BE FEARLESS I N P R AY E R ! By Dr. James MacDonald
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege mounds and against the sword: They are coming in to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill them with the dead bodies of men whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil. Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. — Jeremiah 33:1-6 My grandmother used to sing a song all the time that speaks to an urgent issue you and I have today. The song goes, “Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry every thing to God in prayer.” It’s true. Can I ask you this — are you carrying something right now that you should have offloaded to God a long time ago? “Call to me,” God says in Jeremiah 33:3, “I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” God says, don’t wait outside, come on in. Now, what is it that you need? Speak up; just ask! That fearless fervency in prayer doesn’t come easily to many people. The vast majority of the followers of Christ have never risked such raw honesty. People are afraid somehow that they’ll offend God, or that He’ll see them the way they really are (as if He doesn’t already know!) Please hear me; God can handle your anger. Read the Psalms. David said some really shocking things to God and God didn’t walk away. Step up in faith and say, “I don’t get this,” and “I need to have Your heart in this.” Without honesty, prayer is just talking to yourself. God can handle your fears. What if He doesn’t come through for me? What if His answer is something I can’t handle? Good questions—I think you should go talk to Him about that. Remember— He asks you to come. God can handle your doubts, too. Do you have a big question mark about God’s love for you? Does He even care what happens to me? Does He see me over here? Open your heart, again honestly, before Him. He promises to show you “great and hidden things that you have not known.” If you find yourself in a crisis where you can’t reconcile what you’re seeing with a faithful God, call on Him now! Anger will only eat away at your confidence in God; as will doubt and fear. Fervent fearless prayer is the weapon that will defeat these enemies. Don’t forfeit God’s peace or carry any more needless pain. Call on Him in private, honest, fervent prayer. Kneel down and do it now.
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James MacDonald is founding and Senior Pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in northwest Chicago. James’ teacing canbe heard on Walk in the Word, a daily radio program reaching more than 3 million people across North America. Used by permission of Walk in the Word, Elgin, Ill., 61023. To subscribe to the Weekly Walk, a weekly e-devotional, visit: www.walkintheword.com
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Used by permission of Walk in the Word,Elgin, Ill., 61023.