#blessing Life Journal day 341 / Colossians 1-4

Colossians 1:9-14 ESV

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be    strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

How beautiful and powerful is this blessing.  To have this measure of blessing is greater than all of the wealth this world could possibly offer.  There is nothing that could be given to anyone that would be greater than this.  More powerful words have never been spoken.  As you read this, know that I have prayed this very blessing over you…

I pray that you will be filled with the knowledge of the will of God in all spiritual wisdom. That you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, that you would bear fruit in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to God’s glorious might.  This for all endurance and patience with joy. May you always have a grateful heart towards God who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. This same God has delivered us from the domain of darkness.  We have been transferred by Him unto the kingdom of His beloved son Jesus, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Amen.

#enduretilltheend Life journal day 194 / Isaiah 15-18, Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Yes he who promised is completely faithful. I too must be faithful until the end. The days closer to the end than ever before and very evil.

Oh God please help me be true. Soften my heart. Let your Holy Spirit be mighty in me. May I be found faithful to encourage the saints and pray. We draw strength from each other as the Holy Spirit in me connects with the Holy Spirit in others. Bless your church in these last days oh God. Many will fall away. So let it be that I encourage and strengthen the saints to endure until the end. There are so many distractions in these times, many things that would pull devotion and attention from God.  Damned be them all. Let nothing deter me from unfailing devotion to you only my God. You are worthy of this a thousand times over.

Stand strong church. Our God is faithful and will do what he has promised. Stay strong in prayer. Stay strong in the Word of God. Devote yourselves to the Truth, to the gospel of Jesus Christ. You are the bride of Christ. The Holy Spirit in you is the hope that we have to expose the wickedness of this generation. Let the Spirit of God reign in your hearts to the glory of the Father. Amen.

#PrayerForKnowledgeOfHisWill Life journal day 166 / 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 15, 16, Colossians 1

Colossians 1:9-10 ESV

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

This is a prayer that is filled with power. I would definitely not mind if someone were to pray for me continually; that I would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. My hope is to have my journey be pleasing to God.

I pray that you would walk in a manner that pleases God. I pray that your life would bear the fruit of the Spirit of God. I pray that you would be filled with wisdom and understanding that comes only from the Holy Spirit. I pray that in your journey that you would be blessed to increase and grow in your knowledge and love of God. Would you pray to God on my behalf in this manner as well?

#IsGodHearingYourPrayers? / Life journal day 155 / Proverbs 28, 29, Psalm 60, Romans 16

Proverbs 28:9 ESV

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

I have been pondering this in terms of relationship. Without a relationship with God our Father, our prayers would not be heard. But within the relationship that God establishes with us, God has become our compassionate heavenly Father. We have become his beloved children.

As such, I have taken to considering how my relationship to my own son relates to my relationship with God. Perhaps I can glean from this a bit of wisdom.

My son will just turn five years old this August 23rd. I am completely confident that I have a much better grasp of what is right and wrong than my son does. What’s more I know better what is good for my son to eat, to drink, to do with his time, what he should and should not learn, how much sleep he needs and when he should go to bed. In fact, there is likely nothing in my sons life that he could manage better on his own than with my instruction. That is except maybe going to the bathroon. All things in my son’s life are made better by him heeding my instruction. He needs my instruction to properly mature and function in this world.

If he decided one day that daddy was full of it; if he somehow came to believe that he was better able to decide what is best for his own life; if he began to disobey all that I require of him; if he began to turn a deaf ear to my voice; if he made no effort what so ever to even make himself aware of my instructions for him; this would powerfully impact my relationship to him in the most adverse way possible.

Considering all this, let us imagine that he then comes to me with a petition. Let’s say that he desires a new bicycle. In this scenario my son has reduced my relationship to him to that of a cash machine. To him the word “Father” is another word for “ATM.” He does not demonstrate love or respect for me. The request for a bicycle is the same to me as spitting in my face. In requesting this bicycle my son communicates to me that he not only willfully will continue disregarding my instruction, but instead he will go and do what he feels is right for himself. Oh. By the way. He is asking me to support his rebellious behavior with my money.

My response to my son would be this. First you come back to submission to my authority. Then after you have demonstrated to me that you acknowledge that I know what is best for you, we can discuss the possibility of me providing you with a bicycle. Then if and when you get that bicycle, I will help you discern where, when, and for how long you should ride it. I love you son. I only want what is the very best for you.

God is our loving Father. He is even more capable of discerning what is best for you and me than I am for my five-year-old son. He loves you and me infinitely more than I love my son (WOW!). Let us reciprocate his love for us by submitting to his authority. We best express our love and gratitude to the Father by obeying his Word.

Joshua 22:5 ESV

Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Nehemiah 1:5 ESV

And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Psalm 119:88 NIV

In your unfailing love preserve my life,
that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

Psalm 119:166-167 NIV

I wait for your salvation, Lord ,
and I follow your commands. I obey your statutes,
for I love them greatly.

Daniel 9:4 NIV

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

John 14:15 NIV

“If you love me, keep my commands.

John 14:23-24 NIV

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

John 15:10-11 NIV

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

1 John 5:3 NIV

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

Life journal day 139 / 1 Kings 4, 5, 2 Chronicles 2, Psalm 101, 2 Thessalonians 3 #blessingsinjesus

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 ESV

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Love this! These are such wise words. Let it be that the word of the Lord would flourish! For the Lord is faithful. Oh I pray this same prayer would permeate in your life. May the word prevail and be powerful. Above all let it be that the Lord would direct your heart to the love of God. Joy and peace to you in Christ Jesus!