15 lines
4.9 KiB
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15 lines
4.9 KiB
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<html><head><title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">December 25</div></div>
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<h1>A Biblical Example of Spirit-led Praying</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, <b>do not cease to pray</b> for you, and to <b>ask</b> that you may be <b>filled with the knowledge of His will</b> in <b>all wisdom</b> and <b>spiritual understanding</b>; that you may have a <b>walk worthy</b> of the <b>Lord</b>, <b>fully pleasing Him</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Col', 1, '9-10');">Colossians 1:9-10a</a>)</div>
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<p>As we have seen, the Lord calls us in various ways to pray without ceasing. We are to engage every issue of life every day in every way through Spirit-led prayer: <i>"<b>Praying always</b> with <b>all</b> prayer and supplication in the <b>Spirit</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 6, '18-18');">Ephesians 6:18</a>). In addition to this extensive call to prayer, the word of God also gives us heavenly insight concerning the <b>general content</b> of our prayers. Our next two meditations reflect this by offering a <b>biblical example of Spirit-led praying</b>.</p><p>The Apostle Paul prayed consistently for the believers at Colosse. <i>"We…<b>do not cease to pray</b> for you."</i> God's will was the primary issue about which the Holy Spirit impressed Paul to pray: <i>"to <b>ask</b> that you may be <b>filled with the knowledge of His will</b>."</i> Such praying will ultimately lead people into the word of God, where the will of God is revealed. <i>"This is the <b>will of God</b>, your <b>sanctification</b>…in <b>everything</b> give <b>thanks</b>; for this is the <b>will of God</b> in Christ Jesus for you"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Th', 4, '3-3');">1 Thessalonians 4:3</a>; <a onClick="return mV('1Th', 5, '18-18');">5:18</a>). Truly understanding God's will requires heavenly insight: <i>"in <b>all wisdom</b> and <b>spiritual understanding</b>."</i> Of course, this is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. <i>"When He, the <b>Spirit</b> of <b>truth</b>, has come, <b>He</b> will <b>guide</b> you into <b>all truth</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 16, '13-13');">John 16:13</a>).</p><p>The Lord does not inform us of His will merely for our curiosity. Knowing God's will is to lead to <b>living</b> God's will: <i>"that you may have a <b>walk worthy</b> of the <b>Lord</b>, <b>fully pleasing Him</b>."</i> Our Lord desires that we walk in a manner appropriate for identifying with Him and His great gospel of grace. <i>"Only let <b>your conduct</b> be <b>worthy</b> of the <b>gospel</b> of <b>Christ</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Phl', 1, '27-27');">Philippians 1:27</a>). He wants us to be interested in what pleases <b>Him</b>, not what pleases self or the world: <i>"proving what is <b>acceptable</b></i> [<b>well-pleasing</b>] <i>to the Lord"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 5, '10-10');">Ephesians 5:10</a>). The Lord wants to work in us the heart seen in David's Messianic confession. <i>"I <b>delight</b> to do <b>Your will</b>, O my God, and <b>Your law</b> is <b>within my heart</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 40, '8-8');">Psalm 40:8</a>). Bringing the will of God into the heart of man is what the new covenant of grace accomplishes. <i>"I will make a <b>new covenant</b> …I will put <b>My law</b> in their <b>minds</b>, and write it on their <b>hearts</b>…who also made <b>us</b> sufficient as <b>ministers</b></i> [<b>servants</b>] <i>of the <b>new covenant</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jer', 31, '31-31');">Jeremiah 31:31</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Jer', 31, '33-33');">33</a> and <a onClick="return mV('2Cr', 3, '6-6');">2 Corinthians 3:6</a>). Living in prayerful dependence upon the grace of God will make us true <i>"servants of Christ, <b>doing</b> the <b>will</b> of <b>God</b> from <b>the heart</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 6, '6-6');">Ephesians 6:6</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, I want to be fully controlled by Your will, pleasing You in every way. From Your word, grant me Holy Spirit insight into Your will. Teach me to pray in this Spirit-led manner, that Your grace might lead me to do Your will from deep within my heart.</div></div></div><div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/12/1224.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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