Prayer Focus July 2015
Boundless Sustainable Engagement! A Lasting Change
Prayer Focus for July, 2015
This month we reach a climax in the boundless journey. For a year we have focused on the boundless love of God and the mercy, hope, faith, freedom, courage, availability, release and grace that are found in him. His love is likened to rolling powerful waves which are incessant –endless and always available to us. They wash over us, bringing cleansing, healing, love, mercy, hope, faith, courage, freedom and release.
A life that truly experiences the boundless love that God offers is a life that is full – a life deeply affected by the working of the Holy Spirit. It is a working that is lasting – not here today and gone tomorrow.
What is our response to this great God and his love? We can be thankful and give much praise. As the Founder wrote:
And now hallelujah! the rest of my days
Shall gladly be spent in promoting his praise
Who opened his bosom to pour out this sea
Of boundless salvation for you and for me.
SASB 509 (v 7 – 2015 edition)
There is so much to be thankful for and for which we should praise God. But there is more for us. Thanks and praise alone do not guarantee a full life in God. Nor is knowledge of God alone enough for a full life in God. We need to receive the love of God and the salvation that comes with that love. That involves being intentional about experiencing the power of the rolling waves. It is like when we go to the seaside – we can choose to walk on the sand or get into the waves.
I plunge ’neath the waters, they roll over me (v 6).
God calls us to journey with him, to surrender to him and engage with all he offers. How can we do this? We see a hint in the call to us as Christians to persevere, to keep ourselves in God’s love (Jude 1:21). It is like letting the waves roll over us again and again. John 15:10 speaks about abiding in God’s love – as we listen to his word, obey and delight in it, we remain in his love.
As we are rooted and established in love, we 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 (Ephesians 3:17-19). We will know this love that surpasses knowledge and be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Prayerful consideration:
- Are there areas in your life that block you from abiding in God’s love? Are there areas where your walk with God is like walking at the seaside - you want to walk on the sand, yet you feel the need to get into the water and let the waves roll over you? Ask God to help you surrender fully to his love and engage with him.
- In what ways has God brought cleansing, healing, love, mercy, hope, faith, courage, freedom and release to your life? How do you praise and give thanks for these miracles?