Prayer: For Assurance in Life’s Voyage
“God – Whose I am, and Whom I serve! “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me!” (Acts 27:23,25).
“Let us pass over unto the other side…they took Him along in the boat as He was…” (Mark 4:35-36).
“And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side…” (Mark 6:45).
“…for I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2 Tim 1:12).
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands” (Psalm 138:8).
[In Acts 27, the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to pen his experience with Paul. Paul boldly demonstrates he serves an amazing God through a perilous storm. His faith and assurance in God bring encouragement (and safety!) to a whole shipload of men fearing for their lives. A fantastic journey! It inspired this prayer in me.]
My Prayer for Assurance
Heavenly Father, Your Word in Acts 27 challenges me. I acknowledge that, according to Your New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34; Eze 36:26-27), the same Holy Spirit who authored these Living Words can also write them upon my heart and mind – enabling me to confront boldly and victoriously each and every challenge Your Word brings.
Therefore, oh Holy Spirit, write these Words upon me by any means!
Oh Lord, seeing Paul’s assurance in this journey, I, too, long to “know Whom I have believed” (2 Tim 1:12). I choose to believe and press on to be “persuaded” that “it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27:25). Therefore, since You, Lord Jesus, have told me to “cross to the other side” (Mark 4:35) of the circumstances that confront me, then to the “other side” I will go – taking Your Promises with me:
Isaiah 43:1-3
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God…
Lord Jesus, this life’s journey is full of storms, floods, and fires… some new challenge at every turn. But, as the old hymn says:
Many things about the future I don’t seem to understand; But I know Who holds the future, and I know Who holds my hand!
Oh, my Redeemer, how I genuinely want to know and trust You purposefully in each and every situation, You bring me to and through. To know You enough to either rest by Your side and share Your pillow in a boat full of water, or to step out of the boat at Your bidding to walk hand-in-hand with You all the way to the other side!
Prayer – to Encourage Others Around Me
Lord Jesus, as I am confronted with this challenging story in Your Word, I also recognize that there are others – precious souls – which You have placed on this journey in the ship with me. So I am asking You for sake also. I need fresh faith for this whole “ship” we are in! I understand that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom 10:17). Speak, O Master! Let me hear Your precious Word of Promise:
Acts 27:24 Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.
As You give me Your Word, O Jesus, let me be so full of cheer and assurance in this life’s journey that I can bring supernatural encouragement and assurance (and safety also!) to all those in this “ship” where You have placed me. May it be such an assurance that they would be even more than willing to stay in this boat for the entire journey.
Therefore, not only for my sake but theirs also, I fix my eyes upon You, Jesus, and tune in my hearing to hear Your voice so that I may also boldly proclaim to them:
“Be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me!” (Acts 27:22-25).
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me…” (Psalm 138:8).
Through it all, oh, my Savior, ever draw me into Your everlasting arms (Song of Songs 1:4; Deut 33:27)… ever keep me leaning upon Your mighty arms all through this world’s “desert” journey (Song of Songs 8:5) – safe, sound, and always assured in Your everlasting arms:
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...
Do it, Lord! Yes! I will confidently exclaim that You are the One – “Whose I am, and Whom I serve” – You are the One Who fully persuades me that You are well able “to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2 Tim 1:12)!
In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen!
