Reliance

Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.            2 Cor. 1.9

Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about his experiences in Asia. He does not enter into particulars but he does talk about hardships suffered, and great pressure far beyond the human ability to endure. He says this led him to despairing of life.

He is painting an extreme picture of human trial and desperation. He despaired of life to the point of feeling the sentence of death in his heart. I imagine, at this point, that he is totally at an end of his own resources and, consequently, utterly reliant on God. God broke through and delivered Paul from the pressure and hardships such that Paul is able to bring this bold testimony to the Corinthians.

This incident clearly illustrates to me the principle of dying to self. Paul was brought (was this indeed by God?) to a place of total surrender – death – to his own agenda and any personal coping mechanisms he might have been tempted earlier to rely on. From this death-to-self God raised him. Yes, God raises the dead who are willing to die to self. This is a most wonderful phenomenon for those who will earnestly, and with full heart, follow Christ. Like Paul, we can surrender our despair, our frustrations and inabilities, and let our great God raise us up into His enabling and His purposes.

But there is even more. Paul’s words describing God “who raises the dead” have other applications also. At the end of this earthly life God raises us from death into eternal, immortal life in Him and with Him. Hallelujah!

Oh yes! I want to rely on this God who raises the dead. I want to die to myself and live only for, and in, Him. I want to live the fullest life in Him, both here on earth, and beyond.

Lord God,

I choose to die to myself and to live to You. I realise I cannot fulfil this in my own strength. And so, having exercised my will in choosing to die to myself, I ask You to lead me in that way. I ask that Your kingdom come to pass in my life, and Your will come to be done in me.

I pray for opportunities to share in faith, for openings to bring hope into the lives of others. I pray now for those who are in need of hope. Hear my prayer, Lord. You know everything. You know those that I now pray for. I ask You to link them with loving Christians who will look upon them with the compassion of Christ and touch them with the love of the Father. I ask these things in Jesus’ name.                                                                                 Amen. 

Holy by his righteousness

But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice,

and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.                      Isa. 5.16

God’s people are far from Him. They are immersed in sin and wanton living. Woes and judgments are pronounced upon them (5.8-30). The Song of the Vineyard (5.1-7) clearly presents the treatment envisaged for the Lord’s anointed who have strayed so far and low.

The world today is very like the picture of Israel presented in these verses. The world so desperately needs God, yet it does not even know it.

God is there and I believe He will respond to the cries of His people. He will come in justice and His ways will amaze the world. He will show Himself in the holiness and absolute purity of His righteousness, and the world will be astounded.

Lord,

You are both God Almighty, absolute and omnipotent, and also Heavenly Father, loving and caring. You are many other things also. I salute You and bow before You in every one of Your magnificent expressions.

I bow down with a plea for this sick world. The world needs Jesus. The world neither sees nor acknowledges this, yet the need remains and it is a great and urgent need.

Your people can do so much. In valour the Word may be spoken. But ears need to be opened and hearts softened to receive Your Word and to respond in acceptance.

Hear my prayer, Lord. Open the ears and minds of the unbelieving. Soften their hearts. Prepare then to receive the good news. And raise up many willing messengers to deliver the Word. Empower them and send them out to freely speak of You, to be true witnesses to Jesus in every part of the world.

This world needs You. Hear my prayer. Come to your people – all of them. Let them know Your justice. Let them see Your righteousness. In Jesus’ name I ask.                   Amen.

Touched

At once Jesus realised that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”                Mark 5.30

The woman subject to bleeding had suffered a great deal through twelve years. She had tried all available remedies, without success, and spent all her money in the process. From the reading we might assume that she hadn’t heard about Jesus until the present moment. But, as soon as she heard, she was convinced: “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” (v28) She knew this to be so and, in touching Him – Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering (v29). She knew the power that Jesus had to heal. She knew it, she pressed in, she received that power and she was healed.

Jesus knew just how strong and assured her belief was in him for He said: “Daughter, your faith has healed you.” (v34)

What is this faith? It is surely not the cause of the working of divine power, for is that not God’s sovereign work? Yet somehow it is a key. Throughout the gospels there is a strong link between man’s faith and God’s work in healing and miracles. Indeed, history gives further testimony. Through the ages, the faith demonstrated by men and women has been answered by the most miraculous working of God.

Does faith originate with me? I’m not exactly sure on this point and I’d certainly like to be clearer about it. For I want to know great faith, and I want to know what I might need to do in order to receive such faith and, hopefully, be willing to do what might be needed.

My present hypothesis is that faith does not originate with me but with God. Faith is a gift from God, bestowed in sovereign grace. I do, however, think it is my responsibility to exercise faith. I also believe that, as I exercise faith – in whatever measure it presently exists – it will grow.

I like to think also that I can pray for the gift of faith. I recall a recent prayer that: I know God can do anything. I ask for the faith to believe that He will do.

I love this great and wonderful God. I embrace Jesus as my Saviour and Lord. I yearn to see signs and wonders and miracles as I journey through life and minister in His name. I seek a great faith. Oh that I might know the faith that the great men of faith experienced. I think of Abraham, so long ago, assured in his faith and willing to go wherever God directed him. I think of Smith Wigglesworth, not all that long ago, and the simple faith that he exercised, and saw miracle after miracle come to pass.

I also believe faith to be a simple fact. It is not upheld by complex theories and complicated reasonings. No, it is the simplest of beliefs which says, “My God can do anything. I know this, I believe this, and I have faith to see this in this present situation.”

I want this faith, strong and resolute.

Lord God,

I know You are aware of what I have written here. You have the answers to the many questions there might be.

Do you give faith? Do I exercise faith and, thereby, it will grow? I’m not sure of the theology or doctrine involved in this and yet I sense it does not bother You, and I’m not to allow it to bother me.

This I do know, and this I hold onto in simple faith: your Word says “Ask and it will be given to you.” (Matt. 7.7) Your Word says: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matt. 21.22)  You said to Jairus, the synagogue ruler: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5.36)

Lord God, I put all these things together as I come before You. I acknowledge that You are the mightiest being. You are Lord God, Almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. You are my personal Saviour. I confess all of my sin before you and I humbly seek Your forgiveness. I ask You, Jesus, to be fully Lord of all of my life. I ask You to exercise Your Lordship in every part of my being and of my existence. I ask You to draw me closer to You and to share secrets of intimacy with me. I dare to hope that You will use me to witness and minister for You, drawing others into relationship and intimacy with You.

I set aside any fear. I renounce fear in the name of Jesus. You are love, Lord, and perfect love casts out all fear. I believe; and I believe I will receive what I ask for in prayer when that request is one that is acceptable to You. I believe my request is acceptable and so I ask.

I ask for faith, for a strong faith. I ask for a faith such as Abraham knew. I ask for a faith such as the woman with the problem of bleeding knew. I ask for a faith like Jairus knew and a faith like that of the centurion (Matt.8.10). I ask for a faith to match that of any of the great men and women of faith through the ages. I ask for a faith that will see signs and wonders and miracles. Lord, let me see the sort of miraculous happenings that Wigglesworth saw. The age of miracles in not past!

The world needs Jesus. The world needs to see the miraculous. Complacency and indifference to the things of God have become commonplace. The world needs a wake-up call.

Lord God, hear my prayer. I ask, in faith. I ask believing that I will receive great faith. I ask believing that I will see signs and wonders and miracles as I minister in the name of Jesus. I ask believing that many, many will come into faith in You as they are touched by the power of Your love. I ask in faith. I ask believing.

I love you, Lord. I want to grow – rich and powerful – in Your love. I want to spread your love. Help me, in Jesus’ name I ask.                                                                              Amen.

Thanks

Thank you to those who, over time, have given me feedback. I appreciate your encouragement. You may feedback either through the reader comment on the blog or to pfpilgrimage@gmail.com

God bless,
Peter

Dwelling place

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.      Psalm 90.1,2

This verse brings a reminder of God as the dwelling place of faithful man, and the only dwelling place. For all time God has been constant and true. As I contemplate this thought I have a mental image of the word ‘strive’ with a thick red cross blocking it. God will not be found as our dwelling place through any striving. Indeed the opposite is true.

The mental picture has now changed. I see myself settling in to a soft, luxurious and welcoming armchair. It gently enfolds me without swamping me. I feel an overwhelming peace, warmth and security. This is God as my dwelling place. I will not get there by striving but rather by relaxing, by letting go of any restraints or constraints (anything I might be holding onto that prevents me from fully entering into the comfort of His dwelling place). As I do this He will lead me, taking me softly into His arms, ministering love and power gently to me.

Lord God,

Be my dwelling place – constantly. I truly desire to live in You, fully, in all that I am and all that I do.

Receive me now. I feel so relaxed and ready to be held and led by You. Have Your way in me, with me, and through me.

Please draw me to Your bosom. I want to feel Your heartbeat. I want the beat of Your heart to connect with me, that I might live truly in full accord with You.

I need to tell You I love You. I need to tell You because I want to. And the truth is: I love You.

Receive my love, and me, in Jesus’ Name.          Amen.

Not what I will

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”                          Mark 14.36

Indeed everything is possible for God. There is absolutely nothing that He cannot do, and this is so for the believer when it is God’s choice. Jesus knew what lay before Him and He did not relish His role in His humanity. Yet His commitment to the Father was stronger than his concern for Himself. Whilst He cried out for the painful cup to be taken from him, He further acknowledged God’s will in place of His own.

I do not know what is ahead of me but I want God’s will to be unfolded and outworked in my life. My simple desire is to do what He would have me do. I pray that I am available to Him for this. I pray for the removal of any barriers.

Lord God,

I so want to do Your will and to live in the fullness of Christ in me.

I offer myself to You and ask You to remove any deception that may exist in my thinking, and to break down and break through any barriers that might be separating me from You. I do not know what lies ahead and I do not concern myself with this, for I place my trust firmly in You. Again, I ask you to remove any hindrance to this.

My Lord Jesus trusted You implicitly and saw His sole purpose as to do Your will. Dear Lord, I seek to follow Jesus in this. I bring myself near to You. I wait for You to come near to me.

Everything and anything is possible for You. This excites me. I claim the promise also that I can do all things in you. I ask You to strengthen my faith to believe that You will do those things I know you can do. I ask to see signs and wonders and miracles. I come to You, asking these things in the Name of Jesus.                                                                               Amen.