The Word for wisdom:
Proverbs 4:6-7 (HCSB)
6 Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.
The Word for inspiration:
Psalm 145:8 (HCSB)
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love.
The Word for encouragement:
Luke 1:11-13 (HCSB)
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.
Luke 1:18-20 (HCSB)
18 "How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." 19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
My observation:
It is commendable that Zacharias and the people of God had enough faith in God to keep on going to the temple of God to pray daily. God's silence and God's delay in answering prayer is not an indication that he has not heard our prayers. The life of Zacharias and Elizabeth is a worthy example for us to follow when it comes to perseverance in prayer.
Luke 1:6 (HCSB)
Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.
However, there is another aspect of this account that should be instructive to us. We need faith to persevere in prayer, but we also need faith to receive the answer to our prayer. We must always keep our eyes on God, and looking at his ability rather than placing our focus on ourselves, and our limitations. Faith in God will liberate you from your limitations. With that freedom we should, in faith, open our mouths wide to give praise to our great and gracious God for hearing and answering our prayers.
My prayer:
Father God, my dear Father, I extol you for your greatness and your grace. Lord, I thank you for the gift of faith that opens the door to your storehouse of blessings. Father, I pray that my faith will be sufficient for asking and receiving from your great hands and gracious heart.
Psalm 145:3 (HCSB)
Yahweh is great and is highly praised; His greatness is unsearchable.
My song:
They That Wait on the Lord (Click on link to listen to this song):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wcdY2v5Kio
--
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment