For Those Called by His Name

Who is called by His Name? Christians receive their name from Christ and we are anointed with His Name. Y’srael (Israel) was the name God gave to Jacob and it has been the name of God’s people since before Jesus’ birth. Yahweh gave Jacob (meaning “deceiver”) a new name that means “struggles with Yahweh”, and that is the story of God’s people ever since. Like Israel, we struggle with our own rebellion against God and His ways. We struggle against our SELF as we learn to love, learning that love is a decision to give rather than lust which vainly seeks to feed the SELF. Yet how many of our prayers reflect our lust rather than our love?

Our typical prayer is for SELF: deliverance from our circumstances, provision, protection. Yes, we should always turn to God as our Provider and Protector, yet we often we look to other constructs like employers or governments as our provider or protector in place of God. When we put our faith in these things, it is idolatry. Perhaps they aren’t made of wood and stones, but they are idols nonetheless. The SELF is inwardly afraid of its limitations and naturally looks to something greater than itself, which should prompt us to turn to God as our Provider and Protector. It is our dependency upon God that can allow us to seek Him as our Father, and while these prayers for SELF are okay, there is a prayer of love that desires for all God’s people as well:

Abba, work in Your people, those who are called by Your name so that we, Your people, humble ourselves and pray, seeking Your face and turning from our wicked ways. Close the ears of Your people to the words of the Enemy and cleanse their hearts, their minds and their souls from the echoes of the Enemy. Fill Your people with Your truth and love! 

Remove the clouds that keep Your people from seeing Your face and silence the noise that mutes Your voice, so that Your people can hear You, see You, and know that You love them, that You are near and that You are working all things together for their good!

Father, work in Your people so that Your name is kept holy and let Your kingdom come! Give Your people their bread, day by day. Forgive them and give them grace to forgive everyone else. Do not let Your people be tempted, but deliver them from all evil: the schemes of man, the assault of demons and the wickedness of their own hearts.

We have no hope apart from You! Remove these hearts of clay and give Your people hearts of flesh! We can’t, and You never said we could. You can, and You always said You would!

Grant us favor in Your eyes, Father, and grant us favor in the eyes of others. Bless us and make us a blessing to others. Expand our territory to grow the reign of Your Kingdom! May You be glorified by Your people: pick us up when we stumble; redirect us when we misunderstand; and fill in our gaps as we execute Your plan.

Answer this prayer as You answered Jabez and remind us of Your great love! Be our Shepherd and carry us forever!

copyright ©2021 Mitchell Malloy (http://mitchellmalloyblogspot.com /)


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