Not locked in fear, but liberated by His Spirit!
Lots of thoughts have passed through my noggin lately. I suspect that has been true for you as well.
As I filter those thoughts through God's Word, He reaffirms again the power of prayer in the lives of Old Testament saints, like Daniel, New Testament saints, like Paul, and contemporary saints like us (those who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord)!
This morning, He reaffirmed in my heart Paul's charge to young Timothy . . .
"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time" (I Timothy 2:1-6).
Notice how many times the word "all" appears in this passage. I'm especially struck with the reminder that God desires ALL men to be saved. I feel the Holy Spirit's gentle rebuke with His recurring question: "Eileen, are you more interested in praying that God would thwart evil or that He would change hearts? After all, the remedy for evil is heart transformation. Pray for those you are concerned about, that they will come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved."
And then the even more pointed reminder . . .
"If I can change a rebellious heart like yours, I can change the hearts of leaders and those in your sphere of influence who in your eyes seem so far beyond My reach."
Which takes me back to Paul's reminder to pray.
Our role is to pray (with thanksgiving, by the way), participating with our Father in gently guiding others to the truth in word and behavior, as did so many others who came before us.
Old Testament Daniel modeled prayer and faithful service while living in a pagan culture. His faithful daily prayers paved the way for a pagan King, all wrapped up in his own glory, to come to the knowledge of the truth.
If God can reduce wicked Nebuchadnezzar to all fours so that ultimately he lifts his eyes toward heaven, not in pomp and pride but in humility, and declares that the LORD alone is the Most High God who is great and mighty, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and whose dominion is from generation to generation (Daniel, chapter four), then God can in His sovereignty change the hearts of all for whom we pray. The change may come now, in our lifetimes; the change may not come until we gather around His throne.
But rest assured, ALL will fall before Him and declare Him Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).
We pray and we witness so that as many people as possible will declare Him Lord and serve Him as Lord on this side of heaven.
May we not be locked in fear that erupts in our minds in multiple forms but liberated by the Holy Spirit who through God's Word grounds us, quiets our hearts, and motivates us to prayer and godly living.
May you who know the Lord be strengthened by His grace today. And those of you who need the Lord, surrender to Him in repentance and faith, receiving Him as your personal Savior from sin and self, and then serve Him as Lord. Then He will strengthen you with His grace, deliver you from all fear, and liberate your heart with His Spirit who comes to live inside of you.
Eileen
Psalm 46:10
