An Article of Faith

Of all the amazing attributes of God the most endearing is His willingness to commune with us. God has chosen to make Himself known to His children. He speaks to us and allows us to address Him. Made possible by a matchless introduction through the blood of His Son, we can now have peace facing God:
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith,” writes Paul, “we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Romans 5:1-2 NLT.)
Not only does God allow us into His presence, but He longs for His children to be there with Him. He delights in us. He who knit us together in our mother’s womb and caused us to be born again hears our cries. It’s unfathomable to us that such attraction could be there, but then we have never known perfect love like this before.
“This is what the LORD says – the LORD who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the LORD: Ask Me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.” (Jeremiah 33:2-3 NLT.)
God wants to reveal to those He loves “things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NASB.)
God invites you to ask big prayers – mountain-moving requests – and test Him to prove to the world His magnificence. He hears our prayers when we are in crisis, when we are interceding for the needs of those around us, or when we simply long for a conversation with Him throughout the day. (See 1 Thess. 5:17.)
Adoniram Judson, the faithful missionary who served in Burma for six years before he ever saw one convert said, “I never prayed sincerely and earnestly for anything but it came at some time; no matter at how distant a day, somehow, in some shape, probably the least I would have devised, it came.” (Taken and adapted from: OneCry: A Nationwide Call for Spiritual Awakening. Visit www.onecry.com.)
“Keep on asking,” encourages Jesus, “and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 NLT.)
“If My people,” declares the LORD, “who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV.)

Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.