Daily Prayer_January 31, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 6:12-15 (NLT)
¹² What are worthless and wicked people like? They are constant liars,
¹³ signaling their deceit with a wink of the eye, a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle of fingers.
¹⁴ Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble.
¹⁵ But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 25:16-18 (NLT)
¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.
¹⁷ My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!
¹⁸ Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 20:29-34 (HCSB)
²⁹ As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.
³⁰ There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"
³¹ The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"
³² Jesus stopped, called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
³³ "Lord," they said to Him, "open our eyes!"
³⁴ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed Him.

My observation:

In Matthew's account of the healing of two blind men near Jericho, the scripture reveal a truth worth noting. This is what I see. There are some things that the sighted religious could not see, but these two blind men could see.

The religious leaders could see with the eyes in their heads the miracles of Jesus, but they could not see who Jesus was.

The two blind men, although they could not see the miracles of Jesus, they knew about the teaching of the prophets concerning him. The religious leaders were blind. However, their blindness was in the eyes of their heart.

The blind men could see with the eyes of their heart that Jesus was the Messiah. They showed this by how they addressed him, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David".

Here is a question that Jesus is still asking for any who would look to him for help.

Matthew 20:32 (HCSB)
³² Jesus stopped, called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that you would open the eyes of my heart so that I may see you in all of your glory, majesty, and power. Father God, I want to know Jesus, and make Him known to this generation. Lord, will you pour out your love and power into my needy heart.

My song:

Open the Eyes of My Heart (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wutmEjdbedE

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 30, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 6:9-11 (NLT)
⁹ But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up?
¹⁰ A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
¹¹ then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT)
⁴ Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.
⁵ Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 20:25-28 (HCSB)
²⁵ But Jesus called them over and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them.
²⁶ It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave;
²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many."

My observation:

Most mothers want the best for their children. However, when you look at our focal New Testament passage for today, we discover that this mother did not know best. Here is what she prayed for her two sons:

Matthew 20:20-22 (HCSB)
²⁰ Then the mother of Zebedee's sons approached Him with her sons. She knelt down to ask Him for something.
²¹ "What do you want?" He asked her. "Promise," she said to Him, "that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and the other on Your left, in Your kingdom."
²² But Jesus answered, "You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" "We are able," they said to Him.

In response to this request Jesus used the occasion to teach an important principle about the kingdom of God. The mother of James and John wanted Jesus to give something to her sons. The reply of Jesus was not what she or the disciples expected. Jesus took the two lowest positions in Jewish society, and said here is the way to be great in the kingdom of God.

Matthew 20:26-27 (HCSB)
²⁶ It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave;

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I ask you to give me wisdom so that I will be discerning in what I ask for in prayer. Father, help me through the reading of your word, and the tutoring of the Holy Spirit to ask for those things that are in alignment with your will.

1 John 5:14-15 (HCSB)
¹⁴ Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
¹⁵ And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.

 

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Sunday Morning Reflections_January 29, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 6:6 (HCSB)
⁶ Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 23:1-6 (NLT)
¹ The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³ He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

The Word of God for encouragement:

1 John 3:1 (HCSB)
¹ Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God's children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn't know Him.

My observation:

The love of God is amazing. Why not go to the house of the Lord today, and give the Lord some praise for all that He has done for you.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I delight to unite my heart, soul, mind, and body with the people of God as I prepare to go to church today. Father God, pour out your blessings on all who gather in your name today. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 122:1 (HCSB)
¹ I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

My song:

Lord I Lift Your Name on High (Click on link to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COQ6cni_TG8&feature=related

 

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 27, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 5:21 (NLT)
²¹ For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 22:22-26 (NLT)
²² I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.
²³ Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
²⁴ For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.
²⁵ I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.

Matthew 28:6 (NLT)
⁶ He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

The Word of God for encouragement:

2 Timothy 1:7 (HCSB)
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

My observation:

David, in his prophetic Psalm, sings of the triumphant victory of Jesus over death and the grave. He is no longer on the cross, but he is present among the assembly of God's people. The day of resurrection is a day of victory, and it is a day of celebration that God's people should give praise for everyday, but especially when we gather in the Lord's house for worship.

I am so thankful for the presence of the Lord among his people. Having the presence of Christ in your life should drive out any spirit of fearfulness that may arise in your life. I am so thankful for the words of encouragement that Paul gave to Timothy in our focal verse for today.

Paul says that God has given each of His children a very special gift package. However, gifts will be of no value if we don't unwrap them, and use them. Are you using the gifts of power, love, and sound judgment? They are God's special gifts packaged especially for you, but you have to unwrap them to receive your blessing.

My prayer:

Father God, I thank you for demonstrating in a small way this morning how you are always present with your people. When I attempted to open my Daily Bible Reading Plan this morning I got this message, "Uh-Oh, an error has occurred. Please try again later".

 Father, I thank you for showing me another plan that didn't have to wait until later. Father, I thank you for reinforcing the lesson that with You in my life, there is always a way out, even when there seems to be no way.

My song:

God Will Make a Way (Click on link below to watch this video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zo3fJYtS-o&noredirect=1

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 26, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 5:12-14 (NLT)
¹² You will say, "How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
¹³ Oh, why didn't I listen to my teachers? Why didn't I pay attention to my instructors?
¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, and now I must face public disgrace."

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 22:14-15 (NLT)
¹⁴ My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.
¹⁵ My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.

John 19:28 (NLT)
²⁸ Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty."

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 17:14-21 (HCSB)
¹⁴ When they reached the crowd, a man approached and knelt down before Him.
¹⁵ "Lord," he said, "have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely. He often falls into the fire and often into the water.
¹⁶ I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."
¹⁷ Jesus replied, "You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me."
¹⁸ Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and from that moment the boy was healed.
¹⁹ Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
²⁰ "Because of your little faith," He told them. "For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. [21 However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.]"

My observation:

In our focal passage from Matthew the scene is of Jesus and the disciples coming down from the mountain. This reminds us that we cannot stay on the mountain; life is lived in the valley. It takes faith, prayer and fasting to engage with people and the problems they have in living in this fallen world.

We can't stay on the mountain and bask in the glory and majesty of those mountaintop experiences. We must come down to where the people are because there are needy people who require the help of the Lord, and His people.

We need a motto similar to one that a cement company I heard about. Their motto was, "Find a hole and fill it". Our motto should be, "Find a need and meet it". We can't but God can, and He will, if we trust in Him.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that you will give to me the measure of faith that I need to meet the problems in the valley of the hurting that are disguised as mission impossible. Father, with that faith, I will look up to You, and with You nothing is impossible when we fully trust in the Lord with our whole heart. Father, help me to see problems, when placed in your hands, as raw materials for a miracle.

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 25, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 5:1-2 (MSG)
¹ Dear friend, pay close attention to this, my wisdom; listen very closely to the way I see it.
² Then you'll acquire a taste for good sense; what I tell you will keep you out of trouble.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 21:7 (NLT)
⁷ For the king trusts in the LORD. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

Psalm 21:13 (NLT)
¹³ Rise up, O LORD, in all your power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 16:13-16 (HCSB)
¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
¹⁴ And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
¹⁵ "But you," He asked them, "who do you say that I am?"
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!"

My observation:

In our focal passage for today Jesus asked his disciples two very profound questions; one about the people, and one about them. The people had some nice things to say about Jesus, but he was more than what they said. It fell to Peter, speaking for the group, to get it right.

Jesus is more than a human being, He is God. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promised Messiah of the Old Testament.

Micah 5:2 (HCSB)
² Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.

Isaiah 9:6 (HCSB)
⁶ For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ "The days are coming"—[this is] the LORD's declaration— "when I will raise up a Righteous Branch of David. He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land.
⁶ In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. This is what He will be named: Yahweh Our Righteousness.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that the baby born in Bethlehem, whose mother called him Jesus, is more than a human being. I am so grateful that He was God in human flesh; He is the creator, and became the Savior for all who will believe and receive Him into their heart.

John 1:1 (HCSB)
¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 (HCSB)
¹⁴ The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:12 (HCSB)
¹² But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.

# end

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 24, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
²³ Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 20:1-2 (NLT)
¹ In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
² May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem.

Psalm 20:4 (NLT)
⁴ May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 16:24-26 (HCSB)
²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
²⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.
²⁶ What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

My observation:

Jim Elliot and his wife Elisabeth were missionaries to the Auca Indians in Ecuador. Our focal passage from the Gospel of Matthew had a profound and prophetic impact on his life. One day when he read and meditate on this passage he was moved to write the following in his journal:

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose".

When Jesus spoke these words recorded by Matthew in our focal passage, he was telling them that there is a cost to following him. We learn from the lips of Jesus that real discipleship requires real commitment. However, when you have it you will find your real purpose, and you will receive real rewards.

Jim Elliot embraced this teaching of Jesus. He paid the ultimate price by giving his life for the sake of the gospel of Christ. His killing by the Auca Indians led to these people coming to faith in Christ. His wife, with a young daughter, remained in Ecuador serving the people that killed her husband. I had the privilege of hearing Elisabeth Elliot share this story several years ago at a gathering in Anchorage, Alaska, and later reading two of her books.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful for this profound teaching of Jesus concerning the cost of discipleship. Father, I pray that when you look into my heart you will find a disciple who has real commitment, and who has a real purpose for living.

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 23, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 4:14-15 (NLT)
¹⁴ Don't do as the wicked do, and don't follow the path of evildoers.
¹⁵ Don't even think about it; don't go that way. Turn away and keep moving.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 19:12-14 (NLT)
¹² How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.
¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 15:7-9 (HCSB)
⁷ Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said:
⁸ These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
⁹ They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men."

My observation:

Jesus is looking for true worshippers. Did he find some when he attended your church yesterday? It might appear to the casual reader of the bible that the words of Jesus are harsh. A closer reading will show that Jesus, if he was harsh, reserved that tone for the religious leaders who did not measure up to what the prophets of God wrote. Our focal passage from Matthew is an example.

Jesus wanted people of faith to know that true worship is more than what you say on Sunday with your lips. God is not pleased with those who honor Him with their lips on Sunday, but dishonor God with their lives the rest of the time.

Jesus was calling people then and he is calling us today to be people of genuine faith, and to be people who are true worshippers.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I recognize that you are a God who sees everything and who knows everything. Father, with this in view, I can only cry out like your servant David:

Psalm 139:23-24 (HCSB)
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Sunday Morning Reflections_January 22, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 4:11-13 (NLT)
¹¹ I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths.
¹² When you walk, you won't be held back; when you run, you won't stumble.
¹³ Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 18:46 (NLT)
⁴⁶ The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!

Psalm 18:49 (NLT)
⁴⁹ For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 14:12 (ESV)
¹² And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Matthew 14:22-23 (ESV)
²² Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
²³ And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

My observation:

Life will have its seasons of disappointment and discouragement, but we don't have to despair, and bear our troubles and grief alone. When the disciples of John the Baptist heard about his death they were in despair. However, they went and told Jesus.

No doubt they learned how to handle the burdens of life and ministry from Jesus. In the middle of his compassionate ministry to people he found it necessary to send the crowds away, and go and have a "big talk" with His Father.

Sometimes we need a "big talk" and sometimes we need a "little talk", but the main thing is that when we need help, we have a helper. We can do like the disciples, and tell it to Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)
⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that we have a helper who is willing and able to help us when we ask him. Father, I pray that I will learn to do like Jesus, and take everything to my heavenly Father in prayer.

 

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 20, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 4:5-6 (NLT)
⁵ Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don't forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶ Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 18:1-2 (NLT)
¹ I love you, LORD; you are my strength.
² The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 13:1-3 (ESV)
¹ That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
² And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.
³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.

My observation:

Today in my Daily Bible Reading Plan the New Testament reading was Matthew 13. This passage reminded me of the lesson that Jesus taught his disciples about the rewards of sowing the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

I also recalled another passage that spoke the same message into my heart many years ago when I was teaching a unit in our church about prayer.

Psalm 126:5-6 (ESV)
⁵ Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
⁶ He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for the privilege I have to handle the word of God. Father, I am so thankful to be a worker that you have called to go into the harvest fields. Father, wherever you lead, I will go. Father, I will rejoice in the going, weeping, sowing, and reaping. Father God, I just want to do your will and do your work; I seek only the approval and favor of my Lord. I just want to hear my Master say to me:

Matthew 25:23 (ESV)
²³ His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

 

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 19, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:35 (NLT)
³⁵ The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame!

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 17:1 (NLT)
¹ O LORD, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips.

Psalm 17:3 (NLT)
³ You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say.

Psalm 66:18 (NLT)
¹⁸ If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 12:43-45 (HCSB)
⁴³ "When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn't find any.
⁴⁴ Then it says, 'I'll go back to my house that I came from.' And returning, it finds [the house] vacant, swept, and put in order.
⁴⁵ Then off it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man's last condition is worse than the first. That's how it will also be with this evil generation."

My observation:

The word of God today speaks to the deepest needs of our hearts. All of us need the wisdom of God, and the power of God in our life.

It is not enough to just empty our lives of sin; reformation is not enough, we need transformation. We cannot be neutral when it comes to God in our life. We need God's presence, His Word, and the Holy Spirit of God to fill our lives.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that I will never forget how much I need God's love, God's Word, and the Holy Spirit of God in my life. It is not enough for me to empty my life of sin; I must also seek to fill my life with the love, presence, the Word and the power of God.

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 18, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:27 (MSG)
²⁷ Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God's hand for that person.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 16:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
² I said to Yahweh, "You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides You."

The Word of God for encouragement:

Isaiah 55:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ "Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!
² Why do you spend money on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods.

Isaiah 55:6 (HCSB)
⁶ Seek the LORD while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.

My observation:

There is a physical hunger in the world, and to satisfy that hunger food is necessary to prevent starvation. Food cost money, and it only last for a short period of time, and then more is required. However, man has more than a body that needs nourishment, he or she has a soul that needs nourishment.

Our focal passage for today from Isaiah reminds us that this nourishment that feeds the soul is free. The writer tells us how to receive this life giving nourishment. He tells us to come, listen, and to seek the Lord.

Jesus is the bread of life, and Jesus is the water of life. It cost Jesus His life to provide you with the source of eternal life. He offers it to you without money. Will you receive this unspeakable gift?

John 4:13-14 (HCSB)
¹³ Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again.
¹⁴ But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again—ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life."

John 6:35 (HCSB)
³⁵ "I am the bread of life," Jesus told them. "No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that you have provided the nourishment that our souls need to have eternal life. Father, I thank you that no one has to die for lack of food and water for the soul. Lord Jesus, I ask you  to fill my cup with the water of life, and to feed my soul with the bread of life.

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 17, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:21-24 (NLT)
²¹ My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them,
²² for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace.
²³ They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble.
²⁴ You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 15:1-4 (NLT)
¹ Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
² Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
³ Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
⁴ Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Hebrews 12:28 (HCSB)
²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

Hebrews 13:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.
⁶ Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

My observation:

The writer of Hebrews reminds God's people of the importance of growing in their walk with the Lord. He reminds them to hold on to grace. The hymn writer John Newton said it like this:

"Tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home". Yes, God's grace is truly amazing. You can never go wrong if you hold on to the grace of God.

The focal passage from Hebrews gives us two reasons why we can make it home if we hold on to the grace of God that saved us. Hold on to these two promises, "For He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you", and "The Lord is my helper".

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for the precious promises that we find in the word of God. Father, they comfort my troubled heart when I think about the dangers that lurk within and without. In the face of the troubles of this world, I can take refuge in the promises that the Lord will never leave me or forsake me, and that the Lord is my helper.

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 16, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:19-20 (NLT)
¹⁹ By wisdom the LORD founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens.
²⁰ By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 14:1-3 (NLT)
¹ Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!
² The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.
³ But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 11:28-30 (HCSB)
²⁸ "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
²⁹ All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.
³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

My observation:

The words of Jesus, "Come to Me", and "You will find rest for yourselves", are words of hope, comfort, assurance, and joy unspeakable to my needy soul.

The choice is between the yoke of the law and the yoke of love. The yoke of the law is a heavy burden, and it is one that we are incapable of bearing.

Psalm 38:4 (HCSB)
⁴ For my sins have flooded over my head; they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.

Matthew 23:4 (HCSB)
⁴ They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them.

Then comes Jesus, and He offers an invitation to exchange the burdensome yoke of the law for the yoke of love that He offers to all who will come to Him. Why not come to Jesus? He is gentle and gracious. He is loving and kind, and generous to all who surrender to Him. Why sink under the burden of your sins, when you can surrender to Jesus, and find perfect rest?

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I never cease to be amazed by the humility that is shown in the love that God has for the world. Father, I thank you for sending Jesus to be the Savior of all who would be willing to be humble enough to surrender to Him. What love and what humility we see demonstrated in the life of Jesus. Father, I accept the gift offered by Jesus, and I ask you to give me the attitude that he had about serving others.

Philippians 2:5-8 (HCSB)
⁵ Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
⁶ who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.
⁷ Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,
⁸ He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

 

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Sunday Morning Reflections_January 15, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:16-18 (NLT)
¹⁶ She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left.
¹⁷ She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying.
¹⁸ Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 13:3 (NLT)
³ Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

Psalm 13:5-6 (NLT)
⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
⁶ I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Genesis 32:9-12 (NLT)
⁹ Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O LORD, you told me, 'Return to your own land and to your relatives.' And you promised me, 'I will treat you kindly.'
¹⁰ I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps!
¹¹ O LORD, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children.
¹² But you promised me, 'I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count.'"

My observation:

Today's selected scriptures are from Day 15 of "The One Year Bible" daily bible reading plan that I am using this year to read through the bible.

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that your word as it is read today,  and preach today in pulpits across the world,  would accomplish your purpose in the lives of those who read it and heed it. I pray that the word of God would not return void or empty. Father, I thank you that your word has the power to change lives today, that obeying it pleases you, and prospers the ones who receive it and obey it.

Hebrews 4:12 (HCSB)
¹² For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

 

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 13, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT)
¹¹ My child, don't reject the LORD's discipline, and don't be upset when he corrects you.
¹² For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 11:1 (NLT)
¹ I trust in the LORD for protection. So why do you say to me, "Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!

Psalm 11:4-5 (NLT)
⁴ But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.
⁵ The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.

Psalm 11:7 (NLT)
⁷ For the righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Psalm 118:14 (HCSB)
¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.

My observation:

Today's focal passage concludes our meditation on the topic, "How to Have a Happy and Blessed New Year".  Psalm 118 is one of the songs that the Jews sang at Passover. It was one of the songs that Jesus sang before he went to the Garden to pray.

Matthew 26:30 (HCSB)
³⁰ After singing psalms, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

It is wonderful to know that no matter what you may have to go through in this New Year that you can always have something to rejoice and give thanks to God for. What a wonderful blessing it is to be able to say in the words of the Psalm, "The LORD is my song". You can have something to sing about when you put your trust in the Lord.

Psalm 118:8 (HCSB)
⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB)
⁶ Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

When trials and troubles show up in your life this year, do like Jesus did when he faced the greatest challenge of his ministry on earth. He sang psalms of praise, and then he went to the Garden to pray. Praise and prayer will get you through anything you will ever have to face in this life. That's what Jesus did. It worked for him, and it will work for you.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so thankful that I have a God in whom I can trust in with my whole heart. Father, I am so grateful that you delight in the prayers and the praises of your people. Father, I am so delighted that when your people trust in you, and are able to say, "The Lord is My Song", that a little bit of heaven comes down to earth and fills and thrills our soul.

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 12, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT)
⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.
¹⁰ Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 10:16-18 (NLT)
¹⁶ The LORD is king forever and ever! The godless nations will vanish from the land.
¹⁷ LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
¹⁸ You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Psalm 100:5 (HCSB)
⁵ For Yahweh is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.

My observation:

The theme of today's meditation is, "We are loved by God Everyday". When we look at our life from the perspective of the past, the present, and the future, we can say, without a doubt, that we are so blessed.

If you take the time to thoughtfully think about it, you will find that you have so much to be thankful to God for. The psalmist thought about his life, and he found that God was good, His love eternal, and that he was enduringly faithful.

When you think about it, what are you thankful to the Lord for?

My prayer:

Father God, Abba, Father, I am so thankful that when I look at my life I can say the same thing that the psalmist said. Lord, I thank you for my blessings every day.

Psalm 100:5 (HCSB)
⁵ For Yahweh is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.

Psalm 100:4 (HCSB)
⁴ Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 11, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:7-8 (NLT)
⁷ Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
⁸ Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 10:1-4 (NLT)
¹ O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
² The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor. Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
³ For they brag about their evil desires; they praise the greedy and curse the LORD.
⁴ The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Galatians 5:16 (HCSB)
¹⁶ I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

My observation:

There are many obstacles that we have to face in living the Christian life. If I had to make it through life in my strength alone, there is no way I could make it. There are powerful forces aligned against you. However, there is a superior and overcoming power within you. You can make it through whatever you encounter in your journey if you learn to "walk by the Spirit".

The term "walk by the Spirit" really means to live by the Spirit; it's the way you live your life, it's the way you behave. Everyone who is a genuine believer has the Spirit living in them.

Romans 8:9 (HCSB)
⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Here is the key to "living by the Spirit". We must yield to the Spirit of God, and he will change us within, and it will show in our behavior. The result will be a happy and blessed life. When we yield to the Spirit, the words of Christ will change our minds, the love of Christ will change our actions, and the power of Christ will change our desires.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful that I have a helper sent by you to help me to accomplish the will and purposes of God in my life.  Lord, I pray that you would quicken in me the willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit of God so that I may "walk by the Spirit", and enjoy a blessed life.

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 10, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:1-4 (NLT)
¹ My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart.
² If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.
³ Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
⁴ Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 9:13-14 (NLT)
¹³ LORD, have mercy on me. See how my enemies torment me. Snatch me back from the jaws of death.
¹⁴ Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem's gates, so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Proverbs 3:5-7 (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.
⁷ Don't consider yourself to be wise; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

My observation:

The choice passage for today is Proverbs 3:5-7. It is passages like this that you can build your hopes and your future upon. No matter what obstacles we encounter in this New Year, there is one place you can look, and know that you have something solid on which to stand when all around you may be sinking sand.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, gives us the key to living victoriously in this world. The best decision you can make as you face the uncertainties that abound in our world is to trust in the Lord, and not in yourself.

Even those who trust in the Lord will face days of darkness, distress, and disorientation. However, don't despair. The Lord is the fountain of wisdom, and nothing is too difficult for him. If you trust in the Lord, and not in yourself, he will turn your night of darkness into the bright sunlight of day. Don't light your own fires.  Rather, trust in the Lord with your whole heart.

Isaiah 50:10-11 (HCSB)
¹⁰ Who among you fears the LORD, listening to the voice of His Servant? Who {among you} walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of Yahweh; let him lean on his God.
¹¹ Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with firebrands; walk in the light of your fire and in the firebrands you have lit! This is what you'll get from My hand: you will lie down in a place of torment.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful that the wisdom of God is so superior to my own wisdom and understanding. Father, in this New Year, I will look to you, and not to my own understanding because my ways and not your ways. Father, your way is the best way. Father, I pray that when you look at me, you will find me to be faithful to the end.

Romans 11:33 (HCSB)
³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.