One Layer at a Time

In my desire to always have a heart of repentance, my constant prayer to be cleansed, my cry to be transformed more into Jesus’ image, and by my intentional choice to remain watchful of how I live and represent my God – even in doing all that, I may come upon something that rears its head. Something that I thought was out of the way – healed and dealt with. Another layer of my soul has revealed something that is still present from events of the past that are in need of attention. As I bring these things to the Lord, He is faithful to continue to work on these layers of my inner being. He’s ever so careful and gentle in dealing with me one layer at a time.

As much time goes by and life moves on, it is easy to forget or even be unaware of what is still there under the surface – layers yet not addressed. When we don’t “feel bad,” it is easy to think everything is okay. But oh how grateful I am to have my Creator, my God, my Father that knows me better than I know myself. He knows me well, and He sees what lies deep below the surface – the forgotten and the dormant. He will not allow those things to fester that need to be removed. He wants us whole, free, and complete in Him.

So He shines His Light on each layer in turn. He may reveal things we thought we’d long since addressed, only to discover another variation of an old issue is still troubling us. He loves us too much to leave us as we are. Our Heavenly Father does not settle for that which is hiding dormant like a festering wound or an old injury waiting to trouble us again. He loves us too much to be willing to wait for those issues to surface on their own and become a stumbling block or cause us to falter. He wants to deal with it head on. And He does not do a haphazard job, but rather He works effectively by dealing with each layer individually as He patiently peels each one back to reveal, heal, and redeem. And through the course of this process, He is ever present. There for us to hold on to, and to comfort us when we hurt.

In an effort to yield to this process, I often ask the Father to shine a light on anything in me or in my life that does not belong and is not of Him. I ask Him to show me anything that does not please Him or line up with His will and His plans and purposes for my life. And in His timing, it is brought to the surface. And as it’s revealed, it’s for me to surrender to His work. As part of this process, I love to pray Philippians 1:9-11 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. I make them personal by replacing the [your and you] with [my, me and I]. The following are examples of how to do that using the Amplified Classic as a base for the prayers.

Philippians prayer: May my love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that my love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], So that I may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that I may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. May I abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].

Thessalonians prayer: And may the God of peace Himself sanctify me through and through [separate me from profane things, make me pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may my spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling me [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping me]. 

Precious Lord, our Abba Father, may our lives be filled with praise and worship unto You. Thank You for the work You continue to do in each of us. May Your Word be implanted (engrafted) into our souls to make us more like Jesus. With a grateful heart, I ask in Jesus’ name.

Philippians 1:9-11 (AMPC) And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized].

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (AMPC) And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].

Psalm 71:23 (AMP) My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed.

Lamentations 3:58 (AMP) O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause [You have guided my way and protected me]; You have rescued and redeemed my life.

by Elisha Freeman

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