Month: February 2016

Isaiah 33: 2, 3 “O Lord, be gracious to us, we have waited for You.  Be their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.  At the noise of the tumult the people will flee; when You lift Yourself up the nations shall be scattered.”

Dear God,

Thank You for the beautiful start to the day, and that I can freely and openly seek You at the beginning of this new day.  Thank You for teaching me to love and serve You, and that I also can do that freely.  Please again today, be my strength and fortress, as was the case for Your faithful children, in the times of Isaiah.  You spoke through Isaiah to the Israelite enemies, as found in verse 10, “But the Lord says to our enemies, ‘I will be exalted.  I will yet bring honour to my name.” and verse 13 “Everyone far and near will hear what I have done and will acknowledge My power.”  Finally the wrong doers in Zion were afraid and asked “who can live in the midst of a devouring fire and survive?  Who can live in the sight of God and not be consumed?”

This scenario seems so similar to what is foretold in scripture for those who are faithful to You (referred to as spiritual Israel) are to face  when  passing through the last days on this earth: with the great wickedness, spiritual apostasy, and backsliding away from You, as in the times of Isaiah now evident all about us.  Many say that they are in these foretold times right now!  I cannot disagree with their assessment, as the news unfolds daily.

Please God, preserve me unto Yourself, so that my eyes will be open to all You offer, and to the evils around me.  I pray that in Your strength, I will have none with compromise and instead be all for learning of You and growing not only to love You truly with my whole heart, but will have put on Your full armour of protection against the devils attacks, so that I will not be overwhelmed or seduced by the devil.  Then we, Your spiritual children, will be as described in Isaiah 33:15 “He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, he who despises the gain of oppression’s, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil.”  More than in any previous time period, we are at risk of hearing bloodshed and seeing evil, as the popular entertainment media bombard all those who choose to hear and listen, with such sound and scenes.  I feel so sad when I think that for many they are literally experiencing the horrors of war and persecution.

May we never close our eyes, ears and heart to the different horror situations others are in?  Thankfully as we pray daily, You will as promised keep us tender toward others, by Your love imparted to us.

I ask today God, that You will cause me to be wise in what I expose myself to, from what is available on the media and airwaves.  I ask You to strengthen and empower me, so that I can turn my back on anything that is offensive to You, and would allow the devil to draw me from a true and full allegiance to You, the Almighty God.

God, all scripture reveals that You want us to be righteous and all provision is made for us to be able to be so, as You teach us and equip us so we know and can do Your will, which is to walk righteously: refusing to be consistently evil in thought and deed.

Lord please fill me with Your Spirit now.

Amen

Job 28: 12, 20 “From where then does wisdom come?  And where is the place of understanding?

Dear God,

I have been thrilled to hear the trills of the song birds, during a full on start to this day with numerous other very noisy birds calling out in joyful noises and tones, peculiar to their individual species; as they perch and fly from bough to bough.  I give praise for the happiness they bring, within the pleasure all nature brings to me.

I sometimes think that if I could not hear bird songs and their noises each morning, a little piece of me would whither.  But then I remember words in scripture, spoken from a dungeon, that whatever place or situation we find ourselves, we can be content in the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Job reminds us all wisdom is not innately kept within the birds. Job 28: 21 “It is hidden from the eyes of the living, and concealed from the birds of the air.” How do they know how and what to do that keeps them alive, and that provides progeny to perpetuate each individual species?  Surely not by chance it seems too complex?  I believe that You as the Almighty God of the universe, created all species with inherent specific abilities that we have enjoyed observing and studying down through the ages.  I also observe that as well as these innate abilities given at creation, some have strong instincts that cause them to act in a certain way.  These instincts and/or abilities do not automatically indicate that the animal, bird, fish or man/woman, necessarily will know all that is wisdom or even a goodly portion of it.

Job writes within the context of pointing out all the mind bending aspects of nature are each put together/happen in a certain way, and asserts, V23 “God understands its way and He knows its place.”  It is satisfying and stimulating to learn of the many discoveries through science about so much in our universe and earth – whether about non-living elements, historically or living things and processes all around us; especially the human body, and much more.

A deeper soul and mind experience can come when all these facts go from the mere interesting, to a confirmation of a loving, all powerful God, who not only cares to create wonderful, intricate, beautiful functioning living things, to the revelation that You placed within every man or woman a mind (we are told by science) with much untapped potential for learning and ability; along with finely tuned emotions and feelings.

There are a number of references in the scriptures that indicate that many Bible writers had found satisfaction and wisdom, during and after times of adversity and hard living.  For example, king Solomon after departing from You, became disillusioned in the process of adulterous and luxurious living.  He turned around and wrote how wisdom could be found and not found, Proverbs 1:7”The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  Proverbs 9: 10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”  Job writing in the same vein states, Job 28: 28 “And to man He said, ‘Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.”

Because I believe I am Your created person, I can only believe that I was not born with Your wisdom and that You are the font of wisdom.  It is apparent that You have gifted us with abilities and a mind that can learn and have wisdom imparted into that mind; and each individual mind can never achieve the wisdom of the Infinite God.

Within the scriptures I discern that any knowledge that robs us of eternal life cannot be called true wisdom, but instead, the knowledge of unwise things. You will always give us true and increasing wisdom in the area’s that really matter and will prosper us in all ways.  Proverbs 3: 5, 7 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.”  “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.”

Thank You Lord for revealing Yourself in these measures of wisdom, as I take for my own endeavour these Bible texts.

Amen

 

Mark 7: 14”When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear Me, everyone and understand.’”

Dear God,

I absolutely praise and thank You for loving me and bearing with me; as well as for the news of salvation available for me and everyone;  also for Your guidance on how to truly find You, and how to live in accordance with Your will.  I have found a loving God who requires us to truly reverence, obey and worship Him, within the knowledge and guidance, You have given us.  Today, I have read more on this subject in Mark 7.

Even with the irritation of the ‘nit picking’ Pharisees and priests, Jesus continued to teach, heal and give loving service.  Never did He give an indication of personal anger, in the face of their rebukes for He and His disciples not following their Godless traditions and total loveless hypocrisy.  It was the ritual cleansing that they were ‘hung up on’, which could never make anyone morally clean, for it is only the working of the Holy Spirit, within our mind and heart, that makes us morally clean.  Any evil cherished in the heart eventually comes out, as the evil thoughts that become evil actions; these are what Jesus was teaching needs to be cleansed out of each of us.  Mark 7: 6 – 8 “He answered and said to them, ‘well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:  ‘This people honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’  For laying aside the commandments of God, you hold the tradition of men—…..’“

Please search my heart and show me any evil cherished there that will come out as any type of evil word or action, so that I can now repent of them, before any evil is expressed.    Very importantly I will then be forgiven by Your grace, and a change in my heart will take place in the freedom from wrong doing and guilt I now will have.  Thank You.

Jesus cast a demon out of the daughter of a foreign woman – after showing the disciples the type of prejudice that they had toward anyone who was not of their nationality.  He had first appeared to reject her request, on the basis of her nationality, as they would have done, to show how contrary these prejudices were in the way of love which was His and should be in all His followers.  V29 “Then He said to her, ‘For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.’”

As I live for You today Lord, reveal to me my prejudices, so that I can change my attitudes to accept all people, who were lovingly created by You, making them all equal.  Now it is more apparent to me, that this also makes every person equal in potential to learn to love and serve You, which gives each of us a spiritual responsibility toward everyone You place in our life.   I perceive that this is a privilege as well as a responsibility that Jesus has advised each and every one about, as we read about His words and actions.

Please also fill me with praises for Your every gift, privilege and blessing.

Amen

 

Mark 6:31 “And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while….”

Dear God,

I so appreciate that I gain rest, peace and rejuvenation, as I come apart and spend time with You in the morning hour or so.  I have been reading about the ministry of Jesus, with the constant calls upon His time, which frequently came with needs for counselling and healing, from many very needy, persistent people, milling all around Jesus constantly from early morning until late in the day.  During the day, there seemed to be little time for the disciples and He to relax, talk and enjoy one another’ s company.  Without being filled with the Holy Spirit I imagine the ministry of Jesus would have almost been too taxing to maintain, day after day.

Mark tells of a time when Jesus wanted some quiet time in a secluded spot, with the 12 disciples, and so they set off in a boat by themselves.  Many of the people followed Him, on foot around the lake, and Jesus in compassion could not send them away, for He knew that they needed to spend time with Him, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

Then it was getting late, and there was some distance for them to walk back to their homes and a meal. So again the compassionate heart of Jesus was stirred, and by a miracle, He fed all of them, and then sent the multitude home and His disciples off over the lake in the boat.  Jesus needed quiet time and time with His Father in prayer, so He went up alone into the mountain to pray.

Thank You Lord, for the lessons here for me, for often I have not taken rest and relaxation enough, and time in the evening to pray more than a few sentences, because of my busyness.  Forgive me please, and enable me to put thoughts into prayer in a thankful meaningful way in the evening, when my mind has shut down in a tired state.

Amen

 

Philippians 1:11 “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Dear God,

You alone are God and most worthy to be praised, and reverenced, with my whole mind and body.  I am sorry for the times I approach You as if You were due a much lower level of reverence, instead of all the reverence I am capable of giving to Almighty God and the King of Kings.  It is a shameful thing to consciously and/or unconsciously bring you down to our own level as I allow my mind to wander onto all sorts of other subjects, when I am actually supposedly reading the scriptures, in prayer or listening to a sermon , with ‘half a mind’.   Sometimes I am aware of it immediately, and sometimes not, but for any of these occasions, I sincerely repent and ask forgiveness.

Search my heart and mind, and then reveal to me my wrong thoughts and attitudes, as well as fill me with Your Spirit, so that I can willingly change, and become a true child of Yours in all ways.

Then I will be as, Paul has written of in Philippians 1:11, ‘filled with the fruits of righteousness’, which come from Jesus Christ.  Then, and as I live them out, for all to see, my life and actions will be “to the glory and praise of God.”

As I read about Korah, Dathan and Abiram in the Old Testament, I realize how easy it is to get full of ourselves, when we are doing work for You.  These three had, began to think they should be on the same level as Moses and Aaron in the temple, for after all they were also descended down through the Levitical genealogical line, and already worked at the temple.  Their sin of pride and envy got them over looking just who You were, to the point that they interpreted Your requirements in their own way, which was not received by You.  All mankind needs salvation and every repentant sinner will be equally received by You; but only You in Your unparalleled wisdom could know who is the best person to fulfil positions relating to doing the work of their God.  The temple positions could not have been self-appointed positions; when You had already laid down the guidelines for who could be a priest serving in the Temple complex.

Moses and Aaron had humble hearts that willingly obeyed You, as opposed to Korah, Dathan and Abiram and their sympathizers, who apparently had prideful, rebellious hearts, which could not have been truly obedient to the requests of their God.  Once begun on being jealous of the positions of Moses and Aaron, their stubbornness and rebellion grew, as did their lack of reverence for You.

They were given opportunity to repent, and humble themselves, but they would not, and so they and their families, paid with their lives, and the rebellion ceased.

At the end of time, it will be those who have humbled themselves before You, in genuine repentance, and then followed Your instructions in obedience; that will be granted eternal life.   As it was with Korah, Dathan and Abiram, all those who have been rebellious and stubbornly will not heed God’s word or correction, will also pay with their lives.

I give You permission Lord, to continue to strive with me, and bring before me any hindrance that would prevent me from being counted as Your own, worthy of being taken to heaven by Jesus Christ, my Redeemer.

Amen

 

Mark 4:41 “And they feared exceedingly and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and sea obey Him.”

Dear God,

I praise Your Holy Name, because of love for me (all); You will sustain and care for me (all).  You will also grant forgiveness for every sin, through the blood of our precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This fills my heart with gratitude.

Father You know my every need, and with gratitude  I acknowledge Your intervention, and remember my urgent requests that certain urgently needed materials would arrive in time for a program I had part in 2 years ago.  After several weeks of delay, suddenly over the week-end the materials, came into Melbourne, but needed to be delivered to Western Australia, by the late morning mail for Monday evening use. You also know how good it is for me, to pray the extended prayer of faith, so I kept praying that their progress would be speeded, and that they would arrive.  The usual time for postal delivery came and went, with nothing delivered. Then at 2:30pm they came!  The ‘postie’ could not account for the fact that she went for the parcels to be delivered, later than usual.  By that time I had articles at the depot, awaiting pick up for delivery to my door.  I believe that You did hear my prayers and knew the need, and moved parcels from the sender end that had been sitting for over a week, and then delayed pick up at this end, so that all urgent prayers were answered, and I thank You for hearing my prayers, and know for me and many others You will answer all prayers in Your timing, by Your might power and love.

Jesus after a busy day departed in a small fishing boat and then fell peacefully asleep at the bottom of the boat confident in Your care and protection, as He took some needed rest.
The winds swept down upon the boats on the water.   These were winds stirred up by demoniac forces, bent on causing disquiet in the least and destruction at the worst.  For the disciples who had not yet developed in their faith in You, God, the Father, the experience was frightening in force and violence and they were absolutely terrified for their lives.  They were not pleased that Jesus slept on in the face of such a cataclysmic time and so woke Him up, and chastised Him, for not caring that they were perishing.  His answer was to calmly rebuke the wind and sea.  Instantly all was calm.  He asked the disciples, “Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?  Even then they were afraid, because the winds and waves responded to His rebuke.

Such times revealing how lacking in faith and often fearful a person can be, are not limited to these disciples.  I (we) as modern day disciples, sadly find I (we) also can react this way.

Please forgive me, and by You Spirit, lead me to rest in You, with faith, knowing that You always care and have me in Your ‘sights’, and will always heed the prayer of faith from one of Your erring children, which in this case is me.

Amen

Mark 4:9 “And He said to them, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Dear God,

Once again it is a joy to greet You on this new day of life that has been granted to me.  My taking in that it was a new day, came much sooner than I wanted, by having the tenure of the day confirmed by the laughter of kookaburra birds, while soft darkness enveloped us all.  My heart stirred in grateful praise to You for their happy tones.  Shortly thereafter, I felt pleasure as I heard the peeping of the little birds.  I wonder why I love hearing them at the beginning of each day; when these very same birds come every year especially to put their beaks into my luscious ripening figs and any other fruit not covered with nets.  Though I know You made us all, and it has always been the way for the birds to seek food where they can, for they too must eat; but I do wish it was at some other eating place in the bush.

Jesus, Your Son, spent much time teaching people about the kingdom of heaven and how to prepare to be one of the people chosen to be taken there.  The teaching of Jesus in Mark 4: 3-8, is followed by an explanation to the disciples in Mark 4: 13-20.  V 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow and it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.”  Birds again, staying alive by helping themselves to food when it was available.  This time the birds represented Satan coming and snatching away the words of truth that You had placed before some people, prior to there being an opportunity for the words to sink in and make a lasting impression in the mind and heart.  Other grain or gospel teaching had fallen on stony ground, for the seed (gospel teaching) had been sown widely and fallen on all the places (hearts) around.  It sprouted with great prospect, but without the availability of nurturing soil, growth could not withstand adverse conditions and just withered away.  We all have seen the stunted plant or Christian experience in such circumstances and noted that promising growth eventually dies.

I choose You again today Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and through the Holy Spirit plan to manifest well rooted healthy Christian growth.

Other seed fell amongst thorns and weeds that eventually choked the worthwhile growth.  While I may not have been snatched away from Jesus at the beginning or even not stunted by adverse conditions; Jesus warns that Satan has not finished with me (us) yet.  V 19 “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”  In my experience and observations, these influences can check spiritual growth, and are a real threat for us in these days of widespread busyness, increased standard of living realized and aspired for.  Remind me (us) Lord when we are set on this way, and bring us back to a satisfaction in Your simple, spiritually productive way.

Thankfully it is possible to receive Your word and in my mind and actions provide conditions that nurture, V8 “ But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty and some a hundred.”  As wheat and sheep farmer’s daughter and home gardener, I have seen and experienced much joy, from a good yield of produce, which guarantees there will be more crops to sow with ongoing new growth, in following seasons.

Praises to heaven and beyond, for You God are occupied in assuring that as many souls as possible will be ripe and harvested, by Jesus when He comes to take His increase to heaven with Him.

‘Oh, I want to be there’!

Amen

 

Mark 3:6 “Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodian’s against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

Dear God,

You are the Almighty God, Holy, Pure, Just, All loving, Righteous, All Creative and Powerful, and yet You still bother with me on earth.  We on earth are to my mind, like unthinking worms, wallowing in dirt and blindness, and for the most part, content with being in this condition, with some people never desiring to come out of the darkness, into Your liberating light.

Please forgive me, if I have attitudes of being content with being in the darkness.  Show me my needs and be my strength to leave the oppression of Satan’s dark familiar world, filled with selfishness and wrong doing.  Be my strength, so that I do not have to be supreme in my sphere, with the need to have my own way, as well as having the last say.  Also take away any fear of stepping out and doing things differently and being content with the ‘status quo’.

Today in the power of the Spirit, I will be buoyed up and strengthened, as I again take courage, in 2 Peter 1: 7 “For God has not given a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. “  It is not surprising that You God give us the gifts of power, love and a sound mind, for You are all loving and compassionate and know our needs better than we ourselves do.  I think also, that You did not want us fearful in any circumstance, for You are our support and answer to fear.  To rely on You, and go tell others  or demonstrate about Your love, is also tied up with the gifts of power, love and a sound mind, that is offered to us, so we need not fear what others think and will do to us, when doing anything for You or in Your name.

As I think about Jesus and the hostile reception He received from the priests, I wonder at it.  For they had witnessed a scope of activities, such as had never been seen before, which were obviously for the good of humanity; for their ‘flock’ or temple members.

They essentially did not care that the sick and suffering were being relieved of their sicknesses and being demon possessed.  Instead they accused Jesus of using the devils power and not that of His Father God, to do all His miraculous deeds.  Then with the devils thoughts in their minds, they went out to plot His death, all the time not perceiving their own lack and needs spiritually, and who actually put their divisive and murderous thoughts in their minds, and whom they actually followed.  For it could not be You, for all through the scriptures, You have said, ‘do not murder another person’ and demonstrated a loving, forbearing and long suffering character.

In Your discernment and strength, God, I determine to follow only You and not the false shepherds Satan will put in my pathway.

Amen

Mark 2: 27, 28 “And He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Dear God,

How You must long for the day when Your children on earth, will have transformed bodies, at the second coming of Jesus.  You see me with absolute love, even though at this time my ‘soul’ is housed in a sin ravaged body.  You see my body as it was originally meant to be, perfect and made in Your image.  Sadly my present body is not able to reflect Your image.  Sin, suffering and death are my inheritance, because the usurper of Your ownership, Satan, led Adam into sin.  Another consequence of the legacy Adam has passed on, is that I have sin affected thought processes and attitudes, combined with the fact I am much less mentally and emotionally able than were Adam and Eve.

We have other aspects of our character that come to the fore in a way that does not always bring balanced interactions within ourselves and with others.  Also we are now more likely to be selfish, self-opinionated, proud, arrogant, filled with prejudice and criticism, to name just a few of our possible unlovely attitudes.

I do not have to allow these unlovely characteristics to be my usual way of living and responding to people and situations, for You have promised, by the Holy Spirit I can gradually become more like You. I choose today, to humble myself before You , and allow the Spirit to lead me.

In the time of Jesus, we see these attitudes coming out as illustrated by the uncaring prejudice of the priests and leaders in the time of Christ.  The priests had never had or had lost their love for God and their fellow man, in their preoccupation with man invented efforts to live to the letter of Sabbath observance; to the point of making the Sabbath burdensome – for it was not focused on God and His love toward us, and our loving response to Him.  This is why they ‘picked’ on Jesus, when His disciples, plucked some grains of wheat on the way to the temple; because they were hungry one Sabbath, having not yet eaten.  Like cats ready to pounce they frequently waited for Jesus to transgress one of their man made traditions, or additions to God’s commandments.  Mark 3: 1, 2 “And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.  So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.  And He said to the man who had the withered hand.  ‘Step forward.’”  In no way was Jesus deterred from undertaking healing and ministry on the Sabbath day.

The religious leaders had missed the point to the message of Your love in the Sabbath wanting to spend special time with them, for they for the main were about observing prescribed performance in themselves and others.

How easy it is for me (us) to have a closed critical mind which leads to being hung up with how I and others should be doing this or that, and thereby miss the point of having a profitable relationship with You, which only comes when my (our) interactions and responses are due to love and not a sense of duty alone.

Please forgive me for any of these transgressions, and send Your Spirit to lead me to You.

Amen

 

 

Leviticus 26 : 13 “I am the Lord your God, who bought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.”

Dear God,

I wish to give thanks and praises again, because I love You, and know that what I do for any other person, or in Your name, will be more worthwhile when Your Spirit attends me.  I have found in the past when I was actively occupied in the community and able to interact with sensitive damaged souls that You put it into my mind, not go without asking that all my attitudes and words to be from You, and not from my sinful, ‘bumbling’ self as had happened at times.  I am so glad I did.

I know Your promises assured to we on earth, can be mine if I am faithful to and walk in obedience to You in all ways.  Your word was given in Leviticus 26:3, 4 “If You walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.”  As an agricultural community, they were dependent upon the harvest of their crops, which spoke of Your provision and love for The Children of Israel.

The Israelites also had Your promise of being kept safe from those who desired to harm them, as well as wild animals.  Leviticus 26:12 “I will walk among you and be your God, and you are my people.”  As with all Your promises, they were and are conditional on them and me accepting You as God, then in love and obedience, doing as You ask.  When so occupied, they and I will not serve another god.   Another god need not be a physical object, but anything that occupies much time and thought; such as money, prestige, people and relationships, which has a place in my heart above my allegiance to You, the One and only true God.

The story in Matthew 19:16 – 26, of the rich young ruler, who came to Jesus, has illustrated this truth, down through the ages until our present age.  The young man had asked, in Matthew 16:16 “….what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”  In His answer Jesus revealed it was not about the good deeds he could do, or possessions owned, but by his obedience to Gods commandments, (vs 17).  Knowing the heart of this young man, and the influence wealth had upon, him, “Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell, what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  The young man went away sorrowfully.

Lord, You know my heart better than I do.   Am I willing to give all up, to follow You?  Search my heart, and fill me with Your Spirit, so that I love and obey You, truly.

History and personal experience has shown me that many times You bless me (us) with double what we give.  You just love to bless us, and I thank You again.

Amen