The "Let It Go" Prayer by Pastor Clint Abbott February 27 2016

The Let It Go Prayer

Have you ever felt wronged and hung on to that “wronged” feeling?

When those moments occur and we want justice, we should remember how the Lord Jesus was wronged, yet He prayed “not my will but yours be done.”

When we have those times of feeling wronged we have the tendancy to look at ourselves rather than to pray that surrender prayer. We need to look to Jesus and surrender it to Him.. We need to “let it go.”

Just make a fist as if all of your wronged feelings are held tightly in that fist and then slowly open it up – releasing it all to the the Lord, letting it go.

When we do this, remember this passage of scripture which can serve as a great “let it go prayer.”

1 Peter 5:6-11New Living Translation (NLT)

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers[a] all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

Have a posture & attitude of humility ... giving all the worries and cares to God knowing that His timing is always right!

Be alert that Satan seeks to hinder and oppose anything we do for the Lord. Be strong and stand firm against Him – know that we are part of a larger family and we all go through the same kind of suffering.. we are not alone.. proclaim that Faith against the devil standing on the righteousness and grace of the Lord Jesus.

Know this, that the present suffering will not last. As you stand on the righteouness and grace of the Lord Jesus, He will restore anything that has been taken from you. He will support us and give us His strength!

So whatever you’re holding on to today – let it go! Let it go inthe name of Jesus!

Praying in the Face of Opposition

Philippians 1:28-30New Living Translation (NLT)

28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

How do pray in the focus of opposition? 

How do I keep my focus on Jesus and things of heaven when it seems likethere’s so many things that distract and oppose me?

Struggling can be par for the course. It happens because there always has been opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But when opposition rears its ugly head as you try to move ahead spiritually, here are some great thoughts from Psalm 37.

Psalm 37:3-7New Living Translation (NLT)

3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
    Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
    Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
    and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
    and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
    or fret about their wicked schemes.

Here are four things you can do to keep your eyes on heaven, as you pray in the face of opposition:

TRUST in the Lord. Realize that God knows exactly what He is doing. Regardless of how things might look – you can trust Him.

DELIGHT in the Lord – enjoy the Lord.. fall deeply in love with Jesus every day. Realize He wants so much to have a relationship with you. Delight in Him.

COMMIT  all you do to/for the Lord. He will bless you if you will take what’s on your plate, in your hands, on your mind and possibly laying heavily upon your heart.. commit these things.. give these things into the Lord’s hands. When you/we do this, it says we will radiate and shine for Him. People will see a difference in how we respond, they will be able to tell that we’ve been with Jesus. Commit your spiritual life, your finances, your family, your body and health - commit everything you have/do to the Lord.

BE STILL in His presence. It first implies we must take time to be in His presence. Now God is everywhere all the time, but what I think this means is for us to stop of our busyness and recognize the Lord is here and then slowwwww down. Wait for Him to act. Waiting patiently doesn’t mean no action on our part, rather, it’s describing a posture or position of trust. Keep your eyes upon Jesus and follow hard after Him. Have no other worries.

So today and this week as you go out to school, jobs, the market place, visiting family or friends and when opposition faces you, TRUST, DELIGHT, COMMIT AND BE STILL!

Open Doors and Bearing Fruit

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia,[b] but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we[c] decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

O - Paul and those traveling with him had a direction they had hoped to travel. Reading the Apostle Paul as I have, I'm thinking he had prayed about this trip. Yet the Lord did not allow them to travel in that direction. They encountered, as we say in the church, a "closed door" to potential ministry.  However, soon afterwards Paul received a calling to go over to Macedonia where he would have fruitful ministry.

A - When we set our plans before the Lord and we seemingly do not receive that open door, we continue serving Him and while serving, waiting for clearer direction. It's in times like these that we often realize the blessings of God and experience fruit (or if I could say it .. results) from our ministry.

P - Father, give us wisdom and insight to know the direction you have set before us. May we have eyes and ears that are attentive to you're leading and may we follow the open doors of your guidance!