Pondering Prayer

Scriptures have been running through my brain today… I’m thinking and meditating, chewing, and debating with myself. Could you ponder these things with me as I attempt to organize the chaos of my thoughts?

Prayer

It’s a simple word. It’s a simple thing; bringing our requests, our praises, our thoughts to the Great Listener.

But here’s what’s got me turned inside-out. I’m confounded and perplexed; awed and amazed.

Jesus Makes Intercession For Me. There it is.

Yes, He died and bore my sins. But even more, He lives! Not only does He live, he Lives to make intercession for me. For me. For you.

This morning I gained new perspective on “Praying in Jesus’ name.” I’ve been taught it’s more than a simple “In Jesus’ name, amen;” that it’s actually praying according to His character; praying as He would pray. And all of a sudden this means so much more because what I pray, He takes to the Father on my behalf. What I pray, He prays for me.

He is my mediator. He is the middleman doing the work I cannot. He’s my High Priest entering the Holy of Holies, bringing requests and supplications before Almighty-before a God so sacred and set apart none could stand in His presence and live. None is worthy, except the Lamb.

There’s a battle being fought before the throne. A war is waged at my expense as the enemy stands accusing me day and night. I can almost hear his snide remarks- She’s unfaithful. She’s a liar. She’s proud and unteachable. The Father hears the endless allegations, considering the charges as He’s drawn to a scent- a sweet smelling aroma. My mediator is interceding on my behalf; Jesus is reconciling and intervening as only He is able.

There you have it- My mind blowing impression of Heaven, prayer, and the work being done.

Will this change the way I pray? I HOPE SO! As I consider the enemy accusing my children, my friends, my unsaved loved ones, those I know are suffering- I realize our only hope is in prayer; my prayers being uttered by Jesus Himself before an Almighty God. A sweet smelling aroma in the heavenlies.

Take my prayers out of the equation and what’s left? Allegations of the accuser filling the ears of Almighty God.

Pray in Jesus’ name? Pray, sisters! Wage war! Because the works that He did you will do also; and greater works than these you will do, because He is before the throne. And whatever you ask in His name, that He will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in His name, HE WILL DO IT. (John 14:12-14)

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter! Do you think Jesus takes our very prayers to the throne and presence of God Himself? Does He utter our praises and requests for us?

No one can come to the Father except through Him.

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Redemption, Forgiveness, Freedom

This past Monday, I started an online bible study through the book of Ephesians with a group of wonderful women. Wow!  When you take teeny tiny pieces of scripture, write them out, and focus on each little word and phrase, God opens up the floodgate! I am prone to bulldoze through an entire chapter or two, check it off the list, and move on with my day. Generally this results in the question, what was it I read this morning?

Today (day three) we looked at Ephesians 1:7-10.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth- in Him.

Yes, we are moving v-e-r-y  s-l-o-w, and yes, it has been like an abundance of food for my soul to glean from God’s word, His Spirit, and His people! I absolutely love what my sister’s share each day!

I want to share with you my application for today.

I am really challenged to live as one who has received COMPLETE freedom and deliverance from the penalty of my sin. We live in a world that requires you pay the price for your wrongdoing and requires you live your life bearing that wrongdoing... Once a _________ always a _________.  Rather than live the rest of my life bearing the countless horrible things I’ve done, said, or thought on my shoulders, I want to walk in COMPLETE forgiveness (letting the sin go as if it had never been committed) because this is what Christ has done for me! And this forgiveness He made to ABOUND toward me. I like what the online strong’s says about this word ABOUND- “Abounding is used of a flower going from a bud to full bloom.”

I feel like that bud, not allowing myself to fully bloom, not receiving the abundance of God’s forgiveness.  The word says He made known to me (confided in me- you only confide in those you trust) His forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. I want to walk in that. If I can only receive this forgiveness toward myself, wouldn’t I be able to freely offer it to others! Lord, help me walk in FREEDOM! I sit as if chained in shackles when those shackles have been released! I stay as a caged bird while the door is wide open and freedom one step away. Lord, help me choose to walk in freedom rather than sit in a bondage I’ve been released from.

 The idea of this study is offered by the Good Morning Girls.

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White as Snow

This is what we woke to this morning. No it’s not much, but we are hoping for more! Who doesn’t anticipate a day filled with snow? I know my kids do, and I don’t think it’s just because they get to skip school for a day. Yes, they enjoy standing under falling flakes, constructing snow men, and taking advantage of the opportunity to throw frozen balls of ice at one another’s face, while mom is totally ok with it. But what else is it about snow?

Snow- it blankets the ground with cleanliness and purity. It covers all the dirt, mud, muck, and grime that life leaves behind. What a perfect glimpse of God’s holiness! What a wonderful picture of His righteousness which covers our imperfections!

Just as He chose us before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love 

-Ephesians 1:4

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

-2 Corinthians 5:21

That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

–Ephesians 5:27

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless 

-2 Peter 3:14

Just as the snow eventually melts, reminding us again of the filth surrounding us, our sins and failures can fill our thoughts, clouding the truth of who we are before God. Let us be diligent to walk in the righteousness we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We ARE white as snow. We ARE blameless before God. We are set apart and sanctified. When the enemy throws our sins before us, we CAN confidently throw the holiness we have in Christ right back at him because we ARE clean, we ARE washed, we ARE holy in Christ.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

-1 John 1:7

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A Great Deception

Two days ago, while driving my kids to school, I saw a police officer on the side of the road, lights flashing, and some poor soul presumably receiving a ticket and the third degree. After arriving at the school, shoving the kids out of the car (just kidding), and heading back home, I saw the same scene: same officer, yet a different poor soul this time.  Later that day as I drove to pick my kids up, I saw this officer yet again, with another soul parked on the side of the road. Yesterday morning, on our way to school, there he was again!  I thought to myself “Wow, he has no mercy!” (Ok, maybe it was a ‘she,’ I never actually saw the officer.) Finally, later that afternoon I was making the usual journey in rescuing my brilliant kiddos from school, and, you guessed it: same officer, another soul! I voiced out loud to no one but myself “I cannot believe this guy! He literally sits and waits for any and all unknown victims, pouncing them as quickly as he can! One wrong move, and there he is, enforcing the law and assuring the penalty is paid!”

Okay, so maybe that’s a little harsh, but really?  Does he have to go after poor, hurried parents, desperately trying to avoid their kids being late for school? I mean come on, give mom and dad a break.  This guy is obviously NOT a parent! Anyway, let’s get to my point. And I do have a point!

As I continued my trek to the school, I was struck by the thought that this is so often the way we view our Heavenly Father: a big, mighty god always watching; watching and waiting for us to mess up. Not just waiting for us to mess up, but EXPECTING us to mess up. Like he has some kind of quota to fill, so many tickets he has to write in a day. And as soon as we do (and we all do) he becomes the harsh judge and we the worthless, guilty criminals. He wastes no time in proclaiming guilt, demanding justice is served, and the penalty paid. What a horrible deception! What a repulsive picture of a loving God.

The reality is, this is exactly what our enemy is doing: walking about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1Pet 5:8). He jumps at the chance to accuse us before God day and night (Rev 12:10)! God’s word says there is NO CONDEMNATION for His children (Rom 8:1), that His thoughts for us are for GOOD, not evil (Jer 28:11). He is full of MERCY, GRACE, ENDLESS PATIENCE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, and FORGIVENESS (Ex 34:6-7). Does this sound like a god watching and waiting for us to break his rules?  No! That would be our enemy seeking to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Satan transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14); the very counterfeit of God.  Does he not also take his own characteristics and tempt us to transfer them onto God? I pray for the grace to not only believe in God, but to also believe Him (John 3:36); to believe the truth about Him and the truth about who I am in Him. And I pray I don't see that cop on the side of the road this morning! :)

I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

~Psalm 23:4