The most potent prayer we can pray is the one given to us by the Lord God Himself:
Matt 6
8“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
[d]For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
That word up there for temptation in verse 13 is:
| us into temptation, | πειρασμόν (peirasmon) | 3986: an experiment, a trial, temptation | from peirazó |
Where else do we see that word?
Rev 3:10
10Because you have kept [g]My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
same word used here ^^^ for trial/testing:
| of testing, | πειρασμοῦ (peirasmou) | 3986: an experiment, a trial, temptation | from peirazó |
So, whatever it is we are praying these days, our prayers should probably get started with the prayer the Lord God Himself gave us. We are now one day away from the beginning of the rapture/harpazo watch window (12/25/24-1/2/25) that extends from Christmas through the end of Hanukkah. There are many reasons for watching over this time not the least of which is the world stage is set for the time of Jacob's trouble to kick off at any moment should the Lord God decide it is time.
What other reason do we have to be watchful over this time? The Hanukkah/anti-Christ nexus.
What other reason? This world, including many believers don't seem very interested in the possible return of the Lord at this time. They have their own agendas, plans, whatever that seem to take precedence over watching for the Lord's return at this time. How inconvenient of the Lord to return right now! We were told by the Lord God to be always watching and ready for His return:
Mark 13
Be Ready at Any Hour
(Genesis 6:1-7; Matthew 24:36-51; Luke 12:35-48)
32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
The servant who writes to you today sees many reasons to warn the people of the Lord's possible return soon. If there is even a slight increase in possibility this servant believes we need to increase our watchfulness and readiness to meet the Lord. Our own plans be damned if the Lord has determined its time to come back and take His Bride out of here. So, this servant is praying watching and readiness prayers each day and letting the Lord God know if He has decided to send our Lord Jesus back for us, this nobody wants to go with Him. We pray that we will be found watching and ready on the day the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to take His Bride out of this world.
We trim our lamps today. We pray that the Lord Holy Spirit will fill us once again to overflowing with His presence and power. We ask to be topped off with oil. We offer ourselves as living sacrifices today, holy and pleasing to the Lord. We yield ourselves body, soul, spirit, present, future and past to be used by the Lord in every way to lift up, encourage, inspire and ultimately save all those around us. We cut all ties that bind us to this world, we are light, free and unencumbered by the cares and things of this world.
Luke 21
34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Matt 25
1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Rom 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
James 4:4
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
We reject this world and everything it has to offer.
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If we are still here after 1/2/25 we continue to do the work we were put here to do. For now, we exercise watchfulness and readiness to meet the Lord. The Lord never told us we have to be experts at predicting when He would come back, but He did tell us we have to be watching and ready when He does. He also told us to always be doing this so that would include this time over Christmas and Hanukkah which by the way is supposed to be Christ focused anyway.
We don't have long to wait to find out which way things go. If the Lord does show up we can say "we have been watching for your return Lord!" We pray for ourselves, our families and all the brothers and sisters in Christ that our sins are forgiven today and we all may be counted worthy to escape all that is about to happen. We ask it in Jesus name. We give thanks for our answer which we rejoice over and give thanks for. Amen
Glory to God
grace and peace
