Prayer that produces new affections

Today, I leave with my girls for a road trip to take a look at a University. We've decided to all go and make it a "mom and her girls" weekend...I am looking forward to spending some time with them and watching them encourage Kaity with her college choice. Because I will be away from a computer, there will be no posting tomorrow. But those of you reading the book, continue through Chapter 5.

We left yesterday looking at the role of the Holy Spirit in our prayer. He prays with fervor and intercedes for us in accordance to God's will. (Rom 8:26-27) Lastly, we saw that the world distracts and challenges our affection to pray as we ought to. But we have a great "comforter", "counselor" whose divine power stimulates a preeminent love for Jesus. Bryan Chapell brings us to a great passage in scripture on the love of God. As we meditate on these verses, I pray that a vibrant, ever-growing and satisfying love for God would grow in each of us. You may ask, how can my love for Christ grow? Let these thoughts settle in your heart...

"...I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in you heart though faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..." Eph.3:14-19

When I think of this kind of love for me, I am overwhelmed.
How wide is His love? Wide enough to bring all kinds of people together...wide enough to cross racial barriers, prejudices. Wide enough to include the outcast...those that are far off. God's love is wide enough to bring back that wayward child, the spouse that has left.
How long is His love? Long enough to remember the forgotten ones. Long enough to last for eternity. Long enough to redeem a lost generation and long enough to carry us through suffering and then into glory. Long enough for you to be not forgotten. Long enough to bring you back to Him...no matter how far you've gone.
How deep is His love? Deep enough to forgive even the vilest of sinners. Deep enough to see our heart and replace it with a heart for Him. Deep enough to heal emotional wounds caused by broken relationships. Deep enough to get you out of the pit of depression. Deep enough to do heart surgery in an unsaved spouse...child. Deep enough to change lives and marriages from the inside out.
How high is His love? High enough to secure a future in eternity for us. High enough to lift you out of suffering. High enough to give us a high-view of Himself. High enough to give you a place to reign with Him. High enough that all His promises are "yes". High enough to lift you out of that abusive job...relationship. High enough that nothing shall separate you from His love...

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?...But in all things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth nor any other created thing shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

Discovering a love like this transforms us because it creates a closer more mature relationship with God. These affections overwhelm us and drive us to prayer that is God-focused, Christ exalting and Holy Spirit empowered.
A love like this brings new meaning to life...it does not cancel the difficulties of life, but it provides direction, comfort and power to live Christ-like. Old pursuits can still beckon us but they don't satisfy as they once did. Our prayers reflect more of His character than ours.

Bryan Chapell writes: "A heart formerly cold towards God does not become warm toward His purposes by a mere act of willpower. While we can will a change in behavior, we do not by an act of will change our estimation of the attractive, appealing and lovely. I do not suddenly find fudge brownies unappealing simply because I learn of their calorie content. My willpower may stop my eating but it does not stop my wanting. But the Spirit can reconstruct the affections of our heart. This is a supernatural work, aided by our prayers but not accomplished by them apart from the Spirit"

As we meditate on Christ's love, our love for Him will grow and with the power of the Holy Spirit as the old hymn goes "the things of the earth will go strangely dim,"
Are you filled with a clear, wondrous view of Christ's love? Do you desire to know more and more of Him? The discipline of prayer may still be a challenge, but when you stop and sit at the Throne of Grace, you long for more time with Him. Prayer grows cold and ritualistic when we dim His glory...it grows fervent and satisfying when we see Him in His fullness. I pray that for all of us.