May 30, 2023. Reflections on “Prayer and Peace, Pathway to Hope!”

Prayer is a blessing and a discipline. When we meditate on His Word, we learn more and more of the God who is Love and Forgives. Jesus often prayed.

         Jesus, the Son of God, was sent to teach us the Words of the Father God in Heaven. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19.

         It is Jesus who taught us to pray in the prayer beginning, Our Father in Heaven. (Not my Father) Hallowed be your Name. Hallowed is Holy, respected, and honored. Then Jesus gives us God’s purpose in sending His Son to earth to die for our sins in Matthew 6:10. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. His will be done, not our desires that change often. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.Hebrews 13:8.

         Give us this day our daily bread. And God sent the Children of Israel manna to eat for 40 years in the wilderness. Exodus 16:35.

            Matthew 6:12. And we are to forgive others! As meditation of God’s Word is the bridge to prayer, so does prayer lead us to the gift of Peace.

         But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.John 14:26-27.

         For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:6-7.

      The Prophet Isaiah told us about Jesus and His titles – Isaiah 9:6. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

         Jesus often prayed, and this prayer shows us the heart of Jesus the night before He was crucified: “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.” And going a little farther, He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39.

      We were created to live eternally. We can choose a pathway to live. Choosing the world-way takes us to an eternal hell. Or the eternity with our Lord God in Heaven. The second way is losing our will and desires and living for God through Jesus Christ for a transformation of our lives. The verses that intrigue me are these:

       So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13.

        Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. I Corinthians 12:1-2. We do not live alone, when we choose to live in His Presence.

         But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24.

         How can we know God? You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13. What is one way of finding God? “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10.

         How do you know God loves us and wants us to love Him? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.

       Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18.

         Why is His presence essential? You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11. We love because He first loved us. I John 4:19.

       I don’t know what You’re doing, But I know what You’ve done. I’m fighting a battle that You’ve already won! (Shane Lyrics)