“Day Twenty-five”
10/25/2018 Elder Willard Proctor, Jr.
Father God, touch my heart that I be “Willing” to offer myself to You!
(Nehemiah 11: 1- 2)
Father God, in the Name of Jesus, You create. You shape. You form. You mold. As far as the eye can see, Your Handiworks stand as proof that You Are Indeed, Master of All. You are Awesome to me, as well, because of how You relate to me. You are Kind, when I am rude. You are Faithful, when I am wavering. You are Giving, when I am stingy. And, perhaps what make’s You even more Awe Inspiring is that You do these things to me and for me, in spite of me!
Father God, You are so Merciful. I have never met anyone like You. There seems to be no end to the ways that You take and take and take and then take some more. Yet, You still find room to forgive me. You are Truly a Great God!
Father God, I Thank-You. Thank-You for the privilege to understand that You are God. Thank-You for the daily benefits that You load upon me. Thank-You for keeping me, even when I don’t want to be kept. Thank-You for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Thank-You for the Name of Jesus. Thank-You for the opportunity to have Eternal Life with You.
Father God, I need the Godly-sorrow that works repentance. Give me true repentance. Father, take the taste of sin out of my flesh. Specifically, remove the lust for the sin that does so easily beset me. Help me to endure temptations, trials, tests and hardships like a good solider. Turn me to You. I really mean it, Lord. I beseech You by Your Mercies and ask You according to the Truth of Your Word, that You turn me to You.
Father God, a sister recently sent a text that I know to be true. In the text, she was praying for a brother and she said that there is no sin that You do not have Power over! If there were, in fact, anything more powerful than You, it would be God. But, I know for a fact that You Alone Are The Only, One and True Omnipotent God. As such, You have power over the sins in my life. These sins have their origins in lusts from my heart. They seek to have dominion over me. But, right now, I plead the Blood of Jesus against every sin in me, in the Name of Jesus!
Father God, touch my heart that I be willing to offer myself to You. In Nehemiah 11: 1- 2, Nehemiah made the following observations about the people: 1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. It is evident that it was a privilege for the rulers and the rest of the people that were selected to dwell in Jerusalem. The former glorious buildings may not have been in place. The markets and conveniences of the former city might also not have been as they once were. Nevertheless, it was an honor and privilege to dwell in such a place. For the people, their selection came by lot.
Father God, give me the same mind to value being a part of the Body of Christ. Of all of the people in my family, You chose me. There is no lottery winning that can compare to being chosen by You to be saved. Thank-You, Jesus! Help me never to forget how blessed and fortunate I am to be among the few that were chosen for salvation.
Father God, I also understand another blessing that Nehemiah’s observations revealed. As I look around the Church, I don’t see the outward trappings of how it once looked. Nevertheless, it is an honor and a privilege to still be counted as a part of this part of the Body. The Word is so richly taught in this place. The testimonies are inspiring. You direct the services so it meets me where I am; and, it gives me just what I need to continue to make it. Help me to never take this place in You for granted.
Father God, touch me that I be willing to give myself to You. I have come to understand that when I am willing in doing something, it is done, borne, or accepted by choice or without reluctance. Impregnate me with a will to give myself to You so that the willing desire comes from within and births fruit of willingness. Touch me so that I accept the mindset and heart to give myself to You. Nehemiah observed that the people willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem. In like manner, touch me so that I too willingly offer myself to You.
Father God, everything belongs to You. You can make us do what ever You want us to do. But, a sacrifice born of necessity and obligation is much different than one born of a willing desire to give. You gave every drop of Your Blood on a cross because of a choice that You made to save us without reluctance. Your Gift of Love was not forced, grudgingly given or done because You had no other options. Because of how You gave, look at the Fruits of Your Offering! To this day, Your Blood still has not lost its Power. So Father, touch me so that I likewise give all that I am willing to You. I ask all of these things in the Name of Jesus. Amen.