Day Two of the 6-Day Prayer Challenge: RAISED

In little letter to the Ephesians Paul crams in use after use of a little phrase that for him was apparently really important. The phrase "in Christ" is all over the letter, so that one cannot help but say, "Something about this concept must be of such theological and practical value that Paul was determined that we get it in our heads!"

And you would be right to think such things.

One of my favorite songs is the modern Hymn "In Christ Alone" which was so biblically written that it was one of the first songs our whole family learned together. We even made up motions for it so the kids could memorize it and enjoy singing it with all their heart, mind and body! I encourage you to sing it often, and even try the motions if you're really brave.

Being in Christ is all about his life, his work, his righteousness being credited to our account, so to speak. In other words, what is true of Jesus, because we are in Him, is true of us. Our future resurrection and inheritance is such a done deal by virtue of being in Christ that what is true of Him in Ephesians 1:20 is also true of us(Ephesians 2:6)! So even now we are RAISED with Christ (see Romans 6) and seated with Christ...So, we must live now anticipating our RAISED and seated reality of who we are and who we will finally be in Christ...

Today when you pray through The Lord's Prayer consider the reality of who you are in Jesus Christ.

Pray for the name of God to be honored and glorified as all your fellow RAISED ones live out the powerful implications of being in Christ forever!

Pray that the Kingdom of God would hurry up and come so that we RAISED ones can get to reigning for the glory of Christ without the distraction and disturbing nature of our sinful hearts.

Pray that God's will would be accomplished on this earth in a way that would let all those who are in Christ be right in the thick of it. Pray that God would let you be right in the thick of His will being realized in beautiful and transforming ways in families and communities and countries around the world!

Pray that God would help your understanding of who you are in Christ change how you deal with the basic things of life like food, clothing, shelter, job security, house payments, doctor bills, etc... Pray that he would provide for you as a testimony to those around you of His faithfulness to those who are in Christ.

Pray that God would cleanse you of sin, since you are soon to reign with Christ. Pray that He would prepare you now by showing you your sin and helping you walk in His merciful forgiveness! Pray that you would demonstrate this forgiving mercy toward others at every opportunity!

Pray that temptation would take on a new context as you walk as a RAISED one who has been set free from the guilt of the law and the power of sin to enslave you!

Pray that all of the enemies schemes to sabotage the sanctifying work of Christ in you would fall limply to the ground. Pray that you would press on for the Kingdom!!!

Enjoy your praying today...

SECC 6 Day Prayer Challenge

Thank you for joining the SECC church body in a 6 Day Prayer Challenge! The challenge is simple: using the Lord's Prayer as "a portal into the Kingdom of Christ" (if you missed the sermon on ENGAGED check it out at southeffingham.com, the sermon will be up by this afternoon) engage with your Father in heaven connecting one theme from our journey into BRAVE Christianity each day.


         Monday: BROKEN
         Tuesday: RAISED
         Wednesday: ABANDONED
         Thursday: ABLAZE
         Friday: VIVID
         Saturday: ENGAGED


Each day I will give you a bit of a push in the right direction for your praying that day. Feel free to leave a comment on how your time of praying in a more kingdom manner is going. What is God showing you? How is your prayer life different this week from your normal routine? What part of the Lord's Prayer is really pressing on your soul?


SECC, let's learn to pray with Jesus and like Jesus (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4). And may His kingdom come for the honor and glory of His name!

Monday: BROKEN

Brokenness is simply embracing who you truly are before God and who God truly is before all mankind. 

Pray through the Lord's Prayer today with a heavy sense of your own unworthiness and sinfulness but a grateful sense of His forgiveness and acceptance through Jesus Christ!!! 

When I was nine years old God brought me to a point of brokenness. He pressed on my heart. I was very aware of my sinfulness and my need for some serious help! I remember kneeling with my Dad on at our couch and asking God, with a heart of brokenness, to save my soul. 

But even today I find that I am in great need of many more brokenness sessions with my heavenly Father. I need to get on my knees daily and cry out with a heart of brokenness for a continued refreshing, reviving and renewing of my soul!

I need to sense the true state of my heart before God today because I need a new awakening of the mercy of God today.

“God makes men sensible of their misery before he reveals his mercy and love.”  

Jonathan Edwards 

So today as you pray - pray about the honor of God's name, the kingdom, the will of God, daily provision, forgiveness, testing, and deliverance! As you pray remember your former, and often lingering, misery in sin and the amazing mercy of God!

Have a great Monday and take advantage of the kingdom portal of prayer! 

                          

                                   Leave a comment and join the conversation on prayer...

Disenchanted - A farity tale about love, marriage and the Kingdom of Self

          * I wrote this for the SECC Marriage Retreat 2011


Once upon a time there was a dashing prince who lived in the enchanted Kingdom of Self.

Once upon the same time there was a desirable princess who also lived in an enchanted kingdom called Self.

They did not live in the same kingdom, but in neighboring kingdoms of the same name, separated by the deep waters of Reality.

And so the story begins…