October 16, 2024
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Several months ago, I shared a prayer with you. Although the original prayer includes some of the things I struggle with, there’s more – a lot more! So, I’ve added to the original prayer and think that now is a good time to share the expanded version with you. You may also struggle with some of these same things.
As I think about my prayer requests and asking God to give me certain things, I realize that, according to the Scriptures, He’s already given some of these things to me! Maybe I haven’t fully received them? Maybe I haven’t asked?
The world seems to grow more and more insane and chaotic every day. The gifts we receive from God are antidotes that can cure the negative emotions, feelings, thoughts, moods and attitudes that arise from our toxic worldly experiences – what I call our “stuff.”
I’ve made a list of my stuff and corresponding scriptural cures. There’s a transactional aspect to this, a divine exchange. As I receive from God, I release my stuff. And healing occurs.
Our stuff can distract us from the peace and joy God desires for us. It can be overwhelming at times. Sometimes we can feel defeated. Sometimes we just want to shut down, turn off the phone, turn off the TV, turn off the emails, turn off the news – and hide.
We need to remember God's presence, His promises and the gifts He has given us or is willing to give to us if we ask. Our responsibility as Christian believers is to pray, receive and believe His Word!
The following prayer includes each gift received from God and the opposing stuff released. I pray this prayer every morning. When I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep, it calms me. This prayer has helped me significantly. I pray it helps you. Although it is written in the first person, it may be prayed by couples or by groups praying together. Give it a try.
PRAYER
“Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, I belong to You.
“I receive Your Life in exchange for my life. [“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’ Galatians 2:20, NIV. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16, NIV]
“I receive Your Holy Spirit, Who lives in me. [“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16, NRSV]
“I receive the assurance of Your nearness and release my felt sense of isolation.
“I receive faith in You and release my doubt.
“I receive Your love and release my hate and selfishness. [“… God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5, ESV]
“I receive Your revelation. [“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29, NIV]
“I receive Your light and release my darkness. [“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12, NIV]
“I receive Your good and release my evil. [“Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9b, NIV]
“I receive Your grace. [“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17, NIV]
“I receive Your truth and release my ignorance and all lies. [“I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6, NIV]
“I receive Your salvation. [“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God …” Ephesians 2:8, NIV]
“I receive Your courage and release my fear. [“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27c, NIV]
“I receive Your forgiveness and release my guilt and shame. [“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9, ESV]
“I receive Your righteousness and release my sinfulness. [“… that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” Philippians 3:8-9, ESV]
“I receive Your wisdom and release my foolishness. [“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5, NIV]
“I receive Your healing and release my sickness. [“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’” John 5:6, ESV]
“I receive Your hope and release my despair. [“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19a, NIV]
“I receive Your peace and release my anxiety. [“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” John 14:27a, NIV]
“I receive Your joy and release my sorrow and depression. [“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11, NIV]
“I receive Your encouragement and release my murmuring. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13, NIV]
“I receive Your rest and release my restlessness. [“Come to me, all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28, NIV]
“I receive Your help and release my need. [“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1, NIV]
“I receive Your blessings and release all curses. [“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21, NIV]
“I receive Your freedom and release my captivity. [“If you dwell within the revelation I have brought, you are indeed my disciples; you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32, NEB]
“I receive Your power. [“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8, NIV]
“Father God, I receive Your mercy and end my rebellion. I stop running from You and I surrender to You. I receive Your Victory and accept my defeat. I receive Your deliverance from my false self. I receive Your deliverance of my true self and my true authority in You. I accept and confess Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
“Jesus is Lord! Praise God! Alleluia!”
We aren’t made to shut down, hide or cower from the challenges of this world. We are called to be intricately and explicitly engaged and involved in the world. We are bearers of light and speakers of truth.
Through the Scriptures, we learn that the Lord has given us all of the spiritual weapons we need not just to survive, but to wield against the forces of evil that constantly oppose us on our journey through life here on earth and on to eternity in heaven with Him.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, receive from the Lord and release your stuff!
QUESTIONS
What struggles do you deal with? What keeps you up at night? Think about them. Name them. Pray about them.
PRAYER
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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