“Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from my mouth and give them a warning from me… if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life.” Ezekiel 33:7,9
What’s your heart’s desire for the year 2020? As I drive my granddaughters to school in the mornings, we pray over our day and for other concerns or needs we have using memorized scripture passages. In this way, I am attempting to teach my granddaughters to pray biblical prayers.
When we were working on memorizing an example prayer by the apostle Paul from Colossians 1:9-13, I asked my granddaughters to choose from the list of things Paul prayed for the Colossian believers that they would like to pray for themselves. Without any hesitation, the thirteen-year-old answered that she would be filled with the knowledge of his will. I think many of us would have the same heart’s desire. We all want to know what God’s will is for our lives.
By praying biblical prayers, we can be confident we are praying according to the will of God. If we are praying according to his will, then we can be confident he hears us. And if we know God hears our prayers, we can be equally confident he will give us what we petition him to provide (1 John 5:14).
Our scripture today reveals an important element of his will. God’s will is that we warn others by sharing the gospel with whomsoever he gives us opportunity. In 2020, may that be our heart’s desire, and may God give us the desires of our hearts.
Dear Father, as the year is underway, may I use every opportunity you give me to share the gospel in my home, in my school, and in my workplace. Father, please use the Gospel to bring many to Christ so that as they experience a new year in 2020, they can also experience the joys of becoming a new creation in Christ. Amen.
“Jesus Christ, the Son of God–isn’t one to say ‘yes’ when he means ‘no’. He always does exactly what He says. He carries out and fulfills all of God’s promises, no matter how many of them there are and we have told everyone how faithful He is giving glory to His name” 2 Corinthians 1:19,20
From Genesis to Revelation the Word of God contains thousands of promises which we as believers in Christ can claim. We are reminded in Matthew 28:18 that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him, and in Colossians 2:2,3 that God’s great secret plan now at last made known is Christ Himself; that in Him lie hidden all the mighty untapped treasures of wisdom and knowledge, “For in Christ there is all of God in a human body; so you have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ” Colossians 2:9,10.
So make a list of all the promises of God that apply to you, and claim those promises in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. For “He always does exactly what He says. He carries out and fulfills all of God’s promises.” Begin to live supernaturally by drawing upon the supernatural resources of God, claiming His promises by faith.
Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:15-19 (below)
Thought: I refuse to live the typical Christian existence. I want my life to be characterized by the supernatural, so by faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I will claim those promises which will enable me to live supernaturally as a testimony that I serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
