One of the first faith books I read as a new Christian was What Happens When Women Pray by Evelyn Christianson. The mission of Evelyn’s ministry didn’t start out to be worldwide, but that’s where it is. Evelyn just had a radical encounter with Christ and then went on to share that radical encounter with others.
That’s what we do. We share the encounter we have had. Good or bad, we all share from what we know. Evelyn could not have written a book on prayer if she hadn’t experienced it. None of us can share what we don’t know. Imagine a title such as “A Christian’s Book of Rules”. That’s not going to jump off the shelf to your heart is it? But when we read about women praying and what occurs in the spiritual realm then we are all in.
Oh beloved, God wants you to know this morning that He is pursuing you with all He is. He is after you. He has no intention of leaving you with a religion without an experience. It’s not enough to know about Him, it’s imperative that you experience Christ in reality. And that reality will be an encounter that changes everything – from the inside out! You will experience temptations, toils and snares to be sure, but you will also experience the peace of God to guard your heart and mind, the love of God to give you grace to make it in time of need, the power of prayer so that you know you’re not just speaking into thin air. And there’s more! All the promises of God were sealed before the foundation of the world with your name on them. He knew you before you even acknowledged there was a God. He knew His plans for you before you even asked Him what to do with your life. This same God who has saved you is the One who also knows your loved ones and has a perfect plan for their life as well. God wants you to know this morning that there is Power in the Name of Jesus, there is Victory in the Blood of the Lamb, and there is everlasting Love pouring continually from the Throne of God and it will never run dry! Even in the droughts of life when all else seems hopeless, God’s love is pouring out for you without fail. You’re no accident, you aren’t useless, you didn’t mess up beyond repair and you aren’t failing God. He’s going to take care of you, forgive you and love you all of your days! Blessed, chosen, forgiven, redeemed, restored, renewed, anointed and appointed – that’s who you are!
God loves you and He’s for you! Rejoice beloved, that from such a small beginning your life is a worldwide sensation – all the way to the heavenlies! Your life is the making of a novel with twists and turns, but every one of those twists and turns have God’s hand of love and care on them. Keep going, keep seeking and keep praying – for your life is a precious picture of radical encounter that radically changed you as you live in the Light of His Magnificent Love!
Psalm 86: 5 “For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our sins, sending them away, completely letting them go forever and ever]; And abundant in lovingkindness and overflowing in mercy to all those who call upon You.”
Hebrews 13: 15 “Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.”
2 Corinthians 9: 15 “Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]!”
Philemon 1: 6 “I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ.”