1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
(Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Prayer…
The depth of the human soul crying out for love and acceptance!
The scriptures above seem to be odd scriptures for starting a discussion on prayer… but prayer first starts with knowing who you are praying too and knowing when you do pray you will be heard, loved and accepted.
Knowing you are loved and cherished and that the Lord himself is aching to sit down and connect with you…is the basis for all real communication.
Because technically that is what prayer is – just talking and communicating with the Almighty God, the creator of the whole universe.
If you haven’t done it before it can seem kind of different but your spirit has been longing for it.
Can you imagine what it would be like… to sit down with the Lord and ask him anything you would like?
To discuss any topic…
To find our what what he feels about politics and family and marriage…or any other topic of interest.
To find out how he feels about you.
All the knowledge, wisdom and understanding is bound up in the heart of the Lord and its in his Word… but he longs for people to seek him out to connect so he can reveal himself to them,
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Prov.25:2
Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.Ezra 6:1
Thus King Darius ordered a search of the archives stored in the treasury of Babylon.Proverbs 25:3
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.
Our scripture reading above, shows the heart of the Lord, always looking and waiting for you to come to him and seek him out. He is a gentleman and will not impose himself on any one… he like to be asked to come into a persons life.
I want to encourage everyone to seek out the Lord to connect with him in prayer, to reach out to him…his love for you is so powerful and he longs to connect with you.
Isaiah puts it this way…
Is 55:6S eek the LORD while He may be found;
Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.
7 Let the wicked leave (behind) his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion (mercy) on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
Making it bear and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;
It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12 “For you will go out [from exile] with joy
And be led forth [by the LORD Himself] with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress tree will grow,
And instead of the nettle the myrtle tree will grow;
And it will be a memorial to the LORD,
For an everlasting sign [of His mercy] which will not be cut off.”