Fully Persuaded

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FULLY PERSUADED

Let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:4

            The oldest manuscripts read, “perfect and fully assured, fully persuaded.”   If I am fully persuaded, nothing will stand in my way.  I will have no doubt about who Jesus is, what God is like, and how He feels about me.  Because of that, I will feel no reservation when I choose to give Him every part of myself and every facet of my life.  I will believe that no sacrifice is too great, no casualty in the war against the anti-kingdom too costly.  I will have eyes for my Master, my Bridegroom, and I will dream of the day when He comes back.  Until then, I will work with Him to enforce Calvary’s victory and do all I can to advance the kingdom He rules so righteously.

            Endurance hasn’t always been my goal.  I was a quitter in my early life and, believe me, I hate to admit.  I remember taking a rugged survivor course in my teens.  After three weeks of ‘roughing it’ in the outdoors, we had to embark on a seven-day, 70 mile canoe trip.  We also climbed the highest peak in NY State and roughly 1,000 feet from the summit, we were given the choice to climb the last bit or sit it out in a cabin and wait for everyone else to return.  (A 3 hour wait.)  I sat it out.  Reaching the top wasn’t important to me at all.  Continue reading “Fully Persuaded” →

By-product of Testing

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BY-PRODUCT OF TESTING

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  James 1:2-3

            Testing brings endurance, according to James.  How?

            1.) The nature of a test is to face a challenge that takes me beyond my proficiency level.  I must stretch to achieve it.  It will appear too hard at first glance and require that I find some new muscles.  God knows me well enough to know how to present a test that is perfectly shaped for my area of weakness.  Continue reading “By-product of Testing” →

Truth Is Humbling

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TRUTH IS HUMBLING

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.  James 1:1

            James was the half-brother of Jesus.  He grew up in the same household yet failed to recognize his brother’s divine nature.  Family ties and sibling issues obscured his vision.  Often, what is right under our noses is lost to us and so it was with James.  I’m sure that as he grew older, he was haunted by a certain conversation he had with his brother, Jesus.  “If you want to be known publicly,” James had said, “then go to Jerusalem to the Feast of Booths.  Do your works there so that your notoriety grows.”  The undertone of slick marketing was not lost on the Son of God.  What James really said was, “If you think you’re divine, Jesus, and claim to have a ministry, then this is how you should perform.”  

            It wasn’t until after Jesus death and resurrection that James’ spiritual eyes were opened.  It must have been humbling for him to realize how blind he had been. Continue reading “Truth Is Humbling” →

Prayer for the Testing of my Thoughts

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PRAYER FOR THE TESTING OF MY OWN HEART

And a sword will pierce even your own soul – to the end that thoughts from many will be revealed.  Luke 2:35

Spoken by Simeon to Mary

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Lord, how You favored Simeon.  He was one of few who were told supernaturally that You would be born in their lifetime.  He saw You come to the temple when You were circumcized and he recognized You instantly.  He prophesied boldly to Your mother about your future.  He said that Your life, and death, would pierce her own soul and that Your life would also test the thoughts of people.  What a strange prophesy but Lord, I’ve lived long enough to know what Simeon meant.

Your mother did agonize and a sword did pierce her heart when You, her innocent Son, were nailed to a cross.  How did she bear it?  It was only because Your Father told her that You were the Savior.

But she also stumbled over You as Your presence tested and revealed her thoughts.  Your holiness, even as a toddler, exposed her sinful heart.  This was predicted.  Your Word said, “And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel.”  Is. 8:14  In a weak moment, she presumed upon Your miracle working power at the wedding feast, and later, she called You crazy along with the rest of Your family in Your hometown.  To call You her Son was one thing.  To repent and have to call You her Savior was quite another.

Before I can stand with You today, I must stumble over You.  Your holiness is too bright for my eyes.  My sin is too dark for Yours.  You ways are too hard.  Sinning is too easy.  Your humility is too much to absorb.  My pride is often too great to admit. When the sword of Your Word pierces my heart, my thoughts are an open book.  I am in relationship with You, just like Mary.  My heart is known to You, just as Mary’s heart was.  I stumble, just as Mary did.  Thank you for praying for me, Jesus, so that my faith does not fail.  Like Peter, and like Mary, I am often sifted like wheat and I need You.  Amen

Prayer For Boldness

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PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS

And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.  Eph. 6:19-20

Boldness ~ Speak freely, confident, established, daring.

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 It’s been a setup, Lord.  I’ve been told by many not to speak.  My ideas have not been mainstream.  My spiritual insights have often been stretching to those who heard them.  My boldness slowly corrupted over a lifetime.  You are the only true healer of timidity.

I draw close to You to rebuild what has decayed.  Make me into a confident child of the kingdom.  Put Your words in my mouth.  Give me opportunities to test them out so that I can know that they work by experience, not hear-say.  Make my speech sharp as an arrow.  Let my words be clear, not cobwebbed.  Help me be direct and true, sincere and Spirit directed.

When bold, Lord, I will be like You.  I will attract others or repel them.  I will be popular or ridiculed.  I will be loved or hated.  When You spoke, they said You had a demon.  They insulted You and called You an illegitimate child.  They pulled out all the stops to discredit You.  I should not be surprised if boldness brings severe reactions.  Give me grace.

When I am timid with Your testimonies, forgive me.  When I am bold to say You are the Christ, the only way to God, empower me.  I follow Your lead, Lord.  When rejected, You ran to Your Father.  When I am rejected, I run to You.  You are my great High Priest; touched by my every weakness.

Satan would celebrate when my mouth is shut up tight.  Open it, Lord.  Make me eloquent with the mystery of the Gospel.  When You do, some will believe when You open their eyes.  Others will crusade against You, and me.  When I am rejected, live through me.  You told the truth and most hated You.  Then You gave Your life for them.  Only Your Spirit can fuel such a life in me.  Amen

Prayer of a Disciple

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PRAYER OF A DISCIPLE

The Lord God has given me the tongue of one who is taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word.  He awakens me morning by morning, he awakens my ear to listen as one who is taught.  Is. 50:4-5

One who is taught ~ Disciple, learned, accustomed to something.

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Lord, I know this scripture is about You.  You were the first disciple of Your Father.  ‘You rose up early in the morning, went off to a desolate place and prayed.’  Mark 1:35  You had the tongue of one who had been taught by His Father in prayer.  No wonder that when it was time for You to speak, the words came easily.  You never faked it and let stray words leave your mouth.

I give You my nighttime hours.  Awaken me when You want to speak to me.  Awaken me at the time I should get up.  Prompt me when to go to bed so that I can awaken alert and ready to listen to You.  Much of my waking hours, I’m not sure what to say so I just come up with the best thing I can think of.  This is not what You did, Lord.  You knew when it was right to speak and when You should keep silent.  Oh, that I could enjoy the spiritual connection with Your Father that You enjoyed!

I want to sit at Your feet.  I want to be intent on every Word.  You will teach me just what I need to know.  You will not rush me, nor neglect to teach me what I should learn.  Your instruction will be right on time.  You will be patient and thrill to see me get excited over a new truth You are about to unveil.

I am Your disciple.  Don’t let me leave Your side and start my day too soon.  Keep me near You to get fully equipped with everything I’ll need for the job.  I want Your language in my mouth.  I want Your wisdom in my heart.  I want Your compassion in my soul.  I don’t want to be an empty mimic.  I want others to be able to tell that I have lived with You.

Fill me up ~ in every way through the language of prayer.  Amen

Prayer For Springs In The Desert

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PRAYER FOR SPRINGS IN THE DESERT

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart is the pilgrimage to Zion.  As they go through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs.  Psalm 84:5-6

Baca ~ A waterless place in Palestine that would become a pool of springs when rain fell.

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Is every waterless place in my life a place of springs?  Is every desert a fertile plain?  Is this present wilderness a green meadow?  I say to You in prayer today that it will be so!  I change my perspective and believe You for a ‘place of springs’.  You promised this ~ and more ~ if I live in worship of You and if my heart is wrapped up in pilgrimage.

Every name of You, I speak out loud.  Every name of You, I worship. You are Your name.  Every meaning of every name, I ponder.  Every name of You, I embrace.  Every name of You is hope for my waterless place.

I am a pilgrim, not a settler.  I have passed through many Valleys of Baca and You have turned them into fertile places of learning.  You held me close, whispered in my ear, and we grew intimate.

Now, once again, let the rains come to my soul.  You are Jehovah Roi – my shepherd in this place.  You are Jehovah Shammah – the One who is present with me.  You are Jehovah Jireh – the One who sends the latter rains.  You are El-Roi – the One who sees me.  You are Jehovah Shalom – the One who is peace in my turmoil.  You are Jehovah Yahweh – the One who is salvation for every need.  You are Comforter, Commander, Consolation, Consuming Fire, Crown of Beauty, Dayspring, Deliverer, and Dwelling Place.

No desert will define me.  No scorching heat will cause my soul to shrivel.  Every thought of You makes me heart beat faster.  Joy, energy, resilience, and strength flood my being because You are my Bread.  When I close my eyes today, let my ears continue to hear the waterfall of Living Water.  Amen

Prayer For Anointed Ministry

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PRAYER FOR ANOINTED MINISTRY

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  Psalm 19:8

Enlightening ~ By light of glory, enveloped in light.

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Father, I am Your mouthpiece today.  I will be speaking Your Word while others listen.  Would You give me favor so that they will see Your glory?  Would You pour Your anointing oil over me so that those who listen will be enlightened and experience You as the Light of the world?

I pray for them as they prepare to hear Your Word.  Till up the soil of their hearts so that Your Word has a place to land and thrive.  Make the soil fertile; no stones, no old roots that would choke out new truth.  Silence the enemy so that he may not tamper with what is said and distort the message in their ears.  As Your Word falls like a sword, let it separate truth from error, light from darkness.  I bind their minds to Your mind so that truth will prevail over lies.  Expose every error.  Let Your light shine so brilliantly that every falsehood will shock and repel them.

As I do Your work, I ask for protection for me and for everyone who is coming.  I use the authority You gave to Your disciples, in Your name, to enforce the victory of the cross in our lives and the lives of our families.  May all the enemy’s plans and schemes be thwarted and brought to nothing.  May they be null and void and have no binding effect.  You are our shield, Jesus.  No weapon formed against us will prosper.  Is. 54:17

May every one who listens to Your Word today love it more when we’re finished.  Stir up their spiritual hunger so that it’s insatiable.  Give them a glimpse of Your glory so that they are completely captivated by You.  May their new passion be for the things of Your Spirit, not the corruptible things of earth.  Expose the carnal.  Exalt what is holy.  Amen

Prayer For Holy Affection

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PRAYER FOR HOLY AFFECTION

Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God, the Lord is One.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength.

The Lord is one ~ My God and I have no others.

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You are my God; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  What You revealed to them about Yourself is still true today.  I live in their stories and learn from their experiences with You.  I embrace Your promises to them as so many are also promises to me.  Who else would I possibly worship?  There is no one but You.  At the end of the day, my heart turns over with passion for the beauty of You.  Thoughts of You keep me up at night.

In every way my heart could be turned aside and be captivated by trinkets instead of You, show me.  The desire of my heart is to love You with no compromise.  Your eyes roam the earth, searching for someone whose heart is completely Yours.  I know there are many who love You wholeheartedly, but please make me one of Your passionate worshipers.

In every way my soul could be turned aside by worry, anger, fear, and rumors of accusations against You, show me.  So many hate You and say disparaging things about You to me.  They laugh at my excitement when I speak of You.  They laugh at the preoccupation I have with You.  How much they would love to see my devotion to You corrupted.  Protect me from the pressure to be loved and respected by them.  In every way my soul could obsess over things that dim Your beauty, I will make an honest effort to stop the temptation as soon as it starts.

In every way my strength could be divided, show me.  I give you the first fruits of my energy, not the leftovers.  When I feel strong, I will consider You before expending the best part of my day on things that don’t matter.  I turn my face toward heaven, keep it fixed on Your face, and live my life with You ever in my view.  Amen

Prayer of Belonging

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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