Afflictions Have Purpose

FATHER, You have included in Scripture the story of a paralytic whose friends lowered him down on his bed through the roof (Mark 2:1-12). Since he was afflicted he was able to meet JESUS face to face and have his sins forgiven. “There is a needs-be for every cross and a wise reason for every trial” (ref#13, Vol 1, p29, [Mark 2:1-12]). FATHER, awaken ____ to “learn the lesson that each affliction is appointed to convey” (ref#13, Vol 1, p29, [Mark 2:1-12]).

Mobilize (him/her), FATHER, to consider it wholly joyful whenever (he/she) encounters trials of any sort or falls into various temptations. Assure (him/her) that the trial and proving of (his/her) faith brings out in (him/her) endurance, steadfastness and patience. I pray the trials (he/she) encounters do a thorough work so (he/she) emerges fully developed and lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

“Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come” (Lam 3:38 ESV)? Help ____, O LORD, to throw (himself/herself) “absolutely and wholly on thee” (ref#76, p101). Yet please, give (him/her) “a mountain top as high as the valley is low” (ref#76, p101).

“’Trials must and will befall; But with humble faith to see Love inscribed upon them all— This is happiness to me. ‘Trials make the promise sweet, Trials give new life to prayer; Bring me to my Saviour’s feet, Lay me low, and keep me there’” (ref#64, p54).

Information Not Enough

FATHER, when Moses went back to Egypt to lead the Israelites to the promised land, he knew exactly how the situation would play out for You told Him specifically ahead of time:

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go” (Ex 4:21 ESV).

Yet when this happened Moses became downcast as if he had never heard You say Pharaoh would not let Your people go:

“Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, ‘…Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name,…you have not delivered your people at all’” (Ex 5:22-23 ESV).

Moses didn’t even have to have faith. He could have relied on what You had told Him, but he was unable to even do that. I am that feeble, too. I am just like Moses. I “know”; Scripture tells me, yet I do not do it (James 4:17). I don’t apply Your words when the circumstance presents itself.

Moses proved that he couldn’t retain spiritual knowledge but had to call upon You in the “now” to get himself back on track with You. FATHER, impress upon me my frailty. Even when You clue me in beforehand Your past Word does not have the ability to guide me in the present. Teach me to tune my ear for Your continual voice behind me (Isa 30:21). I cannot live on any knowledge obtained in the past but must live moment by moment completely depending on Your SPIRIT for direction.

Covetousness

“…when the Holy Ghost convicts He…gives us the deep conviction that we are living in independence of God…we find all our virtues and goodness…has been based on a…boundless inheritance of covetousness (ref#8, March 31st).

“Never lay the flattering unction to your soul that because you are not covetous for money or worldly possessions, you are not covetous for anything. The fuss and distress of owning anything is the last remnant of the disposition of sin. Jesus Christ possessed nothing for Himself (see 2 Corinthians 8:9)” (ref#8, March 31st).

FATHER, today I submit in Your presence and willingly ask the SPIRIT to highlight the things in my life where I spend money and time on activities only for my entertainment and comfort. Point out my activities that are competitive right down to my efforts to make myself better than others. Show me my covetousness in my shopping habits. Help me distinguish between my needs and simply pleasing myself. Reveal the vast difference between Your provision of my basic needs and my pursuit of selfish wants. I am totally at fault for being rich. I am living a worldly life. And the way I spend my time and money separate me from You. Even if I multiply my prayers, You will not hear me (Jer 14:12).

LORD, I stand before You in rebellion, full of covetousness—
wanting to keep my own life— exerting myself to maintain my rule.

I’m not envious of the possessions of my neighbor; but I’m greedy for comfort and peace.
I passionately guard my soft bed;
I lust after tasty food—clothes—shelter.

I jealously surround myself with friends— striving to keep them happy with me.
‘Tis true, I begrudge others who find success, and envy ones who are better than I.

“Spiritual singing is…to be done by…the grace of God in the heart…. The conscious presence of God inspires song…singing involuntarily breaks forth…” (ref#64, p43,44).

Praise To the SPIRIT

To the SPIRIT of GOD, I exert my best praise: You awoke the first thrill of life in my soul, showed me my guilt and sealed my pardon. You led me to CHRIST.

You inspire every breath of my life, dwell in my heart—
give me Your healing sanctifying, comforting, and restoring grace.

Praise for Your influence,
which no ingratitude has quenched. Praise for Your patience,
which no backsliding has exhausted.

You renew my intellect, sanctify my heart,
inhabit my body
awaken every pulse of love.

I am a debtor to Your quickening mercy;
I owe You undivided and supreme affections. To the SPIRIT of GOD,
I exert my best praise (ref#61, Sept 5th).

GOD’s Power

“O the depth of the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments, and how untraceable the paths He takes…” (ref#37, p372,373, [Rom 11:33]).

FATHER, the book of Nahum declares that You are slow to anger yet great in power (Nahum 1:3). How is it that You see Your enemies yet do not rouse Yourself to wrath but hold Your anger?

Remind me, that Your power is not a power that has to prove itself over and over. It is so great that no challenge comes close to overcoming You. It is Your greatness that brings me grace and goodness (ref#34, Feb 22nd PM).

“When Moses said, ‘I beseech thee, show me thy glory,’ God replied,
‘I will make all my goodness pass before thee’ (Exod 33:18-19). Not,
‘I will make all My power, My majesty, My holiness pass before thee’
but ’I will make all My goodness to the weak, the sinful, and the
undeserving pass before thee’… His glory is His grace (Eph 1:6)” (ref#100, p32).

FATHER, I naturally desire You show Your power—how often have I prayed, “LORD, show everyone how great You are by miraculously healing so and so.” I always want You to exalt Yourself. But isn’t that so “I” can be proud of You? “You are ‘my’ GOD who has great power.” Thus “I” boast and in so doing “I” give myself glory.

“Glory in a man’s eyes is always that which exalts him…God’s glory consists in the very reverse—not so much in His ability to exalt Himself and humble man, but in His willingness to humble Himself for the sake of man; not so much in a mighty display of power that would break in pieces those that oppose Him, but rather in the hiding of that power and the showing of grace to the undeserving when they turn to Him in repentance (ref#100, p31,32).

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isa 57:15 ESV).

GREAT GOD, You are unsearchable in Your judgments and Your paths are untraceable. Yet You make Yourself approachable!

Prayer Facts:

“Prayer is asking and knocking at a door for something we have not, which we desire, and which God has promised to us” (ref#54, p182).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because Your breath gives life (Job 33:4), I will wait for You.
Because You form the spirit of man within him (Zech 12:1), I will wait for You.

Because You teach me more than the beasts of the earth and make me wiser than the birds of the heaven (Job 35:11), I will wait for You.
Because You do great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number (Job 5:9), I will wait for You.

Eternal Blessings

You have called me according to Your purpose, and predestined me to be conformed to the image of CHRIST JESUS (Rom 8:28-29). Your words do not return to You void (Isa 55:11). No matter how You infuse Your goodness into me, it cannot be snatched away.

When misunderstandings come in relationships and I am deeply hurt by trusted friends who have been a great conduit for Your mercy to me, Your mercy remains even if the relationship is destroyed. Ultimately the relationships You work through to conform me into the image of CHRIST is of no lasting consequence —only the conforming matters. My earthly relationships will always be tainted with sin, misunderstandings will abound, but Your Word that comes to me through those relationships will remain forever (1 Pet 1:25).

FATHER, my life here is fluid—forever changing. I ebb and flow as Your great seas. But You are my foundation—never changing, never. Anything that is spiritually attested is eternal. As You subject me to fluctuating circumstances of this earth, I thank You for protecting the Christlikeness You have already poured into me and the Christlikeness You will continue to pour into me.

Saving Faith

FATHER, though I did not know it, You sought me long before I sought You, enabling me to believe in You. You worked in my heart in a mysterious way, making possible my belief before I trusted You (ref#63, p 708).

Having chosen me, You called me to come to You, and when I came, You declared me ‘not guilty,’ filled me with CHRIST’s goodness, gave me a right standing with Yourself and promised me Your glory (Rom 8:30).

I have come, but I perceive ____ has not. But, if You have chosen (him/her), (he/she) will come. Not only will (he/she) come but come turning away from (his/her) former pattern of living, seeking to have (his/her) sin and guilt removed, and looking forward to entering into a genuine relationship with You that will last forever (ref#63, p710).

FATHER, I pray these three requests for ____:

1. 1.)  That (he/she) obtain basic knowledge of the facts of the Gospel and approve of what (he/she) hears (ref#63, p712).
2. 2.)  That (he/she) trust in CHRIST knowing that He is the only way to You (ref#63, p712).
3. 3.)  And that all this leads to a decision of (his/her) will to depend on and put (his/her) trust in CHRIST as (his/her) Savior (ref#63, p712).

Thomas, the Apostle, did not make a personal decision to trust CHRIST wholeheartedly in the years he was CHRIST’s disciple or even immediately after CHRIST’s resurrection (John 20:24-28). I pray in hope that You will cause ____ to, in (his/her) time, reach the point of willfully choosing to enter into a relationship with CHRIST.

“…whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. These are the God-begotten,…not flesh-begotten…” (John 1:12-13 MSG).

Presenting the Gospel to Both the Goats and the Sheep

FATHER, Christianity will always be perceived negatively to the general population. No one walks into a church or crusade without an initial drawing from You. No one seeks You on their own (Ps 14:1-3) so any words ____ speaks about You in public will fall on the ears of those who are naturally prejudiced against Christianity. “The once born never understand the twice-born…” (ref#103, p40).

At best, (his/her) words will be foolishness to them. It is just as hard to witness in the middle of a Muslim nation as it is in a western country. FATHER, unless You change hearts ____’s words will be met with hostility.

CHRIST’s words divided the crowds. To His sheep (the ones who listened), His words brought a softness and an intrigue; but to the goats (the self-righteous and independent) His words spurred violence toward Him.

____’s mission field that You have given (him/her) are the ones whose road leads to hell and they don’t know it. Mobilize (him/her) for truth-speaking that will blast people off the destructive road. FATHER, make ____’s words like fire—like a hammer that breaks rock into pieces (Jer 23:29). Drive ____ to speak so truthfully that immediately (he/she) will be able to recognize the sheep from the goats.

Seeing JESUS

FATHER, grant ____ a vision of the suffering CHRIST. Help (him/her) see all the actions of CHRIST—from His willingness to leave heaven, to His earthly life of suffering, to His triumph over evil. Remind ____ about CHRIST’s reliance on the HOLY SPIRIT and not His born-with abilities (Isa 11:2-3).

Help ____ contemplate the joy CHRIST had ascending into heaven to send the SPIRIT to earth (John 16:7). Fill ____ with thoughts of CHRIST’s earthly actions that gave Him the opportunity to live in the SPIRIT.

FATHER, guide ____ to perceive the love JESUS has for (him/her). Guide (him/her) to perceive the great ability and willingness JESUS has to take (him/her) through this affliction as well as all coming afflictions.

CHRIST, impress Your love on ____ so strongly that (his/her) affliction grows strangely dim. May Your great love and sacrifice for (him/her) make (him/her) ashamed to even think of (his/her) momentary affliction. Make it possible for ____ to comprehend and feel Your great love. Stay ____’s mind on You (Isa 26:3).