Passionate Prayer

Monday, January 27, 2025

Good morning, LordFather in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Verse of the Day: Ephesians 6:12-13

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Today's reading: Exodus 16-18 Matthew 18:1-20

Passionate Prayer

For a long time I wondered about the Bible verse:

 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

I am stopped short by the folks who want to charge into God’s throne room and demand things, So I searched and read and began to think of spoiled children who demand things of parents. This is the person I do want to be but the Bible says for us to come boldly into God’s presence that we may receive mercy and find grace.

Mercy and grace-not the world’s riches-not ‘good in the world’-not healing…

We are to come into God’s presence with a calm assurance-no fear(but with full belief in God’s endless power)as a child asks a loving parent for a glass of water.

Matthew 7:8 says, “...Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?”

Entering God’s presence with humility, yes, but strength of peaceful trusting-secure in His love. We are not on the outside trying to convince God of our faith. We have been seated at His right hand as His chosen. We are on the inside. We have been welcomed in the CEO's office-the closest of friends with His Son who died for us-who rose from the dead for us.

The Holy Spirit shares consciousness with us-in us.

I believe that God not only invites us to ask what we will but to wrestle with him as He did Jacob(Genesis 32:22-32).

He wants us to reason with Him(Isaiah 1:18).

Calm, peaceful, humility driven assurance-the freedom of the faith of a small child in the presence of His powerful Father who the child trusts with its very life-the child knows without a doubt that he or she is completely safe.

Have a child’s tea party with God and He will show you how to win wars.

That sounds over simplified, yes, but this is the comfort God wants us to know with Him. This is the boldness God wants us to cherish.

...because He loves us…

Father in Heaven,

You who ride above it all and share Your kingdom with us. May we hallow Your name. Give me today Your bread for me and forgive me for my wasteful ways. Lead me away from the evil one.

Father of all,

In the name of Jesus,

Amen