10th April 2022
Praying for deliverance
Does the world seem broken beyond repair? It seems every generation at one point or another feels this way. In smaller ways, we also have times of brokenness in our personal lives when we realize there is little we can do to make things right. Whether looking at the world at large or dealing with a personal crisis, we often come to a place where we feel powerless. Maybe you feel that way today!
Consider this! If a small child is playing with a toy that becomes broken beyond their ability to fix, what do you think most children would naturally do? I think most would not hesitate to take the toy to a parent to fix. I’ve had numerous broken toys brought to me to fix and I’m sure most parents and grandparents have logged many hours fixing broken toys for children.
Today is a good day to remember that we have a heavenly Father who is able and willing to receive and repair all the brokenness in our lives. Feeling powerless can remind us of our need to approach our Father in prayer, bringing him all that is broken in us and in our world. Not only is he more than able to deliver and save us from all brokenness, but he has already done so in Jesus Christ. This means when we pray, we are not asking the Father to intervene in something he is unaware of. We are also not twisting his arm to do something he is not willing to do. We are participating in the Father’s sure deliverance from evil and brokenness. Like the child who brings a broken toy to a parent to fix, the most powerful and effective thing we can do in the face of worldwide brokenness is to bring it to our heavenly Father in prayer.
David concludes with a powerful reminder of the Father’s heart, which is turned towards his children who seek him in prayer:
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:17-22 (NIV)
For our own sakes and for the sake of our world, the Lord invites us into his prayer to the Father as the most powerful way to participate in Jesus’ deliverance and restoration of all brokenness. It’s never too late to start praying for deliverance from our brokenness.
Presented by Greg Williams
About the presenter:
Greg Williams is President of Grace Communion International and lives in North Carolina, USA. Word of Life each Sunday is taken from ‘Speaking of Life’, (https://www.gci.org/videos/media-speaking-of-life/), a public resource video on the USA website of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
You are welcome to attend one of our local church congregations located throughout the UK and Ireland. For details of your nearest local congregation check on our website, www.gracecom.church under the ‘Churches’ tab, or ring +44 (0)1858 437099.
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church