Luke 22:31-32
Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked of you,
that he may sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.
Jesus sat with the disciples sharing all that was about to happen as He faced the cross. Not wanting to believe Jesus, Peter cried out to Him,
Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison
and to death. __Luke 22:33
Jesus knew Peter would deny Him three times. He also knew Peter would need protection from Satan when he realized what he had done. Jesus knew Peter would be distraught because of denying his Lord, and that Satan would love to take his faith from him.
"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail."
Reading these words make me stop and consider; does Jesus pray for me when I am tempted, discouraged, or confused? Does He pray for me when I am hurting, brokenhearted, concerned about a love one? Does He see when my faith is hanging on by a thread?
As I read further regarding Jesus praying at the Mount of Olives, knowing what He was about to face, and then the scripture to follow, I felt certain the answer was Yes indeed, Jesus does pray for me, for you, for all His children as they cry out to Him.
"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me;
nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done."
Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven,
strengthening Him. __Luke 22:42-43
Could it be that as we cry out to Jesus, our Abba, He prays for us, and in praying sends angels to strengthen us? When we are discouraged, and after praying feel encouraged, strengthened, and filled with hope, could it be our Abba has sent angels to minister to our soul. I believe He has. I believe Jesus is praying for us, that our faith should not fail.
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
to keep you in all your ways. __Psalm 91:11
Friday, February 20, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Free Indeed
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.
Attending the wedding of the daughter of a well known Christian speaker and author, I was amazed at the love of Christ that radiated from the face of his wife. There was no mistake she understands the love her heavenly Father has for her, and that her love and devotion for Him is the same. Her face absolutely glowed with the love of the Lord. I want that glow! I want others to look at me and see the love of Christ.
I have thought much about this since that day, pondering how she could radiate the love of God just by her countenance. I think I know her secret. I believe it is because she lives the life Christ died on the cross to give us all. She lives free in Him! No longer does she live under condemnation or guilt. No longer does she live with anxiety nor fear. She lives her life completely absorbed in the love of her Father. She understands how much He loves her, how she can trust Him for all her tomorrows, that He will never leave her nor forsake her, and that He is all she needs.
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." __John 8:36
Coming to this place in our lives requires complete trust in our Father. When He tells us to;
Cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us __1 Peter 5:7
We cast all our cares on Him. We don't help Him carry them, worry about how He will take care of them, nor continue to take our cares back. We give all our cares to our Father and in exchange walk in the love we know He has for us.
As children of the living Christ we can live our lives with our head held high, skip in our step, and assurance in our heart that our Father holds us in the palm of His hand. And when we do, we, too, will glow with the love of the Lord.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me. __ Isaiah 49:16
But You, O LORD, are a shield to me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head. __Psalm 3:3
There is therefore now no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.
Attending the wedding of the daughter of a well known Christian speaker and author, I was amazed at the love of Christ that radiated from the face of his wife. There was no mistake she understands the love her heavenly Father has for her, and that her love and devotion for Him is the same. Her face absolutely glowed with the love of the Lord. I want that glow! I want others to look at me and see the love of Christ.
I have thought much about this since that day, pondering how she could radiate the love of God just by her countenance. I think I know her secret. I believe it is because she lives the life Christ died on the cross to give us all. She lives free in Him! No longer does she live under condemnation or guilt. No longer does she live with anxiety nor fear. She lives her life completely absorbed in the love of her Father. She understands how much He loves her, how she can trust Him for all her tomorrows, that He will never leave her nor forsake her, and that He is all she needs.
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." __John 8:36
Coming to this place in our lives requires complete trust in our Father. When He tells us to;
Cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us __1 Peter 5:7
We cast all our cares on Him. We don't help Him carry them, worry about how He will take care of them, nor continue to take our cares back. We give all our cares to our Father and in exchange walk in the love we know He has for us.
As children of the living Christ we can live our lives with our head held high, skip in our step, and assurance in our heart that our Father holds us in the palm of His hand. And when we do, we, too, will glow with the love of the Lord.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me. __ Isaiah 49:16
But You, O LORD, are a shield to me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head. __Psalm 3:3
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