Prayer of Christian Renewal

Heavenly Father, I’m here to renew and reaffirm my relationship with you. I want to be the person You want me to be, but I struggle with things in my actions, heart, and thoughts that I know aren't pleasing to you. Like an arrow that misses its mark, I fall helplessly short. It feels like my very essence is corrupted and I can’t fix myself. I want to change but have learned that I can’t do it on my own. 

I believe that Jesus paid the full price for me – body, soul, and spirit – for the past, the present, and the future - through His death on the cross and His blood that He shed for me. I accept your sacrifice, Lord Jesus, and the price you paid for me. I can do nothing to add to what you've done.

Please forgive me of all of my sins, all the things that are ugly in my heart and thoughts. Set me free from unforgiveness, anger, and bitterness. Cleanse me inside and out. Change me! Rescue me!

Because you rose from the dead and now live as Lord of all, I give ownership of myself — all that I have been and all that I ever will be — to You. I declare that You are the Potter and I am your clay. Have your way with me, whatever You want, however You want. Turn me into clay that You can work with. Turn me into clay that pleases You.

Lord Jesus, establish your rule in my heart. Change me from the inside out so that my whole life – everything about me – reflects your Lordship, your love, your character, and your dreams for your creation. Only You can keep me from continuing to fall short. I want to know You far more than I know you now! I want to see your dreams fulfilled! Thank you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

When Your Faith Won't Fly

It's great when your faith is strong and things are moving right along. God and you are together knocking down the barriers that arise. You are using your understanding of Scripture along with clear direction from the Holy Spirit to pray and to stand and to push ahead. But what about those times when you simply can't muster the specific faith for a particular issue or situation? God has an answer for that.

Lucifer's Real Flaw

Most Bible scholars believe that Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:12-18 tell us about Lucifer's transformation from an incredibly beautiful and powerful angel of light into Satan. Yes, that Satan, the enemy of God, the enemy of all God does, and the enemy of all God loves. Lucifer's once beautiful and pure essence became dark, evil, and unceasingly hateful, all by his own choice to rebel and seek his own glory. Every teaching I've heard on this subject attributes that horrid transformation to Lucifer's pride. I don't dispute that, but I've also come to think there was something missing deeper within him that allowed the fatal flaw of pride to flourish.

Little Picture, Big Pictue

What is God's purpose and God's "end game"? Scripture gives us a partial view of Heaven and Hell, Judgement and Rescue, and the nature of eternity with God. But it doesn't tell us everything about the future. Maybe this is a good time to remember that He is the Potter and we are just clay. He is the Owner; we are the Owned. He gets to do whatever He wants anytime He wants, and He never owes us an explanation. Many times He chooses to give us one, but many times He doesn't. It's His choice, always. But He had something wonderful in mind when He made us, because we were brought into existence for His pleasure and His purposes (Philippians 2:13).

The Unstoppable

Sometimes I get so tired, but then I remember that His agenda is rushing forward and carrying me with it whether I'm tired or not. There is an inevitable, irresistible movement to the purposes of God. In a sense, I'm just along for the ride. My occasional fatigue may bother me, but it doesn't slow God down one bit. His movement through time and space doesn't depend on me or, for that matter, on you. That, my friend, is good news for both of us.

God always has been and always will be unstoppable. I imagine Him sweeping everything with His broom; nothing is missed. He pushed His broom throughout the past, He is pushing it in the present, and He will continue pushing it forward through the end of what we call time. He sweeps with specific purpose. His sweeping cannot be delayed, side-stepped, misdirected, confused, blunted, slowed down, delayed, detoured, diluted, dammed up, held back, contaminated, avoided, tricked, fooled, or manipulated.