Our Assurance

Yesterday, after a couple of difficult calls,  I went to bed with heart-ache, not from my own troubles, for I am amazingly blessed, but weighed down by the suffering, trials, and distress that people are going through right now. A friend is struggling with his recent divorce. Another is caught up in the web of addiction, despairing of the future. Some are broken by death’s visit to their family, trying to survive the grief.  A few are making on-going choices that I know are dragging them away from their Heavenly Father.  Then, too, there is this world’s suffering, children dying in war, famine and poverty the plight of millions. As I went to prayer, there was a deep sigh and I found myself confessing that I could not meet any of those needs on my own. Even my prayers seemed weak and ineffective. 

Then, I remembered this passage that brought blessed assurance - "But if we look forward to something we don’t have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:25-28, NLT)   With this promise I committed my friends and family members, name after name, to the One who works in ways beyond my comprehension, Who is active and present.  The ache lessened and I was able to rest.  

Do I have a responsibility to be faithful in prayer?
Absolutely. 
May God ask me to become part of His answer to prayer? 
Yes, He may, and that may cost me. 

But, the core truth is that He is faithful and always at work to restore and redeem those who turn to Him.

Compassion is costly! What a  joy, however, to know that you and I can be partners with the Eternal God in accomplishing His purposes!  Yes, it is a mystery of faith that the all-knowing, all-powerful God asks us to pray, but He does, so we must, but not with desperation. Instead, we come confidently, to speak His word, to seek His will, and to make the invisible Kingdom visible in our words and actions.

Jesus reminded us of our Counselor, a comfort, a guide, the One who would be present with us in this life.  His words are familiar yet worthy of our reflection yet again. " I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. … The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:16-18, 26-27, NIV)

Are you feeling the weight of the world?  Lean on the Spirit.

Are you struggling to know how to pray for another?  Trust the Spirit.

Does the temptation to just ‘give up’ stalk you?  Recommit yourself to the Spirit.

There is assurance that He will do what we cannot even imagine. When we cannot see the way ahead, He knows and will guide IF we will quietly trust Him, even praying for the faith we need! 

Think on this, letting the promise renew your faith, then go today and live, pray, and serve fearlessly!  Here is the word from the Word. " Therefore, brothers (and sisters), since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus … do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. … So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can (people) do to me?” (Hebrews 10:19, 25: 13:6, NIV)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

 

Trust In God

Blessed assurance

Jesus is mine

He's been my fourth man in the fire

Time after time

Born of His Spirit

Washed in His blood

And what He did for me on Calvary

Is more than enough

 

I trust in God

My Savior

The One who will never fail

He will never fail

 

Perfect submission

All is at rest

I know the author of tomorrow

Has ordered my steps

So this is my story

And this is my song

I’m praising my risen King and Savior

All the day long

 

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That’s why I trust Him

That’s why (I trust Him)

 

Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, Steven Furtick

© Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music

CCLI License #810055