Keep pressing for more

Matthew 4:23‭-‬24 NIV

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.

I want to follow Jesus's example of teaching the good news of the kingdom and healing people.  I will keep pressing in for more.

Father, thank you for loving every person in the world.  Thank you for your heart for everyone to hear the good news and experience holistic healing through Jesus.  Jesus, thank you for your example living a Spirit-led life on mission with the Father.  Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence and power.  Please use me.  I ask in the name of Jesus.  I love you.

Healing prayer

2 Chronicles 30:18‭-‬19 NIV

Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the Lord , who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord , the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary."

James 5:14‭-‬16 NIV

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Hezekiah knew that God is loving and merciful.  He knew the character of God. He asked God to pardon his people, and God healed them.

Jesus told the paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven." And then He told the man to get up, take up his mat, and walk.

I believe that God wants us to experience holistic, integrated healing.  He wants us to experience the transforming power of His love.  He wants to regenerate our spirits, and He wants to heal us of soul wounds.  He wants to heal our bodies so that we live in good health, even as our souls prosper. 

3 John 2

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your good heart toward us.  Thank you for your love that includes healing.  Jesus, thank you for paying the price for my healing.  Holy Spirit, thank you for empowering me to follow in Christ's footsteps.  Please use me to heal people and tangibly show them your love.  I love you.

Prayers for godly spouses for my children

As I read through the accounts of the kings of Judah in 2 Chronicles, I realize how much influence a spouse exercises on a person.  I am so grateful that God gave me a wife who encourages me to seek the Lord and grow in my walk with Him.  I want God to bless each of my children with a godly spouse.

Father, thank you for giving us good gifts.  I trust my children to you, and I believe that you have good plans for them, including a godly spouse for each of them.  For each of my sons, please bless them with a Spirit-led wife who will respect them, encourage them, and challenge them to go deeper with you.  For my daughter, bless her with a Spirit-led husband who will love her, protect her, and care for her as Christ loves the church.  May my children and their spouses walk as kings and queens, and may they seek first your kingdom and your righteousness.  Jesus, if you tarry, may my grandchildren be raised to seek you and walk in your power and authority from an early age.  Holy Spirit, anoint my family with your presence, and may we always seek to abide in your anointing.  I look forward to seeing your blessings poured out on my children.  I love you.

Spiritual influence of parents

2 Chronicles 12:13‭-‬14 NIV

King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother's name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.

Unfortunately, it seems that Rehoboam didn't get a strong example of seeking the Lord from his father, King Solomon or his mother, Naamah the Ammonite.  By implication from verse 14, I think it is easier to seek the Lord if your parents are positive spiritual role models.

I am so thankful that my parents sought the Lord when I was growing up, and they taught me to seek the Lord.  It is not enough to know about the Lord, we have to show our children what it looks like to have a close personal relationship with God.  We must teach them to hear His voice and walk in faith and obedience.  I am so thankful that Brandi is my partner in leading our children by example.

Father, help me be a good spiritual Father to my children.  I want them to walk with you in even greater ways than me.  Holy Spirit, please show me how to show my children how to know you and walk with you. I love you.

Hosting God's presence

The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.

1 Chronicles 13:14 NIV

What a privilege it was for Obed-Edom to host the ark of God's presence!  And yet, we have an even greater privilege than he, because we have the Holy Spirit within us.

When I read this verse yesterday, I asked God to make my home like that of Obed-Edom.  It is still on my mind this morning.  I want our home to be saturated with the presence of God.  I realize that He is already here, but I want His presence to be manifested in our home.  

Father, thank you for being here.  Jesus, thank you for being here. Thank you for revealing your presence in my home. Holy Spirit move among us in our home.  We welcome you to do whatever you want to do in our home. We love you.

Spiritual hunger

I was talking with Andrew and Jake last week about wanting to hunger for God.  How do I increase my hunger for God?  Jake suggested that in the physical, you can stretch your appetite by forcing yourself to eat when you aren't hungry (like food eating competitors).  So, I think there is value in choosing to read Scripture and spiritual books, even when you don't "feel" like it.

I was thinking about it again several days ago, and the Holy Spirit told me, "A fire doesn't have a problem being hungry."  I realized that I want the Holy Spirit to kindle a fire in me so that He can keep adding fuel to the fire, and the fire will keep growing.

Father, thank you for making me with a capacity to host your fire.  Jesus, thank you for the prophetic vaions of you in the Scriptures in which you are described as being like fire.  Holy Spirit, kindle your fire in me.  Consume me with your growing fire.  I love you.

Types of Christ in Esther and Mordecai

Esther figuratively willingly went "to her death" by going before the king uninvited, but the king extended his scepter and "resurrected" her life.  Esther sacrificed her life to save her people from destruction.

Mordecai was a humble servant of the king, and he did not pursue promotion.  But because of his faithfulness and obedience, the king promoted him to the highest position in the kingdom.  According to Isaiah 53, Jesus was a humble servant, but the Father has promoted Him to the highest position. One day, soon, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is the King of all Kings.

Father, I want to be like Christ.  Holy Spirit, thank you for showing me Christ.  Jesus, please reveal yourself through my life.  I love you.

As good as done

Esther 6:12‭-‬14 NIV

Afterward Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!" While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.

When the Lord has set something in motion, it is as good as done.  From our limited human perception, it may not appear to be resolved, but from His perspective, it is as good as done.  God has ordained that evil is defeated, and the Church will be saved.  It is done.

There is a tension between the now and the not-yet.  May we persevere in faith, knowing that He who called us is faithful to complete the work that He has begun.

Romans 16:20 NIV

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5:23‭-‬24 NIV

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Philippians 1:6 NIV

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 10:14 NIV

For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

1 Corinthians 15:54‭-‬58 NIV

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."  "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Father, thank you for your promises of victory over sin and death.  Jesus, thank you for accomplishing our salvation.  Holy Spirit, I want to run with you today in confidence of your authority and power.  I love you.