============
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: 2nd Chronicles , Chapters 6-7 [NIV] To study these chapters, go to this link -
============
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Psalm 136 [NIV] To study these chapters, go to this link -
============
Highlight Passage: 2nd Chronicles 6: 12-21:[NIV] … PLEASE GO TO THIS LINK and meditate on Solomon’s prayer -
============
Highlight Passage #2: 2nd Chronicles 7: 1-3:[NIV] … 1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, "He is good; … His love endures forever."
============
Highlight Passage #3: Psalm 136:[NIV] … PLEASE GO TO THE LINK for Psalm 136 and meditate on the Psalm which repeats the last words in 2nd Chronicles 7: 3 twenty-six times - Link Repeated here -
My Journal for Today: I have a relatively new friend who is the author of the new book depicted in the graphic above in this journal entry. Matthew Bryan wrote the book, SuperPower: … Praying Like The Ancients out of a quest in his own life to recapture the power of prayer which had been exhibited in biblical characters, … just like we read of Solomon praying down fire from heaven in today’s chronological read in 2nd Chronicles 6-7 (I hope you’ve read the assigned chapters today).
Matthew Bryan believes – as do I – that we Christians have the same immutable power of prayer available to us Christians as Solomon had when he prayed to dedicate the Temple as we read of today. Our God is the same God Whom Solomon worshiped; and why would the power of prayer to those believers today be any different than it was for Solomon. And in some respects, we have an advantage in our prayer lives over Solomon, don’t we?
We don’t have to go to THE Temple mount in Jerusalem to experience the glory of the presence of God. Because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, our temple, as born-again believers IN CHRIST, is our own hearts; and we can go into the Holy of Holies anytime and anywhere to pray down the fire (or glory) of God into our lives. So, as Matthew Bryan asks (and answers) in his book, “Why don’t we pray like the ancients who exhibited Spirit-empowered prayer?” Well, I leave it to you to get Matthew’s book to get that answer; and it can be purchased by going to this link .
But let me give you a little teaser. ... SuperPower prayer – i.e., biblical prayer – is, according to Bryan, answered prayer. It’s deeply relational prayer (i.e., relating closely with God). It’s purifying; and it’s addictive (in the most healthy way!). And I agree with Matthew that many of us don’t capture the power of the biblical ancients in our prayer-life because we’re into stereotypical prayer formulas which are influenced by our culture, our church, our family traditions, and our own flesh.
I hope you read the passages to which I’ve linked you above and see the kind of prayer to which we Christians today can aspire and realize – IF – we’re willing to believe and come to God’s throne of grace fully expectant that God will answer our prayers – maybe not with fire coming down from heaven – but with miraculous and wondrous - answered - prayer which springs out of God’s promises with regard to our prayer life with Him (such as the one I love from Jesus in John 15: 7 - linked here for your meditation ). Do you believe that promise from Jesus?
I do; and I’m going after that promise … even today in my prayers!
My Prayer Today: … Oh yes, Lord. Your love does endure forever!!! >>> And a special prayer of thanks in that regard, Lord, for the dear woman who became my bride 47 years ago today – on of the many significant 13s in my life. And I also thank you for becoming a part of Your bride on 4-13-83 … the most important 13 in my life when I became Yours forever. And now, dear Jesus, both my bride and I are wed to You as our Bridegroom for eternity. … Your love endures forever!! Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment