Cry Out to Jesus!
Judy and I are back in Houston again! Each time we return we are blessed by friends. We went over to Alan and Claudia’s house for dinner on Thursday night. Jeremiah and Carol were there. All evening I was in atrial fibrillation. I keep thinking I am healed, and then it comes back. Not life threatening, but certainly life debilitating. At the end of the evening Jeremiah said “lets pray for John”. Alan prayed for my heart to be restored to normal rhythm; Jeremiah prayed for me not to be discouraged or slowed down by the arrhythmia. As they were praying my heart returned to normal and has mostly remained this way ever since. It is now Sunday at 0433.
It is normal for us to think of a physical problem as something we should treat with medicine. And I have great respect for doctors. Doctors and their treatments are gifts from God, most of the time. But what does it mean when Alan prays for my heart to be healed, at least in the short-term, and it is? Can it mean that there is a spiritual dimension to this physical problem and it was solved with spiritual ‘medicine’ — prayer? I think, yes.
Prayer, Kingdom prayer, has power to alter the world within us and around us. I should say the ‘worlds’ around and within us. Prayer changes the Unseen Real, it alters the ratio of light to darkness in our bodies and pushes out the enemy. When demons attach themselves to us, we can drive them out with prayer. When we walk into neighborhoods, houses, stores, or even churches where the darkness has a stronghold, our Kingdom prayers can bring light and drive the darkness away. We can heal ourselves and others through prayer. Prayer changes the physical world. Not just any kind of prayer — Kingdom prayer, effective prayer.
Kingdom prayer is not complicated. It is the prayer of a Kingdom man or woman. It is the prayer of someone who is living in the Kingdom of God, or who at least is seriously trying to live in the Kingdom of God. This person’s life is marked by a spirit of humility, daily repentance, fruit, and the fragrance of Christ. It is a life in which we frequently cry out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” because Kingdom men and women are acutely aware of when their thoughts and actions are not consistent with the Kingdom life.
It makes no difference where you are right now. Are you connected to Christ, living in His Presence? Cry out for humility. Are you living in a dark place in a relationship? Cry out for His light to break into your heart. Are you emotionally and physically exhausted? Cry out for His strength. Are you battling cancer or some other disease that has seemed to overwhelm you? Cry out for victory and healing. Are you struggling with unforgiveness and resentment? Cry out for His power to forgive. Are you addicted to something that has a grip on your heart and mind? Cry out for freedom. Are you lonely, anxious, and afraid? Cry out for His comfort and peace. Are you ashamed? Cry out for His voice — my child, I love you.
Are you trying to live the Kingdom life, only to find yourself sinning again and again? Cry out for Jesus to enter into the deep places of your heart, bringing healing and wholeness; bringing comfort and peace; letting a flood of His grace and the blood of His body wash over you, cleansing you, washing you, and shutting up the voice that comes from the dark places — “you are not good enough”.
Are you desperate today? Do you feel like a failure? Do you feel like you have let Jesus down? Are you at the end of your rope? Do you feel like everyone is better than you? Do you wonder how Jesus puts up with you? Are you crying out to Jesus for the first time saying “Jesus, I can no longer live this empty life”.
Cry out to Jesus! I mean CRY OUT to Jesus. Weep, cry tears of frustration, shout if you have to. Release all the rage, fear, shame, and guilt in a cry to your Father. He hears you, He is near, and He will comfort you, strengthen you, and give you the assurance that you need today — you are loved, He is with you, you are not alone, and He can do in you what you cannot do for yourself. He will heal you and make you whole. There are no exceptions — this deep cry from your heart, no matter who you are, no matter what type of life you have led or tried to lead, is a cry that God always responds to.
He is committed to your life, your Kingdom life, a restored life. He died so that you can be free. His ultimate gift, His life, was given for you. So, cry out “Jesus, Father, come. Have mercy on me. I am lost and afraid. I need you now” Or, simply “Jesus, have mercy on me”. Or even more simply “Jesus”. But put all of your pain, all of your despair, all of your need into that cry. There should be no barrier between you and God. It is the cry of a crucified one. There is death in that cry — death of the parts of your heart that do not belong in the Kingdom of God. It is the cry of the repentant man or woman.
And then, as Jesus enters into your heart, and He will, breathe and receive the Father’s love. Let His love flow like a river of life into your wounded heart. Say “I receive the Father’s love” over and over again. Then stop, listen. Do you hear His voice? “I am with you, I love you, I have called you by name — you are mine”. Can you feel His love gently washing, cleansing, healing, strengthening, giving life, freedom. Stand up. Lift up your hands, and cry out again “Father, Son, Holy Spirit. You are amazing. I love you. Thank you for life, for freedom, for fire. Burn it all away.”
Our passion taps into His Power; there is Power in passion. There is healing in His power. There is life and freedom in His healing. A healed heart is a powerful heart. Let His power flow through you into the world. Release the Kingdom of God into the kingdom of the world. And tomorrow, repeat if necessary. And generally, it in necessary.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
The Kingdom in you cannot be shaken. You might feel overwhelmed, but you are not. Christ is with you, Christ is within you, Christ is around you. Christ is behind you. In Him, there is life. But this life is only found in Him — not in the world. Enter into His life and be healed and made whole. Claim His victory. Experience His victory. And choose to walk in it.
Hallelujah!!
Grace and peace,
John