How Am I Praying?

11 06 2009

I’ve had this one verse on my mind and heart for a couple weeks now.  It comes from Acts chapter 26.

Acts 26:29 29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both YOU and EVERYONE here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”

This verse rocked me when I read it.  Paul was imprisoned by Governor Festus here and had been for over two years.  King Agrippa shows up to visit Festus and wants to hear Paul’s case.  Here, in front of the people and very PERSON that was causing his imprisonment  Paul says “I pray that you might become the same as I am”.   What did that mean?

Paul was saying “I’m praying for you Agrippa…for you  Festus…for you High Priests and people who oppose me, that you would know the grace of Jesus like I do.  That you would be SAVED and would follow Christ.  That you can know the depth of God’s love.”  THAT is an AWESOME prayer, but even more amazing is that he prayed it for his governing authorities (authorities who were not leading according to his liking).  For his ENEMIES.  For those who OPPPOSED his beliefs and lifestyle.

How am I praying?  How do I pray for our president?  For my enemies and those in opposition to me?  How do I pray for people who put me down?  I want to pray “May you become the same as I am?”  In order to say that though, we BETTER be exactly where God wants us to be.  WOW!  So challenging for me.  The confidence of Paul and the position He was in with His God.  Love it!

Challenged,

Jeff



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Element Church – Link Love

11 06 2009

Hey everyone!  Pastor Curtis NAILED it with a post today.  You  need to read it.  You can find it HERE.  Couldn’t have said it better.  Thanks Curt!

Challenged,

Jeff


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One Prayer Day 11: Rest

11 06 2009

Matthew 11:  God is REST

Matthew 11:28-30 says 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

A rabbi’s teaching or interpretation of the Torah was often called a yoke.  When a rabbi would take followers and those followers started living out his instructions on how to live out the Torah they were “taking on his yoke”.  Jesus says “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened”.  Of What?  The yoke of the old Jewish Mosaic system.  The old system was unable to give rest.  It was burdensome and cumbersome.  Jesus?  His Gospel is easy to bear and its burden is light.  When we partake of HIS Gospel we find rest!

You know what this tells me?  We make His Gospel MORE than we should sometimes.  Don’t we make His Gospel wearisome and a burden?  I know I have.  Sure, following Christ can bring difficulty and trouble, but that is NOT from the Gospel, it is from outside influences AGAINST the Gospel.  HIS Gospel is light!

So go ahead.  Rest!  Do it.  Stop reading this and thank God for a NEW yoke and a NEW burden that is refreshing and NOT burdened.  God is REST!

Resting,

Jeff


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