A while ago we watched a Christian movie called The Encounter. It is about a few people, some struggling Christians and some unsaved people, who drove on a deserted road and ended up together in this diner due to the road being closed. The owner of the diner was Jesus and He had an encounter with each of these people within their individual circumstances. The interaction between Him and each individual portrayed how His interaction with us would be within our spirit, the inner room inside of us where we interact with the Lord. He knew everything about everybody, motivated the unsaved to accept salvation, challenged the obstinate ones, encouraged the Christians with hope and solved their problems for them.
It is a lovely movie and left me with a realistic awareness of Jesus’ care for us and His desire for interaction with us. One thing that came out in the movie was that He asked the individuals whether they want something in particular and when they agreed He then said: ‘Just ask me. Ask me to heal you marriage’.
So often we go along thinking what we want, but do not really ask the Lord. We have watched this movie quite a few weeks ago, but yesterday I suddenly heard very clearly in my spirit: ‘Henry, I want you to ask me to do this for you’ and He mentioned something that I needed. It has been an issue in my life that caused unhappiness from time to time, and occurred again earlier in the day, so it was an immediate need to be fulfilled. I was so blessed about the Lord’s care, since at that moment I have not particularly prayed about it. Needless to say I have received it and have decided to listen carefully in future in case He offers me the opportunity again.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him,” (1 John 5:14-15). We need to listen what the Holy Spirit tells us to ask Him, for that is exactly the will of the Father.
This prompts us to live inwardly, to spend time with the Lord in the inner room of our spirit so we can know what He wants from us. This is living by the Spirit. Jesus encourages us to “ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened,” (Matthew 7:7-8). This asking, seeking and knocking is not meant to receive for our personal indulgences, but to have what we need in order to live a life abundantly of fruit that will make a difference in this world for the sake of God’s Kingdom.
If we need our circumstances changed, so we could be less burdened or stretched out in order to be more effective, that is something we can ask for. If for instance we struggle with a relationship and it hinders us to be effective in our service to the Lord, the Lord would gladly help us to sort it out. We just need to hear from the Holy Spirit when to ask what, for the Lord knows exactly what we need when we need it and He tries to tell us what to do when. We must simply be attentive to His voice.
To be able to live like this we need to reduce the ‘outside noise’, in other words those things that occupy our minds so much that we do not hear the Lord’s promptings. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 6:31 & 33: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’”, in other words any care we may have in life, “but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” We seek this within our spirits because Jesus said “the kingdom of God is within you,” (Luke 17:21).Lord, I’m listening.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
No comments:
Post a Comment