Tag: Prayer

Faithfulness

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

~ Galatians 5:22-23

The idea of the word faithfulness, as used here, seems to be that of fidelity. It denotes the believer who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit will be earnest and dependable in their words and promises. Our yea will be our yea, and our nea will be our nea. A Christian can be trusted and confided in. A closer relationship with God in Christ stirs up greater and greater faith. The Christian will grow in faith and show that faithfulness as a husband, wife, neighbor, and friend. Faithfulness in the life of Christ’s people shows our love and devotion to Him and our desire to be faithful as He is faithful to us.

~ apl

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, help me to be a faithful Christian; one others can confide in and depend on so that Jesus is glorified in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Goodness

~ A Prayer Life ~ Leave a comment

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

~ Galatians 5:22-23

The spiritual fruit of goodness could be said to be a continuation of the fruit of kindness. While kindness is a disposition of heart and character, goodness is the tangible results of kindness. Goodness is kindness in action. It is where the believer acts on behalf of the benefit and well-being of others. Jesus would tell His followers, “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you” (Mt. 5:44). Show goodness in all circumstances, even difficult ones. The Apostle Paul would put it this way, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21)

~ apl

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, help me to see and seek out opportunities to do good to others. May the fruit of goodness be evident in my life each and every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Kindness

~ A Prayer Life ~ 4 Comments

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

~ Galatians 5:22-23

Expressing kindness to others is an exceptional way in which to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit and show forth the evidence of Christ-like character. When the sinner comes to realize just how kind God has been to them in Christ Jesus, they are compelled by sheer grace to exude kindness themselves. In many ways, the kindness shown in the life of the believer is simply a reflection of the kindness God has granted them. Titus 3:4-6 tells us, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,  whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior“. The fruit of kindness is not born in us; it is bestowed to us through the Holy Spirit so that kindness might be revealed by us to others.

~ apl

Prayer Life Pause: Dear Jesus, make me an example to others of the kindness You showed me in loving me, saving me, and blessing me so that I might praise You and give You the glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Holy Spirit Difference

~ A Prayer Life ~ 3 Comments

“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.”

~ A.W. Tozer

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, please pour out Your Holy Spirit new and afresh upon me and Your people. May we live and serve in Your presence and power that others see the difference You make! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prevailing Prayers

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

“Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.”

~ J. Sidlow Baxter

Prayer Life Pause: Father, guide my prayers that they may effectually convey the beauty and perfection of Thy will. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Love

~ A Prayer Life ~ 3 Comments

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

~ Galatians 5:22-23

The Apostle Paul sets love as the first among the fruits of the Spirit because elsewhere he had explicitly stated without love we are but empty clanging noise. Love is the basis of our redemption in Christ, our fellowship with other believers and it should be our disposition towards a lost and dying world as well. Faithful, obedient living unto Jesus is clear evidence of our love for Him (Jn 14:15). Love is more than a mere sentiment or emotion – it is an abiding sense and deep appreciation of what God in Christ has done for you and, in turn, creates an unquenchable desire to live, love and serve in His name. It is this which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit living in the heart of the Believer.

~ apl

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, daily create in me a renewed and refreshed love for You and others that I might faithfully show forth the fruits of Your Spirit in my thoughts, words and deeds. In Jesus’ name, amen.

All The Fullness of God

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

~ Ephesians 3:14-21

Prayer Life Pause: Dear Lord, I bend the knee of my heart before You in honor of Your glory, grace and mercy. May I continue to walk in the abundance of Your love and the strength of Your power each and every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Good Cheer!

~ A Prayer Life ~ 3 Comments

“Be of good cheer! It is I…”

~ Mark 6:50

What a pronouncement! Such a blessed introduction! ‘It is I, thy Lord and Savior!’ Whenever Jesus comes to us, it should illicit cheer. His near presence in our lives is the only true source of peace, comfort and joy. The disciples feared the winds that had arose against them that night on the sea, but the Lord’s voice in a time of trouble brought calm to their souls. May we remember those wonderful words apply just as much today as they did when Christ first spoke them. He desires to be our delight and to bring serenity to our soul. Christ Jesus aspires for His presence in our lives to be the most celebrated thing about us. So be of good cheer, Jesus is here!

~ apl

Prayer Life Pause: Lord Jesus, continue to make Yourself the ever-flowing source of my hope and happiness. May the things of this world never replace the eternal joy of knowing, loving and serving You! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Perfect What Thou Hast Begun

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

Look upon us, O Lord,
and let all the darkness of our souls
vanish before the beams of thy brightness.
Fill us with holy love,
and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom.
All our desire is known unto thee,
therefore perfect what thou hast begun,
and what thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer.
We seek thy face,
turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory.
Then shall our longing be satisfied,
and our peace shall be perfect.

~ Augustine

Prayer Life Pause: O Lord, help me to be all that I can be in Christ. Fill me with more and more of Your Spirit until self is swallowed whole. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get Acquainted

~ A Prayer Life ~ 3 Comments

“Now acquaint yourself with God, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.”

~ Job 22:21

Job is encouraged here in our verse to get to know the God that he serves. Job was frustrated, confused, and anxious about his life, in part, because he didn’t understand how the Lord was using his circumstances to 1. better him and 2. bring glory to God. Getting to know God through Scripture, prayer and worship helps us to better understand and appreciate what the Lord is doing in our life and how He is even using the difficult circumstances we face for our good. Therefore, it is vitally important we make acquainting ourselves with God a priority in our life. Because when we do, goodness and peace is sure to follow.

~ apl

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, show Yourself to me anew and afresh that I might better becoming acquainted with You – my true source of all goodness and peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.