Wednesday, July 20, 2011

That Nagging Sense of Dissatisfaction

That Nagging Sense of Dissatisfaction
Isaiah 55:1-2
Have you ever found yourself standing in front of the refrigerator, trying to find something to satisfy a vague sense of emptiness or discontent? You aren’t looking for anything specific, but you know you want to fill a longing. Whatever you choose will probably not do the trick, because the empty spot is not in your stomach but in your soul.
Whether the substance is food, career, possessions, or relationships, our souls are continually trying to find satisfaction. But nothing in this world will fill the void. Since we were created for relationship with God, He placed deep within us a yearning for Him. Though we may not recognize it as such, everyone knows the feeling of dissatisfaction that at time seeps into our souls. Whenever we attempt to find fulfillment with worldly substitutes, disappointment and disillusionment are sure to follow.
There are two possible menus from which we can choose to fill our empty souls. Satan’s menu is long and full of enticingthings that seem to promise fulfillment and pleasure. These could include relationships, prominence, acceptance, riches, or recognition. Whatever he offers looks like the good life that will bring contentment, but it’s a deception. But God’s menu is quite small. In fact, it lists just one “item”—Jesus. He is the only one who can fill the void.
What are you pursuing in life? Have you found the satisfaction you seek, or is there always a vague sense of discontent in your soul? If you’ll give Jesus a bigger place in your life and spend focused, unhurried time with Him, He’ll satisfy you as nothing else can.

Mordecai is honored and promoted.

Esther 8

Mordecai is honored and promoted.
INSIGHT
The law of the Medes and Persians cannot be revoked. Once written, no one, not even the king, can rescind it. The law to annihilate the Jews is carved in stone. Since the original plan cannot be revoked, a clever counter-plan is conceived to neutralize it. Permission is given to the Jews to arm themselves and to assemble and defend themselves. In addition, Mordecai is raised to power, replacing the position previously occupied by Haman. God´s sovereign protection of His people in exile is in its final stages. The integrity of Esther and Mordecai is rewarded. Righteousness triumphs.
PRAYER
Praise the Lord for His watchfulness over the circumstances of our lives:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore.
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth (Psalm 105:1-5).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:
The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it? . . .
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
Save me, and I shall be saved,
For You are my praise (Jeremiah 17:9, 14).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
To me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Greater passion for moral excellence
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely;
and may your whole spirit, soul, and body
be preserved blameless at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

“Who Is The Greatest?”

July 20, 2011
“Who Is The Greatest?”
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. 38And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40For he that is not against us is on our part. (St. Mark 9:35-40)
“I’m so fast that last night, I cut the light out in my bedroom; hit the light switch, and was in my bed before that room went dark" "If you dream of beating me, you'd better wake up and apologize". "Now you see me, now you don't. George thinks he will, but I know he won't." Muhammad Ali made these quotes, and many more like it, because he was in fact considered to be the greatest in the field of boxing. What do you think of when you think of greatness? Someone with a powerful right hook? Perhaps someone who is noteworthy, famed, dignified or eminent. The mark of true greatness is not to be found in the domineering attitude that often characterizes worldly leaders. This arrogant leadership pattern does not have a place in the kingdom of God. Anyone desiring true greatness must adopt an attitude of service. Ministering to the needs of others must become of greater concern than self-promotion. Jesus embraces a little child to let the disciples know that greatness comes by caring about people who tend to be thought of as insignificant. Someone who you wouldn’t want to waste time and energy on. Someone who after all, can’t help you get ahead.


While Jesus was teaching, John interrupted him to report that the disciples had seen a man driving out demons in Jesus’ name, and that they had forbade him because he was not one of the twelve (verse 38). Jesus’ response in verses 39-40 brought the disciples “us verses them” mentality to a screeching halt. Jesus said, “don’t stop them; anybody doing miracles in my name can’t say bad things about me, and if you’re not against me, they must be with me.” When I read this portion of scripture, I had to holler out “SAY THAT JESUS!” This man was not one of Jesus’ twelve, yet he was walking around doing miracles. This spoke volumes to me about the church today. Everybody thinks they know more, have more, or is anointed more than everybody else. Yet if we come in unity with Christ, greater works than these shall we do. The disciples were being arrogant. Arrogance is one of the biggest hindrances when advancing God’s kingdom. According to Ephesians 4:3, we should endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Who is the greatest? It is the coming together of people from different churches in unity, one common goal, winning souls for Christ that is going to advance the Kingdom of God! That is “who is the greatest!!”

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Communion with God

Communion with God
Philippians 3:7-10
God created men and women to be in a relationship with Him. The type of communion Adam and Eve first enjoyed with Him was meant for us as well. Then sin entered the world and everything changed. God’s intended intimate relationship with mankind was broken, and it has been passed down through the generations in that damaged condition.
But, as we know, that’s not the end of the story. God sent His Son Jesus to die in our place so our sins might be forgiven and our relationship with Him restored. Through faith in Christ, we are adopted into God’s family and belong to Him forever—just as He originally meant for it to be. He has provided us with everything we need to experience intimacy with Him.
So what happens if, following salvation, new believers never go deeper? Some may drift away from their initial zeal forthe Lord, failing to make Bible reading or church attendance a regular occurrence. Perhaps others try to focus on the Lord but allow earthly matters to distract them. Over time, some Christians settle for what’s comfortable and familiar. Sadly, they will miss out on the deep contentment God wanted to provide. Yet those who make Jesus the priority of their life will have a deepening relationship that transcends any earthly one.
Communion with God made King David “fully satisfied as with the richest of foods” (Ps. 63:5 niv). Paul viewed his accomplishments as nothing in comparison with “the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:8). Draw near to your Father, and experience the blessings of knowing Him.

Haman´s plot is revealed, and he is hanged.

Esther 7

Haman´s plot is revealed, and he is hanged.
INSIGHT
The final irony falls. Haman hangs on the gallows which he had constructed for Mordecai. Pride has come full circle; sin has self-destructed. Satan is called the deceiver and the destroyer; he deceives in order to destroy. He gets us to commit ourselves to a course of action which we think will achieve our aims, and, in the end, it destroys us. If you are on any course of action which you feel will achieve your aims—but the course of action is wrong—give it up. Unchecked, you will eventually be destroyed by it.
PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord that though He does not always spare us from pain, He is always with us through the pain:
Praise the Lord!
I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. . .
His work is honorable and glorious,
And His righteousness endures forever. . .
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever (Psalm 111:1, 3, 10).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:
Assyria shall not save us,
We will not ride on horses,
Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands,
"You are our gods."
For in You the fatherless finds mercy (Hosea 14:3).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Spiritual victory over temptation
Opportunities to serve the Lord
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
(1 Timothy 1:17).

You Can take The People out of Egypt, but...

You Can take The People out of Egypt, but...

27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. 29But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. (Exodus 14:27-30)

22And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. 23And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.(Leviticus 9:22-23)

It must have been an awesome sight to see some two million Hebrews making their way from the land of Goshen toward the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit. The Israelites reached the water, and Moses, at God’s command, stretched out his rod over the sea. It is here that an amazing miracle happened...the waters parted and these two million people walked through the Red Sea. Not only did they cross through the sea, but they did it on dry ground! When the Egyptians tried to pursue, they drowned as the walls of waters rushed back into place. The Lord had delivered His people from Egypt. (Ex. 14:30).

The theme of the book of Leviticus is the rituals of Worship and Holiness. This is a continuation of the Law which was set in the book of Exodus. Exodus ends with the construction of the Tabernacle, while Leviticus tells us about the worship which takes place within that Tabernacle. Exodus ends with the glory of the Lord moving into the Tabernacle. Leviticus picks up with the presence of the Lord calling out to Moses from inside the Tabernacle. The book of Leviticus teaches God’s people how to approach Him, be pleasing in his sight, and gives a command to be “Holy.”

The book of Exodus is all about God getting the children of Israel out of Egypt, while the book of Leviticus is all about God getting Egypt out of the children of Israel. I once heard a saying, “You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl! This reminds me of so many today. God gets us out of the bondage(Egypt) of drug addiction, promiscuity, low self-esteem, etc, but we still act like the very thing we were delivered from. Now that we are out of Egypt, it is time to get Egypt out of us! If we would just surrender our ways, and allow His word to change us; we would become more like him and less like the world.

Monday, July 18, 2011

A Thirst for God

A Thirst for God
Psalm 63:1-8
A personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ has the potential to be more intimately satisfying than any earthly connection. King David recorded his experience in Psalm 63. Our heavenly Father wants to have a loving bond with us just as He did with David.
Making a firm commitment to know Him is the first step, which takes priority above all other matters. David described his passion to know God as an intense thirst (v. 1); the apostle Paul likened his dedication in pursuing the Lord to a race (Heb. 12:1-2). When we pledge ourselves to the lordship of Christ and seek after Him with our hearts and minds, we will find our souls becoming satisfied.
Once we resolve to follow diligently after the Lord, our next step is to spend time in His Word. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself and His plan for the world. Making time to read and meditate on Scripture is essential for every believer. That’s how we learn who God is, how He works, and what He desires for us and for the body of Christ. When we strive to know and understand a biblical passage, the Holy Spirit will make the meaning spring to life. God is pleased by followers who make it their goal to deepen their relationship with Him.
Dedicating time to knowing and experiencing God is a critical step toward a satisfying walk with Him. Begin today by making a pledge to pursue Him more diligently and taking time in your schedule for regular study and prayer. Your heavenly Father is waiting to meet with you.

Haman must honor Mordecai with acts which Haman himself suggested.

Esther 6

Haman must honor Mordecai with acts which Haman himself suggested.
INSIGHT
Very few things in the Bible are actually funny. However, taken in isolation, chapter 6 of Esther is probably the funniest event in the Bible. The king asks Haman what he thinks is a good way to honor someone. Haman thinks to himself, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?" (6:6). Then he tells the king what he, Haman, would like to have done for himself. The king then responds by telling Haman to do that for Mordecai. The irony is overwhelming—the humor irrepressible. The wrath of man is made to praise God.
PRAYER
God is a God of power and glory, yet He loves to call us His own. Praise Him for His love for us:
O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples,
And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
And Your glory above all the earth (Psalm 108:1-5).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this prayer:
"I will cleanse them from all their iniquity
by which they have sinned against Me,
and I will pardon all their iniquities
by which they have sinned and by which
they have transgressed against Me" (Jeremiah 33:8).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
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?
(Micah 6:8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Greater wisdom in decision making
The needs of friends
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

Seek The Lord!

Seek The Lord!

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord (1st Chronicles 22:19)

David had a made a big mistake in the 21st chapter of 1st Chronicles. He took a census. It was not the census that was wrong, but his motivation for the census. His motivation was pride in his army while forgetting that his real strength came from God (verse 1-6). This resulted in consequences of his sin being put in action. A great plague that killed 70, 000 innocent people was set in motion (verses 11-14). David cried out for mercy and God stopped the plague and told him to go build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David obeyed God and went to Araunah asking him to sell him the site at full price. Araunah told him to take it, but David refused. “I will not sacrifice to God that which cost me nothing” (verses 16-29). David made the purchase.

Out of David’s tragic mistake came the purchase of a plot of land that would become the site of God’s temple, the symbol of God’s presence among his people. Whenever the people would go to the temple, they would remember that God is their true king and that everyone, including their human king is fallible and subject to sin. God told David he would not be able to build the temple, but the task would be given to his son Solomon. In this 22nd chapter of 1st Chronicle verses 6-16 David charges Solomon to build God’s temple with certain specifications. In verses 17 through 19, David turns his attention to the leaders of Israel, ordering them to help his son Solomon. He reminds them that the Lord is with them of every side. He tells them to devote their hearts and soul to seeking the Lord. Finally, he says “build the sanctuary for God so that you can bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord” (verse 19 NIV).

What does it mean to seek the Lord? To seek the Lord means to give absolute attention of our life both inwardly and outwardly to a unique awareness of the presence of God. It implies a deep desire on our part to have our relationship with Him as the consuming passion of our lives. When we seek the Lord, we must use our heart and soul. Our heart includes the mind, will, and emotions. In a nutshell, the heart is the mind hearing God, your will obeying God, and your emotions under God’s control. The soul is the inner being of a person. This part of us can only be satisfied by being at peace with God and can answer â€Å“yes†to God’s Spirit convicting us of sin. Drawing near to God with our heart and soul is not a pastime; it is an all consuming passion!!!

My brother, my sister, be encouraged to seek the Lord. Pursue after Him radically committed to prayer, giving up all other distractions, and surrendering to see our sins through his eyes. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled (St Matthew 5:6).
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!

Esther plans a banquet to set the stage for the revelation of the death plot.

Esther 5

Esther plans a banquet to set the stage for the revelation of the death plot.
INSIGHT
"Pride goes before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18). One of the supreme examples of this truth in all of the Bible is Haman. His ego is on a feeding frenzy. He has power, wealth, position, family, friends, and honor. Yet all of this fails to satisfy his ego. Mordecai´s unwillingness to bow down to him sticks like a bone in Haman´s throat. Haman´s wife reveals her character by suggesting a flamboyant display of vengeance: "Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high [75 feet], and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it," she counsels (v. 14). The same shadow is darkening both hearts. When pride is taken to this extreme, we see how exceedingly ugly it is. Beware of pride!
PRAYER
Our pride is mellowed when we see how Jesus humbled Himself for us. Praise Him for His love:
O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions— . . .
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord (Psalm 104:24, 33-34).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
O Lord, correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing (Jeremiah 10:23-24).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I will remember the works of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds (Psalm 77:11-12).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Faithfulness with your talents
State and local leaders
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Answers in Times of Great Disaster

Answers in Times of Great Disaster
Deuteronomy 29:29
Almighty God reserves the right to reveal some things and conceal others. Although we may not know why natural disasters occur, the biblical truths we do know with absolute certainty allow us to trust the Lord even in times of great suffering. These include:
1. God is in control (Ps. 103:19). Nothing in heaven or on earth is outside of His rule and authority. He does not react to events but sovereignly ordains or permits them to run their course. Although we cannot know for certain if He has sent a catastrophe or allowed it, we can trust in His goodness and wisdom.
2. The Lord loves people and wants them to be saved (John 3:16-17). Giving His Son for the salvation of the world proves without a doubt that He loves each person. This truth stands firm despite the fact that many reject the Savior. He cares for us, even when we can’t feel it or won’t accept it.
3. God ordains or permits events for His good purpose (Isa. 46:10). Though we cannot fully comprehend what He is doing in each incident, every disaster is a wake-up call for humanity. He is alerting us of the need to repent—so the lost can be saved and the saved can be revived to live totally for Him. Catastrophes open our ears to hear from the Lord.
The One who loves us perfectly is in full control, working everything out according to His good purpose. Knowing this should fill us with hope, even in the midst of crisis situations. The Lord even promises to turn disaster to good for those who “are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

Esther learns of the plot to kill the Jews and plans to intercede.

Esther 4

Esther learns of the plot to kill the Jews and plans to intercede.
INSIGHT
"I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" (4:16). Those are not the words of someone being melodramatic; they are the words of a realist who accurately assesses the situation. By law, no one can go into the presence of the king unless invited; to do so means execution. If the king chooses to extend grace to the person, he offers his scepter, whereupon the subject is to kneel and touch the top of the scepter. Esther has no idea what Ahasuerus will do. He deposed Vashti with a clap of his hands; he signed the edict to kill the Jews without asking a question. Though she has no other choice, Esther's decision still takes great courage.
PRAYER
Our courage comes from confidence in God who loves us, and for this, we give Him our praise:
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. . .
May sinners be consumed from the earth,
And the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 104:1-2, 35).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
Justice is far from us,
Nor does righteousness overtake us;
We look for light, but there is darkness!
For brightness, but we walk in blackness!
(Isaiah 59:9).
O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
That I may repay them (Psalm 41:10).

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation. For by Him
all things were created that are in heaven
and that are on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him.
(Colossians 1:15-16)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Greater love for non-Christians
The work of missions in Africa
Those who are persecuted for their faith
Now close with this prayer:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen
(2 Corinthians 13:14)

Friday, July 15, 2011

Questions in Times of Great Disaster

Questions in Times of Great Disaster
read Isaiah 55:8-9
Whenever a great disaster strikes, legitimate questions spring to mind. Why does the Lord let such things happen? Couldn’t He have stopped this? Doesn’t He care?The magnitude of death and destruction caused by earthquakes, tsunamis, or floods strips away all the everyday thoughts that normally occupy our minds and causes us to seek explanations for suffering.
Often we answer our own questions based on our relationship with God. Those who know nothing of Him have no frame of reference for understanding how He works. However, believers in Christ have the Bible to guide them as they wrestle through these issues. But even then, the accuracy of one’s perspective is determined by his or her knowledge of God’s Word. Those with a limited understanding of Scripture may very well come to inaccurate conclusions.
We must guard against attempts at forcing God to act as we think He should. If He does something that won’t fit into the box we’ve designed for Him, we easily become upset, angry, or confused. The Lord will never stay within the parameters we set for Him. Since we are mortal, earth-bound, and sinful, we have a very narrow perspective and understanding of life. But our eternal, sinless, sovereign, and omniscient Creator sees and knows what we cannot perceive.
We want to be sure that our viewpoint of God’s role in natural disasters comes from the Bible, not from our own limited “boxed perspective.” Scripture tells us of the Lord’s love, faithfulness, and wisdom. Whenever we cannot understand His ways, faith in His goodness must be our foundation.

Haman deceives the king into signing an edict that would kill all the Jews.

Esther 3

Haman deceives the king into signing an edict that would kill all the Jews.
INSIGHT
Man´s inhumanity to man over the ages has been astounding. Some of the acts of violence and degradation have defied comprehension. In this vein, Haman hatches a savage and inhumane plot against the Jews to have them annihilated—men, women, and children. King Ahasuerus also has a monstrous mind, willing to sanction such savagery without question. When sin progresses to such extremes, we see just how repulsive it is.
PRAYER
God continually watches over His children. Thank Him for His protection:
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High (Psalm 9:1-2).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to God:
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"As for you, you meant evil against me;
but God meant it for good,
in order to bring it about as it is this day,
to save many people alive" (Genesis 50:20).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
The political leaders of your country
Graciousness in speech
The needs of family members
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
make you complete in every good work to do His will,
working in you what is well pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Reign (Par“t 5)

Reign (Par“t 5)
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
The Dead Sea, located in the Middle East, has some of the most saline water on earth; as much as 35% of the water is dissolved salts! That's up to six times as salty as the ocean! There are no fish or any kind of swimming, squirming creatures living in or near the water. What you'll see on the shores of the Sea is white, crystals of salt covering EVERYTHING. And this is no ordinary table salt, either. The salts found in the Dead Sea are mineral salts, just like you find in the oceans of the world, only in extreme concentrations. The water in the Dead Sea is deadly to most living things. Fish accidentally swimming into the waters are killed instantly; their bodies quickly coated with a layer of salt crystals and then tossed onto shore.
Life cannot be sustained in the Dead Sea because it is so salty, but why is it so salty? The problem is not with the input. The Sea is continually fed water from the Jordan River and several rivers and streams coming down off the mountains that surround it. The problem is, however, no rivers drain out of the Dead Sea. The Sea has no output! The only way water gets out of the Sea is through evaporation. And when the water evaporates, it leaves behind all the dissolved minerals, just making it saltier. The fact that the water doesn't escape the Sea just traps the salts within its shores.
Jesus told his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…” (Acts 1:8 NLT, emphasis added). Again, giving what’s referred to as the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
The cure for spiritual stagnation is to advance the Kingdom! You have been enabled by the Holy Spirit to attest to the life of Christ. Someone needs to know the Truth that’s been revealed to you. I pray that today you will release the treasure within to bring glory to God and be a blessing to someone else.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

How to Cry Out to God

How to Cry Out to God
Matthew 14:29-30
The phone rings, and you answer. A sullen voice informs you of a tragedy. Your heart is so heavy that you feel as though you could die. What do you do?
Bad news, danger, and pain all cause us to look for help. As believers, we dwell with the almighty God, who is able to aid us. At those moments when we are sideswiped by life’s circumstances, we should cry out to Him.
In the Bible, crying out refers to speaking audibly with great emotion concerning an urgent need. God invites us to use this form of prayer to communicate that we desperately need His mercy.
It takes both faith and humility to share our heart’s concern aloud. Crying out, then, is a way for God’s children to express trust in the Lord’s ability and willingness to help. By calling upon Him with such urgency, wealso lay down our pride and any attitude of self-sufficiency.
The Word of God assures us that our Father hears our cries and responds. In Psalm 3:4, for example, David wrote, “I was crying to the Lord with my voice, and He answered from His holy mountain.” When we call aloud for help in Jesus’ name, we invite His power into the situation. Remember that there is strength in just speaking His name.
When we cry out to God, He may remove the problem immediately, yet we often have to wait for His perfect timing. Harsh circumstances might even be allowed to remain for His good purposes. But we can always count on His comfort and presence, which enable us to live with joy and hope.

Esther wins the king´s favor and is chosen to become queen.

Esther 2

Esther wins the king´s favor and is chosen to become queen.
INSIGHT
Abraham, Moses, David, and Esther are all living lives of obscurity when God chooses them. He uses them for great things because they are faithful to Him in the little things. While not all of us are destined to do incredible things in the eyes of man, greatness in the eyes of God is simply being faithful to Him the best way we know how. God has not forgotten about us; His eye is on us. And He will use us—even if only in seemingly "small" ways.
PRAYER
Thank God that we do not need to be born into a wealthy family or attain a place of prestige to be used by Him. Praise God that He uses ordinary people to do His extraordinary work:
As for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face (Psalm 5:7-8).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up (Psalm 5:1-3).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:4-5).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Contentment in the place God has led you to
Patience in serving others
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield (Psalm 5:11-12).

Reign (Part 4)

Reign (Part 4)
“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
Your words have life-changing power. The proverb says, “Death and life are in the power of tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). The Message Bible's paraphrase of that Scripture says, “Words kill, words give life.” Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).
When the Lord took Ezekiel to the valley of very dry bones and asked him, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again” (Ezekiel 37:3 NLT)? Well on the surface, the situation looked hopeless, but Ezekiel knew enough to put it back in God's hands. He replied, “You alone know the answer to that.” The Lord put a prophetic word in Ezekiel's mouth to speak over the very dry bones that caused them to be revived. The hopelessness of the valley was transformed into life, and vibrancy, and strength at God’s command through the prophet.
When a king wants a road built he doesn't get his shovel and start digging. He speaks a command, and the influence and resources of his kingdom align with his command. We too reign from a posture of rest – resting on the promises of God! When we confess his word in faith we have the influence and resources of heaven backing us up! The word “confess” literally means to say the same thing as another.
What has been the tone of your speech lately? Have you been speaking venomous words, or life-giving, inspirational words? “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). The best source of edifying words is the Word of God! Confess His Word; it alone has the power to transform your valley into a flourishing field!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

When We Cry Out to God

When We Cry Out to God
Psalm 57:1-3
When you face a crisis, what is your first line of defense? The natural response is to attempt to fix the problem in your own strength. God, however, gives us a different way to handle difficulty.
David was no stranger to pressure or sudden appearances of evil. When he wrote Psalm 57, he was facing many hardships—including pursuit by King Saul,who wanted to kill him (1 Sam 24). The shepherd’s response was to cry out to God and take refuge in Him until the calamity had passed.
Let’s learn from David’s example by exploring his words. Today, we will focus on the One to whom the psalmist cries.
First, David refers to God as El Elyon, or Supreme Ruler; He is the Most High with all power and wisdom, the only One who can help us in our need.
Second, the Psalm says that God is our refuge. If He is a place of shelter for our soul, then we need not fear. He hovers over us and protects us when crises arise and leave us feeling helpless.
Third, the Psalm expresses complete confidence that the Almighty can and will accomplish all things. He will do whatever is necessary to intervene on our behalf, to hold accountable those who oppose us, and to surround us with His love and truth.
During His time on earth, Jesus displayed great passion. Therefore, we can approach Him when emotions run high. If your heart is troubled, cry out to the Lord. Know that you come before the throne of Him who is a powerful protector, capable and willing to do all you need.

Because Vashti refuses to dance for King Ahasuerus, she is removed as queen.

Esther 1

Because Vashti refuses to dance for King Ahasuerus, she is removed as queen.
INSIGHT
In Ezra and Nehemiah, we learn how God watches over the Jews who return from captivity. Esther tells us how those who remain in exile—scattered through the East—are marvelously preserved. Though the name of God does not appear in the book, His hand is clearly manifest throughout. The significance of the "narrow escapes" cannot be dismissed as coincidental. Ahasuerus demands that his queen appear before the party. She refuses. The stage is now set for God´s miraculous plan of deliverance for His people.
PRAYER
Take comfort in the sovereignty of God, and praise Him for His faithfulness:
All the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts. . .
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness (Psalm 96:5-8, 11).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
"For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,"
Says the Lord, your Redeemer (Isaiah 54:7-8).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither
shall anyone snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:27-28).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Greater commitment to the Lord
Specific Christian ministries
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
May the God of patience and comfort grant you to be
like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5-6 ).

Reign (Part 3)

Reign (Part 3)
“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
Science tells us that without light, we would not have green plant life; vegetable gardens would not produce and flowers would not bloom. Light gives food and energy to plants through a process called “photosynthesis” and makes everything flourish. And since plants constitute more than 90% of the total biomass on Earth (approximately 70 billion tons), light is an essential part of all life as we know it.
But Scripture tells us that even before there was light, there was Life! “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life...” (John 1:1, 4). Hebrews 1:3 (AMP) “He (referring to Christ) is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine].” John 1:4 NLT (emphasis added) “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.”
Just as plant life is dependent upon natural light for growth and development, our spiritual vitality is dependent upon a daily dose of the Living Word. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). These are words that he himself lived by when he told the devil, “Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 AMP).
Our words reveal our thoughts. When the Father sent His Son to Earth, and the Word became flesh (John 1:14), the Father graciously revealed His mind concerning the life God purposes for us to possess. Through His life we longer have to wander in darkness, for He has given us the light of revelation in His Word. We must, however, choose to walk in the Light and thereby reign over darkness.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Facing the Unknown

Facing the Unknown
Hebrews 11:23-29
Tucked into Hebrews 11 is a short phrase that indicates Moses’ approach to life: “for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen” (v. 27). There was no shortage of uncertainty in Moses’ life. How could someone “slow of speech” address Pharaoh (Ex. 4:10)? How could a murderer become God’s chosen man? How would anyone lead these stiff-necked Israelites? And how would they cross the Red Sea, conquer Canaan, or survive 40 years in the desert?
Moses knew what the Lord expected of him, but he didn’t have supernatural vision into the future. So he couldn’t see the outcome of his obedient actions. The Israelite leader moved forward by faith—confident in the Lord’s power to guide, protect, and overcome. Moses derived security solely from God, who consistently kept His promises.
Life hasn’t gotten more certain in the millennia since Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land. Modern believers wonder about things too. Will I ever marry? Is my job safe? What happens to my kids if I get sick? How can I accomplish all I have to do? Thankfully, the source of security hasn’t changed in all that time. God is still the only certainty in this life. You can count on the one who is faithful (2 Tim.2:13), just (Ps. 89:14), and loving (Eph. 2:4).
The lesson from Moses’ life is to cling tenaciously to the Lord. Even situations that look hopeless are cupped in God’s sovereign hand. Moreover, though the way looks dark and the road seems untraveled, He walks before us. Continue forward in confidence, as seeing Him who is unseen.

Upon hearing the Law, the people publicly confess their transgressions.

Nehemiah 9

Upon hearing the Law, the people publicly confess their transgressions.
INSIGHT
Paul says in the New Testament that it was not until he heard the Law that he was conscious of sin. How true! It is not until you know the truth that the truth can set you free (John 8:32). The returning Jews experience this truth in a dramatic way. Upon hearing the Law, Israel repents of her sins and rededicates herself to serving the Lord. This repentance clears her conscience, results in rich worship, and makes her eligible for the blessings of the Lord. It sets her free! Repentance will do the same for you.
PRAYER
Because the Lord preserves us through spiritual battles, offer your praises as you read this psalm:
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night . . .
You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands (Psalm 92:1-2, 4).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
O Lord, God of my salvation,
I have cried out day and night before You.
Let my prayer come before You;
Incline Your ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles,
And my life draws near to the grave
(Psalm 88:1-3).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart (Psalm 40:8).

I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,
And like a cloud, your sins.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you (Isaiah 44:22).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Greater insight into God´s Word
The homeless in your country and around the world
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17).

Reign (Part 2)

Reign (Part 2)
“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
There’s a television show that promises to change homes and lives by ridding them of clutter! You may have heard of it, it’s called Clean House. It’s always surprising to see how much “stuff” we accumulate in our houses. Have you ever had to move from one house or apartment to another? Or even one vehicle to another? It’s amazing the hidden treasures you discover! Sometimes you even realize the inefficiency of the use of your space. When we clear the clutter we will have much more room for the new.
God desires to clear our lives of the things that inhibit growth and threaten our new life in Christ. He has promised us a new, abounding life, but are we ready? Are you reigning in life through His life? Or are the issues in this life reigning over you? Let’s consider a few areas of everyday life that we can exercise Godly dominion over through His life… God’s life is peace. Consider all you can reign over with the peace of God: trouble, anxiety, stress, enmity, division, discord, and brokenness. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).
God’s life is joy. Think of all you can reign over with the joy of the Lord: sadness, sorrow, disappointment, and emotional instability. “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
God’s life is love. Are you reigning in life as a result of receiving the love of God? Reign over: rejection, insecurity, fear, hatred, malice, envy, and jealousy. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1)!
What about hope! Is your heart anchored in hope in God? Triumph over: poverty, isolation, depression, and uncertainty. “Now hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5).
It’s time to clean house! Clear the clutter and receive the life of God afresh today. Choose to reign in life through the life of Christ!

Peace, Joy, and Contentment

Peace, Joy, and Contentment
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Discouragement can rob peace, joy, and contentment. But I have great news if you feel disheartened: You’re not stuck!
I’ve known people who appeared to be in an impossible situation. A few years later, however, they were in a terrific place, either in terms of their circumstances or their emotions. The reason? They never gave up. Instead of sulking in self-pity, they chose to believe God, step out in faith, and climb out of the emotional pit.
Nehemiah is a good example. He had every reason to feel defeated, because his people were in trouble. After receiving news that the city wall had been destroyed, this man of God acknowledged profound disappointment and grieved. Though pain flooded his soul, he didn’t allow himself to stay in that low place. Instead, Nehemiah cried out to God, seeking direction.
Sadness in the presence of royalty was punishable by death. But the Lord answered Nehemiah’s prayer with amazing power, prompting the king to notice his servant’s sad countenance and then toask what he could do to help. This miracle led to the rebuilding of the wall and the redemption of God’s people.
The Lord can take an impossible situation—no matter what it is—and move in ways mightier than you can imagine.
Do you live in eager expectation of what the Lord will do? Or have you chosen to linger in the depths of despair? Like Nehemiah, turn your disappointment into a petition for God’s help. He can restore your hope and prevent negative emotions from gaining a stranglehold on your life

The people gather at the square to hear Ezra, who reads the Law publicly.

Nehemiah 8

The people gather at the square to hear Ezra, who reads the Law publicly.
INSIGHT
No one appreciates a glass of water like a man who is truly thirsty. It takes deprivation to appreciate the significance of our blessings. That is why the Christian life is not always easy—with blessings flowing unabated. We get dull and stale to it—just as we do when we have too much food and too little exercise. We are indeed blessed to have the Word of God in such abundance. The returning Jews have never heard the Word, and they are truly thirsty. They stand — from dawn till dusk — and drink it in. To appreciate the Word in your life, imagine not having it at all.
PRAYER
Give the Lord your praise, because He knows us and loves us and will never leave or forsake us:
You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous,
And gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His
holy name (Psalm 97:10-12).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon
(Isaiah 55:6-7).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

The Lord encourages us to come to Him with our concerns and desires. As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
The renewing of your mind
The needs of your extended family
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

Reign

Reign

“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
Did you know that as a child of God you have kingly power and influence in this life? Now before you go find some people to boss around, the first person we must reign over is ourselves! We must bring our thoughts, attitudes, actions, and will under the Divine influence of the Holy Spirit. He will begin to transform us into the image of our big brother, and supreme King, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 says that we “reign in life” through Jesus Christ. We reign in life through His life.
Jesus said that he came that we might have life (John 10:10). This life he refers to is God-life. It’s life inherent in God (John 1:4). Life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself (John 5:26). It is life that is not subject to death. It is a gift of God given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” (John 3:36). It’s not just living forever, but it’s living forever in the presence of God. It involves the impartation of a new nature.
Because of Adam’s sin, death, and all its miseries ruled the lives of men. If man’s mistake was the end of the story we’d have a sorrowful existence. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Listen, if you’ve made mistakes in life you don’t have to live under the dominant influence of past failures. As a child of God our life is hid in Christ (Colossians 3:3). You have been placed in right-standing with God. This righteousness means you don’t have to live under the power of sin, death, or judgment. God has given you the ability to enjoy life! By of the power of God’s abounding grace break free of whatever is dominating you today, and choose to reign as a blood-washed child of God!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Trap of Discouragement

The Trap of Discouragement
Habakkuk 1:2
Do you feel stuck in discouragement? If so, you are not alone.
At some point everyone experiences dashed hopes. Disappointment—an emotional response to a failed expectation—is the normal initial reaction. But allowed to linger, it can turn into discouragement, which hovers like a dense cloud. When that’s the case, there is no sense of joy or contentment, no matter what you do.
The circumstances that trigger these emotions may be unavoidable, but the way we respond is a choice. We can either let sadness overwhelm our souls or face the situation with courage and bring it before the One who can help us.
Living in discouragement will divide the mind, making it hard to focus on anything besides our pain. Then as anger becomes habitual, we’ll look for someone to blame—whether God, people around us, or ourself.
Frustration that isn’t handled well may develop into depression, which in turn can estrange us from others—people do not enjoy the company of someone who’s bitter and defeated. This isolation leads to a low self-esteem. Finally, in a fog of discouragement, we can make poor decisions based on crushed emotions instead of truth. Obviously, choosing this self-destructive path is not God’s best for our lives.
Though we’ll all face disappointment from time to time, believers are not to wallow in it. Instead, God wants us to trust Him with everything—even our unmet expectations and deepest sadnesses. Remember, there is divine purpose for everything He allows to touch His children’s lives (Rom. 8:28).

The work on the wall is completed.

Nehemiah 6

The work on the wall is completed.
INSIGHT
Nehemiah resists the efforts of the adversaries to discourage him or distract him from working on the wall. He is convinced that he is doing the right thing, and he steadfastly resists the interference. The Old Testament often has a literal illustration of a spiritual truth that is explained in the New Testament. In Ephesians 6:11, we read that we are to "put on the whole armor of God": the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Once these are in place, we "resist"—"stand firm!"
PRAYER
Praise God for victory in spiritual warfare as we use His armor:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods. . . .
O come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand
(Psalm 95:1-3, 6-7).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me,
and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Greater faithfulness with your time
The president and world affairs
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore (Psalm 121:7-8).

Nehemiah stops the internal mistreatment among the Jews by force of example.

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah stops the internal mistreatment among the Jews by force of example.
INSIGHT
The prospects for some of the returned exiles are bleak. There are deficient rains and poor harvests. As a result, the farmers mortgage their lands to their wealthier brethren and, in extreme cases, sell their children into slavery to pay the king´s taxes. The rich Jews, rather than helping out, are capitalizing on the situation to line their own pockets. This is inexcusable! Few things bring on more reproach to the cause of the Lord than the worldliness and hard-heartedness of those who claim to follow Him. Unselfish dedication to the common welfare of others in Christ is our spiritual obligation.
PRAYER
Because the Lord loves each of us equally and accepts our welfare as His obligation, we praise Him:
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting (Psalm 93:1-2).

He is your praise, and He is your God,
who has done for you these great and awesome things
which your eyes have seen (Deuteronomy 10:21).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed
(Isaiah 53:5).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Greater love for fellow Christians
Missions in Europe and Asia
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psalm 103:21-22).

Friday, July 8, 2011

The Age of Accountability

The Age of Accountability
Deuteronomy 11:18-20
I recall an interesting conversation I once had with a young first-time mom while she allowed me to hold her infant son. I commented, “It’s hard to believe that they are born with a sinful nature.” She protested, and I thought it best not to argue with her. But I would have liked to call her a couple of years later when the boy was a toddler to see if she thought any differently!
At one point or another, all of us have felt a tug to do something that we knew was wrong. As adults and believers, we’ve learned that giving in to temptation is a sin against God. But small children do exactly as their natures dictate. Mother says, “Don’t touch,” but they reach out anyway. Little ones do not yet see the wisdom of following a parent’s rules. Boys and girls must be taught to recognize the difference between good and evil before they can make the wise choice to do right.
In the early years, a child is in a stateof innocence. He is neither righteous nor saved, but he is safe from God’s wrath—if he dies, he goes to heaven. The Bible refers to the innocent period in Deuteronomy 1:39 and again in Isaiah 7:16. The Word of God confirms that there is a period of time when children are not morally accountable for their conduct.
The age of moral responsibility differs from child to child. As little ones grow, they each develop the spiritual capacity to pursue righteousness or knowingly give in to evil. The years of innocence are the time for parents to pour into their offspring sound biblical training and lessons on obedience.

The work on the city wall is ridiculed by those opposing it.

Nehemiah 4

The work on the city wall is ridiculed by those opposing it.
INSIGHT
It is difficult to do any work when we are strongly opposed. We begin to doubt the validity of the task or our ability to perform it. When we are assailed for doing God´s work, we must evaluate the source of opposition. We cannot assume opposition means that God is against us. While it is of little value to blame the devil for everything that goes wrong, the Bible makes it clear that spiritual opposition is a reality in the work of God. If we suspect spiritual opposition, we must oppose the enemy, remain at the task at hand, and redouble our prayers!
PRAYER
Praise God that He has given us instruction for life in the Bible and through the Holy Spirit:
"My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord.
I smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation"
(1 Samuel 2:1).

Pause for additional praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. . . God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
(1Thessalonians 4:1-2, 7-8)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"No one is holy like the Lord,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God. . . .
He will guard the feet of His saints,
But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
For by strength no man shall prevail"
(1 Samuel 2:2, 9).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Diligence in our work in spite of obstacles
Wisdom in making decisions
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
By the God of your father who will help you,
And by the Almighty who will bless you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
The blessings of your father
Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors,
Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills
(Genesis 49:25-26).

Answer the Call

Answer the Call
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14
A servant is one who is under subjection, authority and submission and there are ten ingredients to being an effective servant.
God calls us to a particular work at an appointed time. He has a special assignment for each and every person. To accomplish His assignment He has placed a gift in us that is to be used to bless others. This gift is to be used for His honor and glory. He gives gifts to different people to complete different tasks. Ephesians 4:11-12 says, "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the working of the ministry, for the edifying (building) of the body of Christ. " He does not call everyone to be a pastor or an apostle. He calls some to usher, to attend the parking lot, to sing, etc.

But no matter the position we have, we are all called to serve. Galatians 5:13 says, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” We are all under God’s authority. Jesus is the Shepherd, Governor and Lord and all of our service should be done out of love for Him. Even as we are being faithful to God's earthly ministers and others; we are actually serving the Lord Jesus Christ by obeying His word.

A servant is one who is under subjection, authority and submission and there are ten ingredients to being an effective servant:
1. A willingness to serve – it starts in the heart.
2. Accountability - being responsible for your assigned tasks.
3. Diligence - not quitting until the job is done at all cost.
4. Consistency - compatibility and agreement with the set standard.
5. Submission - obedience.
6. Commitment - a willingness to change your plans to meet the vow.
7. Boundaries - operating where God has placed you.
8. Prayer - receiving from God as you give to God.
9. Standard - completing the task in excellence without compromise.
10. God's Word - yield yourself to God's divine purpose.

My friend, God has anointed you with the ability to accomplish the work of service He has called you to do. The Bible says in Romans 8:30, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” God has called you to His church for a special task and purpose. That task and purpose is to fulfill His vision for your life. God has called you for such a time as this. Now answer the call!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

When a Child Dies

When a Child Dies
2 Samuel 12:16-23
Understandably, people who lose a child want assurance that their little one is safe in the arms of God. The Bible is not explicit about what happens to those who are too young to make a proclamation of faith. However, the Lord’s mercy upon them becomes clear as we study His Word.
Over the years, people have created unbiblical explanations for what happens to little ones who die. There are those who argue that salvation is available to some but not to others, which is scripturally inaccurate (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9). Another more complicated theory holds that God uses His foreknowledge to determine whether a child who dies will enter heaven or hell. The idea is that He rescues those who He knows would have grown up and been saved, but He rejects the rest. What terrible uncertainty that would mean for family members left behind.
God doesn’t keep people guessing. What His Word teaches is that during the early years of life, a child does not know how to choose good from evil (Deut. 1:39; Isa. 7:16) and therefore isn’t held responsible for his moral conduct. Accordingly, when a little one departs from life, the Lord is waiting with open arms. This is the only theology that makes biblical sense, given the Father’s character, desires, and plan.
Until a child is mature enough to decide about whether to serve the Lord, he or she is safe from divine judgment. Our just and loving God does not punish children for being too young to grasp their need of a Savior. Believers join their departed little ones in heaven (2 Sam. 12:23).

Nehemiah requests the king´s help in rebuilding Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah requests the king´s help in rebuilding Jerusalem.
INSIGHT
Nehemiah comes before the king unable to conceal his agitation over the situation in Jerusalem. When we are faced with situations that need change, preparation is vital. We may not be able to do anything about it at the moment, but we can ask ourselves this question: "If it lay within our power to do anything we wanted to do, what would we do?´ If we can answer that, then we will recognize opportunity when it knocks, and we can capitalize on it as Nehemiah does.
PRAYER
Praise God that He is concerned about the details of your life and is ready to fulfill your every need:
The Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish (Psalm 1:6).
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore (Psalm 121:7-8).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God;
and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools,
for they do not know that they do evil (Ecclesiastes 5:1).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Boldness in sharing Christ with others
The innocent victims in war-torn lands
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man´s all.
For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

You Are On God’s Mind

You Are On God’s Mind

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8:1-9

Have you every received a phone call, a greeting card, a letter, a hug or a handshake from someone and they said to you, “I called because you were on my mind”. How did it make you feel? If you were discouraged did it encourage you? If you were down did it lift you up? If you were sad did it bring you joy? How did it make you feel to know that someone was thinking about you? How did it make you feel knowing that someone was concerned about your welfare and wellbeing?

As David looked toward the heavens he realizes that even the moon and stars, show the glory and power of the Father of lights, and furnish us with a reason for praise. David also realizes that these heavenly bodies are not only the creation of His divine power, but subject to His divine government. God not only made them, but was mindful of where He placed them in the heavenlies.

Now just as He was mindful of how He ordered the heavens. He is mindful of every detail of your life. He says in His word, “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.And the very hairs on your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:29, 30).

But why is God mindful of man? Why is God mindful of you? Why are you on God's mind? "Lord, what is man and who am I that” you should set the ordinances of heaven to benefit me, for my comfort in making the lights of heaven to direct my paths?" "Lord, what is man and who am I that thou art mindful of me” that you would be concerned with my actions and affairs, that in the making of the world you would have respect for me! Who am I, “that thou visitest me,” that you not only feed me and cloth me, protect me and provide for me, but visit me as one friend visits another, to talk with me and concern yourself for me!

But, God why are you mindful of me? Why am I on you mind? The answer to that question can be summed in these words: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

My friend, you have a Friend that sticks closer than a brother and will never leave you nor forsake you. Take a moment today to thank God for thinking of you.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Nehemiah weeps as he learns of Jerusalem´s deterioration.

Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah weeps as he learns of Jerusalem´s deterioration.
INSIGHT
One of the essential characteristics of leadership is that the leader feels the full weight of the plight of certain people and assumes responsibility for their condition. Many people knew of Jerusalem´s condition, but few felt the impact and had the vision for response. Nehemiah did and God used him in a mighty way. What in life "hits" you? What situations cause you to feel the impact of the plight of others, and for what situations do you have a vision for response? It might be as large as a nation or as small as a church nursery. But if you feel it and have a vision for it, chances are God would like to use you there.
PRAYER
Being used by the Lord is a joyful experience. Praise Him as you consider how He might use you:
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God. . . .
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
(Psalm 90:1-2, 14)

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
"Come now, and let us reason together,"
Says the Lord,
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
If you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God
(Proverbs 2:3-5).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Contentment in the circumstances of your life
Greater sensitivity to sin
The ministry of your local church
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord (Psalm 31:24).

The Holy Spirit’s Dwelling Place

The Holy Spirit’s Dwelling Place
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Every time the news programs report a story about vandalism at a church, believers cringe. It’s hard for us to bear the thought of anyone spray-painting graffiti on sanctuary walls or damaging the stained glass windows, let alone setting fire to a place of worship. It’s a desecration!
The church is a sacred place.
I’m saddened by the fact that many Christians don’t have the same qualms when it comes to harming the temple of the Holy Spirit—their own bodies. Some put junk into their stomachs, their veins, or their lungs. Others wear themselves down under a weight of stress or exhaustion. Some folks justify these abuses as their right: It’s my body, I can do what I want. But that isn’t true.
First Corinthians 6 says that believers are the Lord’s possession (v. 19). He has fashioned these earthen vessels to serve Him and carry out the work He’s planned for us to accomplish. God created us with a mind, body, and spirit—of the three aspects, the body is the one that allows
us to interact with our environment. People cannot reach their full potential while neglecting the proper care of their bodies. What good are education, talent, and gifts if we’re too tired or sick to complete tasks well?
Here in the world, we can do nothing apart from our physical body. Since it is the only one we’ll have in this life, we should do our best to keep it in good condition. Believersshould also recognize their responsibility to treat the earthly frame like the sacred and special dwelling place that it is.

Keep It Clean

Keep It Clean

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Matthew 21:12-14

The temple had become a place where the love of God had been replaced with the love of money. The bible declares in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon is a term that was used to describe greed, avarice, and unjust worldly gain in Biblical literature. It was personified as a false god in the New Testament. The term is often used to refer to excessive materialism or greed as a negative influence.

And because God was not being served the people were not being served. Their needs were not being met. So Jesus did not enter the church as a member this time. He entered as Lord. As head of the church He used his authority to cleanse the temple of all unrighteousness. The church was now the house of prayer and the house of power where souls could be saved, healed and delivered.

We are the church and our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost. We were created for His habitation. If we are to be used by God to cause others to be saved, healed and delivered, we have to become the house of prayer, the house of power and the house of praise. We have to continually keep our temple clean.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Freedom in Christ

Freedom in Christ
1 Corinthians 6:12-17
In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul tells Christians that freedom in Christ is a serious responsibility. Yes, we can eat what we want, spend our time as we please, and pursue activities we enjoy. However, as believers, we are inseparably joined to Christ’s church. This means that when we die, we are raised up to live with Him forever. And even before that time, while we live on this earth, our bodies and souls are united with Christ (1 Cor. 6:14-15).Simply put, they are not our own.
As temporary owners of these bodies, we have the responsibility to find out what is and what is not good for them. We must exercise discipline with our God-given liberties because there is no value in “freedom” that spiritually cripples believers or causes pain, shame, and guilt.
Notice the distinction that Paul makes between freedom in Christ and reckless abandon: God’s grace and forgiveness cover our sins, but that doesn’t give us permission to engage in harmful behavior. As followers of Jesus, we’re to give ourselves over to the pursuit of godly living, not to self-serving pleasures. Christians are “earthen vessels,” created by God to fulfill His purpose and bring honor and glory to Him (2 Cor. 4:7). Therefore, anything that violates the humanbody is not permissible for us.
True freedom means living without the chains of sin and destructive behavior. Jesus Christ paid a price to release you from those bonds. Therefore, do not put your body into slavery to damaging habits. Glorify God with your whole self—heart, mind, soul, and body.

You are Planned, Purposed and Positioned for Victory, Part 2

You are Planned, Purposed and Positioned for Victory, Part 2

“Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better.” Ephesians 4:23 NIV
Another meaning for the word “attitude” is “position” or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, or emotion. Did you know that praise is an attitude. Praise has a position. Say this, “I am positioned for praise.” What is Praise? It is an inward and outward expression of honor, acknowledgement and majesty for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How many of you have ever faced a Jericho? Strongholds on your family, your money, put obstacles in the way of your progress in God. Guess what the children of Israel did? They positioned themselves and surrounded their problems with praise. There are times when we have to do the same thing. We sometimes have to surround our problems and take a position of praise called:
“Halal” This is the first word of praise when we utter "hallelujah." Halal means to be clear, to shine, to boast, to show, to rave, to celebrate, and to be clamorously foolish.
“Yadah” means to worship with the extended hand. The giving of oneself in worship and adoration. To lift your hands unto the Lord in the meaning of absolute surrender as a young child does to a parent - "pick me up, I'm all yours."
“Towdah” is to give worship by the extension of the hand in adoration or agreeing with what has been done or will be. This form of praise is just because His Word is true. It involves a sacrifice, especially if one is very sick in body.
“Barak” is to kneel or to bow. It implies to continual conscious giving place to God. Blessing the Lord, extolling virtue. Barak sets the right position and relationship with God.
“Shabach” is to shout aloud unto the Lord. Proclaim with a loud voice, unashamed, the glory, triumph, power, mercy, love of God. You should have the attitude of putting your whole being into it, an attitude of being totally uninhibited.
“Zamar” is to praise and/or worship with the use of instruments. The instruments can include your voice, hands, and feet.
“Tehillah” is to sing, your hallelujah. Tehillah is unrestrained praise. We must come alive, and enter into God's presence with thanksgiving and praise.
My friend, praise doesn't depend on our visible situations, circumstances, or feelings. It's based on eternal unchangeable facts. Praise is the appropriate heart attitude to Gods greatness. Praise positions you for victory. Victory is God’s plan and purpose for your life. Today is a good day to take a position of praise. Praise God for His greatness. Worship God for His holiness and thank God for His goodness.

The original decree is found, and permission is given to complete the temple restoration.

Ezra 6

The original decree is found, and permission is given to complete the temple restoration.
INSIGHT
It is often darkest before the dawn. Just as it looks as if the work on the temple is going to be stopped, the Lord turns the situation around. Not only is permission given to complete the temple, but those who had tried to stop the work are required to finance the remainder of the restoration! Worrying does little to further the work of God; He is quite capable of accomplishing His work. Our work is trust, obedience, and faithfulness to our responsibilities.
PRAYER
Praise the Lord for His watchfulness over your circumstances, and thank Him for being in total control of your life:
I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies
(Psalm 18:1-3).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving, and pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:4-5).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:11).

God desires to hear the petitions of His people. As you make you requests known to the Lord, include:
Contentment in the circumstances of your life
Greater love for the lost
The work of missions in Africa
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
"The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-25).

You are Planned, Purposed and Positioned for Victory

You are Planned, Purposed and Positioned for Victory
There was never a time when you were not on the mind of God. His parenthood of you was planned by Him. “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome” (Jeremiah 29:11). You are planned for victory!
You are purposed! You were intentionally designed to be like Jesus. “We are assured and know that [ God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:28, 29). You are purposed for victory!
In the New International Version of Ephesians, chapter 4 verse 23 reads, “Be made new in the attitude of your minds.” The Living Bible states it this way, “Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better.” Thus, the “spirit of your mind” is your attitude. The word “attitude” defined is: 1. manner, disposition, feeling, position, with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation of the mind: a positive or negative attitude. Basically, your attitude is the position you take on any issue in life. You are positioned for victory.
You’ve heard the saying, “Your attitude determines your altitude.” In the field of aviation or aeronautics this is true. An airplane’s attitude is based on the position of several things, it’s nose and wings in relation to the natural horizon.
According to God’s word we are to be in Christ and become new creatures, letting old things pass and have all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are to put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; and be made new in the attitude of our minds (Ephesians 4:22, 23).

How high do you want to fly? Do you want higher heights and deeper depths in God? Then do this: "Put an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and cause every thought to come under the authority of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). And "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

The king orders a halt to the temple restoration.

Ezra 4

The king orders a halt to the temple restoration.
INSIGHT
There is a common misconception in the Christian world that if you are doing the Lord´s will, you will not suffer hardships for it. The example of the Jews rebuilding the temple certainly does not support that supposition. The Lord clearly intends for them to rebuild the temple, yet they suffer opposition the entire time. It is not necessarily a sign of God´s displeasure when work begun for Him fails. There may be other reasons for the failure, which are hidden in His sovereignty. That is why it is so important to be in fellowship with Him. If something we are doing fails, we have confidence that it is not because of our sin, but His sovereignty.
PRAYER
Because He faithfully loves you, faithfully praise Him and thank Him for your many blessings:
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen (Psalm 72:18-19).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession:
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:13-14).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes (Psalm 119:67, 71).

God yearns to hear His children´s desires. As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
Spiritual growth
Fulfillment of the Great Commission
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).

Saturday, July 2, 2011

A Clean Heart

A Clean Heart
Psalm 119:9-11
Reaching our full potential begins with a clean heart—one that loves the Lord and desires to obey Him. However, each of us was born with a nature bent away from God. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as deceitful and inclined towards wickedness. Pleasing self is man’s normal state.
Salvation changed our hearts and lives. Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin and broke its power over us. By receiving Christ as Savior, we each became a new creation—with a heart sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and a mind that strongly desires to know the Father better. We also received the Spirit’s power to deny our selfish desires and obey God. With clean hearts, we can begin to realize the capabilities our loving Lord has given us.
The best way to maintain a clean heart is by meditating on Scripture. It acts like a mirror in which we see ourselves as God does. Through it, we discover the areas where we have been faithful and also the places where we’ve veered from His path. Expressing genuine repentance brings God’s forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9).
The heart represents the seat of our mind, will, and emotions. When we strive to keep it pure, we will more easily discern the Lord’s plan, submit our will to His, and follow Him obediently.
Becoming the person God planned for each of us to be requires an intimate relationship with Him and a desire to obey His Word. Apart from Jesus, we can’t achieve anything of lasting value (John 15:5). Cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s transforming work will help us keep our hearts clean.

The priests restore the altar and worship of the Lord.

Ezra 3

The priests restore the altar and worship of the Lord.
INSIGHT
The basis of most discontent is comparison. We could be happy with our cars if the neighbors didn´t have better ones. We would be satisfied with our houses if they were as nice as everyone else´s. Yet, were we to have our present possessions in Africa, we would be considered rich. Once our basic needs are met, the issue is not "how are we," but rather, "how are we compared to how everyone else is." When the foundation of the new temple is laid, the new generation rejoices at the work of God; but the older generation laments that the new temple is not as impressive as the old one. We should be content with what God has chosen to give us and not make comparisons. He is rich who rejoices in his portion.
PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord for what He has given you, and rejoice in your portion:
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness,
of Yours only.
O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works (Psalm 71:15-17).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this prayer:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . .
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous spirit (Psalm 51:10, 12).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
That others might see Christ in you
That the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into His harvest
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Psalm 139:1-10
When God looked at the world He’d made, He declared it good. Making man—male and female—in His image was the crowning achievement of His creative work (Gen. 1:27). Psalm 139 reminds us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
The Lord has given each of His children great potential for service in His kingdom. However, some of us have serious doubts that this is true. When we compare ourselves to other people, we notice the things we lack. At other times, we repeatedly criticize ourselves for mistakes we’ve made. How can we have awesome potential when we see so many ways in which we fall short?
When he was growing up in Pharaoh’s household, Moses appeared to have many advantages. Then he killed an Egyptian and fled the country. No longer did he seem a likely candidate to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. But God looked beyond what Moses had done and saw who he could become.
Before being saved, the apostle Paul vehemently opposed those who believed in Jesus. Yet through God’s mercy, he became a mighty evangelist and author of several New Testament books. Peter was a simple fisherman who denied—not once but three times—that he knew Jesus. Still, the Lord chose him to become the leader of the Jerusalem church.
Our Father sees beyond our human frailtiesto the potential we have in Christ. Because we were made in His image and His Spirit dwells in us, we have a greater capacity for spiritual transformation and service than we could imagine. Seek to becomethe person God desires for you to be.