Yesterday I received an email from a “buddy” who is struggling. How my heart goes out to this person! 1John really spoke to my heart today about the confidence I have in Christ to boldly approach the throne of God for this person.
May I have the privilege of doing the same for you?
Here’s why I believe so strongly in this power. Prayer is the concrete demonstration of my love for others. To not utilize this power is to quench the Spirit, to grieve the Spirit! “OUCH”!!!!!
It seems that today many are not overcomers in regards to sin. How can I walk with them and encourage them? John has the answer in vs 14-17. I can pray over others that they be kept from sin or removed from that sin. John reminds me that “whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.”
The question before me today is this: how committed am I to obedience and prayer for others? John has reminded us over and over, he who says he is born of God loves one another and that means the closest brother or sister to you. Cain asked “ Am I my brother’s guardian?” and the answer is yes, I am my brother’s keeper because I am the beloved, the called, the chosen, the daughter of the very Son of God—I am born again. I have a conquering power that resides within me and that is the Holy Spirit. Drawing upon that power I have thus the confidence to come boldly before the throne of God seeking the face of God for the sin that will grant life and pardon to the one who is caught in the web of deceit by the enemy of their souls. Heb 4:16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help. In addition, I have the indwelling presence of The Witness who will pray for me when I feel so burdened that I cannot draw from my inner being even the words to pray. Rom 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
Thus the practical application for me this day is this: not only to love my brother/sister but to also obey through prayer to bring them to the very throne of God! This is my everyday challenge. What is yours?