John 11:41-42 -- So they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
Lord thank You for walking me through the past week. One day, one step at a time through sickness. I thank You Lord for bringing to the other side of it and I give all glory to You. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Well, it's been a long seven days since I got covid and an ear infection on top of it. I'm not back to 100% yet but good enough to get back to living. I appreciate all the prayers!
After talking with the Lord this morning, we got back into the Word in John chapter eleven. We arrive just in time to see Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus. He has spoken with Martha and Mary already, now He turns His attention to the tomb.
As they remove the stone Jesus looks up to heaven and prays aloud. Look at His words as He prays.
"Father I thank You that You have heard Me."
He simply thanks Father God. No long prayer filled with grand words or phrases. Just thanksgiving for being heard.
"But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me."
Again, no long, loud, complicated prayer. Not even a mention of Lazarus' name here. Just the simple fact that He is only praying like this so that Martha, Mary, and the crowd will once again see and know He is the Son of God.
Jesus' concern is targeted at all those around Him so that they may KNOW who He is and that Father God sent him. Everything He did and said regarding this situation was to bring honor and glory to God.
Christian, when was the last time you prayed for something so God would be glorified and not just for the end result of the prayer?
It's an interesting question to think about. I mean I've been really sick for a week straight and I've prayed for healing, asking for rest, etc… There was something I was focused on in the prayer, my healing, my rest. Now, I'm His child so there's nothing wrong with me going to Him asking for these things, but when I see Jesus here, I realize, there was an end result He was going for as well, Lazarus raised from the dead. However, His upfront focus was that all those around Him would KNOW who He was, would KNOW the Father sent Him, that God would be glorified.
Again, not saying going to the Lord and praying for healing or something is wrong. No way. Not at all. He's Abba Father and we should run to Him and talk to Him. It just brought to my attention that no matter what the need is, no matter how desperate it is, I need to remember to thank Him, to glorify Him, to make sure those around me KNOW He is my all and is to be glorified in it all!
Well, that's all for today. It was nice to get back on the road a bit with the Lord. Sitting down in a focused quiet time, talking with Him, walking with Him in His Word.
Again, I thank all of you for prayers over the past week.
You are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
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