:7; NASB

Thy will be done—

“The Lord is not slow about His promise,

as some count slowness,

but is patient toward you,

not wishing for any to perish

but for all to come to repentance …

 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,

Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand …

In the same way, I tell you,

there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner who repents.”

2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 4:17; Luke 15:10; NASB

Is peace on the earth possible? With God we know all things are possible, but we also know for peace to reign on this earth is not probable—until the Lord returns to set us his kingdom. Until then we have been called to be ambassadors of the kingdom of peace—it begins with peace with God.

“Now all these things are from God,

who reconciled us to Himself through Christ,

and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely,

that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,

not counting their trespasses against them,

and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God were entreating through us;

we beg you on behalf of Christ,

be reconciled to God.”

2 Corinthians 5:18-20; NASB

Be reconciled to God—it is the only way for peace to reign in your heart.

Our Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have brought us the peace of your kingdom in Jesus Christ. May we be ambassadors of your kingdom of peace, preaching repentance to those still in the kingdom of darkness. May we be workers together for the building of your kingdom one soul at a time.

Celebrating Christmas All Year

Celebrating Christmas All Year: Jesus is Christmas

“Finally brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace;

and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

2 Corinthians 13:11, NASB

Our Prayer:

and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Heavenly Father, May each who read this know the fulness of your love come to us in the flesh on the day Jesus came to the earth—

“For God so loved the world,

that He gave His only begotten Son …”

John 3:16;

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory,

• to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man;
• so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
• and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
• may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
• and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
• that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

May each heart receive your gift of peace—

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ …

• Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:6,7

May each know you are with us now and forever—

‘“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD,

AND SHALL BEAR A SON,

AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,’

which translated means,

‘God with us …

And I will ask the Father,

and He will give you another Helper,

that He may be with you forever;

that is the Spirit of truth,

whom the world cannot receive,

because it does not behold Him or know Him,

but you know Him because He abides with you,

and will be in you.

I will not leave you as orphans;

I will come to you …

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of

the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;

and lo,

I am with you always,

even to the end of the age …

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again, and receive you to Myself;

that where I am, there you may be also—

(Matthew 1:23; John 14:16-18; Matthew 28:19,20 John 14:2,3;)

“FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,

HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME,

AND WILL NOT DELAY …

“‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus.’”

Hebrews 10:37; Revelation 22:20

Until then, heavenly Father, may—

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”

Revelation 22:21

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All scriptures taken from the NASB translation