Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer reflects a sincere desire for what matters most, love that flows from a purified heart, faith without contradiction, and a good conscience, just as you quoted from 1 Timothy. That is the true goal of all sound teaching, and it is encouraging to hear you ask for it so clearly.
God hears you whenever and wherever you call on Him. Jesus taught that true worship is in spirit and truth, not limited to a special mountain or place, and because He is your merciful and sympathetic High Priest, the one mediator between God and man, a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, you can come freely and confidently to the throne of grace at any moment to receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need. Like a branch drawing sap from the vine, you do not have to earn that life. You receive it freely as you abide in Him, and fruit comes naturally as His life flows through you. He has already provided everything you need for life and godliness.
Part of walking worthy of the Lord as you prayed from Colossians is learning to walk before Him and after Him. To walk before Him is to live conscious that He sees you, watches over you and cares for you. To walk after Him is to follow as a servant follows his master, denying self, taking up the cross and submitting to the Father's will. Jesus promised that the one who loves Him and keeps His words will know the Father's love in a very near way, for the Father and the Son will come and make their home with him. Then whatever you ask in His name according to His will, He will do, because your asking is shaped by His word abiding in you.
That is why your desire to study the Word accurately from cover to cover is so important. God does not give His glory to another, and He desires teachers who handle His truth faithfully so they do not misrepresent Him. Keep that simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ, asking the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to open your understanding as you study, so you may know the dimensions of Christ's love and know God's will and walk it out with wisdom and strength.
You also prayed for unity, love and zeal for your family and fellow believers, and for wisdom to accomplish what is truly needed. God Himself says I will, I will, I will, when He makes His covenant promises. He is the one who multiplies, who establishes, who gives an everlasting inheritance. Your part is to trust Him and follow, not to strive in your own strength to make His promises happen. Even when the path is unclear, He has promised to bring the blind by a way they did not know and to lead them in paths they have not known.
Be encouraged by how faithful God is to keep His promises. He has not cast away His ancient people Israel, though they were blind for a time and did not recognize their Messiah when He came to His own. His word shows He will yet restore them and fulfill all He has spoken concerning them, and the nations will be judged for how they have treated them. That same faithfulness assures you that He will keep His promises to you. The day is coming when He will make all things as He intended in the beginning, when the blind will see His glory, the mute will sing and the lame will leap for joy, with no more sickness or sorrow. Until then, even in a time of great judgment on the earth, His promise stands that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved and find deliverance in His faithful remnant.
God has not appointed His children to wrath, but He calls us to pray that we may be counted worthy of His calling and to live in a way that reflects that calling. His judgments are righteous even when they are severe, and He will direct your heart more and more into the love of God. He also watches over you against temptation, stumbling blocks, fear, deception, and the work of the evil one, and He gives His protection and even the ministry of angels to guard you as you proclaim repentance and forgiveness in Jesus name and walk in fellowship with Him and with others.
May the Lord grant you clarity and order, joy in daily duties, nearness as you draw near to Him, and a fresh renewal of first love. May He keep you from error and from evil, establish you in assurance and faith, and cause you to bear lasting fruit that remains as you grow more like Christ. We join you in asking this through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we have confidence to pray, amen.
God hears you whenever and wherever you call on Him. Jesus taught that true worship is in spirit and truth, not limited to a special mountain or place, and because He is your merciful and sympathetic High Priest, the one mediator between God and man, a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, you can come freely and confidently to the throne of grace at any moment to receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need. Like a branch drawing sap from the vine, you do not have to earn that life. You receive it freely as you abide in Him, and fruit comes naturally as His life flows through you. He has already provided everything you need for life and godliness.
Part of walking worthy of the Lord as you prayed from Colossians is learning to walk before Him and after Him. To walk before Him is to live conscious that He sees you, watches over you and cares for you. To walk after Him is to follow as a servant follows his master, denying self, taking up the cross and submitting to the Father's will. Jesus promised that the one who loves Him and keeps His words will know the Father's love in a very near way, for the Father and the Son will come and make their home with him. Then whatever you ask in His name according to His will, He will do, because your asking is shaped by His word abiding in you.
That is why your desire to study the Word accurately from cover to cover is so important. God does not give His glory to another, and He desires teachers who handle His truth faithfully so they do not misrepresent Him. Keep that simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ, asking the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to open your understanding as you study, so you may know the dimensions of Christ's love and know God's will and walk it out with wisdom and strength.
You also prayed for unity, love and zeal for your family and fellow believers, and for wisdom to accomplish what is truly needed. God Himself says I will, I will, I will, when He makes His covenant promises. He is the one who multiplies, who establishes, who gives an everlasting inheritance. Your part is to trust Him and follow, not to strive in your own strength to make His promises happen. Even when the path is unclear, He has promised to bring the blind by a way they did not know and to lead them in paths they have not known.
Be encouraged by how faithful God is to keep His promises. He has not cast away His ancient people Israel, though they were blind for a time and did not recognize their Messiah when He came to His own. His word shows He will yet restore them and fulfill all He has spoken concerning them, and the nations will be judged for how they have treated them. That same faithfulness assures you that He will keep His promises to you. The day is coming when He will make all things as He intended in the beginning, when the blind will see His glory, the mute will sing and the lame will leap for joy, with no more sickness or sorrow. Until then, even in a time of great judgment on the earth, His promise stands that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved and find deliverance in His faithful remnant.
God has not appointed His children to wrath, but He calls us to pray that we may be counted worthy of His calling and to live in a way that reflects that calling. His judgments are righteous even when they are severe, and He will direct your heart more and more into the love of God. He also watches over you against temptation, stumbling blocks, fear, deception, and the work of the evil one, and He gives His protection and even the ministry of angels to guard you as you proclaim repentance and forgiveness in Jesus name and walk in fellowship with Him and with others.
May the Lord grant you clarity and order, joy in daily duties, nearness as you draw near to Him, and a fresh renewal of first love. May He keep you from error and from evil, establish you in assurance and faith, and cause you to bear lasting fruit that remains as you grow more like Christ. We join you in asking this through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we have confidence to pray, amen.
