Encouragement for Today - August 8, 2011
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August 8, 2011
The Prayer that Changed My Life |
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Twenty-two thousand women sat on the edge of their seats as the teacher standing center stage asked, "Do you want to have an insatiable love for Jesus?" Her words hung in the air. Then she answered, "Pray to. If you want an insatiable love for Jesus, then pray to."
Scrambling to find my pen and struggling to spell the word insatiable, I wrote these simple yet powerful words in my conference notebook. The words stung my heart. As they fell from her lips, I knew this was a love for Jesus I did not have.
What I did have was church membership, a lot of church service, and some love. While Jesus was my Savior, something was missing.
I realized I had asked Jesus to be my Savior but not allowed Him to be my Lord. I loved Him for what He did but not for who He was. At age 34, I wanted to cry out this "pray to" prayer. But I wondered, "What must God think of me?"
Service to Him had been my life. Dedication to my church was paramount. But love? How could I not really love Jesus? Certainly He would be disinclined to hear such an elementary prayer from a grown woman who'd been a Christian much of her life.
My thoughts were misguided. It was a prayer God wanted to answer immeasurably more than I could think or imagine. He wanted me to have an insatiable love for Him!
The speaker's challenge that day became a lifestyle of prayer for me. Over time the emptiness in my heart was filled with a love for Jesus I had never known. My heart not only praised Him for what He had done in my life, but now loved Him for who He was: my Lord.
My obedience and service started to flow from a heart of love instead of duty. Lies that once shaped my life and negative feelings about myself where shattered by the honesty and power of His Word. The security of knowing Him as Lord gave me what I had been looking for my whole life. I found freedom in knowing who I am and courage to live like it's true.
The promise and power of today's key verse proved faithful in my life, changing me forever. Today, I want to challenge and invite you the same. Do you want to love Jesus with an insatiable love?
If you want to, then pray to.
Humble yourself before the Lord and ask Him to help you love Him. He will give you immeasurably more than you can imagine. Over time the emptiness in your heart will be filled with a love for Jesus you have never known. Your heart will praise Him for what He has done and for who He is—your Lord. If you want to, pray to.
Dear Lord, I want to love You with an insatiable love. Answer my prayer immeasurably more than I can think of or imagine. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
The prayer that changed Wendy's life gave her an insatiable love for Jesus and opened doors for her to surrender her life in ministry. God has uniquely gifted Wendy to teach a daily online Bible Study on her blog. Visit today and sign up to receive her daily posts at Walking with Women through the Word.
Wendy wrote about the changes God made in her life as she prayed the "pray to" prayer in her book, Out of the Mouths of Babes. Read it today to see what God can do when you "pray to."
Living Free in Christ: Experiencing Life as it was Meant to Be (CD) by Wendy Pope
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Application Steps:
Commit to "pray to." Pray the "pray to" prayer until you begin to experience Him every day. Journal the changes God is makes in you life.
Reflections:
What is the Lord teaching me through today's devotion?
How will I respond to this "pray to" challenge?
Power Verses:
Psalm 54:2, "Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth." (NIV 1984)
Psalm 69:13, "But I pray to you, LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation." (NIV)
Romans 8:26, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (NIV)
© 2011 by Wendy Pope. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
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Matthews, NC 28105
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