International Prayer Initiative

CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH...
Read: Galatians 3:26

"For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (NLT)

"If then you would live to Christ's glory, and be happy in his service, seek to be FILLED with the spirit of ADOPTION more and more completely, til perfect love shall cast out fear" (C.H. Spurgeon, Morning & Evening).

Has the spirit of adoption awakened deep and abiding faith in me? Do I so revel in & trust my belonging to God (in Christ) that it fills my heart with unshakable joy & peace?

Am I, as Spurgeon writes, filled with the spirit of adoption COMPLETELY? Is this now what defines my very existence? Do I live as one who knows who his Father is? Do I live with the utter soul confidence of one who was (by love and affirmed by faith) CHOSEN by God to be His very own?

Has God's perfect love (affirmed in His choosing me to be His very own) cast out ALL fear & doubt? The answer is both yes and no. I know that it is true & believe it in my heart, but the reality of it has not yet defeated the enemies of fear and doubt within my soul completely.

I still wrestle with questions of my worth & sometimes doubt whether God actually loves me like He says He loves me. And in those moments, when fear and doubt are louder, stronger, and truer than His voice of love, He tenderly reminds me that He is still with me & isn't going anywhere.

LORD, may your voice be louder, stronger, and truer than any voice alive within our hearts today. May your love win out over fear and doubt. May we be FILLED with the spirit of adoption (may we be convinced that we belong to you and that you chose us as your very own). In Jesus' Name, Amen.

THE SHELTER OF HIS PRESENCE
Read: Psalm 36:7

"How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! The children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings" (Amplified Version).

God IS our safe place. We exhaust ourselves looking for safety in people and things, yet they can never provide it. Over and over, the Bible teaches us to look for and FIND our safety in God and God alone.

Safety does not preclude pain. Safety does not promise that we will avoid suffering, sorrow, and loss. Safety is a promise that God will hold us and keep us THROUGH the pain, suffering, and sorrow of life.

The psalmist knew God was the true source of soul safety. He knew he was safe with God. Though his outer world could be falling apart, his inner life was safe in the presence of God. Nothing could shake him or shatter his confidence in the goodness of God's heart.

Knowing God is GOOD and KIND paves the way for us to approach Him. If we had any question about that it would keep us from trusting Him. This is what permits us to take refuge (to be truly at rest) in the shadow of His wings (in the security of his presence).

Life offers us few (if any guarantees) and so we must look beyond the things of this life to find the safety our souls long for. We can face the hardship, pain, sorrow, and grief of life knowing there is a safe-place for our souls. God's presence is a good and reliable refuge.

We look to You, O God. You are our safe-place, the refuge for our very souls. May we find all we need in the safety of Your loving presence. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Some musings on Prayer…

Prayer positions us to hear FROM God because it requires us to listen FOR him.
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Prayer’s purpose is simple: it connects the needy heart of man to the endlessly gracious heart of God.
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We don’t pray because of what we can get, we pray because of what we desperately need.

What are some of your thoughts on prayer?