John 10:10, "...that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
A new birth of life! New flowers, freshness in the breeze, Church Bells on a quietSunday morning, and a baby is born. All of these show YOUR life giving and loving power to create everything for YOUR Pleasure and Glory. For all of us to be created at this specific time in all of creation gives us reason to celebrate. Celebrate the abundant and eternal life which is filled with Spiritual Blessings far beyond anything communicated to man. LORD, thank you for reminding me that this day, as well as every other day, is the remembrance of YOUR life giving love. Thank YOU LORD, for those born on this day, that YOU have used to teach me YOUR LOVE and how I can have ETERNAL LIFE. YES, everyday is a Celebration of YOU giving life; EVERY DAY IS A "NEW" BIRTH DAY, A DAY OF OUR NEW BIRTH. Christen us in YOUR likeness.
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1 Thessalonians 4:7, "...but to live a HOLY life.
This is one of those days LORD, YOU know, everything is beyond PERFECT and GOOD abounds! Thank YOU LORD! I would rather spend more time in the silence of YOUR presence, because when my thoughts are "bathed" in prayer, YOUR WORDS flow from my tongue. This is the day that I will not get so "busy" doing YOUR "work", that I lose contact with YOU. YES, I have learned that wherever I find YOUR presence, IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE TO WORSHIP! LORD, I am not revived today because I SING; I SING because I am REVIVED. LORD, let the purity of our lives capture the imagination of others who want to KNOW YOU. Abundant Blessings LORD, I rose before dawn to meditate on YOUR WORD (Psalm 119:147,148). LORD, YOU'VE given me a tremendous responsibility to pray for a family who does not know YOU, want YOU and are raising their (YOUR) children in their own disbelief. LORD, my heart is hot within me with no distractions as I ask to begin in YOUR Mercy with a greater work of love within me. LORD, many "professed Christians" tell me that to pray the same thing more than once is showing my lack of Faith in my first prayer. But isn't that like smelling only one flower in a lifetime; seeing only one sunrise; or musing onetime at the brightness of the stars who have outlived all of man's civilizations? Each flower, sunrise and evening, although appearing the same affect us differently. The fragrance is sweeter, the sunrise more amazing and the evenings more soothing. LORD, I believe in the power of prayer for YOUR GLORY. Just as I pray and believe YOU will give this family new hearts (NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES), these prayers are to change me too (NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES). I can't just pray ONE PRAYER for this family, any more than I can fully comprehend the entirety of a flower by experiencing it only once; the uniqueness of each sunrise; or the silence of the stars. Each prayer is unique, the HOLY SPIRIT delves deeper, and the FRAGRANCE OF JESUS is over powering. LORD, prayer is not some "performance" we do, but YOUR presence we experience. I guess the key to prayer, is simply praying.
Good Morning LORD, and Bless YOU. I read Romans 8:28 over and over, "...that all things work together for good to them that love GOD..." A question that I've always had LORD, is if I don't love YOU as much as I should, as much as I can, it would seem that I don't love YOU at all! Love GOD, how can I have the infinite love without knowing YOU? Is it the "wanting" YOU, the accepting JESUS CHRIST as my Savior that is the infinite love that I continue to experience? The love that comes right back to YOU and others, as I want more of YOU. Whether it be prayer, reading the Bible or conversations like this, we come with the HOLY anticipation of meeting YOU and living in YOUR presence. In this presence we know that YOU make all things; afflictions, trials, persecutions and calamities come together to cooperate and mutually contribute to our being more like YOU. These things expose us to the truth about our frail, lying condition; a TRUTH a Lover of JESUS will accept and grow in LOVE; while those who do not accept JESUS will under the same afflictions, complain and become angry. WE TRUST CHRIST AS HE SUFFERED FOR OUR SAKE; SO WE CAN TRUST CHRIST WHEN WE SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE. YOU'VE given me a lot to listen about LORD, Thank YOU.
Do you ever feel the irresistible urging to hear and speak with GOD? This CONVERSATION is one that goes beyond comprehension, but not beyond TRUST. It is not a monologue of questions as to"why this or why that", it is a conversation about the things you think about or have experienced. Sometimes you even laugh out loud, while other times you are astounded at the clarity of scriptures.Proverbs 3:9, "Honor the LORD with your wealth, and with the first fruits of your produce." From this you may ask "LORD, do I give YOU the left overs"? Do I look at what YOU give, then figure how much I'll need for bills, and see if there is anything left for YOU? LORD, it is time that I stop giving YOU what I don't need, and give YOU what I need! The First Fruits! Philippians 2:3, "...but in humility count others more significant than yourselves..." LORD, I met a HOLY and HUMBLE man today; and he didn't know he was HOLY or humble. I like that LORD, his life GLORIFIED YOU. Well LORD, YOU'VE given some beautiful thoughts to ponder. Thank YOU, for giving me these thoughts and people to bring me closer to YOU.
Saying a few words in the morning, then maybe a few more at lunch and finally a quick repetition at night is not the "prayer" that satisfies. A devotional heart is the thought and act of a relationship with GOD. It is our deliberate communication through a living CONVERSATION which becomes the source of our WORSHIP and energy. It is the constant awareness of GOD'S enfolding (completely absorbed and surrounded inside and out) Presence; inward conversations with CHRIST and private, continuous worship of GOD in SPIRIT and TRUTH! To have a DEVOTIONAL heart we must abide in CHRIST, walk in the SPIRIT, pray without ceasing and meditate in (not on the WORD, but IN the WORD) the WORD of GOD day and night. It is separation from the world and obedience to the WILL OF GOD. Living with a DEVOTIONAL HEART is not something we receive and then wait to go to HEAVEN. It is not one time receiving of true HOLINESS and SPIRITUAL power and then it is forgotten. Every experience in the SPIRITUAL LIFE must be made against the resistance of the world, flesh and the evil one. John 15:7, "If you remain in ME, and MY words remain in you...." Prayer is not a few words, It is the constant awareness and dependence upon GOD; WE ARE OUR PRAYERS, WE ARE THE LETTERS OF GOD! PRAYER IS CONSTANT WITHIN US!
In 1952 the U.S. President established one day a year as "National Day of Prayer." In 1988 the U.S. President designated the first Thursday in May of each year as "The National Day of Prayer." This year the U.S. President cancelled the White House from participating because it might offend Non-Christians. September 25, 2009, A National Day of Prayer was held on Capitol Hill in reverence to the Muslim religion, beside the White House. 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If MY people, which are called by MY NAME, shall humble themselves, pray, and seek MY FACE...I will hear...and I will heal their land." NOW REALLY; IS ONE DAY A YEAR WHAT GOD WANTS? WE ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE "COMPROMISED" JUST TO BE "POLITICALLY CORRECT"!
OUR FATHER of mercy and love, I ask that today's prayer is not a "GET" prayer. I ask to enter into a Blessed Union with YOU where I can experience the highest ONENESS with YOU. A place where moments are HOLY and Miracles pale by comparison. I pray to know the power of SILENCE, as YOU speak and I listen. Yes, LORD today is not a "GET PRAYER" for money; IT IS THE ULTIMATE GET PRAYER, WANTING YOU! This is my HOLIEST OF PLACES. Thank YOU, LORD. In the name of JESUS, I pray. AMEN!
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About the Author and writerThe writer for our daily devotionals wishes to remain anonymous in regard to his work, giving instead Glory to the Author. Archives
December 2015
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