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._________________________________________________

https://cac.org/freedom-2017-06-20/

Freedom

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June 20, 2017

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord, and thank you for this day and both of these devotionals. It seems that Richard Rohr is leading us past the issue of sin management and how that can get in the way of surrendered and connected living. As Rohr said…Jesus was neither surprised nor upset at what we usually call sin. Jesus was upset at human pain and suffering. What else do all the healing stories mean? They are half of the Gospel! Jesus did not focus on sin. Jesus went where the pain was. Wherever he found human pain, there he went, there he touched, and there he healed.

Lord please help me focus on going where the pain is. Help me engage and support the marginalized and those that are hurting.  I believe that is where you want me to be, is it not?

And God says…”When you are surrendered, connected and available, I can lead you to the exact place and time(s) where your life can and will touch and impact the lives of others. I can lead you to connect and engage with people that need to hear your story and be impacted by your life and gifts when you are surrendered and connected to Me.”