Perspectives

Mark 11:24-25… 24) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25) And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (NIV)

Not until one feels convicted does one feel a need for forgiveness. The strange part of this thought is that many people do feel quite innocent. Consequently, this petition, instead of being a genuine desire rising from a remorseful heart, is often little more than an empty repetition of words by a self-satisfied soul.

All of this leads one to the second question: Do I indeed come to our heavenly Father as one who feels obligated to Him? Do I sense in some deep instinctive way that I have trespassed on His love and generosity? Amazing – utterly amazing when I do not realize that my intentions are dishonorable.

We should always come to our heavenly Father in prayer keenly sensitive to sin and selfishness in our lives. The very recognition and admission that we are debtors and trespassers produce within us a heart genuinely humble. The result will be that we open our whole being to the presence and Person of God Himself.

When we have an intimate view of God in our hearts and soul, our reaction will always be the same. We are overwhelmed by the utter majesty, the indescribable magnitude, the awesome glory of His Person. Our immediate impulse is to bow low in worship before Him.

God’s great glory is His flawless character and His splendid glory! Nothing we know in this world of ours can in any way be even remotely compared to the character and person of our Father in heaven. Yet, miracle upon miracle we stand back in amazement that God would come down to recognize a sinner such as me/us who search, who long for His true likeness

This part of the prayer is a powerful expression of praise to our Father in heaven. The question now begs us to ask if we are truly sure that the kingship of both heaven and earth is rooted in our Heavenly Father. Are we supremely confident that He does control the events and destiny of all history? Do we see Him as the One who declares His Son to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords, before whom, one day; every human heart will bow in utter subjection?

Today, tomorrow, and every day given to us is a day direct from the hand of our Father. It is a day in which we can fully appreciate all the advantages and benefits He brings to us as His children. It is a day during which we can turn our hearts and minds back toward Him in sincere gratitude and praise. And out of this, there flows between us that peaceful sense of oneness which is so very precious to God’s people.

For you who understand the wondrous goodness of our Father in heaven, who feel your heart warm with genuine gratitude for the generosity of God, who feel appreciation and love welling up within you because of your Father’s love, you have found the secret to a peaceful and enduring relationship with your God. You have discovered that the motivation, the desires which now determine this relationship to God and others, are not those of your own making. They have their origin with God… To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has done

Would you pray this prayer with me…? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have peace in my heart. I really want that peace, joy, and happiness that I long for. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will bring honour to Your Name.” Amen