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Luke 21: 19 “By your patience possess your souls.”

Dear God,

Lord be my strength so that I will hear and answer Your call each morning, and get up out of an inviting warm bed, early enough to seek You and be fed spiritually; when I am fresh and my time is not interrupted.

It seems to my mind it is by patient seeking and keeping true to You, no matter the time taken or circumstances, that we will be faithful into the end of our days?  Please increase my understanding in these areas.

In the bible book Revelation, we have the word picture of Jesus, the King of heaven, on the throne, and around the throne are Your saints or redeemed from earth.  They have been made saints by Your grace! The angel loudly delivered the message, saying, it was patience that would was one of their (saints) identifying characteristics.

The words of Jesus in Luke 21: 20 – 28 gives me (us) an understanding and warning of what would happen in movements of the earth and to Your faithful followers, firstly in the time leading up to the fall of Jerusalem, not that long after the death of Jesus, and in the centuries leading up to the return of Jesus.  Now we patiently await the coming of our dear Lord and Saviour.  I thank You, Lord Jesus for the hope You have placed in our hearts, through Your recorded words in the Bible.

I believe Your promises that we will never be left alone now or in the hard times, including persecution and being called to give account for our faith;  for (we) are told in Luke 21: 15 “for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.”  It was after many hours in the early morning hours to His Father, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus could withstand and confound the relentless baiting and carping of the religious leaders of the day, always out to bring about His demise. He is our example of the power and wisdom that comes from waiting upon Your will and guidance through much prayer and communication with You.

Hallelujah, for after Jesus had returned to heaven and left the disciples to go tell people the gospel salvation story, and then later in the lives of the persecuted people down through the ages, they kept their mind and faith by patient depending upon Jesus and were able to withstand and confound their interrogators.  They also found that it was by waiting upon Your will and guidance through much prayer, that led to the infilling of the Holy Spirit, along with the promised peace of heaven, even during affliction or when they endured a martyr’s death.

Please strengthen my resolve to waken and get up early enough each day, to open my heart and seek You through the amount of Bible study and prayer that You know I need for that day and for my ongoing direction and spiritual growth.

Amen

 

2 Corinthians 5: 17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Dear God,

You never change, in character or purpose, and the heavens and the worlds glorify You, as did this earth, when it was created new and perfect in every way.  Now the earth and its people are not perfect!  Instead it is polluted and marred by the sin that Satan introduced to earth, through Eve, then Adam.  No longer does the creation on earth portray a perfect of image of its God.

Thank You that Christ came to earth to reconcile us to You, His Father as told in 2 Corinthians 5: 18 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  In verse 19 of the same chapter, Paul tells us how closely Jesus was connected to His Father during His time here on earth, in the flesh of mankind, “…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…”  We, Your children have been given a place in the work of reconciliation, when we allow Jesus to have our heart and to be used as given in the remainder of verse 19, “…and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”  Paul and followers knew they were ambassadors for Christ, for he states in 2 Corinthians 5: 20 “….as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, to be reconciled to God.”

Please God, open my heart and mind, not only to receive You, but to be Your ambassador in the way you have planned for me.  For I have read in Your word, that You have given us all different abilities and spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit.  I am relieved that the Holy Spirit also provides our spiritual enabling when I (we) have been reconciled to You. Because of this spiritual enabling it is my plan to commit with all that I am, for how could I offer any less?  Especially in the light of what Paul writes in v 21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

I praise Your blessed name, again for You have answered my sin problem and deep inner need to answer Your call and put away any divide between us that I have built by waywardness.

I give You my gratitude and love because I have been made new.

Amen

John 19:10 “Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Are You not speaking to me?  Do You not know that I have power to crucify You and the power to release You?’”

Dear God,

I thank You for a new day, as well as for my life and strength.  I praise Your Holy name, Creator and God of all.  You gave Your dear Son to earth.  At the angels instruction before He was born as a babe here, He was named Jesus.  He grew up without sinning and set us free from the eventual, inevitable consequences of our sin.  Now all can have hope and joy; for I know Jesus has said, He will come again for those who love Him sincerely and confess His name.   I do confirm again today, that I love Jesus and confess His name.

Pilate thought he acted by his own will, and was not pleased when Jesus no longer answered him when he kept on with his questions; for which he actually did not seek answers sincerely.  With no real understanding about Jesus, the man in front of him, Pilate thought to impress with his authority to crucify or release prisoners.  Though not moved by Pilate, “Jesus answered, ‘you could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given to you from above.  Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin’” John 19:11.  Pilate had no comprehension about Jesus being the Son of God on high; he was impacted by the words of Jesus, but lacked courage to stand out against the Jewish leaders, and went on in fear and pride to send Jesus to be crucified.

Father I am sorry for the times when I view Jesus in in a human way and frame of reference, instead of ever keeping before me in reverence and awe – that Jesus the risen One, is indeed God.  He is our Lord and Saviour, and He along with His Father, loves me more than I will ever on this earth fully take in.

I ask the question, how would I treat Jesus or stand up for Him in times of severe trial or persecution?  Would my character be pure and selfless if put through examination and test like that of Pilate and so many others down through countless years? For Pilate the court events revealed his weaknesses and selfishness.  The opposite was true for Jesus; it even more deeply revealed His character of loving selflessness, commitment to saving the people of earth no matter the cost to Himself, meekness, tenderness and restrained power.

There is no need for fear and trepidation in serving You, for it has been proved in the lives of many of Your faithful ones as well as in the promises written in Your word, that You keep watch over us whether in life or death, and unless it would bring glory to Your name, no power could move against me (us), unless allowed by You.

Amen

Luke 19:10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.”

Dear God,

I thank You for this new day with much to appreciate and enjoy in this area of the world.  I am very grateful that I have the freedom to worship You at home, and when I visit others for study and prayer, and at church.  Again I ask Jesus to have my heart and mind so I will be able to walk His way, which is also Your way.

In my reading of 1 Kings 1 and 2 as well as Luke 19, I have been impressed by the fact that for many of us who think we are true to You in allegiance and actions, we may also be more focused on ourselves.  It is easy to not think too much about how true is my/our obedience to all You ask.  I/we may be satisfied about our love and service to You; for after all I/we go to church, and are involved in the planned programmes in and out of church?  Actually I suspect even then I/we can on occasions still be more preoccupied about advancing my/ourselves and interests, than we are Yours.   Then it is all too easy because of our busy schedule for church, home, work, family and friends to only manage to fit time for You here and there, even though it is our determination to make more time for You in our day.

Zacchaeus was a despised tax collector, and when Jesus singled him out up in the tree, and then invited Himself to his home, Zacchaeus was charmed and gave Jesus all his heart.  So many of the Jewish people he knew, were ‘hung up’ on his past doings and occupation, and their hearts were not gladdened that he had sought Jesus or that Jesus loved him as he was.

They had expected the longed for Messiah to be the king of Israel, who would get rid of the occupying Romans, and restore their lost fortunes and status as a nation. Therefore the humble loving acts of Jesus did not fit the image at all for many who followed him around. They had failed to comprehend that Jesus was from God’s kingdom, and had come to earth to save all mankind from eternal destruction.  Not to set up an earthly kingdom for their benefit!

I give thanks, that through Jesus salvation can be mine today, and I choose in His strength to be true and obedient, seeking to bring the knowledge about the love and salvation through Jesus to another.

Amen

 

2 Timothy 2: 11-13 “This is a faithful saying: for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.  If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.  If we deny Him, He also will deny us.  If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself’”

Dear God,

Thank You again for loving me and making Yourself available for us to love and get to know You.  Topping this all off, You sent Your only precious Son into the world, to provide a way for each of us to have redemption from sin and eternal death, when we believe and accept Jesus.

In Hebrews 1: 2, I read that You Father God have appointed Your Son to be heir of all things, through whom You made the worlds.  You and He are in agreement on all things, it is He  “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1: 3

Jesus please change me, so that I am truly Your child, always acknowledging who You are, and what You represent.  It is more intimate for me, Father God, that You are revealed through Your Son, Creator and Redeemer. As it is to contemplate, through the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, I will be covered with the righteousness of Jesus and fitted to greet Him with Joy, when He comes again for His own.

Amen

 

 

Luke 18:18 “Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’”

Dear God,

I thank You for all things this morning; including my life and strength, on this new day.  It is Anzac day in Australia and New Zealand, a day when we remember those who lost their lives in battle for their country.

This brings to my mind, that there comes a day when all those who have lost their lives in doing Your bidding and work, along with all those people who have died, faithful in their love for You; will be rewarded, by being raised again, to life immortal, and then be taken to heaven by Jesus, to live with all in heaven for ever and ever, 1 Thessalonians 4: 16, 17.  This will indeed be pure joy, unsurpassed by anything in our human experience or memory bank.  It is wonderful to contemplate, that Jesus and His Father and all of heaven are so pure, that glorious light glows from them in such intensity that all is vibrant with light.

When Jesus was still on earth, God, The Father, The Holy Spirit and the angel messengers also endeavoured with Jesus to bring people to accept His saving love, as well as what it means to live for Him, with the hope of the eternal rewards, for all who will accept Him.  The good news is that after Jesus returned to heaven, all measures to save and bring the hope of eternity to all mankind has never ceased, and increases prior to the second coming of Jesus.

Sadly we often overlook what You, God have really said or done, by limiting You through our human experiences or mind set.  I am also sorry for the times I have been presumptuous and self-important, and thereby have missed your lessons and intended blessings for me.

I find such an illustration from the scripture passage of Luke 18: 18, when a young man of substance and prestigious position, having lived a life obedient to God’s law, came to Jesus with the question, ‘what must I do to have eternal life?’  This young man exhibited an attractive, upright character that appealed to Jesus. In the end it was evident that he was in love with his riches and position greatly.  When a choice needed to be made, his mind set prevented him from saying good bye to his riches and position, and come serve Jesus.  Jesus had/does not ask all people to give up their riches, but He knew the heart of this young man, and that his riches had become so important that his reliance on status and riches would separate him from God, if he continued his life as it was.

As with so many of us, he also lacked sufficient faith and trust in You to provide and be with him/ us in all situations; especially when we put aside our agenda to do as You request.  Praise Your name, for You have promised to grow my/our faith and trust, when I in Your strength, believe and claim all Your promises for myself.

The story of Jesus and the blind man of Luke 18:37 – 43 illustrates what God can do when we give ourselves to Him in faith.  Luke 18: 42 “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.’” He immediately received his sight.

I have been reminded, that it is always my faith in You, Lord, that will make me well, whether it is now, or when Jesus comes again.  Be my strength and solace at all times, because I have asked and believe I will receive Your strength and solace.

Amen

2 Samuel 22: 2, 3 “……’the Lord is my Rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation.’”

Dear God,

On all levels, You are most worthy to be honoured and praised.  Thank You for the spiritual lessons that I have learned this morning.  David, Your anointed king of Israel, had lived on the run, because the current king Saul searched for him constantly to kill him.  David knew God had delivered him from Saul and on numerous other occasions.  David had given his heart in love to You, and rejoiced in Your commandments and delighted to observe them.

I also give thanks for Your commandments, for they reveal aspects of Your absolutely righteous character.  I have found that when I love You best, and humble my heart before You; the moral law also becomes precious to me, as for David.  Then it becomes more natural for me to live in obedience to the moral law, and be better able to manifest these God given aspects in my character.

In the spiritual battle which all of us on earth are engaged in, it is such good news to realise that we, that love you upon earth, can also be victorious against evil, as we make You our Rock and fortress.  Deliverance will come because I (we) have allowed You to be my (our) strength and shield against the attacks of Satan.  2 Samuel 22: 5 “…..’The floods of ungodliness make me afraid.’”  Even more so in these days are we surrounded by ‘the floods of ungodliness’!  I may be afraid, because I also cannot withstand the floods in human strength, but then as did David, v 7 “In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God, He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered His ears”, and like David I can in Your wisdom, believe and accept that deliverance is nigh, because ‘my cry entered His ears’.

It is so uplifting, God to read in the scriptures that You love to hear all our prayers, which is a consoling knowledge, when the scriptures also tell that when we are Your children we can prepare to  experience some type of persecution and poor circumstances.  I have also found it true as did they, that You never leave us defenseless, comfortless or unable to withstand, when I/we call out to You.

You reward those who have done Your will, and are covered by the righteousness of Jesus, with love and peace, as well as affirmation.

How sweet are the times, when I humble myself before You, and confess my sins, and ask for Your forgiveness, and receive Your direction, guidelines and forgiveness; along with a deep sense of Your love and blessing upon me.

Hallelujah!

Amen

 

Luke 17:32, 33 “Remember Lot’s wife, whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whosoever loses his life will preserve it.”

Dear God,

Time is far gone, because of certain events, but I still rejoice to spend time with You in Your Word. Please speak to me in a special way, and bring me to yourself, and fill me with the Holy Spirit and cover me with the precious righteousness of Jesus.  I bring to You, all on my prayer list, such as family, friends, neighbours, and people from college/s and San days, to be blessed and brought to a saving relationship, if they have not already accepted You.  Including all who have attended the past community health programes I have been part of putting on.   For some these couple of years later are still smoking, please rekindle their former desire to stop, as well as the faith to believe they can stop.  Some have not a close relationship with You, and so I request that You bring them to Yourself, so they again can be reminded they have the choice to choose to give their problems and life to You.

Lot’s wife desired the pleasures and material possessions within the wicked city of Sodom.  Even though told by the rescuing angel, not to look back, she could not refrain from looking back longingly, and so lost her life on the spot.  She is an example of someone who did not have the faith to believe You as her God actually knew what was best for her and would bring her to a place of safety, with the opportunity to start a new life away from the sinful lures she had become attached to.  She could have learned to love her God and how to walk the path of righteousness, instead of the path of sin and self-centredness that had enveloped her, leading to an unnecessary early death.

Today I again dedicate my life to You afresh, and plan to walk in Your ways, because I love and trust in You.  Therefore it is my pleasure to thank and praise You for every gift and blessing bestowed upon me so very generously.

I am sorry for the times when I take your gifts and providences toward me for granted.  Forgive me please, and change me so that I can more reflect Your love and light in my words and actions.

Lack of gratitude by we of earth, is not a new problem, as demonstrated in the parable told by Jesus, when 10 lepers were healed by Him after they had cried out to Him for mercy.  Nine just proceeded on, but one, a Samaritan, returned and thanked Jesus and glorified God.  Jesus in turn, blessed the Samaritan man for his thanks and so will I (we) be blessed, when we are filled with gratitude toward You.

Amen

Luke 16:31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

Dear God,

I have been blessed again from reading Your Word, even though some of the subject matter was not one to seek out.  Firstly the account of the sexual immorality of king David’s son, Amnon to his half-sister Tamor; followed later by the murder of Amnon, by his half-brother, Absolom the brother of Tamor.  The moral decline of Absolom continued, as he conspired to make himself king in place of his father: being prepared to murder his father and many residents of Jerusalem as well, in the effort to achieve his own ends.

Their father David’s previous sin of immorality and murder, brought disharmony and much sin in his family, as You had foretold; even though David was forgiven by You.  These events are a timely warning to all of us, for the consequences of our own premeditated sins, can keep being reaped around us, even though we have experienced God’s forgiveness.

Thank You God that You offer us the ability to retain peace through out; and so it was for David, as evidenced by the increasing faith and wisdom he exhibited in the face of these happenings, because he submitted and trusted in You for himself personally and for the affairs of the kingdom of Judea; which You had given him.

By experience I also know that you are my refuge and Rock in all situations and experiences, and again today I praise You for Your goodness and unfailing care.

In Luke 16, Jesus is again giving counsel to the priests and other listeners that the Word of God given through Moses and other prophets, for ever stands.  God does not go back on His prophetic utterances, V17 “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.”

Down through bible times and thereafter, people have tried to get around the requirements of the law or change it for themselves.  Jesus by His own words has reminded me (us) that we can’t put anything above our love for God and still be really serving You even though by our motions, we may think we are!  I think about money and wealth – these can become too important for some and not others, when they have acquired abundance.  Others struggle financially; in all cases we may be close or far from You; it all depends upon our heart allegiance to You as our God and not permanently to the circumstances experienced; though for many they may impact initially.  Our example Jesus remained tranquil, as He rested in His sure connection and trust in You love and care.  Hallelujah, we are promised I (we) can through Jesus, believe His promises and rest at peace in Your care, as He did.  I praise You that the more I claim this promise to be granted to me, in times of need; the more I am blessed with increasing peace.

Search my heart today, my God, and reveal to me anything that does or may come between You and me.  Then I ask also to be filled with Your Spirit, so that whatever wrong is revealed to me, can be rooted out of my heart; for Jesus has said I can only love and serve one Master.  I also request, that my love and acceptance for and of Your Word will continue to grow.

Amen

 

1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Dear God,

Father as the one true God, who is full of love and mercy, I praise and give thanks that You lead me in ways of love and bring me to the point of recognition of my wrong attitudes and words that have poured out of me in the past, down to the present.  It seems I am constantly rebuked by my critical thoughts, words and wrong doings, especially toward those nearest and dearest to me.  No matter the provocation or irritation, I am learning that as Your child, I can only be truly happy when You live within me and I manifest Your love and spirit to everyone I interact with.  Thank you for the example of Jesus when on earth, and for the power of the Holy Spirit, Who enables me to increasingly convey love through my words and actions.

As a follow up to the admonition that we should show love “in deed and in truth”, it is encouraging to read in 1 John 3:19 “And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.”  For now I can walk with confidence with my Saviour, knowing His blessings flow into me and from me. I can rest in the knowledge, that God the Father and His son Jesus are One in their knowledge of all things, and in reality that they are total love, and therefore love all mankind.

When I stop to really consider the implications of being a child of God, with Jesus living in my heart, then I, at that time can only manifest love, and so when I am not, I have let go of Jesus.  I am so glad the good news is that when I truly confess to Jesus the sin/s that caused me to let go of Jesus, He gladly forgives me and again abides in me and I in Him.  1 John 3:23 “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”

I give thanks, that John was directed to write how we (I) can abide in Jesus, 1 John 3: 24 “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in Him.  And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”

I love You, Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, for You are One, and know that You love me and delight to fill me with Your Spirit, when I cleanse my heart and ask to be infilled.

Amen

Matthew 6:9……”Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. V10 Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Dear God,

I am grateful to You for Your continuing unbounding love, and for every blessing that You bestow on me.  Today fill me with Your Spirit, so that I can rise above this tiredness and heaviness of body and mind.

Teach me to truly reverence and honour You in my mind and life, so that reverence and honour to You will naturally be part of my prayers and worship, throughout each day.  As I read and pray in obedience to Your will combined with wanting to be part of Your kingdom, please  bring the principles of Your kingdom into my heart; fostering my hope  for Your kingdom to soon be established upon this earth, so Your order of love and purity will be universal.  After all, in the light of this prospect, why would I (we) want to keep this order of dimness, diluted happiness, variable love that even at the best is a shadow of the heavenly and often turns on and off, with large areas for too many, of hate, persistent unhappiness and hopelessness?

The scriptures reveal that prayer is truly the only answer, to our personal and corporate sin, disobedience and distress.  No need is too small to prayer about.  No one who is contrite has barred themselves from accessing the heart of Jesus.  When we (anyone) truly repent and pray for forgiveness, it is granted.  No matter if it is one sin or a lifetime of sin and disobedience.  Matthew 6: 8 “……….For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Jesus clearly taught not only how we should pray, but the type of prayers and attitudes that are not acceptable and cause our prayers to be unanswered.  V5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.  For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.  Assuredly, I say to you, that they have their reward.”  There it is again, self-focus, that has caused so much problem for individuals and in the world since the very beginning.  It is also evident, that we have a choice, we can go for public notice and accolades to the exclusion of serving and honouring God, and they will be our only reward, for they do not bring the heavenly reward.

Jesus taught that when we seek You with an undivided heart, with no other motive V6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”  There is a tendency for us to think that the more words we use or to say the same words repeatedly will find Your ear better and bring a more favour, but Jesus has taught us this is not so, V7 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.  For they think that they will be heard for their many words.  V8 “Therefore do not be like them…………..”

Father, as I have reread these texts, I can see my areas of need, and I thank You for this, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit again today, and lead me not only in my attitudes, but in my prayers and life lived because of You.  I am grateful for this new day of opportunity, and ask that I can be Your true servant, that brings glory to Your name.  I give You my praise and deep gratitude.

Amen