Saints,
Please allow me to share what I pray would be life-giving and encouraging words with you. If you would rather not receive these devotionals, please respond to this email and let me know.
Our Father is so faithful. I know this more now than I did a year ago. I have experienced a deep depression this year—apathy, anger, hopelessness, desiring to wallow alone in my misery, and convinced that God betrayed me. This pit was a place of listening solely to my wavering feelings and not trusting God. Maybe you have been there as well? Even so, God has shown Himself to be healer, anchor, pursuer, enabler and passionately in love with me—with us. Rest assured--our Savior desires us more than we desire Him. Please allow John 17:3 to soak into your hearts.
John 17:3 (ESV)
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
As we have seen before, Jesus modeled oneness with His Father. Please be careful here dear saint—not oneness as merely a “to-do” or obedience accomplished by our own power, but oneness as intimacy and connection to our Heavenly Father who makes this intimacy possible by His Son’s blood and by the power of His grace. It is impossible for us to “try-harder” in ourselves to connect with God. I am convinced more than ever that this oneness with the Father which Jesus modeled is the heart of a life as a Christ-follower/worshiper.
Please embrace the grace and the power of the Spirit to BE in Christ—to do, to live. We cannot overcome depression or trials in our own strength, but Jesus carries us through our trials or sufferings. The end result is kingdom impact and our God's name being glorified.
Let’s look at prayer as intimacy with Jesus. Prayer is not duty. Prayer is not an item on our to-do list. Prayer is deep connection with the true source of life—the Most High God. Let’s look at one example.
Luke 22:39-46 (ESV)
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to theMount of Olives , and the disciples followed him.
40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,
42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the
40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,
42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Please read these words by Gary Wilkerson from his book, The Divine Intercessor, p 50.
“The event recorded in Luke 22 occurred just before the last days of Jesus’ life. He could have been addressing a thousand issues, teaching in vital places, or meeting with future leaders of the church, but He wasn’t. Instead, Jesus was giving His time, passion and energy to prayer. We tend to think prayer is an attachment to our many demands and agendas—but to Jesus prayer was His agenda. Nothing drew His heart like communion with the Father and He wanted his disciples to follow His lead.”
Father, help us to pray in true communion with You. Holy spirit, please help us pray as Jesus did. May we commune with You and so be filled with love and grace which will spill out all over this hurting world.
Desperate for more of God, Steve
