Prayer Focus - Needs
Day 6
Pray for:
One thing that you need to be grateful for but find it difficult to be
One person that you need to apologize to, resolve a conflict with, or forgive
One dream that you need to surrender to God
One challenge that you need to face and deal with
One health issue that you need to deal with
One sin you need to overcome
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your voice today and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 98
"Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." ( vs. 1 - 3 )
We are told again to sing a new song! We are told to be different; to start over. Why is this so important to God? This first verse holds the key. God has done marvelous things; He has brought salvation and not just salvation for the Jewish nation, but for the whole world. The whole Bible is an amazing story written over a long period of time by various authors that tells the story of a loving God seeking to restore a lost relationship with His creation. God has always been after us to give us the chance to start over; to sing a new song. He had so many dreams and desires for a people that would love Him and He has patiently been pursuing the human race and each one of us ever since the fall. He is not satisfied with anyone being lost. He includes story after story of how He feels about each and every person that turns back to Him. He rejoices over the returned souls. What an amazing thought that I am that loved. In another part of the Scriptures it states that even if our mothers and fathers could forget us, God would not be able to. We are etched in His heart and soul. We are His. This is why we are to rejoice. This is why we are to sing a new song; because God has made it possible.
Another wonderful thought I have about this verse is that it shows the universality of a faith in God. It is not limited to one country or group of people. It is for everyone. Sometimes I think that those of us in America, think that Christianity has to look like American Christianity to be real, but this is so far from the truth. The Scriptures do not tell us what our dress should look like or what our songs should be or how each step of our worship service should go. It speaks to the heart. It speaks of loving God and loving others. If I am in another country, true Christianity will look like the people in that country with all their rich heritage loving God and others with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. What is important is our hearts. So if I worship outside in a field or I worship in a grand cathedral, it is all the same. I am worshipping God. I hope that we can open up our eyes to the love of God for all people and all nations. God wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. We should too.
Key verses:
I Timothy 2: 1 - 4
"I urge, then, first of all, that request, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
Jeremiah 29: 11-13
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.'"
Luke 15:6 - 7
"Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
Isaiah 49:14 - 16
"But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.'
'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.'"
Acts 17: 26 - 27
"From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, thought He is not far from each one of us.
Galatians 3: 26 - 29
"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
You have done amazing miracles. You have worked salvation for the whole world. You have pursued us relentlessly. We have never been loved as we are with You. You love in a perfect manner and all that You bring into our lives is what we need to grow and change. Help us to love as You love. Help us to sing this new song and not be bound up with our traditions. We can truly change the world if we love. We thank You for giving us this task.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. What marvelous things have I seen God do in my life? Am I grateful on a regular basis for these things? Why or why not? How can I increase my appreciation for what has God has done for me?
2. Have I experienced a fresh start with God? What was this experience like and when did it take place? What did I leave behind?
3. How do I feel about people that do not share my faith? Am I concerned about them being found by God? Why do I feel this way? Am I helping others to find God? Why or why not? What can I do to be more involved with helping others?
4. How do I feel about people that are different from me? How do I feel about people that worship differently from me? Am I prejudice in any way? How is this unlike God? What can I do to change?
5. Am I holding onto any religious traditions? Do I think people have to worship exactly as I do to be right with God? Why or why not? What can I do to reach out to others that differ from me religiously and show them the love of God?
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Daily Devotional - 9/30/15
Prayer Focus - Wants
Day 5
Pray for:
One thing you want to understand about God
One characteristic you want to develop that will help you to be more loving towards others
One dream you have for your life
One issue in your character that you would like to see changed
One regret that you would like to move past
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 90
"Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. You turn men back to dust, saying, 'Return to dust, O sons of men.' For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning - though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
We finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years - or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us: establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands." ( vs. 1 - 6, 9b - 10, 12, 14, 17 )
We have come from God, and we will return to face Him. The unseen is unfathomable, but sometimes I can slightly catch an understanding. What if I had never been born, didn't exist at all. What if I had never had the chance to experience life here on earth or anywhere for that matter. That thought has always made me slightly nauseous because I love life. I am so grateful that I exist, even on the worst days.
Life is so strange. We are here, and then we are gone. Where do we go? What is important? So many unknowns. But we can know a few things. We are here now. There is something beyond us, and we will die someday. Seventy or eighty years if we have the strength. Isn't that the truth? Living can be hard. Living can be confusing. But we know, we can see, that there is something special in us that is keeping us alive and when someone dies, that spark that made them who they are is gone and now there is just an outer shell. They are no longer here.
So if we are here and then gone, and if God remains, what is really important? If I am going to fly away back to God, I had better be ready for that. We need to face this reality, that this time here is really just the pause before the real life begins. If what comes after earth lasts for eternity, time without end, then that is so much more important than what I have on my to do list today. I do need to number my days correctly. I can not believe that I am almost 50 now. It seems that I was just a child. Time has gone by so fast and it will never come back to me. Each moment is gone forever. What will I make of my remaining days? Realistically, my life is already half over, unless I can somehow manage to stay alive until I am 100. I must remember this and focus. I no longer have time to waste, if I ever did.
I want to be satisfied by God and God alone. I want to awake and be content with His love. I want to really live while I have the chance and no longer be afraid. Fear is so binding; so limiting. Only God can do this. It is not within me. I turn to God and pray that His favor will rest upon me. I pray that His favor will rest upon you. I want to make a difference in this world, that it mattered that I was here and that I left things better than I found them. Yes Lord, establish the work of our hands and help us to walk with You and no longer be afraid.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We are here. We know that this is not all there is. The unknown is frightening, but You say that perfect love drives out fear. Your love is perfect. Please drive out our fear. Help us to see life as You see it and to have the proper priorities. Help us to truly live. The time is short. We want to make it count.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I ever think about how short life is? Do I think about eternity? Why or why not? How can thinking about these concepts help me?
2. Do I think about what I would like to accomplish with my life? Are my goals in line with God's? How do I know?
3. Does my relationship with God motivate me? Am I in love with God? Does His love satisfy me or am I looking for something else to make me happy?
4. Am I joyful? Why or why not? How could I cultivate more joy? How could changing my priorities affect my joy level?
5. Do I feel like God's favor is on me? Why or why not? What work do I see God blessing in my life? Is it different from what I would like to see God blessing? Is what I consider my work the same as what God would consider my work? Why do I think this?
Day 5
Pray for:
One thing you want to understand about God
One characteristic you want to develop that will help you to be more loving towards others
One dream you have for your life
One issue in your character that you would like to see changed
One regret that you would like to move past
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 90
"Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. You turn men back to dust, saying, 'Return to dust, O sons of men.' For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning - though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
We finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years - or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us: establish the work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands." ( vs. 1 - 6, 9b - 10, 12, 14, 17 )
We have come from God, and we will return to face Him. The unseen is unfathomable, but sometimes I can slightly catch an understanding. What if I had never been born, didn't exist at all. What if I had never had the chance to experience life here on earth or anywhere for that matter. That thought has always made me slightly nauseous because I love life. I am so grateful that I exist, even on the worst days.
Life is so strange. We are here, and then we are gone. Where do we go? What is important? So many unknowns. But we can know a few things. We are here now. There is something beyond us, and we will die someday. Seventy or eighty years if we have the strength. Isn't that the truth? Living can be hard. Living can be confusing. But we know, we can see, that there is something special in us that is keeping us alive and when someone dies, that spark that made them who they are is gone and now there is just an outer shell. They are no longer here.
So if we are here and then gone, and if God remains, what is really important? If I am going to fly away back to God, I had better be ready for that. We need to face this reality, that this time here is really just the pause before the real life begins. If what comes after earth lasts for eternity, time without end, then that is so much more important than what I have on my to do list today. I do need to number my days correctly. I can not believe that I am almost 50 now. It seems that I was just a child. Time has gone by so fast and it will never come back to me. Each moment is gone forever. What will I make of my remaining days? Realistically, my life is already half over, unless I can somehow manage to stay alive until I am 100. I must remember this and focus. I no longer have time to waste, if I ever did.
I want to be satisfied by God and God alone. I want to awake and be content with His love. I want to really live while I have the chance and no longer be afraid. Fear is so binding; so limiting. Only God can do this. It is not within me. I turn to God and pray that His favor will rest upon me. I pray that His favor will rest upon you. I want to make a difference in this world, that it mattered that I was here and that I left things better than I found them. Yes Lord, establish the work of our hands and help us to walk with You and no longer be afraid.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We are here. We know that this is not all there is. The unknown is frightening, but You say that perfect love drives out fear. Your love is perfect. Please drive out our fear. Help us to see life as You see it and to have the proper priorities. Help us to truly live. The time is short. We want to make it count.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I ever think about how short life is? Do I think about eternity? Why or why not? How can thinking about these concepts help me?
2. Do I think about what I would like to accomplish with my life? Are my goals in line with God's? How do I know?
3. Does my relationship with God motivate me? Am I in love with God? Does His love satisfy me or am I looking for something else to make me happy?
4. Am I joyful? Why or why not? How could I cultivate more joy? How could changing my priorities affect my joy level?
5. Do I feel like God's favor is on me? Why or why not? What work do I see God blessing in my life? Is it different from what I would like to see God blessing? Is what I consider my work the same as what God would consider my work? Why do I think this?
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Daily Devotional - 9/13/15 (11/13/09)
Prayer Focus - Needs
Day 2
Pray for:
One thing that is needed in the world
One thing that is needed in your country
Focus on how the fulfilled need will help impact people's:
spiritual lives
physical lives
emotional lives
mental lives
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 73
"Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." ( vs. 1-2 )
"This is what the wicked are like - always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning...When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when You arise, O Lord, You will despise them as fantasies." ( vs. 13-14, 16-20 )
"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You. Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." ( vs. 21-26 )
Day 2
Pray for:
One thing that is needed in the world
One thing that is needed in your country
Focus on how the fulfilled need will help impact people's:
spiritual lives
physical lives
emotional lives
mental lives
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 73
"Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." ( vs. 1-2 )
"This is what the wicked are like - always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning...When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when You arise, O Lord, You will despise them as fantasies." ( vs. 13-14, 16-20 )
"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You. Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." ( vs. 21-26 )
It is easy to lose sight of what is truly important in life. We know it should be God, but when we look around at others and compare ourselves with them, especially those that are not following God, we can end up dissatisfied with our lot. Those who are chasing after what the world has to offer can achieve quite a bit and I believe that Satan rewards them to help lead others astray. We can envy many things about them. We can look at their schedules, which often have more free time and leisure activities, and be frustrated because we always feel so busy. We can look at their financial success and feel like failures. We forget to look at the unethical methods they often use to get ahead or the wake of destruction that is left behind when they solely focus on money. We can look at their fancy houses, clothes, and the like and then wonder why we are having such a hard time and why we are struggling and trying to do things God's way. Sometimes we feel like God is not being fair. But God never promised wealth and success. God promised spiritual rewards. He would like to give us these things but it is not a guarantee. What is most important to God is where we are at spiritually and what will ultimately get us to heaven to be with Him for eternity.
If we lose sight of this we can easily slip. It is not hard to get to this point and when we do, we become like "brute beasts". We start envying. We lose all of our dignity and integrity. We often do things that we will later regret. This is not what we really want nor is it what God wants for us. At this point, we need to get our focus back. We need to turn to God and enter His sanctuary. We need to remember what will happen to all those who do not know Him. They will not endure. Whatever they are enjoying is for this life only. When we die, we take nothing with us. Naked we came and naked we go. Without God, they will leave it all here and enter eternity impoverished. They will be like a dream that is despised in the morning.
I don't want to be a bad dream to God. I want to be a good memory, and not even a memory, a good and faithful servant who is always with Him, serving Him for eternity. The amazing thing is, with God, this is possible. God is still with us, even when we are faltering. He is holding our hand and guiding us in the way that we should go. Everything may fail but God will not. God is our strength forever.
"But as for me, it is good to be near God." (vs. 28a)
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We know You are good. We have always known this in our souls, yet we slip so easily. We are like Peter who took his eyes off you when he was walking on the water. We sink. We begin to look at those around us and begin to envy their prosperity and ease. Help us to enter into Your sanctuary on a daily basis so that we will remember their final destiny. Help us to remember what life is all about and that the eternal is what truly matters. We ask to not be like brute beasts but like those that have integrity and uprightness. We do not want to be a bad dream to You. We do not want to be despised when You awake. We do not want to be swept away by terrors or cast down to ruin. Help us to live for eternity and to live clearly and simply. You are here guiding us. Help us to not fight Your guidance, but to embrace it. We thank You for being our strength and our portion forever. You are all we have. There is nothing better than You. We desire nothing else than to please You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. What things cause me to envy the most? What circumstances and people cause me the most trouble? How can I combat this?
2. Do I ever feel that I am trying so hard and yet it is all in vain? Do I feel this way when I am forgetting all the good things that God has done for me? How can I rekindle my gratitude?
3. How can I enter into the sanctuary of God on a daily basis? What places and settings help me to remember my spiritual perspective and get back to being grounded in what is important again? How can I incorporate these things into my daily life?
4. How is God guiding me? Am I receptive to His leading through His word, others, and my inner conscience? How can I become more receptive?
5. Am I being still so that I can remember that God is God and allow myself to hear His voice? Do I think about eternity and cultivate this long term perspective? How can I think more long term when it comes to my relationship with God and my goals?
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Daily Devotional - 9/5/15 (11/5/09)
Prayer Focus - Gratitude
Day 1
Pray for:
One thing I am grateful for about the country that I live in
Thank God for the effect that what I am grateful for has on:
my spiritual life
my physical life
my emotional life
my mental life
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 65
"O You who hear prayer, to You all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, You forgave our transgressions, Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts! We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple. You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas," ( vs. 2-5)
"You care for the land and water it; You enrich it abundantly. ..You crown the year with Your bounty and Your carts overflow with abundance." (vs. 9a ; 11)
We worship "O You who hear prayer." What a good way to describe God. He hears our prayers. He is waiting to hear from us. It is hard sometimes to find a person who can listen to us. Everyone is so busy these days and most people have so many things to deal with already. Yet, God always has time. Even silly little things are not unimportant to Him. I am grateful I can turn to Him and pour out my heart at anytime. I am never alone.
I am grateful that there is more to life than just the physical aspects; the seen. I know there is more, but many people can not get beyond the seen. This does not negate what is true, however. There is a greater truth that does exist and some day we will all know it. Some day, all men will come to God and bow down before Him, acknowledging that He is who the Bible says He is. We are blessed if we have been given the opportunity to know and follow God. He chose us, not the other way around. That should make us eternally grateful; that we were chosen and that we will be filled with all the good things that God has in His house. How grateful I am that He has chosen me now. I am grateful that He picked me. Why? I do not know but I thank Him daily. I truly am blessed.
I am also thankful that God forgives our sins. That is what makes Christianity so different. Many religions teach us how to live and have noble aspects to them but there is always the problem of sin. We have all sinned. We are all separated at some point because of this. We can never work our way to forgiveness or become good enough to pay for what we have done in the past and what we continue to do because of our human frailty. But in Christ, there is forgiveness of sin. This forgiveness comes through the death of Jesus on the cross.
God is the hope of all the earth. He is my hope. He can do anything and everything, even care for the land. I do not need to worry. God is the one who keeps this whole planet functioning and He cares for all that is alive on earth. He knows every single bird. He knows the number of hears on our heads. He knows everything about us and loves us just the same. Is there anyone else like our God? No, not one.
God's ways are right. God's ways are loving. Crown us with Your bounty, Lord. Yes, crown us as we strive to follow You. Surely Your cart does overflow.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We are so grateful to have been chosen by You and brought close to You. We are so grateful that even though You are caring for everything n the world, You still have time for us. You have so much abundance and blessings. You are able to provide richly for us. Help us to remember that Your idea of riches and abundance are often different than ours. You are our hope.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I believe that God hears prayer? How is my prayer life? How can I improve it?
2. Am I asking God for forgiveness for my sins on a daily basis? Am I feeling overwhelmed or relieved? Can I make a daily list of what I need forgiving from for a week and then commit to praying about these needs?
3. Do I realize that I have been chosen by God? Am I living like a chosen one? How can my life reflect this in a greater way?
4. Do I realize that God is managing and running the whole world? List twenty of the things that God does on a day to day basis in keeping the earth functioning?
5. Do I think about the power of God that is available in my life if He is able to do all the things previously written down? What should I be bringing to Him in prayer if I believe He is truly in charge of everything?
Day 1
Pray for:
One thing I am grateful for about the country that I live in
Thank God for the effect that what I am grateful for has on:
my spiritual life
my physical life
my emotional life
my mental life
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 65
"O You who hear prayer, to You all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, You forgave our transgressions, Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts! We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple. You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas," ( vs. 2-5)
"You care for the land and water it; You enrich it abundantly. ..You crown the year with Your bounty and Your carts overflow with abundance." (vs. 9a ; 11)
We worship "O You who hear prayer." What a good way to describe God. He hears our prayers. He is waiting to hear from us. It is hard sometimes to find a person who can listen to us. Everyone is so busy these days and most people have so many things to deal with already. Yet, God always has time. Even silly little things are not unimportant to Him. I am grateful I can turn to Him and pour out my heart at anytime. I am never alone.
I am grateful that there is more to life than just the physical aspects; the seen. I know there is more, but many people can not get beyond the seen. This does not negate what is true, however. There is a greater truth that does exist and some day we will all know it. Some day, all men will come to God and bow down before Him, acknowledging that He is who the Bible says He is. We are blessed if we have been given the opportunity to know and follow God. He chose us, not the other way around. That should make us eternally grateful; that we were chosen and that we will be filled with all the good things that God has in His house. How grateful I am that He has chosen me now. I am grateful that He picked me. Why? I do not know but I thank Him daily. I truly am blessed.
I am also thankful that God forgives our sins. That is what makes Christianity so different. Many religions teach us how to live and have noble aspects to them but there is always the problem of sin. We have all sinned. We are all separated at some point because of this. We can never work our way to forgiveness or become good enough to pay for what we have done in the past and what we continue to do because of our human frailty. But in Christ, there is forgiveness of sin. This forgiveness comes through the death of Jesus on the cross.
God is the hope of all the earth. He is my hope. He can do anything and everything, even care for the land. I do not need to worry. God is the one who keeps this whole planet functioning and He cares for all that is alive on earth. He knows every single bird. He knows the number of hears on our heads. He knows everything about us and loves us just the same. Is there anyone else like our God? No, not one.
God's ways are right. God's ways are loving. Crown us with Your bounty, Lord. Yes, crown us as we strive to follow You. Surely Your cart does overflow.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We are so grateful to have been chosen by You and brought close to You. We are so grateful that even though You are caring for everything n the world, You still have time for us. You have so much abundance and blessings. You are able to provide richly for us. Help us to remember that Your idea of riches and abundance are often different than ours. You are our hope.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I believe that God hears prayer? How is my prayer life? How can I improve it?
2. Am I asking God for forgiveness for my sins on a daily basis? Am I feeling overwhelmed or relieved? Can I make a daily list of what I need forgiving from for a week and then commit to praying about these needs?
3. Do I realize that I have been chosen by God? Am I living like a chosen one? How can my life reflect this in a greater way?
4. Do I realize that God is managing and running the whole world? List twenty of the things that God does on a day to day basis in keeping the earth functioning?
5. Do I think about the power of God that is available in my life if He is able to do all the things previously written down? What should I be bringing to Him in prayer if I believe He is truly in charge of everything?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Daily Devotional - 9/2/10 (10/2/09)
Prayer Focus - Leaders (any type - World, State, Local, Church, Business, Work)
Pray for:
One leader who inspires you
One leader who you know is struggling with something
Pray about:
Their physical needs
Their mental needs
Their emotional needs
Their spiritual needs
Dear Lord - Open my ears to hear You and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 32
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said,' I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' - and You forgave the guilt of my sin." (vs. 1-5)
We all want to be blessed. Here are some keys for us to consider. We are blessed if we are forgiven. We are blessed if we have no deceit. Why is this? First of all, we can be right with God and have a relationship with Him now and after death. But secondly, and quite relevant while we are here on earth, we can walk with out fear and guilt. It is a terrible state to be in when there is something we are hiding. The psalmist writes that when he was silent his bones wasted away and he groaned night and day. He was miserable. That is how undealt with sin affects us. We can think that eventually we will forget, but we are still haunted. Only when we get things out can we feel that light free feeling that comes with a transparent life. It is a truly blessed feeling. I have been in both places. I know. We need to be open channels for God's love to flow through us. There is so much that needs to be done in this world, that we just can't let sin, clutter, confusion, and disorder of any kind block us and stop us up. We will lose the strength and power that is available to us. We will miss the opportunities that God has in store for us. We need to just open up our lives and then call out to God to search us and heal us.
"Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him." (vs. 6-9)
We do this by confessing and then by going to God in prayer. We can't wait. We must pray while God can be found. There are opportunities when God is calling us and we can miss them. People miss out on God and eventually our hearts can get so hardened to everything that it will be almost impossible for us to change. Unfortunately, there are deadlines in life. Whether or not we want them to exist, they do. Thank God, however, that we can hide in Him. We don't have to run and hide somewhere when we are feeling guilty. We can go to Him because He is much better place to hide than any real physical place. God will protect us and restore us. He will make us into someone incredible if we let Him. He created us for great and glorious things and He will teach us and show us the way to go. He will counsel us and watch over us.
There is a catch to these incredible promises though. We have to receive His direction. We need to not be like an animal who has to be forced to go where its master wants it to go. God is longing for us to follow willingly. Our attitude should be, "I will do it!" Let's not force God anymore. The road is much easier for us when we are not rebellious. The way of the rebellious is hard the Bible states elsewhere, but unfailing love surrounds us if we trust in God.
"Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!" (vs. 11)
If I am righteous and upright in my heart, I will be able to do this. I will rejoice and be glad. I will be able to see beauty in everything. This is God's world. Despite the sadness and difficulties, it still is good, and there is always hope.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We are grateful for Your forgiveness. Help us not to be deceitful. We are praying. Help us to pray more. We want to find You. You are our hiding place and it is good to be able to run to You. We do not want to run away any longer. Grant us the strength to face where we have gone wrong and turn to You. We need You and we long for Your unfailing love. We will rejoice in You for You are good.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. How am I deceitful? How can I become honest in all my ways?
2. Is there anything blocking the flow of God's love and communication through me? If so, how can I get rid of it?
3. Am I praying about my needs and the needs of others regularly? Why or why not? How can I get in the practice of praying for others on a regular basis?
4. How am I doing at receiving God's instruction? Am I willing to learn or am I like an animal that needs a bit and bridle in my mouth to force me to obey? Why am I like this and what results am I gaining from my attitude towards instruction?
5. Am I rejoicing daily? What is my attitude about life? Have I let undealt with sin make me bitter? How can I change and start seeing the beauty that God intended for us in the world?
Pray for:
One leader who inspires you
One leader who you know is struggling with something
Pray about:
Their physical needs
Their mental needs
Their emotional needs
Their spiritual needs
Dear Lord - Open my ears to hear You and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 32
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said,' I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' - and You forgave the guilt of my sin." (vs. 1-5)
We all want to be blessed. Here are some keys for us to consider. We are blessed if we are forgiven. We are blessed if we have no deceit. Why is this? First of all, we can be right with God and have a relationship with Him now and after death. But secondly, and quite relevant while we are here on earth, we can walk with out fear and guilt. It is a terrible state to be in when there is something we are hiding. The psalmist writes that when he was silent his bones wasted away and he groaned night and day. He was miserable. That is how undealt with sin affects us. We can think that eventually we will forget, but we are still haunted. Only when we get things out can we feel that light free feeling that comes with a transparent life. It is a truly blessed feeling. I have been in both places. I know. We need to be open channels for God's love to flow through us. There is so much that needs to be done in this world, that we just can't let sin, clutter, confusion, and disorder of any kind block us and stop us up. We will lose the strength and power that is available to us. We will miss the opportunities that God has in store for us. We need to just open up our lives and then call out to God to search us and heal us.
"Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him." (vs. 6-9)
We do this by confessing and then by going to God in prayer. We can't wait. We must pray while God can be found. There are opportunities when God is calling us and we can miss them. People miss out on God and eventually our hearts can get so hardened to everything that it will be almost impossible for us to change. Unfortunately, there are deadlines in life. Whether or not we want them to exist, they do. Thank God, however, that we can hide in Him. We don't have to run and hide somewhere when we are feeling guilty. We can go to Him because He is much better place to hide than any real physical place. God will protect us and restore us. He will make us into someone incredible if we let Him. He created us for great and glorious things and He will teach us and show us the way to go. He will counsel us and watch over us.
There is a catch to these incredible promises though. We have to receive His direction. We need to not be like an animal who has to be forced to go where its master wants it to go. God is longing for us to follow willingly. Our attitude should be, "I will do it!" Let's not force God anymore. The road is much easier for us when we are not rebellious. The way of the rebellious is hard the Bible states elsewhere, but unfailing love surrounds us if we trust in God.
"Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!" (vs. 11)
If I am righteous and upright in my heart, I will be able to do this. I will rejoice and be glad. I will be able to see beauty in everything. This is God's world. Despite the sadness and difficulties, it still is good, and there is always hope.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We are grateful for Your forgiveness. Help us not to be deceitful. We are praying. Help us to pray more. We want to find You. You are our hiding place and it is good to be able to run to You. We do not want to run away any longer. Grant us the strength to face where we have gone wrong and turn to You. We need You and we long for Your unfailing love. We will rejoice in You for You are good.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. How am I deceitful? How can I become honest in all my ways?
2. Is there anything blocking the flow of God's love and communication through me? If so, how can I get rid of it?
3. Am I praying about my needs and the needs of others regularly? Why or why not? How can I get in the practice of praying for others on a regular basis?
4. How am I doing at receiving God's instruction? Am I willing to learn or am I like an animal that needs a bit and bridle in my mouth to force me to obey? Why am I like this and what results am I gaining from my attitude towards instruction?
5. Am I rejoicing daily? What is my attitude about life? Have I let undealt with sin make me bitter? How can I change and start seeing the beauty that God intended for us in the world?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Daily Devotional - 8/15/10 (9/15/09)
Focus Letter - O
Pray for:
Five things you are grateful for beginning with the focus letter
Five people whose first or last name begins with the focus letter
A place that begins with the focus letter
A characteristic that begins with the focus letter
Dear Lord - Help me to hear Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 15
"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?" (vs 1)
This question is in the hearts of most people whether they acknowledge it or not. We wonder if we are really going to make it and what it takes. Compare this verse to the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18: 18-30 (also Matt 19:16-30). He had everything going for him in a worldly sense and yet he still came to Jesus asking, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (vs. 18 b)
Jesus told him to obey the commandments and the man said he had. Then Jesus took it higher and confronted the man's heart. He told him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me (vs 22b)." In Psalms 15, the psalmist also lays out several principles to follow that are very intensive. He then states that if we do these things, we will never be shaken - we will, in effect, make it.
In Luke, however, the rich young ruler walks away sad. He was not willing to part with his great wealth and often this is like us as well. We wonder in our hearts what it takes to be right with God and yet when we find out, we don't want to do what it takes to obey. We walk away sad or we feel overwhelmed and hopeless at the prospect of really trying to live an exceptional life. Many times we rationalize away the requirements of God by saying that the Bible was written a long time ago, or can be interpreted many ways. Sometimes we focus only on the passages about God being loving and we throw around the statement that if God is love, then how can He judge or condemn. We pick and chose what we will obey. But do these coping mechanisms really solve the questions that lie deep in our hearts?
I don't believe they do. It reminds me of the line by Thoreau in Walden (1854) - "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." We go about our business and say everything is fine but deep down, a nagging feeling sits within us, rising occasionally, and so we too ask, "What will it take for me to make it?"
So, let's take a look at the different conditions in the psalm. This is who will make it:
"He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
who lends money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent." (vs. 2-5)
This is a high calling. This is probably not what we expect. Often we think of salvation we focus on the big things, "the externals". We figure if we don't murder, or steal, if we go to church once in awhile, if we are a good person (according to our definition) then we are okay. But God does not look at the outward appearance, He looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7). The requirements in this psalm are like those in Luke and also those in the greatest commandment - "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Luke 10:27)" It is all about who we are deep down. Can we say we are blameless? I can not. Can we say we speak the truth and never slander or say bad things about someone? I can not. Do we hate what God hates and honor what is good? Often it is the opposite for us. Do we keep our oath, even when it is hard to do? Or is it easy to just blow things off? Are we above reproach? No. We cover up all these shortcomings with the bandaid of outwardly appearing good or together, and so the question nags at us. We know what we are really like. Even the best of us, if we are willing to be honest with ourselves, are far from the mark.
So what are we to do? The disciples in the story about the rich young ruler also asked this question when the man went away sad. Jesus said as he left, "'How hard it was for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' Those who heard this asked, 'Who then can be saved?' (Luke 18:24b-26)" A good question to ask when we look at what is needed. The passage goes on - "Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.' (Luke 18:27)"
And with this we praise God. We can be saved. We can be purified from the inside and we can be forgiven. Then we can walk in continual forgiveness as we strive to do our best at obeying God. He knows we will sin; that is why Jesus died. We are to walk in the light of God and walk in openness, and then the blood of Jesus will purify us from all unrighteousness. The key is to acknowledge our sin and turn away from that which is wrong in our lives and strive to be different. With God, we can do it. The impossible will be possible. Then as we grow, we will become more and more like the person in this psalm and we truly will, never be shaken.
This passage in I John is a great summary of this miracle.
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." (I John 1:5 - 2:6)
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We thank You for the miracle of being able to have a relationship with You. We are not able to meet the requirements of heaven alone and so we praise You for providing a way for us to make it. All things are possible with You. Help us to strive our best to walk in the light and to confess our sins so that we may be healed. We have all fallen short. We are so grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus. We are so grateful that He is interceding for us and that his blood covers over our sins. We long to never be shaken. Grant us the strength to stay on the path to You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Which of these requirements of God are most difficult for me? Why?
2. Do I hate evil? How can I hate evil without being self-righteous? Do I honor what God honors? Do I honor those who fear the Lord? Why or why not? How can I change?
3. In what ways do I find myself getting "bought" or accepting bribes? What do I compromise my values for? Why? How can I stop?
4. Am I a man or woman of your word? When do I struggle most with letting my yes be yes, and my no, be no" (Matt 5:37)? How can I overcome this?
5. Am I walking in the light? Am I open about my sins with anyone? Do I have any accountability in my life? Why or why not? Who can I talk to about issues I may have? How will this help me?
Pray for:
Five things you are grateful for beginning with the focus letter
Five people whose first or last name begins with the focus letter
A place that begins with the focus letter
A characteristic that begins with the focus letter
Dear Lord - Help me to hear Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 15
"Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?" (vs 1)
This question is in the hearts of most people whether they acknowledge it or not. We wonder if we are really going to make it and what it takes. Compare this verse to the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18: 18-30 (also Matt 19:16-30). He had everything going for him in a worldly sense and yet he still came to Jesus asking, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (vs. 18 b)
Jesus told him to obey the commandments and the man said he had. Then Jesus took it higher and confronted the man's heart. He told him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me (vs 22b)." In Psalms 15, the psalmist also lays out several principles to follow that are very intensive. He then states that if we do these things, we will never be shaken - we will, in effect, make it.
In Luke, however, the rich young ruler walks away sad. He was not willing to part with his great wealth and often this is like us as well. We wonder in our hearts what it takes to be right with God and yet when we find out, we don't want to do what it takes to obey. We walk away sad or we feel overwhelmed and hopeless at the prospect of really trying to live an exceptional life. Many times we rationalize away the requirements of God by saying that the Bible was written a long time ago, or can be interpreted many ways. Sometimes we focus only on the passages about God being loving and we throw around the statement that if God is love, then how can He judge or condemn. We pick and chose what we will obey. But do these coping mechanisms really solve the questions that lie deep in our hearts?
I don't believe they do. It reminds me of the line by Thoreau in Walden (1854) - "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." We go about our business and say everything is fine but deep down, a nagging feeling sits within us, rising occasionally, and so we too ask, "What will it take for me to make it?"
So, let's take a look at the different conditions in the psalm. This is who will make it:
"He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
who lends money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent." (vs. 2-5)
This is a high calling. This is probably not what we expect. Often we think of salvation we focus on the big things, "the externals". We figure if we don't murder, or steal, if we go to church once in awhile, if we are a good person (according to our definition) then we are okay. But God does not look at the outward appearance, He looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7). The requirements in this psalm are like those in Luke and also those in the greatest commandment - "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Luke 10:27)" It is all about who we are deep down. Can we say we are blameless? I can not. Can we say we speak the truth and never slander or say bad things about someone? I can not. Do we hate what God hates and honor what is good? Often it is the opposite for us. Do we keep our oath, even when it is hard to do? Or is it easy to just blow things off? Are we above reproach? No. We cover up all these shortcomings with the bandaid of outwardly appearing good or together, and so the question nags at us. We know what we are really like. Even the best of us, if we are willing to be honest with ourselves, are far from the mark.
So what are we to do? The disciples in the story about the rich young ruler also asked this question when the man went away sad. Jesus said as he left, "'How hard it was for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' Those who heard this asked, 'Who then can be saved?' (Luke 18:24b-26)" A good question to ask when we look at what is needed. The passage goes on - "Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.' (Luke 18:27)"
And with this we praise God. We can be saved. We can be purified from the inside and we can be forgiven. Then we can walk in continual forgiveness as we strive to do our best at obeying God. He knows we will sin; that is why Jesus died. We are to walk in the light of God and walk in openness, and then the blood of Jesus will purify us from all unrighteousness. The key is to acknowledge our sin and turn away from that which is wrong in our lives and strive to be different. With God, we can do it. The impossible will be possible. Then as we grow, we will become more and more like the person in this psalm and we truly will, never be shaken.
This passage in I John is a great summary of this miracle.
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." (I John 1:5 - 2:6)
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We thank You for the miracle of being able to have a relationship with You. We are not able to meet the requirements of heaven alone and so we praise You for providing a way for us to make it. All things are possible with You. Help us to strive our best to walk in the light and to confess our sins so that we may be healed. We have all fallen short. We are so grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus. We are so grateful that He is interceding for us and that his blood covers over our sins. We long to never be shaken. Grant us the strength to stay on the path to You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Which of these requirements of God are most difficult for me? Why?
2. Do I hate evil? How can I hate evil without being self-righteous? Do I honor what God honors? Do I honor those who fear the Lord? Why or why not? How can I change?
3. In what ways do I find myself getting "bought" or accepting bribes? What do I compromise my values for? Why? How can I stop?
4. Am I a man or woman of your word? When do I struggle most with letting my yes be yes, and my no, be no" (Matt 5:37)? How can I overcome this?
5. Am I walking in the light? Am I open about my sins with anyone? Do I have any accountability in my life? Why or why not? Who can I talk to about issues I may have? How will this help me?
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