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PRAYER FOR TODAY
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Monday April 8 - Yes, Father!
“Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” Matthew 11:26
Some verses might seem like fillers – bridges between key teachings. But 2 Timothy 3:16 declares, ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness...’ This means every verse has value, so let’s consider today’s text in that light.
“Yes, Father” speaks of agreement and an intimate relationship, both of which are key to effective prayer. Mary’s words to the servants at the wedding at Cana, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5), are as true today as they were then. To say “Yes, Lord” is the best advice we can be given! In fact, “No, Lord” is a contradiction in terms – the moment we say “No” to Jesus, we deny his lordship. On the occasion of Peter’s, “Never, Lord” reply (Matthew 16:22), he earned a harsh rebuke from Jesus.
Dear friend, let’s say “Yes” today to whatever pleases God. It is all too easy to think about God’s displeasure rather than his pleasure. Following Jesus’ baptism, the Father declared, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Why was he so pleased that he should speak from heaven? It was because Jesus was living in total harmony with the Father’s will. May that be both our desire and experience today!
‘Yes, Lord, yes, to your will and to your way, Yes, Lord, yes, I will trust you and obey. When your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I'll agree, and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes!’ Amen.
Tuesday April 9 - Give me Jesus!
“All things have been committed to me by my Father.” Matthew 11:27
Dear friend, let’s turn our eyes upon Jesus. Why? Because all things have been committed to him by God the Father. In John 3:35-36 we read, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life...” God’s revelation, his redemptive mission, his glory, his love and much, much more have been committed, or rather entrusted, to Christ.
The danger we face is ‘compartmentalising’ our faith – looking for patience or forgiveness or humility or whatever, instead of pursuing Jesus. God’s greatest gift is himself. Christ doesn’t give us things like peace, healing or patience. Rather Christ is our peace, healing, patience. Colossians 3:4 puts it this way: ‘When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.’
This is a most wonderful spiritual truth. God loves you so much that he gives himself for you, and to you. Our struggle is often that we understand the concept of ‘the Christian way’, but we fail to embrace the Way; we know what the Christian life entails, but we fail to appropriate the Life; we comprehend the truth but fail to know the Truth that is found in Jesus, who abides within us.
Wherever you are on life’s journey, stop for a moment and consider God’s gift of his Son, Jesus. Let’s pray:
Father, please show me the things that stand in the way of me having your fullness, so that I may repent. Give me Jesus; I want no other. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY