Greetings in the name of “our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29) and in the name of Jesus Christ – THE Crucified and Risen Saviour! What an interesting morning…starting with a beautiful sunrise sky and turning to ‘gray’ with rain arriving. Never mind the sun is shining beyond the overcast sky…and in your heart—right? I trust that you had a good weekend and beginning of the week. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to speak to you in ways that you can understand and respond to
As I prepare for Easter this year I have been asking God for new insights and ideas, and God has been responding in many ways. First, He brought me a few new songs–that surprises you I’m sure! There is a song – “Abide With Me” that has this chorus: Abide with me, abide with me – Don’t let me fall, and don’t let go – Walk with me and never leave – Ever close, God abide with me … Matt Maher. It has some beautiful Easter-based words and a gentle, singable melody. Another song was by Chris Tomlin – The Cross of Christ and an Easter cd by the Gaither Homecoming. God is good!
And then along comes a book called – Praying With the Names of God by Dr. Tony Evans. He uses a plan of prayer called: A.C.T.S. – adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. It is creative to be able to use one of the names of God in four different ways to pray. At the same time as the book came along, I found a quote from Dr. Evans about prayer: “Prayer is the means by which God has established for God’s people to invite the spiritual into the physical, and the invisible realm into the visible realm.” Think about that for a moment or two and understand the significance of what is happening when you are praying.
At our latest Bible study, we watched and listened to a rather challenging teaching about becoming an “unfollower” of Jesus by Andy Stanley. He spent some time with Peter’s words…“to whom else shall we go?” John 6:68. If you decided to stop believing and following Jesus today…what would you do to fill that void? It is an interesting thought to consider and led to a good discussion.
I have a challenge for you, especially those of you who have a few Easters under your belt…ask God -the consuming fire, to ‘burn up any old Easter baggage and ‘purify’ what is left – and then release some “new” Easter songs or books or activities to pout under that ‘bonnet’ of yours. Maybe you could pray about it and invite the spiritual into the physical, the invisible realm into the visible realm.
Have a blessed day!