A Prayer for the New Year 2016

Just to give you a little background for today's post, in Ezekiel 34, God is calling out the shepherds of Israel for not doing what He called them to do. In verse 4, He says, "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them (NKJV)". In Israel, the Church was not doing its job. 

As disciples of Christ, we all have an important role to play, whether or not you are specifically called to pulpit ministry. That part is spelled out in Ezekiel 34. How can we do this?

• We can strengthen the weak by encouraging them.
• We can heal the sick by laying hands on them in prayer, taking Jesus at His Word in Mark 16:18,"They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover". Who is "they"? Not just ministers... Jesus said believers (See Mark 16:17-18).
• We can "bind up"or "bandage" the brokenhearted by comforting them and praying for them.
• We "bring back what was driven away" or "bring back the strays (NIV)" by doing what Jesus instructs in Luke 15:3-7. We need to go after those who have walked away from the Lord until we find them and joyfully bring them back into His Presence.
• We need to seek the lost, as Jesus did, for that is the purpose He came for (Luke 19:10). We can do this by sharing the Gospel with them individually, or bringing them to church with us.

God promises in verse 16, "I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice (NIV)". The Amplified Bible explains that the ones He will destroy are those "who have become hardhearted and perverse".

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for your heart of compassion. We repent for the opportunities we have failed to use to search for the lost, bring back those who have strayed,  heal the brokenhearted, and strengthen the weak. Take out our hearts of stone and give us a heart of flesh. Give us hearts filled to overflowing with compassion. Let us make the most of every opportunity you give us to minister to the lost and the hurting. Point out people who need our help, people we can bring your salvation and healing to. Let Ezekiel 34:16 be our description of ministry. Bring this Scripture to life in each of Your willing vessels. May each of us do our part also, to provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, and clothes for those who need them. Bless each ministry that does this. Bless each person who contributes to this type of ministry. Help us minister to widows and orphans in their distress and keep ourselves from being polluted by the world, for this is religion you accept as pure and faultless (James 1:27). In 2016, may each member of the Body of Christ fulfill these commandments. May we passionately, relentlessly pursue Jesus every single day of our lives. May we be like Jesus to the least of these.

Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from your relatives who need your help.

- Isaiah 58:7 NLT

Now, take action. Begin to fulfill the Scriptures we discussed in your daily lives in 2016. 

A few thoughts on ways you can help those in need according to Isaiah 58:7:

• Make a monthly donation to a local food ministry in your area and/or volunteer your time to help
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen
• Donate clothes to ministries who provide for those in need
• Start a homeless shelter in your area
• Keep blessing bags in your car with basic necessities in them; hand them out when you see someone in need

Happy New Year! I pray you all have a wonderful year filled with blessings, health, provisions, and spiritual growth :)

Jesus Carries His Children CLOSE to HIS HEART

He tends his flock like a shepherd: 

He gathers the lambs in HIS ARMS 

and CARRIES THEM CLOSE TO HIS HEART;

he gently leads those that have young. 

- Isaiah 40:11 NIV

WOW! This Scripture blows me away. These Words from God reach into the deepest parts of my heart. As children of God, we are lambs, the flock of Jesus (the Good Shepard). This verse informs us that JESUS CHRIST gathers US into HIS ARMS. Let that sink in. Let His love, peace, and comfort wash over you and consume you like a tidal wave. 

He gathers all of His Children, and gently carries us through the storms in our lives. He shields us from the pain, from the crashing waves, from the stormy nights. Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY comes in the MORNING (Psalm 30:5). Keep in mind, though, that He is with you during those weepy nights. The Word of God says that He counts the tears of the righteous. The next line in this verse says that Jesus carries His Children CLOSE TO HIS HEART. How wonderful it is to know how deeply loved we are! How wonderful it is to close your eyes and picture JESUS carrying you close to HIS HEART... And He really is. He cares for your every hurt, want, and need. God always makes a way for His people, even if He has to part the Red Sea to do so (Exodus 14). The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who,are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). Oh, His love for us is so deep, wide, long! May we have the power to grasp the depth and height and width of His infinite love!! 

"...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. "

-- Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)

So whether you're going through a storm or in a happy season that you never want to end, remember that God Himself is carrying you close to His Heart: today, tomorrow, and forevermore! His all-consuming Love never ends! His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).

In the Love of Christ,

Rachel Marie