Friday, January 24, 2020

EACF 40 Days of Prayer - January 24, 2020

EACF 40 Days of Prayer 2020
Day 24: Pray for Goodness in Our Lives

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1:9-14 ESV

A local grocery store chain is pushing their organic line of products, saying "it's what's inside that counts." They continue by saying that is why they're so careful about what ingredients they use to make their products. Well, Jesus said it's what comes out of a man that shows whether he is clean inside or not. What God puts in us, by His grace, is that knowledge of His will, given by the Spirit bringing us wisdom and understanding. The goodness that people see in us is us walking in a manner worthy of the Lord. This means our lives are to reflect His goodness, His glory, His holiness, and His grace. This is fully pleasing to him. This also means bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. This is a goodness that is growing in us.

The world would have us believe that this type of goodness is not found in people so much. We are being tempted to give up such aspirations, to revel in our badness, to give into our youthful passions, and to join them in debauchery (1 Peter 4:4). But God is calling us to His goodness, to return to pursue glory knowing and growing in relationship with Him. Pray for this goodness to enrich our lives and draw our hearts' affections and minds' attention. Pray for growth in goodness.

Do you want to taste God's goodness everyday? Pray for this and drink it in. And pray for two others to become more deeply hungry for God's goodness and then to experience it in their lives and characters. Write down their names, and show them God's love by sending them a note! This is day 24 of praying for good.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Ephesians 4:29 Memory/Meditation

 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, so that it gives grac...