Claim It ! – Morning Devotions from the Edges.

From the Edges – Morning Devotions April 5, 2024
Pastor Calvin Cook
Claim It!
Scripture focus Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

This morning, we are just a few days after the remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus. For 2024 years we have been entering into this remembrance in a celebration of the victory over all things that the world said could not and would not happen. This morning my desire is to claim it!

To claim the victory and the defeat of the pain, sin, oppression, agony and all things that Jesus released for us. All at a cost, but all good things cost something. I fear we are in a place of not claiming all that Jesus did for us and the continued presence and moving of the Holy Spirit. We still hesitate to claim the better way we have been showed through this great love of God.

For years I have turned to the prayer of Jonah that is recorded in Jonah 2. This is after Jonah thought that he could avoid God’s call in his life by running away. This thought caused him in the midst of the storm to give up and sacrifice himself to the raging sea, maybe with the idea, this will end it all for me, but it didn’t it only brought him to realize that God’s plans are always to be carried out.

The prayer that I turn to reminds of regardless of what I have done, there can still be a better day where we can turn back to God and to the call for renewal in our life. Stressing the point, we will have to claim it.

Pray with me this morning some points from Jonah 2 and claim the Resurrection power so Jesus will never need rebuke us for our unbelief:
In my distress, I call out to you Lord –
From the deep realm of despair – I call for your help-
The sinking feeling is overtaking me, I am swirling in waters over my head, the terror is great.-
The engulfing waters of life threaten to consume me, may I once again see you as my Lord my God.-
My life seems to be fading away, my last thoughts are of you Lord, and I raise my prayer to you.-
What I have vowed to you I will make good.-
I claim or reclaim my Salvation that comes from the Lord.-
Praying in the name of Jesus –

May we claim the power of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at work within our life today.