PRAYER

PRAYER

An Excerpt from Jesus Lives

By Sarah Young

Marvel at the wonder of being able to commune with the King of the universe any time. Please don’t take this awesome prayer-privilege for granted! Don’t let foolish arrogance step in either, making you act as if you’re doing Me a favor by spending time with Me.

The best antidote to such foolishness is recognizing it and repenting of it. Then remember who I Am: King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in dazzlingly unapproachable Light. My eyes are like blazing fire. My voice is like the sound of rushing waters. My face is like the sun shining in all its brilliance. Yet I am also your Shepherd, tenderly leading you step by step through your life. I want you to realize how     precious you are to Me—how much I delight in you. I long for you to reciprocate by delighting in Me.

I listen to your heart as well as to your words. When you approach My throne of grace joyfully, anticipating the wondrous pleasure of communing with Me, both you and I are blessed!

1 Timothy 6:15-16

Revelation 1:14-16

Psalm 37:4

Hebrews 4:16

Can Ordinary Time Shift To God’s
Time of Change For Me?

In God’s Timing For Your Life Dutch Sheets explained the difference between daily ordinary time (chronos) and a divine “SUDDENLY” or change in seasons (kairos). In Gal. 6:9 we read, “Let us not lose heart (be weary) of doing good, for in due time (kairos) we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” Chronos is chronological and general time which can lead us into an opportune or strategic time (kairos).

This season of your life may be tedious—a time of plowing, standing, believing and persistent praying. You must understand that all of that is part of a bigger picture. The chronos season, however frustrating, is not unimportant. If you press on, doing what is necessary in these general times, the process will shift into a kairos season of reaping.

The Christian Calendar year is made up mostly of “Ordinary Time” (from Pentecost through Advent). Other special times are Epiphany (Manifestation of Christ to the nations), and Lent (preparation for Christ’s week of passion) But the Jewish Lunar Calendar marks important fall feast days which we would also be wise to remember:

Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana) — Wed-Thurs, Sept 28 -29. Also called Day of Remembrance and Shofar blowing. Jews believe that God as King opens the books and judges people’s works (giving them ten days (until Yom Kippur) to repent, make reconciliation and do good deeds.

Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur — Fri-Sat, Oct 7-8, is the most important of Holy Days. Fasting and repentance cleanse the soul of sins toward God and reconciliation must be sought for sins against one another. The high priest entered the Holiest of Holiest by the blood of the lamb to atone for Israel’s sins.

On this day God sent the angel Gabriel to Zechariah as he offered the incense and prayers, telling him that he and Elizabeth would have a son who would prepare the way for Messiah. They were simply being faithful to do the regular times (chronos) of worship and God interrupted them declaring a “kairos moment” or strategic window of time was opening signaling a change in seasons (in this case the birth of Messiah was at hand to usher in the New Covenant.

Feast of Booths or Tabernacles, Sukkot Sat, Oct 15 , 6:30 pm. This joyous festival lasted seven days, reminding Jews that they lived in tents in the wilderness. It is around the last harvest time or gathering and is a call for all nations to worship God. It includes things like the blowing of the trumpets, the procession of the lights and the water pouring as in John 7:36 when Jesus foretold of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

(each year our friends Rosh Pinah Messianic Jewish Congregation invite us to join them for a joyful Sukkot)

During ordinary times whether difficult or not, we stay grounded by continuing in spiritual disciplines, like Zechariah was doing. That’s why we have the five challenges: 1. reading and meditating in God’s Word, 2. daily prayer and enjoying God’s presence, 3. fellowship and relationships of a small group, 4. serving in the church and 5. in mission in the world.

Our attitudes and actions in chronos times determine whether and when God can shift us into kairos times. Gen 18:10 after 24 years of chromos God told Abraham in a year the promised son would be born.

-PD