Daily Prayer_March 21, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 21:15 (HCSB)
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to those who practice iniquity.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 19:7 (HCSB)
The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one's life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.

The Word for encouragement:

2 Corinthians 1:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Timothy our brother: To God's church at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia. ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My observation:

Last week our focus was on one verse. This week we will focus on one chapter as we center our attention on the Word of the Lord that is for our encouragement and growth in the Lord.

I was tempted to skip the greeting to this letter, and get right into the topic that was on Paul's heart, but upon closer examination I decided that there is much here to ponder.

Paul felt the need to remind the church at Corinth that the reason he was doing the work of the Lord was not something he decided to do on his own. He pointed out to them he was an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will.

When you do the work of the Lord you will have your share of critics. There were men with agendas who had come into the church at Corinth and they were spreading the message that Paul could not possibly be a man of God because of the suffering that he had in his life.

Another thing that blesses and encourages me in this greeting is the reminder that the church is God's church. The church belongs to God, and not to the members. God calls all of the members to be a part of what he is doing in and through the church.

2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Finally, grace was a common greeting by Christians during the first century.  God had truly granted his people grace, and with that grace he blessed them with peace. It is good to know that you can have peace without having a trouble free life when you are a child of God, and a recipient of the grace of God.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for choosing to bless me with your amazing grace, and with the peace of God that surpasses human understanding.

My song:

Amazing Grace (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJg5Op5W7yw&feature=related

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Proverbs 3:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; ⁶ think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.