Daily Prayer_July 31, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 20:15 (NLT)
¹⁵ Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 25:4 (NLT)
⁴ Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.

Psalm 25:12 (NLT)
¹² Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 15:1-7 (ESV)
¹ We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
³ For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

My observation:

The Apostle Paul devoted the entire previous chapter to the treatment of the weak in faith. He continues that discussion in the first seven verses of chapter 15.

We dare not overlook this emphasis because it is as important in today's church as it was for the church at Rome, who was the recipients of this letter.

We, as the church of the first century, have the example of Jesus as our guide. In relating to others, consider how Jesus related to people. This is the attitude we need in the church today.

Romans 15:2 (MSG)
² Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"

We have a debt to the weak. We have an example to follow in Jesus. We have the strength that Jesus provides. We can do this if we are willing.

Romans 15:1 (MSG)
¹ Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status.

Romans 15:3 (MSG)
³ That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that the teaching of the Apostle Paul concerning how the strong should relate to the weak would find a home in my heart. Father God, give me more love and more patience so that I may be found a faithful servant in this area of ministry.

Father God, I thank you for the encouragement in scripture that reminds me that strength is for service, not status. Father, as in all things, I am relying upon your strength for service. In Jesus name, Amen.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

Daily Prayer_July 26, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 20:5 (HCSB)
⁵ Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a man of understanding draws it out.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 21:13 (HCSB)
¹³ Be exalted, LORD, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your might.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 10:14-17 (HCSB)
¹⁴ But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?
¹⁵ And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!
¹⁶ But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?
¹⁷ So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

My observation:

Today's focal passage from Romans reminds me of the song, "Send the Light". Jesus is calling his people to go into the entire world and preach the gospel, and men and women are calling to believers to come over and help us.

The missionary heart of the Apostle Paul is evident in our focal passage. His compelling call and his compassion is on full display. You don't have to be a pastor to proclaim the gospel.

John 20:21 (KJV)
²¹ Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Paul refers to an Old Testament passage to describe the beauty of those who respond to the calling of God to go and make disciples of the nations.

Isaiah 52:7 (HCSB)
⁷ How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

The Lord will see your feet as beautiful if you use them to go and tell somebody about the gospel of Christ today. People are always asking spiritual questions. Be ready to give them an answer.

1 Peter 3:15 (KJV)
¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

It is now time; so let's get up and go tell the world that Jesus saves.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (HCSB)
² For He says: I heard you in an acceptable time, and I helped you in the day of salvation. Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you will use my heart to care, my feet to go, and my mouth to tell somebody about the Savior. Lord, lead me to some soul today, and love that soul through me. This is my prayer, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

--

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

Daily Prayer_July 30, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 20:12 (HCSB)
¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye— the LORD made them both.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 24:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD;
² for He laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 14:1 (HCSB)
¹ Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don't argue about doubtful issues.

Romans 15:1 (HCSB)
¹ Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.

My observation:

In every church there are members who fit the description in our focal verses for today. There are those who are weak in faith, and there are those who are strong in faith.

There are different levels of maturity. Those who are strong in faith; the mature, must be the adults. They should be helpers, encouragers, and teachers of sound doctrine.

The immature Christian does not need criticism; they need your patience and compassionate love and care to help them grow in their faith.

Proverbs 10:12 (HCSB)
¹² Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.

1 Peter 4:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so thankful that you are a loving and caring father. Lord, I am so grateful that you have provided the ultimate covering of my sins through Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Father God, I pray that you will infuse in me a compassionate heart for those who are new in the faith, and those who are weak in the faith. In Jesus name, Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB)
²¹ He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 --

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

Daily Prayer_July 29, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 20:11 (HCSB)
¹¹ Even a young man is known by his actions— if his behavior is pure and upright.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 23:6 (HCSB)
⁶ Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 13:11-14 (HCSB)
¹¹ Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
¹² The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
¹³ Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.
¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.

My observation:

If there ever was a time when the believer needed to let their lights shine, surely the time is today. If you are a Christ follower the time is now to believe like one, look like one, and live like one.

You cannot stand still; you are either growing more like Christ, or you are growing more like the world. What picture does Christ see when he looks at you? What picture does the world see when it looks at you?

The alarm clock is ringing the sound is loud enough for all who are listening to hear. O, child of God, hear these words of exhortation from the pen of the Apostle Paul, "It is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep".

It's now time; it time to grow and glow for Christ in this dim, dark, and dangerous world. Only the light of life; the light of Christ in you, will change the dimness and the darkness in our world into his marvelous son light of hope.

Are you walking in the light in your daily ordinary life?  If Christ is indeed in you, then let him shine through you and dispel the darkness in this world.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that you would set on fire the hearts of your believing people around this world. Father, may many answer the call to wake up, and let our lights shine in our everyday walk in this world. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

My Prayer for Revival in America_Part 3 of 4

Title: What will it take to Have Revival in America?

Text:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
¹⁴ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Observation:

It we are to have revival in America, we must meet God's conditions for revival. It begins with humility and prayer. The next step to the healing of our land is for God's people to seek the face of God.

Many are willing to open their hands to receive God's blessings, but God loves us so much that he desires our presence with him. He wants some face time; not just quality time, but quantity time with his people. Will you accept his invitation to seek his face?

Matthew 11:28 (HCSB)
²⁸ "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Prayer:

Sovereign God, Holy Father, you are so holy and so righteous that we feel so unworthy to be in your presence.

Father God, the only way that we can come to you is to come by the way of the cross. Father, I come to you, I seek your face claiming access by the precious and royal blood of Jesus. Amen.

--

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

Daily Prayer_July 27, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 20:7 (NLT)
⁷ The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 22:11 (HCSB)
¹¹ Do not be far from me, because distress is near and there is no one to help.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 11:33-36 (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!
³⁴ For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?
³⁵ Or who has ever first given to Him, and has to be repaid?
³⁶ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

My observation:

I woke up this morning with a prayer of my lips that God would speak an encouraging word into my needy heart.

I can't explain all of the ways of God; I may not be able to give explanations of all of his purposes and plans, but I can live an eternity on his promises.

I had to get to end of the chapter before I discovered the answer to my early morning prayer. My heart leaped for joy when I read the words from the pen of the Apostle Paul. Let these words encourage you in your life. I don't know what each of you is going through, but I know a God who is able to see you through it.

The greatness of God, the goodness of God, and the grace of God is simply amazing. I may not be able to explain him, but I can exclaim him to every ear that will listen.

What shall I render to the Lord? I can worship him, and I can serve him faithfully all of the days of my life.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, as I read your word each day I stand amazed at the grace of God, and the sovereignty of God. Father, truly, there is none like you, no not one.

Father God, I bow low at your feet, and I exclaim with a loud voice, giving glory, honor, and praise to your most holy and righteous name. Lord, I worship you, adore you, and magnify your name. You are God all by yourself.

Father, I pray that your word as I send it out today to my family and friends, that it will bring joy to their heart, and strength to their body, soul, and mind enabling them to keep on being a faithful servant of our great and gracious God. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

Daily Prayer_July 25, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 20:3 (NLT)
³ Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

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.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 10:1 (HCSB)
¹ Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation!

Romans 10:6-13 (HCSB)
⁶ But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, "WHO will go up to heaven?" that is, to bring Christ down
⁷ or, "Who will go down into the abyss?" that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.
⁸ On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim:
⁹ If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
¹⁰ One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
¹¹ Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame,
¹² for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him.
¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

My observation:

There are so many in our world today seeking righteousness by works, which is humanly impossible to achieve.

God has the perfect plan, and Paul presents that plan to Jews and Gentiles. It is the plan of righteousness by faith in God's only begotten son, Jesus the Messiah sent from God. Salvation is by faith in Jesus, and faith comes by hearing the word of God.

Romans 10:13 (HCSB)
¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

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.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am grateful that you had a better plan then the plans of man to obtain the righteousness that is acceptable in your eyes. Father, help me to remember that it is about you, and not about me. Amen.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB)
⁸ For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift—
⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast.
¹⁰ For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

--

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

Daily Prayer_July 24, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 20:1 (ESV)
¹ Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 19:14 (ESV)
¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 8:1 (ESV)
¹ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My observation:

The struggle that the Apostle Paul writes about in Romans chapter seven is not the issue of salvation, but the issue of sanctification. God, in his great love, grace, and mercy, by faith in Jesus, has saved us who believe in Jesus from the penalty of sin.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

The struggle of Romans 7 is the struggle of every man and every woman; It is the struggle of dealing with the "old nature"; the fleshly nature.

Romans 7:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

The goodnews is that the grace of God has provided us also with the means to have victory over the power of sin in our lives. The old nature is dead; it died when Christ died on the cross.

Romans 7:24-25 (ESV)
²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

So we come to Romans 8, and we finds these words of comfort and celebration; we find that Jesus has indeed paid it all. Jesus has provided for our justification and for our sanctification. Yes, our salvation past tense and present tense is in Jesus alone.

Let the celebration begin. There is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), and there is no separation (Romans 8:39) for those that are in Christ.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, my heart is thrilled, and my soul overflows with joy unspeakable and full of glory for all that you have done to make me acceptable in your eyes. Yes, Jesus paid it all, and all to him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, but he washed it white as snow. Oh, the blood of Jesus, that washed me, cleansed me, and made me whole.

Lord, I thank you for giving to me, salvation so rich and free. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

Daily Prayer_July 23, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 19:28 (HCSB)
²⁸ A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 16:8 (HCSB)
⁸ I keep the LORD in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 8:16-18 (HCSB)
¹⁶ The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children,
¹⁷ and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

My observation:

I woke up this morning to hear a wonderful word of truth that stirred my soul, and started me on a brand new day. Hence, I selected Psalm 16:8 for today's meditation. This Psalm prepared me for the later reading of Romans 8.

Life presents many obstacles, and our days bring troubles and disappointment that catch us unawares. However, the child of God has the promises of God to get them through the troubles and the trials we face in this sin sick world.

Where would we be and how would we make it through this world if we did not have the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our life to help us? I am so glad that as a child of God I have the Holy Spirit of God living in me. Without Him I would be helpless and hopeless.

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.

The word from Romans 8 tells us that the groans that we face in this world are temporary, and that they are no comparison to the glory that awaits us which is eternal. Do you see what is in your future? Do you see the pain of your present turning into everlasting praise?

2 Corinthians 4:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank you that the troubles and the trials that the child of God faces in this world are just for a season.

Father God, I am so grateful that this world is not my home that I am just passing through and I am on my way to everlasting glory.

Father, I am so looking forward to exchanging the groans for the glory, and the pain for the praise to my wonderful Lord.  This news is so great that I think I will just praise you right now. Hallelujah!

Psalm 150:6 (HCSB)
⁶ Let everything that breathes praise the LORD. Hallelujah!

 

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

Daily Prayer_July 22, 2012

 The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 19:26 (NLT)
²⁶ Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 18:36 (NLT)
³⁶ You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 7:18 (HCSB)
¹⁸ For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.

Romans 7:21-24 (HCSB)
²¹ So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me.
²² For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law.
²³ But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body?

My observation:

The sooner the believer discovers what Paul discovered and wrote about in Romans 7, the sooner we will have victory in our daily Christian walk with Jesus. We are people with two natures; the old nature and the new nature.

In chapter seven Paul shows us how we can break the power that the old nature has over us. It is not by trying to reform it; rather, it is by starving it. Here is the problem with the old nature.

Romans 8:7 (HCSB)
⁷ For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God's law, for it is unable to do so.

Here is the answer to dealing with the old nature. We need to embrace what John and Paul says to us here. It is our only hope for living the victorious Christian life.

John 6:63 (HCSB)
⁶³ The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn't help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Romans 7:25 (HCSB)
²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I praise you and I thank you that Jesus has fought and won the battle with sin, death, and the devil.

Father God, I thank you that my hope to be holy and blameless in your eyes is in Jesus. Father, I thank you that only the power of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit of God can rescue me from the power of sin.

Father God, help me to remember to cash the check of this wonderful promise.

Romans 6:11 (HCSB)
¹¹ So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Father, help me to remember to starve the old nature, and to feed the new nature the words of life from the word of God. Amen.

--

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

My Prayer for Revival in America_July 21, 2012 - Part 2 of 4

Title: What will it take to Have Revival in America?

Text:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
¹⁴ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Observation:

I see in this text a starting point for the healing of America. Humility is the first step on the journey that leads to the promise land of blessing. The next step along that journey, and closely linked to it is prayer. We cannot get to where we want to go unless we pray.

Who is to pray, and where should prayer start? The text tells us who, "If my people who are called by my name".

Where should prayer begin? The bible also tells us the answer to this question.

Matthew 21:13 (HCSB)
¹³ And He said to them, "It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves!"

It will take unceasing prayer by God's people in God's house, and in our homes, to get us to the place where God can heal our land.

"O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer" - - Joseph M. Scriven

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, grant us by your almighty power the grace gift of a burning desire to become people who will not just preach and talk about prayer, but will bow the knee and pray until you heal our land. Amen.

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

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

 

Daily Prayer_July 20, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 19:22 (HCSB)
²² What is desirable in a man is his fidelity; better to be a poor man than a liar.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 17:3 (HCSB)
³ You have tested my heart; You have examined [me] at night. You have tried me and found nothing [evil]; I have determined that my mouth will not sin.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 6:11-14 (HCSB)
¹¹ So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.
¹³ And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
¹⁴ For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.

My observation:

Today I want to return to the topic we introduced yesterday. In the sixth chapter of Romans, Paul gives us the answer to mastery over the old nature. In the first ten verses Paul uses the word know, as the first resource in having victory over sin. Know that the old man is dead. Therefore since death no longer rules over Christ, it no longer rules over those who are in Christ.

Now, here are the two other resources that complete the arsenal of weapons to have victory over sin in our daily living.

First, "consider yourselves dead to sin". We need to get this so let's look at this verse in another way to make it clear for all of us to understand.

Romans 6:11 (MSG)
¹¹ From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did.

The outcome of knowing the truth about our old nature, and thinking of self as dead to sin, yields the fruit of gladly yielding to Christ.

Romans 6:12 (MSG)
¹² That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful for the blessings that come with being a child of God.

Father God, I thank you that you supply through the office work of the Holy Spirit the power to live the Christian life free from the mastery of sin over our life.

Father, I want with all my heart to yield to Christ, and not to the old sin nature in me that died when Christ died on the cross. Lord I want to speak the truth when I say, "Jesus is the Lord of my life". Father, I am relying on your power to sanctify me from the inside out. Amen.

Romans 6:22 (HCSB)
²² But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the end is eternal life!

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

Romans 1:16-17 (HCSB)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
¹⁷ For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

Daily Prayer_July 19, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 19:21 (HCSB)
²¹ Many plans are in a man's heart, but the LORD's decree will prevail.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 16:11 (HCSB)
¹¹ You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 6:1-10 (HCSB)
¹ What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?
² Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
³ Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.
⁵ For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection.
⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
⁷ since a person who has died is freed from sin's claims.
⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him,
⁹ because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him.
¹⁰ For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God.

My observation:

One verse that prepares me to understand this section of Romans that begins with Chapter 6 and concludes with Chapter 8 is this one.

Romans 5:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ Since by the one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

The key phrase is, "reign in life". This is what Paul is discussing in Romans 6-8. If salvation means anything, it means that we have the ability to reign in life. The obstacle that we face to achieving this is the old sin nature.

In Chapter 6 of Romans Paul addresses the problem of the old nature. For the genuine believer, Christ death on the cross solves that problem. When Christ died, I, and my old sin nature, died. You must die before you can experience real life.

The first step to reigning in life is to know this truth. In our focal passage Paul mentions this word three times; in verses three, six, and nine. Yes, we can have victory over the flesh, but we must know the truth about the old nature. Yes, I know that I know that I know that Jesus died for me.

My prayer:

Holy Father, Almighty God, Sovereign Lord, I praise you and I thank you for all that you have done through Jesus to make me righteous in your eyes.

Father God, I pray for the Holy Spirit's wisdom, knowledge and power so that I might know the truth about my salvation. Father, I desire to "reign in life". In Jesus name, Amen.

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

Romans 1:16-17 (HCSB)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
¹⁷ For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

Daily Prayer_July 18, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 19:18 (MSG)
¹⁸ Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 15:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ LORD, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain?
² The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart—

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 5:8-10 (HCSB)
⁸ But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
⁹ Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.
¹⁰ For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how] much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!

My observation:

I sit in awe this morning as I read the blessings revealed in the fifth chapter of Romans. It is like I have found a gold mine, and it was in my back yard all the time. O the riches that are ours if we just open our hearts and our hands to receive what God has for his children.

If you are a child of God, think about what God did for you when you were his enemy; when you were a lost sinner, when you were doing your own thing in your own way. If he did so much for you then, how much more will he do for you now?

Here is the nugget of truth to meditate on today. Jesus did more for us then saving us by his death; he also saves us by his life. The resurrected Christ is still working for us; he works in us to make us more like him, and he works through us to be a blessing in the lives of others. I want more of Jesus, and less of me.

Romans 8:34 (HCSB)
³⁴ Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

Hebrews 7:25 (HCSB)
²⁵ Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I praise and I thank you for the compassionate heart, and the almighty right hand of Jesus that are working to make me, shape me, mold me, and empower me to be the person you have purposed me to be.  With my whole heart, bless the Lord, O my soul, bless your wonderful name. Jesus, the sweetest name I know. Amen.

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

Romans 1:16-17 (HCSB)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
¹⁷ For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

Daily Prayer_July 17, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 19:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will give a reward to the lender.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 14:1 (HCSB)
¹ The fool says in his heart, "GOD does not exist." They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 5:1 (HCSB)
¹ Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

My observation:

There is nothing more sought after than peace, but often not found. We can find peace with God and the peace of God if we look to and have faith in the prince of peace.

Think about what the Psalmist said in our selected verse from the reading of today's Psalm. We will never find peace if the war with God is not ended.

Ephesians 2:11-12 (HCSB)
¹¹ So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called "the uncircumcised" by those called "the circumcised," [which is done] in the flesh by human hands.
¹² At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

God is able to turn his enemies into his friends, and the way he does it is through those who put their faith in the work of his beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:10 (HCSB)
¹⁰ For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how] much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for the victory we have in Jesus, and the peace that he gives to our life when we place our faith in him. Father, I thank you that Jesus has won the victory over death, sin, and the grave. Father, I thank you that his victory becomes my victory when I put my faith in Jesus.

Father, there is nothing that is more comforting to know than that I am no longer at war with God; that the battle is over, and that I am no longer the slave of sin. Father, I thank you for giving me peace down deep in my soul. In Jesus name, Amen.

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

Romans 1:16-17 (HCSB)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
¹⁷ For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

Daily Prayer_July 16, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 19:15 (MSG)
¹⁵ Life collapses on loafers; lazybones go hungry.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 13:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ LORD, how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
² How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?

Psalm 13:6 (HCSB)
⁶ I will sing to the LORD because He has treated me generously.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 4:1-5 (HCSB)
¹ What then can we say that Abraham, our physical ancestor, has found?
² If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to brag about—but not before God.
³ For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.
⁴ Now to the one who works, pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed.
⁵ But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness.

My observation:

In Romans chapter four, the Apostle Paul provides a clear message about the topic of how God brings about reconciliation of sinful man with the holy and righteous God. It has never been through the law, and gives Abraham as the example.

Genesis 15:6 (HCSB)
⁶ Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

As you can see from the above passage from Genesis, Abraham was justified by faith before the giving of the law.

This is the reason you can have confidence in your salvation, when it comes by the way that God has provided to make sinful man justified in his eyes. As for me I believe in Jesus, I believe in the one who says he is the way to right standing before God.

John 14:6 (HCSB)
⁶ Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I praise you and I thank you for sending Jesus, your only begotten son, into the world so that I might have the privilege of living in your presence forever. Father, I thank you for the gift of salvation; for the gift of everlasting life. In Jesus name, Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB)
²¹ He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

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

Romans 1:16-17 (HCSB)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
¹⁷ For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

Daily Prayer_July 15, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 19:14 (HCSB)
¹⁴ A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a sensible wife is from the LORD.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 12:6 (HCSB)
⁶ The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Romans 3:21-26 (HCSB)
²¹ But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets
²² —that is, God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction.
²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
²⁴ They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
²⁵ God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
^26.⌊God presented Him] to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.

My observation:

I am so glad that God the judge became God the Savior. I don't know about you, but I agree that I was a sinner who needed a Savior. If we look in the mirror, and that is what the Laws of God are, and we are honest we would have to agree with this truth.

Romans 3:22b -23 (HCSB)

…since there is not distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Paul said in another letter that the law is our tutor to bring us to faith in Christ. The law shows us our sins, but we don't use the mirror to wash our face. Only the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins. Only Jesus can make us righteous in the sight of God.

Has God declared you righteous because of your faith in Jesus Christ? It should have been me, and you who died. But God came and took my place, and your place. Have you, by faith, accepted your pardon?

Galatians 3:24 (HCSB)
²⁴ The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that you are the giver of the law, the judge of the law, and the Savior who paid in full my sin debt; a debt I owed, but could not afford to pay.

Father God, I thank you that Jesus paid it all, and I will forever be indebted to him because of what Jesus did for me; when at Calvary he covered all of my sins. Only a God like you could make a sinner a saint. All I can say is thank you Jesus, thank you God. Amen.

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

Romans 1:16-17 (HCSB)
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
¹⁷ For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.