Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
In the last couple of years, I have had more opportunity to try and help broken people and broken marriages than ever. When there is shaking in the world everything that is not built on Christ is in danger. What I have seen is many times those who need the most help do not respond to sound counsel. Sometimes they are too crushed, angry, distracted or rebellious to hear let alone take action.
This literally drove me to my knees and I found being on my knees for those in need sometimes works much better than all the counsel in the world. Paul prayed a prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 that is one of the most powerful prayers you can pray for yourself and your loved one. I have been praying this and I have seen amazing results. I have desires in my heart being removed and new ones being imparted. I have discovered a new dimension of Christ’s love. I am enjoying an increase in hunger for the Lord Himself and a new strength to overcome the evil one.
It is the only prayer in the New Testament where Paul specifically states he bowed when he prayed it. That speaks volumes. It really is a time for all of us to bow in prayer isn’t it? He prayed that God would grant to us. Grant is an awesome word, a grace word. It means this is not something we can earn; it is something God gives to us. We cannot make our self or anyone love God or others, but God can grant us this love.
Here is the linchpin to the prayer, that God the Father would grant to us to be governed by the dynamic power of His Spirit in our inner man (a literal translation). So many times we look at the outside and try to adjust behavior when it is the inside that really needs the fix. If the government of Christ takes over our soul it is a guarantee things are going to change on the outside. That is when desires change, and it is when you start loving yourself and each other. Let’s face it, the Holy Spirit wants to be in control of your life and if we were truly wise people, we would want Him to be in control.
When we are born again our spirit, our innermost man, is cleansed but our soul, our inner man, is still a mixture. Like Ishmael, we are part seed of promise and part worldly. So in our soul remains the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit governing our soul that Ishmael, the independent, contentious wild ass of a man (Gen. 16:12), can be brought into submission (Rom. 8:13).
We are all looking for a breakthrough in some area of our life; marriage, health, family, finances, ministry and so on. I promise it is God’s will for us to prosper in all these areas; however, it is in proportion to the prosperity of your soul (3 John 2). Just think how prosperous your life can become with the government of God controlling your soul and Christ living in your heart. Start praying this prayer and give the Holy Spirit permission and something wonderful will begin to happen.
Many Blessings, BW