Greetings in Jesus Name!
MY DOG – When I was a kid, I had an old cur dog named Bogey. She enjoyed her freedom and would frequently roam our neighborhood, but was never away long. Truth be told, though, she was easily scared. If she felt threatened. She would whimper home with her tail between her legs, but if you followed her back to our house you would think she was a different dog. She would turn, the hair on her back would rise, and her lips would curl, exposing her teeth. That was my dog. In the eyes of my younger self, she transformed into a thoroughbred! What changed? She was where her master resided and that gave her authority and confidence to stand her ground.
CONFIDENCE – It is this authority Jesus wants us to lean into when we pray. When teaching His disciples, he prayed, “Our Father who is in heaven. Holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.“ Our God is not only a heavenly father who loves us, but He’s a King with a Kingdom. Prayer grants you an opportunity to stop running and stand your ground. Prayer opens the door for us to be confident in the Spirit while loving those around us and navigating contentious times. Here are three things you need to know…
1. My Father is also my King. To live in His kingdom is to submit to His loving lordship. It is not about my will or my agenda but His. Our relationship with our Father King is anchored in an ocean of trust. Learning to unpack our hearts and connect words to our emotions is not easy, but it is crucial if we are to place His will in front of ours and truly experience the shelter of His kingdom. The kingdoms of this age are battling for the rulership of our hearts, and only you can choose with which kingdom you will align. Each day, prayerfully coming under His Lordship helps me stay God-defined and God-aligned. (Matthew 6:33)
2. The King of Kings loves me. No one on earth has more authority than your Father King, and He loves you. In John 17, Jesus’ time on earth was coming to an end, and He prayed for us. Listen to the important nuance of His prayer, “…you love them (you & I) as much as you love me.” That’s profound. God loves you as much as He does Jesus. That is why the author of Hebrews said, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16)
3. You are not so much where God is as God is where you are. “Greater is He in you than he who is in this world.” (1 John 4:4) You do not have to be in either a public or private location to whisper a prayer to your Father King. Wherever you place your foot, He is there and you are on holy ground carrying his namesake. Many Christians are grappling for control in a world gone crazy. They don’t want to admit it but they are running scared. But look out, for when a Christ Follower finally realizes that they are where their Master resides, they become a different kind of believer. This is your moment in history. Someone reading this needs courage from their Father King right now.
You are but a prayer away. Trust me, my friend, you are not alone.
Rick Lorimer
Lead Pastor
Christ Place Church
P.S. Click HERE for “Know This… | Part One”
