Effie Darlene Barba

As Jesus began teaching His disciples how to pray, He instructed them to pray in this manner: Our Father, which art in heaven (Matthew 6:11).  For all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, God is our Father.  But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name (John 1:12).  As Heavenly Father, He showers us with His love, His protection, and His provision.  His guiding hand is there to lead us ever closer to Him.  Therefore, as His Children, we have an intimate relationship with God.  Yet, as we recognize His closeness, we also need to consider His power and His might as our heavenly Father.

Our earthly Fathers, even the best, are limited at times.  They may not always understand the secrets of our heart.  Sometimes, they may get it wrong when they strive to guide us; because, they may misjudge the motives of our heart.  Although, they might wish to give us the world; they are limited in their power to do so.

But that is not the case with our heavenly Father.  When we pray, we need to remember this.  Although God is so very near, He is also the Sovereign Creator and King of all. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshipeth thee (Nehemiah 9:6). Know therefore this day, and consider it in thing heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else (Deuteronomy 4:39). Our Father is all powerful; yet, loves us perfectly.

A Heavenly Father

Continue reading “What is the Significance of Having a Heavenly Father?”

Jesus began the Lord’s prayer with “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9).  Certainly, He had the right to begin with “My Father”.  Afterall, He is God’s only begotten Son. (John 3:16, John 1:18, I John 4:9).  He has every right to call Him Father.  But, Jesus began the prayer with “Our Father”.  Do you really know God as Father?  Some would try to say that we are all God’s Children.  Certainly, we were all created in God’s image; however, sin entered the world and separated us from an intimate relationship with our creator.  So, how can we come to really know God as our Father?  Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).  Only through accepting Jesus Christ through faith, can we know God as Father.

Yet, what a wondrous, miraculous privilege it is to really know God as Father!  Through the redemptive work of Christ, we are adopted into His family as “heirs, joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (Romans 8:14-16). But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).

Knowing God as Father

Continue reading “Do You Really Know God as Father?”

Prayer is one of our greatest privileges.  Yet, if you are like me; sometimes, I wonder how to pray more fervently.  Particularly, I have heard of great men or women of prayer, such as Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Charles Stanley, or Mary Winslow.  It is said that they could be found lying or kneeling for hours on end in prayer before God. I loved “The War Room”, wishing I could pray as Miss Clara did.  All too often, my mind becomes unfocused. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24). But what am I to ask for? God knows what I need. Furthermore, He knows better than I.

Ah, but my dear Savior knew that there would be questions within my heart at times. So, He gave me a guide to help when I don’t know what to pray for.  The Lord’s Prayer is that, a guide.  Not merely words to be vainly repeated; but, a guide to prayer.  It is for that reason, I want us to delve more deeply into those words over the course of the next few weeks.  There may be days when the best I can pray is, “Help me to understand Lord.  Show me Your will. Forgive me, Lord.”  Or even, “Father I need you now.”  Ah, but we can be reassured, that if we take the time to sit with Him, He hears even the silent cries of our heart.

Romans 8:26-27

Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

A Guide to Prayer (Matthew 6:5-13)

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Learning to be a Prayer Warrior

So, come and join me as we learn how to be prayer warriors that can impact this world for Christ.

“Lord, help us to understand how to be effective prayer warriors for you.  Guide us in Your way. Thank you for always being so near, so present that even when I sit quietly before Your throne, you hear me. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.”

My son asked me to come to live with him.  One thing he said, rings true here as well.  “Mom, with all we have lived through, I feel I haven’t had the chance to get to really know you.  I want that chance.  Even, if we sit silently doing our own things.”   How appropriately does that fit in our relationship with God.  Perhaps, prayer is not always talking; but, rather just sitting quietly in His presence desiring to know Him is also prayer.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written: please click on this link  Book Resources.

You can find all my books on Amazon.com, search Effie Darlene Barba or click this link to be taken there

Or for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Previous Posts on Prayer

One Sincere Prayer of Joy For An Anxious World

Prayer Poems

A Prayer for Hope

A Prayer of Healing for Our Land

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Footnotes and Credits

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

As we come to the final sentence in Psalm 23, lets consider these words.  And I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever (Psalm 23:6).  Our eternal security is because of who He is.  Our Great Shepherd has promised that not one sheep in His fold will He lose.  His Grace and love pursue us, protect us, and secures our eternity with Him. Let’s look at these words He spoke,

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day.  And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.  (John 6: 38-40).

Our eternal security in His presence is so much more than just one day to be with Him in heaven, it is here and now.  That is what Jesus said in this His prayer to the Father.

John 17:11

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

While He walked on this earth, Jesus had cared for an provided for His sheep.  Now, He commended us into the power of the Father’s Hands.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:10-11).

Or as God had written in Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Eternal Security-Nothing Can Separate Us from Him

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:33-39).

Jesus Christ died, paying the penalty for my sin.  On the third day He rose again, proclaiming victory over death and sin for all who believe in Him as their Savior.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Eternal Security—with Him.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:1-3).  And I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever (Psalm 23:6).  My eternal security is here, now and throughout eternity; because, of the completed work of Christ.  So, my only question is:  Have you ever come to the place where you realized you cannot save yourself?  Then with a heart desiring to know Him, repented of your sin and asked Him to be your Savior?  He is the “author and the finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).  His promise is to complete the work He began in you.

 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:29-32)

Concluding thought:

If you feel the spirit calling you, come! Today is the day of Salvation!  We are never promised tomorrow.  Come just as you are today and know the peace and joy of Eternal Security with Him.  He is the Good Shepherd, and you can trust Him.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to tell me your story or thoughts  comment here

Books Available

If you want to know more about books I have written: please click on this link  Book Resources.

You can find all my books on Amazon.com, search Effie Darlene Barba or click this link to be taken there

Or for inspirational photos or home decor click here.

Previous Posts from series on Psalm 23

How to Know God’s Mercy and Goodness Follow You

Is Your Life Overflowing with Joy, Hope, and Love?

How Does God Protect Us from Evil Thoughts

What is the Table God Prepares for His Sheep?

Do You Know the Comfort of the Shepherd’s Staff?

What is the Rod of God that Comforts Me?

Fearless in the Darkest Valleys

How to Follow the Shepherd as He Leads

Have Your Soul Restored by God

How to Surrender as He Leadeth Beside Still Waters

When God Makes His Sheep to Lie Down. Why?

I Shall Not Want. What Can It Mean?

Do You Know and Trust the Good Shepherd?

Previous Poem:

I Turned and Saw the Face of God

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Footnotes and Credits

Photo by Daniel Sandvik on Unsplash