Tag: prayers

Prayer Has Power! Pray! Second Sunday of Lent

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The first Sunday of Lent we looked at Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in verses15-17. Lent is a time of prayer and reflection. Looking at how Paul prayed for his friends and coworkers gives us insights and ideas on how we to can pray for others. In Ephesians 1:18-21 Paul continues adding to what he desires for his friends in Christ so they will be ready, equipped and empowered to live God directed lives.

18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. 19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.

Paul prayed for: **their hearts to be filled with God’s light so they could fully understand the hope and inheritance they have in Jesus. God sees us as holy through the power of Christ and what He gives us is glorious and rich beyond measure. Paul wanted the Ephesians, and us, too to grasp more clearly what marvelous things we have in Christ.

**them to have complete understanding and knowledge of the actual power they had in their lives because of Christ. This is the power of God that raised Christ from the dead. Power to conquer sin and defeat death.

**for them to know and be assured that Christ has risen and is seated at the right hand of the Father. His power and authority is greater than any other on earth and above any power past, present or future. He is above all!

What about you? Do you understand the full measure of what it means to be saved? We will spend eternity with Christ and He gives us power to live our lives in a way that is holy and pleasing to Him. This power we have is resurrection powered and available to us through faith in Jesus. Through Christ we are conquerors as Romans 8:37 tells us “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Life or death and in all things we can be victorious through Christ. Have you ever wondered where Christ is now? In Luke 22:69 Jesus said, “But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” He may be seated there but He is not idle. His Holy Spirit is guiding, counseling, comforting and as Romans 8:26-27 tells us “ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are always with us, watching over us and caring for us.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, the power of the risen Christ lives within us and empowers us to live godly lives for Him. Therefore our prayers can be powerful and effective. 1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Keep on praying!! It works.

Linda

A Personal Surprise-Rejoice!

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What unexpected surprise did the Lord have in store for Elizabeth and Zechariah? A Baby, but not just any baby! Their son would be one that would precede God’s own Son, Jesus, and seek to bring the people back to God. Here is the message from the Lord delivered by an angel in Luke 1:11-17.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Being a man of God, Zechariah knew that angels were sent from God and were heavenly beings- not earthly ones. That alone would put fear in one’s heart. Zechariah probably wondered what he had done wrong, why he was being singled out in the temple, what sin had he committed to offend God….? I’m sure his mind was racing. The angel realized this and wanted to put him at ease. He told him not to fear and that he had come with great news! I am sure that Zechariah was overwhelmed with joy when he heard the message. They would have a son, a son that would serve God, a son chosen for a great mission, a son that would have the power of God within him like Elijah had as a prophet, and he would be filled with God’s Holy Spirit even before he was born. This was spectacular new for a priest that his son, John, would be of godly importance with a great purpose. This was also great news as he and Elizabeth would have their dreams realized and have a son to raise and nurture. Their prayers had been answered.

What does this tell you about God? God hears our prayers and knows the desires of our heart. Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I love this verse as it shows me that God loves and cares for me and wants me to be happy. Not all of our desires are within God’s will though or His timing is not ours, but it gives me hope and assurance that God knows me. Often I’ve found that what I desire is not really right and He gives me something even better as His answer! This encounter with the angel also showed God’s personal involvement in Zechariah and Elizabeth’s lives. God is a personal God that has plans for us that are beyond our imagining and are for our good and His glory. A favorite life verse I claim is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We can be assured that just like the plans God had for John, He has plans for us. Our lives are ones with a purpose set out by God. Walking with Him in Faith, is the way to find out what that purpose is. Sometimes it takes a lifetime but when you find it, you know this is for your good and His glory! Praise God!

Linda