The Boastings of the Fallen Nature

FATHER, ____ has heard of You by attending church; (he/she) has read (his/her) Bible, maybe even committed verses to memory, nonetheless Your Word does not produce fruit in (him/her) (Mark 4:19). Even Your truth residing in (his/her) mind is unable to affect (him/her).

It seems ____ is in the business, FATHER, of becoming holy and more holy in (his/her) own strength. Seems (he/she) is working with such intenseness that (he/she) passes over the good news about CHRIST. I think that (his/her) work is so gratifying that (he/she) imagines (he/she) is doing well and getting better and better. But…

“There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth” (Prov 30:12 ESV). “This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done no wrong’” (Prov 30:20 ESV).

“The majority of people have their morality well within their own grasp, they do not sense the need of the Gospel” (ref#7, Dec 17th). FATHER, it seems ____ is pursuing You because (he/she) admires righteousness therefore (he/she) is trying hard to act righteously (ref#33, p110). (He/She) may not know that (his/her) natural flesh can perform good as well as produce sin (ref#33, p110). (He/She) may be confusing (his/her) natural fleshly work with Your HOLY SPIRIT’s work. And, the case is that (he/she) is then unable to be a Christian because it is impossible to receive anything unless it is given to (him/her) from heaven (James 1:17).

It is quite natural to fall into the pattern of searching the Scriptures for commands to keep (John 5:39). By keeping only the commands of (his/her) choosing (he/she) does not need a Savior; (he/she) is saving (himself/herself). FATHER, lead ____ to the understanding that whatever “does not issue from waiting upon God, from depending upon the HOLY SPIRIT, is unquestionably of the flesh” (ref #33, p 114).

It seems that ____ is set in (his/her) own ways of righteousness, but I know, FATHER, that You can and will work in due season to call Your sons and daughters according to Your purpose (ref#13, Vol 1, p31 [Mark 2:14]). Please, FATHER, I want You to call ____.

Having a hunger for GOD and His Transforming Power

“Jesus says to Simon Peter…do you have a love for me called out
of your heart by my preciousness to you, a devotional love that impels you to sacrifice yourself for me? Do you consider me more precious and thus love me more than these [fish]?…” (ref#37, p266, [John 21:15]).

FATHER. “Jesus Christ calls service what we are to Him, not what we do for Him” (ref#7, June 19th). “What Christ died for is not that we might help him, but that we might see and savor him as infinitely valuable” (ref#92, p83).

FATHER, I pray for ____, that (he/she) rest in CHRIST’s love. Remind (him/her) that the moment (he/she) was regenerated (he/she) automatically became “a holy temple fit for habitation of the Holy Spirit”
(ref#101, p13). Hasten ____ to dwell on

this truth as much as (his/her) new birth. “God has given a new life plus the indwelling of the very Person of the Holy Spirit” (ref#101, p14). It is through the SPIRIT that ____ will find CHRIST waiting for a relationship with (him/her). I pray ____ develop a hunger for fellowship and for CHRIST’s transforming power so that (he/she) may experience a vigorous and joyful life (ref#78, p25,26).

Reasons for Affliction – Scouring Away Evil

FATHER, You are presently sustaining ____ with the bread of adversity and the water of affliction (Isa 30:20). It makes (him/her), LORD, weep with grief (Ps 119:28). But sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us draw closer to You. Pain that hurts has the ability to chase evil from our hearts (Prov 20:30). Your sharp reproofs that sting our conscience scours away evil (ref#16, [Prov 20:30]).

May ____ understand the good that comes out of humility caused by affliction, yet FATHER, in Your discipline do not give (him/her) over to (his/her) enemy (Ps 31:8). You tell (him/her) You will not hide Yourself when You afflict (him/her) (Isa 30:20). You will cause (him/her) to hear You saying, “This is the way, walk in it”, when (he/she) turns to the right or to the left (Isa 30:21).

FATHER, in Your time, You will draw (him/her) out of the net You have caused (his/her) enemy to lay for (him/her); therefore, gladly into Your hands I commit ____’s spirit (Ps 31:4-5). Make (him/her) be glad and rejoice in Your mercy and steadfast love—because You have seen (his/her) affliction— because You have taken note of (his/her) distresses—because You will never give (him/her) into the hand of the enemy (Ps 31:7-8).

Faith
“…faith is not a once-in-the-past action, but faith is always a way of seeing, a seeking for God in everything” (ref#130, p114).

FATHER, someone recently asked me to pray for strength and courage that they might live their life reflecting CHRIST’s image. This is what we all want; FATHER, this is what we all have trouble with! I feel like I’ve prayed this prayer into the ground for myself and my friends!

But, this is a prayer You will not answer, for You can do nothing more than You already have to prepare me to reflect CHRIST. FATHER, You have done Your part, I am required to do my part. I must begin.

“We have to battle through our moods into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus….All our fears are wicked, and we fear because we will not nourish ourselves in our faith” (ref#7, Nov 13th).

Give me strength to step out and trust You. My reach must be further than my grasp (ref#7, May 2nd).

“He calls us to do impossible things or to become something we think we could never become.
This is His way of teaching us how much we need Him. He breaks us to pieces so that He can put us back together in His image” (ref#137, p85).

Solomon’s Prayer

FATHER, there is no GOD like You in heaven above or on the earth beneath keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart (1 Kings 8:23). I pray Your eyes be open day and night looking toward me to listen to my cry (2 Chron 6:19-20).

You have promised relief for me from the hardships caused by my sin if I turn to You in humility and prayer (ref#56, p606, [2 Chron 7:14]). So, act and judge me, condemn me if I am guilty by bringing my conduct on my own head; but vindicate me if I’m righteous by rewarding me according to my righteousness (1 Kings 8:32).

If I pray and acknowledge Your name and turn from my sin when You afflict me, then hear in heaven and forgive my sin (1 Kings 8:35-36). Listen to my pleas and when You hear, forgive (1 Kings 8:30).

Whatever plague, whatever sickness, whatever prayer, whatever plea I make, knowing the affliction of my own heart, hear in heaven and forgive and act and render to me according to all my ways. (1 Kings 8:37-39). Act on my behalf, so I might fear You all the days I live (1 Kings 8:40).

When I sin against You and You are angry and give me to an enemy, remember to maintain my cause and forgive me when I turn my heart and repent saying, “I have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly” (1 Kings 8:45-47).

Forgive all my transgressions that I have committed against You; grant me compassion in the sight of my enemies, that they may have pity and be merciful to me (I Kings 8:50). Let Your eyes be open to my pleas giving ear to them whenever I call to You, for You have separated me from the peoples of the earth to be Your heir (1 Kings 8:52-53).

Do not leave me or forsake me that I might incline my heart to You, to walk in all Your ways and to keep Your commandments—Your statutes—Your rules (1 Kings 8:57-58). Maintain my cause as each day requires that the whole earth may know that You are the LORD GOD and there is no other (1 Kings 8:59- 60). And so, let my heart therefore be wholly true to You (1 Kings 8:61).

“My struggle to find words to describe Him is at the same time a struggle to find Him…” (ref#137, p21)

JESUS Is LORD

You sent Your Son into the world
so that I might live through Him (1 John 4:9). All Your promises in Him are Yes,
and in Him Amen, to Your glory (2 Cor 1:20).

He is perfectly adapted to my needs
—holy, blameless, unstained by sin,
separated from sinners, and
exalted higher than the heavens (Heb 7:25,26).

My LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Messiah,
yielded Himself up to atone for my sin
and to save and sanctify me—
to rescue and deliver me from this present age (Gal 1:3-4).

In Him I was made Your heritage
and I obtained an inheritance (Eph 1:11). In accordance with Your will and
purpose and plan, my FATHER (Gal 1:4).

CHRIST Provides a Way, Then Carries Me Through It

FATHER, I am humbled before You that You sent CHRIST not to condemn my wrongs but to make me able to keep Your covenant that You set before me. You purpose that I walk with You in innocence and exact holiness. But, for me sin makes my part of the covenant so clogged with curses and wrath that I cannot take one step forward (ref#35, p 218). Every word that CHRIST spoke in His sermon on the mount (Matt 5-7), assures me I cannot live up to Your requirements. I must have a new way to walk if I’m to walk in holiness with You.

And CHRIST provides just that—a new and living way (John 14:6). But LORD even if CHRIST provides the way, I have no strength to enter the path, so it is not useful to me. Either I will give up on myself or sin will cast me down (ref#35, p218).

But CHRIST not only provides the path but sets me on it and walks with me. CHRIST sets me so firmly on the path that I cannot leave it unless I leave Him. Even if I am a fool, I shall not be able to stray (Isa 35:8). CHRIST will turn my darkness to light and make the rough places smooth enough that I can navigate them (Isa 42:16).

And with CHRIST I am more than a conqueror against my spiritual enemies. Yes even more than a conqueror! With Him, I experience more than simple victory, I do not just overcome and go on as before. I overcome plus I have my faith enlarged, my strength increased, and my love for CHRIST expanded (ref #16, [Rom 8:37]).

CHRIST enables me to enter Your path and walk triumphantly on it. I am able to do all things through Him (Phil 4:13). This is to the praise of Your glory.

Prayer Facts:

“As prayer brings things to us which beget gratitude and thanksgiving, so praise and gratitude promote prayer, and induce more praying and better praying” (ref#64, p40).

Reasons for Waiting on GOD:

Because You existed before history began and are an ever-present, unchanging GOD (Isa 41:4), I will wait for You.
Because You call forth and guide the destinies of generations of nations (Isa 41:4), I will wait for You.

Because You give water without price from the fountain of Life (Rev 21:6), I will wait for You.
Because You put Your words in my mouth and have covered me with the shadow of Your hand (Isa 51:16), I will wait for You.

Because it is You who comforts me (Isa 51:12), I will wait for You.
Because You are in my midst and I am called by Your name (Jer 14:9), I will wait for Y ou.

“Your…holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore” (Ps 93:5 ESV). FATHER, You are “holy.” You are perfect—sinless (ref#110, p644).
You are “divine”—supremely great (ref#110, p401).
You are “pure.” You are undefiled, and faultless (ref#110, p1091).
You are “sacred.” You are set apart—hallowed (ref#110, p1180).
You are “immaculate.” You are unsoiled—perfectly correct (ref#110, p674).
You are “flawless.” You are errorless—free from defects (ref#110, p515).
You are “spotless.” You are perfectly clean—irreproachable (ref#110, p1297).
You are “peerless.” You are unrivaled (ref#110, p996).
You are “matchless.” You are without equal (ref#110, p834).

…”Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;…” (Isa 6:3 ESV). Unrivaled

FATHER, Your holiness befits Your house (Ps 93:5). You are divine—irreproachable (ref#110, p401, 1297)— supremely great (ref#110, p401)—the hallowed GOD (ref#110, p1180).

Forevermore You are matchless; You are without equal (ref#110, p834).
You are unrivaled—yes, peerless and spotless (ref#110, p996, 1297).

FATHER, You are undefiled and faultless (ref#110, p1091)— pure and errorless (ref#110, p1091, 515).
You are free from defects—(ref#110, p515). perfectly correct—flawless (ref#110, p674, 515).

Holy, holy, holy are You, LORD (Isa 6:3). You are perfect—sinless (ref#110, p644).
You are set apart and sacred (ref#110, p1180)— immaculate and unspoiled (ref#110, p674).

Turning Everything to Good

FATHER, no matter how bad the day I can always go back to my foundation of joy— You. You have chosen me—chosen me since the foundations of the world—and, since it’s since the foundations of the world, it’s not as a result of what I have done or not done.

The enemy has no ground to condemn—accusing me of being a bad Christian because of the bad day. CHRIST died for me so He not only saves me but loves and helps me. He knows just how I feel on bad days.

He experiences the bad day with me. How great it is not to have to experience it alone. Recognizing His presence I can talk with Him and we can even come to the point of laughing about the situation. His presence makes the bad day endurable but also joyful as I pay attention to Him and not the bad day.

All that happens to me “is divinely planned, and each event comes as a new summons to trust, obey and rejoice, knowing that all is for one’s spiritual and eternal good” (ref#56, p900, “Providence”). With gratitude my heart pours forth thanksgiving that all my providences, especially those days I deem “bad,” You turn to good (Rom 8:28).