Greetings to you…beloved member of the family of God…in the powerful name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Savior! What a beautiful morning in the Kingdom! This is a significant day for the church…Ascension Day – also “this is the day that the Lord has made for us to rejoice and be glad in!” This morning I will be praying for you, asking Father to be your strong tower, your place of refuge in a mixed-up world…may His presence bring peace to your mind and calm to your spirit…may His healing presence bring wholeness to your body…may His compassion and love for you bring comfort and settledness.
As mentioned this is Ascension Day and it is a significant day for the church. Today we remember that Jesus left earth and its limitations for His place at God’s right-hand with the promise that He is coming back at a God-appointed time. You can read the account of this event in Acts 2:1-14. This day initiated a ten day prayer meeting for the family of believers in Jerusalem which ushered in the Day of Pentecost and the coming of Holy Spirit. When you read the account it seems so matter of fact, yet it was those ten days of prayer that touched God’s heart and transformed the family of Christ-followers.
Now, I don’t know what that prayer meeting looked like or how it was organized or any particular details, but I believe that it was a time when the individuals that made up the core of believers were transformed into a “family” with a unique oneness and acceptance of each other and forgiveness was freely given. This prayer meeting was the catalyst that would create the church…the family of God…the new normal that the world had to adjust to.
Recently in our Monday noon-hour prayer gathering we were listening to and singing…behind our ‘masks’ – a song that speaks to me of the kind of prayers that could have been prayed. The song – As For Me and My House by Here Be Lions, has a great refrain that repeats several times and when we listened/sang along it generated a unique energy. It is a ‘strong’ refrain and the words were…I speak to the enemy – You can’t have my family – ‘Cause we belong to the Lord – With heaven’s authority – We take back our destiny – ‘Cause we belong to the Lord.
There is a double emphasis…our family meaning immediate family but more importantly, I believe, it refers to our family of faith. Over the next ten days let us remember to pray for our family of faith…and pray for patience and compassion and forgiveness and acceptance and understanding…” ‘Cause we belong to the Lord!”
Something to ponder…have a blessed day!