DAY 29

A Prayer to Fulfill Every Good Purpose of Mine

We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
—2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NIV

One morning while walking on my wooded prayer trail, I was quoting 2 Thessalonians. As these verses captivated my attention, I asked, "Lord, where is the key to this treasure chest: that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith? That's what I've been longing for, you, fulfilling my dreams: every good purpose of mine and every act prompted by my faith. How can I step into that level of life?"

And I heard, "Quote the next part again: We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him." I was startled, and said out loud, "Wait, Lord! I've always been taught that you receive all the glory, we don't receive any glory. But right there Paul prayed that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in me, and I would be glorified in him." I prayed, "Lord, how does that work?" I heard, "When you live in a way that the name of our Lord Jesus is glorified in you, he makes your life glorious to other people. That's what attracts people to Jesus—when they see him working in your life, they want to know him, too!" It was clear, When God's name is glorified in me, he makes my life glorious. His dreams become my dreams. That's how he can fulfill every good purpose of mine and every act prompted by my faith. My next prayer became my song:

Lord, bring me closer; closer than I've ever come before to You.
Lord, plunge me deeper; deeper than I've ever been before in You.
Lord, take me higher; higher than I've ever soared before with You.
Lord, send me farther; farther than I've ever gone before for You.
Lord, glorify Your name in me; And my name in You.7

After praying through the words several times, they began to crystallize into a song, and I went to the piano and wrote the music.

My Creator God, I invite you to live in close, personal, intimate elationship with me. I pray that you would count me worthy of your calling, show me the awesome plans you have for me. By your power, fulfill every good purpose of mine and every act prompted by my faith. Set me free to fulfill my God-given potential. Lord, please empower me in my spirit, mind, emotions, body, and all of my relationships. Lord, bring me closer than I've ever come before to you.

Plunge me deeper than I've ever been before in you. Take me higher than I've ever soared before with you. Send me farther than I've ever gone before for you. Lord, glorify your name in me, and my name in you. I commit my ways to you, and I trust you to give me hope and a glorious future as I walk with you. Thank you, Lord. I love you! Amen.

Dr. Sam Bruce; President, Sam & Sandie Bruce Ministries; Pastor, Hope Point Church, Pearl, MS.