praying effectively: Allow God to Strengthen (Heb.12:4-29)

(Hebrews 12:4-29)  You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we deal with immorality (12:16)

- that we take seriously the corrections and discipline of the Lord, and turn away from sin (12:4-5)

- that we do not refuse God's words (12:25)

- that we respect our heavenly, spiritual Father (12:9)

- that we pursue God's holiness to infiltrate our lives (12:14)

- that we go to God for our strength (12:12)

- that we live righteously, which brings about spiritual healing (12:13)

- that we show gratitude of reverence and awe to God (12:28)

- that we show gratitude to God through our service (12:28)

- that our service to God is to be done with gratitude, reverence and awe (12:28)

- that we pursue peace with all men (12:14)

- that we do not have any hint of bitterness towards anyone which could spring up and cause trouble (12:15)

- that we allow God's grace to be experienced through our actions and words by everyone around us (12:15)

Today's prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your discipline and words of advice to direct our lives towards righteous living.  Please shake out the sins and potential sins from our lives.  Guide us to see the value in confessing our sins, as well as forgiving those who have hurt us, so that we may experience healing and peace in our lives.

Thank You that the salvation we have through faith in Jesus is unshakable.  Thank You that Your righteousness is unshakable.  Your words are true - and unshakable.  Let us not take You for granted.

Help us cling to You and Your words, in Your strength and wisdom, so that we are able to serve You on a firm foundation.  Guide us in Your holiness so that others will see You through our words and actions.  All to Your glory, amen.