SUMMER OF PRAYER
JOURNAL | WEEK SIX
WHAT WE CANNOT DO
07.10.2022
I am just constantly in awe of the ways the Father moves and how He allows us to partake in these event.
Today, I began to think about how the Lord gives us glimpses into His future plans. The biggest event that pops into mind is Abraham and Issac. The Lord tells Abraham to sacrifice Issac, his son. God promised Abraham this son, and Abraham was very old when this promise came to pass. Abraham had so much faith in the Lord that without question, he brought his son to the mountain, laid him on the altar, and proceeded to sacrifice him.
But, just in time, an angel appeared and stopped Abraham. Then a ram was provided for the sacrifice. I have played and replayed this scenario so many times in my head. What was this like for Abraham? What was this like for Issac? Can you imagine what Sarah did when she found out? What about that awkward walk back home? What do you say after this?
And we know this was a foreshadowing for the sacrifice of Jesus. The Lord was too faithful to make Abraham sacrifice his son, but the Lord did sacrifice His own Son. And when the Lord called on Abraham to do this, Jesus was there with God. Jesus already knew at this time that He would be the sacrifice on the altar. And when it came time for His sacrifice, Jesus even pleaded a final time with His Father. He said,
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Luke 22:42 NLT.
Issac was rescued by God, but Jesus was the rescuer. God could not take this cup from Jesus... it was the only way to open heaven to us.
God made Abraham the father of many nations through Issac, but God is the father of all. God spoke this to Abraham,
"What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations."
Genesis 17:5 NLT.
But, red letter scripture says this,
"And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father."
Matthew 23:9 NLT.
So how do we reconcile these 2 scripture? Jesus was commanding his disciples not to place mortal men on so high a pedestal that they replace the value that God has in their hearts. Even Abraham, the father of many nations, could not do what God did. Abraham was relieved of sacrificing his son, but God was not! God and Jesus gave themselves freely to us. They bore that burden. Jesus suffered that pain and humiliation. No man has, can, or will ever do what Jesus and God has done for us. No matter what another human does for us, our love for the Father and the Son must always take precedence in our heart. We must get the order right.
While humans can do so much for us, they will not ever be the sacrificial Lamb that grants us access to the Father. Beware of deceptions that try to twist or turn these relationships and orders. Christ is always first...He is above spouse, children, and parents. When we put Him in His rightful place, He will put everything and everyone else in their rightful place.
Lord,
We thank You for being the spotless, blameless Lamb. We thank You for saving us! We thank You for Your sacrifice. We thank You for enduring false persecution, humiliation, and excruciating pain for us. But thank You just isn't enough. It does not measure up. We exalt You, praise You, and worship You. We bless Your beautiful name. Thank You for having order in Your Kingdom. You have commanded us to love the Father then love others. So Lord, we put You first. We seek You above all else. We place You as the highest desire of our heart. We want to know You, co-labor with You, and live for You. We trust You with the highest place in our heart. We know that You will never forsake us. You love us more than we can understand. Lord, fill us up with Your good and perfect love. Help us to overflow in that love so we can pour out onto others. Help us to model that perfect love to others so they can also come to know You. Help us to love others when it is easy and when it is hard just as You love us unconditionally. Help us to accept Your love when that is hard to do. Thank You for Your perfect love and Your living Word. Thank You for Your patience with us. We love You, Jesus. We bless You.
We pray in Your name.
Amen,
Sara B.
IN PERFECT ORDER
7.15.2022
I recently took a propehtic class, and one of the activities we were told we could do was to ask the Lord to show us something that would happen in our day. That seems weird, right? Ask the HS (Holy Spirit) to basically predict to me something from my day. As I lay in bed and come before the Lord with this request, I received a revelation: How can the HS tell you the future if everything isn't pre-planned and under the Father's Soverign hand? The answer is: He couldn't; therefore He must be in control of all these things and know the end from the beginning.
Before you runaway thinking I am crazy, making up traits of the HS, and blaspheming the Lord, take a look at these specific scriptures:
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me."
John 16:13-14
"The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:4-5
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”
Isaiah 42:8-9
"I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord. “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”
Isaiah 43:11-13 NLT
"Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live."
Galatians 1:4 NLT
When the world appears to be spinning into chaos, when the darkness seems so close and overpowering, when the enemy appears too near; stop your mind and know that the Lord has ordered all of these steps! He formed you in your mother's womb. He chose you as His child to carry His Holy Spirit inside of you. He has appointed the authorities over you. He has placed you where you are. He has breathed life into you at this moment for this exact purpose. He is not surprised by current events. He is not taken back by the seemingly bold moves of the enemy. He cannot be overpowered, and He will not be upstaged. You are protected by His mighty hands. He commands His angels to defend us in war. The end is already written. Our God wins!
Lord,
Thank You for being our protection and our provider. Thank You for chosing me as Your child and ordering the perfect steps of life. You have an amazing plan for me in Your Kingdom. I surrender to Your Sovereignty. Your ways are better. Your ways are surprising and fun and lead me to miraculous places. You have hopes and dreams for me that I cannot even imagine. So Lord, I look past the enemy lines and past the negatives of this world. I ignore the voices around me that tell me I should be scared and full of anxiety. My God tells me instead to have peace and joy. I follow my God's words. I hear my Shepherd's voice and follow His paths, and they lead me besides still waters. They take me to green lush pastures. They provide shelter and protection for me when the chaos swirls near me. Thank You Lord for knowing the end from the beginning. Thank You for being the Alpha and the Omega. Thank You for being perfection. I love You. I worship You. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. My El Shaddai.
Amen,
Sara B.