Intercession: January 1, 2016

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY JANUARY 1, 2016

INTERCESSION

DEFINITION:

Prayer offered on behalf of others; to plead or meditate on behalf of someone.

SCRIPTURE:

Christ Jesus, who died, more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God, and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34.

This is the way you should bless the Children of Israel. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:23-26.

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayers of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. James 5:14-15.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

It was a week ago that we celebrated Christmas, which is a most joyous time of the year, because we celebrate the birth of Jesus, God’s Son and our Savior.

And now just one week later we celebrate a new year. It is important to remember that when Jesus left this earth, when He was resurrected to heaven, He left us the assurance that he would be our intercessor between God and man (Romans 8:34 above). At this very moment He is seated at the right hand of God interceding for us.

In Hebrews 4:15-16 we have two assurances about Jesus as our intercessor. First, Jesus is able to sympathize with our weakness because He was tempted in every way as we are. Secondly, we can pray in confidence that we will find mercy and grace in our time of need. Jesus is always available to hear our prayer. We can pray at any time and at any place and we are assured that prayer changes things.

The scriptures give us several purposes that we should adhere to when we pray not only for our children, our families but for others. In the scriptures we read of intercession for healing for people, to advert judgment, for deliverance from an evil situation, to give blessings to them, to obtain restoration and to encourage repentance. Intercession (prayer) for others is not only a gift and a privilege given to us but Jesus desires for us to come to Him in prayer so He can make intercession for us. If He was willing to die for us surely He wants to intercede for us.

Moses often had to intercede for the Children of Israel on their journey through the wilderness. They constantly complained about the hardships of the wilderness, the leadership of Moses, and even about God not providing or leading them according to their desires. Can you relate to this in your life?

In Numbers 21 we read that God brought punishment in the form of fiery serpents to the Children of Israel because of their rebellion and sinful ways. When a serpent bit a person they would die. They soon came to Moses and asked him to pray and intercede for them before God and ask Him to take away the snakes. Moses did pray and God responded by sparing the Children of Israel from the serpents because of the intercession of Moses.

The verse above from Numbers is the prayer that God gave Moses and the priests to pray to bless the Children of Israel. Have you thought about praying just to have God bless someone?

We are told to intercede for others and to pray earnestly in faith pleading on their behalf, being specific to their needs.

In James 5:16 we read, “The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.”

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 119:11.

I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

PRAYER:

Help me to be upright and faithful so that my prayers for others will be powerful and effective.

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Happy New Years Eve: December 31, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 31, 2015.

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE

DEFINITION:

The end of a year; the last day of a calendar year.

SCRIPTURE:

Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

First of all today let us look at this past year. We have received hundreds of emails from friends who read our devotionals living in third world countries. Many tell us about being persecuted because of their faith. We salute all of those who stand up for the Lord when told to renounce their faith or be persecuted.

Some of these dear people have had their homes burned to the ground. Others have had a family member martyred because of his or her faith. Many have had their churches demolished by fire or bombs. Others have lost everything in fires and floods. All of us need to pray for these dear people who have suffered so much mainly because they have stood strong in their love for our Lord.

Here in America the story is a little different. People have lost their jobs because of the economy. Many have been looking for jobs and cannot find one. There have been numerous natural disasters like floods, fires and earthquakes that have devastated people’s lives. But most important is that we have a government, federal, state and local that is rejecting the Biblical principles that our country was founded on. The results are broken homes, abortions, gay marriages, crime, school shootings and so much more.

Yes, 2015 has been a very difficult year for many people, not only for believers in Jesus but for non-believers.

Now let us look ahead to 2016. Have you set any goals for this New Year? If you have not we suggest that you stop whatever you are doing right now and take a piece of paper and pencil and record your goals so you have something to look at every day as a reminder of your personal commitments.

May we suggest several important goals for you to consider. First, have a daily relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. This should include reading a portion of the scriptures, meditating on what you read so you will understand what God may be saying to you through the portion of scripture you read, and then pray. God has promised to be with you through every concern you have if you leave your cares with Him. When you pray, mention every care to Him and He will answer if you put your trust in Him.

Secondly, you need to set as one of your goals high standards that you will live by in 2016. Claim daily the scripture verse we have written above and as God honored Joshua for his faith, He will honor you in the same manner. Living a God fearing life guided by God’s standards will give you a remarkable 2016.

Thirdly, we suggest that you set firm goals as to your relationships with your family. If you are struggling with issues now, sit down and work them out. Make sure you do it prayerfully. Pray personally first and then with your family and then discuss the issues. If you put God in charge the issues will soon dissolve. God must come first in your life, in your family and next with those you associate with daily.

And finally we strongly suggest that you set a goal to reach out to a hurting world all around you. As a believer, God requires this plus when you help someone in need your attitude changes and the person you help also has an attitude change. Helping someone in need gives you also an open door to share the good news of the gospel with them and that is what God wants from us -- to be His witnesses while on this earth.

We wish you a Christ centered New Year. Be Blessed!!

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 119:11.

I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

PRAYER:

Thank You for all You have done for me and my family this past year. Keep my priorities focused on You in 2016. Help me to set clear goals and then to honor them daily. Give me a new desire to reach out to hurting and hungry people in a new way in 2016.

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Resolution: December 30, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30, 2015

RESOLUTION

DEFINITION:

A formal statement of intention and determination upon a course of action.

SCRIPTURE:

Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him. Psalm 37:6.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We have only two days before a new year. Many people begin a New Year by making what they call “New Year’s Resolutions.” The majority of those that make resolutions break them before a week has gone by. We know because we have been there and done that.

We all desire to improve ourselves physically. After stuffing themselves over the Christmas holidays the most common New Years resolution many make is to lose weight. An unknown author once wrote that “A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the next.”

There are two problems with resolutions. One is that most people do not realize that it is not the outward appearance that counts. The Lord does not look at the things that man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

The second problem with resolutions is that most people do not understand that resolutions cannot change us. Only God can change us. God not only is able to see what is in our heart, but He can change the desires of our heart.

The greatest resolution one can make this coming New Year is to set a goal to seek a closer relationship with the Lord. James 4:8 tells us that as we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. If you are reading God’s Word, meditating on what you read, and spending time in prayer than God can work in you to change you. Philippians 2:13 reads: “For it is God who works in you both to will and act according to His good purpose.”

Yes, the Psalmist tells us in the verse we have put above to “Commit your way to the Lord and to trust in Him.” If we submit our all to God, He will do what we cannot do. We can trust Him to work out what is best for us. This is a resolution we all can be blessed with.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 119:11.

I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

PRAYER:

At the beginning of a New Year, I want to commit to having a closer relationship with You, dear Lord. Help me to release all that I have into Your hands so You can direct my life and the life of each member of my family. Help me to read Your Word daily, meditate on what I read and then pray to You with a purpose each day.

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Hunger: December 29, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY DECEMBER 29, 2015.

HUNGER

DEFINITION:

A strong desire; a craving for food; a compelling need.

SCRIPTURE:

O God, You are my God, early will I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness. Matthew 5:6

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The Lord has given us physical appetites which are essential for our physical survival and, in addition, has created within our hearts a hunger that is spiritual.

David knew both physical and spiritual hunger. When King Saul was seeking to kill David he fled to the desert to hide. The scripture tells us that he was alone, hungry and thirsty. This is a physical hunger.

David also had a spiritual hunger for the Lord. There are many verses in Psalms, like the one we have written above, where we find David meditating, offering praise, or crying out to God. David’s greatest joy was to be with his Heavenly Father in intimate communion. David had many moments where he fell away from God revealing his human weaknesses, but he also knew how and where to find healing and refuge. With a repentant and hungry heart, many times he sought the Lord’s forgiveness and fellowship and God responded because God loved him. He loves us in the same way and is always ready to forgive us and answer our prayers.

Hungering for the Lord is a desire to know and draw closer to God. This desire is lacking in many believer’s lives. Most believers are sure that they are saved but have very little desire for more of God in their lives.

Our society is filled with all sorts of things that grab and hold our interest and captivates our desire. These interests compete with God for our attention. We need to be awakened to see the need in our lives for a new hunger for God. Consider changing your priorities and pursuits and receive a fresh relationship with God. Jesus promised us by saying “They who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be satisfied.”

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 119:11.

I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

PRAYER:

Help me to hunger more for You in my life as David did. Give me a fresh hunger for Your righteousness that will guide me to change my priorities and pursuits to those You desire for me.

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Integrity: December 28, 2015

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 28, 2015.

INTEGRITY

DEFINITION:

Uncompromising adherence to moral principles; honesty; moral uprightness.

SCRIPTURE:

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. Psalm 15:1-2.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

As far back as we can remember our parents told us the importance of integrity in our lives. Next to our faith in Jesus Christ, nothing has been more important than making sure we were clear, concise and honest to others in all of our actions, both words and deeds. Once anyone loses their integrity it is very hard to get it back. In the eyes of others we become regarded as untrustworthy. A reputation for being honest is worth far more than anything gained by compromising one’s integrity.

We taught our children that integrity is one of the most important traits, if not the most important trait one can have.

The Lord throughout scripture teaches believers in Him to live a morally and upright life. Even among believers it is difficult to find people with uncompromising integrity because Satan, many times tempts people to lie, cheat and flatter and they fall victims to his temptations because they feel they can get what they want even though it is by deception.

In Psalms 15 (above) David describes the life of integrity that believers are to cultivate in just five verses. He tells us to:

•    Walk uprightly so that you are blameless.
•    Do what is right at all times.
•    Speak the truth and be honest.
•    Treat your neighbor kindly.
•    Be accountable for your actions.
•    Honor those that love the Lord.
•    Do not be greedy for money.
•    Keep your promises even when it hurts.
•    Do not accept bribes.

God wants us to daily increase our pursuit of truthfulness, righteousness and honesty. In Mark 8:34, Jesus commands us to deny ourselves and follow Him. Total commitment to Jesus will give us all we need to stand against any temptations Satan throws our way.

When we learn and practice these principles that are outlined above, we will be living a life of integrity.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 119:11.

I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

PRAYER:

Help us to remember and recognize that we live in a culture that approves of ungodly values and behaviors. May Your Holy Spirit open our eyes and make us alert to recognize right from wrong so that we may live a life of integrity bringing honor and glory to You.

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