Finishing Well: How to Pray for Ourselves and Others Nearing the End of Life's Journey
For those who have finished well, Bobby Clinton has done comparative study and identified 6 characteristics:
Characteristic 1. They maintain a personal vibrant relationship with God right up to the end.
Characteristic 2. They maintain a learning posture and can learn from various kinds of sources-life especially.
Characteristic 3. They evidence Christlikeness in character as seen by the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
Characteristic 4. Truth is lived out in their lives so that convictions and promises of God are seen to be real.
Characteristic 5. They leave behind one or more ultimate contributions (saint, stylistic practitioners, mentors, public rhetoricians, pioneers, crusaders, artists, founder, stabilizers, researchers, writers, promoters).
Characteristic 6. They walk with a growing awareness of a sense of destiny and see some or all of it fulfilled. The classic example in the Old Testament of a good finish is Daniel who manifests all six characteristics .The classic example in the New Testament other than Christ is Paul. There are gradations of finishing well. Some finish well but not quite having all six or lesser intensity on one or the other major characteristics.
(Summary of Bobby Clinton's writing shared by Luis Bush, Servant Catalyst for the Transform World Movement .
The fuller article is available from the Clinton Resources at http://www.bobbyclinton.com )
Retraction on Conversion Story of ISIS Fighter
One of our readers reported that the story we published in our March edition is now suspected to be untrue. He writes:
"I was super encouraged by this testimony about the Isis fighter who converted and was about to forward it to some friends, until I realized that the story was published by World News Daily Report, a satirical online newspaper. Basically everything in the article is made-up. There is no "Aleppo Herald" for instance. I've fallen for these kinds of things before--basically, the WNDR prints nothing but fake news but in a style that sounds completely legitimate.
https://ablestmage.wordpress.com/2015/02/28/did-the-aleppo-herald-report-hermann-groschlins-story-of-a-converted-isis-fighter-heres-proof/
Thanks!
Jonathan
ISIS Prayer Guide
Did you know that according to historians the present danger of Islamic Terrorism will be with us for awhile? Let's brush aside the temptation to feel powerless and grab the invitation to impact the outcome of things through prayer.
A powerful new prayer tool has been launched to help you do just that. "Pray for ISIS Members, because Jesus loves them," is ready to lead you into history-making prayer. It's filled with scriptures, prayer guidelines, photos and even songs that will take you straight into God's throne room.
http://prayforisismembers.com/
Prayer accomplishes things that can only happen through connecting with a Living God. Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
C'mon, let's shift the equation from death to life!
Please spread the word on this new prayer tool that focuses on ISIS. This is a collaborative effort between a number of ministries, each of whom want to remain anonymous.
After the recent tourist attack in Tunisia, the violence of terrorism continues to be a highly-charged spiritual problem. And the spiritual aspect can really only be tackled by believers.
Prayer for U.S. Supreme Court Marriage Decision
The eyes of many in the Church are watching closely an anticipated ruling in June by the Supreme Court of the United States regarding same-sex marriage. Many believe that this battle for the family and a traditional biblical view of marriage is already over. From a worldly perspective, that may be true. But we are a people of faith who put our trust in the Lord, not in courts, or presidents, or public opinion. The Word of God is filled with examples of God responding to the prayers of His people in miraculous ways that surprise a watching world. May He do it again as we humbly come before Him in prayer. We encourage you to pray though these points and scriptures regularly.
Here are some ways we might pray:
1.Thank the Lord for the gift of family. Express your gratitude that family is God's by design and not human invention.
2.Ask for forgiveness on behalf of the Church for failing to model godly families before our society. We bear much blame for the deterioration of marriage and the family. (1 Timothy 5:8)
3.Pray for help to live out God's intent for the family. May our homes become outposts for God's kingdom. (Acts 10:2)
4.Confess our sins of responding to those caught up in a homosexual lifestyle with anger or hatred. Ask for help to love as Christ loves. (John 8:11)
5.Pray that the Lord would show us in practical ways how to speak the truth in love according to His Word. (Ephesians 4:15)
6.Ask God to pour out His wisdom on His people that we might see clearly the attack of the enemy on His design for marriage. May God's wisdom give us insight into the results of tearing down traditional one man-one woman marriage. (James 1:5)
7.Plead with the Lord for divine intervention upon the Supreme Court. Pray that He would give wisdom and courage to these jurists to respond in righteousness. (Job 21:22; Job 9:24; Isaiah 1:26)
A Model Prayer
Father, we are grateful to be able to call You that. To know that through Jesus, we have been brought into Your family. Thank You that our earthly families, as imperfect as they are, are a reflection of the eternal family for which You are our forever Father. Forgive us Lord, for not being better pictures of what the family is intended to be. Help us Lord to live out our lives in families with godliness, love, purity, and truth.
This broken world has affected all of us in so many damaging ways. We thank You for accepting us in our brokenness through Jesus, and for Your commitment to bringing us to spiritual and emotional health and wholeness. Forgive us as your people when we have gone on the offensive against those caught up in any sexual sin. Teach us how to live as You lived as You walked among us, Lord Jesus. We want to love as You loved and speak truth as You spoke truth.
From a place of humility before You, we plead with You Lord, to intervene to preserve Your intent regarding marriage. From the High Court of Heaven, would you step down into the Supreme Court of the United States to bring about Your will and purposes regarding the family? Give that wisdom which only You can give. Pour out righteousness upon our land. According to the word of the prophet Isaiah, would You restore our judges that they might rule according to Your purposes and desires? We ask this, for your honor and glory, in the majestic name of Jesus. Amen!
Prepared by Dave Butts
Chairman, National Prayer Committee
President, Harvest Prayer Ministries, http://harvestprayer.com
National Sanctity of Marriage: 5 Days of Prayer and Fasting April 26-30
When: 4/26-30
Details: Join others in five days of prayer and fasting by signing up at nationalsanctityofmarriage.com to receive daily devotions and prayer points.
Sanctity of Marriage Conference Call
When: 4/28
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 ET
Info: 712-432-0075 then 1412452#
Strategic Prayer Guide for Sanctity of Marriage: available for download at nationalsanctityofmarriage.com
