My Prayer For You...

After I met Jesus and came to the knowledge that my sins were forgiven I mourned over the suffering and pain Jesus endured for me.  I fully understood my sins were forgiven and I was made to be in right standing with God through the shed blood of Jesus. But something I struggled with for several years was guilt and shame. Not until I heard a message preached by a dear Pastor friend did I realize not only did Jesus bear my sins on the cross, but also my shame and guilt where on that cross with Jesus.  This knowledge lifted a huge burden and struggle from me, this was another example of the deep love God has for me. I was able to move forward in the call God has on my life once I overcame the shame and guilt and realized the deep love God has for me. We gained power and strength from the knowledge of God’s love.

Today my heart’s desire is for you to comprehend the profound love God has for you.  Did you realize God is mindful of you?  “…I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;” Isaiah 49:17-16. He has you “engraved” or “cut” you in His palms.  This image amazes me, not only does He know we are His but I can imagine Him lifting His hands in heaven and all can see we are His because we are engraved in His palms!

You are always with God and God is always with you! He delights in you, “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17. I love the thought of God singing over me! This is so comforting and such a wonderful example of His love for His child.

When thinking of coming to the knowledge of God’s love, I am reminded of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians’.  I have prayed this many times for family and friends and today this is my prayer for you.  I hope you will meditate on the prayer and come to the full knowledge of the love of Christ and the power you have received. Personalize this prayer by inserting your name or the name of a loved one everywhere you read “you”.

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-25

Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27