Good NEWS - Prayers and Petitions mixed with reverent submission defeat DEATH.
Prayer is an invitation to power. "During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." Hebrews 5:7-9
Prayer is an invitation and..... so much more than an obligation.
We are saved by GRACE through FAITH.Following Jesus by walking in the Spirit step for step leads us into the WAY of
"every spiritual blessing in Christ". Ephesians 1
So why is it that prayer is so low on the list of our deepest desires?
In and through prayer Jesus won the greatest victory of all time.
He defeated death.
He Rose from the Grave.
He is alive.
HIJACKED!
So much of what we feel and think about prayer has somehow been hijacked.
Rather than hunger and desire we....
We often condemn ourselves for our lack of prayer - measuring ourselves with time, others boasts, results, and our own notion of obedience for the time.
I remember moving from the law of prayer to the grace of prayer. I skipped my devotion for a few days but I was doing really well in spirit and truth. Then something came over me. You skipped your devotion for ___________ days now.
Interpretation of my lame inner disciple...."you are not walking right".
I remembered - there is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. That includes my own condemnation and rule of law I allow. We live in the law of love and grace by faith. We walk in the Spirit and the Spirit is clearly able to let me know I'm drifting.
I reflected with the Holy Spirit.
"Lord, am I walking right with you today?"
Answer - "Yes. Focus on the grace through faith not the laws of beginnings."
My heart leap into abundant freedom in prayer for the first time.
Wow.
So much fresh air.
I could trust the Spirit to guide me in devotion, prayer and petition. FREEDOM
We can shame the church for her lack of prayer - We may have reached the tipping point. When preachers become so exasperated with saying the same things over and over without any change that they stop saying them.
Prayer seems to be one of those topics. Start off with "today I'm going to preach on the wonders of prayer" and all the heads go down and the atmosphere moves from fresh air to the air of guilt, condemnation and falling short.
Prayer is an invitation not an obligation.
It is the greatest invitation the Saints possess.
We have access to the Father, unlimited, all the time presence, with glory, steadfast love and connected abiding in Jesus through the Spirit.
If there is any shame about our "performance" in prayer let it be erased in the glory and grace of the Cross. FREEDOM. For freedom we've been set free. Deepening our prayer life is done through
DESIRE
DEVOTION
FIRST LOVE
REVELATION of the LOVE of JESUS
Paul is clear in his prayer for us....
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and established in love .... and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge." Ephesians 3:14-21
Hunger for Jesus, the blood in the veins of a devoted heart.
Religion is a heavy burden
The yoke of Jesus is easy.
That means Spirit and Truth prayer is easy.
Spirit and Truth prayer is light.
We feel guilty and so lose heart for our pursuit of prayer. Paul points out that it is not wise to compare ourselves. These are the eyes of one who is moving in law. Measuring and comparing for assurance of good devotion.
Let the Spirit measure and disciple you in prayer. He knows how to mix it with love, joy, righteousness and peace. He knows how to call you to the real fires of love and devotion in service to Jesus.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
GOOD NEWS - If you stop focusing on prayer and start focusing on Jesus, your desire for him, your hunger, and your hope to live in the fullness of his glory and grace by faith - YOU will find FREEDOM and power through HIM.
Real prayer - founded in love and devotion is mighty and powerful.
Jesus overcame death itself through prayer, petition and reverent devotion. He opened the way for us to overcome the world in that same pathway. Prayer, petition leads us to power in Christ.
Never forget the steadfast love of Jesus
Never forget the power of prayer in overcoming the world.
And take back what is yours..... FREEDOM and GRACE in abiding in prayer.
Kick out the hijackers!
Return to the Word for the truth.
Walk in the way of love in prayer through grace by faith. It's and invitation to JOY. RIGHTEOUSNESS. PEACE.
1Jo 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Hang in there.
Often
we start making predictions based on past failures when trouble lands.
We start predicting a negative future out of some of our bad
memories.
The awesome thing is God is not tied up by our predictions.
He is creative. In love with us. And he is good all the way.
Everything in his heart is to see us live forever with him.
He has provided everything needed in the Lord Jesus and his perfect work.
I have always been a bad predictor of the future....even when I think it turns out bad.
God always sweeps in and something unseen re-writes the story.
That is the heart of God over us.
He re-writes it so we see him, grow deeper in love and learn to walk with him.
In turn he changes us inside forever!
This is all worth it.
Even
the days when you are hanging on by the tips of your fingers and you
see a 1000 feet of air beneth you. He will catch you.
Or He will sweep in and bring something unexpected.
Believe. Believe. Believer.
Trust in the NAME of Jesus.
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With much love in Jesus
You can do this thing! He's got you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
Brother Jeff
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