Category: Daily Prayers

Peace, or Anger and Division

Sometimes we feel justified in our anger and response to others.  Many times it is because they have hurt us or others in some way.  We have choices to make everyday and one of those is how we will respond to others, how we think of them, how we treat them, how we strive for peace or strife.  How will people see the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ when we are choosing to show darkness of sin in response.  Choose to guard your thoughts and actions.  Pursue peace!

 

Matthew 5:21
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment

Revelation 21:7
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death

Hebrews 12:14
Strive for peace with everyone, for without holiness no one will see the Lord

Romans 14:19
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding

Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are evident:sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God

1 Corinthians 6:9
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God

Insight and Instruction

There are many people who claim to have insight and instruct on how we should live and act. It is a slippery slope leading to paths unknown following blindly on the words of someone else without testing it through scripture.  It is not that what they are saying may be right or wrong but rather the reason why we are following the insight and instruction.  How would our lives be different if we not only listened but then followed up by reading God’s word to see what He is saying to our heart.  Our purpose is to live and act, by faith, to bring honor and glory to God. Our foundation must be in and through God’s word and then use it with discernment to test the insight/instruction of others.

 

Matthew 5:19
Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven18:4

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea

1 Corinthians 3:12
Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done

1 Peter 1:5
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Salt and Light of the Earth

Do you ever wonder what it would be like not to have salt or light? In correct amounts salt adds flavor to what would be bland. Without light can you imagine what all you would walk into. On the other hand too much salt and too much light at the wrong time are of no value and do as much, or more, harm as good. We should learn how to season those around us, in life, with the word of God and be the light that shines in the darkness. When I thing about Salt and Light these words come to mind: Love, Joy, Gentleness, Compassion, Hope, Faith, Kindness, Grace, Mercy, Generous, and Humbleness. Opportunities are around us every day, let us discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Matthew 5:13

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden”

Luke 14:34
“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear

Ephesians 5:8
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them

John 12:35
“The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light

Blessed are the pure in heart

How many times have you started out with the purest of intention and the situation turned south? How did you react? Were you able to keep a pure heart? Were you able to show grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness? I have to imagine that some of the time you were and other times not so well. This is something I think we battle everyday. Hopefully we start the day with purest intent but then life happens and we lose site of honoring and glorifying God. These verses should be etched onto and into our heart and mind.
Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God

Psalms 24:4
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the Lord

2 Timothy 2:22
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart

Psalms 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Strive For Peace

“Strive for peace with everyone” – It is very easy to strive for peace with someone wanting to meet you half way toward that goal.  How does it affect you when they are not at all willing to be at peace with you?  “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble”  We must remain pure in our heart and be merciful.  Scripture tells us that our of the abundance of our heart our mouth will speak.  Fill your heart with pure desire to live, act and speak with one purpose – To honor and glorify God

Matthew 5:7

 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will repay him for his deed

Hebrews 6:10

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises

Hebrews 12:14

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled

Pursuing Righteousness

Pursuing righteousness is more than a brain test of discipline, it is heart deep. What is it like to continually thirst for righteousness?  What is it like to thirst for God? What is it like to come to God and drink?  I love the metaphor – hunger and thirst.  Imagine a hot day and you were without water for sometime, you were so thirsty and how  that cold glass of water felt when you drank it? God’s word is like this cold glass of water for those who’s heart deep desire is to “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart”.  

Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied

Psalms 42:2

My soul thirsts for God,

for the living God

Isaiah 55:1

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money,  come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to me;  hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant

John 7:37

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water

2Timothy 2:22

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels

Faith is the Substance

In hebrews it says that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.   It is by faith we look forward to a time where there is no more pain and sorrow.  Yet while on this side of eternity we will experience heart deep pain.  I can’t imagine what it is like for those who do not believe in God. How do they find comfort, where do they find peace?  Maybe God is wanting to use you for His purpose of comforting someone in time of their sorrow, to be the person who wipes away the tears from they eyes, to be a comfort for them.  Be willing to be used by God, listen to His quiet small voice and be willing to act on what God is telling you to do.

Matthew 5:4

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted

Revelation 21:3

He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away

7:17

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes

Pain in Your Heart

Have you ever had something happen to you that just made you feel like the pain in your heart was unbearable?  I am sure most of us have.  Thankfully we have a God who deliver us out of this and will heal our heart if we go to Him.  He can also use us to help those around us who are hurting – open our eyes and allow us to see – open our ears so we can hear – use us.


Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted

Isaiah 66:2

All these things my hand has made,

and so all these things came to be,

declares the Lord.

 But this is the one to whom I will look:

he who is humble and contrite in spirit

and trembles at my word

Psalms 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit.

 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

 but the Lord delivers him out of them all

Looking for Solutions

“And Him only shall you serve”. “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done”
 I wonder how many times we go after other solutions to our situation rather than wait on and trust in God’s will.

Matthew 4:10

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve. ’”

 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him

Deuteronomy 6:13

It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God— lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth

Luke 22;41

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly