The Word for wisdom:
Proverbs 3:21-26 (TLB)
21 Have two goals: wisdom—that is, knowing and doing right—and common sense. Don't let them slip away, 22 for they fill you with living energy and bring you honor and respect. 23 They keep you safe from defeat and disaster and from stumbling off the trail. 24 With them on guard you can sleep without fear; you need not be afraid of disaster or the plots of wicked men, for the Lord is with you; he protects you. 25 26
The Word for inspiration:
Psalm 145:2 (HCSB)
I will praise You every day; I will honor Your name forever and ever.
The Word for encouragement:
Luke 1:5 (HCSB)
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Luke 1:8-10 (HCSB)
8 When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.
My observation:
I'm back after a brief time off from writing the blog. It's a New Year, and I will start with a new topic. However, I will continue to draw from the wisdom of the Proverbs, and the inspiration of the Psalms. I have been wanting for some time to do an examination of the emphasis in Luke on the topic of prayer. Luke tells us the purpose for his writing this gospel account.
Luke 1:3-4 (HCSB)
3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.
Today we will examine the first occurrence of prayer reported by Luke. God's people had gone through a dry spell of 400 years of not hearing from God's angels or his prophets. However, God always has a group of people that will remain faithful and hopeful.
When God is planning to do something new in the world he communicates to his people through prayer. Zechariah was faithful in carrying out his priestly duties, but the people of God were also faithful in participating in the daily offering of prayer by the priest.
Luke 1:10-11 (HCSB)
10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
When you pray you can expect to hear from God. Don't be discouraged by the passage of time while you wait on God. You can always depend upon God to show up at the right time, and he has never missed an appointment with his people.
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I delight to join with the Psalmist in extolling the name of the Lord, and giving you the praise that you alone deserve. Father God, my aim is to bless your name every day, and to continue as long as I have life and breath. Lord, today I bless you because you are great, and greatly to be praised. Father God, I am blessed to be able to have an audience daily with such an awesome God.
My song:
What a Friend (Click on link below to listen to this song):
http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_What_a_Friend_v1.html
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http://www.herbcotton.org
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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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