By God’s grace, we have almost come to the end of another week, with a special day of worship and spiritual infilling just around the corner. What a blessed anticipation that is! There will no need to go at a frantic pace through the everyday tasks, but instead a chance to give my body and mind, to extra praise, worship, Biblical study, rest and prayerful meditation on our lovely Lord; allowing Him speak into my now quieted and made ready, mind and soul.
It is Jesus Himself, who gifts people with various talents, for the proclamation of His gospel, and the building up of various people and church, so they are enabled to do the ‘work of ministry’ and enhance the church fellowship as a whole, through spiritual and personal growth. Ephesians 4: 13-15 “Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head—Christ—“ I truly pray that I and all, will more often allow ourselves the time and opportunity to pray and learn of Jesus in personal quiet time; and when coming together as His people, will be in like mindedness to seek Him and do His will personally and in group fellowship. Not forgetting Jesus will provide strength and opportunity for outreach to others who do not know and love Him.
Believing the words of God, I can pray in assurance that I am heard, as said by Jesus in Matthew 21:22 “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” I can now see that many of my prayers could not be answered how I wanted them to be, because they were not in accordance with the spoken word of God, and there was still a little element of doubt in me that God would attend or answer my prayer. Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts You. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26: 3 is a text that I have often prayed, and believe with all my mind and heart, and therefore at a time of extreme need, I was often in distress at night, when the prayed for peace did not come immediately. Thankfully peace and quiet did come to my mind and body, after repeated prayer and claiming of His promises. I have learned how important it is to remember the little phrase ‘whose mind is stayed on You’. I have also learned how important it is to remember that it is always Gods will for me to be in His peace, and the devils desire that I not be in peace.
In the early chapters of Revelation, John writes down messages given by Jesus in a prophetic dream. The churches were all literal places at the time, but also have application for different church groups and down through all time periods. A more faithful church than some was Philadelphia and Jesus acknowledged their faith and deeds for Him. Some of their characteristics we all need today and should actively pray for them, and share in their promised heavenly reward. Revelation 3: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it, for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied my Name. V 11, 12 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast that you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”
Jesus invites me to surrender my all to Him and has asked that I invite Him to have control of my mind, heart, plans, activities, as well as concerns and troubles, and then He can fulfil all His promises for and in me, as I persevere with my mind stayed upon Him throughout the day. In accordance with His words and promises this is my joyful, expectant prayer request again today.