Three Short Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts
We’ve been sealed and are permanently indwelt by God’s Spirit
“In Jesus you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Eph. 1:13-14
Gracious Father, thank you for enabling me to hear and believe the Gospel. My salvation is all of grace. You have sealed me with the promised Holy Spirit—who is an inviolate sign that I belong to you, now and forever. You began my salvation, and you will bring it to conclusion. By the Holy Spirit, you assure me that I belong to you and guarantee my final inheritance. Nothing can separate me from your love, or move you to disinherit me. “Signed, sealed, and delivered” … I’m yours.
We’ve been adopted by God, and given all the legal rights and personal delights of his firstborn Son.
“You haven’t received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
Abba, Father… how I love to call you by that name. When you drew me to Christ, you forgave all my sins; declared me to be righteous in Christ; and then you adopted me as your very own and beloved child. Amazing, astonishing… I still have a hard time taking in all this goodness, Father. That’s why you have given me your Holy Spirit. He’s the only one who can powerfully combat the spirit of fear that is ever lurking—seeking to draw me back into the dungeon of guilt and shame. But, hallelujah, I’m no longer a slave. Jesus is my righteousness, the Spirit is my guarantee, and you are my Father. You cannot love me more, and you’ll never love me less.
We live confident in God’s full, robust acceptance and unwavering love.
“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” 2 Corinthians 3:12
Father, it feels so good to be set free from the old “He loves me; he loves me not” spirituality. Because the Gospel is true, I can be bold, assured, and at home in your presence. Hallelujah, there’s no more need to pose or pretend with you, Lord. I’ve traded in my “fig leaves” for the righteousness of Jesus. By your grace, I discovered my condition was far worse than I ever imagined; but I’ve also discovered you love me far more than I could have hoped or dreamed. I’m no longer afraid to die and face judgment; and I’m learning to be less fearful to face the challenges of life and opinions of men. Keep the freedom coming.
So Very Amen.