Day 5

Today is my birthday, my spiritual birthday that is. I hit double digits this year. For 10 years I have chased after God, seeking Him for direction, correction and opportunities to serve Him. I fell in love and haven't looked back. And I have never been the same since that Thursday evening, December 7, 2000. I have shared in the past that I spent nearly 2 years investigating this thing called faith and the One to whom my salvation rests; I wondered if Jesus was the real deal. I spent those many months questioning, doubting and asking a lot of questions. I sat with a pastor from our church in Ohio trying to wrestle through some spiritual issues. He asked me if I had ever prayed and asked Jesus to be my Savior. I said something like, I tried but it didn't work. I told the pastor that all my years growing up I would hear "religious people" say that when bad things happened they leaned on their faith. I determined in my head that since I didn't have faith that bad things would not happen, although several "bad things" had happened, I figured it would get worse. I also determined that maybe God wanted me to have faith because something bad was going to happen. I was afraid to have faith because God was going to drop the other proverbial shoe. Do you know that shoe? The pastor asked if I had ever told God that. "Told Him what?" I asked. The pastor encouraged me to tell God what I was afraid of. The light bulb flickered. I had never thought of communicating with God like that before. I had tested God in many things, like situations to show me He was really out there, but never had I thought of telling Him my fears. So, after nearly 2 years of seeking Him, I got on my knees on a cold December night and prayed a prayer. I confessed that I really didn't know all the right words to say but I did know that He was the real deal. I knew I needed a Savior and I knew that Savior was Jesus Christ. I knew that He was the One who died on the cross for my sins and on the third day He rose again and is seated at the right hand of the Father. I told Him what I was most afraid of, I confessed the sins of my past and begged that He make something beautiful of them. I asked that He find some way to use me for His kingdom. Not sure what else I said, I think it was a fairly short conversation. Once I said Amen, I wiped the tears from my face and went on about my business. It wasn't until the next day when my husband I rented an R rated movie that I realized I was changed. My friend told me my veil had been lifted.

Day 5
The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer by Andrew Murray

What to Pray: That God's People Might Be Kept From the World

"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it" (John 17:11, 15-16).
On His last night on earth, Christ asked three things for His disciples: that they might be kept as those who are not of the world; that they might be sanctified; that they might be one in love. You cannot do better than pray as Jesus prayed. Ask for God's people that they may be kept separate from the world and its spirit; that they, by the Holy Spirit, may live as one in love and as those who are not of the world.

How to Pray: Having Confidence Before God

"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commnads and do what pleases Him" (1 John 3:21-22).

Memorize these words. Get them into your heart. Join the ranks of those who with John draw near to God with an assured heart that does not condemn, having confidence toward God. In this spirit pray for your brother who sins (1 John 5:16). In the quiet confidence of an obedient child, plead for those of your brethren who may be giving in to sin. Pray for all to be kept from evil. And say often, "What we ask, we receive, because we keep His commandments and do what is right in His sight."

Your Own Prayer Requests:

~I cannot say it better, pray the words of Jesus. Pray, Holy Father protect us from the evil one.
~Pray that we (you & I) can love one another. That we can love our enemies.
~Pray for your enemies that God will bless them and reveal Himself to them. That God will be your judge and vindicate you.
~Pray that we (you & I) will look different than those of the world. That we will learn and reflect the face of Christ with our words and deeds.

I had known Jesus for 1 day and already I had become disgusted with the language and behavior of an R rated movie. Other than Slumdog Millionaire, I don't remember the last time I watched an R rated movie. Now, I am NOT saying you cannot watch an R rated movie, I am saying that was an area where God was revealing to me the difference of the world and the plan He had for my life. He was protecting me and I never realized I needed protection prior to that day in December 2000.

May we never be the same because of Jesus living in us.