Revelation 22:17 (NASB)
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

The free gift of God; the final invitation in the Bible. Salvation to anyone who wishes to take the water of life – and it is free.

Scoffers will say that it isn’t free. They say you have to bow to Jesus as your Lord. Dear scoffer, we all bow to a Lord in our lives. Do you want to bow to One that is capable of giving you salvation? Or will you continue to bow to a Lord that cannot? He is our Savior, who has paid the price to freely give you an eternity with Him in paradise.

Heavenly Father, what a masterpiece is your Bible. You tell a story of salvation for all who come to You. And You close Your book with an invitation. How can we refuse? I pray that all mankind will bend the knee and declare you Lord and Savior. May Your glory be magnified in all the world! Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Acts 1:14 (NASB)
These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

“Pray in secret before going. Let your prayers in the meeting be formed as much as possible upon what you have read in the Bible. You will thus learn variety of petition, and a Scripture style. Pray that you may pray to God, and not for the ears of man. Feel His presence more than man’s.”
Excerpt from a letter to J.T. Just on how to conduct a prayer meeting, March 27, 1840.
Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Corporate prayer can be powerful. Amazing miracles are possible through corporate prayer. A group of humble prayer warriors can summon the awesome power of Almighty God, who can bring about healing, revival, and conversion. There is no room for pride, no room for self interest, no room for self righteousness. It is being of one mind, synchronized to the Holy Spirit, and only asking for what is God’s will. Does that sound like the prayer meeting at your church? If so, then you have seen many wonders.

Almighty God and Father, I pray for the prayer warriors of your Church. I pray that they would be humble, of one mind, continually devoting themselves to prayer. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Psalm 116:1-2
I love the Lord, because He hears
My voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813-1843) in his fourth pastoral letter provides his flock with a discussion about the sweet duty of believing prayer. He gives four responses by God when we pray in faith.

1.  God gives us the very thing His children ask at the very time they ask. Psalm 138:3
2. God often delays the answer to prayer for wise reasons. Matthew 15:21-28
3. God often answers prayer by terrible things. Psalm 65:5 KJV and Romans 7:24. As the Holy Spirit reveals our true sin nature, our faith is increased.
4. God sometimes answers prayer by giving something better than we ask. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.

Heavenly Father, it is a sweet duty to come to you in prayer. It is your command, but it is also our blessing. Help me to incline my ear to you as you faithfully incline your ear to me. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Judges 3:9
When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

“Israel during the time of the judges was not sorry for their sin, but only for their circumstances.”
David Sinclair, from sermon series on Judges 5/6/2018

God’s mercy is amazing.  He is merciful when we cry out for our circumstances.  He wants us to pray for for unpleasant circumstances, for relief, for the hard times we pass through.

He also wants us to pray in repentance for our sin.  Like Israel though, how often do I only focus on the circumstances and not the sin?  How often am I only consumed by the difficulties in life and ignore the sin that is present before me?  I can pray in detail about the difficulties.  Yet I can gloss over the sin by expressing only a blanket sorrow for sin, not giving it the detail that God desires me to express.

Heavenly Father, Holy Son and Spirit, forgive me when I consider only my personal circumstances in prayer.  Reveal my sin.  Make my supplications more about repentance of the sin in my life.  Help me, Holy Spirit.  I pray that the sorrow for sin would overshadow the petty circumstances of life.  Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Psalm 46:10-11 (NASB)
“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

My last post was several weeks ago. There hasn’t been anything unusual going on. I haven’t had any crises in my life. But, the inspiration has waned. I know it’s not because God isn’t near or the Holy Spirit doesn’t have anything to say to me. I have tried to force a few posts, but realized that what I had to say was from me and not the Spirit, so I didn’t send anything out.

Have you had times like that? Times where you try to force the relationship, but it doesn’t seem to work? I was reminded today of Psalm 46. I need to cease striving. I need to be still. And so I am waiting on Him.

Heavenly Father, I pray that You would calm my heart, that I would be still and listen, that I would cease to strive in my own strength. I pray for Your voice. I pray for Your strength. I pray that You would be exalted. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,