Month: November 2019

 

Dear God,

I praise You for being absolutely Holy, loving and merciful.  Thanks for Your forgiveness and the promised rest and peace that comes through Jesus, as I give Him my burden/s.  Having invited Jesus to take my heart, mind and will I am so glad I can lay my burdens down, believing that as His child, I am kept close in His care; by my own permission.

My Saviour I can almost hear You say, believe all my words, dear child and with them can only come the belief and trust for every occasion.  How beautiful are the ways and words of God on high!  John 1: 12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

I am reading a new set of promises, about the sure result, of humbly preparing my heart and praying for more of an infilling of the Holy Spirit in my life, with the result of increasing my spiritual growth, leading to a changed character and the delight being Your servant by helping and blessing others.  To grow more like Jesus in my heart and life, is my strong desire and active prayer and seeking.  I was encouraged in my reading of scripture, that all Your words have inherent in them Your full authority and will always be ‘cashed’ when presented, Isaiah 55: 11.  In every case these riches will gradually grow the continual seeker, into a living, growing child of God; full of His riches.  1 Peter 1: 3, 4 “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceeding great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakes of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 

God I have the assurance of the scriptures, when asking according to Your word and will, that You will always answer my needful request, 1 John 1: 15 “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked Him.”

I exalt You my God,

Amen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Dear God,

I am so grateful, that You have made provision for our every emotional shock and dilemma.  To begin with I feel flattened by the adverse news, but then You come near, whisper in my ear and remind me of Your promises, and how You have answered my needs and carried me before.  I am remembering a text which I now am claiming with belief.  Philippians 4: 13” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

When walking the roads of Israel, Jesus often taught, preparing a people for the kingdom of heaven, as well healing many; though of course numbers never directly heard or felt His healing touch.  Word of mouth spread rapidly, thousands were acquainted with His good news of salvation.  Some believed from afar.  We have this same privilege, though He is not here for us to see or hear, we can believe His Word of good news, realize it to ourselves, through the living power of the Holy Spirit.

We need so much help to live with a continuing vibrant faith that withstands the onslaughts.  I am reassured, that Jesus invites anyone to ask, with the promise we will find what we need. 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 find, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” 

I can only believe that Jesus is listening, and will answer any spiritual call, for He says so, as well as pointing out, if our child asked for something they needed, we would not deny them; and we are perverse, sinful beings.  Matthew 7: 11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

At this time I ask for an infilling of the good things, You have in store for me.  I thank You for acknowledging and answering my prayer.  Please this night shadow me with Your wings, and mark my place, especially.

Amen

 

2019, November – The ‘winds and rains’ of adversity test my foundation in God

Dear God,

This morning to begin with, I have been mentally challenged for no very good reason, and have sought you especially in the expectation of Your intervention and blessing, and as usual Your rescue, love and mercy has lifted me back close to You.  I give You my true praise and exaltation, and for the first time this morning, I really notice the beautiful day in climate and soft, peaceful ambience, that I have to enjoy as Your gift; all day, if I so choose.   Psalm 13: 5, 6 “But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”

We teach our children about this parable in Matthew 7: 25-27 and they love to sing the little song “The rains came down and the floods came up……..”, but the lesson is there for me again today.  Please my Father, teach me from the Holy Bible, so that I will be so founded upon Your word, that to go to it, think it and live it, is as natural as breathing.  Then for me I will truly live and believe in absolute confidence; “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, now 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,” Romans 8: 38, 39.

Jesus did not teach His parables and sayings to entertain the multitude of eager listeners, but that they may receive these words of life into their minds and incorporate them in a life saved from sin, for the kingdom of heaven.  He wants for me to also allow His lessons to become an important part of a strong foundation of belief in Him; that He recognises and is part of.  Matthew 7: 26, 27 “but everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.  And great was its fall.”  For the house or person; pretentions do not avail, when like a building the tests come upon us: and ‘great was’ the ‘fall’.

Jesus, I believe in and accept You and all Your sayings, anew today.

Dear God,

Proverbs 21: 23 “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”

To love God supremely and my neighbour as myself, is the way and teaching of both You, God the Father and Jesus His Son, and all Your true and faithful followers.  It can sound so easy, to refrain from judgemental and critical words, but in practice, manifesting self-interest by putting someone down, and so push self forward, comes very easily to most people.  It can happen almost spontaneously when motives are attributed; especially about small and petty things.  Jesus spoke of these sins in, Matthew 6: 1, 2”Judge not, that you be not judged. ‘For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.’”

As I read these words of Jesus in Matthew, I am made more keenly aware, that the so called Golden Rule, that Grandmothers and mothers used to uphold, actually came from scripture.  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.  Now that I have grandchildren to mentor, I am glad to pass on these wise words.

Thank You that I can still be prompted by Your Spirit when I have spoken in an unloving critical way, and I need to repent and confess.  I can see that we so often ignore the wrong doing in our own thoughts and lives and subconsciously think the misdemeanour of the other is so much worse than our own.  Matthew 6: 3, 4”How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’: and look, a plank is in your own eye? 

Please wake some of us up, for many of us are judgemental, whilst still doing many wrong things ourselves. It is clear according to the words of scripture; such a way is not spreading the message and love of Jesus.  Furthermore it is so destructive and hypocritical to behave in such a way; which makes us dishonest to ourselves and God.  We need help, dear Father, to clean up our act inside and out, and to wake up.  Then it would be that You could really use us in the broad and full way You have wanted, all along.

Let me receive gladly the old and new words of Yours, for as God You never change.  Isaiah 28: 14 “Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men…….”, and women of course.s

Amen

Dear God,

Thank You Jesus, for the reassurance, that we have all that the body needs when placing ourselves in Your care; for You are after all our Creator, Saviour and Redeemer.  You know that a heart full of gratitude is good for our mind, sense of well-being, as well as physical body, for with loving and placing you first in life, comes Your promised gift of rest and trust.

Matthew 6: 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”  For most of us, it is hard to actually believe that you look out for us on every level; when we place You first.  From the rest of Your Scriptures, I do not believe that we are meant to use your given body and talents just doing nothing. It is either we trust in You to guide us, or have an emphasis upon ‘we can do it all apart from You’, that is the issue.  Jesus calls attention to how You provide for birds, without them planting and gathering, yet they still use their God given bodies and talents, to go find and eat.

There are 100’s of stories, of Your provision for people in great need; even though rarely a feast, it was a life giving provision, and today many people in adversity, who simply trust in You and Your sure care, are experiencing heart-warming miracles. Please draw our minds back to You in simple belief and trust; that can rest in Your love and care.  Matthew 6: 27 “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”  Of course we cannot, and if we are in worry, we ask that you take this away, as it is not in our power to stop, just now.  Thank You for hearing this prayer.

I remember that Jesus reminds us it is God, Who clothes lilies and all plants with beautiful coloured blooms, and makes grass in perfect symmetry which can live a short time. Verses 30, 31 “…..will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? Or ‘What shall we drink? Or ‘What shall we wear?”

The secret of being changed and learning to trust, is always found in You our God and not by our own endeavour, Verse 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

O, I am so grateful for knowing You Jesus, and for Your beautiful care of me.

Amen

 

 

                                      And what we do as a result

Dear God,

I am aware that you wish us to be so filled with Your words and gifted love, that it is natural for us, to not push ourselves forward and to do our kind/charitable deeds as an outworking of our hearts and not to purposefully attract notice and commendation.  You teach us that what we give in offerings and donations, to Your church and the needy, should be kept as a secret between You and each person.  Matthew 6: 1 “……..Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”  V2”………Assuredly, I say to you they have their reward,” received from achieving notoriety.   Charitable deeds are to be kept secret, as if the right hand is unaware of the actions of left hand.  V 4 “and Your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”  Jesus taught on earth, that when our heart is in tune with You in humility, we will not be persuaded to make long pretentious, hypocritical public prayers, but rather spend much time in our own room in secret prayer, with You our God.  Public prayers which are needful will be short, heartfelt, relevant and unpretentious.

Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer; a beautiful example of a prayer in Matthew 6: 9-13, that covers needful requests, and lifts us up and away from ourselves.  Jesus further reminded each that if we are hardhearted and unforgiving, we close God’s answer to our self. V 15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will Your Father forgive your trespasses.”  This a serious statement, for we cannot enter heaven, with unconfessed sins.  Let’s search our hearts and cleanse any hard heartedness with forgiveness of any wrong doer; so that we can also be forgiven of God.

Most of us have the problem with spending much time working and building up our possessions and wealth, to the detriment of our time spent in Bible study and meaningful prayer.  Jesus spoke about choosing to build up treasure here on earth or for heaven.  I pray that I be alerted to any heaven denying preoccupations and spiritual lack, and be guided the right way. Matthew 6: 20, 21 “But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Amen

 

Matthew 24: 1-14

Dear God,

Please be with me as I study the words of Jesus, out-lining prophecies announcing end times.  After, Jesus told His disciples of these calamities yet to be, they came to Him privately, with questions about the timing of these things, as well as asking what signs would indicate His coming back to earth and the ‘end of the age.’  Matthew 24: 4.5 “Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you.”  “for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”  Likewise false prophets would come and deceive numbers of uninformed, unsuspecting people.

Satan, who has been trying to deceive people and bring Christ down, is now even more active, because events are fulfilling and time is short.  2 Thessalonians 2: 3 “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.”

As Jesus says, even when the time is not yet, there will be more wars, and rumours of wars.  No need to be troubled, as these signs must be.  Peace amongst nations will go, as they rise up against one another, at the same time in the so called natural world increasingly, ‘famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.’ Verse 7 Jesus said as these increase, so does the ‘beginning of sorrows’. Obviously calamitous events are predicted to stay, until the end, as Satan is allowed to reveal the full extent of his evil, and hate toward God’s Son Jesus Christ our Saviour and ultimate Redeemer.

Jesus predicts that things just get nastier on earth and toward anyone who stands true to Jesus.  They face persecution, death and blame by nations.  Lack of law abiding and true love will be scarce, and lack of loyalty and betrayal will be common.  Things sound chaotic and scary, especially if one does know what Jesus forecast.

However this is tempered for the Christian because they know, God will send the angels to care for His own loyal people in whatever unpleasant or dangerous place they are.  Jesus recognised life then will be endurance, but if any faithful person stayed true to Him until the end, they would be saved.

Before the end God will give people an opportunity in all parts of the world to know and accept or reject Himself and loving salvation message.  Matthew 24 : 14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Once again I commit myself to You in love, and to tell others the salvation story is for them also; and it is time to prepare for the end time events.

Amen

Dear God,

Thank You that we have another parable to warn, teach and give hope, for those who claim to be a followers of Jesus.  In Matthew 22: 2, “’the kingdom of heaven refers to a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son.”  It is understood that the king is God the Father and the son is the Son of God. The marriage feast was indicative of wedding festivities enjoyed in Jewish culture, and written about as a symbol of the coming kingdom of the Messiah.

In the parable, Jesus followed Jewish cultural norms, when after the invitation had been given, it was followed up with the honour of a personal message by a servant, to remind them.  In fact, the Jews had been given around 3 invitations to be part of the kingdom of God, firstly by the Old Testament Prophets, John the Baptist and now Jesus Christ Himself and His disciples.  It is evident that there never has been a time when God has not issued an invitation to follow Him, promising the reward of partaking in the Kingdom of Glory in heaven.

Dear God may I and many others value Your invitation, and do not want to allow our own interests to blunt our minds to the privilege of being invited by God; as well as the preparation required to be suitably attired in the Robe of Christs Righteousness.  Sadly many people who know that God has invited them to accept Him and His way of love, decline and pass up Gods celebratory feast.  In the parable those invited had gotten waylaid by their own interests, and ‘were not willing to come.’  The king (God) graciously sent out another invitation, for everything for the meal was prepared. Matthew 22: 5 “But they made light of it and went their own ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.”

Some prophets and messengers got killed when delivering Gods messages, even unto our day. God filled his wedding celebration with the socially unacceptable, despised by the non-attenders, who were too self-absorbed to appreciate the gracious invitation by the King for His Son, but the other more humble folk were not, and gladly came. Though God loves all, he could not allow anyone to come into His feast that did not have on the (wedding garment) Robe of Christs Righteousness, which He had given each guest.

Please keep before me Your invitation and the free gift of the wedding garment that comes from accepting Jesus and His righteousness; for I cannot go to the kingdom of God’s glory without!

Amen