PRAYER AUTHORIZED.....THEN ENERGIZED

The great men of prayer in the late 19th century were humble, yet giants of the Faith like circuit-rider Preacher Robert S. Sheffey and the prolific Christian author E.M. Bounds. Bounds is is known for his timeless works on Prayer, left behind for all believers of all ages to be encouraged....simply by reading his books!

Bounds said the following, as a man of God who had tremendous energy and passion in prayer. He said  "Prayer as spiritual energy makes way for, and brings into practical realization, the promises of God.  God's promises covers all things that pertain to life and godliness and that have to do with time and eternity".

The words "Prayer as Spiritual Energy" here is intriguing, if you think about it. Twice  in the Bible, Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 6 where this energy comes from. He says in Verse 6 in part "....pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly". Then again in Verse 18 (in part), Jesus confirms that "your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly". 

Putting aside the word "reward" here in these two verses spoken by Christ, we instead need to focus on the Person Who gives the rewards - Almighty God, Father of Lights, Heaven and Earth! This is crucial as we ramp up and fortify our prayer lives, in these uncertain days and times. It is God Himself Who looks down on His subjects (we); and empowers His children via the same Power that raised Jesus from the Dead - the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual energy comes ONLY from Him and without filter. Sin can be an obstacle, but the Energy is always available.

Therefore, one side of the equation is in place - the Holy Spirit of God, in us. He, the Spirit is a gentleman and never imposes His Will on the born-again Christian. He sits in wait to be allowed to empower and relay the fulfillment of the Promise with Which He came, when we first accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

The other side of this equation depends entirely on us. It is incumbent upon the Christian to respond to our Generous, Gracious, Good Father with the same passion with which He has imputed to us. Our example is the Lord Jesus Whose Passion for Abba led Him to pray "Our Father Who art in Heaven, Hallowed is Thy Name!" This manner of praying is especially beneficial to us in times of despair. When we get that scary medical report or financial disaster hits or there is a family tragedy, do we retreat and pull back our praise, love and adoration for our God? No! Ten times no!

Here is where our Spiritual Energy needs to match up to the Embedded Energy, courtesy the Holy Spirit, so that the praise and glory of God can get us through this unto victory! Here is where we prove the statement by the great prayer warrior EM Bounds to be true! Here again, is what he said in part: "Prayer as spiritual energy makes way for, and brings into practical realization, the promises of God". There it is - PRACTICAL realization of our God Who promises to never leave or forsake us. Therefore, we must not retreat but go bold with God, full of passion in our pleadings.

If we can come to that realization - that the God Who saved us, authorized us (John 1:12) to approach the Throne of Grace FREELY, then we can remain fueled with high octane Holy Ghost power towards a passionate prayer life. Then we can shout out, with dunamis - dynamic power, what the psalmist said here in Psalm 138:1-3:
138 I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing praises to You before the gods.
2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
3 On the day I called, You answered me;
You made me bold with strength in my soul.

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THIRTY ONE DAYS OF PRAYER AND THE WORD:JANUARY 1-31, 2015 THEME: "ABIDE"

DAY FOUR:
VERSE: 
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me....(Galatians 2:20)
PRAYER:

Oh Most Heavenly and Gracious Father, in my weak estate I look up to You with hope for understanding of what this positional condition of really means! Lord, that the Ancient of Days would step down from Eternity to live as a man for 33 years among the heathen, and even His Half-brothers and sisters who did not believe in Him while He was alive (*until the Resurrection) ....that this King of Creation would be crucified by You for my sake is beyond comprehension. Even more so, oh Ever-loving, Ever-merciful God, is that sinners like we who follow Christ, can have our old sinful nature crucified on that instrument of death, call the Cross, with the Savior and be in a permanent condition of rest, because of it!

Such knowledge is too high, I cannot attain  unto it, Father. But I do willingly, wonderfully and wisely accept my condition of being in the Eternal Kingdom NOW, as one abiding in eternity with the God of Eternity - Three persons, One in Essence! Because of that positional salvation which You have given all who name Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, it is no longer me calling the shots, but the Holy Spirit - God and Counselor - with Whom You have sealed me until that Day! But as the Gentleman and freedom-loving God You are, You have also given me the free will to mess that relationship up and even grieve Your Spirit, which too many of Your people do, and which I have personally done in the past. Lord, take my will. Not my will, but Thy will be done. Christ lives in me, may I be so completely His in the natural as well as the Inner Man, that the world may know and see Him through my thoughts, words, actions and prayers.

May the Christ who abideth in me, through the Power of the Paraclete, the Source called the Spirit and the Oracles of all Knowledge strengthen my faith and wonder and awe of You, that my dying flesh and earthly man will live the life, the life of abundance in Christ, because You have done exceedingly and above abundantly more than I can ever imagine. But help me to stay in this zone 24/7 when the distractions of the natural and the flesh threaten to take me away, that I may not sin by commission or omission but keep my eyes on my position in Christ, the Crucified Whose love for me kept Him there until Your propitiation was accomplished. Lord this truth, this fact that the Savior, that YOU loved ME and the whole world, that You gave up God the Son emboldens, encourages, enlightens, energizes and brings me to knees....nay, by face before Your Throne in gratitude as I contemplate and think on these things, act on these things and live daily for You, who gave us Christ as Lord, and it is in His Powerful and Almighty Name, I pray, amen.