Prayer of Belonging

PRAYER OF BELONGING

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.  I Peter 2:9

Belonging ~ Becoming ones possession.

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O Lord Jesus, to be chosen, to be declared holy, to know that I have someone to whom I belong is so comforting to me today. There are those who often exclude me from their conversation.  At times, I don’t feel wanted.  Some who claim to know me are really strangers to me.  Who they turn aside, they misjudge.  Jesus, You experienced that.  They rejected the person they thought they knew, but if they had seen Your glory, they would have embraced You.

I’m so glad I’m Yours.  You are my Bridegroom and you know me.  Really know me! Your ear is bent to listen; Your heart to discern. You hear, not only what I say, but what I don’t say. I rest in the comfort of such intuitive understanding.

To be wanted by someone like You is the highest privilege. Whatever shame might exist because I have been rejected by others dissipates in the joy of knowing that I am Your desire.  And what’s most important is not that I’m wanted, but that I desire You above all else.  Amen

Prayer for Stronger Faith

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Believing ~ To trust, put faith in, rely on, have confidence.

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Lord, You can see Your child. She’s reading this and needing You to break through the barriers to her faith.  She’s tired, ready to cave in.  Afraid to hope.  Afraid to feel the pain of waiting for you.  The ability to endure no longer exists.

She hoped in someone for something she needed and hope was smashed.  She has no joy and no peace in believing that You are true to Your promises.  She has not felt the power of the Holy Spirit in a long time.

First, I ask that You deliver her from evil.  Send Your angels to wherever she is right now and fight against what she cannot see.  Defeat her enemies and put a blood covering over her.  Restrict all enemies from speaking to her and moving against her.  In the authority of Christ Jesus, I cancel their plans to lie, steal, kill and destroy her faith.

I bind her mind to Yours.  Be large in her, Holy Spirit.  Every prayer that has been spoken over her, bring to full budding and blossom.  Every scripture that she has planted in her heart, bring out of the deep and put it within her heart’s grasp.  As she opens Your Word today, remove the veil from her eyes to see the power of Your love, the power of Your authority, and the power of Your hand to be the source of all that she needs.  Bring such powerful revelation as she reads that a journal page cannot contain her insights.

Through Your Word, and through the God-moments that You will ordain today for her, grow her faith and her hope.  Transform the flickering flame of her faith into a blaze of glory.  Infuse her heart with fresh faith and the ability to stand in the cement of Your love and believe You!  You are not distant.  You are not passive.  You are a God of intervention and no one who has ever trusted in You has ever been put to shame.

Break through the fog.  Reveal Yourself to her so that she may see Your glory and live.  The kingdom is here now and near her.

Prayer For Peace In The Storm

PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE STORM

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”  Mark 4:39-40

Calm – A period or condition of freedom from storms, high winds, or rough activity of water, a spirit of serene.

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Lord, there is pressure on all sides.  No matter where I turn, stress exists.  Where do I find peace?  I know it’s with You but why don’t I feel it easily?  Do you still rebuke the winds and bring peace to someone’s world?

You spoke to the disciples when they were in turbulence and asked them why they had no faith.  Did they need to have faith to have peace?  Do I?

You said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33  You may not do away with my suffering but knowing that You are greater and more powerful than any of it is what gives me peace.  Though in agony, You walked calmly to Your death.  Though taunted and demanded of answers, You were silent.  You were not controlled by the storm.  Peace ruled Your heart and Your Father’s will was done through You.  No one forced You to react in anger or panic.  Your composure was of heaven – brought about in constant prayer.

I remember the words of Your servant, Paul.  “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 14:17-19  In my time of need, peace and joy come from Your Spirit, through prayer.  I still myself, right now, to listen to You.  I discern You living within me, reassuring me of Your Words that I already know but need to hear from You again.  As You bring them to my mind, I speak them out loud to my own soul.  I stand in faith that You are greater than everything that threatens me.  See my faith – and calm the seas of my emotions.  Give me tranquility and self-control though the waves wash over me.  Lead my soul to still waters.  Amen

Prayer For When I’m Hemmed In

“Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely, O Lord.  You hem me in – behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.”  Psalm 139:2

Hem – To confine, secure, bind up and enclose.

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Oh Lord, I feel trapped?  Things feel wild and out of control but I know You are sovereign.  You could easily make a way out but You haven’t yet.  Oh, I am afraid that my honest thoughts have not yet become words.  Perhaps I’m hiding accusations against You.   I think I’ve been scared to let You know what I’m feeling.

But You already know. If I don’t trust You, show me and give me the strength to admit it.  If I don’t believe You love me, give me the courage to ask You.  If I am angry with You because my discomfort has gone on so long, give me the guts to face my rage.  This fire is hot and the dross of my heart is rising to the top. Is this the fruit of suffering?  To unearth hidden sin and bad theology?

Today, I will be like David.  I will admit my fears, my anger, my sins against You.  But I will also say, ‘Who do I have besides You?’  I feel You have afflicted me and confined me, but I will offer my praise.  You do all things well.  Even though I don’t understand why my deliverance is taking so long, You know the reason.  Though I feel trapped and am tempted to panic, I remember that with You, there is no such thing as trapped. I will make my heart defer to Your truth. For You make roadways in the wilderness and streams in the desert.  (Isaiah 43:19)  With mustard size faith, I thank you for my confinement for it has exposed my sinful heart.

‘If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.’  Psalm 139:9-10  

Prayer For Spiritual Savvy

Please read this prayer out loud!  Satan cannot read thoughts.  Since any warfare prayer is the equivalent of serving the enemy legal papers, it is critical that these kinds of prayers are spoken rather than silently internalized.

Warrior, fight on.  The battle is the Lord’s and victory can be yours.   Christine

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Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.  Psalm 144:1

Trains ~ Perceives by sight or some other sense.  Distinguishes and discriminates.

PRAYER:  Teach me how to fight my enemy like You did, Jesus.  He comes at me like he came at you; quoting scripture, presenting spiritual arguments in such a persuasive way that it’s hard to discern if what I’m hearing is a God-breathed idea.  But You knew the difference when You were in the desert and You will train me to develop my spiritual senses, too.

Many decisions lay in front of me.  How do I know Your plans for me?  My enemy mimics Your voice and wants to lead me to do something spiritual at the wrong time.  The consequences are too great if I am a novice.

He told You to turn stones to bread when You were hungry.  It wasn’t an evil idea Lord, because You did it later with the loaves and fishes.  The miracle in the desert would have just been premature but how did You know?   Was it because He promised You a way out of pain before it was time?

Today, I am asking You to teach me, train me, make me sharp and discerning.  You promised You would when You sent Your Spirit to live inside Your children.  “He will become your teacher and guide,” You said.   How I need You.  Satan would have me move when I should be still, speak when I should hold my tongue, overextend myself when I should simplify, feel guilty when I should celebrate Your forgiveness, and even bring an end to something holy when it’s nearly time for advancement.

Speak Your Word into my spirit.  Speak loudly and clearly.  You promised that Your sheep would know Your voice.  So, let me know without a doubt that it’s You and not him.  Or, let me know that it’s him and not You.  Give me the precise Word to speak to overcome the voice of the tempter and liar.  Make me skilled and seasoned with the Sword for a battle that I cannot see.  All for Your honor and glory.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Prayer for Treasures in the Dark

PRAYER FOR TREASURES IN THE DARK

I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. Isaiah 45:3

PRAYER:  Jesus, is it possible that there is wealth and treasure in all the darkest places of my life?  The places that have felt like death and destruction?   My eyes do not yet see what You see yet in certain places.  You are saying that what has appeared to nearly destroy me really contains a treasury of spiritual riches?  Wow, Jesus!  What I have wanted to curse, I should bless.

I am willing to have my mind changed.  I am willing to begin to see that event as You see it.  I am willing to give up my entitlement that says that You should have prevented it.  I am willing to do whatever I need to do to see redemption rather than pain.  Begin to speak to me about this and take the veil off the eyes of my soul.  Forgive me for speaking words of hopelessness. I have not seen the vast treasury you have been investing into the shadows of my life but I accept that reality today by faith.

I am Yours.  You speak my name right now with tenderness and ownership.  I realize that Your death became my treasure.  Your darkest hour became my saving hour.  So, give me the grace to embrace my cross so that Your treasures may be revealed.  In Jesus name, Amen

The Ending To Romans

THE ENDING TO ROMANS

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God to bring about the obedience of faith – to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ!  Amen

         It’s the end of Romans.  How do you feel?  Have you been changed?

         I remember the day, sitting on the edge of my bed in a hotel room in Minneapolis, that God spoke to me and impressed upon me to study and teach Romans.  I was trembling, literally, with the prospect of such an undertaking.  That was two years ago.  Two hundred and forty devotionals later, you’ll never know how many mornings I feared that I would never grasp the meaning of the verse in front of me.  My testimony today is this ~ The Holy Spirit loves to teach and is faithful to anyone who seeks to be moved by the most difficult scriptures.

         In the end, Paul’s last words are about the sources of strength.  He will need it for the violent end of his life and ministry.  And he knows we will need it too.  We have been sent out to live as sheep amongst wolves.

         Are you fearful of the wolves?  Are you out of physical strength?  Out of emotional stamina?  Are you intellectually tormented, wondering if what you believe is really true?

         Paul sends us to three places to get strength. Continue reading “The Ending To Romans”

Jesus Showed Me How

JESUS SHOWED ME HOW

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Romans 16:20

         How does God crush Satan under my feet?  Now, that is a visual! I crush the serpent’s head the same way Jesus did.  This act of subjection was predicted in Genesis.  “You (Jesus) shall crush his head and he shall bruise your heel.”  Gen. 3:15   While Jesus declared that he came to destroy the works of the devil, and he did this through signs and wonders, the actual crushing of Satan’s head didn’t happen until the cross.  Jesus had to give His life as the perfect Lamb in order for Satan’s power to be broken.

         Paul says that I have a similar opportunity to crush Satan under my feet.  How does this happen?  Just as Jesus gave up all rights to his life and came to do His Father’s will, and Satan was crushed, this act of subjection is repeated again and again through me and every child of God.  When I give up all rights to my life and choose righteousness over sin, Satan is crushed.

         Ultimately, Satan must use people to get his work done.  He needs bodies he can control.  Continue reading “Jesus Showed Me How”

Making Right Judgments

MAKING RIGHT JUDGMENTS

Your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent and what is evil.  Romans 16:19

         Do mature Christians need to be concerned about being deceived?  Aren’t they grounded enough in the Word to be past such a threat?  Apparently not.  And if any of us believe we are, we live dangerously.

         As long as I live here on earth, I can be fooled.  Good and evil aren’t always obvious.  The author of evil is so good at deceiving that he can make what is sinister appear holy.

         What is wisdom?  Warren Wiersbe defines it as ‘knowing what to do when there is no biblical precedent.’  Satan is always in the cobwebs.  He weaves webs around the outlines of our Christian lives and mixes in his own brand of what appears to be holy.  His options are never dark-colored but glittering and full of light.

Who Would I Mention?

WHO WOULD I MENTION?

Priscilla, Aquila, Epaenetus, Mary, Anronicus and Junia,

Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodion,

Narcissus, Tryphaena Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, Asyncritus,

Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Julie, Nereus, Olympas.

People Paul remembered in the last chapter of Romans.

         I’m nearly at the end of Romans.  What a journey over this past year.  As I start reading the last 5-6 verses, I realize these are the last words of Paul’s to the Roman church.  He won’t see them again and he has invested so much of himself into the birth, and growth, of their church.  He did it to his peril as he was beaten and imprisoned.  Though Paul has often gotten a bad rap as being non-relational, his closing words are all about people and relationships.

If I were about to die or to be taken away in chains, what kind of a goodbye list would I make?  This morning I daydreamed.  I imagined that I will send a good friend on a journey to visit the people who have impacted my life the most profoundly.  “Tell _________ that I thank him for showing me the face of Christ through his kind spirit.”  Continue reading “Who Would I Mention?”