Greetings to you in the name of the “One who is coming again”, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a fantastic day Father has created for us to enjoy!! I trust that you had a good weekend and Monday…with many reasons to simply say – “Thank You, God!” and moments of awareness of His presence surrounding you. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to touch those who need healing and to speak with gentle words with strength to those who need encouragement and to allow peace to flow to those who are anxious.
Yesterday was our prayer time for the city and county – “The Cry”. We are coming close to the end of our tenth year of praying for peace and prosperity and wise leadership, as well as for the churches/Christian ministries, and for the people – both generally and specifically as needs are identified. However, the main ‘thing’ that has been on our agenda is for a spiritual revival. Very often people have come with insights and revelations received from times spent in God’s presence praying-praising-pondering. There is one insight/revelation that keeps challenging our prayer focus – the need for repentance and forgiveness and love within the church family.
As I was reading a recent email, this statement was made: When God brings revival, one of the defining marks is a large-scale reconciliation. Humility leads to the seeking and granting of forgiveness. – Steve Canfield. Just think about that for a moment or two…reconciliation between church members and between congregations and between leadership…there always seems to be a need to forgive someone. It takes a lot of humility to admit you might have been wrong or that you might have said/thought/done something unintentionally…or intentionally. It takes a lot of humility to forgive someone else, whether they ask for it or not.
I might go so far as to say that everyone reading this has at least one person who they either need to seek forgiveness from or to grant forgiveness to. Sometimes that person doesn’t even know what is going on. We can be at odds with another person in the privacy of our own thoughts and that is hindering God’s desires for us.
In a few days we enter into the season of Advent and begin our journey to Bethlehem to celebrate that Messiah has come and to affirm our belief that Messiah is going to return. Wouldn’t it be great to begin this journey clean on the inside, with humility and a clear conscience? I am so thankful that God has made a promise that very day of our journey begins with “new mercies and compassion” that can be received and experienced personally.
Have a great day…be blessed!