Once again this week I have been reminded of the importance of taking time to give God space to do what only He can do.
Picture this... a group of women silently communicating with God. Writing messages to God, including things they want to be set free from in their lives and their family's lives. I write something on my paper, and then throw it in the fire (literally), declaring quietly, "God you've got this.'
Then about five minutes later I see a child peeping in the door. So I leave my cosy chair near the fire and go to her. The tears come and she confesses the exact sin that only minutes before I had written and thrown into the fire. What's surprising to me, is that I had no idea that this particular sin was an issue for that child!
I was completely overwhelmed with God's love for us, how intimately He knows us, and how mysteriously He works. The seed for this night of group quiet time with God, confession and throwing in the fire, was planted over month a go. God knew then what He was going to do on that night. It is good and right to remember that His ways are always higher than ours.
“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Isaiah 55:8-9 The Message
God hears our prayers.
Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before him, for if we present any request agreeable to his will, he will hear us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we also know that we have obtained the requests we ask of him. 1 John 5:14-15 TPT
God wants us and our family and friends to experience the freedom that only He can give. The next part of this scripture explains the importance of prayer in that process.
If anyone observes a fellow believer habitually sinning in a way that doesn’t lead to death, you should keep interceding in prayer that God will give that person life. 1 John 5:16 TPT
I was not expecting what happened in our daughter's life that night, that she would have greater revelation of the truth that she is fearfully and wonderfully made. I had expected God to do some heart work within myself (that is always necessary!); and to see some answers to the other prayers over the coming weeks and months. But not within the following five minutes. Clearly I need to take all my delivery timeframes off my prayers!
So let's remember that we have a God who can do the unexpected, the unimaginable, but always the best. I believe we do have a part to play in that too, just as 1 John 5:16 said ... you should keep interceding in prayer that God will give that person life.
If I analyse what happened on that night and the choices that I made (prompted by the Holy Spirit), there were six distinct actions. Now this is not a formula to follow, rather some principals that could be applied when wanting to be more intimate with God and see breakthrough in our lives and the lives of those that God connects us with.
1. Make time to hear from God - Prioritise time with Him
Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17 NKJV
2. Being silent so can hear - Quieten your voice so you can hear His
Be still, and know that I am God;
Psalm 46:10 NKJ
3. Confession - Be real, God knows everything anyway
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9 NLT
4. Awareness - Look around, observe what is happening around you
"Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:38 NLT
5. Obey the prompting - Act on what the Holy Spirit is nudging you to do
“Yes,” said Jesus. “But God will bless all who listen to the word of God and carefully obey everything they hear.” Luke 11:28 TPT
6. Love and reassure - That's what Jesus does, everyday.
But Lord, your nurturing love is tender and gentle.
You are slow to get angry yet so swift to show your faithful love.
You are full of abounding grace and truth. Psalm 86:15 TPT
So those are some choices we can make. But ultimately God is the one in control. His perfect love manifests in so many different ways, bringing freedom into our lives. Remember our salvation. Let's never underestimate what He can do.
But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace! Ephesians 2:4-5 TPT
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