And speaking of prayer, here is a good one to begin the year with. It’s one of those prayers that keep rotating through the Internet, but that doesn’t make anything wrong with them. Someone recently sent this to the duchess and she sent it to me. It begins with this intro: ‘Please pick four people you want God to bless.’ And yuh know what? I picked all of you, my beautiful people in Christ! Glory be!
And it continues: ‘This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.’ Now isn’t that the gospel truth! ‘Let’s always pray for one another.’ And do we ever need lots of prayer on behalf of each other in this evil and ungodly world! It’s a big part of our faith.
So please let 2019 be a big year of prayer! The more prayers we send up to heaven, the more answers and blessings we’ll receive. Remember, we have not because we ask not! And when we do ask, we tend to ask for the wrong things, or with the wrong motives.
Anyway, here is the prayer at last. (smile) Please pray with me: ‘Father, Thank You for each and every day You have blessed us here on earth. Thank You for Your tender mercies. Thank You for giving us friends and family to share these joys with. I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those I care deeply for, who are reading this right now.
Where there is joy, give them continued joy, where there is pain; give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence. Where there is need, fulfill their needs. Bless their homestead, families, finances, their going out and their coming in…In Jesus’ name; Amen!’
And here is the postscript: ‘(If you choose to send this to more than four people, you are truly blessed to have such friends).’ That means I’m truly blessed! Glory to God! ‘Never postpone!’ That’s more wisdom there again, because we are such procrastinators, our lives are so comfortable that we keep putting off things we ought to do.
Please let 2019 be the year of NO procrastination! And I’m taking that personally, because I get confused between waiting on God and doing what I think, or know I should do. (smile) And since we’ve been talking about that most powerful tool called prayer, I guess it’s only apropos that we find a Bit dealing with it.
And here is this one from way back when, when the Lord made His covenant with Cousin Sol when the temple was dedicated. ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’
Oh my people, it’s amazing how our God puts things so simply, but we make them so complicated. Now what could be simpler than that statement above there eh? Nothing really! If His people, those called by His name, that’s us; children of God, humble our selves and pray sincerely and seek Him diligently and turn from our wicked ways, then He will hear us and heal our land.
And yet we wonder why our land is in such disarray, such a disastrous state? The answer is simple my friends? We’re not humbling ourselves, and seeking God’s face and turning from our evil ways…Chuh! In fact we’re becoming more evil every day! So I ask again, how do we expect our land to be healed eh?
And the Lord continued to Cousin Sol: ‘Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent (attentive) unto the prayer that is made in this place.’ (2 Chr.7:15) Yuh see another great promise there mih breddren! When His people come to the temple and pray, He promised to hear them. The same thing goes for us today.
And the scholars offer this wonderful explanation on those verses. ‘7:14-15. While this promise was originally given to Solomon regarding the people of Israel, it is certainly applicable to all who call on the Lord in repentance and faith. These verses stand as a high expression of God’s LOVING readiness to hear the prayers of a repentant people (cf. 6-37-39; James 4:8-10).’
Oh friends, I couldn’t have put it any better! And I strongly suggest that you read those two references the scholars gave. The first is Cousin Sol praying at the dedication of the temple that when sinners come to it and pray, the Lord would hear them. And the Lord granted his wish. The next one is James telling us to ‘Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw night (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.’ (James 4;8) It’s all simple and straightforward friends!
Now on this first Tuesday in 2019, with a strengthening of our faith, and an improvement of our prayer life front and centre, let’s go home telling the world, in no uncertain terms, who and whose we are, as we declare our Tuesday Mantra with great gusto!
As one entity now: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’
And there’s no better way to begin this New Year than by sharing Christ’s amazing LOVE and undying friendship with those who don’t know Him! Much LOVE!
…if you believe that Christ is a wonderful person and Saviour…don’t keep that good news to yourself…joyfully share it with others…
SCRIP-BITS 