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!
Sunday, January 29, 2017
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!)
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
What To Pray For
I Timothy 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions 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.
We need to be praying for our "king," the one in highest authority in our Nation, in our case in America, our President. And not only for him, but for all those he is gathering around him to assist him in his governing us. The prayers of God's people have caused God to lift this man into this lofty position, and he still needs our prayers for leading, guidance and protection so he can do his job in a good and righteous manner. Because . . .
Psalm 127: 1
... Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
It doesn't matter how strong our military is, without the Lord's watchfulness over us, we are vulnerable. We do need the strong military (speak softly and carry a big stick), but we need more to pray and ask God's protection.
Jeremiah 29:7
Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
Even when we are imprisoned in a foreign country, as Israel was carried off to Babylon, it is still our responsibility to pray for those in political authority over us. For our own good.
Psalm 9: 7-8
But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from His Throne. He will judge the World with justice and rule the Nations with fairness.
Until Jesus returns to sit on His Throne on this Earth, to judge and rule with true justice and fairness, our political leaders will need our prayers to strengthen them to have Godly discernment to recognize what would truly be good and right and just--for our own good.
Repeatedly, throughout the whole Old Testament, we are given the history that shows us that when the king is a Godly man, governing according to God's ways, then the people live in peace, prosperity and joy. But when the kings were evil, then the people also went astray, and they lost the prosperity, peace and joy and suffered under political oppression. The Nation Israel went through this cycle numerous times, over and over, but never learned from their history, and ended up deported to a distant foreign country.
In every Nation, we have seen how prosperity increases and decreases according to the policies of the authorities over us--when our leaders are Godly men and women, who follow God's ways in their personal lives and in their governing, then the people find it much easier to also live good lives in peacefulness and prosperity; but when our leaders are sinful, evil people in their personal lives, and ignore God in their governing, then the people also are more likely to be dishonest in their personal lives and business dealings. That is why we are instructed to pray for those who have political authority over us.
Jesus is coming soon, so we all need to be watchful in prayer for all those who are in authority over us. Our enemy, the devil, knows that his time is short, and is ramping up his efforts to deceive, destroy and kill, in the most pervasive ways possible. He has gotten control of our schools, many of our businesses, much of our government, and even many of our churches. We who know the Lord have the responsibility to be on our knees on behalf of our families, our neighborhoods, our cities and states, and our Nation.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions 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.
We need to be praying for our "king," the one in highest authority in our Nation, in our case in America, our President. And not only for him, but for all those he is gathering around him to assist him in his governing us. The prayers of God's people have caused God to lift this man into this lofty position, and he still needs our prayers for leading, guidance and protection so he can do his job in a good and righteous manner. Because . . .
Psalm 127: 1
... Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
It doesn't matter how strong our military is, without the Lord's watchfulness over us, we are vulnerable. We do need the strong military (speak softly and carry a big stick), but we need more to pray and ask God's protection.
Jeremiah 29:7
Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
Even when we are imprisoned in a foreign country, as Israel was carried off to Babylon, it is still our responsibility to pray for those in political authority over us. For our own good.
Psalm 9: 7-8
But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from His Throne. He will judge the World with justice and rule the Nations with fairness.
Until Jesus returns to sit on His Throne on this Earth, to judge and rule with true justice and fairness, our political leaders will need our prayers to strengthen them to have Godly discernment to recognize what would truly be good and right and just--for our own good.
Repeatedly, throughout the whole Old Testament, we are given the history that shows us that when the king is a Godly man, governing according to God's ways, then the people live in peace, prosperity and joy. But when the kings were evil, then the people also went astray, and they lost the prosperity, peace and joy and suffered under political oppression. The Nation Israel went through this cycle numerous times, over and over, but never learned from their history, and ended up deported to a distant foreign country.
In every Nation, we have seen how prosperity increases and decreases according to the policies of the authorities over us--when our leaders are Godly men and women, who follow God's ways in their personal lives and in their governing, then the people find it much easier to also live good lives in peacefulness and prosperity; but when our leaders are sinful, evil people in their personal lives, and ignore God in their governing, then the people also are more likely to be dishonest in their personal lives and business dealings. That is why we are instructed to pray for those who have political authority over us.
Jesus is coming soon, so we all need to be watchful in prayer for all those who are in authority over us. Our enemy, the devil, knows that his time is short, and is ramping up his efforts to deceive, destroy and kill, in the most pervasive ways possible. He has gotten control of our schools, many of our businesses, much of our government, and even many of our churches. We who know the Lord have the responsibility to be on our knees on behalf of our families, our neighborhoods, our cities and states, and our Nation.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, January 23, 2017
Words Of Truth
Acts 26: 22-23
I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen--that Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Proverbs 18:20
Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.
Paul's words in his won defense before Governor Festus and King Agrippa were very powerful, and would have brought the satisfaction of salvation, reconciliation with God to Agrippa, if he only would have accepted them.
O my Father, please fill me with Your Spirit of Truth, so that the words of my mouth would bring satisfaction and healing to others, and also to myself. That only Your words of Truth would be active in my life, removing any denial or rebellion in myself and restoring my soul, body and spirit to Yourself, and drawing others also to You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen--that Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Proverbs 18:20
Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.
Paul's words in his won defense before Governor Festus and King Agrippa were very powerful, and would have brought the satisfaction of salvation, reconciliation with God to Agrippa, if he only would have accepted them.
O my Father, please fill me with Your Spirit of Truth, so that the words of my mouth would bring satisfaction and healing to others, and also to myself. That only Your words of Truth would be active in my life, removing any denial or rebellion in myself and restoring my soul, body and spirit to Yourself, and drawing others also to You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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