Prayerwalking (Week 3: Day 3)

Thoughts,

Cross Purposes v. cross purposes

Let’s consider the difference between the two items in our title for this session. Let’s use “Cross Purposes” to describe the things are on God’s agenda, His will, and His plans for you, me, and others. It is a Cross Purpose that we follow Jesus. We began our focus on that at the outset of our prayerwalking adventure.

We will use (the lower case) cross purposes to describe those things are opposite or contradictory to the will of God; they run crossways or cross grain to His will. This includes things like selfishness, self-centeredness, loving the world, etc. What do you see in the following verses that speak to this difference?

  • Luke 9:23
  • Gal. 2:20
  • 1 John 2:15
  • Phil. 2:13

Throughout Today

  • Consider what His Cross Purpose are for you today.
  • Watch for things that are at cross purposes with Him and His will.
  • Think of a place in your area (a religious place, a business, an organization) that is at cross purposes with God’s will (because they hate Christians, they practice evil or unethical behaviors, they teach falsehood). Prayerwalk or prayer drive that place. Acknowledge those things that are a cross purposes with the will of God and then pray God’s will (Cross Purposes) for the people there.

Evening Reflection:

  • Did the Lord show any areas that are at cross purposes with His Cross Purposes?
  • How did you respond?
  • What Cross Purposes did you pry for yourself or another person today?

Answers

  • Luke 9:23 calls for us to deny ourselves (cross purposes) and take up our cross daily (walk in Cross Purposes) and follow Him. The natural thing is to indulge ourselves (a cross purpose). The Cross Purpose of God is to do His will. With this action, we are and seek to be at Cross Purposes with Him always.
  • Gal. 2:20 reminds us we are crucified with Christ. Since that is so, we have and are to have a new direction in life – Cross Purposes
  • 1 John 2:15 tells us “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” They are at cross purposes with God and His will.
  • In Phil. 2:13 we find God is working in us.