SUE O'DONNELL. 18.04.21
“The Kingdom of God is…righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14 v 17)
This is the promise for believers in Christ Jesus.
The contented happiness of heaven awaits us,
For holiness is the basis of true happiness.
We have no holiness of ourselves.
We may think we live reasonably respectfully,
But do we really? Are we reverently obedient?
“The Lord God has told us what is right and what He demands: ‘See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern and humbly obey your God.” (Micah 6 v 8 CEV)
Do we follow the command designed for our own good?
We possibly know we should, but do we?
Lent was a time given to reflect introspectively,
To consider whether or not we seek the holy.
Do we live daily to love and honour the Trinity?
“The LORD says, ‘Turn to Me now while there is time. Give Me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead’.” (Joel 2 v 12, 13 NLT)
“ ‘Don’t be afraid My people. Be glad now and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things.” (Joel 2 v 21 NLT)
Please pray to acknowledge all those great things our Father has accomplished for us through His Son, our Saviour, by the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier. Please pray for:
The world to recognise, turn to or return to Christ Jesus as our Saviour;
Us to call on the Holy Spirit to help us assess and discern what we get right and where we go wrong;
Our repentance to be serious, intentional, heartfelt that it makes a lasting difference in our pursuit of holiness;
The world to know the Easter joy, our Saviour Brother risen from the dead, the firstborn living amongst us;
We are able to claim “ ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting’?” (1 Corinthians 15 v 55 NLT)
The realisation that “Sin is death’s sting and the power of sin is seen through our inability to keep God’s law.” (1 Corinthians 15 v 56 The Truth)
Thanksgiving to be expressed daily that “God gives us the victory over sin and death, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15 v 57 The Truth)
The mercy given to us to become our way of life;
The life the Lord Jesus offers us in sharing His holiness, is to enable us to be just, kindly and concerned for each other’s welfare;
Us to have the humility to own our faults and the resolve to overcome them;
Our hope for a better, brighter, holier future to be always placed in our life given to works of service undertaken to show our Father love, honour and respect as we belong to His Son and Christ Jesus’ way of life;
A fresh outpouring of the Spirit of holiness to guide, inspect, correct, and safeguard us;
Us to win all the spiritual battles with satan, determined not to let the enemy defeat us;
The recognition that he attacks our Achilles’ heel constantly;
The realisation that when we are weak we are made strong by belonging entirely to our Saviour, asking Him to Shepherd us;
A greater awareness of Christ Jesus’ presence in and amongst us;
The realisation that we can ask for help at any time, whatever the challenge or problem, trial or temptation;
Us to understand that we must ask to receive of the Lord, because asking indicates our trust and dependency;
Our prayer life to be Spirit led that it be properly balanced and not simply a list of requests;
Our prayer to be intercessory, contrite, full of praise, admiration, adoration and heartfelt thanksgiving as an ongoing daily communication;
A rich awareness of the presence of the Holy Trinity acting, both individually and collectively;
The Kingdom of God to grow and flourish, because we are co-workers with the Lord Jesus, as inspired and activated by the Holy Spirit;
Our cleansing through the grace of God’s mercy and forgiveness, recognising this would not be possible if it were not for Christ Jesus’ sacrifice on the †;
We must hold onto God’s promise stating “ ‘I will forgive their wickedness and I will never again remember their sins’.” (Jeremiah 31 v 34 NLT)
All praise and thanksgiving to be offered for the redemption our Saviour Christ Jesus won for us at the † of forgiveness;
The glory of the Lord God as a Trinity, to really shine as we have become His children, all thanks to our adoption by the Lord Jesus and the involvement of the Holy Spirit developing our sanctity and loving action in the service of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
LENT
Key Themes
OBEDIENCE
HOLINESS
