CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 972

“Immersed”

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love… (John 15:9-11)

I love walking along the beach at the edge of the water. Sometimes along a rocky patch I will carefully select a smooth shaped stone and skip it across the water. As I reflected on this the Lord reminded me that we are like skipping stones: shaped, chosen, launched and immersed. As you come to him, a living stone …in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1Peter 2:4,5)

SHAPED: Like good skipping stones we are uniquely shaped and gifted by God to fulfill His purpose. Our life experiences, both good and bad, have shaped our attitudes and character. God has allowed the joys and sorrows of life to shape us and prepare us for His purpose. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

CHOSEN: In a memorable quotation from the movie Fiddler on The Roof, Tevye speaking to God says: “I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can’t You choose someone else?” Being chosen can sometimes be a scary thing. God is continually working to prepare and equip you for what He has chosen you to do. He is looking for a yielded heart that He can anoint with the power and strength of His Holy Spirit. It is not about choosing the capable; God chooses the willing to abide in His presence and to serve Him. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (1 Corinthians 1:27)

LAUNCHED: Do you find yourself in a place that you really don’t want to be? Perhaps life circumstances have dictated a change. It may have been a job change, a loss, demotion, or perhaps even a promotion that has placed you in an unfamiliar environment. You may find yourself in another home, city, state, or perhaps another country far from home. Like a skipping stone you touch your new environment lightly and attempt to keep going. By faith we overcome the fear of being launched and become immersed in the Living Water of His Presence.

IMMERSED: In obedience to God’s call on our life, we learn to be content in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. (Phil 4:11) Through abiding in His presence the Holy Spirit empowers and equips us to serve and make an impact for His Kingdom. Through immersion we ‘grow where we are planted’ and carry the light of His presence into our new environment.

May this New Year be a year of immersion and continual abiding in the presence and power of God. May God equip you with the courage to step out in faith, being totally abandoned to His shaping, choosing, and launching. May you not touch your new environment lightly but rather being totally immersed in His presence and power may you be a blessing to everyone around you to the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ.