Month: September 2019

Dear God,

I thank You for life, and for being able to live in a country that helps with regular payments for living, though it could be argued that it is not generous; it is better than many other places with no pensions or government aid.

I read how You God, set up the Israelite nations, to be a model of health, security, and provision for each family and for the looking out for the needs of every person in their community. Moses who delivered Gods laws for living, said when the laws were followed, there may be times: Deuteronomy 15:4, 5 “Except when there may be no poor among you; for the Lord will greatly bless you ‘………’only if you are careful to obey the voice of the Lord Your God, to observe all these commandments’…”  However whenever there was someone overcome in circumstances that placed them in poverty, Deuteronomy 15: 11 ‘For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother; to your poor and needy, in your land.’”

Sadly In most societies down through time, self-interest got/gets in the way, and often the poor and needy are overlooked by many very ‘respectable people.  May that not be me, my God; please keep prompting me as to your will. Isaiah 1: 17 “Learn to do good, seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, defend the fatherless, and plead for the widow.”

The disciples had been changed and rejuvenated by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and were sharing the good news of Jesus with many people; Acts 1: 38, 39 “Peter…’Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

The disciples in the power of the Holy Spirit did many miracles, but no less miraculous was the change in personality, of everyone who accepted Jesus.  Gone was the selfishness and uncaring attitude toward others.  All were in unity of belief and purpose, and caring for others.  Many sold their properties and land, and gave them to the apostles for distribution to those in need.

God, for the poor among us, touch each individual heart with gratitude for our abundant blessings, and the desire to willingly share with others.

Amen

 

Matthew 28:18, 19 “’Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” 

Dear God,

Was this a new assignment to the disciples?  No it could not be a new assignment, for they had been associated with Jesus and walking with and observing His ways as well as participating, in teaching, healing and caring activates of many types, for 3 years. Therefore it seems that the disciples of Jesus then and for us now; received a commission to make new disciples in the way Jesus did.

Though Jesus did lots of teaching, He did not go off and only preach in every place, intent only on making many disciples, He cared lovingly for the people’s needs, along with their unspoken and spoken desire for salvation.

For preachers to just go preach alone would appear not be fulfilling His commission fully. But neither can we the membership of Gods followers, just sit back and give money to the church and preaching campaigns, and think we have righteously done all that Jesus asked. We humbly ask for direction as You have promised.  (Psalm 48: 14)

I pray You God, in the name of Jesus, fill us with Your Spirit, love and grace, so that we ache to share in word and possessions what You have blessed us with.  To be a true follower of Christ, I can see I/we cannot live a life of ease and selfishness, when others not only do not have what they need for food and essential items, but are at the same time sinners perishing for want of being given the gospel of Jesus.  I can also see that You have commissioned I/we of Your church fellowship to show Your love to others by how we live out Your love.

Thank You for forgiving us for any lack in living out Your love to others.  Thank You for changing us and by writing Your love in our heart.  Keep us ever mindful of the message of 1 Timothy 6: 18 , 19 “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”  

I praise Your name most Holy God, for Your total love.  Please change us so that we will not selfishly keep Your blessings and salvation message to ourselves.

Amen

 

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” 

Dear God,

The invitation to cast my burden upon You, has been one of my texts that I read on a daily basis for some time, when all seemed beyond my acceptance, this thought restored balance in my spirit.  But even more so, when I read on, and allowed the following words to sink right into my mind; ’He shall sustain you’. When this was followed up with the promise that I would not be moved from Your righteous side. I was in a place to think and say words of praise.

Then I read more of Your scriptures, and learned the type of person I should be, as a true child of yours.  You cannot direct and work in the heart and life of the prideful self-sufficient one, who sees no need of outside help.  I accepted that I needed to allow the Holy Spirit to evaluate my attitudes and ask to be cleansed from the unlovely.  1 Peter 5:5 “……’God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’”  When I have given my heart to God, He hears my prayer to be the type of person He is, and gradually I will be changed into a person of loveliness in Christ.  1 Peter 5:6, 7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  You know what we can cope with and what we cannot, and we are provided with all we need to accept, stretch our faith, and conquer self.  We need all our mind and senses to be even aware that the devil is on our case, ever working to bring us down and separate us from our only source of strength, You our God. Therefore we are counseled to be sober, and vigilant.  We cannot play around with our old temptations or destructive habits for they will unseat us, so we must resist these temptations of the devil.

Like many who have gone before us in suffering and been delivered by God, so can we!  1 Peter 5: 10, 11 “But may the God or all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.”

Glory be to You our God, provider, protector and Saviour.

Amen

 

Dear God,

As it is written Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God ……..” and so I am finding it to be, whether through sickness and its unwelcome prospects, through adhesion’s and tight back muscles, that make their presence felt, through misunderstandings, through strange food reactions, through fatigue and anxiety, You God have been there showing Your way and growing my faith in Your promises, no matter the circumstances.  I am learning to truly rely on Your promises, and that they will always be fulfilled WHEN I have the faith to believe this is so.  No matter how I feel or what is said to me or the difficult circumstances, You are there not only bringing me through, but filling me with more of Your supernatural faith and rejoicing, no matter what happens in my body and around me.

In scripture it is never promised that any follower of God will be kept from trial or hardship.  1 Peter 4: 12, 13 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”  Thank You dear Jesus, for the exceeding joy that follows being stretched by trial or hardship, as You fill my mind with scriptures and songs that bring just what I need into my mind and heart at the time.  Please strengthen me and guide me to give public testimony of the times when I am filled with Your glory, by Your condescension and grace.

Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.”  I would not trade my growing faith in You, as the way it satisfies my inner person and is so very precious in experience.  Praise Your glorious self, and to think one day we will be able to behold You face to face.

Amen