Day 6 of the 40 day prayer challenge and Hebrews 11:6 Wow! I am loving this book!! Sorry, this is very long...but cant hold this one back! ...yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. Luke 11:8 Todays topic, Shameless Audacity, was eye opening to me! Especially coupled with Hebrews 6. Here was my train of thoughts after reading day 6: Shameless audacity.... persistently asking it says in the nasv. Hmm, so asking persistently for something without shame. Asking like that shouldnt bring shame. Hmm really? Persistently asking for for something, the same something, over and over again always seemed a bit pitiful to me. I liked asking with boldness that seemed to me as something desirable..ing from a position of strength, maturity. A sign of a mature Christian in my way of thinking. But for myself. Asking yet again for something, especially when I didnt get a microwave ding , its ready, here is your answer! I am secretly thinking, Been there, done that, God didnt answer, moving on now. God is good all the time right? so there must be something wrong with the prayer or the pray-ER. Yeah, definitely time to move on. Lets not go there! But as God keeps showing me...its not about me. Its about Him! Its his reputation at stake, after all. My job is to pray and to keep praying. Seems easy. Ok, got it, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, keep circling. I have to admit, I am thinking...I have heard this all before. Moving on then to Hebrews 11:6. And without faith it is impossible to please God, I am thinking, how well used this phrase is, its everywhere. ...because anyone who comes to God must believe that he exists. Wait a minute...that is faith right there, just coming to God in prayer is flexing your faith muscle (strength!-see how God loves me? Giving me an analogy using strength when I was worried about being pitiful just a few moments before?!) It shows you believe In him, that he exists. I have pleased God just by praying! I like that! He is a rewarded of those who seek him... NASV Rewarded means: one who pays wages. ...pays wages?! Wait, its our job to pray and its Gods job to answer... Does God pay us wages like this for doing our part,.... praying? (ponder, ponder) Ok, here is what i know so far...Its our job to ask, to keep on asking, to shamelessly ask, to boldly come into the thrown room of God, grab hold of the horns of the alter and not let go!!!! But wait, what about those prayers that go unanswered? Yeah, God, what about those? This is so exciting, as if the other stuff he has shown me wasnt enough!! The Holy Spirit shows me this! Remember the scene in the movie The King and I or the newer version Anna and the King? Remember the little princes running into the kings court? She maneuvered around people, pushed them aside to get to her daddy the king. She didnt care that he was busy with stuff, that other things were going on around her, that there were important people there, she climbed right up on his lap, whispered in his ear, and expected action....and she got it! She was little and he loved her, didnt tell her not now, or scold her for her interruption, or tell her to wait while he finished important stuff, he immediately acted. That is boldly, shamelessly entering into his throne room asking the King with expectation of getting an answer! Ok, thats cool, I mean really cool, but we were talking about those times that we dont get immediate answers. What about that? Oh, thats when God takes you by the hand, pats it, and says I am so proud of you that you came to me with that request, it pleases me so much! I am actually already working on that. Stand here next to me and watch. Then the Holy Spirit whispers to me, No, he said, Watch!! Watch me!! Watch what I can do!!!! He says it with excitement, like a little child might say it. You know, like when your kids were showing off to you that they could ride a bike or something. This prayer answer is not a quick answer, to build your faith, cause it is not about you this time. This one requires you to pay attention, to watch. There is more going one here then just your prayer being answered. It requires your active attention now, give it all you got, something great is about to happen-- God is about to show off!!! You dont want to miss this!! This one is all about his Glory! This is when you might even elbow your neighbor (prayer partner) and say, Hey, watch this!! My Dads about to show off!! You know like the moment the sky goes pitch black at the 4th of July firework show, everyone stops what they are doing and intently squints at the sky, their hearts are pounding with excitement, listening for the rushing sound of the rocket, the deafening boom, just before the sky explodes with sparkling light! Wow! Waiting on a prayer should be like that?! Imagine, standing next to The King of kings, and Lord of lords, and asking ...Is it time? Now Lord? Are you ready? Where should I look? What am I looking at, what should I be seeing? Shamelessly, Boldly, continuously asking, circling and then Expectantly watching, on the edge of your seat watching, leaning forward, clapping your hands in delight, jumping up and down, thinking all along, I cant wait for His glory to be revealed!! Yeah, wait for God to answer your prayers like that! And after he answers that prayer. Bring Him another one, and say, Do it again Dad! Wow, what a perspective change!! Thank you Lord! Oh, yeah, and part of my prayer after yesterday was ....I want to please you Lord, like Enoch, show me how, mold me, change me... Time for the high five slap of the hands between Jesus and the Holy Sprit as God my Father nods his head and says, I think she got it! Wow! God is awesome!! Sent from my iPad On Jan 7, 2015, at 10:14 PM, Pastor Dawn Slack wrote: Good morning Faith Partners, Thanks for joining me in prayer for Grace Alive today. Let’s pray specifically for souls to be saved and for Grace Alive to grow in discipleship as well. Then take it a step further. Ask God to use you in this Harvest field and then ACT in faith on what He tells you to do. Do you want to see miracles? “If we aren’t willing to risk our reputation, we’ll never establish God’s reputation.” Challenge: Read Day 6 of “The 40 Day Prayer Challenge” and SOAP Hebrews 11:6. (Reference James 5:13-17) Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Keep earnestly seeking Him. Many rewards await you. Blessings, Pastor Dawn
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 16:20:56 +0000