Daily Prayer_February 11, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 11:4 (MSG)
A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 143:7-8 (MSG)
⁷ Hurry with your answer, God! I'm nearly at the end of my rope. Don't turn away; don't ignore me! That would be certain death. ⁸ If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I'll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I'm all ears, all eyes before you.

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 18:1-8 (HCSB)
¹ He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged: ² "There was a judge in a certain town who didn't fear God or respect man. ³ And a widow in that town kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' ⁴ "For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so she doesn't wear me out by her persistent coming.'" ⁶ Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay ⌊to help⌋ them? ⁸ I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?"

My observation:

Today we look at the parable of the persistent widow in its entirety. This parable is a comparison of the lesser to the greater. The case is that if the lesser is true, then how much more is the greater true. Jesus used this method of teaching on other occasions so it was not new to his disciples.

Luke 11:11-13 (HCSB)
¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

We conclude our focus this week with this thought for you to ponder. If you are a member of God's elect, consider the question that Jesus asked his disciples, "Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night?"

My prayer:

Our heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you love us with an everlasting love and that you delight to spend time with your people in prayer. Father, quicken within your people a passion to be devoted to prayer that is consistent with the way that Jesus taught his disciples to pray.

Father God, I pray that you will work through the office of the Holy Spirit to unleash a bombardment of prayer from your people during these last days. I pray that when Jesus comes again he would find a multitude of your people with the faith that will persist in prayer.

My song:

Michael W. Smith – The Lord's Prayer (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7LJEUcmtw8&feature=related

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
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Start the Day Concentrating On:

1. Our power instead of our problems.

2. Our faith instead of our fears.

3. Our Savior instead of our sins.

4. Our triumphs instead of our troubles.

5. Our home instead of our house.