HUNGRY???: Bless Me Prayer

Why the Blog? Why Passion?

For those of you who don't know me, this page may appear at first glance to be a shrine to a particular group or a particular people. However, I hope that you are able to see past the seeming repentiveness and see the heart behind the words, videos, and images.
Shortly after first moving to Texas in 2002, I became acquainted with a ministry/movement called Passion. At first hearing, it was quite evident in the things that they stood/stand for and the passion with which they indvidually and corporately live out their lives, that Jesus Christ the Son of God and Saviour of the World, was the heartbeat behind it all.
Ever since that first introduction, I have seen time and again, the genuiness and transparency with which this group of people live their lives out.
More for my own self than anything else, I started this blog as a place to collect these images, thoughts, and videos, along with other things that God spoke and revealed to me that I might re-visit them from time to time...
Short of printing everything out and makes books and books of "inspirational stufff" I decided to compile everything right here, and rather than just being for myself, I thought you might want a peek into my world.

Monday, June 9

Bless Me Prayer

Why the "bless me so that I can be a blessing" prayer is exactly wrong

June 8, 2014

Acts 1:6-8

Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

CONSIDER THIS

Can we be honest?

Instead of jumping on the bandwagon and berating the disciples for “still not getting it,” can we just admit to this day we are still asking that same question?

Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?

Lord, bless my business. Lord, place your favor on my ministry. Lord, protect and prosper my family. Lord, restore the kingdom to our country.

Now, in my best intention,what I am meaning is something like this, “Lord, bless me so that I can be a blessing.” But the reality of the disciples question and ours is more like, “Lord, restore the kingdom to my fiefdom.”

“Bless me so that I may be a blessing.” Yes, there’s a certain wisdom to such thinking and even somebiblical precedent to be sure, but I think Jesus is changing the program. The New Deal of the New People of the New Covenant is this:

I will make you a blessing and in being a blessing you will be blessed.

The agenda of the Holy Spirit is not to “bless me” with hopes that I will pay it forward. The Holy Spirit fills us with the power of the love of God to bless all of Creation and in doing so we will experience blessing.

Think about it. Bless me and make me a blessing, or make me a blessing and that will be my blessing.

Restore the kingdom to us? OR Restore us to the kingdom?

SUBTLE DISTINCTION. MAJOR DIFFERENCE.

Remember, we are just being honest.

And don’t forget our simple prayer going forward: COME HOLY SPIRIT!

J.D. Walt writes daily for Seedbed’s Daily Text. He serves as Seedbed’s Sower in Chief. Follow him@jdwalt on Twitter or email him at jd.walt@seedbed.com.