Desire for More
There is more to Jesus, more of His wisdom, grace, power, and Person to be unraveled and He wants you to come closer, dig deeper, and explore all He has for you. Intentionally seeking and walking in a deeper relationship with Jesus from where we are begins with a repentant heart. No matter where we are, and how well we may have run the race, as long as we are still in the flesh we do come short (See 1 John 1:8) and therefore need the grace of Christ through the work of His Holy Spirit every day.
If you desire more of Jesus, I can assure you that that desire was placed in your spirit by the Lord’s Spirit Himself. Moreso it continues to be sustained by Him. It all begins with a desire. Do you want to know Jesus? Paul speaks of “better things that accompany our salvation.” What are these better things? Well, we can find the answer by looking closely at Paul’s life once a consummate persecutor and prosecutor of Christians. By the time the Lord caught up with him and molded him, Paul became a mighty warrior for the cause of the Gospel. He famously declared in the eternal record of scripture “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…”
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Phillipians 3:7-10 NKJV
A Repentant Heart Draws Near
If we choose to draw closer to God, His holiness will provoke repentance in us.
A repentant heart is a humble heart. It sees God as holy and knows that we only grow by His grace. One major thing about a repentant heart amongst other things is that it is a type that draws near to God seeking more of Him. Interestingly God Himself is already on the lookout for that type.
9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…”
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8 NKJV
A repentant heart does not only apply to egregious sin. It is a heart that remains malleable in God’s hands knowing that no matter where we are in our walk our measure compared to Christ will fall short. Job as an example was described as being a blameless and an upright man in Job Chapter 1:1-5. We see him carrying out what I would call “just in case” intercessions for his children. The account ends in Chapter 42 with job crying out for Divine help for his limitedness before God.
Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2 “I know that You can do everything,
Job 42:1-6 NKJV
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”
Job was introduced to us as righteous. His story ends with a new and improved version Job who had come to know God even deeper.
Let us go further with the Master!
Let Us Pray
Enjoy some worship
Prayer Items
Please use the verses provided below for prayer. We are following the Model Prayer Template
- Give thanks to God for the completion of Day 1. Ask for strength to complete the fast for yourself and others embarking on the fast.
- Romans 12:1-2. Praise our Father for the opportunity to give ourselves as an offering to Him in a season of fasting prayer. Declare that you are an offering unto God
- Matthew 6:9, Isaiah 25:1, Psalm 145:2. Hallow (honor and respect greatly) His name. Praise Him within the context of His names such as Provider, Warrior, Helper, Saviour, Protector, Healer, etc. For example, you can say: “Heavenly Father, I worship you for you are my Saviour, Helper, and Provider…” and continue in that manner.
- Matthew 6:10, Hebrews 6:9. Pray that His will be done in your life. Pray that better things that accompany salvation will be formed in and through you in Jesus’ name. Pray like this for your family and others the Lord brings to your attention.
- Matthew 6:11, Philippians 4:19. Ask for Provision for you and anyone else on your mind. As for provision for the Church as well as all who serve in full or part-time Ministry
- Matthew 6:12. Forgive anyone who offended you and ask for His cleansing for known and unknown trespasses.
- Matthew 6:13b, 2 Corinthians 10:5. Cast down every high thing exalting itself against the knowledge of God.
- Matthew 6:13c, Revelation 4:11. Praise Him for His Kingdom Power and dominion are forever. Glory Hallelujah!