The Lord's Love in Everyday Life

Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd I have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water . He gives me new strength He guides me in the right paths as He has promised.”

When the Lord is my shepherd He builds a relationship of love. He is a person who takes care of every need and ready to lay His life down for us. I will never be left wanting as said in Philippians 4:19 “With all abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all my needs”.

He gives me the rest I and peace when I drink of the living water. When I eat and live on His word my body will be strengthened. He will give me direction in my day to day life as I learn to dwell on his word and seek his help in everything.

Prayer- Heavenly Father help us to follow Your ways, increase our faith and and find joy only in Your presence. Cause us to come to You as a deer pants for water. Lord give us a mind of Christ so that we discern and keep away from people who do not fear the Lord or have faith in you. Help us to have the right relationship with people around us as we grow in our relationship with You.

When we grow by the living water may each one us bear the fruits of the spirit. Be prosperous in whatever we do. Experience healing of our body mind and soul wisdom to know what is right and wrong .

Deliver us from our fears and keep our mind clear of trivial things so that our thoughts will be focused only on You. May the Lord reign our soul and mind and all thoughts and action be led by you alone. Know fully well that you Oh Lord God is besides us during good times and bad times. As we move with our focus on You alone nothing will be impossible and all our troubles seems nothing for our lives will be effortless. For You alone our God.

Almighty God is a Father and mother to us.!

Love and compassion of our heavenly father is like a firm father and a tender mother. In the Parable of the Prodigal son Luke 15: 20 “So while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him”.

This is how our heavenly father loves us. He gives us freedom to choose. When we make mistakes, when we sin and go far away from him or even disown him he waits patiently for he knows his love will draw his children unto himself. One step towards him is enough to bring him joy and he will run to us and restore us.

Isaiah 66:13 “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you”. The tender side of him is a close comparison to that of a loving mother. God the Father has both the qualities. He will speak to our heart and comfort us according to our needs.

The Love of the Father

I the Lord am a God who is full of compassion and pity, who is not easily angered and who shows great love and faithfulness. Ex 34:6

From the creation of man till date the existence of man speaks of God's love for us. Man did not co-operate with Gods plan and went astray. His love and compassion for His people saved them from various situations. He raised prophets to warn protect and bring them back unto Him.

I will never forget you my people I have you on the palm on my hand. Is49:15-16

Such is the promise of the Lord to us. God wants to look and spend time with us .He keeps looking, admiring, patting and stroking us: He just cant stop loving us.

Do you want to experience that love? ...

Come let us sit at his feet...

3- DIVINE PERFECTION!

The number 3 in the Bible stands for Divine Perfection! The plan of redemption was Divine Perfection to completion! Let's see how.

At Gethsemane-
He took 3 of his apostles with Him to pray.
Matt26:37
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

He prayed 3 times
Matt26:36-46

The Lord said 3 words at His arrest and the soldiers fell. What power in those 3 words!
Jn18:5-6
"I am He," Jesus said. When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.

Trial
Jesus was tried before 3- Annas, Caiaphas and Pilate
Jn18

Betrayal of Peter- 3 times
Matt 26:69-75

Cruxificion

There were 3 crosses at Golgotha. The Lord was flanked by the good and bad.
Jn 19:18
Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Inscription 3 languages
Jn19:19-20
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews...and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.

3words- "It is finished"
Jn19:30
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Ressurection
3women at the tomb
Mark16:1
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.

Rise on the 3rd day
Luke24:7
...and on the third day be raised again.'

YOUR FACE LORD I WILL SEEK

Psalm 27:8


There are times in our walk with the Lord we long to see His face. Here is an opportunity if you really desire it from your heart. This does not happen nor can be achieved overnight or by just sitting one time before the Lord.


In order to see the face you first make a choice. A firm decision from the heart to seek and see His face.


Psalm 27 :9 “Do not hide your face from me, do not run your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me O God my savior.”


Heart in the Bible is referred as a place that makes decision. The word of God is hidden in heart.God always says do it from your heart. So, if you really desire to see His face and know His plan for you, make a decision.


James 4:8-10 “ Come near to God and he will come near to you, Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”


The first step is to set a side time for Him. Sit at His feet and learn to dialogue with Him. A very difficult step as one has plenty of distraction. One needs to slowly get detached from five senses ideally done with fasting to discipline oneself. The five senses keep us in touch with the world. And as a result we miss out on spiritual gifts. People who are distracted are in bondage and such problems can be solved by fasting and praying. Another way is to prepare yourself for your prayer time by praying to the Holy Spirit in advance and ask for help for a better and good prayer time. This exercise takes some time to master.


Once we get detached we enter the Holy of Holies.


Sometimes it happens that every time you sit to pray a particular incident or a person comes to mind. Then bring it up to the lord and ask the lord what you need to do in that situation. If you need to forgive or reconcile with the person or sometimes the situation needs healing ask God to heal that incident that hurts so much. Heb12:14-15 “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no better roots grow up to cause trouble and defile many.” The fruit of the Holy Spirit is peace. All efforts should be made towards it. Sometimes you do not see the face of God because of this reason.


Mathew 5: 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart”


Song of songs 2: 16 “My lover is mine and I am his.” That is the intense love we need to have for our lord. For He is our bridegroom.


Heb:10:22-23 "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

Song of songs 3: 1-4


Taking into consideration the above point and genuine effort to sit before the Lord is the first step to seek His face.

(Contributed by the Intercession head)

Gethsemane

There is this soul stirring song by Gaither choir " Have you had a Gethsemane?" as part of their Israel Homecoming. They show the garden of Gethsemane where the Lord was in agony and sing this touching song.

Watch and Pray!

"Watch and Pray" International Night Vigil
All prayer warriors for Agape come together this night to watch and pray.

I have often reflected on how the apostles found it difficult to watch and pray at Gethsemane.

Matt26:40-41
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Note that the Lord tells them to watch and pray for themselves that they may not fall into temptation. He does not tell them 'pray for me, I suffer'. Though He loved all His apostles, He had taken the ones closest to Him -Peter - chosen to lead the flock, James-his own cousin and John- the Beloved apostle. Even these failed to support Him in prayer when He needed comfort the most.
I wonder if it would have been the same if the apostles had a clue as to what was in store for them. To witness the passion and death of their Master, to face the persecution for being His followers, even the death that each of them had to face?

Matt26:38
Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

Any human that experiences sorrow so deep and intense cannot sleep. Can you remember the times that you were so overwhelmed with sorrow that you could not sleep?

Do you think it would have been different if they could only understand the sorrow in His heart? The apostle John I think would have lasted longer than the others. He passionately loved the Lord. Thus we have a detailed account of the Lord's agony in John 17. But he too succumbed to the weakness of the flesh.
Do share your thoughts and reflections.