James 4:17
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
How many times have I procrastinated, and not done what I know to do, but put it off? How often have I heard God's "voice" quietly in my spirit, and discounted it as just my own idea, or say, "Yes, I'll do that, after I finish this," then forget about it? How prone I am to "miss the mark" and put my own ideas and agenda before God's clear instructions!
God showed us way back in the beginning of human history that just knowing what was right would not make us do what was right, but put our own wants and desires ahead of everyone and everything else, regardless of the cost. Mankind became so evil and violent in every thought every day, that God sent The Flood, saving Noah to start over with him.
Now God has written His Law right in our hearts, and given us His Spirit to live in us to make us spiritually alive and teach us what is right and strengthen us to follow through with doing what is right. So we really don't have any excuse.
O my Father, thank you for Your endless mercies and amazing grace, to give us Your very Spirit to cleanse us, teach us and strengthen us. Please help me to recognize Your voice as You speak into my spirit; to listen to what You are saying, and to obey You instantly. Remind me to not put off doing what You want me to do, and help me by demolishing all my excuses before I give them. Embolden me to say Your words to those who need to hear them, in compassion and concern, in gentleness and meekness. And may I continue to seek Your face every day until that Day!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Tempoary Pause
So sorry, my computer is on the fritz, I'll continue to post daily, Lord willing, when it's fixed. Thank you for your patience.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Angry Nations
Psalm 2:1
Why are the Nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
O my Father, the rulers of the Nations of the World really are angry, and plot and plan to rebel against Your benevolent goodness You desire to bestow on them. They have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears, lest they see Your salvation and understand Your love for them; and chosen instead to go their own way, making themselves their own gods, deceived and led into bondage by our enemy; calling good evil and evil good.
And even here in this Nation that was founded upon Your very Word and ways, we have strayed so far from Your righteous principles that we are forfeiting so many of the wonderful blessings You have previously bestowed upon us. Please forgive us, and strengthen those who are striving to bring us back to Your righteousness as a Nation; lead and guide them into the right ways, and protect them from the wrath of our enemy, who knows his time is short. Fortify Your fortresses, O Lord, in justice and in mercy, to show the World Your wisdom and compassion, to draw many multitudes to Yourself from every Nation, people, family and language.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Why are the Nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
O my Father, the rulers of the Nations of the World really are angry, and plot and plan to rebel against Your benevolent goodness You desire to bestow on them. They have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears, lest they see Your salvation and understand Your love for them; and chosen instead to go their own way, making themselves their own gods, deceived and led into bondage by our enemy; calling good evil and evil good.
And even here in this Nation that was founded upon Your very Word and ways, we have strayed so far from Your righteous principles that we are forfeiting so many of the wonderful blessings You have previously bestowed upon us. Please forgive us, and strengthen those who are striving to bring us back to Your righteousness as a Nation; lead and guide them into the right ways, and protect them from the wrath of our enemy, who knows his time is short. Fortify Your fortresses, O Lord, in justice and in mercy, to show the World Your wisdom and compassion, to draw many multitudes to Yourself from every Nation, people, family and language.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Jabez, "The Pain"
I Chronicles 4: 9-10
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel , "O that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted his request.
Jabez, whose name means "pain," didn't want to "be a pain"! We don't know his genealogy, we aren't even told which tribe he was from; we only know that God answered this prayer of his.
O my Father, I also pray that You would enlarge my "boundaries." Teach me to open up my life to others, and not just live in my own little world. Help me not to "be a pain" in others' lives, but to live up to my name, which means "good," to do good to others, and to be a blessing to them. Show me how to be and stay "in the moment," to be aware of my surroundings and the people You have given to me. Grant me Your compassion so that I will have compassion on others who have not realized that You have blessed them as I have recognized Your abundant blessings in my life. Keep me ever and always mindful of You, Father, and may You receive all the credit, all the honor and glory for what You are doing in, on and through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel , "O that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted his request.
Jabez, whose name means "pain," didn't want to "be a pain"! We don't know his genealogy, we aren't even told which tribe he was from; we only know that God answered this prayer of his.
O my Father, I also pray that You would enlarge my "boundaries." Teach me to open up my life to others, and not just live in my own little world. Help me not to "be a pain" in others' lives, but to live up to my name, which means "good," to do good to others, and to be a blessing to them. Show me how to be and stay "in the moment," to be aware of my surroundings and the people You have given to me. Grant me Your compassion so that I will have compassion on others who have not realized that You have blessed them as I have recognized Your abundant blessings in my life. Keep me ever and always mindful of You, Father, and may You receive all the credit, all the honor and glory for what You are doing in, on and through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, January 27, 2017
Who Is Your God?
Psalm 135:13
Your Name, O Lord, endures forever; Your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation.
O my Father, what a great and awesome God You are! You are not anything like any other god that has ever been worshiped: They have mouths but cannot speak--You have spoken; they have eyes but cannot see--You have seen me and known me; they have ears but cannot hear--You hear and answer my every prayer when I call to You; they have noses but cannot smell--our prayers waft up into Heaven as a sweet savor, a fragrance like incense to Your nostrils; they have hands but do not handle--Your hands have made all that is; they have feet but do not walk--You, Jesus, have walked this Earth for 33 years; and all who trust in them are like them. (Psalm 115:5-8)
All who trust in them have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears and made themselves deaf and dumb, by refusing to acknowledge You or be accountable to You. (John 12:40, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10)
But all who trust in You are becoming more like You: You are forming and molding us into the very image of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Your Name, O Lord, endures forever; Your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation.
O my Father, what a great and awesome God You are! You are not anything like any other god that has ever been worshiped: They have mouths but cannot speak--You have spoken; they have eyes but cannot see--You have seen me and known me; they have ears but cannot hear--You hear and answer my every prayer when I call to You; they have noses but cannot smell--our prayers waft up into Heaven as a sweet savor, a fragrance like incense to Your nostrils; they have hands but do not handle--Your hands have made all that is; they have feet but do not walk--You, Jesus, have walked this Earth for 33 years; and all who trust in them are like them. (Psalm 115:5-8)
All who trust in them have blinded their own eyes and stopped their own ears and made themselves deaf and dumb, by refusing to acknowledge You or be accountable to You. (John 12:40, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10)
But all who trust in You are becoming more like You: You are forming and molding us into the very image of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, January 26, 2017
David's Humble Heart
I Chronicles 17: 16 ... 27
Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far? ... You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God! What more can I say to You ...? You know what Your servant is really like ... O Lord, there is no one like You ...!
O my Father God, You have shown me, in this prayer, a little of why You call David, "A man after My own heart"! (Acts 13:22, quoting from I Samuel 13:14)
May You also grant to me the same humble heart I see in David here, the same that Jesus demonstrated. May I continually display in my attitudes the true understanding that I am only dust, and You have honored me in seeing and knowing me, drawing me out of the mire, placing my feet securely on the Rock, causing me to be born into Your own Royal family, cleansing and healing me, and working in me both to will and to do Your good pleasure; to form in me, little by little, day by day, the very image, the character of Your Son, my Lord and King. And it is You Who as done it all! All honor and glory to You alone, my God!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far? ... You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God! What more can I say to You ...? You know what Your servant is really like ... O Lord, there is no one like You ...!
O my Father God, You have shown me, in this prayer, a little of why You call David, "A man after My own heart"! (Acts 13:22, quoting from I Samuel 13:14)
May You also grant to me the same humble heart I see in David here, the same that Jesus demonstrated. May I continually display in my attitudes the true understanding that I am only dust, and You have honored me in seeing and knowing me, drawing me out of the mire, placing my feet securely on the Rock, causing me to be born into Your own Royal family, cleansing and healing me, and working in me both to will and to do Your good pleasure; to form in me, little by little, day by day, the very image, the character of Your Son, my Lord and King. And it is You Who as done it all! All honor and glory to You alone, my God!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Search Me
Psalm 139: 23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
O my Father, my Guide, my Sustainer, search me and try me, and reveal to me all that does not please You, that falls short of Your perfection; expose these wounds to the cleansing and healing of Your Spirit, teach me how to deal with these ugly wounds to allow You to heal me. Teach me Your ways: Let me see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, think Your thoughts, say Your words; may my attitude be Your view, may my hands do Your work and my feet go where You lead, whether to the next room or to the other side of the World--that You would receive all the glory, all the credit and honor for all You have done in me, in this World, and in the whole created realm.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(May I pray this prayer every day!)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
O my Father, my Guide, my Sustainer, search me and try me, and reveal to me all that does not please You, that falls short of Your perfection; expose these wounds to the cleansing and healing of Your Spirit, teach me how to deal with these ugly wounds to allow You to heal me. Teach me Your ways: Let me see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, think Your thoughts, say Your words; may my attitude be Your view, may my hands do Your work and my feet go where You lead, whether to the next room or to the other side of the World--that You would receive all the glory, all the credit and honor for all You have done in me, in this World, and in the whole created realm.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(May I pray this prayer every day!)
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