A pitiful, sickly, and self-centered kind of prayer and a determined effort and selfish desire to be right with God are never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am trying to be right with God is actually a sign that I am rebelling against the atonement by the Cross of Christ. I pray, “Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer— I will walk rightly before You if You will help me.” But I cannot make myself right with God; I cannot make my life perfect. I can only be right with God if I accept the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to surrender all my rights and demands, and cease from every self-effort. I must leave myself completely alone in His hands, and then I can begin to pour my life out in the priestly work of intercession. There is a great deal of prayer that comes from actual disbelief in the atonement. Jesus is not just beginning to save us— He has already saved us completely. It is an accomplished fact, and it is an insult to Him for us to ask Him to do what He has already done.

If you are not now receiving the “hundredfold” which Jesus promised (see Matthew 19:29), and not getting insight into God’s Word, then start praying for your friends— enter into the ministry of the inner life. “The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.” As a saved soul, the real business of your life is intercessory prayer. Whatever circumstances God may place you in, always pray immediately that His atonement may be recognized and as fully understood in the lives of others as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now, and pray for those with whom you come in contact now.

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June 20, 2016

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I am a bit confused by this devotional. Chambers says that we can do nothing to add to our redemption; we cannot hope to “get right with God” because Jesus has already made us right with You. …..As Chambers writes; Jesus is not just beginning to save us— He has already saved us completely. I cannot make my life perfect. I can only be right with God if I accept the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to surrender all my rights and demands, and cease from every self-effort. I must leave myself completely alone in His hands, and then I can begin to pour my life out in the priestly work of intercession. Is this an indicator of true surrender that I am always in a mind to pray for others; to offer up intercessory prayer? What about the times when I can only find my own needs and challenges; when I am so focused on my own challenges and problems and can find no space or room in my heart for anyone else?

 

And God says…”When you can only find room in your heart and mind for your own challenges and issues, it is a clear indication that you are not surrendered; that you are not connected and curious. When you are truly surrendered, you do not even think about your own challenges or issues, you know deep down that “all things work together for good”. It is your mantra. When you are truly surrendered you naturally reach out on behalf of others because you know that I have control over all your issues, challenges and opportunities. You cannot be truly surrendered and concurrently be consumed by your own needs. Let this be part of your “dashboard” of surrender, connection, curiosity and obedience. When you are so consumed by your own circumstances and challenges of life, you know you are not truly surrendered. Just move back into the space where you surrender yourself and your circumstances then you can and will pray for others, as a matter of course. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will make your paths straight. “