2019, October – The kingdom of Jesus is not of this world

Dear God,

You the God of all power and knowledge gave Daniel, one of the Hebrew captives of Babylon, a prophecy that answered the dream of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon.  God gave Nebuchadnezzar “kingdom, power, strength and glory” Daniel 2: 37; depicted as the gold head of a statue.  The dream depicted with other metals, future kingdoms to come through the ages.  The latter times that we live in are depicted as toes of combined iron and clay which do not combine with each other.

Then to the prediction of the final Kingdom of Jesus, not of this world, Daniel 2: 44 “…the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”

God, I find it exciting and sobering, to be living right down in the last of earthly kingdoms, following the predicted events of Daniel having almost reached their full conclusion.  This hope of the second coming not only gives us this momentous event to prepare for, but a reason to live in hope not only for the future, but a direction for reaching out to others in all ways that will impact their physical life and soul.

The impact of the words of Daniel combined with the words of Jesus cannot be kept to myself; others need to be also told and blessed.  Daniel 7: 13. 14 “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming in the clouds of heaven!  He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.  Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” Many people are now realizing the world has become wicked and that nature around us is groaning under what we keep doing to it; and ask what is the future for us and our earth?

To Pilate, Jesus said amongst other things, “‘my kingdom is not of this world…..’  John 18:36 and Verse 37 “…..’You say rightly that I am a king.  For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’” 

My prayer is not only will I fully pay attention to the voice of Jesus, but have opportunity to acquaint others with the life and purpose of Jesus when on earth, and His soon coming.

Let us not delay, but prepare ourselves under the guidance of Jesus and go tell others His good news.

Our redemption is nigh!

Amen

2019, October – Get to know God and receive His teachings and instructions

Dear God,

You My Saviour are not just a good and righteous person. It is wonderful to know and serve a living God who is, all powerful = Omnipotent, all knowing = Omniscient, = all present Omnipresent, all loving = Omnibenevolence.

When just these few things about You God are considered, it is no surprise that You can work the miracle of changing our mind and life direction, by saving our soul; as well as working miracles within the forces of nature without and within.

Jesus said it was hard for those with many possessions to have an undivided heart and truly follow their Saviour unto eternal life in heaven. The disciples in astonishment said, Matthew 19: 25 “…. Who then can be saved? “  Verse 26 “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”  I ask You Jesus that we through the Holy Spirit, to be given an infilling of the Holy Spirit, so we can through His in working in our lives, receive you truly and develop a faith that absolutely believes in Your power and will, to make miraculous changes in our mind, heart and actions.

It was through such a faith within Joshua, that miracles were possible for the Israelite’s to cross the Jordan and for their successful conquests.  Joshua 3: 5 “Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify  yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’” They were to repent and make things right and place You at the centre of their heart and practice, and in prayer and worship You were invited along.  In those days Your presence was in the Ark of the Covenant.

You said You were among them, and promised to drive out the enemy nations before them.  As the feet of the priests carrying the Ark of the Lord , entered the waters, Verse 13 “…. the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand in a heap.” The priests stood still, as the multitudes of Israelite’s crossed over the dry river bed.

Thank You God for this another example of Your miraculous deliverance of person/people; that came after heart preparation in each heart, and then in obedience and humble belief, they followed You their God of all power, knowledge and presence, with their whole heart.

Today please accept my life and heart again, I know that you have and will work miracles in my prepared heart and life.

Amen

2019, October– Confront any fear with God and He will take them

Dear God,

Praise Your Glorious and Most Holy name, for You came and reassured and directed me in the night and now through the Holy Scriptures.  Once again I have contemplated Your words to Joshua, as he was poised to take 1000’s of people over the Jordan River into a land populated with hostile people.  Then I realized You had directed me to these passages, because you will do for me, as you did for the children of Israel.

Many times there is promised deliverance by relying on You the source of strength and power.  Joshua 1:6 “Be strong and of good courage….”  Verse 7 “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”  We/I cannot ignore Your words of promise, that can be received with belief and expectation for anyone who is confronted with a genuine worrying situation or confronting their own self-generated fears.  Verse 9 “Have I not commanded You?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Thank You dear father, for these recorded words in scripture of those who believed You and tested Your promise, and came through with thanks and recommendation, of Your rescue.  Psalm 27: 1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid.”  Hebrews 13: 6 ”So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”

In the Garden of Eden all was joy, light and love when it came from the Creators hand.  It was Satan that fallen angel that bought fear and darkness to earth, with the entrance of sin to earth, through Adam and Eve.  God is stronger that any fallen angel, tempting us with the sin of doubting His word.  Ephesians 6: 10, 11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Today I accept You as my Saviour and choose to walk truly in Your strength and power, and with belief receive all Your promises.

Amen

2019, October– Not only speak words of care; give care.

Dear God,

Today I give praise, for there is all the love of heaven for me to accept.  Jesus Himself said, “…even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”  John 3: 17 He could say this, because He had come from His Father in heaven, in the form of man, for man.  And why did God give His very precious Son and why did Jesus come at such danger and sacrifice?

John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  So it was not about outright judgement and immediate implemented punishment, but for the world through Jesus to be saved; that Jesus came to earth.

We are saved by His love; and as He does; we are to give His love and care to others, for they are all His chosen.  1 John 3: 16” By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”  Not often would there be a situation that required giving up our life so another could have life, as Jesus did, But to be so filled with the love of Jesus, that the need of the other is apparently more important than our own life; is possible by His power within.

Jesus however emphasized caring for the poor and giving of our means.  Matthew 5: 43 “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”  Challenging for us in this world of fraud and deceit, however we are invited to ask (James 1:5), when we need to know what to do, and He will tell us what to do, and guide us to know the genuine and true need.

I would never want to deprive help for true need, at the peril of not giving of the provision of God, when I have the means to do so.  1 John 3: 17 “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

There are many legitimate organizations, which help the poor and needy.  Give us the Your heart O, God, so that we will show Your love to the poor, as directed and empowered by Your Holy Spirit.

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

Amen

2019, October – Forgive others and ask of Him

Dear God,

I give praise to You my God, for all Your workings in my heart and for the unexpected and unplanned for purchase of some beautiful garments for my trip, and for the 100’s dollars saved.  I find each day that you care for my entire being, now and for eternity, just like You promise.

You love us to talk to You in prayer of all types; for we are friends.  Jesus taught much about prayer.  Please give me new insights into some of these words, as I have previously prayed for cleansing of my soul and to be given humility.  Mark 11: 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”  I think this requirement for answered prayer, is often gone over without thinking or properly understanding why some prayers are not answered and our attitude gets hardened.  Verses 26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” 

I ask that if we are holding grudges in our heart, please convict of this, and place in us a desire to seek You, and ask for a change in attitude, and an prompting to truly forgive the other by Your power; for we need Your help.  Thank You for hearing and answering this prayer.

Matthew 7: 7, 8 “Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  I come in prayer at Your invitation, and because I believe by Your own word, that it is Your delight to answer and give us what we need.  Jesus said that no parent would deny a child a need for bread, or other requirement and we are evil, therefore, “much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”  Verse 11b

Dear Father in heaven, “for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” Matthew 6: 13b

 

 

2019, October– As Daniel prayed, so can we.

Dear God,

I am impressed with Your servant Daniel.  He loved You truly and faithfully and unwavering in all circumstances.  He never compromised his integrity or principle.  He was faced with death by the king.  So asking for time, went into his house and prayed that you would reveal to him the secret message the king had received in a dream from You.  You revealed the hidden meaning to Daniel in a night vision.

Daniel in Daniel 2: 20 – 23, prayed a prayer of praise and gratitude to You the Mighty God of Heaven.  As I child of Yours that has been in receipt of my own blessings and many answers to prayer, I pray through these scriptures and make them as my own today —

Psalm 113: 2 “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!”

Romans 11: 33 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out!

James 1: 5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him.”

Daniel 2: 47 “The king answered Daniel and said, ‘Truly God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.’”

1 John 1:5 “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

In Your love there is no ulterior selfish motive, or sinful intent, for as God, You can only be all LIGHT, which does not allow any DARK to reside.

Humbly I bow before You, and ask that my praise and worship be accepted, and enhanced by You.  There is none like You, and I have the privilege of being able to give all my worship and thanks and requests to GOD, ALL POWERFUL AND ALL MIGHTY who knows all my secrets and answers to all my problems and solutions needed.

Please, this day give me the faith to see your answers and accept them into my heart; and to follow Your will and directions.

Thank You for hearing my prayers and being my God and for teaching me Your way of love,

Amen

2019, October – Believe, just believe Jesus –

What a wealth of meaning and deliverance in those words!

Dear God,

Thank You for sending Your Son to earth so we have the record of Divine love lived and enacted.  His profound love and compassion touches us deeply now, and we are moved by the Holy Spirit, to give our sins and heart to Him in love and devotion.   We also just need to believe and accept Jesus has all power to deliver us, as He did for the spiritually lost, wandering and suffering people in Judea and surrounding districts back then.

The home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, had provided a quiet retreat for Jesus, as He came apart from His constant works of compassion and teaching.  They loved Him, and He them and had accepted Him and teachings, and so they had become friends.  Jesus was ever in the service of His Father, on the mission to save as many as possible from sin and death, therefore He did not indulge human inclinations, to rush to the side of Lazarus, at the time of His sickness; Lazarus could not have died if He did.

There was and is a lesion in belief to be taught to all His disciples and followers.  John 11: 4 “…’this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’”  After 2 days, Jesus proposed to go to Judea, to visit Lazarus, even though the Jews in the area sought to kill him.  The disciples did not understand any of His actions over the past few days!

In sorrow Martha met Him, as he approached their place, and demonstrated belief; without total understanding.  Jesus blesses all belief and carries it further.  Martha believed that her brother would not have died if Jesus had been there and even now said “whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” John 11: 22   Martha thought Jesus was just referring to the resurrection day, when “He said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’” And “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”  John 11; 23, 25 

Lazarus had been dead four days, and Martha was worried about the stench, Jesus had the stone removed, and after a little more teaching, said, “Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’” Immediately Lazarus came out, still bound in grave clothes and face cloth. “Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.”  John 11:43, 44.

Dear Jesus, please take away any self-focus and unbelief, so that we can truly believe You, and understand, that You alone are the way leading to ‘resurrection and the life”.

Amen

 

2019, October – Believe the words of Jesus.

Dear God,

To believe in Jesus and His words and promises, are so much more in meaning than I have as yet taken into my every day practice in life.  I anticipate the day when the words of Jesus are part of me and practiced in more fullness and beauty.

Please God every day, be with me and fill me with the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that I can rightly understand the words of Your Son Jesus Christ and their import and promise over my life.  Thank You for hearing my prayer as promised in Your Holy Word.

Jairus one of the rulers of the synagogue came and presented a plea for Jesus to come and heal his little daughter who was at the point of death in bed at home.  Indeed Jesus went with him, but could not proceed through the heavy throng of people presenting their needs also.  I can imagine the unsettled stretched mind of the father as the delay went on, until people came and said, “……’Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Teacher any further.”  Mark 5: 35

Of course it was not a trouble to Jesus to be about His Fathers business of relieving the bondage of sin, sickness and death; in fact it was His mission and joy.  This had been an active time, of casting out demons and healing the sick and relieving sin sick minds; now was the opportunity to stretch their faith, by raising this little girl from death to life.  Having heard the remark to Jairus that his daughter was dead, Jesus said, “’Do not be afraid, only believe.’” Mark 5: 36

Jesus with Jairus went to his house in which the little girl lay dead.  As was the usual custom there was a great commotion, because the official mourners were making a great show of mourning sorrow.  Jesus never comes to the great commotion of unbelief.  Belief in Jesus comes through the Spirit of God, and unbelief to the words of God happens when we get taken in by Satan’s whispers in our ears.  Further unbelief was evidenced, by their raucous ridicule of Jesus, when He said “…’the child is not dead, but sleeping.’” Mark 5: 30 

There is nothing so spiritually dead, as unbelief.  The belief of Jairus was rewarded, when little Talitha, responded to the words of Jesus, “….’little girl, I say to you, arise.’” Mark 5: 41

Please Jesus heal and raise us from any unbelief or fear, that causes us to forfeit You healing and restoration of mind and life.

Thank you Lord Jesus

2019, October – From the beginning was love!

Dear God,

On this earth from the beginning there was only Your divine love, expressed to Adam and Eve and they to You in the garden of Eden.  After they had to leave the perfect, love filled garden because of their sin, the darkness of sin was in them and around them.  1 John 3: 11, 12 “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

Because of the written Holy Word and the influence of the Holy Spirit, I/we have learned to love You Father God and Your blessed Son, Jesus.  I have accepted Jesus as my heaven sent Saviour and soon to be Redeemer.  1 John 1: 6, 7 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  Thank You God, for Your Holy Word and for the life of Jesus who never sinned, so therefore had none of the works of Satan in Him, and was full of the light of perfect love.

In the scriptures we have many passages that challenge each reader to really examine their works, for some works may not reflect the light of Jesus.  Ephesians 4: 31 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”  1 John 2: 9 “He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.”  This comes close to me Lord, for sometimes there are some of these unlovely behaviours in my repertoire of sinful deeds.  I understand in scripture when it says ‘brother’ does not mean just blood brother, but anybody in our sphere of friends.  Some of the Scriptures that outline for me, the way I will walk in the light of Jesus, with Him in my heart.  Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave You.”  Also I read with conviction, that we are not blessed by You, if we hold hardness and hatred in our heart.  1 John 2: 11 “But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

Let none of us delay our repentance/ forgiveness any longer, for it is not worth indulging in inward focused, self-motivated, perpetuated thoughts and attitudes; no matter what the other has done!  We dare not allow such to take us away from Jesus.

Thank You Jesus for hearing our prayer.

2019, October – Jesus is ever waiting to deliver us from the devil and sin

Dear God,

I could not have joy and happiness at any time, unless you strengthened me.  Throughout the day during conflict with evil, when I cry out, I am delivered by You.  Sadly in my human, sinfulness, I get caught way too often, but even then, you give me repentance, hear my prayer, and forgive me and wipe my record clean by the blood of Jesus.

I was impressed when I read and comprehended, that the battle against the devil is not mine, but Yours.  It is profitable to use Psalm 116:16 “O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.”  As well as saying, ‘I do not want to be the devils servant’ let us follow that up with ‘I will not be the devils servant’, because I give myself to Jesus Christ.  To add even more weight to my declaration and prayer to Jesus, I will repeat these words along with Psalm 116:16, over and over.  In the time of trial and the testing of our faith, this is how we receive the victory that has already been achieved by Jesus Christ.

Lord I anticipate after much experience of Your power and deliverance from the devil and sin through Jesus Christ, I/we do also say, Romans 8: 37 – 39 “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Again this is not about me, apart from believing Jesus and accepting and centering my faith upon Him in all areas of my life.  Then I will receive His victory already gained over the devil and his demons.

All the events individually and for earth’s future events, are in the hand of God, Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” 

Jesus, by Your promise and strength, I will trust Your word and delivering hand, and not the words and actions of man.

Amen