Good morning Jesus, I come before you and your spirit desiring to be healed, restored, and refreshed as I begin a new week that is a gift to me..
“From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of Godʼs chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.” (Titus 1:1)
Jesus, the background for the concept of being the Lord's slave or servant is found in the Old Testament scriptures. For a Jew the concept of being a “slave to God” did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times, “You are my witnesses,” says the Lord, “my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe in me and understand that I am he” (Isa 43:10). But being "servants (or slaves) of the Lord" was title of honor that was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses, who Joshua honored by saying of him, “I was forty years old when Moses, the Lordʼs servant sent me from Kadesh..” (Josh 14:7), God declares this title of David, the man with a hear after Him, “The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant (Ps 89:3I; as well as in 2 Sam 7:5, 8). And God spoke the same title over Elijah, “The Lord had done what he announced through his servant Elijah” (2 Kgs 10:10). All these great men were honored to claim the title of "servants (or slaves) of the Lord."
Lord Jesus, today in this world and the kingdom of man the word “slavery” has a negative connotation, and for many good reasons. However in Your Kingdom, being called your slave or servant is a title of honor and privilege. You Yourself set the example of the honor of being a slave to the Father. “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45).
By Your Spirit Lord, humble me to surrender all that I am and all my rights to you as my Lord and master. My wife and my children do not need a man who leads by control or dominance, but out of sacrifice and love. Those I encounter today do not need to encounter a person who looks down on them, but stoops down before them and washes their feet. I don’t want the people who’s path I cross, to encounter a prideful self made man, but a man formed by surrender to your cross of love. And being a man who’s heart lives for the applause of men, all this is only possible in and through your starting my day in the washing presence of Your Spirit in me.
My family, I pray today you reflect on something you probably would not imagine as you start your day, of becoming a slave, a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ and savior. As only in total surrender to Him, will you achieve complete freedom in your life, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends
Please share your reflections and prayers on this passage with us in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart and lead me in Your ways -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
In these days and the days to come, just knowing the truth will not be enough. "Even the demons believe -- and shudder" (James 2:19). No, we need more. We need to "love the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). We need to love the truth, just as a wise person loves correction and discipline (Proverbs 13:1). That's our antidote to the power of deception -- a love for the truth.
"The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, and lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
Come, Holy Spirit. Give me a love for the truth. You are "the Spirit of truth" who "comes (to) guide (me) into all the truth" and "glorify (Jesus)" (John 16:13).
Loving truth is different from loving what we want to hear, loving what fits our feelings, or loving what we think is right despite what You say is right. And You've already warned us that we will be tempted to give into the pressures of our world to turn from the truth in the times to come:
"The truth" is not simply a statement of faith or mental assent to accurate doctrine. The truth is a Person. You are the Truth. You are "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (John 15:6). You are the One we need to love. Loving You, loving the One who is Truth, is the Way You've provided to lead us through the confusion, deception, and temptation to compromise to come.
You said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you" (John 14:15-17).
As I grow in my love for You, I grow in my love for Truth. May my love for You, my love for Truth, keep me from being deceived in these days to come -- even by "the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, and lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you ask the Holy Spirit, The Helper to help you discern and grow in your love of truth so you can embrace by faith the fullness of life our Father has for you, forgiven and free from bondage of lies and sin, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear what You're speaking into my spirit to begin my day centered and grounded in You and Your Word--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
Every good and perfect gift comes from You. And two of Your greatest gifts are Your Word and Your Spirit. In Your Word, I'm grounded in truth. In Your Spirit, I'm empowered to live it out in my life.
"Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of His own purpose He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of His creatures.... and welcome with meekness the implanted word of that has power to save your souls" (James 1:17-21).
Thank You for the gifts of Your implanted Word and Your empowering Spirit. Let the Word of God be implanted deep within me as I read and meditate upon Your Scripture as the very Word of God and the standard of truth for my life. And let the Spirit of God fill my heart to form my thoughts and shape my desires to live out Your Word through the words and actions of my life each day. "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13).
Like the two wings of an eagle, let Your Word and Your Spirit lift me and move me, empower me and guide me, in a life that freely and fully soars in Your will. As I embrace the good gifts of Your Word and Your Spirit, You move mightily within me and move mightily for me to align my life with Your good will. "The Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.... He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:28-31). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray the truth of the Word of God and the empowering Spirit of God would lift you up every day and cause you to soar into the fullness of the good life the Lord has for you in the center of His good will for you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your comments, reflections, and prayers from today’s reading with us in the comments box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God, You are the same yesterday and today and forever. Steadfast and true, faithful are You. Empower me to be faithful too. ...
"If we are faithless, He remains faithful -- for He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13).
Jesus, as I sit here and reflect on these verses this morning, a song I love is playing in the background with the lyrics, “Oh the overwhelming, never ending reckless love of God..” Some Christian songs today speak of Your reckless love -- reckless because it's so overwhelming and we're so undeserving. Some speak of Your unfailing love -- unfailing because it never ends and always wins. But above all, I've experienced Your relentless love -- relentless because You never relent, You never retreat in Your passionate pursuit of my heart -- no matter how undeserving or unfaithful, how timid or compromising, how I've been tempted to turn to the world or put up a wall or settle for something less than all You've desired for me. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). That's relentless love.
So who could resist Your relentless love? Why would we run from Someone running so hard after us? What a picture You gave us in the parable of the prodigal son when You showed us the relentless love of a father running to embrace his lost son. "But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20). You are that Father, just as we are that son that could never run far enough away and never do wicked, selfish enough things that could make You stop loving us. That's relentless love.
Father, forgive me for ever resisting Your relentless love. Forgive me for ever taking it for granted. Forgive me for ever squandering the blessing and invitation of a lifetime of intimacy with You. You are so worthy of my relentless love in return. I love You because You first loved me; I pursue You because You first pursued me (1 John 4:19). You "have loved (me) with an everlasting (relentless) love" when there's nothing I could ever do to ever earn it or deserve it (Jeremiah 31:2). So this day, here in a deeper surrender of my heart and vulnerable intimacy in Your presence, I embrace Your relentless love for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
My family, I pray you fully accept the invitation embrace the relentless love of our passionately pursuing God in a deeper surrender of your heart and vulnerable intimacy in His presence, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your comments, reflections, and prayers from today’s reading with us in the comments box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit. Be One within me today, as You lead me in the way of life in Christ. ...
"I know the One in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to Him" (2 Timothy 1:12).
Last week my mother Carol went to have an endoscopy to look for some tiny area of bleeding that may be causing her low iron levels in her blood. Instead what they found was an area of cancer. Today they are doing a CAT scan on her to see if there is cancer anywhere else in her body. Being diagnosed with cancer hit her, hits all in her position hard. This mornings Scriptures speaks into my prayers for her and those who find themselves in difficult situations and/or seasons in their lives.
Lord, I know You and I trust You. The more I know You, the more I trust You. The more I trust You, the more I love You and thank You for all You've done for me and all You've done in me.
And though life can be hard and the challenges can be tough, though the battles against our hope and faith can be very real and very intense, we don't lose heart as we keep entrusting our hearts to you. You never promised it wouldn't be hard, but You promised You'd always be with us no matter how hard it gets.
You said, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall be burned, and the flame shall not consumer you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior" (Isaiah 43:1-3). You said, "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). You said, "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
I believe You. I trust You and I love You. And by the power of the grace of God, I will "guard the good treasure entrusted to (me), with the help of the Holy Spirit living in (me)" (2 Timothy 1:14). "For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray what ever deep waters you may be going through that your heart will not be troubled and your faith and hope will be secure in the One You've come know and trust, who always loves you and is always with you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. I have never asked for personal prayer in the years I have been writing my morning blog, I ask you to pray in agreement with me for complete removal by God of all cancer in my mom Carol’s body. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your comments, reflections, and prayers from today’s reading with us in the comments box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to start my day deliberately inviting You into the center of my heart and at the front of my mind. ...
"As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life" (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Compared with ninety-nine percent of the world, I'm sure I'm considered "rich" in Your eyes -- as well as just about everyone I know and all of you who who read this blogs this morning. We have food and shelter and more than we need almost all the time. You "richly provide us with everything for (our necessities and far more) for our enjoyment."
And at the same time, You're not comparing me with anyone else just You and Your cross. You're looking into my heart and invite me to do the same. You invite me to ask myself if I have a desire and the power to "do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share." And You invite me to consider how well I'm stewarding my heart and these resources You've entrusted to me.
Have I been "storing up for (myself) the treasure of a good foundation for the future? Have I been "(taking) hold of the life that really is life" or taking hold of things far less generous and setting my hopes on things far more uncertain?
"The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good..." (Luke 6:45). Come, Holy Spirit. Come be at work in my heart, giving me good desires in alignment with the heart of my good Father, who’s heart is extremely generous with me. Give me the desire and empower me with opportunities to "do good, and to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share" today. Let me be a good steward, a faithful son, and a fruitful disciple with the "good treasure" You've entrusted to me. Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray our generous God will pour out His Spirit in you and instill in you a generous heart. May you who have been richly blessed allow His blessings to flow through your life today and richly provide for the needs of others, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Please share your comments, reflections, and prayers from today’s reading with us in the comments box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- help me sense Your presence, hear Your voice, and follow Your leading, as I begin my day seeking You. ...
“By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness. For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:6-9)
As I read this passage this morning a good friend of mine in ministry’s mother who passed away a few months ago and passed on from this side of eternity to the next came to my mind. Carrie was a wife and mother who became a mighty spiritual warrior. She was one who “trained herself for godliness” and took hold of the “promise for the present life and the life to come.” Because of this, in her last breath of her last battle here on this earth, death had no victory and death had no sting. She was delivered through death into eternal life in You, the One who is "the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25). Truly she has "fought the good fight" and received his eternal reward in the fullness of Your presence and death had not sting on her.
"For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' This sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
So I join with her husband and family and all who love her dearly to both celebrate her victory and her life in the Spirit with You in heaven, even as we still remember her, miss her, and grieve our loss of her life here in the flesh with us on earth. And I join with others who have lost love ones that “nourished themselves on the words of the faith and of the good teaching” and “trained themselves for godliness” Thank You that in You, we do not have to "grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have died" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
Through Your victory of the resurrection, we will all rejoice with You and with one another again. In that way, even through hard times like death when our hearts are both full of hope and sorrow at the same time, we hold fast to the promise of Your Word, "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5). Carrie is experiencing the healing of the resurrection; and at the same time, we need the comfort of Your resurrection love here in our hearts as we celebrate her victory in You.
Holy Spirit of God, encourage us to nourish ourselves in Your Word, prayer, and accountability that “holds promise for the present life and for the life to come” so it will comfort us and strengthen us through the night times and hard times we endure through the battles of this world, as we look forward to that glorious morning to come. "Thank be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you nourish yourself through reading Scriptures, prayer and accountability so you are strengthened and comforted through every battle you'll face through the night time, knowing joy comes with the morning in the resurrection love of God in Jesus Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart Lord for I want to see you.
“And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation:
He was revealed in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among Gentiles,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)
This morning, I am letting the Scriptures form the reflection on our passage today and let them speak into the “amazing revelation” of Jesus the Christ.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it….Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory - the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father….For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.” (John 1:1-18)
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,
for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him - all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers - all things were created through him and for him.
He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.
He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son
and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross - through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:15-20)
“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped, but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men,
and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
- even death on a cross!
As a result God exalted him and gave him the name
that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow- in heaven and on earth and under the earth -
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)
My family, I pray you read these passages several times throughout today and let the “Amazing revelation” they contain of who Jesus is wash over you and place you in the deep waters of worship all through your day, In Jesus, name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice as I worship and wait in the communion of prayer. ...
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
I turned on the TV earlier and President Trump in a speech he was giving somewhere declared the motto of our nation "In God we trust." Regardless of political persuasion, love him or hate him, his presidential proclamations from his position of governmental authority have spiritual significance for our nation.
May the motto of our nation become an authentic expression of the people of our land, in humility and honor, in faithfulness and obedience before You, O God. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their heart individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You" (Psalm 33:12-22).
And Lord, let the motto of our nation be the motto of my heart. By grace and in faith, may I trust in You and Your holy name. Forgive me for when I'm tempted to trust in myself or anything less than Your will as my destiny and Your Word as my authority. Give me a holy fear of the Lord to honor You and a holy love of the Lord to trust You. For me and for my nation, may You always be "our help and our shield," for in God we trust. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you trust in the Lord with all your heart, leaning not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledging Him and trusting His to direct your paths--for you and for our nation, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your comments, reflections, and prayers from today’s reading with us in the comments box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning Jesus. Here’s my heart Lord, speak what is true….
“But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion… But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers - in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me… even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lordʼs grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” - and I am the worst of them! But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.” (1Timothy 1:5-17)
As I read these words of Paul the Holy Spirit stirs in me and reminds me that I could be saying these same things about my life. For many years of my early life I lived “contrary to sound teaching” and rebelled against God. Several years ago my daughter’s were watching TV and the news was showing criminals who hurt people. My daughter asked me “Why does not God immediately get rid of those people?” I answered her that if he did, you would not have a father now. Jesus Christ demonstrated “His upmost patience” with me. I was “treated with mercy.” And His patience and mercy continues over me today, as I am far from complete obedience to my Lord and repent of sin daily.
And as Paul confirms, why was I shown mercy and patience? Why was I saved from myself by His works of grace on the cross? To use me and my life “as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.” Jesus’ mercy, patience, and salvation was not simply to give me a “get out of hell card.” My salvation has to be more than my personal knowledge that I am not going to hell, which has no impact on my neighbors or co-workers. There was an plan why I was shown patience and mercy and it was not simply that I rest silently in my good gift of grace of salvation over my life, Jesus never intended that. He intended His gift of salvation to be shared by me with others “as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.” And Jesus intended the mercy, patience and salvation given to you for the same reason, to share the gift with others. “But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of Godʼs grace.” (Acts 20:24)
My family, I pray that as you reflect through the Holy Spirit on all the ways and times in your life Jesus has lovingly shown mercy and patience over you, and saved you from hell into eternal life through the suffering love of the cross, you will be compelled and motivated to show mercy and patience today, and share “the good news of God’s grace” with those you encounter today, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Please share your reflections, comments and prayers in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart and lead me in Your ways -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, and lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
Come, Holy Spirit. Give me a love for the truth. You are "the Spirit of truth" who "comes (to) guide (me) into all the truth" and "glorify (Jesus)" (John 16:13).
In these days and the days to come, just knowing the truth will not be enough. "Even the demons believe -- and shudder" (James 2:19). No, we need more. We need to "love the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). We need to love the truth, just as a wise person loves correction and discipline (Proverbs 13:1). That's our antidote to the power of deception -- a love for the truth.
Loving truth is different from loving what we want to hear, loving what fits our feelings, or loving what we think is right despite what You say is right. And You've already warned us that we will be tempted to give into the pressures of our world to turn from the truth in the times to come: "For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
"The truth" is not simply a statement of faith or mental assent to accurate doctrine. The truth is a Person. You are the Truth. You are "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (John 15:6). You are the One we need to love. Loving You, loving the One who is Truth, is the Way You've provided to lead us through the confusion, deception, and temptation to compromise to come.
You said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you" (John 14:15-17).
As I grow in my love for You, I grow in my love for Truth. May my love for You, my love for Truth, keep me from being deceived in these days to come -- even by "the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, and lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you grow in your love of the truth, in your love for the One who is the Truth every day, so that you are not confused or deceived to give in to the temptation to compromise with God's truth, now and in the days to come, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your comments, reflections, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to make me more like You today. ...
"Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful.... May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 NLT).
Lord, make me fit and faithful in "spirit and soul and body." Make me whole and holy, aligned with Your will to walk in Your ways. I have far to go -- in my spirit, in my soul, and in my body. But You are faithful and You will do it, as I humble myself to ask You to do it in me. "For it is God working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" and to become all You created me and called me to be in You (Philippians 2:13). You're making me into Your vessel, "fit for its purpose" (Isaiah 54:16).
Apart from You, I can do nothing (John 15:5). But I thank You that I'm never apart from You, that You're always with me and always at work within me, conforming me into Your image day by day (Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:29). So in my weakness, I cry out to You and call on Your name to inspire me and empower me. "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.... For whenever I am weak, then I am strong;" and "(Your) grace is sufficient for (me)" when "(Your) power is made perfect in (me) weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). By the power of the grace of God, make me fit and faithful in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you are inspired and empowered to be fit and faithful by the power of the grace of God at work within you every day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Friends, thank you for joining with me on this daily journey of reading through the New Testament one chapter a day and prayer every weekday. By the leading of the Holy Spirit, I write these fresh from my morning prayer time and then send them out. It feels like the Lord's "manna" from heaven to me and source of His strength from the intimacy of His embrace for my day. Thank you for allowing me to share them with you! And thank you for praying them back for me!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God--I worship in every dimension of Your Being and welcome You into every dimension of my being--spirit, soul, and body. ...
"For this is the will of God, (my) sanctification.... For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).
By the power of Your grace, Your Holy Spirit is at work within me to purify and sanctify me in my spirit, in my soul, and in my body. And not just a little bit, but entirely, wholly, and completely. You are faithful and You will do this, because this is Your will for me--that I would be entirely surrendered so that I could be entirely sanctified.
"May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do this" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
You are the God of peace, the God of shalom. By the power of Your grace You bless me and anoint me and empower me to be at peace with You, at peace with one another, and at peace within myself.
By the power of Your grace that I desperately need every moment of every day, I want to be "kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Your blood cleanses my sins as I admit them and turn them over to You (1 John 1:9). And Your Holy Spirit keeps sanctifying my soul as I keep surrendering my mind and will and emotions to You and Your mind, Your will, and Your emotions--filling me up to the degree that I keep making more room for You (Ephesians 5:18). "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
One day will be the day of "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). And by the power of Your grace, I want to be one of Your children of God who is passionately prepared for You--one of the many "sons" You've been bringing "to glory" (Hebrews 2:10) and one of those who are part of Your bride of Christ who has "made herself ready" (Revelation 19:7)--not in my power, but Yours; not in my righteousness, but Yours. It's "not by might, nor by power, but by (Your) Spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I willing choose to entrust as much of me to You as I can and to receive as much of You within me as I can. Baptize me with Your Holy Spirit and Your holy fire (Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4). Consume everything in me that's not yet like You (Matthew 5:48). Conform me into the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29).
Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day. As You are, so am I to be in my world. "God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.... God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God.... God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:12-17).
Lord Jesus, "the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'" (Revelation 22:17). One day You'll come again in Your glory in the skies (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11). And every day between this day that day to come, I pray You'd come in Your glory here in my heart--"Christ in (me), the hope of glory!" (Colossians 1:27) Come and keep baptizing me with Your Holy Spirit, keep setting me ablaze with the fire of Your passion, keep sanctifying me entirely in spirit and soul and body, keep perfecting me in Your love, and keep empowering me by Your Presence! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you are continually being sanctified entirely in the fire and power of the Holy Spirit, that you be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by the One who is faith and who will do this in you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning Jesus, you are all I need and all I desire to delight in today.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You into the center of my life and these first moments of my day. ...
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may He also strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints" (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).
I hear in my heart the invitation of Your Spirit to "increase and abound." Not in my power or wisdom, not in my good deeds or any righteousness of my own, but by the power of the grace of God at work within me, may I increase and abound in this season ahead.
May I increase and abound in love for You and for others, in humility and holiness of heart and life, in understanding my calling and place for such a time as this, in knowing my identity in You and fulfilling my destiny through You, in the assurance of Your promises and the abundance of Your provision, in aligning with those You've chosen for me in all the personal and strategic relationships of my life, in my freedom from all that would hold me back from being all You've created me to be and empowered me to do in the glory of Your name. In every way You will, may I increase and abound, according to the word You're speaking to me. And I pray the same for all who are stirred by Your Spirit to embrace this word with me in the agreement of prayer, in the name and the power and the Presence of Jesus (Matthew 18:19-20).
As You said through Isaiah: "Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns" (Isaiah 54:2-3). As you said through Jabez: "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!" (1 Chronicles 4:10) As You said through Jude: "May mercy, peace, and love be (ours) in abundance" (Jude 2). So You've said through Paul: "May the Lord make (us) increase and abound" in every way You desire (1 Thessalonians 3:12).
Lord, let it be so, as You will. As Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to Your word" (Luke 1:38). You said, "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (John 6:63). Let these seeds of Your words of spirit and life You've spoken into my spirit keep "growing up and increasing and yielding" all that You've purposed in Your heart for my life (Mark 4:8). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will increase and abound in every way the Lord desires for you according to His great plan for the destiny of your life, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning Jesus, you are all I need and all I desire to delight in today.
“just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts. For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed - God is our witness - nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,” (1Thessalonians 2:4-7)
I remember back to when I was about to give one of my first sermons. I gave my sermon to Bishop Stough, a great man and servant of God. After I finished, I asked him if the sermon meets his approval. Sitting behind his desk, he took off his glasses and lovingly said to me, “Gary, there are no popes in the body of Christ, you preach to the approval of God, not of any man.” It both freed and grounded my ministry under the “God who knows and examines my heart.” I do not work and serve for a church or denomination, I work and serve under God. If you serve or work seeking the approval of anyone or anything but God, you will either sell out or burn out. The main thing I do before I start or enter into anything in ministry is to examine my heart and ask myself the question, “What is my motive?” As one theologian said that I can’t recall now of the top of my head, "If you have the art of proclamation you will please men, if you have the unction of proclamation you will save men.”
As Paul states “we,” all of us have been approved and entrusted by God to share the Gospel of His saving grace through our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Not for our glory or that of any organization, but for the glory of His Church and His glory. The only way we obscure and hinder his glory is when we are silent in sharing His Gospel. When we worry about our “glory,” what other people may think or say about us if we bring up Jesus in a conversation. When we selfishly focus on our image and our qualifications, instead of The One who qualifies the unqualified and are afraid to say something “stupid.” So we say nothing.
My family, I pray this morning you spend time with God, then walk out your door free from seeking the approval of any person or anything other than God’s, and in freedom and joy share the Gospel of Jesus Christ that you have been cre ated, approved, and entrusted by God to share, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
I woke this morning in prayer over our prayer and worship gathering we will start this Friday night. We will soak in God’s presence, search God’s Scriptures, openly repent of sins, lay hands and anoint with oil, share in the Lord’s Supper, and pray for a revival in our lives an our community.
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
Revival is God's strategic way of working in the earth between the resurrection of Jesus and his coming again to keep us moving towards Him. In Acts 2 and passages following is wave after wave of outpouring of the Spirit. In Joel 2 are massive outbursts of revival before the end of the age. In Romans 11 it speaks to the revival and the fullness of the Spirit to come in the nations that will be so powerful it will turn all to Jesus to accept Him as their Messiah
So if revival is the strategy of God leading to all nations accepting Jesus as their Messiah, why does he wait around for us to pray? Only as you give yourself to prayer are you transformed in your heart to be a determined seeker of more of God. And God will only trust a revival to determined seekers of more of Him. All those in the past who God has entrusted to revival are those who have dedicated themselves to long periods of prayer. Early Methodist revivals came because of a gathering of people who expected to see God move among them. Revival occurs out of Determined Seekers of more of God. Here is the thing though, you can't make yourself a Determined Seeker of more of God, you can only pray yourself into one. You have to give yourselves to something you do not see and can’t control. God doesn't want you to be confident in yourself, he wants you to be desperate for him and find your confidence in him. This thing is, revival is not something that is a peripheral of our faith, but needs to be at the heart of what we are after. Ask the Lord in prayer to give yourself over to this.
What is the essence of true revival? It is an intense experience of the presence of God in and among the people. The peculiar and mighty sense of the presence of God which is manifested.
4 thing happen when a revival happens.
• Restoration of love and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Re-falling in love. Song of Psalms
• There is a restoration of Jesus' Lordship. What does Jesus want me to do in my life and the life on His church.
• Restoration of Holiness and zeal for God's glory. How do you want to use me? Revivals always lead to a releasing of people into ministries.
• Restoration of Boldness.
We are designed to be carriers of God and to be carriers of God to others. Yet we cannot give someone a virus we ourselves are not carrying. We do not have a problem with prayer, we have a complacency with prayer. We can't get people to pray if they are not hungry for it. When people and churches quit praying, then God withdraws from them, then they are in trouble, then they cry out.
How do we provoke hunger if there is a lack of hunger to pray? I wrestle with this, as much of it is out of my control. First, you must teach on prayer. In prayer we are invited into the throne room of God, we are privileged to enter into kingdom making decisions. However, everyone at some time feels disappointed with prayer. Each one of us has had a prayer that has not been answered. Take this cup from me. Lord let them be one. We must minister to the disappointments in prayer as much as we celebrate the answer of prayer. Second, we must de-clutter our programs and calendar if we want to prioritize prayer. We need to be seekers of more: more power of God, more revelation of the Spirit. Third, you need to set times for simple gatherings for prayer. Some people miss the sparks because they are always looking for the big flames. Driving to this big event or conference: IHOP, Passion, Catalyst, New Room..ect. or chasing after "gifted teachers and prophets." These events and people are all good and holy, however they are not meant to be our focus or highlight, and they cannot be the source of revival for your church. The source is Determined Seekers of more of God. We are called to start a spark, to look for where the sparks of God are working among us, and then a pour gasoline on it.
Many people are leaving the church because they have not seen the power of God moving in the church. Yet God's desire at creation, Jesus death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit's in dwelling, were are all for the creation and existence of a church full of the presence and fire of the Holy Spirit. A "supernatural church" that is unstoppable. Churches today are so easily "stoppable." A talented leader leaves, a donor dies, a strategic plan fails, and church doors close or its ministries become ineffective. In order for a church to be an unstoppable, supernatural church, it has to rely and be surrendered to our unstoppable and supernatural God. There is only one way you become a supernatural church, and that is by spending hours doing what does not come natural to us, hours spent together on our knees in prayer.
My family, I pray today for something that I nor anyone else really has any control over, that you become a Determined Seeker of more of God. Here is the thing though, you can't make yourself a determined seeker of more of God, you can only pray yourself into one. I pray today you give yourselves to something you do not see and can’t control and become desperate for God through prayer, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. O Lord, my God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--I worship You in spirit and truth; and I welcome You into my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3).
Lord Jesus, in You are hidden "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." As it turns out, it's all about You! Just as You revealed to Your two disciples walking to Emmaus right after Your resurrection, the law and the prophets all point to You; what's concealed in the Old Covenant is revealed in the Christ of the New Covenant: "Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, (Jesus) interpreted to them the things about Himself in all the Scriptures" (Luke 24:20). And just as You said to all Your disciples gathered near to You at the shore just before Your ascension back to heaven: "These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about Me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled" (Luke 24:44). "Then (You) opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45).
Lord Jesus, open my mind to understand the Scriptures. Open my spirit to embrace Your truth and experience Your Presence on my daily journey to grow in "the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is Christ Himself." There's joy in this journey to seek out "all the treasures" You've hidden away for us to find. "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings to search things out" (Proverbs 25:2).
As I search Your Word and seek Your Presence, I know the more I seek You, the more I find You. That's the Promise of Your Word as well: "When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart, I will let you find Me, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 29:13-14). The more I seek and the more I find, I find Your Word to be faithful and true that "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are hidden in You (Colossians 2:2-3). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will experience great joy on your daily journey to seek out all treasures of God hidden in Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's all about You. So I seek to begin my day centered in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ...
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers -- all things have been created through Him and for Him. He Himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him God was pleased to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:15-20).
I read that passage and I think WOW at who Jesus is!! I reflect on this passage and as myself about Jesus, Do You "have first place in everything" in me? Do I seek You first? Do I put Your first? Do I live my life throughout the moments of my day with no other gods before me, with no idols in Your place, with no compromised in my "sincere and pure devotion to Christ"? (2 Corinthians 11:3) ...
As I sense Your leading to honestly lay the question before You this morning, it seems I hear You speaking in my heart, "Honestly, no. You do not. Nor can you completely, sincerely, purely, and fully. No one can. Even in this, you need My grace. Especially in this, you need My power of My grace to be at work in your heart and your mind to seek Me and surrender to Me, to passionately pursue Me and allow Me to make your heart more pure and more wholly devoted to Me. But is it My great desire and delight to answer your prayer and move in your heart every time you turn to Me and invite Me to move in you. This is a life-long journey, with breakthroughs along the way. And I breakthrough more deeply as you surrender more deeply to Me." ...
Yes, Lord. I want to love You and surrender to You and Your love for me with "an undivided heart," with "my whole heart" so "turn to me and be gracious to me" (Psalm 86:11-16). I want to "love the Lord (my) God with all (my) heart, and with all (my) soul, and with all (my) mind, and with all (my) strength" (Mark 12:30). I want to hold nothing back from You, wholly devoted to You, completely surrendered to You. I want You to be first, to "come to have first place in everything" in me -- all by the power of Your grace at work within me.
You are "the Alpha and the Omega, the Frist and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 22:12). You are my "All in All," as All in One -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:23; 1 Corinthians 15:28). So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose to keep turning my heart to You and inviting You to keep moving in me on this life-long journey of faith in You and Your love for me, with breakthroughs of deeper surrender all along the way. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you keep turning your heart to Jesus and inviting Him to keep moving in you. I pray you trust Him more fully and surrender more deeply to Him as the One with first place in everything in you -- all by the power of His grace, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I turn my eyes upon You, as I still my soul and listen for Your voice.
I believe I hear You saying in my heart: "Think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
Yes, Lord. I don’t know with any certainty of all my future circumstances or predetermine the severity of all my challenges, but I can choose, and I can control -- by the power of Your grace -- the focus of my thoughts. And Your Word encourages me to think on the good things, to focus a little more on the best things, on the things that help me look up instead of down, to look forward instead of backward, and to start off my day on the right path, with my best foot forward, with a good attitude the right priorities and a healthy perspective: "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.... Then the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:8).
There will be plenty of time to deal with the daily stuff, but right now I'm going to make my priority and take a little time to be with the Holy Spirit. I can gird up and go out into battle in a minute, but right now I'm going to settle in for some quiet time in the communion of prayer, centered in You, and surrounded in Your Presence. I'm going to open up my spirit and lift up my heart and welcome You into every thought in my mind, every desire in my heart, and every moment in my day.
I'm going to think on You and all You've done for me. I'm going to think on Your love for me, Your power within me, Your plans before me, and Your grace to sustain me through whatever comes. And then, when I have to start thinking about all the other things that will become a part of my life today, I'll not forget these good and precious things that You've sealed in my heart, here at the start of my day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you will take a little time with the Holy Spirit and let the Lord focus your mind and your heart on the good things of God in your life, as you begin your day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up -- here in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of His glory, by the power that also enables Him to make all things subject to Himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved" (Philippians 3:18-4:1).
We can become an enemy of the cross without being part of some army of another religion or some satanic cult. We can become an enemy of the cross when we refuse to take up our cross and follow You. We can become an enemy of the cross when we let our flesh be our god, when we set our minds on the priorities of the kingdoms of this world instead of the priorities of the kingdom of heaven. And we can become an enemy of the cross when we no longer "stand firm in the Lord," compromising with truth, watering down our faith, and conform to the ways of the world instead of standing in contrast through the ways of Christ.
Forgive us, Lord. Forgive me, Lord. The cross is the place of death -- death to my will that's apart from Your will, my ways that are apart from Your ways. The cross is the place where I can say by Your grace, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, buy Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
You said to Your first followers what continue to say to all who would claim to Your followers in every age, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in His glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels" (Luke 9:23-26).
To seek to "gain the whole world" -- even if we say "We're doing it for Jesus" or "We're just trying to connect with our culture" or "We're just trying to be relevant" or "We're just seeking to be less threatening or less exclusive or less judgmental or less intolerant" -- is to lose our soul as a follower of Christ and ambassador of His Church. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?" (Mark 8:36)
Give me grace to "stand firm" in this age, in my generation, in my culture, in the challenges to Your Way and Your Truth and Your Life in my day. I want to be a friend of Christ not an enemy of the cross. I want to be Your beloved not Your befuddled. I want to be clear in proclaiming and living Your message -- "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) with my "faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6) -- not afraid to love and not afraid to speak the truth, just as You show us through Your Life in Your Spirit and in Your Word.
"Truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:21). You said, "You are My friends if you do what I command you" -- not "what you think will work best in your world," not "what you feel the Bible ought to say," and not "what you would do if you were God," but "what I command you." So give me grace to be a friend of Christ, not an enemy of the cross. Give me grace to live my life in Christ, in Your Truth, is to take up my cross and follow You this day and every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you are empowered by God's grace to take up your cross and follow Jesus every day, proclaiming His message through your life as a friend of Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me! God bless you, my friends!
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