Completing

​Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  Every story, every account, every book, every chapter, every word is awesome.  But some chapters are special - if that’s even possible.  Genesis chapter 1, Psalms 34, John 14,15, Acts 2, Ephesians 4, Hebrews 11, James 1.  But one of the best chapters ever -  John 17.  Because it’s what Jesus prayed.  What you pray reveals your heart.  For God and others.  A godly young woman once told me.  You can tell a man by the way he prays.  Praying that you will review the Prayer Packet.  That you will be fervent and effectual, but most of all that you will pray the prayers that God wants you to pray.  So many verses are so powerful in that chapter but one was interesting.  Jesus is about to be arrested, and this was his prayer before he left.  He prayed for his disciples, “Father the time has come, Glorify your son that your Son may glorify you.   For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  Now this is eternal life:  that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  And then, John 17:4 – I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work that you gave me to do.   What a revealing prayer.  How does God get glory from your life?  How did God get glory from Jesus’ life?  He told us.  God gets glory by you completing the work that God gave you to do.  Would God have been glorified by Jesus if he just hung out in Gethsemene all the time?  Just spending time with His Father?  No one can practically do that, everyone has to go to work.  But those with the time to, rarely do anyway.  But if they had the time and did it.  Would time in His presence alone bring glory to Him?  Time in His presence gets you His plans and a glimpse of His Power, so you can do what He has given you to do.  He will help you!  That’s why He left, so His Father could send the Holy Spirit.  This isn’t work-required acceptance, He loves you no matter what you do.  But God created you for a reason – He has things He has for you to do, and doing them – bring glory to Him!  David had sheep to tend, skills to develop, lions to kill, and bears and then giants.  Then a nation to lead, and enemies to defeat, and a son to crown as King.  When Jesus spoke of himself He said, “I glorified the Father by completing the work He gave me to do.  When God talked about David… He didn’t say – David’s heart is after me cause He spends the most time with me, or he plays a mean guitar, or he writes cool songs.  It says “I’ve found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart.  He will do everything I want Him to do.   Just like Jesus completed the work that God gave him, and Adam, and Moses, and Esther, And Jeremiah, and Paul.  How do you complete the work God gave you – so bring glory to Him?  #1  Know His plans  #2 Know His Heart.  Praying that your PiVAT before dinner is a never-miss.  So He can reveal what He has planned for you for tomorrow, so you’ll remember and finish strong, everything He put in your hand for today.  Praying that your PRISM time in His Word – has you hearing His heart, His love for you, and love for others – that He wants to send you to.  If you are in His Presence, know His Word ,and His Power, you won’t default to others words, your own plans and your own power – which is nothing without Him.  Praying that you will bring Glory to your Heavenly Father today – getting His plans and His Heart – so you can complete in His power everything He gives you to do.
 
Love you all,
dad