Starting Afresh

We all make so many resolutions during New Year's eve. And most of those resolutions are to make a better 'we'. We would plan to undo all those inappropriate habits or choices made and learn to adopt fresh and new ones...believing that these would help us make a better person than what we have been. All this is for good, for it signifies that we are constantly thriving for the best.

Many times when we look back, even our relationship with the Lord requires some renewing. We need to renew ourselves in the Lord so that we may become better as His children.

2 Kings 23:3 (New International Version)
The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD -to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

The children of Israel and Judah had forsaken God and had adopted idol worship. But King Josiah helped his people renew their covenant relationship with the Lord. Till his reign the destruction that was prophesied upon Israel and Judah did not come to pass, for people were kept from turning away from God. But after Josiah's death when people turned back to their old ways trouble started coming upon Israel for close to twenty two years till Jerusalem was completely destroyed.

As long as we remain in Christ and listen to Him we will not invite unnecessary troubles in our life. And our life will be preserved by the Almighty God. Let us renew our covenant relationship with the Lord and expect Him to keep us free from all troubles and pain this coming year.

Better tomorrow

As the new year is approaching people make a lot of plans for the coming year. A few even make resolutions for a better tomorrow. Some may have high hopes and expectations, while some may make greater plans for achievements. But all of us have big anticipations regarding the future...And something which is best.

Even God's children may expect greater breakthroughs in their life for the coming year and might eagerly wait for the Lord's promise. Our Lord sure has a wonderful promise for His children which He will fulfill. But for that to take place, the Lord asks us for one thing...

Joshua 3:5 (New International Version)
Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."

If we want the Lord to do amazing things in our life then we have to consecrate ourselves. To consecrate as per God's Word is to set apart for God and His purposes. How is this consecration made? How can we be set apart for Christ?

Romans 6:11 (New International Version)
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

If we can live a life dead to sin but be alive in Christ by yielding to Him than our life will be consecrated on a daily basis. And we can expect the Lord to do amazing things among us...

Tried and tested

The Lord gives each of His children a specific promise (according to each one's life) to carry out His perfect plan. And there is always a time frame between a promise given and the time of its fulfillment. During this phase, all that we should do as God's children is to hold on to His promise with faith. Faith is an intangible and unseen thing and to hold on to something which we cannot hold or see requires quite a courage. But we can hold on to His promise with courage for the only reason He who promised is faithful...

But until the time of fulfillment comes, there will be a lot of trials with respect to the promise of God. The devil will try to steal that promise saying things that will hinder our faith. Thoughts of doubt whether the Lord really gave that promise to us or are we trying to interpret it the right way or is it the will of God...Such thoughts can be attributed as test to our faith. Yet to hold on to God and His promise, we need to be ready to be tried and tested...Only then we shall come forth as gold that is refined.

Psalm 105:19 (New American Standard Bible)
Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him.

The Lord gave a dream to Joseph that He will rule over his brothers. But that did not come to pass immediately. Instead he was sold as a slave, was falsely accused and imprisoned. He went through all hard core trials and only then the promise was fulfilled. But all these trials refined Joseph as a man of character.So all our trials are worth the cost when we will see the promise of God fulfilled in our lives.

Demonstrating God's love

When you show the love of Christ to people, people don't really get offended or hurt. But the moment you talk about accepting Christ or leaving a righteous life in the Lord, that is where people find it difficult to accept or even accommodate. But when we truly love the Lord we cannot overlook when others live comfortably in sin. True love always corrects, always leads into the truth and show the path of righteousness. True love can never compromise with something that God never approves of.

Look what the Lord says in the scripture,

Revelation 3:19-20 (New International Version)
19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

When the Lord says that He eats with the someone, it means entering into a right relationship with the Lord which means leaving off every form of sin and living a righteous life in the Lord (with the help of the Lord). When we share the gospel this is an important message which we need to address and not merely about blessings. Blessings is a by product of our obedience to the Lord, that is not the goal of accepting Christ... but salvation which otherwise we can never attain.

Knowing Him more naturally

Most of the times we hold some perceptions about God and His ways and we stick to them very strongly. We at times do not want to change our views for we believe them to be spiritual. How much ever we would have learned from the Lord, there are still many horizons which are new and we should be willing to learn them.

Once Rev. Selwyn Hughes testified that when he was in a dilemma, God cleared them to him not through the Word or by an inner voice but from a sparrow in a nest. Likewise we should be open to God to lead us in His way and be open to know Him even through simple or natural ways.

Though Moses had walked with God for more than 40 yrs, he prayed to God when he faced a dilemma in a very open way...
Exodus 33:13 (New International Version)
If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.

When we believe that God lives within us then we can be pretty sure that His Spirit will be there to lead us and guide us and also stop us when we go the wrong way...

A time to just sit...

As God's people we may make so many plans with respect to our service for the Lord. Some may want to do charity work, some may want to show some deeds of kindness and some ministry work. But sometimes the Lord may ask us to simply lay aside all our plans and be quiet. This He may show us either through a personal conviction or a revelation or even through closed doors. Why the Lord is asking us to do so, we may not quiet understand His will. Yet it is allowed for a purpose.

When the Lord went to pray in the garden of Gethsemane, he asked few of His disciples to sit there... We do not understand why He asked them to do so. They did what they were told.

Matthew 26:36 (New International Version)
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

Whatever be the reason if the Lord asks us to sit there, then we better obey it rather than questioning Him. It is better to lay aside our plans and do His will. For our life is to do His will all the time.

God's greatest gift

Christmas is a time of giving which we all know... and many preserve the gifts given by the loved ones for it reveals the heart and the love of the giver... Out of all the gifts given the greatest gift which God the Father has given to mankind is His beloved Son Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 (New International Version)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God's love is so much that He even allowed His Son to suffer and die on the Cross for us so that God can bring us back to Himself. What amazing love this is... which man sees yet sometimes is so indifferent to it? What does the creator want out of all this? Can you imagine?

It is us...

God is deeply in love with us. He wants nothing but only us and our love for Him.

When Jesus was born a child in the manger, the wisemen who came to see Him gave Him gifts for they saw that He was God's Son. All that we can give Him for what He did for us is not in terms of money or service or sacrifice...But only ourselves. Sometimes people doesn't want to open their hearts to Jesus to give themselves or their love. Yet that is what God desires from us...

Are we ready to give our heart, love and loyalty to Him? We need to ask ourselves...

Behold the new!

When we share about the goodness of the Lord in our lives, most of us are talking about the blessings we have received from God and seldom sometimes forget the change the Lord has brought in us.

Many of the testimonies that I have heard from believers is about the blessings received or habits forsaken which at times even people of the world are able to achieve without Christ. But the people in the world cannot talk about being transformed from a sinner to a saint...None of the non-believers will be able to testify like a believer that once they lived in sin and after having accepted Christ they have repented and forsaken sin...

The very reason we celebrate Christmas is because of the new birth we have in Christ after having accepted Him. We no longer live a life of sin... like the way we formerly did, prior to having known the Lord. We are a new creation in Him...

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

No more jealousy, no hatred, no bitterness, no more revenge and manipulations. No lust, no covetousness, no selfishness, no greed or conspiracies. No wrong attitudes or hypocrisy, no religious facades or meaningless pride...None of these can corrode our souls. The old has gone and new which we see in Christ has come...Hallelujah!

Bringing Christmas

As Christmas is closer, everybody is busy with gifts and Santa and all those wrong idealogies of Christmas. Even children of God sometimes get into the holiday spree of Christmas like the non-believers...

What is the most important thing that the children of God must be doing during Christmas? Christmas is a celebration of Christ overflowing in us and our lives... So how exactly do we celebrate Christmas?

Let us go back to God's Word to see what people who overflowed with God and His goodness did. What did the Psalmists do when their lives overflowed with God?

Psalm 78:4 (New International Version)
We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

In many Psalms we see that people of God who saw and experienced the goodness of the Lord in their lives did not choose to remain silent, but spoke excitedly about the deeds the Lord had done in their lives. Their joy overflowed so much that they could not remain indifferent to God's marvelous works.

The Lord has done so much in many of our lives. If only we could share them to those who doesn't know the real meaning of Christmas, we then would bring a real blessing to others life.

Isaiah 63:7 (New International Version)
I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

Unjust pain...

At times when we go through some kind of hurts such as humiliation, accusation or being hated unreasonably... we may think 'why we have to go through all this for no fault of us?' or we may even question God, 'God why are you allowing such things to happen to me?' But we may fail to understand or see that God allows such pain for a reason. For some of the life lessons we learn the hard way. But those lessons are essential for us to grow and mature like Christ. Some of the rare virtues such as humility, serenity and maturity are delivered through life's hard trials. All that we need to understand is that God permits hard trials in our lives to help us grow and not to tear us...

Jeremiah 24:6 (New International Version)
My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them.

God's love is so much that He cannot allow us to be the same but His love will change us and build us for good...

When He truly lives in us...

Many of us are very good when it comes to talk about our faith or Jesus. But to reflect Jesus is the harder part for any child of God. But that is where true faith lies. Not just to live what we believe but reflect the one whom we worship. If the Son of God truly lives within us then we cannot be a person who is different from Him.

1 John 2:5-6 (New Living Translation)
5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Our behavior, attitude, perception of people and life. The way we communicate to others; the way we are sensitive to others and respect their feelings and thought pattern; the way we show tolerance towards those who are different from us; the way we emphathize and the way we disagree with someone in an appropriate manner...All these (and more) should reflect the way Jesus would have done.

If truly Jesus is born in our hearts, then let Him reign and rule over us so that He will be evidently seen being in us.

God's own ways...

Sometimes we expect God to work according to our approach or way or view. But God has His own ways of working things for us. He has His own ways to reveal, work or implement things in our life. All we need to do is be open to Him so that we do not miss what He is trying to teach or reveal to us. Our own notions may make us miss to see His plans or will for us.

Amos 4:13 (New International Version)
He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth— the LORD God Almighty is his name.

As the Word of God says, the Lord reveals His thoughts and plans to us in His own way... And we will be able to know them as long as we are ready to remove our (self-built) notions from our minds and allow Him to lead us naturally...

Forseeing positively

The hope that the Lord gives is a positive forescast regarding the future. Nobody hopes for something negative to turn out. The Lord bestows that which is good to His children. Sometimes what we anticipate may not come to pass, but a provision or help may come from an unexpected source or even a breakthrough may take place which we would not have forseen.

That is why the Word of God says,

Psalm 33:18 (New International Version)
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

All we need to do is set our focus on the unfailing love of God...which never changes though at times we as humans fail to live up to His standards.

What God has given...

Christmas is nearing and there is a festive season in every country. People anticipating to celebrate it... some with the joy of the season and some with the fun of holiday spirit. But for the true children of God, Jesus has brought a special meaning to their life and being which they celebrate.

For many children of God this Christmas is a year of hope for great breakthroughs. The Lord who has seen all their perseverance and patience has filled their hearts with hope. And this hope will not disappoint them for it was implanted by the Spirit of God.

Romans 5:5 (New International Version)
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

So let us celebrate Jesus during this special season waiting in hope which He has given us...

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Growing in every condition

As we grow in the Lord and come to see life from His perspective, we should reach a stage of maturity where we are able see the sovereignty of the Lord in our lives. Then we will able to understand and acknowledge that whatever God allows is for a purpose. And out of every situation or event that happens in our life we will be able to learn something or use that situation to achieve something good.

Philippians 1:18, 19 (New International Version)
...Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19. for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Apostle Paul had the right perception of life. He saw that whatever happened to him would turn out for good. He learnt to perseveare under every circumstance...He grew and did not dwindle. We too can learn a lot from our life in Christ... if only we hold the right perspectives.

Growth by yielding

Another kind of maturity that has to be there among God's children is accepting the will of God in their lives. Sometimes we don't accept God's will that easily...we fight and try all our efforts to make God comply to our will. Then after realizing that it is not the right thing to have done, do we give up resentfully. But giving up resentfully is not the right attitude either...for we have failed to understand God and trust His love for us.

Only when we learn to yield to God, believing whatever He approves or permits is good for us, will we be able to understand Him and appreciate His will in our lives. For this we need to ask the Lord to make us captive to Him always.

2 Tim 2:26 (NASB)

...having been held captive by him to do his will.

Maturity in Growth

When we presume that we are growing in the Lord, then the result of that growing is maturity. Immaturity is not the aspect of growth. Real maturity is Christ-like which has a inner poise and serenity. Many people think that having a good knowledge about the Bible is considered as growing. It is true that a good knowledge of the Word of God is an essential aspect for a believer. But that is to help us apply it in our lives in an appropriate way. Mere knowledge is no were considered growth. Only when the knowledge derived from God's Word is applied in our lives (which is wisdom), then there is real growth i.e maturity.

Hebrews 5:13-14 (New International Version)
13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

So let us grow in all maturity which we derive from the Lord in various ways such as the Word of God, from the Spirit of God and through life experiences which the Lord uses to teach us. Let us be open to every teaching, correction and discipline the Lord brings so that we may grow and mature in Him.

1 Corinthians 2:6-7 (New International Version)

6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began

Growing in Him

Our growth in the Lord depends on two aspects. Love and truth. These are the vital features that has to be in a child of God. It is not the gift of tongues or of prophecy or a miracle working gift which identifies a believer. It is the key nature found in Christ by which people will identify us with Christ.

When we look at a kid or a grown up we identify a parental trait inherited either from his/her dad or mom by which we say that he/ she resembles so much like their parent. In the same way people have to identify us with Christ-like nature reflected in us, only then we can be sure that we are growing in Him...

Ephesians 4:15-16 (New Living Translation)
15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Growing in Knowledge

Have you ever wondered that many folks who read the Bible never get to know the Lord personally or understand His ways to adopt them in their lives? Many read the Bible, many go to Church, many pray but not all live a Christ-centered life. Not all live the life as He desires them to live. The reason is they know about Jesus but not they don't know Him personally. Unless a person is born again by the Spirit of God, they have no revelation from the Holy Spirit to know Jesus in a personal way...

But those who are born again in Christ (by believing the gospel of Christ and by yielding to Him by faith) are given the Holy Spirit who opens their spiritual eyes. They are given the knowledge and wisdom by the Holy Spirit to know Christ more...

Ephesians 1:17 (New International Version)
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

May the Father give us the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge so that we may know Him and His ways to live.

2 Peter 3:18 (New International Version)
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen

Growing in Faith

Faith grows in us only when we come to know the Lord more through our personal experience, His Word and His revelation of Himself to us in marvelous ways. If we don't grow in faith and in knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord, then we may become stagnant. Slowly we may also diminish in our faith.

Ephesians 4:13 (New International Version)
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

In the same way fellowship of believers is important because people in the Lord build one another in Christ, strengthen each other and partner with one another to pray for others need. Therefore let us never forsake our time with God, limit our knowledge of Christ (through God's Word and good Christian books) and neglect fellowship with believers.

Heavy loads

Most of us carry unnecessary loads in our head. When there is a problem, to work on the existing problem productively is all that is required (by the grace of God). But otherwise many times we worry about the problems of tomorrow which we may foresee.

But the Lord tells us,

Matthew 6:34 (New International Version)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We many times become anxious, scared, tensed by foreseeing problems which sometimes may never come...This will only hinder our daily lives and our well being. It is better to concentrate on the tasks for the present day rather than carrying an uncertain problem of tomorrow in our heads.

Taking the risk

As God's children when we show Christ-like love to people, not all will recognize it or receive it as we may expect. Many may be indifferent to it, many even cause pain for exhibiting Christ-like love and kindness. There is some degree of risk involved when we give and show Christ-like love to others.

But are we ready to take that kind of risk? Would we still continue to show Christ-like love to those who might have caused us pain? Would we forgive and accept them if they come back?

2 Corinthians 8:21 (New International Version)
For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

If we have really understood and realized God's love, His forgiveness and His grace in our lives, then we for sure would take that risk.

Brotherly submission

Another kind of submission that the Word of God exhorts us to do is submitting to one another in brotherly love. Even among believers it is so difficult to find Christ-like love for one another. People come to you to get something done...but when that doesn't work for them, then people may act indifferent or weird. It is sad to say that this happens within the Church i.e. even among the Christian circles. Christ has called us to love one another with a brotherly love. This kind of love has to be genuine and pure. It has to be unconditional like that of God's love (called the Agape love in Greek). Since we receive the Agape love from God, we are to show the same kind of love to our brethren.

Romans 13:8 (New International Version)
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

When we submit to one another with brotherly love, the love and care will be genuine without any selfish motives. We will start loving people without expecting any benefits in return which will be exhibited through our actions and deeds.

Ephesians 5:21 (New International Version)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Let us owe no man nothing but love (brotherly love). Let us love people and use things; rather than loving things and using people unlike the people of this world.

Absolute Surrender

What is the absolute point of surrender to God? Is it forsaking every wish or desire and live like a recluse? No. It is aligning our thoughts, desires, will, purpose, goals and plans to the divine will of God. When we do thus, then we will find our true self in God. Many people think that living in absolute surrender will nullify their personality and have no meaning to their being or living. But that is a misconception. When we completely surreneder ourselves to God, we find our true identity in Christ. Then we will be able to see the wonder of His plan and purpose in our life.

Apostle Paul found his true identity in Christ. Paul was a prominent Pharisee, a well learned man of his time. Yet what he was before knowing the Lord, he considered them as rubbish after having known Christ (Phil 3: 4-8). That is the value of his identity in Christ. After his conversion Paul became one of the most significant Apostle by the way God used him. His writings and work (inspired by God's Spirit) has formed the firm foundation for the 'Church' for ages now...

We too like Paul will be able to find our true identity in Christ when we live a life of absolute surrender. Then we will be able to say like the Psalmist...

Psalm 18:35 (NASB)
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great.

Sure submission...

As God's children when we completely surrender and submit to Jesus everyday, then the Spirit of God will live within us. If we ask anything against the will of God or when our thought process is not in line with God's will, then the Spirit of God will indicate to us through our minds and hearts. There will be disturbance to our hearts or minds which will make us think twice.

Mostly for every aspect of life, the will of God is revealed in God's Word. But for those things that are not addressed in God's Word the Spirit of God reveals to us through our conscience. Anything asked or thought against the will of God will be refuted by the Holy Spirit. And anything which is as per His will, the Spirit of God confirms in agreement (which may be confirmed through the Word too). For this we have to be in tune with God's Spirit and open to His leading.

Apostle Paul always lived in tune with the Holy Spirit. He was many times not lead by the Spirit of God to go to certain places where he planned to preach the Gospel. Everytime the Spirit of God directed him with respect to his life.

Romans 9:1 (New International Version)
I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit—

Even we like Apostle Paul should be able to say that our conscience confirms in the Holy Spirit with regard to every matter we think or decide. Only then will we able to know how sure we are submissive to His will in our lives.

Submission

When we go to God in prayer, sometimes we become so easygoing that we start telling God what He should be doing with our lives. It is no wrong to bring our petitions and requests to Him with all humility, but sometimes knowingly or unknowingly we start directing God.

In our relationship with the Master, the first and the foremost important issue is submission. We need to be subject to His will and His ways in our lives. For God knows what is best for us in our lives and we only need to 'Trust' our heavenly Father ...There can be no one better to lead our lives in the best way.

So let us not forget the importance of surrendering to Christ knowing that He is our 'Good Shepherd'

James 4:7 (New International Version)
Submit yourselves, then, to God...

Living Waters

During our times of prayer, we can share with God just the way we share it with a dearest friend. He can listen and emphathize like a good friend, guide like a teacher, take care or provide like a father and also be a wonderful counselor. No one can fulfill our deepest longings and thirsts like the way Jesus does.

Every human being will have deepest longings and thirsts in life which they try to satisfy through various things such as relationships, achievements, doing stuff or going places etc. But these things will not satisfy a person's deep longings or thirsts. They can be satisfied only by the Good Shepherd...

For Jesus said,
John 7:37-38 (New International Version)
37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

The Lord knows our heart and he will fulfill all our righteous desires. He will also fill our hearts with living waters which will satisfy our deep longings and thirsts.

In Solitude

It is in the time of solitude with God where we find true comfort and strength. For God alone knows our hearts deep desires, pains and worries. He is well aware of the deepest longings or concerns of our heart. When we have that solitary time with the Lord, He addresses those things to us. It is then do we realize how concerned and deeply involved He is about every aspect of our life.

Jesus never missed His personal time with His Father. He often went to hills and mountain sides so that He can be replenished from His father's presence. He also received His power from the Holy Spirit to carry out His work. He was always in tune with God.

Matthew 14:23 (New International Version)
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.

This was these solitary times which gave strength to Jesus. So it is for us...
Times of solitude will give us strength... We will be replenished and find renewed resources to carry our life with grace. To compromise on that can weaken our souls and energy.

2 Thessalonians 2:16 (New International Version)
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope.

Grace and prayer

We have come to see how God's children learn to live their lives by 'grace'. Every aspect in life moves by grace, every blessing received by grace, every good deed, every appreciable character or trait comes by grace. Every selflessness like Jesus comes through grace. Likewise the Spirit of grace and supplication. God promised that He will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplication on house of David.

Zechariah 12:10 (NIV)
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication..."

Only through this Spirit will people be able to know the Lord more, and will be able to get into a deeper relationship with Him. Once they get into a deeper realtionship with the Lord, people pray not only for themselves but also for others. They become selfless in their prayer lives praying more for others...from self concept to others first concept. This is what grace can do in our lives and much more ...making us and remaking us more like our Savior.

Grace immeasurable

As children of God we know what it means to live by grace...But for people outside they may not realize grace to the fullest extent. Yet God who is full of grace grants His mercy and loving kindness to all. Many may be living by His grace without their knowledge. But someday they will come to know that it is from Christ that they had received grace... when they come to know Him personally.

As the word of God says,
John 1:17 (NIV)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Even for people who do not come under the Mosaic law, there is a moral law that is written in a man's conscience by which a person lives. But by just following the law we cannot live a sinless life, it is only by grace which we receive through Christ. Only through Christ we can be washed off from our sins and have a new birth through which we will live a renewed life in Him. And by living so we will receive grace upon grace due to which there is blessing added to blessing. That is the secret of Christian life...

John 1:16 (NIV)
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

But this is not available to people who are not in the Lord. That is why it is written
Jonah 2:8 (New International Version)
"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

People not in Christ do not avail themselves grace which could be theirs in immeasurable terms. Grace is available as much as we want and are willing to take...