Month: December 2016

 

Zechariah 3: 3 “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.”

Dear God,

From the very beginning of the entry of sin into this world, You provided a way for our redemption from sin and death.  And this plan to save the inhabitants of earth has never changed.  In the vision given to Zechariah, is given a promise of what would happen in the temple, when the Israelite’s came back from exile.

Joshua, shown as the High Priest, dressed in filthy rags representing the sins of all Your people, with Satan opposing the sins of these people being forgiven.  You the loving God of heaven, gave Joshua the assurance of forgiveness and restitution to Yourself, V 4 “………’Take away the filthy garments from him.’  And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and will cloth you with rich robes.’”

Only Jesus can cleanse sin, and this was foretold in the Old Testament and portrayed to those living in those times as they took part in the ritual earthly temple services and offered animal sacrifices, representing Jesus, and in obedience confessed their sins before You.

I and all of New Testament times do not need to offer animal sacrifices, for Jesus has already come, and gave Himself, as our sacrifice.  Our forgiveness comes when we repent and confess our sins openly and freely to Jesus Christ, for not only is He my sacrifice, but my High Priest who is willing and able to forgive every confessed sin.

Amen

 

 

Revelation 15: 3 “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb….”

Dear God,

I delight to be able to regard the works of nature, which show Your handiwork, as well as read Your inspired scriptures early in the day.  I delight to pray and to offer You my praise, also early in the day.  I delight for You to lead me in my contemplation, so that not only are Your blessings attending, but my need for uplift and correction of thought or deed in my spiritual life or direction on how I should behave or do; are gently placed in my mind.

I have read in Zephaniah of the judgement that was to come upon Judah, if after many years of warning, about the consequences of turning from God and worshipping any and every god of the surrounding nations.  I can imagine how heart breaking it is for You God, when anyone who has formally loved and worshipped You, begins to reject You for an object they made themselves, when all they gain is wicked behaviour and heart ache.  Zephaniah 1: 18 “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land.”

As always You never could leave Your people with just the warning about judgement.  The promise of the consequences for repentance and a return being faithful to You comes also in Zephaniah 3: 17 “The Lord Your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Thank You for this promise and the prospect that if I humbly stay connected to You and remain Your faithful child, one day ‘The Mighty One’, will rejoice over me with love, and with singing.

Your chosen people the Israelite’s and Your followers now, have always been (and still are) the avenue to reveal Your blessings and the glory of Your love demonstrated; to the surrounding nations/people.

Scripture tells us, that the last days upon the earth will be tumultuous, with much torment levelled at all those who love God and follow His pure and unadulterated gospel.  For Satan has all through the ages attempted to corrupt and tamper with all things related to You, including scripture counsel on how we should worship, love and live for You.

Those who in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit remain faithful to You, are pictured in Revelation 15, as giving all their praise to You, their God; as did Moses and the children of Israel, in Exodus 15:1, 2 “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously!…..The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.”

It is my deep longing to be among Your faithful, overcoming, redeemed person, who in heaven will sing “the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb……”  For those who have arrived into heaven, it will be all about Jesus, for He made it possible.  Revelation 15: 3, 4 “……’Great and marvellous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!  Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!  Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?  For You alone are holy, for all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.’”

Thank You God, for all these promises and the hope they bring.

Amen

Habakkuk 3: 17, 18 “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit on the vines; though the labour of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls-yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

Dear God,

What a wonderful time we had away as a family of mother, daughter and children; meeting relatives and friends, who gave the children a feeling of connectedness and feeling special, because we do not have many cousins and Aunties to meet here and spend fun time with.  They, their mum and I were very blessed on the last 2 days, to connect with the owners of the house beside the lake in which we stayed and be the recipients of much generosity and kind deeds. I was so grateful on the first day I arrived to be taken by a dear friend to see another dear, very sick friend and to be around to attend her funeral 8 days later.

We sensed your preparation and leading, right from the time of planning the trip and throughout the trip, as everything fell into place and difficulties of getting around were overcome.  I praise You for the many answers to prayer and for knowing You were close all through.

Your prophet/writer for today wrote from a land devastated because of Your displeasure about the widespread apostasy of the Israelite’s within the land gifted to them by You.  It was truly a time of trouble, and other Bible writers have prophesied that before Jesus comes and events of now end; there is to be another time of trouble come upon the earth, in an even larger degree, because of the widespread wickedness over the earth.

We also read in scripture, that for those of us who have accepted Jesus, it is a time for preparation of hearts, so that all that is contrary to how we are to love and serve You, is left off and with pure undivided hearts, we love You and then live a life in the strength and light of the Holy Spirit, that reveals firm fidelity to You.

I long to be pure as I will be in heaven, and to be true to my God and Saviour Jesus Christ, whilst here on earth, and know I can be, as I abide in You Jesus through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

In these difficult times now and in the future, I ask the Holy Spirit, to enable me to truly believe and repeat the prayer of Habakkuk in 3: 18, 19 “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the Lord of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and he will make me walk on my high hills.”

Amen

 

2 Timothy 4: 7, 8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith;  finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness¸ which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Dear God,

I give thanks, for Your love and strength that always sustains me in the tranquil and the turbulent times.  I have found that in all situations You are there, ever willing to hear my praises and songs of thanksgiving, as well as all cries of anguish and cries for help.  There is never a time when You are not my all sufficiency and the One who gives me direction.  Nothing gives me more inner satisfaction and peace than to be reconciled to You, and living as You ask, and sharing Your love in words and works, as You have outlined for Your children.

It is good to look at the lives and experiences of those written about in the Bible.  For example I have contemplated the words of Paul, which he wrote toward the end of a life, given in whole hearted service to You, his God.  It seems that he wrote no words of ‘I wish I had done’ but instead, as quoted in our beginning texts, ‘I have fought the good fight’ which all of us who love You desire to be able to say, at the end of a fruitful life for God.  We can expect opposition from Satan and his followers, for he will oppose every Christian and the work of all who love God and do as He asks.  He never left Jesus our Saviour alone during His human rescue from sin and its consequences for the population of earth.  We, as Christians can expect troubles and even persecution.  Paul even says we should then rejoice, because we will be able to suffer as did Christ.

Paul himself did not ‘buckle under pressure’, but finished a life of faithful service for the living God, never losing his belief and faith in God, no matter the risk or privation for himself.

In the strength of the Holy Spirit, I and every Christian can follow Pauls example, and have the hope of receiving ‘the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but to all who have loved His appearing.’

Today I recommit myself to Jesus and to live faithfully, and do what You ask of me.  Never losing hope or belief in the knowledge that Jesus is coming soon for the righteous people living in Jesus; with His reward with Him.

Amen

 

Micah 5: 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler of Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”

Dear God,

It is so good to be in the peace that surrounds me in the early morning light, with green leaves gently dancing in the breeze, with the birds softly chirping, all in the life You have given to us all.  Peace on this earth has only ever come from You.

I have read in Micah and Revelation 12, and once again have realized that Satan wages war actively on this earth, all the time, with no regard for the inhabitants, all because he wants to usurp Your divine authority, and lead all he can into evil and rebellion against You.  It is only because You have not left us defenceless against Satan, that we have any hope of not being overcome by him, and instead can be faithful and saved in Your strength.  And then in the last days, we can look forward to being counted as Your own true children, who have not joined Satan’s rebellion against our Creator.

In the historical account of Israel and then Judah, is revealed how they had gradually slipped into deep apostasy against You by fraternizing with the surrounding nations, which You had asked them not to do.  There is a lesson there for us as well, for the ways of Satan’s world, if embraced by us, will gradually lead us into apostasy also.  Micah one of the faithful prophets in Judah has written some gems for us all, even though his words were addressed to the people of his time.

The coming of the Son of God, Jesus Christ is again affirmed in Chapter 5, which was designed to give them hope and a reason to turn from their apostasy.  Thank You for these messages, sent through Micah, for You knew we would also need them in the end times, Micah 5: 4, 5”And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and this One shall be peace…….” When these promises did not cause the people to change their ways, You God, inspired Micah to remind them of all the protection and provision of good things, that had been done for these people by their God in the past, and the how they could please You; and it was not by sacrificial offerings (or for us, self-serving works).  Micah 6: 8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God?

Now was and is the time for repentance and I will not neglect to do so under Your guidance.  Micah 7: 7 “Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.”  I appreciate the faith and positive belief that all could be made right, as expressed by Micah in this text and in V9 “I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me.  He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.”

To You, Jesus I give my praise.

Amen

 

1Timothy 6: 6 – 8 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

Dear God,

When I think of You, I am always grateful for Your love and mercy, and that they are new every day, and everlasting.  It fills me with gratitude, to know that you go with me to every area, and listen to and answer my prayers for safe keeping, as well as guide me toward salvation and eternal life.

I appreciate each day the portion of scriptures that I read and contemplate.  Recently that has been 1Timothy 6: 6 – 8 (as quoted at the beginning), please teach me Your lessons, and through the Holy Spirit, give me a willing heart to apply the lessons in my own life.  Paul gives many experiences about people in general and about his church congregations, in his writings, which are worthwhile for every generation thereafter.  He had seen people who endeavoured to get rich from being ‘godly’, which did not bring them closer to You, but did cause unrest for themselves and others.  Paul however experienced many blessings because he followed You with his whole heart.  He learned how to be content with his lot in life, and for the basic amount of food and clothing he received.  This meant that he was not side tracked away from Jesus and doing His will, unlike so many people, and he did not have a need to strive and strive, in an attempt to be wealthy and wealthier.

For some people God knows they can be trusted with great wealth, and so He gives it to them, or allows for their accumulation of wealth.  These people are content, and not caught up with the getting of wealth.  They use their God given means to bless others as well as themselves.

I am grateful for all my means and blessings as a retired person, and I am glad I have received sufficient for my needs and not necessarily for my wants.

Please impress me with how I should share my means, this Christmas season, so others can also be blessed.  I also pray for wisdom, so that I do not get caught up in the commercialism, portrayed all around me, related to the birth of your Son, and instead keep ever in my mind, that we celebrate the inherent love of Jesus, who came as a babe, grew up and when around 30 years, His ministry of love and miracles started and 3 years later He was crucified, so that we could have salvation.  These gifts from Jesus are worth more than what anyone can buy with money and we can choose to love and serve Jesus for nothing.

Amen

James 5: 12 “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath.  But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’, lest you fall into judgement.”

Dear God,

I give You thanks for another day of life and for the ability to enjoy worship with others, who also love You. Please bless everyone I know one.

Forgive me for the times I have said ‘my stars’ etc,. any the other times I have not made my ‘yes’ , ‘yes’ or my ‘no’, ‘no’.  All things are owned by You God, including our bodies, for even our very hairs on our heads are numbered.  Therefore I can see it is wrong to use our body in such a way, when it was created by You, and is rightfully Your property.  In that case it is disrespectful, sacrilegious and disobedient to use Your property to swear or take oaths; for Jesus commanded us in Matthew 5: 34, 35 “But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.”  Again in Matthew 12 we are reminded how important it is for each of us to use our words wisely, for they reveal what is in our hearts.  Matthew 12: 35, 36 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.  But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.”

Jonah 2: 7”When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple.”

Despite running away from warning Nineveh to turn from their evil ways or be destroyed; Jonah was been treated very graciously by You God.  Despite the disobedience of Jonah, he all the time acknowledged who You were and Your great power and mercy.  Surely he knew that he could not successfully run away from You?  When a storm came and jeopardized the safety of all on board the boat, he knew the reason and source of the storm, and told the sailors to throw him into the sea knowing that then the storm would stop.  It seems that he was choosing death over repenting of his waywardness, when he could have said ‘Lord I am willing to go and do Your bidding’ and the storm would have stopped and he would have been in comparative safety on the boat.  Reluctantly the sailors threw him into the sea, in effort to save the boat and themselves.  But because You are ever a God of undeserved love and mercy, a great fish came and swallowed him down, and then from this unusual ‘resting’ place under the sea, Jonah finally prays much over the next 3 days; until by Divine guidance the fish spewed Jonah out on the dry beach.

The commission for him to go to Nineveh had not changed, and this time Jonah went to carry out this request.  By the account of the events around this time, it can be understood, that he still had not really humbled himself before his God, and was still preoccupied with how he felt and what he wanted to do.  Jonah presumed on Your love and mercy, and was very self-centred and petulant in front Omnipotence, which was revealed when he expressed anger because Nineveh was spared, due to the genuine repentance of the king and all his subjects.   Jonah was more worried about his reputation as a prophet, than all lives in Nineveh being saved, or that You His God were justified by the keeping of Your word.

It was always implied, repent and justice will be metered out and you will not be destroyed.  The warning would not have been given, if there had not been the opportunity of reversing their destruction and Jonah seems to have forgotten that he very recently had been saved from apparent certain destruction.  And it was before he had repented!

Please reveal to me my wrong heart and speaking habits, that I may repent and make it right.  I pray that by Your strength and wisdom, I will be able to refrain from any words that are wrong or offensive.

Amen

Colossians 4: 2 “Continue earnestly in prayer, be vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”

Dear God,

Again it is a new bright morning, with the time of this day, stretching invitingly ahead of me.  By the end of the day, if You so will, I will have much to thank You for, no matter the happenings and hiccups along the way.  Please keep me safe from all harm and danger as proceed to live out the day.

Fill me with the Holy Spirit, so that in all I do, I will display Your love and wisdom and so be able to touch lives for Your glory along the way.  I will appreciate my mind and mouth being filled with prayers for all things and in all situations, each day, as advised by Paul, to be vigilant in prayer.  Not forgetting to daily give You thanks, no matter the place or situation.  I have found it not profitable to focus only on myself in prayer, and it is more uplifting to also dwell on other needs, in all areas of need and geography, remembering the different avenues in which a human person can be occupied in bringing the message and comfort of salvation through Jesus Christ.   I am thinking that for me I need to be more vigilant in thanksgiving for all my blessings and prayer answers, as I kneel beside my bed each evening, instead of catching up with them in my morning prayer; despite my mind being blank with weariness at night.  I am glad that Your will is my enabling.

It is my earnest desire, that for someone who calls herself Christian, I will more often walk in the beauty of Your gospel message, in a way that reveals its attractiveness.  That I will more often uplift You with my words, as Paul under inspirations advises, V 6 “Let Your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each other.”

For me, I pray that I can speak thus to family members, as well as all others that I meet, even when situations are taxing.  I give thanks ahead of time, for I know it is Your desire to bring this prayer into fruition, by Your grace.

Amen

 

Revelation 7: 9 “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.”

Dear God,

I am truly glad to love You and to be counted as Your child, every day, but especially this morning.  It is a sweet experience to read Your word, not only for what I learn as I come closer to You, but the experience makes me joyful and happy.  I have prayed for understanding and direction from the Holy Spirit, and give thanks that my prayer was answered.  In Revelation 7, I read of the 144,000 who will be chosen from the 12 tribes of Israel.  Then I read of the great multitude that would not be numbered referred to in V 9, as given in my beginning text.  How good it is to know that many, many peoples from earth, will have been victorious, for they overcame in the power given from heaven, and when they arrive in heaven, they give praise and honour, V 10 “And crying out with a loud voice, saying ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.’”  Again as written in Revelation 6, all the angels, the elders and the 4 living creatures, are so filled with reverence and praise toward God, The Father and His Son, that they once again fall upon their faces before the throne and gave worship, V 12 “Amen!  Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour and power and might, be to our God forever and ever, Amen.”

I find these praises, to be so beautiful, and I long to be in heaven one day, and to voice them along with thousands of the redeemed from earth.  This heavenly praise and honour toward God, the Father and Son, will not be a new experience for the redeemed when in heaven, for those in the multitude loved and depended upon God the Father and Son, whilst on earth, V 14 “…..These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

God, I pray that I will not be unheeding of Your every blessing and provision, and then refrain from giving You honour and words of praise.  Again today fill my mind and mouth with genuine praise and honour in my private conversations with You, and with other people when there is opportunity.

I also pray that I will faithfully follow my Shepherd and do Your will, so that I will be befitted to love and follow my Shepherd in heaven.

Amen

Revelation 5: 9 “And they sang a new song, saying ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.’”

Dear God,

I am grateful for my life, and another new day of promise to enjoy, as I commence the day in contemplation of scripture again.  I am impressed by the joyful singing and reverence given to the Lamb of God, the Saviour of the world.  These spoken of in Revelation 5: 9, apparently appreciate what  God’s Son, did for us and accomplished for mankind, whilst living on earth and by his sacrificial death, better than we sinful mortals upon earth now understand or appreciate.  Yet in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, I begin to understand and I am reassured that our understanding will increase in heaven with a new sinless body, as we are taught by Jesus Himself, throughout eternity.  It will be natural to praise Jesus, who facilitated our being in heaven.  He alone can open the scrolls of His Father, for it was He alone who was slain and thereby could redeem the faithful to God.  Other good news is, that the redeemed come out of every tribe and nation, and will be made ‘kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on the earth.’

Lord, I pray that by the infilling of the Holy Spirit, I will make the necessary preparations so as to be counted worthy of a place in heaven, and then hear the beautiful voices of numerous V11“..…..many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders………” V12 “saying with a loud voice:  ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honour and glory and blessing!”  None of God’s creation, whether in heaven, on the earth, under the earth or in the sea, could keep from giving Jesus reverence and honour, V13”……Blessing and honour and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”  This is a joyful yet solemn scene that can only be taken lightly by one who is not in tune with Jesus.

Again I am convicted, Jesus,  that whilst I live upon this earth awaiting Your return, I should not be silent in giving You praise and honour for what You have done on earth and in heaven, and plan still to do in redeeming Your faithful; here on earth and in heaven.

Please fill me the ability to truly honour and give You praise.

Amen