APRIL 18
FATHER IS ALWAYS LISTENING
John 11:41-44
41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me. 42 I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.” (WEB)
I love this passage of Scripture in which Jesus prays to His Father out loud. In His loving conversation with His Dad, He says, "Father, I thank you that you listened to me. I know that you always listen to me." He spoke these words not for His benefit or His Father's benefit but for the crowd around Him.
Jesus wanted the people to know that the miracle of Lazarus's resurrection was a direct result of the loving relationship between Father and Son. Every such miracle flowed from the intimacy within the Godhead.
Since we are now in Christ, we have access to our Father in the same way that Jesus has access to His Father. Because we have been baptized into Christ, our Father is always listening to us, just like He is always listening to Jesus!
Today, I pray that we will know how attentive our Father is to our prayers. I pray that the Holy Spirit would give us greater boldness to come before our Father's throne room any time, day or night. May we carry a greater revelation within our hearts that our Father is closer to us than we could imagine, and He is listening right now!
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need. (WEB)
41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me. 42 I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.” (WEB)
I love this passage of Scripture in which Jesus prays to His Father out loud. In His loving conversation with His Dad, He says, "Father, I thank you that you listened to me. I know that you always listen to me." He spoke these words not for His benefit or His Father's benefit but for the crowd around Him.
Jesus wanted the people to know that the miracle of Lazarus's resurrection was a direct result of the loving relationship between Father and Son. Every such miracle flowed from the intimacy within the Godhead.
Since we are now in Christ, we have access to our Father in the same way that Jesus has access to His Father. Because we have been baptized into Christ, our Father is always listening to us, just like He is always listening to Jesus!
Today, I pray that we will know how attentive our Father is to our prayers. I pray that the Holy Spirit would give us greater boldness to come before our Father's throne room any time, day or night. May we carry a greater revelation within our hearts that our Father is closer to us than we could imagine, and He is listening right now!
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need. (WEB)