Three Prayers

 I have three prayers in my journal inspired by the writings of Oswald Chambers and Watchman Nee. The first two are from Chambers, and the last from Nee. I pray them for myself, those in my church fellowship, and for you.

"Father, may You always be able to help Yourself to our lives." Think on what this prayer asks. It is more that just being available to Him. It is an invitation for Him to take any part of as well as the whole of our life. To do so at any time and in any way. No reservations and nothing held back. In season and out of season, or more directly, whether the time is right or convenient or not. It is the living out of the truth that we are not our own, but are His. Wholly, completely His. Can He do this with you and with me? Can He "help Himself" to us at even the most unexpected time? Or, have we set up boundaries and limitations upon Him? Are we really completely His?

"Father, expose the areas of our lives that 'shuffle their feet' in Your Light and Presence." Chambers gives the impression here of being very uncomfortable under the searching gaze of God. That's seen in the picture of one shuffling their feet while under His gaze, unable to be still before Him as He looks into our soul and heart. What areas of our lives do that very thing? Where, in the shining of His light upon our desires, motives, habits, attitudes, and behaviors does the shuffling exist? Are we willing to have them exposed and confronted by His Holy Spirit, or do we want to keep them hidden in the darker recesses of our lives? Are we willing to live out the Scripture found in Psalms to "Search me O Lord, and see if there be any hurtful, to myself, others, and to You, way within me." How welcome is His Light in our lives?

"May we live in such a way as to be a thorn in Satan's side." Satan is a master strategist. His unholy desire is to bring wreckage and death to the human race God loves and most especially to do so to His Church. The followers of Christ are to be those who in the power of His Holy Spirit stand against him. Are we living in such a way that our lives and fellowship thwart and hinder his plans and operations? Do we live in such a way that draws his attention and willingly risks his attack? Do we recognize his work and counter it with the power of God working through our lives? Are we such a presence of Christ in this world and in His church that we literally cause pain to the prince of darkness? The Bible tells the story of a man who tried to exorcise a demon by using the name of Christ and of Paul, His servant. The demon asked him, "Christ I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" Does Satan ask the same concerning you and me?

Three prayers. Do we dare to pray them?

Blessings,
Pastor O