Enlarge My Heart, Jesus

Proverbs 4:6-9  ⁶ Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.  ⁷ Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.  ⁸ Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.  ⁹ She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you." 

Observation:  Of all that we seek and strive after… Proverbs tells us that wisdom is the principal thing.  It is the first thing.  The most sacred and most important thing we can seek after.  Wisdom is not just insight.  Wisdom isn't a high IQ.  Wisdom is the personification of God's mind.  Wisdom is the incarnation.  Wisdom is Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31  of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption --  ³¹ that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." 

Surely the apostle Paul is right in saying let our glory be in the Lord; let our glory be in the wisdom from God… Jesus Christ.  Christ shows that true wisdom seeks souls… It wins them over to the ways of Heaven.  It wins them over to the love of their Father.  It wins them at the foot of the cross… the place of sacrifice.  

True wisdom walks in the way of love.  The love that covers all sin (Proverbs 10:12).

1 Peter 4:8   ⁸ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 

Application:  God is reminding me this morning that I need a largeness of heart:

Proverbs 4:23   ²³ Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

He's is reminding me of what He said in my quiet time a week an half ago on May 19, 2006.

A largeness of heart like the sand of the seashore. Wow… is this not the greatest need of a leader… A large heart born out of a large God. A large heart received from a large relationship with the almighty. I don't need riches. I don't need fame. I need a largeness of heart. A largeness of passion for what breaks the heart of God. A largeness for the lost. A longing for their salvation. A largeness of compassion for the oppressed and afflicted.

Today I hear Christ calling me to sit at his feet first every morning. I have struggled with letting other things get in the way of spending time with Jesus first. Today, I didn't read email… I didn't surf the internet… I just came to Jesus first and it has made all the difference… And I must come to him first throughout the day. When I feel tempted to worry I must come to Jesus first. When I don't know where to go on a particular issue I must seek wisdom from Him first. Pray without ceasing is not a cute quote… It is the key to surviving as a leader.

How is is this largeness of heart born?  How does the wisdom of God's love… of God's son, take hold in the life?  Through prayer.  Through meditation.  Through study.

Psalm 119:11  ¹¹ Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! 

Jesus is saying to me today, hide my word in Your heart… And watch your heart grow.

Prayer:  Jesus draw me closer to You.  Let my heart meditate on Your word day and night.  Grow me in Your grace.  Enlarge my capacity to love.  Make me wise in the ways of soul winning.  For Your Glory!  Amen!

In the School of Christ

by Ellen White

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Isa. 48:18.

We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God.

In the heart of Christ, where reigned perfect harmony with God, there was perfect peace. He was never elated by applause, nor dejected by censure or disappointment. Amid the greatest opposition and the most cruel treatment, He was still of good courage. But many who profess to be His followers have an anxious, troubled heart, because they are afraid to trust themselves with God. They do not make a complete surrender to Him; for they shrink from the consequences that such a surrender may involve. Unless they do make this surrender, they cannot find peace.

It is the love of self that brings unrest. When we are born from above, the same mind will be in us that was in Jesus, the mind that led Him to humble Himself that we might be saved. Then we shall not be seeking the highest place. We shall desire to sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him. We shall understand that the value of our work does not consist in making a show and noise in the world, and in being active and zealous in our own strength. The value of our work is in proportion to the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Trust in God brings holier qualities of mind, so that in patience we may possess our souls.

The yoke is placed upon the oxen to aid them in drawing the load, to lighten the burden. So with the yoke of Christ. When our will is swallowed up in the will of God, and we use His gifts to bless others, we shall find life's burden light. He who walks in the way of God's commandments is walking in company with Christ, and in His love the heart is at rest. When Moses prayed, "Shew me now thy way, that I may know thee," the Lord answered him, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." And through the prophets the message was given, "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest to your souls" (Ex. 33:13, 14; Jer. 6:16). And He says, "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea" (Isa. 48:18) (The Desire of Ages, pp. 330, 331).

From Lift Him Up - Page 162

Lord, Spend Me

The following devotional entry was written by Kent Hansen.   It is from a weekly email he sends out called A Word of Grace for Your Monday.  If you would like to receive Kent's email there a instructions at the bottom of this post on how to get it.  

Blessings,

Jim 

A Word of Grace for Your Monday, 

May 11th, 2009

In the after dinner conversation at Zacchaeus' house discussed in last week's message, Jesus said, "The Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost" (Lk 19:10). Then he told a story because, as Luke observes, "He was near Jerusalem, and because the kingdom of God was supposed to appear immediately" (Lk 19:11) . In other words, Jesus was considering both his destiny and the expectations of his followers. 

The story, commonly referred to as the, "Parable of the Ten Pounds" provides insight into the kingdom of God and who enters it and who does not. It is one of my favorite passages for reflection.

Jesus "sat down opposite the (temple) treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, 'Truly I tell you this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on" (Mk 12:41-44).

Contrast Jesus' story with this one told by Henri Nouwen: "An elderly woman was brought to a psychiatric center. "She was wild, swinging at everything in sight, and scaring everyone so much that the doctor had to take everything away from her. But there was one small coin which she gripped in her fist and would not give up. In fact, it took two people to pry open that squeezed hand. It was as though she would lose her very self along with the coin. If they deprived her of that last possession, she would have nothing more, and be nothing more. That was her fear" (Henri J.M. Nouwen, With Open Hands[New York: Ballantine Books, 1990], p. 3).

Between these stories lies the frontier of faith. If you think either story is about money, think again. Money is only valuable for what it can buy. If you are marooned at the South Pole with nothing more than one million dollars in cash you are going to die. The coins of these women represented their lives. The widow gave up "all she had to live on"-- in essence, her life. The elderly psychiatric patient could not let go of her life. 

Think about what you can or can't live without. Think about what you are grasping, even hoarding. Is it your job? A relationship? A bank account? Image? Influence? Power?  A secret thought of revenge? A dream? A cause? 

Do you and I go through our days carefully guarding our turf, saving our strength, storing up for a pleasant retirement? Does our hope boil down to the description of T.S. Eliot, "an asphalt driveway in front of our home and a thousand lost golf balls." 

"For what are you saving your life?" is a question that I am asking myself and others these days. We live comfortably and carefully. We go through the motions not wanting to make waves. We tell each other "don't be rash," mistaking rashness for the risk-taking inherent in the life of faith. 

Robert Wicks writes: "Being rash is the result of thoughtless impulse. Risking is knowing that there are some things we must do--even when we feel they may involve making mistakes or even failure. The reality we must be willing to look at and accept is: being on the road to finding the truth or seeking improvement is, at best, a hazardous process. Still, it is one we cannot avoid if we wish to live a full spiritual life, even when the temptation to hold back seems so sensible" (Robert Wicks, Seeds of Sensitivity [Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1995], p. 70)

Jesus told a story about a wealthy tycoon who needed to go on a long business trip. He placed his fortune in the hands of ten of his subordinates instructing them to use the capital to operate the enterprise until his return. On his return the ruler called in the first subordinate  and asked "how did you do with my money?" The subordinate said, "I invested it and made a 1000 percent return on the principal." The ruler said,"That is great. Because you were trustworthy in this small job, I'm going to make you the managing director of ten of my companies."  The second subordinate brought in reported that he had invested the principal entrusted to him and made a return of 500 percent. The tycoon rewarded him with the management of five companies. 

The next subordinate told a different story. "Master, I pursued a conservative strategy for the preservation of the principal you entrusted to me. I wrapped the money up in my handkerchief and buried it under a rock in the back yard. To be frank, I was afraid. I know that you are demanding and have high expectations, and you don't suffer fools gladly. You make money where you haven't even invested."

The ruler said, "You're absolutely correct that I don't suffer fools gladly--and you've acted the fool! Why didn't you at least invest the money in a bond fund so I would have gotten a little interest on it?" 

He told the others, "Take the money from this guy and give it to the man who increased my money tenfold."

The aides were shocked. "But Master he already has 1000 times what everyone else received."

He said, "That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag" (Luke 19: 11-27, a combination of my paraphrase and The Message).

This is a story of grace. Ten servants each get an equal amount of money to invest regardless of their respective abilities and merit. We each receive an equal opportunity for a new life in Christ. "For by grace you have been saved by faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Eph. 2:8-10). The question is what do we do with those things that God prepared to be our way of life? 

If everything comes from God and belongs to God, why play it safe? Why not invest what God gives us. Two of the servants do this. They hold nothing back and when the tycoon returns he is pleased at the bold risks they have taken to increase his holdings. He rewards them with commensurate authority.

The one who has merely preserved the capital rather than taking the risk of investment is in trouble. The key to his problems is his choice of a handkerchief in which to wrap up the money before hiding it.

Handkerchiefs are meant to clean up messes, bind wounds, wipe runny noses and mop sweaty brows. These are all byproducts of action. The passive use of the handkerchief as a wallet is "Exhibit A" that no risk was taken. If God can obtain our unreserved investment of the life that he gives us, the increase will be by his grace -- his power, not our effort. He expects us to use what we are given and not stand pat in cringing paralysis that if we lose what we have there won't be more.

But again, these aren't stories about money and stuff. Jesus did not come to establish endowments and build portfolios.

He said, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10). That's it. Fuss, figure and complicate it as you will, but the simple truth is that God wants us to know that we are loved and he wants us to be happy. Jesus came to "seal the deal" with his own life.  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life to take it up again" (Jn 10:17). 

Sending Jesus, straight from his side, proves that there is nothing that God holds back from us (Rom:31-32). In the love that led the Father and Son to plan and create the world out of nothing, Jesus came and gave his life to redeem us to be free to enter that original embrace of God for his children. This should mean something about what we do with the lives he gives us.

We can read the Gospels through and through and we will never find anything that says Jesus wants us to be conservative with our lives. He desires our obedience, morality and ethical conduct, but that does not mean that we are to be conservative and self-protective. Jesus also said: "...Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

"A ransom for many" means that Jesus considers another life worth his. Whose life is worth his? Take a pick--Your's, mine, Osama Bin Laden's. The Word says "many" which means anyone and everyone. 

What kind of God would do such a thing? A God who would rather die than live without one of his children, that's who!

We may choose not to accept this love and go our way, but that does not devalue that love. "Christ died for the ungodly. . . God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us" (Rom 5:6,8). There are no limits on that love. No one can out-sin God's love. "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Rom 5:20b)

Now he calls us to invest the lives he gives us in love. Nothing sets you free to love like knowing that you are loved. We can never love more than we believe that God loves us. Our hearts have to be filled up before they can spill over. Zacchaeus was a hated tax collector and a despised physical and moral runt. But when Jesus said, "Zacchaeus, come down here and let's talk. I want to 'hang out' with you. I delight in a guy who will run and climb a tree just to see me," Zacchaeus' heart filled up and spilled over with extravagant love for the poor and those he had cheated" (Lk 19:8). "We love because he first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19) is the fundamental cause and effect principle of the universe. 

There were ten servants who received coins to invest from the ruler. Jesus only shared the story of three of them. I think his point was that there are other investments to be made and stories to be told. I wouldn't spend much time, though, trying to figure out our investment strategy. Scripture is quite clear that our call is to turn ourselves over to God and let him invest us where and as he will (Rom 12:1-2, 2 Cor 4:7). 

From this perspective we aren't investors for God, we are the currency that God invests. Why are we trying to hoard our own lives and blessings. We were not meant to be banked and held in reserve. We are meant to be spent by God.

Dag Hammarskjold was the first Secretary-General of the United Nations. He was also a deeply committed Christian who served out of that commitment and ultimately gave his life for the cause of peace. Hammarskjold knew what it means to be currency in the hand of God. He wrote these words in his journal in 1957: " You will know Life and be acknowledged by it according to your degree of transparency, your capacity, that is, to vanish as an end, and remain purely as a means....'The best and most wonderful thing that can happen to you in this life is that you should be silent and let God work and speak.'  Long ago, you gripped me, Slinger. Now into the storm. Now towards your target. (Markings [New York: Alfred Knopf, 1964], p. 134-135).  

When I came to this understanding that I am currency in the hand of God, I was so overwhelmed that I wrote a song about it. I only played and sang it once for two friends and their reaction was the lyrics terrified them. They felt so strongly about it that I never brought it out again, but I often sing and pray these words when I am alone. They express the understanding of my heart about God's will.

LORD, SPEND ME

(Kent Hansen, copyright, 1994)

As water in a thirsty desert,
as coins in a beggar's hand,
as a candle in the darkness,
as salt poured on the bland,
Lord spend me.

Spend me lavishly,
use me recklessly,
to love extravagantly,
Lord spend me.

As fresh bread for the hungry ,
as vision for the blind,
whatever, Lord, your purpose,
take my body, soul and mind,
and spend me.

Spend me lavishly,
use me recklessly,
to love extravagantly,
Lord spend me.

Abba: Take us. Spend us where and as you will for Jesus' sake, for love's sake. Yes!

"O, taste and see that the Lord is good. Happy are those who take refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8).

Under the mercy of Christ,

Kent

P.S. If you received this it is because you requested it or someone you know passed it on to you. If you wish to continue to receive this weekly meditation, simply send an email to me at
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Back Stage Passes

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2 NIV)

Observation:  Back stage passes.  That is what we have through the death of Christ and the justification that He has wrought in our lives: Back stage passes.  We have access to the Father.  We have intimacy with Him.  We have the right to come boldly before his throne of grace that we may receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

It's like having the president's personal cell phone number.  It's more than a twitter feed.  It's instant messaging.  It's the ability to contact heaven 24-7.  Whenever we need help.  Whenever we need assistance.  We have access to the Father.  Instant access.

"In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.  No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."  (John 16:26-27 NIV)

Yes, this access means that we can come to our Father directly in Jesus name.  It means that He hears us when we call; that we are his sons and daughters in who he is well pleased.   Instant access means that He is ready, willing, and thrilled to answer our prayers:

""Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:7-11 NIV)

Prayer:  Father God I thank You for Jesus, through whom I have access to stand in your grace; to be in your presence; to gain strength from your countenance.  I thank You for accepting me through Your Beloved Son.  For showing me and the world around that You are crazy about us.  That You desire that none would perish but all would come to salvation.  

Lord give me Your heart.  Give me Your heart for the lost.  Give me Your heart for the broken.  Lord show us how we can become a blessing to others.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

Some Mighty Things a'Comin

^NAU Isaiah 26:8 Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O LORD, We have waited for You eagerly; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls. ⁹ At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Observation:  At the heart of the Advent Hope is the proclamation of Judgment as Good News.  

^NAU Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; ⁷ and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."

What is this everlasting gospel that this angel bore with him.  I believe it is what He proclaims:  "Stand in awe of Jesus Christ, and give Him glory, because the time for Him to judge has come."  

Judgment is always good news for the people of God because the people of this world will learn righteousness.  Those who have battered, abused, beaten, and persecuted God's people will be brought to justice.  There will be no more rape, no more incest, no more theft, no more gluttony, no more indulgence of the flesh.  All who have abused themselves and others and have refused the saving and life-transforming grace of Jesus will be destroyed.  This is sobering and yet relieving news for the righteous.  News that allows us to say, there is hope, there is healing, there is closure coming.  Relief from the heartache and sorrows caused by the wicked of this world.  This is the good news of the judgment.

In addition, the judgment is good news because the Lord's ruling will be in our favor:

Daniel 7:21-22   ²¹ "I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them  ²² until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. 

^NAU Psalm 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. ⁶ For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 7:6-8  ⁶ Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries, And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.  ⁷ Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You, And over them return on high.  ⁸ The LORD judges the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me. 

Psalm 9:4-5  You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously.  ⁵ You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 

Psalm 35:24-27  ²⁴ Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness, And do not let them rejoice over me.  ²⁵ Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha, our desire!" Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"  ²⁶ Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress; Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.  ²⁷ Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant."

Psalm 37:6-9   ⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.  ⁷ Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  ⁸ Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.  ⁹ For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

Psalm 58:11  "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on earth!" 

Psalm 68:5-6  ⁵ A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.  ⁶ God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 

Psalm 135:14  the LORD will judge His people And will have compassion on His servants. 

In addition to vindicating us, and giving us possession of the kingdom, God give us the responsibility of judgment.  His word declares that we will judge the angels and the inhabitants of the earth.

1 Corinthians 6:2-3  do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?  ³ Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 

Revelation 20:4  ⁴ Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 

Psalm 149:5-9  ⁵ Let the godly ones exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds.  ⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand,  ⁷ To execute vengeance on the nations And punishment on the peoples,  ⁸ To bind their kings with chains And their nobles with fetters of iron,  ⁹ To execute on them the judgment written; This is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the LORD! 

This last passage is especially interesting because it declares the job of the saints to be executing the judgment that is written.  To declare the praises of their God with a two edged sword in hand.  What is this two edged sword?  According to Bible it is the Word of God:

^NAU Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

If God's word is the instrument of judgment, what is the key judgment message?  The message which bring people to the point of decision.  The message with the power to cut to the heart of men.  Why it is none other than the message of the cross:  

John 12:31-32  ³¹ "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  ³² "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." 

1 Corinthians 1:23-25  we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,  ²⁴ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 

1 Corinthians 2:2-5  I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  ³ I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,  ⁴ and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  ⁵ so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 

Application:  Hallelujah, everything comes back to the Cross.  This is the fulcrum of salvation history.  The pivotal point of the judgment hour message.  Without the cross the judgment has no meaning and no power.  But at the cross, God ruled in my favor.  And when I accept this ruling, I also accept His vindication at the coming of Christ.  When I embrace my suffering servant, I also receive my conquering king.  The one who died on my cross, will come on my cloud.  

Oh glory, there is a place in the clouds waiting for me, I shall join Him in His chariot of fire.  When I go, I want to go out like Elijah.  And by the glorious vindicating Judgment of my King, I will.

But until then, I must embrace His cross.  Until then, His call is to die daily.  

"If we endure, we will also reign with Him." ^NAU 2 Timothy 2:12 

"Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus." ^NAU Revelation 14:12 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, take my heart this morning.  I lay down my life.  Erik was right yesterday when he said we need to let go of our need to be in control.  Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me die to self this morning.  

I have been wrapped up in the music of passion.  At the heart of their ministry is the 268 Decleration:  

268 Declaration

"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your Truth,

we wait eagerly for You,

for Your name and Your renown

are the desire of our souls."

Isaiah 26:8  

I desire that my life be a part of a generation that lives

for the glory of Your name. (Psalm 86:11-12)

My desire is reflected by the following statements and prayers:

Because I was created by God and for His glory, I will magnify Him as I respond to His great love. My desire is to make knowing and enjoying God the passionate pursuit of my life. 

[God, give me a desire for You like the desire that You have for me.]

Colossians 1:16-18, John 17:3, Revelation 3:20, Philippians 3:7-10, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Psalm 73:25-28, Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 43:7 

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Because Christ established the Church for God's glory, I desire to magnify God as I use the gifts He has given me to serve and build up the local church. I will pray for continued renewal in my church through the work and power of the Holy Spirit. 

[God, renew in me a love for Your Church, the Body of Christ.] 

Ephesians 3:20,21, 4:1-13, 5:25-27, Hebrews 10:23-25, Acts 2:41-47 

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Because God is glorified greatly when believers love each other, I desire to magnify Him as I humbly yield to and pray towards unity among all Christians on my campus. 

[God, give me a desire to lift up Your name above all other names.] 

John 17:20-26, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 3, Psalm 133:1, Colossians 3:12-17 

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Because many on my campus are hopelessly separated from God, I desire to magnify Him by sharing the life and love of Jesus where I live. As I share, I will earnestly pray for revival on my campus and in my world. 

[God, break my heart for those with whom I live.] 

Romans 10:11-15, Isaiah 6:1-8, 62:6-7, Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Peter 2:9-12, Philipians 2:12-16, 1 John 5:14-15 

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Because God is seeking worshipers of all peoples, I desire to magnify Him among the nations. I actively commit my life and energy to participation in His global purposes in my generation. 

[God, kindle in me the desire to go anywhere, at anytime, at any cost, to do anything to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.] 

Psalm 86:9, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Isaiah 49:6, Revelation 5:9-14, Matthew 28:18-20, Psalm 67, Acts 1:8 

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Lord, as I have read through this prayer, what I see missing is the message of judgment.  The reality that You are judging the world.  The good news of your judgment.  The good news of your righteous indignation.  

Father with all humility, I want to declare your anger to the nations.  The hope of a God who will put an end to injustice.  Rob Bell really said it well in his message entitle "Jesus is Difficult: Part IV."  

Thank You so much for the difficulty of Your anger.  Thank You for caring enough to be angry about injustice.  

I'm reminded of the words of Rich Mullins:

Quoting Deuteronomy to the Devil

John the Baptizer 

By the Jordan brook 

Up comes this brood of vipers 

Just to take a look 

John says, "There's a comin' of glory 

There's a comin' of wrath, 

Some mighty things are comin' 

Comin' to pass" 

Peter was a-preachin' 

At the Pentecost 

Says you must turn around 

And you must be washed 

'Cause there's a comin of glory, 

There's a comin' of wrath, 

There's some mighty things a-comin' to pass 

Comin' to pass 

Lord God Almighty 

Came as a preacher man 

Fastin' down in the wilderness 

Quotin' Deuteronomy to the Devil 

And then He set His face like a flint 

Toward Jerusalem 

Well they tried to silence Stephen 

With the sticks and stones 

But his voice is still ringin' 

You can hear it in a gospel song 

Singin' there's a comin' of glory, 

And there's a comin' of wrath, 

There's some mighty things comin' 

Lord they're comin' to pass 

There's a comin of glory, 

There's a comin' of wrath, 

There's some mighty things comin' 

Comin' to pass