A Prayer for More Freedom -- I am learning to pray with Chambers, Ravenhill, Murray, Prayer Journey Bible, Bonhoeffer, Lucado. Today is Scotty Smith.
"Dear Jesus, I’m still not as free as you intend. Please free me so I can be less irritated, and less often, with fewer people. Please turn my hair–trigger reactions into slower, wiser responses. Please help me use fewer words and more listening when engaging others. Please unshackle me from the illusion of control and my commitment to a pain free heart.
Lord Jesus, please liberate me from thinking about the next thing, so I can be present in the current moment. Please help me make better eye contact and heart connection with others. Please help me be more intrigued with people I don’t know and less timid around strangers.
Lord, please free me for greater spontaneity, louder laughter, saltier tears, and quicker repentances.
I pray in your most compassionate name. Amen."
--Dr. Charles Hughes
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
2 Timothy 2
Who Is God?
God is gracious (v.1).
God is not chained(v.9).
God is our salvation, worthy of eternal glory (v10).
God is just and faithful (v.11-13).
God is a firm and solid foundation. He knows and sanctifies His own (v.19).
God is the granter of repentance and knowledge of truth (v.26).
How Should I Respond?
By praising God for His mercy, grace and for the gift of knowledge and salvation he has given me.
By sharing the knowledge of God with others (v.2).
By focusing on God and not letting the things of the world distract me (v.4).
By endeavoring to live according to the commands of God (v.5).
By endeavoring to live according to the commands of God (v.5).
What Should I Pray For?
Pray that God would grant me knowledge of truth.
Pray that God would equip me to be His approved and unashamed servant, able to correctly handle the word of truth (v.15).
Pray that God would cleanse me of baser things and make me an instrument of His special purposes, that I might be useful to do His good work (v.20-21)
Pray that God would lead to repentance those who have been trapped by the devil.
Where Do I Go From Here?
I should be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (v.1).
I should be willing to join in the suffering of Christ (v.3).
I should work hard at the tasks God sets before me and enduring to the end (v.6 & 10).
I shouldn’t argue over insignificant words or engage in godless chatter or foolish and stupid arguments (v.14 &16 & 23).
I should confess the name of the Lord.
I should flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace and a pure heart (v.22).
I should instruct opponents gently, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will (v.25-26).
God bless you,
~Sarah Field
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Our Identity in Christ
| I am accepted | |
| John 1:12 | I am God's child. |
| John 15:15 | As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ. |
| Romans 5:1 | I have been justified. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:17 | I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 | I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. |
| 1 Corinthians 12:27 | I am a member of Christ's body. |
| Ephesians 1:3-8 | I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. |
| Colossians 1:13-14 | I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. |
| Colossians 2:9-10 | I am complete in Christ. |
| Hebrews 4:14-16 | I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. |
| I am secure | |
| Romans 8:1-2 | I am free from condemnation. |
| Romans 8:28 | I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. |
| Romans 8:31-39 | I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God. |
| 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 | I have been established, anointed and sealed by God. |
| Colossians 3:1-4 | I am hidden with Christ in God. |
| Philippians 1:6 | I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me. |
| Philippians 3:20 | I am a citizen of heaven. |
| 2 Timothy 1:7 | I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. |
| 1 John 5:18 | I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. |
| I am significant | |
| John 15:5 | I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life. |
| John 15:16 | I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. |
| 1 Corinthians 3:16 | I am God's temple. |
| 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 | I am a minister of reconciliation for God. |
| Ephesians 2:6 | I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm. |
| Ephesians 2:10 | I am God's workmanship. |
| Ephesians 3:12 | I may approach God with freedom and confidence. |
| Philippians 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. The biggest lie that we can believe as Christians is that we are not any of those things in Christ. Live as though these are truth, because they are true!! Live and be free in these truths! I got this from http://www.ficm.org/index.php?command=textwhoamiinchrist. See the website.for more info!! |
Friday, February 17, 2012
Romans 6
Who is God?
God is holy and righteous.
God is loving and full of grace and mercy.
God desires to have fellowship with me.
God sent His only Son so that I might be free from sin.
How Should I Respond?
Realize that I am a new person. My old self died and was buried and through the resurrection of Christ, I am able to live the new life. I am no longer held back with my old body.
Always have in mind that God loves me and sent His only Son, so that I might be in fellowship with Him.
Worship Him and spend my time/life in fellowship with Him.
Thank Him for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for giving me a new life.
What Should I Pray For?
I would live the new life to the fullest & all for His glory.
A clean and pure heart. To be able to love like Christ and forgive.
Ask God for more faith in Him.
Ask God to fill me with the Holy Spirit and reveal more of His truth to me.
That I may be able to give thanks in any and all situation, good or bad (change my perspective).
For better concentration, while I try to focus on my studies and reading assignments. For my mind to get less distracted.
That God would speak to every single person listening to convocation today and that our ears and hearts would all be open to the Holy Spirit.
That God would heal my mother’s arthritis in her hands.
Where Do I Go From Here?
Realize that I am no longer in my old mind and body but I have a new one in Christ.
Love others and be caring and understanding. Easily and quickly forgive.
Daily worship God on my own time, in class, while I study, while I eat, and with others.
Be consistent with spending time in the Word and give my undivided attention to the Holy Spirit. Spend quality time with the Lord.
Trust that God is omniscient and omnipotent.
--Sarah Kim
God is holy and righteous.
God is loving and full of grace and mercy.
God desires to have fellowship with me.
God sent His only Son so that I might be free from sin.
How Should I Respond?
Realize that I am a new person. My old self died and was buried and through the resurrection of Christ, I am able to live the new life. I am no longer held back with my old body.
Always have in mind that God loves me and sent His only Son, so that I might be in fellowship with Him.
Worship Him and spend my time/life in fellowship with Him.
Thank Him for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for giving me a new life.
What Should I Pray For?
I would live the new life to the fullest & all for His glory.
A clean and pure heart. To be able to love like Christ and forgive.
Ask God for more faith in Him.
Ask God to fill me with the Holy Spirit and reveal more of His truth to me.
That I may be able to give thanks in any and all situation, good or bad (change my perspective).
For better concentration, while I try to focus on my studies and reading assignments. For my mind to get less distracted.
That God would speak to every single person listening to convocation today and that our ears and hearts would all be open to the Holy Spirit.
That God would heal my mother’s arthritis in her hands.
Where Do I Go From Here?
Realize that I am no longer in my old mind and body but I have a new one in Christ.
Love others and be caring and understanding. Easily and quickly forgive.
Daily worship God on my own time, in class, while I study, while I eat, and with others.
Be consistent with spending time in the Word and give my undivided attention to the Holy Spirit. Spend quality time with the Lord.
Trust that God is omniscient and omnipotent.
--Sarah Kim
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
10 Characteristics of Hell
Here are ten characteristics of "The Hot Halls Of Hell." Satan's eternal prison is comprised of:
- Unholy Demons (Matt. 25:41): Jesus said, "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, you cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
- Unceasing Darkness (2 Pt. 2:4; Jd v.13; Matt 8:12): Hell is described as chains of darkness, blackness of darkness and outer darkness.
- Unending Downwardness: Hell is a bottomless pit; the lost will experience "falling" throughout eternity.
- Unequaled Despair (Lk. 16:33): The rich man lifted up his eyes being in torments. There is no hope in hell.
- Unquenchable Damnation (Lk. 16:24): Jesus said the rich man was tormented in the flame. The flames of hell are real; not metaphorical.
- Unsatisfied Desires (Lk. 16:24): The rich man cried out and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he my dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue."
- Unforgettable Decisions (Lk 16:25): "But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your life time received good things, and likewise Lazarus evil tings; but now he is comforted, and you are being tormented."
- Unbroken Division (Lk. 16:26): "And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us; that would come from there."
- Unanswered Devotions (Lk. 16:27-28): Then he said, "I pray you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house: for I have five brothers; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment."
- Unsaved Degenerates (Rev 21:8): "But, the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars will have their place in the fiery lake of sulfur."
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
God's Love for His Children
The devotion that I did today came from two different passages: John 3:16 and Ephesians 3:19. These two verses speak about the love that God has freely given to every one of His children. Two important aspects that are emphasized from the reading of these two verses are: first how crucial it is to recognize and accept God’s love and second how to demonstrate His love within ourselves.
First, to take a look at John 3:16, a verse most everyone has scripted into their mind, it is recognized that God so loved the world, meaning each of us who are living in it, that He gave His only begotten son. God sent Himself in human form through His son, Jesus Christ, to earth. By God sending Himself in the flesh to earth to walk and talk like us shows great humility and love. He did this in order to save us from the sinful nature we have received for which separated us from Him. He loves us unconditionally and did not want to be separated from us, the sinners. God’s love cannot be earned or unearned. God’s love just is. The love He holds for every one of us is a covenant. A covenant is an eternal and unbreakable promise, unlike a contract for which one can easily break the agreement.
Second, let’s take a look at Ephesians 3:19. This verse is delivered by Paul to the congregation in Ephesus. These words are in the form of a prayer. His prayer is that the people would come to know God’s love, so that they may be strengthened by it.
Understanding and accepting God’s love will completely transform our life. Inwardly we will be greatly planted and strengthened by His love. Through this, we will be strong enough to defeat anything that may speak against us, outwardly.
In summary, it is most important to first seek God’s love through His truth, accept it, and then demonstrate it to every person that steps in or around our life. God is love; therefore let us reciprocate that throughout the words we speak and the actions towards others. We were made in the image of God, and we are called by Him to be like-minded in His ways.
First, to take a look at John 3:16, a verse most everyone has scripted into their mind, it is recognized that God so loved the world, meaning each of us who are living in it, that He gave His only begotten son. God sent Himself in human form through His son, Jesus Christ, to earth. By God sending Himself in the flesh to earth to walk and talk like us shows great humility and love. He did this in order to save us from the sinful nature we have received for which separated us from Him. He loves us unconditionally and did not want to be separated from us, the sinners. God’s love cannot be earned or unearned. God’s love just is. The love He holds for every one of us is a covenant. A covenant is an eternal and unbreakable promise, unlike a contract for which one can easily break the agreement.
Second, let’s take a look at Ephesians 3:19. This verse is delivered by Paul to the congregation in Ephesus. These words are in the form of a prayer. His prayer is that the people would come to know God’s love, so that they may be strengthened by it.
Understanding and accepting God’s love will completely transform our life. Inwardly we will be greatly planted and strengthened by His love. Through this, we will be strong enough to defeat anything that may speak against us, outwardly.
In summary, it is most important to first seek God’s love through His truth, accept it, and then demonstrate it to every person that steps in or around our life. God is love; therefore let us reciprocate that throughout the words we speak and the actions towards others. We were made in the image of God, and we are called by Him to be like-minded in His ways.
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