“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:14
Most of you know me as a Christian fiction writer, which is true. But I’ve been in the ministry for 15 years and, with my wonderful wife, have held marriage seminars and done extensive counseling.
Nothing speaks love like God’s Word. Over the next few weeks I’m going to focus on Scriptures that reinforce God’s vision for your relationship.
Love fearlessly,
JP Robinson
James 5:16 KJV
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
This morning while reading this encouraging verse, the thought struck me that many times Christians don’t realize the power of their prayers because prayer itself is not seen. The Western world is programmed to believe in things that are tangible. If we can’t prove it, we don’t believe it.
Prayer defies that.
God expects us to recognize that, while our prayers are unseen by ourselves and those around us, they are not unseen by Him. Our words, spoken from hearts of faith and wrapped in the name of Jesus Christ, pass through dimensions into the very Throne Room of God.
Our prayers are bullets, zipping through hordes of demonic forces. Does one bullet win a war? Hardly. It takes countless thousands. Yet Christians often become discouraged when we pray a few times about an issue but don’t see change.
We must not stop firing our spiritual gun when things appear to remain unchanged or even get worse. Instead we should intensify our firepower!
The Bible tells us that if we are righteous (through Jesus Christ of course), our prayers are taking an effect. They are working. And while we may not see them now, we must hold fast our confession with confidence, knowing that we will see the effects of our prayers someday.
JP Robinson
Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.Esther 2:17 NIV
Because of the sins of her ancestors, Esther was born into a life of exile far away from the land of Israel. But the sinful lifestyles and consequent defeat of previous generations didn’t mean that God was finished with Israel. To the contrary, He was hard at work, sparking a new beginning.
In like manner, you may feel that your life has been marred by tragedy, sin and defeat. But if you can move beyond the past and identify yourself with God’s Word for this hour, you’ll see that His hand at work in you.
Esther was chosen–ripped away from the one man she could call family (Mordecai). But this trauma was necessary for the greater plan of God to be accomplished. Without this harsh reality, the girl would never have become a queen and her destiny would have been obscurity.
This process is sometimes painful and filled with fear.
Imagine it for a moment: as a beautiful young woman, you’re kidnapped and thrust into the very heart of sedition and political intrigue that made up the court of Susa. What emotions were going through her heart?
Esther would lose her carefully guarded virginity. She would never go home again. But there a purpose behind it all.
Many quote Jeremiah 29:11 but fail to grasp the significance underlying this powerful verse of promise. One of God’s main purposes is to reveal Himself through His people (Col. 1:18 AKJV). To do this, we must accept His Will for our lives, no matter how difficult it may be at times. By surrendering to Him, our character is molded to Christ’s own character (2 Peter 1:5-8) and have our character molded to His own character.
And the King is all about character.
When Esther was summoned for that one night which would change everything, she made a startling announcement. Instead of taking advantage of the king’s offer to take anything she wanted from the gilded harem, she would go just as she was.
King Ahasuerus was no stranger to beauty. But, unlike many professing Christian women, Esther’s emphasis was not on how sexy she could look. This king wouldn’t make his choice based on sex appeal. Instead, she wowed him with a transparent character. And by the time morning came, Ahasuerus knew that she was indispensable.
Our King is not impressed by our religious works, the amount we pay into our churches or how beautiful our music can be. A humble, repentant heart that responds to His Word is what He’s seeking in His Bride.
Is that you?
JP Robinson
Eleanor’s faith is pushed to the breaking point when her infant daughter is killed in a German zeppelin attack. Where is God in the midst of her pain? Northshire Heritage Book 1.
Start the journey>>
