The Word for wisdom:
Proverbs 11:20 (HCSB)
Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord, but those with blameless conduct are His delight.
The Word for inspiration:
Psalm 145:19 (HCSB)
He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry for help and saves them.
Psalm 145:21 (HCSB)
My mouth will declare Yahweh's praise; let every living thing praise His holy name forever and ever.
The Word for encouragement:
Luke 6:12-13 (HCSB)
12 During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. 13 When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them—He also named them apostles:
My observation:
There came a time in the ministry of Jesus when he had to make a momentous decision where the stakes were extremely high. He had to decide who he would entrust with the responsibility of taking the gospel of Christ to the whole world. Jesus had many disciples, but who among them could he select for this essential mission.
Jesus did what he often did; he decided to spend some time alone with God. This decision was so weighty that he went away and climbed a mountain where he could be away from the crowd. He needed to be alone with the Father, and he needed to have an extended time with God. He spent all night in prayer. He needed to talk to his Father, and he needed to hear from his Father.
Failure was not an option in the selection of the twelve disciples that he would appoint as Apostles. Jesus knew that these men frail humans and that in their flesh that could not accomplish the mission he would give them.
Notice the list of twelve men that Jesus chose. The first on the list is Peter who denied he knew Jesus, but later repented, and the last was Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.
Luke 6:14 (HCSB)
Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
Luke 6:16 (HCSB)
Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
The twelve were not perfect, but they learned from Jesus how to connect with the Father in heaven who is perfect. It is impossible to do the work of God without spending much time in the presence of God. We speak to him in prayer, and he speaks to us through his word. He empowers his people with his presence and his power to do the work of God.
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so glad that I can bring every need that I have to you in prayer, and have the assurance that you will hear my cry for help. Father, you know that I am weak, and in my strength alone, I can do nothing that would be pleasing to you.
Lord, I thank you for the promise of the Word that says in, Psalm 145:18 (HCSB)
The Lord is near all who call out to Him, all who call out to Him with integrity.
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Current topic: A Proverb a day for wisdom, and a Psalm a day for inspiration.
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
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