Month: October 2016

Colossians 3: 12 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.”

Dear God,

Thank You for Your many answers to my prayers; for Your every unasked for blessing and presence.  Shortly the garden will be so beautiful, because of its 1000’s of rose buds promising colours of every hue, that I am drawn into praise and thankfulness to the Creator of it all.

Please again fill me with Your gifts, unto good works.  I heed the advice of Paul in Colossians 3: 1, 2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on the things on earth.”  I ask again, that You be my strength and wisdom, so that I can achieve a full life as a Christian on this earth, and at the same time have my heart with You in heaven, for then that will be where my treasure is.  And, my heavenly treasure cannot be the objects of materialism, and the accomplishments of myself or others upon this earth, for it will be centred on Christ.  It seems to be so easy for me to slip back into being pre-occupied with the activities of earth, forgetting that when I commit my life to You daily, I then will have died to the earthly allegiances, and instead have my V3 “………life is hidden with Christ in God.”

I know that because You have come into my heart again today, dear Jesus, I have assimilated love, and peace into my heart; and when this is not so, I have my priorities wrong.  I believe that Your word, is cherished by me in my heart and is a treasure to me, V 16, 17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

With joy I write, that this morning in my reflection, meditation and study I have lifted been lifted up and filled with gratitude and thanks.

Amen and Amen

 

Isaiah 33: 5 “The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.”

Dear God,

Despite my being undeserving , thank You for dealing with me graciously,   I thankful also, for Your everlasting love and mercy toward me and all Your people throughout time.  In these days we  who follow You are known as spiritual Israel; spiritually wandering around, for the most part committing the same sins, in the same type of rebellion, as the tribes of Israel: before and after they had settled in the land of promise, that You gave them.  Then as now, people are never abandoned, and all who return are welcome, because You are there for them; I am relieved that this has been my experience also.

Soon Jesus, You are coming to collect Your faithful ones, then those who are in a right relationship with You, will continue thus and those who are doing their own thing, will no longer be able to change, for life on this earth as it is now, will be finished.

Today, dear Jesus, I give You my heart and life again, and rejoice that You have heard my request, and have accepted my invitation.  I believe this, because as God, Your promises can never be negated.  Please Holy Spirit, remind me each day to recommit my life to Jesus my Saviour and in His strength walk the way of Jesus and so walk the way of Father God, for You are One, and I can say, “O Lord, be gracious with us; we have waited for You.  Be their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble” Isaiah 33: 2.

Now many years after the time of Isaiah we read of troubles times before Jesus comes, as Jesus spoke about in Matthew of the New Testament.  We cannot deny that we seem to be living in increasing troubled times, as described by Jesus when on earth.  I remember Lord Jesus, You have said, You are our salvation in these times, and the troubled, testing times for Christians, herald that soon You come for Your own.  Whether I am alive or dead, I pray that I will have heeded Your words, and  permitted the perfecting of myself in You, and it will be Your righteousness that is seen in me and not my unrighteousness.

Praise Your wonderful name, for I believe that You are all I need today and every day, in every situation.

Amen

Isaiah 30: 15 “For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:  ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’”

Dear God,

Another beautiful day full of Your blessings!  All throughout, You are my strength and stay, my wisdom, love and power,  Please lead me down You paths today, as I wish for You to have my heart, with my mind set upon You, giving opportunity for Your Spirit to teach me lessons.

I have been impressed by my bible readings this morning, and as I focus on texts in Isaiah 30, I feel Your leading.  Like myself and others, I am sure the Israelite’s were focused on rushing off and getting ‘big gun’ help, using much of their treasure to procure outside help; even though God, through the prophets had told them not to do so.  Isaiah 30 1, 2 “Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord, ‘Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!”  How often we as Christians wonder why all goes wrong, after we find our own solutions, instead of asking You, and doing as instructed,   whether from the Holy Bible or by direct answer to our prayers?  A large number of Israelite’s went on down to Egypt and did not get what they expected,  V6, 7 “………they will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys, or their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people who shall not profit; for the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose………”  It looks worse when it is a large number of people, but the effect is the same individually.  Thank You God, for continuing love and patience, but we are reminded, for each person, before and after the Israelite’s, there will be a judgement and a final end to rebelliousness.

Many of us as church members are also rebellious and heedless to instruction, as were the Israelite’s, all the while we are supposedly God’s children? Because of deep everlasting love, You continue to warn all people of what will happen if sinful, unheeding actions do not cease.  V15 reflects beautiful love and wisdom, as the people are reminded through Isaiah; help does not come in rushing off in much activity, but in returning not only to their land, but also to their God.

Today God, please keep me focused upon You, so that I can rest and be led into salvation, as You have always wanted for all people.  In the quiet place that is You God, my Confidence, I find my strength, I am also thankful for the times I have taken Your rest and peace with me, throughout a busy day.  I delight to meditate upon You and Your works.

Amen

Philippians 4: 3 “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I say, rejoice.”

Dear God,
Of late, I have been repining about not being able to get done all I have in my mind that I want to do; but when I think about it, You are the reason I have life and do live each day, for which I am grateful and by the infilling of the Spirit, I can give thanks in all situations.

Today after rain, the sun shines, the birds sing and the flowers gleam amongst the green and all is serene upon my property, as we rest in the care of our Creator.  It is a little morning moment of pure joy and I thank You for it, and I grasp this opportunity to prepare, physically and mentally for the business/challenges ahead as the day unfolds.

I have found that through the day, it is when I look up to You, Lord, then I can rejoice in all situations; even though I may dislike the place or/and situation very much.

Paul, the writer of Philippians, even though he often was in unpleasant or even dangerous places or situations, sometimes all at once, enjoins us to rejoice always, and thereby reflect Gods love all around.  I read we are also to be gentle people, remembering the Lord is always at hand.  As You know God, this is not always my natural response to people and situations.  I give You my life and ask for Jesus to have my heart, and believe, that You are bringing me to a closer relationship with You, to more and more reflect Your character.

Today, I give all my cares and care of me to You Lord, for not only do You care more than any human, it is only You that has the answer for me and my needs.  From years of experience in life and knowing You, Paul writes, V6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God.”  He knew that You love each person, and will hear our prayers, in love and interest.  He had by experience found that we actually cannot avail over anxiety, but You our God, can within us.  Paul also knew, that our thanks and gratitude expressed, are as a sweet fragrance ascending up before You.

Forgive me Lord for the times I pray and forget about the prayer, or to give thanks for the answer.  I ask by the strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, that I will keep track of my prayer requests, and not forget to thank You for all answers, whether yes, no or wait.

Amen

Isaiah 26: 3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

Dear God,

I give thanks for a new day, and the improving ability to make the best of Your opportunities.   I ask that You change my heart today and all days, so that I will learn lessons from the scriptures and the life experiences that come my way.  I believe that it is possible no matter the circumstances, by the strength of the Spirit, I to be able to, “Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”  Isaiah 26: 4.   I have noted for myself and others along the way of life, there are trials and through them, the strength of my (our) faith and belief is revealed.

I give praise, for even though I may not always enjoy all the experiences that come my way, I have found that through Your strength, that I can count trials “all joy” James 1: 2.

I certainly know I need patience, throughout all areas of my life, and sadly patience was found wanting in me again this this morning.  Please forgive me, and I will turn my eyes back upon Jesus, and accept His love and care.  For I know this is the only answer to my needs, and especially in the time of trial, James 1:3 “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Not in the Old or the New Testaments accounts, have You failed to love and support Your children throughout every experience of their lives, and when I stop to remember this, I am encouraged that You do this for me also.

 

Dear God,

Your own precious Son was treated very badly, persecuted and put to death, and then He left a world in which many of His followers were also persecuted or worse.  For example, Peter, a disciple of Christ, who betrayed His Lord, at the time of the trial of Jesus, went on to be strong and courageous in his love and service for his Lord.  I desire also to be strong and courageous in my love and service, for Jesus my Lord, in this different age and context.  Peter has written (as have the other disciples) that as a follower of Christ, I can expect trials, and that they are good because my faith will be tested, to see if it is genuine, and thereby strengthened.

Today I ask that I be given the right understanding and attitude so with acceptance of trials, I can be fully grounded in my faith and dependence upon You.  But also as Peter writes in 1 Peter 4: 13, these trials will be a way for me to share in the sufferings of Christ, my Saviour.  In the strength of the Holy Spirit and faith in my Saviour, I can greatly rejoice in trials, 1 Peter 1: 6”In this You greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.”

I am so sorry Lord, that I have at times, not accepted some of the trials of life in a happy frame of mind, and have instead found that when I look to myself, the trials became totally sad times, causing me to became cast down in a way that did not bless me or others.  At the times when I allowed myself to be lifted up, and trust In Your care, to teach and nourish me mentally and spiritually, I have found that I reached a new level of experience and spiritual understanding.  I believe the writers and prophets of the Bible and all of us who learn to wholly trust in You, will come through in the end, as gold tried in the fire.

It will all be worth it one day when I and everyone from earth are with You in heaven and later the earth made new.

Amen

James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Dear God,

I am grateful for this new day and for Your care of me, for without Your love of me and Your promises fulfilled in my life, I could not go on with hope and acceptance.  My praises and thanks ascend to heaven afar.

I have in the past and sometimes now, in some situations or sickness been centred on myself way more than is good for me.  Yet like an animal trapped, I have prayed and claimed Your promises for peace and have rejoiced in promised salvation.  You in turn have given me the answer of peace which has filled me with gratitude; then my mind takes up the theme of what if this happens and disquiet comes again.  I then claim Your promises all over again and You again bring me back with Your gift of calm assurances.  Thank You for never giving up on me, even though I am so lacking in true faith and joy.  I rejoice that my belief gets me through all situations and I with You within me, I will overcome all my sins and wrong thinking.  James 2: 17 “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Forgive me Lord, that I have or do not always reveal my faith by my works or applying to my life all that You have promised and thereby joyfully able to proceed in a way that reveals that I truly believe Your words,

My refuge is always to remember and cling to the promises in Your word, and the knowledge that it is only You that can help me, knowing that You are more than willing to do so; and in time I will and have on many previous occasions overcome any self-turmoil, regrets or inner distress to Your place of inner acceptance and peace.

I praise Your wonderful name and character, that I have indeed been led small step by small step at a time, to better love and claim the risen life and grace of Jesus to make progress in giving issues, concerns and sickness, and wrong thinking to Jesus to sort out, for it is His power and strength over His vanquished foe, which assures my victory over the sophistication’s of Satan.  I just have to pray, recognize and give my issues to Jesus.  I wonder why I and many others do not give all over to Jesus, for a sure victory.  I rejoice that of recent times I have allowed You my Lord to work more successfully in my life, until this present day.

I lay all of my self and need at Your feet today and know that ‘my strength cometh from the Lord’.

Amen

Philippians 2: 14, 15 “Do all things without complaining and disputing.  That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

Dear God,

I am truly grateful for this new day, and the ability to enjoy it whilst I seek You anew.  I feel pleasure and calmness as I look out upon the top of my fruit trees, with the towering gum trees, with blue sky beyond all.  The leaves flutter and move in the breeze, as well as twinkle their reflection of the sun, as though the leaves are a myriad of lights.  How beautiful are Your creative works!  No less beautiful is the life of all who have the light of Your love and works within their hearts and upon their countenance, “among whom You shine as lights in the world”, for they (we) have been” holding fast the word of life, so that I (Paul) may rejoice in the day of Christ…..”Philippians 2: 16

I understand that for me to be one of Your “lights in the world”, I will have certain character traits, that are gifts of the Holy Spirit, and I am so glad they are available for all who seek to be a disciple of Jesus, following His words and example.  With His love in my heart, I am to be V2 …… “one accord, of one mind.”  V3, 4 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”  When this occurs in my (our) mind, we will be filled with the love of Christ, V5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”  Therefore I would not be focused upon myself, and would only be able to, V14 “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”

I repent of sin and self-centredness, and today Jesus, I give You my life and ask You to take my heart and fill me with the Holy Spirit, and be my strength and wisdom, so that I am Your true follower.

Amen