Prayer: The Gate

In the book of Genesis, Chapters 17 and 18, ninety-nine year old Abram is asked to walk with God.  He goes through some kind of transformation and his name is changed. He is now Abraham. His wife, Sarah, is 10 years younger than Abraham. God makes a covenant with He and Sarah and promises to multiply their funds and investments, there will be a child, their names are changed and Abraham will be the father of many nations.

As with convenants and legal agreement there are many details and I suggest you read this chapter for yourself.

So as you can see Abraham has a lot on his mind. Most of us would be looking at retirement communities at age 99, but God is expecting a great deal from Abraham at this time.

A year or so goes by and God and an angel or two stop by Abraham and Sarah’s tent. They have great news, there is going to be a baby, and BTW they are on their way to destroy a couple of towns infested with people of questionable character and intentions.

So Abraham interceeds.  What I find fastinating is this.  Abraham has a nephew named Lot living there.  Abraham doesn’t say he has a relative there, or “God, could you please save this one guy”.  He asked point blank if there are fifty righteous among the wicked will God destroy them as well.  Then what if there are forty, what if there are thirty?  He talks with God exploring the depth of his mercy.  What if there is only one righteous man?

Abraham interceded for any and all righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah, even though he had quite a bit on his mind and lots of activities to take care of day by day. You know, with two elderly people living in a tent, farming and ranching and a baby on the way.  But Abraham’s thoughts were with others.

We can do the same thing today.  Talk with God for someone else.  Someone who needs the mercy of God, and his blessings.  What are we waiting for?

In the movie the African Queen, a spinster missionary, Rose, and a drunk, Charlie Allnut, navigate the Ulanga River in a dilapidated boat. Charlie tells Rose his weaknesses are simply human nature. Her response is, “Nature, Mr Allnut, is what we are put here to rise above”.

Pray today for all who choose to rise above. Rise above drinking, drugs, gluttony, over-spending, lying, gambling…whatever it is in each of our individual human natures that we must lay down on the alter and allow Jesus to heals us and remove this thing.

Paul talks in Romans about how difficult it is to change our nature by our willpower. We are spirit and flesh, and I take comfort reading about his struggles as I can completely understand.

Romans 7:19 “For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.”

God transforms us. He forgives us and heals us. He sent his son to redeem us. Thanks be to God.

Our prayers today need to be for the people in Australia. We cannot even imagine how terrible the ordeal has been with the fires there.

Father God, we pray for the people of Australia, and for healing for those who have survived the fires. We ask that you hold them tenderly in your care in their grief. We pray for those the souls of those who have perished. We ask for strength for those who remain to uplift each other, to rebuild. Let there be rain! The gentle rain that nourishes the earth and men. The rain that comes a little daily.
Bless and restore them LORD. We pray in your Holy Name. Amen

There are many plates spinning in the government right now.  Worrying about what elected officials will do won’t help.  Contact allows them have a better understanding of what we want.  Praying for them is a great thing to do.

Father God, I would like to pray for the leaders of our nation.  Let there be a defined sense of unity in their actions.  Let wisdom and truth fill them, and the power and wisdom of God guide them in all their actions.  Bless them and strengthen them as they face challenges. Let them do their appointed jobs with a heart of service, as they are public servants. Give them workable and creative ideas to solve problems and issues. Let them know what to do, and then act upon what they know to be true. Let their actions be a blessing for generations to come.

I also want to pray for leaders of local governments.  Let them also be strengthened and act in wisdom for the benefit of the people. 

 Luke 22:26
Let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest and the leader as the servant.

I always say that Redemption is the big idea.  It is true.  As a believer you are redeemed from the curse of the law.  Your redeemer has come.  It just doesn’t get any better than that.

In our daily spiritual walk, Forgiveness is what it is all about.  I even go along thinking I have no one to forgive nor do I need to be forgiven for anything. After all I have been a stellar person. (LOL)  But then some little thing triggers a memory of a hurtful word or deed and I realize there is much I need to release and forgive and that I too have said or done things that require forgiveness.

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions.(Mark 11:25)

Be blessed and make it a fun weekend.

I understand the groundhog (Phil) saw his shadow yesterday.  Six more weeks of winter are expected.  However, I believe if he does not see his shadow we still have six more weeks of winter.  It is early February, so either prediction is probably true.  In fact, in Colorado we have had snow as late as June. So does that mean 6 more months of winter?

Personally I think groundhog day is probably rooted in some northern climate drinking game tradition.  Some group with not much to do and a few beers decide it would be fun to go out and find a hibernating rodent, wake him to see if he sees his shadow. So who thought that up? But it has become a tradition.

We like traditions, they are warm soup for the soul.  (Not groundhog soup.) Traditions and ceremony work like anchors for us in the busy lives we lead. 

Speaking of winter, I would like to ask people to pray for those who are without power and heat due to the ice storms or who are experiencing other hardships this winter.

I received prayer requests for the following people, if you would pray for them as well.

Barb T. – healing for her shoulder and surgery

Donny T. Jr – healing from headaches

Jenny – health and healing, peace in her spirit

Thank you, have a great week.