"For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing 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 enabled you to share in the saints inheritance in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him." Colossians 1:9-14
Just what if we followed in the steps of the Colossians and prayed for one another? What if before we uttered a word of anger or of gossip, we first offered our hearts in prayer? If we get real here, we can't gossip and pray at the same time. Anger cannot roll off the tongue if a gentle prayer is being raised to the heavens.
Wouldn't we begin looking at our brother with different eyes? What if we prayed for each person we encountered. Even better, begin our day asking God to bless all those that cross our paths. What if we were to begin our prayer for our heart. After all doesn't it begin with us? Isn't that where change begins? We must open our heart and surrender all to the Lord. It is with a humble heart that God does His work. He moves in us to create in us a beauty magnified by His grace. Once He is moving in us He will move through us, touching the hearts and souls of man, for His glory and honor.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any praise-dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:4-9
We need to walk as if Christ is before us. We need to speak as if He is present and alive in us. We need to act as though we are His vessel. We can be an extension of His hand of mercy and His gift of strength to all we meet.
Sure, we may think it's just too hard. Easier said than done, right? Through Jesus all is possible! Jesus makes it possible. He makes a way. We don't have to wrestle with anger or tangle with defeat. It's time to let go of all the junk that we allow in our lives. We carry enough, don't we? Isn't our load heavy now? Why add on more? Lay it down today. Let the battle go and give up trying to make all things right.
Remove all things that hinder your walk and renew your hope in Jesus today. Faith comes by walking with Him. The closer we stand with Christ the clearer our vision becomes. It's amazing how He removes the glaze of anger that has covered our vision. Jesus can stand between us and our enemy. Jesus can stand in the gap between us and that friend that has brought anger. It is Jesus and the bridge of grace He builds that changes our perspective. He extends His hand to us. Why would we not extend our hand to another?
Prayer is powerful. May we cover everything in prayer. It is through prayer that we build patience and gentleness. It is through prayer that our burdens our lifted and joy is found. It is through prayer that we find peace that covers all offense. There is nothing to be gained by walking in anger. There is no gain in pointing to an enemy. We need to change our focus of what real gain is. The only gain we need to consider ourselves with is the heavenly gain for our Savior.
If we give Him our hands He will use them. If we give Him our steps He will count them for His profit. It's through prayer that we find Jesus and His will for us. Prayer is His continued love flowing, rushing outward, touching everything with nothing but His precious gift of love.
Look at all that prayer holds. EVERYTHING! Prayer cannot be answered if it is first not spoken. Why not simply pray for EVERYTHING, leaving nothing behind. Ask for God to place a hedge of protection, to open doors, to close doors, to prepare our way, to make situations opportunities. Why not prayer for clear vision? For God to change our hearts and make a way for ALL to see Him move in our lives. Yes, through those days of sunshine and those we wish we could do over. There is nothing too small to pray over. Prayer should be as to us just as breathing is. Prayer could be a song of the heart. A non-stop blessing.
Those we pass by in the market. Those sitting behind us in traffic. Ever wonder why our minds wander to people we haven't through of for years? Prayer! We are to interceed for others. Prayer brings us together and the wondrous part is the fact that someday, one day when we are heaven bound, just what are we going to think when we behold all the prayers that were said on our behalf? Prayer is a gift wrapped in a beautiful bow. There are times for it to opened immediatly and others for it to be uncovered years later. Prayer is answered in God's perfect timing. How awesome to be part of that?
Every moment gives us an opportunity to bring someone to the throne room of God. What a gift. What a treasure. Let's not lose it, but grab hold and be the vessel of great and mighty wonders that the Holy Spirit places in our heart to share with our Savior!
Look at all that prayer holds. EVERYTHING! Prayer cannot be answered if it is first not spoken. Why not simply pray for EVERYTHING, leaving nothing behind. Ask for God to place a hedge of protection, to open doors, to close doors, to prepare our way, to make situations opportunities. Why not prayer for clear vision? For God to change our hearts and make a way for ALL to see Him move in our lives. Yes, through those days of sunshine and those we wish we could do over. There is nothing too small to pray over. Prayer should be as to us just as breathing is. Prayer could be a song of the heart. A non-stop blessing.
Those we pass by in the market. Those sitting behind us in traffic. Ever wonder why our minds wander to people we haven't through of for years? Prayer! We are to interceed for others. Prayer brings us together and the wondrous part is the fact that someday, one day when we are heaven bound, just what are we going to think when we behold all the prayers that were said on our behalf? Prayer is a gift wrapped in a beautiful bow. There are times for it to opened immediatly and others for it to be uncovered years later. Prayer is answered in God's perfect timing. How awesome to be part of that?
Every moment gives us an opportunity to bring someone to the throne room of God. What a gift. What a treasure. Let's not lose it, but grab hold and be the vessel of great and mighty wonders that the Holy Spirit places in our heart to share with our Savior!
"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
