Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Dear Jesus...
please carry me through today, Lord...With gentle wings from above. Carry me through today, Lord...Let me feel your love. I shall not worry about tomorrow...Yesterday is gone. Just carry me through today, Lord...That's where I belong. Through all my trials and troubles, I know that you are there, Sometimes it's hard to see you,Through each tear and care. Carry me through today, Lord, Don't let me slip away. Tomorrow may be taken from me, So carry me through today. Amen! Be kind and uplift others today!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Worse Than Death
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference Acts 2:21 Hebrews 12 Psalm 6:1-12
Worse Than Death
Read Psalm 6:1-10
All of us know what it means to sin and to confess our sin. Psalm 6 is the first of the seven penitential psalms. Occasionally God has to remind us to confess our sins.
In verses 1-5 David pleads for God not to rebuke him or to chasten him. God's chastening is not punishment. It builds our Christian character. Hebrews 12 talks about chastening, and the word used means "child training." It's the picture of a child learning how to be a good athlete. God chastens us, but He does so in love. David was afraid that God was going to chasten him in His hot displeasure (v. 1). But our God is a God of mercy and grace. This doesn't mean, however, that we can minimize sin. This doesn't mean we should ever say, "Well, God is a forgiving God; therefore, I can do whatever I want to do, and He will forgive me." No, David was saying, "Lord, I've sinned. I'm weary with my groaning. Forgive me. I have done wrong." And God does forgive those who confess their sins to Him.
Sin is the Christian's worst possible experience. It's far worse than pain or suffering or even death itself. We are weak, and sometimes we fail. But let's never be afraid to come to our Father with our appeal for forgiveness. The tragedy is that all around us, enemies are waiting for us to fall. They want to point at us and say, "See, that Christian failed." But we can come before the Lord and ask Him for His forgiveness, and He will grant it to us. God will have mercy on us. "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21).
We must never treat sin lightly. Certainly, no Christian should ever harbor sin. But when we do sin, we may lean on God's mercy and grace and confess our sin to a loving Father. One of the great encouragements of the Christian life is that God forgives and restores. Are you living with unconfessed sin? Avoid God's chastening. Confess your sin and ask for His forgiveness.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Request, Reason and Response in the Midst of Trials
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference Psalm 5:1-12 James 1:5 Romans 8:26 Hebrews 5:7 Romans 12:19
Request, Reason and Response in the Midst of Trials
Read Psalm 5:1-l2
What do you do in difficult situations? Many of the psalms were written during difficult, often painful, experiences. In Psalm 5 we find two sequences concerning trials. In the first sequence (vv. 1-7), David is experiencing difficulty and makes his request--"hear me." (v. 1-3). Meditation here means "sighing, murmuring, groaning"--a quiet expression of feelings. When our burden is beyond expression, all we can do is sigh and moan before the Lord. The Spirit hears our groanings and intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26). David's meditation turns to a cry (v. 2; Heb. 5:7). Prayer is not always a quiet, joyful conversation with God. Sometimes it is a battle against the principalities arrayed against us.
David's reason for making this request is the holiness of God (vv. 4-6). He cried to God because He is holy and stands against the wicked and boastful. Although He will judge the wicked, God does not always judge sin immediately. David's response is worship (v. 7), individual and personal.
In the second sequence, David makes another request--"lead me" (v. 8). He wants God's way, which is the righteous way. In the midst of difficulty, what we need most is wisdom to know the will of God (James 1:5). Notice that David asks to be led, not delivered. God has a straight way through every difficulty that will lead us to victory.
His reason this time is the wickedness of man (vv. 9,10). Destruction means "a yawning, open abyss." An open tomb pictures defilement and death. Flattery is not communication; it is manipulation. Absalom fell by his own counsel. David did nothing. He let God do it all (Rom. 12:19).
David's response (vv. 11,12) is rejoicing in faith, love and hope. Joy comes from trusting in and loving the Lord. This kind of joy comes from God's work on the inside, not from circumstances on the outside.
The psalmist tells us to expect difficulty. We shouldn't run from our trials but bring to God our requests, our reasons and our response.
You need never be paralyzed by your difficulties. You have the privilege of praying to a loving, understanding Father, who knows your condition. He guides you through difficulty to victory. When your faith, hope and love are fixed on the Lord, you can face any difficulty or problem, and God will give you joy and peace within.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
A Heart Problem
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference Psalm 5:1-12 Romans 12:1 Revelation 1:5-6
A Heart Problem
Read Psalm 5:1-12
It's imperative for us to meet God in the morning if we want to have a good day. Jesus got up early in the morning to pray, according to Mark 1:35. Here we find the psalmist saying, "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up" (v. 3).
When I used to work the night shift, I would sleep in the morning. So when I got up in the afternoon, I would meet with the Lord. Meeting with God is not an appointment on a clock but an appointment in your heart. Does God hear your voice in the morning? When He looks on you at the beginning of your day, does He look on you as a priest who has come to offer Him sacrifices of praise? That's what direct means (v. 3)--"to order my prayer." It means to arrange the sacrifice on the altar.
When you wake up in the morning, remind yourself that you are one of God's priests. How did you become a priest? Through faith in Jesus Christ. "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father" (Rev. 1:5,6). You're one of God's priests. That means wherever you are is God's temple, because your body is His temple.
The first thing we do in the morning is the first thing the high priest used to do every morning. He laid the burnt offering on the altar. The burnt offering is a picture of total dedication to God. If you want to have a good day, start by giving yourself to the Lord as a burnt offering, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1). A good day begins in the morning, and it begins at the altar.
Does your day begin with God? If not, decide to start each morning by dedicating yourself to Him as a living sacrifice and ask His guidance for the day's decisions and actions. He wants to direct your life. So view each day as a gift from God and determine to be a good steward of the day's resources. Make your time with Him a daily appointment.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Rest In The Midst of Trials
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference James 1:20 Psalm 18:36 2 Samuel 12:10 Psalm 18:19 Matthew 4:3-4 Numbers 6:25 Psalm 4:1-8
Rest In The Midst of Trials
Read Psalm 4:1-8
David was experiencing great difficulty. He was in a "tight corner." God permits tight corners (II Sam. 12:10). He forgives but disciplines, and we reap what we sow (Ps. 25:17).
Psalm 4 is encouraging because it tells us that God cares for us and gives us several blessings in the midst of our trials. First, He gives us the blessing of enlargement (v. 1). Relieved means "enlarged." When God permits enlarged troubles, He enlarges His people; that is, we grow. Joseph is a good example of this (Ps. 18:19,36). His difficulties revealed his character, and he grew. Enlarged troubles lead to an enlarged life, which leads to an enlarged place and enlarged paths. God had an enlarged ministry for David, but He first had to make him grow.
Second, God gives us the blessing of encouragement (vv. 2,3). Eventually, all earthly causes will fail. Only the plan of God will succeed. The Lord is our shield, our glory and the One who lifts our head. In this life we will have problems, but God encourages us.
Third, God gives us the blessing of enablement (vv. 4,5). Tight corners bring us face to face with trusting versus temptation (Matt. 4:3,4). David had a right to be angry. Anger can be used of God to bring about righteousness, or it can be used by Satan to bring about sin (James 1:20). Meditate means "to discuss with yourself." It's so easy to brood when we're lying in bed, but God gives quietness when we meditate (Ps. 46:10).
Fourth, God gives us the blessings of enlightenment and enjoyment (vv. 6-8). David's people were discouraged. Are you a discourager or an encourager? As Christians, we should have the smile of God upon us (Num. 6:25). We should exhibit gladness and joy in the Lord. God adds to this the blessing of peace and sleep. This is possible when Christ is Savior. So get your eyes off the enemy and on the Lord. The temptation to sin is great during difficulties, but trust in the Lord, and He will give you peace and joy in the midst of difficulty.
God's blessings are designed to do more than simply comfort us in our difficulties; they are to help us grow. Take strength from knowing that God is weaving His purposes into your life and that He will reward your trust in Him. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Bigger and Better
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference Psalm 4:1-8
Bigger and Better
Read Psalm 4:1-8
Sometimes God's people can be so discouraging! In Psalm 4 we find David listening to people saying, "Who will show us any good?" (v. 6). David's own men were discouraged. They were going through a trial, and some were saying, "O David, this is the end. God is no longer going to help us." That's hard to take. It's rough when your associates or friends say to you, "Well, you've reached the end. Who will show us any good?"
But David called on the Lord, and God enlarged him. "You have relieved (enlarged) me when I was in distress" (v. 1). Pressure on the outside should make us bigger on the inside. The trials of life will press against us and make us either midgets or giants--either smaller or bigger. But we have to start on the inside. "You have relieved me when I was in distress." How did this happen?
David cried out to God, "You have put gladness in my heart" (v. 7). He started out with sadness and ended with gladness. He started with tears and ended with triumph. Once again he's sleeping beautifully. "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (v. 8).
David discovered that what was important was not the circumstance around him but the attitude within him. Let God enlarge you when you are going through distress. He can do it. You can't do it, and others can't do it for you. In fact, others may want to make things even tighter and narrower for you. But when you turn to the Lord and trust Him, He will enlarge you on the inside. You'll come out of your distresses a bigger person because you've trusted in the Lord.
There is a relationship between our attitude inside and our circumstances outside. If we maintain the proper attitude, God will use our trials to enlarge us. Are you going through a trial today? Give your circumstances to the Lord and trust Him to enlarge you.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Are You Sleeping Well?
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference Psalm 3:1-8
Are You Sleeping Well?
Read Psalm 3:1-8
How well we sleep sometimes indicates how much we really trust the Lord. David said, "I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me" (v. 5). We may think we can do that anytime. But what if we had been where David was? He was fleeing from his son Absalom, who had turned against him and had driven him from Jerusalem. Now David was in the wilderness with his army. It would be difficult to lie down and sleep knowing that you are in a dangerous wilderness and that your own son is against you. Oh, it wasn't the physical danger that kept David awake. He knew God would protect him. It was the inner spiritual and emotional agony of having his own flesh and blood trying to seize the kingdom from him.
But David said, in effect, "Lord, You are able to give me peace in my heart, the protection I need, the perspective I need. You are able to help me in the midst of this difficult situation." The heart of every problem is really the problem in the heart. David knew that it was not the army on the outside that would keep him awake but the agony on the inside.
This psalm starts with David's cry, "Many are they who rise up against me" (v. 1). He's pleading for help. The psalm ends with David's singing a song of praise (v. 8). Your day might begin by your pleading for help. But if you are trusting the Lord, it could end by your praising Him for the help He has given you.
Difficult circumstances often rob us of our peace and our perspective. When you find yourself in adverse circumstances or in the face of frightening consequences, admit your trouble and affirm your trust in Him. Then be encouraged that God protects you and gives you peace in the midst of the storm.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Four Voices: Part 2
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference Psalm 2:7-12
Four Voices: Part 2
Read Psalm 2:7-12
A third voice we hear in the world is the voice of declaration-- God the Son (vv. 7-9). He runs the universe by decree, not by democracy. He knows everything, is everywhere and can do anything. God's decrees will succeed. Puny, foolish men with their godless living will not eradicate or hinder His decrees.
God decrees that Jesus Christ is His Son. Jesus is God, and He is King by nature, by conquest and by His Resurrection. He is reigning today, and we can reign in life through Him (Rom. 5:17).
God also decrees that He will break the rebellious nations with "a rod of iron." When His scepter of righteousness goes forth in judgment, the nations will cry out, not in repentance but in rebellion. God already has given the nations to His Son (Matt. 4:8-10).
The fourth voice is the voice of decision--the Holy Spirit (vv. 10-12). He wants us to learn--to be wise, to be instructed. Many depend on philosophy, psychology and history. These disciplines are helpful, but Christians must rely first and foremost on the Spirit of God to reveal truth.
The Holy Spirit wants us to be willing to serve. We serve the Lord, not sin. There is joy with our fear because God is our Father. In searching for liberty, the rebellious crowd practices anarchy, for freedom without authority is anarchy. We are made in the image of God. To rebel against Him is to rebel against our own nature.
The Holy Spirit also wants us to be reconciled. God is reconciled to us through Christ (Acts 16:31). Jesus "kissed" us in His birth and death. Today He is the Lamb, but someday He will come as the Lion to judge. God is holy and will not allow sin and rebellion to go on forever.
Are you listening to the right voices? "Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him." We are saved by faith through the death of the Son of God. Are you saved? If not, hear His voice and trust in Him.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Four Voices: Part 1
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference Psalm 2:1-6
Four Voices: Part 1
Read Psalm 2:1-6
The world is getting noisier. So many voices vie for our attention. The result is that many people are getting the wrong instructions. It is important that we have discernment in a noisy world filled with propaganda. We need the truth.
We need to distinguish the four voices of Psalm 2. The first is the voice of defiance--the nations of the world (vv. 1-3). It is amazing that the nations would defy Almighty God. He has provided for them (Acts 14:17), guided them (I Tim. 6:17) and determined their histories (Acts 17:26). Why do the nations rebel? They seek freedom without God. P. T. Forsythe said, "The purpose of life is not to find your freedom. The purpose of life is to find your Master." Authority demands submission (Matt. 11:29).
The world is a mess morally,intellectually, socially, politically, economically and ecologically because it has defied God. Man is made in God's image. The irony is that when man rebels against God, he rebels against himself.
Second, we have the voice of derision--the voice of God the Father (vv. 4-6). While there is tumult on earth, there is tranquillity in heaven. God laughs because the Kingdom is secure; the King has been established. Jesus is God's King. Though the nations rebel, we don't need to worry, for the King is already enthroned in heaven.
Listen to the voice of God. He is laughing at the world's rebellion, and you can laugh with Him if Jesus is your King.
The world often tries to drown out the truth. Its voice of defiance is clear. The world's corruption is a result of its defiance. Take inventory of the voices you listen to. Are you part of the voice of defiance, or can you laugh with God at the world's rebellion?
Friday, January 4, 2008
When God Laughs
When God
Laughs
Read Psalm 2:1-12
Are you surprised that God laughs? "He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
the Lord shall hold them in derision" (v. 4). God has a sense of humor, but His
laughter is the kind that is born of judgment. It's the laughter of derision,
the laughter of irony. What is God laughing at? He's laughing at puny little
kings and rulers who have united to shake their fists at His throne and tell Him
they don't want Him to rule over them (vv. 2,3). God laughs at them because He
knows man cannot survive without submitting to His authority. Man is made in the
image of God, and if he fights against Him, he fights against himself. Man, in
his rebellion, tries to make God in his own image. He thinks God can be treated
with disdain and disobedience. And God laughs.
We can laugh when we read the headlines or watch TV reports. We see a world
in turmoil, a world united against God, but we laugh because He is still on the
throne. "Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion" (v. 6). Jesus Christ is
God's King, and He is on the throne. Therefore, we can look at the nations as
they are in turmoil, as they unite against God, and we can smile--in fact, we
can laugh. They are fighting a losing battle. Jesus Christ is on the throne of
the universe, and we who are Christians are seated with Him on that throne.
As believers, we are to be witnesses for Christ. Reaching a world that rebels
against God's authority can be difficult. Be encouraged, for your efforts will
not be wasted. God is in control and one day will bring all governments and
earthly powers into submission. Pray that He will use your life to reach others
and glorify Himself.
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Thursday, January 3, 2008
Are You Situated by the Waters?
Are You Situated by the
Waters?
Read Psalm 1:3-6
A tree is a blessing. It holds soil, provides shade and produces fruit. The
godly are like trees, with root systems that go deep into the spiritual
resources of God's grace (v. 3). But sadly, many professing Christians are not
like trees but are like artificial plants or cut flowers with no roots. They may
be beautiful for a while, but soon they die.
A tree needs light, water and roots to live. We all have resources upon which
we draw life. The question we need to ask ourselves is, Where are our roots? The
person God can bless is planted by the rivers of water. We must be careful not
to be like Christians who are dry and withered and depend upon their own
resources. They are like tumbleweeds, blown about by any wind of doctrine.
To have the blessings of verse 3, we need to meet the conditions of verses 1
and 2. That is, we must first be separated from the world and saturated with the
Word to be situated by the waters.
God desires to bless us, but we need to meet certain conditions to receive
His blessings. We bear fruit only when we have roots, and we must draw upon
spiritual resources to bring forth fruit in due season. To bear the fruit of the
Spirit, we must allow the Spirit to work in us and through us.
In contrast to the believer, the ungodly are not like trees but are like
chaff. They have no roots, produce no fruit and are blown about. The ungodly
reject the Word of God and will perish without hope (v. 6). As Christians we
must not reject the ungodly but try to reach them. God blesses us so that we
might be a blessing to others. His Spirit helps us bear fruit that can help win
the lost.
Are you like a tree or like chaff?
We need God's resources to bear fruit. But where we place our roots is
paramount. Only as we grow them deeply into the spiritual resources of God's
grace will we produce fruit. Make the Bible your spiritual resource. Delight in
it and feed your soul with its truth. God can use you to help win the lost.
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Thursday, December 20, 2007
How to Pray on the Go
Whitney Hopler
Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical
applications of Mark Littleton's new book, The Ten-Second Prayer Principle: Praying Powerfully as You
Go, (Howard Publishing, 2007).
Don't feel guilty if you don't have long stretches of time to send lengthy
prayers to God. He hears the short prayers you offer throughout your day -- like
while you're driving, exercising, working, or eating -- and He'll answer them,
too.
Incorporating brief prayers into your daily life will put you in frequent
contact with God, which will make your prayer life rich and full, no matter how
busy you are.
Here's how you can pray as you go through your daily life:
Recognize the
opportunities. Know that everything that comes your way is an
opportunity for you to pray about something. Realize that tremendous power you
have to change the world for the better through your prayers -- and decide to
use that power to the fullest. Ask God to give you His perspective on the people
and situations you encounter so you'll be motivated to pray for them.
Don't stop. Think of
prayer as something you can do continuously, without stopping. See it as ongoing
communication with God. Remember that God is always present with you. Aim to
check in with Him often through prayer.
Be natural. Understand
that prayer should come as naturally to you as breathing does. Don't worry about
trying to follow any type of formula for prayer; instead, simply pray in the way
that works best for you at a particular time. Be assured that God will hear your
prayers even if you don't go to a special place, kneel, close your eyes, speak
your prayer aloud, use elaborate language, or pray for a certain amount of time.
Relax and focus just on communicating with God in whatever way works best for
you.
Be creative. Realize
that prayer shouldn't be boring; it should be enjoyable and interesting. Rather
than praying about the same old subjects over and over, pray about new topics,
as well. Instead of using the same format for your prayers, mix up the order and
change the style for variety. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you pray, so
the process will be exciting.
Pay attention. Notice
the abundance of opportunities you have to pray all around you, and make a habit
of praying as you encounter various needs from people and situations in your
life. Instead of just praying about what's routinely on your mind, make time to
pray every time you interact with someone who needs God's touch or deal with
something that could benefit from God's intervention. Know that the more you
pray, the more God will answer and work in the world. Seek to become a
significant force for change in your community.
Listen for the Spirit's
prompting. Expect the Holy Spirit to nudge you to pray about people or
situations you may never have thought of on your own. Whenever that happens,
respond right then, praying while the need is fresh in your mind. Then enjoy
watching how God answers your prayers.
Use information from the
media. Whenever a news story catches your attention, pray about it.
Remember that, while you probably don't personally know the people involved,
they're real people in real situations that need God's help. Intercede using the
specific details you've learned from the news story, asking God to transform the
people's hearts and impact the situations according to His will. Rather than
assuming you know the best outcome (such as in the case of a political
election), simply pray for God's will to be done. Be assured that by praying
about world events, you're tapping into real, unlimited power that can change
the world for the better in powerful ways.
Shift your prayers. Get
out of the rut of praying for the same old subjects over and over again. As you
go through each day, deliberately shift from one topic to another so you can
touch on a wide variety of subjects, like: family, friends, neighbors,
coworkers, the government, the war on terror, people of other religions, your
church, your small group, your city or county, your children's teachers and
classmates, your upcoming vacation, moral issues, upcoming legislation, and the
criminal justice system. Be creative, exploring new ground as you pray.
Make lists. Use lists
of various topics to pray about, such as: a list you write of your personal
needs, prayer lists you receive from your church or charities or missionaries
that detail their current needs, and Bible verses you want to pray. Consider
praying through your lists while taking a leisurely walk. After you pray through
your lists, keep them for a while to remind you of what you've been praying and
notice how God has answered.
Use your downtime. Make
the most of the downtime you have each day, by praying in situations like:
standing in line, waiting in a doctor's or dentist's office, sitting in traffic,
waiting to be served in a restaurant, cleaning up after a meal, mowing the lawn
or working in the garden, listening to music, trying to fall asleep, taking a
bath or shower, sitting at the computer, watching your kids play, taking a walk,
or watching television. View every moment of downtime you experience as an
opportunity to pray.
Pray about whatever comes at
you. Whenever life throws circumstances at you for which you're not
prepared, make prayer your first response to them. Instead of letting yourself
become overwhelmed, wasting time and energy worrying, or trying to solve
problems in your own limited strength, pray when you first encounter challenges
to release God's power into those situations right away.
Ask, seek, and knock.
If you're asking God about something, frame your request in terms of biblical
principles to make sure you're asking according to His will. Seek the answer to
your prayer by taking action after you ask. For example, if you've asked God to
help you become more physically fit (which aligns with the biblical principle of
taking care of the body He gave you), seek the answer to your prayer by
exercising regularly. Don't just wait around for God to magically drop the
answer in your lap without you doing anything that will move you closer to your
goal. Keep knocking on God's door persistently while you wait for Him to answer
your prayers; don't give up.
Pray the Scriptures.
Read the Bible often and meditate on the passages that speak the most powerfully
to you. Memorize them, so the Holy Spirit will remind you of them whenever you
need to apply their truths. When you pray, do so on the basis of what God has
already promised or commanded in the Bible, since that will make your prayers
line up with God's will. Don't limit yourself just to the Scripture passages
you've memorized; whenever you read some verses that speak to something you're
currently dealing with, turn that passage into a prayer by personalizing it.
Realize that the better you know the Bible, the more specific, wide-ranging, and
fervent your prayers can become.
Create a prayer file.
Write down various prayer requests on index cards, using one card per request
and noting: the nature of the request, the date, and where the request came
from. File each request in the appropriate section of your file: things you
intend to pray about daily, weekly, and monthly (divide the monthly section into
30 slots so you can pray about a different request each day of the month).
Whenever you discover how God has answered a certain prayer request, record the
answer on the corresponding card and move the card to a new file -- one for
answered prayers.
Pray about small things as well
as large things. Remember that nothing is too small to pray about;
everything is significant to God because it's a part of your life and He loves
you deeply. So go ahead and pray about whatever thoughts and feelings occur to
you and whatever experiences you have. Don't hold back. Make a habit of
connecting to God through prayer constantly.
Expect God to answer.
Understand that God will eventually answer all of your prayers, but sometimes
not in the ways you predict. Be prepared for surprises. Trust God to hear and
respond to each prayer -- no matter how brief -- in the absolute best ways for
you and all concerned. Look forward to what God will do!
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Monday, December 17, 2007
Our Deliverer
Read Psalm
140:1-13
King David was going through another battle. He needed deliverance from an
attacking enemy. "Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent
men, who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for
war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under
their lips. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from
violent men" (vv. 1-4). David's enemies had hidden snares to trap him.
What do you do when you face this situation--when evil, violent, lying people
are busy setting traps for you? Remember that God hears you. "I said to the
Lord: 'You are my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord"' (v. 6). God
also strengthens you. "O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have
covered my head in the day of battle" (v. 7). If you have to do battle against
the Enemy today, let God outfit you in the armor you need. Finally, God
vindicates you. David prayed that God would vindicate him and that his enemies'
own sins would destroy them.
David concluded by giving thanks to the Lord. "I know that the Lord will
maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor. Surely the
righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your
presence" (vv. 12,13). The battle over, he said, "One day I am going to dwell in
Your presence, where there will be no more lying, slandering, battling, fighting
or sinning." We will enjoy the peace of God forever.
If you are a believer, God has already delivered you from the penalty of sin.
Today He works to deliver you from sin's effects. Perhaps enemies are slandering
your reputation. Call upon the Lord for help. He will hear you, strengthen you
and vindicate you. Let Him give you the victory today.
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Sunday, December 16, 2007
Loving Our Neighbor on Our Knees
Author: Mary Wilder
Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference 1
Samuel 12:23
Loving Our Neighbor on
Our Knees
Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord, in
ceasing to pray for you.
I SAMUEL 12:23
MORE things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore,
let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are
men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and
those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.
ALFRED TENNYSON
PERHAPS we do not think enough what an effective service prayer is,
especially intercessory prayer. We do not believe as we should how it might help
those we so fain would serve, penetrating the hearts we cannot open, shielding
those we cannot guard, teaching where we cannot speak, comforting where our
words have no power to soothe; following the steps of our beloved through the
toils and perplexities of the day, lifting off their burdens with an unseen hand
at night. No ministry is so like that of an angel as this--silent, invisible,
known but to God.
ELIZABETH RUNDLE CHARLES
Intercessory prayer might be defined as loving our neighbor on our knees.
CHARLES H. BRENT
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Monday, December 10, 2007
The Marvel of Life
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference Psalm 139:13-18
The Marvel of Life
Read Psalm 139:13-18
The greatest evidence of God's power is human birth. When a baby is born, there is promise, potential and excitement. David considered babies to be miracles from the hand of God. Eugene Peterson has said, "In the presence of birth we don't calculate, we marvel." As we ponder these truths, what should be our response?
We worship God. The word fearfully means "I am shuddering with astonishment; I am trembling with awe" (v. 14). I fear that today people have taken sex, conception, birth and babies and turned the process into something functional instead of miraculous. Some people think of sex as animal excitement, but David thought of spiritual enrichment. No wonder we are aborting babies today; we don't see anything holy about sex, conception and birth.
We show confidence in God. What we are is God's gift to us. What we do with our lives is our gift to Him. He accepts us as we are. He's not going to judge us on the basis of what He has given someone else, but on the basis of what we have done with what He has given us. Never be discouraged by what you don't have. Having confidence in God about your life brings eager expectation.
We obey God. The more we glorify God, the more we enjoy Him. We can take the miracle of life He gave us and wreck it, or we can present our bodies to the Lord as a living sacrifice.
To leave God out of your life is simply to exist, not really to live. Jesus died that you might be saved from your sins and one day go to heaven. But while you're here on earth, God wants you to fulfill all that He has built into you. Are you responding to His power for your life? Worship Him, place your confidence in Him and obey Him.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Easier Said Than Done
Ezekiel 33-34, 1 Peter 5
Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:7
Some things are easier said than done. One of those things is casting "all [our] anxiety on him," even though we are told that "he cares for [us]" (5:7).
We do have anxieties. Our concerns range from physical needs to financial needs, from family needs to the needs of our friends. These are things of which prayer lists are made-or at least should be made.
But we have a God who cares for us! We are not a burden, an afterthought or something of which He is not aware. He cares for us more intensely than we can ever imagine. The omniscient God knows our needs, all of them, and is concerned about every one of them.
Peter tells us what we are to do with our cares. We are to "cast" them onto Jesus. As a coat is tossed to someone else with the request, "Would you carry this for me?" we are to take the cares of this world and toss them to Him.
The problem is, we tend to do that but then take back the cares. We are willing to say that we will give our anxieties to Jesus but then continue to mull over and carry them ourselves.
Do not confuse continuing to pray with failing to cast the burden on Him. God doesn't tell us to stop praying but to let Him carry our anxieties.
Do you have a prayer list? If you do, that is good. Don't stop praying. But do you worry about these things on your list? That is bad. Ask God to help you give Him the worries. Keep praying, but stop worrying.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Praying the Word for Israel
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Sacrificing Sleep
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Source: Prayer, Praise and Promises
Scripture Reference Luke 9:32 Psalm 119:145-152
Sacrificing Sleep
Read Psalm 119:145-152
Would you rather have the Word of God than sleep? Don't misunderstand me. We need sleep. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that God expects us to take care of our bodies, and sleep is part of that care. But the psalmist says that he would rather have the Word of God than sleep. "I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word" (vv. 147,148).
Imagine being married to a person who gets up early in the morning to cry out to God and hope in His Word. Then late at night he's still awake, reading and meditating on the Scriptures.
Jesus also was up early in the morning, praying and meditating on the Word. And on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus, Moses and Elijah were discussing Christ's plan to die in Jerusalem. Peter, James and John were there, but they were asleep (Luke 9:32). They slept through perhaps the greatest Bible conference ever held on earth!
I'm afraid some of us have done the same thing. We've slept through the blessing. For God to bless us through His Word, we have to start each day with it. Do you set your alarm clock early enough in the morning to read the Bible? Sure, that extra half hour in bed would be pleasant. But like the psalmist, we need to say, "I'm going to anticipate the dawning of the morning. I want to spend time with God and meditate in His Word."
Sacrificing sleep to meditate in the Word of God is not a loss; it's an investment in your spiritual life. The Bible contains blessings you can use the rest of the day. Let it be the key that opens and locks your day.
The Benefits of Being Devoted to Prayer
In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley
The Benefits of Being Devoted to Prayer --
Jesus loved to talk to His Father and often sought the opportunity to be alone with Him. At times, He would speak with God in front of large groups of people or ask a few of His close disciples to join Him in prayer. Because Jesus prayed frequently, He followed God's lead, joined in His work, and spoke the Father's words to the people around Him.
When we are serious about prayer, our intimacy with the Lord begins to grow. We come to know God better the more we listen and speak with Him, and as that happens, we start to view the world from a divine perspective. The things that matter to God will become our concerns as well, and our prayers will increasingly reflect His interests. Experiencing answered prayer will encourage us and grow our faith.
Over time, the discipline of prayer should begin to have a purifying effect upon us. The Holy Spirit works God's truth deep into our hearts as we allow regular study of Scripture to fuel our communion with Him. Consistent exposure to the Word will reveal personal areas of ungodliness, and the Spirit will give us power to change. What's more, we will learn to recognize where God wants us to become involved and how to invest our time, finances, and spiritual gifts in His work. Through prayer, we will also receive divine peace--even when circumstances worsen or remain unchanged (Isaiah 26:3).
The benefits of prayer are many, but greatest of all is the joy derived from spending more time with the Lord.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Devoted to Prayer
In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley
Devoted to Prayer -- Colossians 4:2-4
The Savior was devoted to prayer. He met with God in the early morning, sought Him in the midst of busy days, and slipped away for nighttime fellowship with Him. His actions testify to the central place prayer is to have in the lives of believers.
Prayer seemed to come naturally to Jesus, but most of us have to work at maintaining regular communion with God. We find ourselves easily distracted by the details of life, our own desires, and the demands of people. The road to a deepening prayer life begins with a firm commitment to develop the habit of talking with God and to make it a high priority in our day. We follow through by setting aside a daily time for reading and prayer, and identifying a location that minimizes interruptions. Since we are already busy, sacrifice will be necessary to make this happen--we might have to accept less sleep, give up a favorite activity, or use our lunch hour in order to pray. Parents might have to ask a friend to help with the children to have alone time with God.
Another key factor is Scripture, which must undergird our prayer life. The Bible teaches us about God's character, promises, and priorities. It turns our thoughts from worldly cares and pleasures to a focus on Him. Through the Word, we are reminded of His importance to us and our desire to please Him. Then, we become ready to ask in accordance with His will and to hear what He has to say.
Evaluate the current state of your prayer life, and commit to improving at least one area described above.
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