Guarding Our Inheritance

I love Paul's letter to the Ephesians.
The other day I was reading Ephesians chapter 1.
The heading for the first section is "Spiritual Blessings in Christ". This can be found from verse 3 through to verse 14.
It's interesting to note that in the original Greek this was all one sentence. A continuing flow of worship to honour God for what He has done. I had to consider for a moment when I last honoured God with such a continuous flow from my own heart!! Normally my "one sentence gushing" to the Lord is more like an endless shopping list or a string of gripes polished like pearls!! Thank God for forgiveness, I say!!
Verses 3 to 14 speaks of three things.
1. The blessings we have through the Father
2. The blessings we have through the Son
3. The blessings we have through the Holy Spirit.
The third one is the one that made me stop and think.
Paul talks about the PROMISED Holy Spirit, given as a DEPOSIT, guaranteeing our INHERITANCE.
I began to think, "How carefully am I guarding this sacred deposit?"
It's so easy to guard the things which are seen. Take money for example. We'll take our monetary deposit and place it in a bank, a saving fund, a high interest account and perhaps even shuttle it around from one savings resource to another, always trying to guarantee the best interest and return on our deposit.
We'll deposit copious amounts of cash into a life insurance policy so someone will receive support when we are no longer here. And we'll make sure we shop around for the best payout!
We may even be fortunate to own a rare and priceless piece of art. ( I don't!) Where do we keep it? On the wall? Oh no! It's far too priceless!! It's in the bank vault and we never get to enjoy it!
And then I ask myself the question, "What am I doing to guard the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life? This priceless deposit which guarantees my inheritance?"
Am I allowing worldly things to tarnish this treasure?
Do I pray as much for this 'deposit' as I do for all earthly ones?
And when did I last stand before God with an overflowing, thankful heart, worshipping and honouring Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit?
The truth is, I need to be more grateful, more careful, more worshipful and more aware of the treasured deposit given so freely, but which I 'carry so clumsily'!

So how do I 'pray creatively' in this situation? Well, here are a few ways which could help lead you on the right path!

1. When you pray, hold something or look at a picture or item that helps you think about the Holy Spirit. This could be a picture of a dove, your baptismal photo, a cross, an ornament................something personal to you that signifies the Spirit. And as you pray, try to 'do it the Greek way'!! That is, in one big bursting sentence of worship and glory to God!! ( But remember to breathe!!)

2. When you are taking care of banking, insurance or other financial matter, make time to consider how you're spiritual inheritance is shaping up? Are you guarding your deposit in anticipation for your inheritance?

3. Find space on your overcrowded notice/appointments board to pin a piece of paper which simply states "Guard my desposit and ensure my inheritance".

4. Pray that you will gain more wisdom and strength to DENY ACCESS to thoughts, desires, attitudes and actions that could seriously affect your spiritual inheritance.

I hope this has been helpful to you. If it has, please let me know. Encouragement increases creativity!
As always, if you need prayer, spiritual support or simply want to ask me something, just click on the 'butterfly' in right sidebar to email me. I will normally reply promptly. Please allow for differing timescales.
Thank you for stopping by.

A Testimony to the Power of Prayer

My mum used to have a purse with a small sticker on it which simply read, "Prayer Changes Things". She was a true testimony to that statement! I'm glad to say I grew up believing in that same power and over the years have seen many miracles. By miracles I don't necessarily mean huge faith/life changing acts of God.

Miracles can be as simple as someone you don't know
showing a small act of kindness!

But I'd like to share with you a testimony of healing brought about by someone's obedience to the Lord.

This past weekend I was feeling very unwell. I had been visiting my brother when I began to experience 'dull' pains across my tummy. I didn't pay too much attention, thinking it may be symptoms of stress, as I'd had a few days of worry and upset.
I drove home and continued with my day and evening, but still felt poorly.
The next day ( Sunday) I was much worse and the pain had moved to my upper abdomen and under my rib cage. I thought perhaps it was indigestion, so I 'rummaged for Rennies' in the medicine drawer, chewed a couple, but just didn't get any relief.
My sister Anne and her friend Linda came along in the afternoon on their way home from a car boot sale. I was SO miffed I hadn't been well enough to go!!! But it was great to see them and we had tea and biscuits!! ( As you do on these occasions!!)
By the time they left for home I wasn't able to stay on my feet and had to go to bed, although I hadn't let on to them I was really feeling that bad. But sisters know a thing or two!!!
A couple of hours later my husband called my sister and asked if she'd come back up to our house as I was much worse. In truth, by the time Anne arrived I was very faint, could not lift my head off the pillow and had excruciating pain in my right side and round my lower back area. I was adamant I was not going to hospital!!! Anne decided to phone NHS 24 ( UK Emergency Helpline) to at least get some advice. The guy took the particulars he required and said a nurse would call back.
In the meantime Anne said she would like to pray for me. We are both Christians so I was more than happy for her to pray for me. The Lord has also gifted her with a healing ministry which she is obediently pursuing to bring glory to God and healing to anyone in need of prayer.
As I was unable to lie on my back ( or move at all for that matter!) Anne put her hand on my abdomen and began to pray and cry out to God for healing. I felt an enormous peace and lay there knowing the presence of God was all around.
My husband was on the other side of me praying too. Oh to be surrounded by the love of God and family in times like these!
The next thing to happen can only be described as a miracle, given the state of my body and mind as they prayed. There was a soothing 'heat' all over me, but especially in the area where Anne laid her hands on me. I began to feel much more 'with it' and not fading in and out of that 'dark fainting feeling'.
After about 15 minutes I was able to speak and be coherent!! (That's pretty good for me at the best of times!!) I noticed the pain had gone and I was lying in a very peaceful condition. To be pain free so quickly was truly a miracle! I said I'd like to sit up and I did so. I even drank a cup of tea and sang a short song of praise. Five minutes later I was up and sitting in my armchair watching the Oslo Gospel Choir singing "This is the Lord's doing"!!
I believe it was His doing, for He does great things!
I then read Psalm 145 aloud. We were all very blessed, even though we were still trying to take it all in.

I understand how hard it can be to sometimes believe in a God who seems to heal some people and yet let others perish. You may be reading this now and have first hand experience of losing someone you prayed so hard for. I've had that experience too. But somehow it doesn't stop me believing that God is the loving God He says He is. There is a much bigger picture than the one we limit God to in our 'black and white' or 'cut and dried' perceptions.

Please take a few moments to sit quietly and wait on God. Ask Him to touch you, increase your faith, hear your prayers and guide you to a stronger belief in His Word and His power.

If you would like prayer for a certain situation, whether it's healing or something else. please get in touch with me so I can spend time with my sister in prayer for you. Just click on the 'butterfly' image at top right of main page.

If you'd like to simply' run something by me', then feel free to get in touch about that too.
Or if you live within the UK and would like prayer over the phone please email me and we can make arrangements for a 'prayer call'.

I hope my word of testimony has encouraged you to 'launch out a little more into the deep' regarding your faith.
God is in the boat with you!!

I look forward to being of support to you.

Oh, by the way, the NHS 24 line did call back. Anne related the events to the man on the other end of the phone! I don't think it was what he would have considered his best call of the evening!! But one day he may be glad that someone told him just how mighty God is!!