* Then . . .

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, 

and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, 

when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

Jeremiah 29:12-13

How do I get to "then"?

I would like to encourage everyone to be faithful to believe; to get into the timing of God; to trust Him no matter what the circumstance may be.

Often times, we become discouraged because things don’t happen in our life according to the time frame or the schedule that we've mapped out for ourselves and because of this, we have a tendency to misdirect our focus or attention away from the intention of God. But, we have to realize that God is an all knowing; all seeing, all capable God who is constantly working on our behalf.  

How do we know this?  Through our consecration; the closer we get to God, the more easily it becomes to hear him, the easier it becomes to see His hand in our situation.

This means if you are abiding in Christ you can ask and it shall be done. IF you are walking in obedience to God's Word, then you can ask with assurance in the name of Jesus.  The bible tells us

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)

This is when you have consecrated your life to God; when your lifestyle is one of consecration. 

To believe otherwise is a setup for failure.  God’s will; His intention for our lives is so clearly spelled out in His word:  love, obedience, prayer, worship, praise, meditation, study of his word and application of the same.  These things should not only dominate our life, everything in our life should revolve around it.   

Apostle Paul lets us know that we are to be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

Holy without blemishes

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  Ephesians 5:17

It takes much prayer, fervent prayer to not only get to that place but to stay in that place.  

Prayer is part of the maintenance plan of consecration 

just as consecration builds our prayer life.  

Being consecrated keeps us in the shadow of the almighty. Our prayers become more God centered and less self centered as God reveals Himself to us more and more.

So, I encourage each of you this morning to take a deliberate stance to consecrate yourselves; to become a living sacrifice, to empty yourself so that you can be filled with God! We want to be like the 5 wise virgins who were prepared to meet the groom when he came. We don’t want to delay the plans that God has for us.


Let’s pray

Dear heavenly Father, we thank You for this opportunity to once again come before You in prayer. We thank You Lord for one more day; for the dawning of this day; for allowing us to see another day; for keeping us through the night, for watching over us, for keeping us from hurt, harm and danger; for allowing us to wake in our right mind, with our health and our strength and a desire to serve You. 

And now Lord, we look to You for our strength; You say in Your word that power belongs to You. So then Lord we know that whatever we need, You are able through Your sovereignty. We believe in Your word Oh God and have faith to believe that all things are possible through You. In all things we trust You. In the good times and the bad times, when things are going our way and even when they seemingly are not, our trust; our hope is still in You. Help us to understand and believe that all things are working together for the good – even when we can’t see it Lord, when everything is chaotic around us, when we are confused and discombobulated . Help us Lord to be faithful to believe in You and Your word to remain steadfast in you.

We trust You Lord God for our healing; healing in our body, in our finances, emotionally and mentally.  We beseech you Lord on behalf of all the many names that have been presented for pray that you move on their behalf.  Remember those among us that are in need of a touch from You Lord.  We call on You as our Jehovah Rapha; our healer.

Lord, we know that all things are possible through You. Teach us patience Lord to abide in Your timing; trusting and believing that You are able to bring us to that expected end; to that which You have ordained and purposed for us. Let Your perfect will be done in our life. Help us Lord to give ourselves to you as living sacrifices!  Let Your will be the ruling force in our lives. Process a ‘yes’ in us; a yes to Your will, a yes to Your way, a yes to Your word. Help us to be obedient to Your word at all times and in all situations so that we can be all that You require us to be. We are Your instruments to be used for Your glory. Let Your glory be revealed through us.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  Romans 6:13

Lord,  we thank You for Your goodness and Your mercy. When we trust in You, Your goodness and mercy, they follow us.  Even as You’re faithful to forgive, help us to be forgiving, help us to be faithful to believe in You and Your word. Help us to believe in Your sovereignty; that all things are possible through You. Help us to keep holding on to You; take away the spirit of defeat. We shouldn't worry because You said in Your word that we have victory in You. Help our unbelief Lord. Take us to a higher place in You.

Lord we worship and adore You. We worship You Lord, You’re so holy that there is none like You, we love You Lord. Nothing compares to You. We bless Your holy name. Lord Your name is far above all other names. Lord You said that if we lift You up that You would draw all men unto you. Don’t let us forget that it’s not about us, but about Your manifested glory.

You gave us the precious gift of the Holy Ghost so that we would have power to witness unto all men. We’re on the battle field; soldiers for You; help us to stay directed and focused on You and the battle that is waging around us. Help us to be the light in this world filled with sin; darkened by iniquity and polluted by evil. Help us to stand up and proclaim Your name in our speech and in our actions. Lord, where ever we go, in our homes, on our jobs, where ever we go, let your glory be revealed; make us glory carriers for You; willing and able instruments.

Lord, even now, through the authority we have in the name of Jesus, we plead the blood against every thing that is not like You. Lord we’re  asking that You intercede on behalf of our youth; loose the bonds that are enslaving our children, give them a hunger and thirst for You Lord, for righteousness. Help the parents and those in leadership to raise them and train them in Your ways; to teach them to love and serve You. Lord give us a passion to work for You, to be about your business.  Help us to be willing, submissive and obedient servants to you.

In all things Lord, we acknowledge You and look to You for direction. We pray for our spiritual leaders and pastors that You keep them covered in the blood. Lord we pray that You lift a standard of holiness among our pastors and shepherds, Lord that they remain humble in Your sight and that they do according to Your will; never forgetting that it is no goodness of our own, but through Your grace and your mercy that we live, move and have our very being.   Lord we ask that you intervene on behalf of our governmental leaders; that you place God fearing men and women among them.

Because of who You are Lord, we thank You, we give You the honor and the glory, we thank You for Your sovereignty. We thank you Lord, because in the midst of it all, Lord, I know that You are with us. We thank You for the plan that You've designed for each one of our lives. We thank you Lord because we know that Your will is good, it is acceptable and it is perfect.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  Romans 12:2

Lord we pray for every person that doesn't know You, Lord, that You deal with them in such a way that they see You and recognize You for who You are. Give them a desire; a hunger and a thirst for You. Help us Lord on this battlefield of unsaved souls; help us to be fully adorned in Your armor so that we are a help and not a hindrance to those that are lost and need You. Help them who are distressed over the cares of the world. Loose the bonds of worry; redirect their thoughts to You. You said in Your word that in all our ways, we are to acknowledge You and it’s You that will direct our path.  

My continuous petition before You, Lord, is that the body of Christ keep our trust and our hope firmly in You; that we don’t waver, that we don’t become deceived by the enemy, but rather we become an anointed, consecrated force to be reckoned with as we move and operate in Your power.

In Your name Lord, we thank you for all that You’ve done, all that you’re doing and all that you’re going to do; in your name, Jesus, we pray, amen.

 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, 
which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: 
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Romans 12:1-2

God bless you all.

Elder C. L. Henry