W@W WRAP – Week 348

Intimacy with our God

Read:

Act:

Let us be determined this week to:

Invite God into every detail of our lives. How marvellous to think that He longs to have an intimate relationship with each of us. May we always remember that it is about God’s amazing character, not our feeble, sinful nature. Let’s respond to His kindness by seeking Him with all our hearts, accepting His grace, relying on His promises, obeying Him, and thanking Him for His limitless love. Psalm 73:28 (AMP) so beautifully states, “But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have made the Lord God my refuge and placed my trust in Him, that I may tell of all [His] works.” Trusting in and living as one with Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, is a powerful way to navigate through life. His faithfulness to us is unending. Fixing our attention on Him brings clarity and perspective into our lives. In His presence, the worries and distractions of this world fade away, and we find peace and assurance in His glory and grace forever.

Approach our Creator with reverence, embracing His guidance and blessing upon our lives, our neighbours and nations. Firstly, let us reflect on areas in our lives where we may have fallen short. Let us ask God for forgiveness and praise Him for His faithfulness. Let’s trust in God’s direction and allow Jesus to work in and through us, renewing our minds and restoring our lives. Secondly, let us open our hearts to receive God’s grace and freedom, and the peace that comes from living differently. In knowing Him more intimately, we can be effective instruments of change and transformation. May love and compassion fill our hearts for those who are lost and seeking hope. Let us intercede for a return to righteousness, and the courage to be bold in sharing the Gospel truth – to bring healing, restoration and revival. Let us desire to be faithful witnesses of the hope we have in Jesus – by shining His light in the darkness and speaking His truth in love.

Let us go forth this week by seeking God’s presence daily, and may we witness His glorious grace, incredible greatness, amazing power and perfect peace.

Pray:

Lord, the psalmist prayed, “Teach us, teach us, Lord, to be more intimate with You.” We long for knowledge and insight regarding real wisdom in this world. We know that we can hold on to You, and learn that You are a gracious God. We can hold on to Your promises, knowing that Your commands and Your laws are righteous, and life-giving. Thank You, Lord, that we can trust You, obey You, and seek Your face. We can truly declare, “Lord, You are my portion.” I ask that every one of us will grow in our intimacy with You – making time, and seeking You every day. We long to live by Your Word and Your decrees, promises and laws, experiencing life to the full because of Your blessings.

Heavenly Father, we come before You today to thank You for Your Word. Despite the difficult circumstances face, You bring peace and clarity that we can only find by running into Your Presence daily. Protect our hearts and minds and keep them free from distraction and entanglement. We are surrounded by reminders and evidence of Your greatness and Your power. May we see these clearly and have faith and hope in You, because You know all things and You are in control of all things. We fix our eyes on You alone, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

Father God, as the Christian foundation of our Western Nations is crumbling, help us to reach out to our fellow citizens with the good news of the Gospel. May we be faithful witnesses – pointing people to the hope we have in Christ our Saviour, shining Your Light and praying for our governing authorities. We can’t do any of this in our own strength, and we come boldly before Your throne of grace today. We ask for hearts filled with Your love for the lost, and for bold zeal to overcome our reticence and fears of inadequacy. We are trusting for Your grace to overcome evil with good, and for Your wisdom to be able to speak truth in love. In these latter days, Father, please draw more people unto You, especially those for whom we pray ceaselessly. May there be a time of revival in our land before Jesus’ return!

Lord, today we look to You to have mercy on us, for we are sinners. Thank You for what You did on the cross. May the sun of righteousness rise with healing in its wings so we can be a testimony of living a life of freedom and abundance because of You! To you be the glory!

Dear Lord, thank You for the opportunity to come together as a family and seek Your face. Lord, we can so easily be an obstruction or create temptation for somebody else. Father, please be our guiding light so that we can fill this world with Your love and Your truth. Help us to bring healing and restoration where it’s needed, and to be the antidote to shame and condemnation. Father, please work through us to bring change, healing, and redemption. We seek Your face today and we ask You to search our hearts – show us where we should make changes, and how we can mend our ways. We ask all this in the beautiful name of Jesus. Amen.