The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Abounding Altars"
Altars of prayer abound for born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as we seek to "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17). Be it for praise and thanksgiving, intercession for others, requests for our own needs, or for matters in the world, the Holy Spirit beckons us to the throne of grace to commune with our Heavenly Father by directing our attention to His presence and promise...
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
Particular altars can be found in life as we find it, or as it finds us. When filling the reservoir in our coffeemaker, for example, I try to remember to pray for fellow believers and myself that we will "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:18-21). Or, when feeling the need for encouragement or strengthening, I hope to remember and pray for others who feel the same way, some who may not have as many hearts and voices who edify and help in times of challenge as do I. As the day begins, there are also groups of people - including those of you who read these messages - for whom I approach the throne of grace in intercession. Other signals to pray grace the paths upon which I walk, and I would appreciate your prayers that I might be far more faithful to see the altars and seek the God who loves to answer our requests far more than we love to ask them. "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2).
Altars abound in a lifetime and in this day, wherein our need for the Lord and His promised working and provision call us to approach Him in prayer. All along our way, the practical matters of life beckon us to the prayerful manner of life whereby the Holy Spirit clues us to opportunities for seeking our Father's grace for others and ourselves. The disciples' wise request - "Lord, teach us to pray" - includes this heightened sensitivity to realize the privileged responsibility of heeding the call to live in the "without ceasing" attitude and atmosphere of prayer (Luke 11:1). Thereby, earthly things and experiences become open doors into Heavenly realities to be requested, and then known as God acts in response. We may or may not see His answers, but we can know His assurance of acting as we recognize the altars to prayer that grace our pathways.
"Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer."
(Romans 12:11-12)
Weekly Memory Verse
Pray without ceasing.
(I Thessalonians 5:17)
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