Connected to the Body of Christ

QUESTION: Connected to the Body of Christ

ANSWER:

Connected to the Body of Christ – Insights from God’s Word
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In His hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. - Psalm 95:1-7

Connected to the Body of Christ – Fill us with Unity
Prayer: My sweet Jesus, I sit here in the midst of Your beautiful creation, marveling at all my eyes can see. My heart bursts into song as I watch the sun rise and see the reflected light beginning to fall across the landscape.

This visual beauty helps me to see how the reflected glory of our King and Savior, when shed through my brothers and sisters in Christ, cannot be stopped -- and I rejoice. I see with my spiritual eyes this morning how the beauty of Your love, and the immense wonders of Your written Word, are being spread, like this light coming from the sun, into all the areas of the world -- and it cannot be stopped. What a joy I feel as my spiritual heart grabs on to this glorious truth!

My prayer today is a simple one. Believing in my heart, that it is Your desire to ignite a flame of passion for Your truth all around the world, I ask You to equip my brothers and sisters with all they need to train others in Your ways so that the fruit they plant will go down deep. I pray that Your Holy Spirit will show them the way as they learn to listen and respond to that sweet gentle whisper.

I pray my brothers and sisters will become sensitive to the leading of the Spirit as they study Your Word -- as they pray and as they minister. I pray Your Presence would surround them and that they will be willing to say "If you don’t go with us personally, don’t let us move a step from this place" (Exodus 33: 15).

I stand in awe today at the work You are doing everywhere I look. It is almost impossible to miss what You are doing if you are looking at all. I praise and thank You that You have chosen to use me and those who pray this prayer in new and exciting ways as we surrender our lives to You. Every new dawning of every new day is a glorious opportunity to make a difference. Everywhere I look I see lives being changed, and I see new hope and new commitment. Your people are responding to the call of Your heart, and in turn You are revealing Yourself to all who have eyes to see and hearts to hear. What a glorious time to be alive.

Even in the silence of this moment, I can recognize the fact that all around the world my brothers and sisters are on their knees before Your Throne of Grace, praying on behalf of Your kingdom needs. As I join my voice with theirs, it is a glorious symphony of praise and thanksgiving being sent heavenward, and the beauty of its collective sigh is almost too much to bear.

How I love Your Body, Jesus -- how grateful I am You saved me and made me one with all. You gave me new life, and new promise, and You gave me a voice to sing, a heart to love and share with all You bring me. I thank You today for the words You give me to speak, and for the heart of worship that permeates my flesh and fills my spirit. I give You thanks for all the people in my life who You have chosen to be my partners -- and I ask for a sweet breath of Your Presence to fall on them right now as I pray.

To You, my Savior, I give all I have to give, and as I leave this place of worship, I pray Your Presence will go with me -- and it will be so bright that evil will flee, and peace and joy will be its fruit. To You be all the honor and glory!

Connected to the Body of Christ – Making it Personal
Reflect: Take the time today to look around you at the beauty of God’s creation and allow Him to speak to your spirit as you thankfully recognize all He has given us to enjoy. I would suggest you make a thanksgiving list and keep it nearby where you can refer to it. When the world begins to overwhelm you, take that list out and pray a thanksgiving prayer -- the results will be worth it!