Category: Daily Prayers

Why Is There So Much Unrest

See that no one leads you astray

Sometimes I wonder at all of the chaos and trouble around the world and ask “Why can’t people get along”.  Why is there so much killing and people dying?  Is all of this God’s plan?  In Isaiah 14 it says that when world leaders who end up in hell see satan they look at him and say:

“But you are brought down to Sheol,
to the far reaches of the pit.
Those who see you will stare at you
and ponder over you:
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
who shook kingdoms,
who made the world like a desert
and overthrew its cities,
who did not let his prisoners go home

Since creation, God has been in control and though I do not fully understand it, I do trust in and through Him.  I hold on to His promises – I will never leave you or forsake you – No one can snatch you out of my hand – Come to Me all who are heavy with burdens and I will give you rest – For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that who so ever believes in Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life – I will be a guide to your path – I will bless you and keep you- I will return for you – I will give you peace, hope, faith, love, joy, comfort, and be ever present in time of trouble….. and the list goes on.  His word says do not be alarmed as these things must take place before He returns. The best we can do in this life is to keep our eyes, heart, soul and mind focused on Him and live to honor and glorify the author and finisher of life – Trust God

Matthew 24:3
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains

Acts 1:7
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority

1 Thessalonians 2:1
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction

2 Chronicles 15:6
Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.

Why Do We Refuse

yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life

How often do we stay outside the safety of our Lord and savior?  How many times are we not willing to listen?  How many times has He called to our heart and we refuse?  I think if we search our heart we are often listening to the wrong voice. Our input is not from scripture but rather from what we think we know or have heard.  Isn’t it time to come to Him with purpose to live out all the days we have left this side of eternity honoring and glorifying Him?  What does this world have to offer but broken dreams, unfulfilling work, and short term satisfaction?  Do you want to have purpose – reach out to Him and commit your heart, soul and mind to Him.  Willing to be used by Him.  Willing to hear. Willing to follow,  Willing to obey.  No one has ever said was too close to Jesus but many have said I wish I would have listened sooner for my life would have had much more meaning.

Matthew 23:37
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate

Psalms 147:2
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds

Proverbs 1:24
Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity

John 5:38
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life

Brood of Vipers

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell

We chase after many do’s and don’ts hoping to find something we can hang our assurance on.  This is known as a “performance” based salvation and is not what God seeks.  Scripture calls those who teach this practice different names; whitewashed, hypocrisy, blind.  We are not much different though are we.  We keep a ledger in our mind of the good and bad we do trying to be right in God’s eyes.  We will never be right in God’s eyes trying to perform good enough.  Paul said salvation is by the grace of God and not by works lest any man might boast.  We must be careful to keep our feet firmly planted on God’s grace and forevermore be thankful.  We will never find that peace of God’s that passes all understanding performing for it.  We only truly find a place of purpose, peace, rest, joy, stronghold, hope, love, mercy, kindness, faith….. when we listen and obey. Listening and obeying is not performing – it is choosing to humbly following  and be a servant to the Heavenly Father in whom you have placed your heart and soul because of what has been done through Jesus Christ – salvation and eternal life.

 

Matthew 23:24
These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel
For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self
For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness

1 Samuel 15:22
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God

More Than Hearers

These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you

How is God speaking to our heart?  Are we listening for His guidance and leading?  Are we willing to follow what He is telling us?  Do we search His word and feed our soul with it so that we honor and glorify Him?  We must be more than hearers of His word.  We must desire to be lead by Him for His purpose not ours.  Daily put into practice what you hear through His word.  Be more than hearers only – be disciples and servants of Him.

Matthew 23:3
For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others

Romans 2:21
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself

Psalms 50:17
For you hate discipline,
and you cast my words behind you

Nehemiah 9:26
“Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you

With All Your Heart and Soul

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord

Love the Lord your God with all your hear and with all your soul. This is the greatest command given to us to follow.  If we follow this command what would we see in the outward appearance of our lives?  Would we worry so much? Would we be blind to the needs of others?  Would our time be spent differently?  Would our generosity be more? Would we be kinder?  Would we see people in a more positive light?  These are questions each of us could ask ourselves.  Everyday we will have opportunity to love Him more and deeper.  Today is a new day, purpose in your heart to love Him more and be wanting to be used by Him for His glory and honor.

Matthew 22:35
And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets

Deuteronomy 6:4
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates

Luke 10:27
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.

Called According to His Purpose

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth

What does it mean to be called and chosen?  We are both called and chosen to be the faithful of God. This calling is from God. He places an understanding within every heart to know Him.  It says in Romans “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them”.  This calling continues through Jesus Christ  where scripture says “But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.  This is all the work of God.  Paul said “what manner of persons ought we to be given this great out pouring of Love from God”.  We do have a choice to humbly live and bring honor and glory to Him.  The choice we make  lasts for eternity.

Matthew 22:14

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Revelation 17:14
and those with him are called and chosen and faithful

Luke 18:7
And will not God give justice to his elect

Romans 1:6
including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose

Ecclesiastes 8:12
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God

Excuses

Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire

We can all come up with excuses as to why we did or did not do something. When it comes to honoring and glorifying God in our everyday lives do we do the same thing.  Do I look to His word daily to find strength?  Do I search scripture to know more how to live as a humble servant doing what honors Him? Do I desire to be used by Him however He wants to use me?  Am I able to keep the culture around me from diluting my relationship with God?  Do I make time for Him in my life?  I can find myself coming up with excuses everyday for each of these questions.  I’m to busy, I’m tired, to much work to do, school actives, shopping, to cold, to hot, to…….. It is so easy to come up with excuses.  Desire to change and choose to live with purpose to honor and glorify God.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them.

Luke 14:16
“A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready. ’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused. ’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused. ’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. ’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame. ’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room. ’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.

Isaiah 5:3
What more was there to do for my vineyard,
that I have not done in it?
When I looked for it to yield grapes,
why did it yield wild grapes

Brood of Vipers

And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

I am at a loss to describe all of the thoughts that come to me about this, especially the comment “I go, Sir”.  How many times do I say in my heart “I will follow you Lord” or “I give all of me and what I have to you” or “From this day forward I will….?  In the end I give little or no effort to the commitment.  Why is this?  Don’t I long to be a good son of the heavenly father? Don’t I want to bring honor and glory to Him?  If I am truthful much of the time me, myself and I have conflicting interests. It is not that I lose focus but rather chose my self interests over living to honor and glorify God.  If my standards are set by what the culture expects from me rather than looking to God’s holiness it is very easy to slip into a state of mind where I give lip service and know committed action.  God Forgive Me

Matthew 21:28
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today. ’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

Luke 3:7
He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father. ’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham

Lukewarm Commitment

So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

What is a life like that is lukewarm?  I have to think partial commitment to listening to God is part of it.  Do we look to His word everyday or just once per week when the pastor speaks?  Living for God and knowing what He would have us do requires more than a glance at the gift he has given us in scripture.  Each time we open His word there is a feeding to our soul.  A new light for our life.  God has purposed for us to live to honor and glorify Him.   Knowing God is not a lukewarm commitment.  How can God use us if we are not fully committed and willing to be used by Him?   Choose to seek and know Him more.  Choose a life that has purpose to honor and glorify Him over self.

Matther 21:23
“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him? ’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things

John 3:27
John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven

1 Corinthians 4:7
What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it.

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

1 Peter 4:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ

Revelation 3:15
“‘I know your works:you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked

Oh ye of Little Faith

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

Sometimes I wonder how I can say I know how to pray in Faith.  Scripture says “God can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine”.  Definitely I have seen God answer many prayers but if I limit what I bring before God because I don’t feel worthy, or wondering if I am asking in line with His word or purpose I am limiting how active my faith is.   How many times do I give up in my prayers because I don’t see them answered in a timeline I want.  How many times do I fall into thinking that God is all powerful and has a plan and purpose for all things so why should I ask – His plan will be done with or without my prayer.  So why pray? – Scripture says – We are encouraged to pray without ceasing. We are to pray for the lost, We are to pray for those who are sick.  We are to pray for wisdom, We are to pray for healing of body and relationships. We are to pray for God’s leading.  We are to pray that our eyes, ears, and heart will be open to this leading.  We are to pray for our leaders. We are to pray for one another.  We are to pray to grow and understand our dependance on God in our life. Do not limit what you bring before God – He can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine – there is no room for doubting what God can do

Matthew 21:20
When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

1 Corinthians 13:2
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double- minded man, unstable in all his ways