The Daily Prayer Focus by Bishop Elect T. Anthony Bronner
T.W.U.D. Online Prayer Ministry
T. Anthony Bronner, Senior Pastor
June 5, 2007
PRAYER FOCUS
After his suffering, He (Jesus) showed himself alive. (Acts 1:3)
Biblically, this verse is infallible proof of Jesus Christ's
resurrection. Also, for additional evidence that Jesus was raised form
the dead he appeared to hundreds of people over a forty day period. (I
Corinthians 15:6) His intimate disciples had extensive contact with
the resurrected Jesus... "Jesus met them (disciples), saying all hail.
And they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. (Matthew
28:9) Mary Magdalene was one of the ones who initially reported about
encountering the Risen Christ. "Then she ran, and came to Simon Peter;
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said unto them, they
have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they
have laid Him...Jesus said unto her, Mary, she turned herself, (saw the
Resurrected Christ) and said unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say,
Master." (John 20: 2, 16) Clearly Jesus Christ is alive!
Now practically, the phrase, "After His suffering, He showed Him
alive," creates a wonderful vision and image. Suffering can't stop or
prevent a person from being alive, passionate or enthusiastic. The
ability to continue to live life and embrace life after hardship, pain
and difficulty is another indication of a continuer; a person who goes
on or again after interruptions.
It is imperative to indicate that suffering is a part of life in
general and the Christian life in particular. "In the world you shall
have tribulations." (John 16:33) However, life seasons of suffering
should not affect our cheer or our courage to be "fully alive." A
passionate life is possible after earthly pain because the resurrected
Christ is with us and in us. And if our Savior can be alive after
suffering, then we, His followers, can make a choice to live life and
live it abundantly. (John 10:10)
PRAYER
Lord you are our light in darkness, our salvation, and we fear
nothing.
Lord you are our strength for our life. (Psalm 27:1)
You show us the path of life. (Psalm 16:11)
And you cause goodness and mercy to follow us and protect us all the
days of our lives. (Psalm 23:6)
Because you are heavily invested in our lives, we only desire one
thing from you and we seek after it,
that we dwell in the house, your house, where there is beauty all the
days of our lives. (Psalm 27:4)
We are willing to admit that our lives have had some moments of grief
and pain.
But you always made sure that joy came in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)
Our lives have had times of sorrow and days of sighing. It felt like
our strength had failed.
But you put our lives and times in your hand and you have delivered us
from our seasons of pain. (Psalm 31:1-15)
God with you we can have a good life. And love for many days. If we
keep our lips from lying and watch what we
say you will bless our lives. If we turn from all known sin and spend
our time well, you will bless our lives.
If we live in peace with everyone and work hard at it, you will bless
our lives. (Psalm 34: 12-14)
Lord you are watching over all of us to live good lives before you,
and you heard our cries.
You are close to our hearts and rescue us before we stumble. (Psalm
34:15-19)
Because you are in our lives you like us to drink from the fountain of
life,
and you are the Living Water. (Psalm 36:9; John 7:38)
You quench our lives from thirst, and we never are thirsty for
anything or anybody but you. (John 4)
You have permitted a well to be deep in us and your never ending flow
of water springs up constantly in us. (John 4:14)
Lord you also have preserved our lives from the enemy. We do not fear
what the evil one is trying to do. (Psalm 64:1)
We know that the devil comes as a thief, to steal, to kill and to
destroy.
But you have come that we might have life more abundantly. (John
10:10)
Lord you came into this world that we might live. So Lord, we choose
you. Yes you chose us first, but now we choose you again and again... We
forget those things which we thought gave us life. We count those
things as loss and worthless. We want to know you in the power of your
resurrection and the fellowship of your suffering. We look forward to
living life with you and because of you. We press to the mark and
prize, which is you, Jesus Christ. This is our high calling for our
lives. (Philippians 3:8-15)
In Jesus' Name, Amen
Copyright © 2006 Turning the World Upside Down Ministries, Inc.-The
Preaching & Teaching Ministry of T. Anthony Bronner All rights
reserved.