Coming before God with humble and thankful hearts requires awareness of how far we have fallen short (Rom 3:23), the great sacrifice that was made for us (Rom 5:8), and the great love we have in that has been poured into our hearts (Rom 5:5). We are able to bow before God, with humble hearts full of gratitude for all of God’s grace and mercy, and be made new, beginning and journey that would have seemed impossible prior to Jesus’ arrival on the scene.
We bow before you today with humble, thankful hearts.
But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, at Your holy…
And that is why Jesus, time and time again, commands us to love one another, to carry each other’s burdens, to rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn, and so much more. Life happens…and when it does we need each other. We were never meant to walk alone.
You are perfect in love and in all your plans and purposes
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
― Jeremiah 2:11
You don’t have to be in Christian circles for long before you hear first quoted or…
The mark of Christ emblazoned on the life of a disciple is the outpouring of agape, which has been embedded into his or her heart by the Holy Spirit, to the people around them.
Read the Discipleship Prayer here.
You are perfect in love and in all your plans and purposes — agape love
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
― 1 John 4:8
God is love-love is the defining, foundational, and central characteristic of God’s nature. The kind of love that is God, in Greek, is known as agape. It is NOT a love based on attraction (romantic relationships), obligation (parental relationships, or shared interests (friendship relationships). …
God knows us, this world we live in, and the messiness of our lives. And God desires to be near us.
Read the Discipleship Prayer here.
Your name is holy and worthy to be praised above all others.
Let them praise your great and awesome name. Your name is holy! ― Psalm 99:3 (NLT)
“Your name is holy…”
For this is what the high and exalted One says — he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. ― Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)
…
When God is Emmanuel — with us, connected, personal, unafraid to get his hands a feet dirty by walking with us in the scruffiness of our lives — we can begin to see more of God’s true identity.
Read the Discipleship Prayer here.
Almighty, Triune God
If we take a look at the statements of faith regarding the triune nature of God, most Protestant denominations we likely see something like the following:
“The God who is holy love and light is Triune in essential being, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
— Church of the Nazarene “Articles of Faith”
Nabeel Qureshi, in…
The power of the Holy Spirit, working in us as comforter, helper, and guide, transforms us into powerful witnesses to God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Ac 1:8), taking us to places we might never have dreamed of going and overflowing with an unrelenting, optimistic hope that comes only by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13).
Read the Discipleship Prayer here.
“Holy Spirit ”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
― Romans 15:13 (NIV)
“Our Strength”
…
Faith over Fear is not the fulcrum of our decision making. Love is. Faith expressed through love, makes us free to love others without fear, because love drives out fear, allowing us the freedom to love openly, unapologetically, and without limit.
A lot is made about things like “faith over fear” or “faith greater than fear,” but a Christlike ethic is not defined by such a dichotomy.
The way, truth, and life as expressed, and lived out, by Christ and the apostles centered around faith expressing itself through love as the only thing that counts (Gal 5:6). Faith expressing itself through love:
- lowers itself and puts the needs of others first (Gal 5:6, Phil 2:3, and many more);
- gives respect and honor to those in authority…
In Scripture names also carry much deeper importance than simply distinguishing one person from another. Names function as descriptions of ones personal nature, physical characteristics, family relationships, calling, purpose, or identity.
Read the Discipleship Prayer here.
“Jesus — the Christ, Messiah, Immanuel — ”
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
~Acts 5:42
In Southeast Asia is it not uncommon for children to be named simply with a number representing their order of birth. In some areas, many first born sons have the same name which, in their local language means “first” or “one.” This name becomes and important identifier of ones place in the family, along with the rights, responsibilities, and tasks which will be required of them.
In…
As we come into God’s presence in prayer it is important to begin with praising God for who God is — most high, most holy, most loving, and much more — and remembering that it pleases God to love and be loved.
Read the Discipleship Prayer here.
“Heavenly Father…”
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
~James 1:17–18 (NIV)
Everything good…
Your way is the way of fullness and life. In Jesus name…Amen
Read the “Discipleship Prayer” below slowly, intentionally, pausing to think and reflect along the way as the Spirit leads. Notice which parts cause you to pause, which parts bring about questions, and which parts do not come out as easily as it seems they should.
Over the next several week we will be breaking down this prayer, investigating, considering, and reflecting on each line. Today, spend as much time as you can familiarizing yourself with the prayer.
DAILY DISCIPLESHIP PRAYER
Heavenly Father-God Most High, Most Holy, Most Loving
Jesus-the Christ, Messiah…
S.E. Fairbanks
I teach, sing, write, play guitar and basketball, read, and pray that “if I must err, let it be in the direction of love.” Visit www.DoEverythingInLove.com
