Daily Prayer_October 31, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:24-26 (HCSB)
²⁴ A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within.
²⁵ When he speaks graciously, don't believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
²⁶ Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 104:1 (HCSB)
¹ My soul, praise Yahweh! LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with majesty and splendor.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Hebrews 2:1-4 (HCSB)
¹ We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.
² For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,
³ how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.
⁴ At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions [of gifts] from the Holy Spirit according to His will.

My observation:

Our focal passage for today is the first of five admonitions to believers to pay attention to what God says in his word. This admonition is to pay attention to what you hear. And we all know that hearing is not enough, we must also obey.

Let's us look at what Jesus had to say about this topic as he taught his disciples and followers during his earthly ministry. If believers won't listen to the admonitions of Jesus, who will we listen to?

Jesus taught the importance of paying attention to what you read in the sacred scriptures. Our responsibility is even greater because we have the whole word of God.

Jesus taught us that when we read the bible we should hear the voice of God speaking to our hearts in a personal way. Jesus taught that we should take heed that we hear, what we hear, and how we hear.

Mark 4:23-24 (HCSB)
²³ If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!"
²⁴ Then He said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you.
Luke 8:18 (HCSB)
¹⁸ Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him."

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I thank you that we have the privilege of having the word of God in a language that we can read and understand. Father, I pray that we will not forfeit such a great privilege by failing to read your word regularly. Father, may it become our daily bread for our spiritual growth.

Father God, I pray that you would sharpen our understanding of the value of reading and heeding what you say to our hearts from your heart when we open our hearts to hear the message of God. O Lord, how I want you to work effectively in my heart.  In Jesus name, Amen.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (HCSB)
¹³ This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers.

 

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 30, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:23 (NLT)
²³ Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 103:1 (NKJV)
¹ A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

The Word of God for encouragement:

Hebrews 1:1-4 (NKJV)
¹ God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

My observation:

Today we begin our walk through the letter to the Hebrews. From the internals of the letter we gather something about the author, but he does not mention his name. Some have identified him as Paul because of these references:

Hebrews 10:34 (NKJV)
³⁴ for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.

Hebrews 13:19 (NKJV)
¹⁹ But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Hebrews 13:23 (NKJV)
²³ Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

Also cited to support Paul as the author is this reference by the Apostle Peter:

2 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

We may not be certain of the author, but we can be sure of the theme of the book. The author tells us in this verse.

Hebrews 6:1 (NKJV)
¹ Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

In our focal passage the author, writing to Jewish believers, encourages them not to go back to the old ways. He points out that Jesus is superior to the prophets and the angles. Why go back to the wilderness when you have the Promised Land ahead? This chorus is stuck in my head.

"I am bound for the Promised Land,
I am bound for the Promised Land;
Oh who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the Promised Land."

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful for Jesus, and for what he has done to deliver those who come to him by faith, from the bondage of sin, death, hell, and the grave. Father, I thank you that because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross at Calvary, that all of your believing children are on their way to the Promised Land. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 29, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:21-22 (ESV)
²¹ As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
²² The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 102:1-2 (ESV)
¹ Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!
² Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!

The Word of God for encouragement:

Philemon 1:4-7 (ESV)
⁴ I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,
⁵ because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,
⁶ and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
⁷ For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

My observation:

This brief letter contains some things that are very important for every child of God. What got my attention were these key words: problems, providence, and prayer. The Proverb and the Psalm for today set the table; providentially.

Paul had led Philemon in becoming a child of God. Paul reminds Philemon that he owes Paul a debt that is impossible to repay.

Philemon 1:19 (ESV)
¹⁹ I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.

Paul's appeal to Philemon was for Onesimus, which means unprofitable; he was a slave belonging to Philemon. He had run away from his master, and Paul met him in Rome in prison.

While in prison Paul led his fellow prisoner Onesimus to become a child of God. Now that was a divine appointment; the providence of a loving God.

Philemon 1:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.

There is nothing that we will ever encounter in life that is beyond the reach of prayer. We see it in the introduction to Psalm 102:

"A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord."

Without a doubt Philemon, a man of faith and love, had prayed for his father in the faith, Paul; and I would not be surprised that he also prayed for his runaway slave, Onesimus. Now, we see in this letter that Paul completes the circle of prayer with his prayer for Philemon.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that even though everything around us is changing, you are a God who never changes. Father, I pray that I will be a person who makes prayer my first response to affliction and problems.

 Father, I am leaning on Jesus, and relying upon a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

Psalm 102:25-27 (ESV)
²⁵ Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
²⁷ but you are the same, and your years have no end.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 28, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:20 (HCSB)
²⁰ Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 101:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ I will sing of faithful love and justice; I will sing praise to You, LORD.
² I will pay attention to the way of integrity. When will You come to me? I will live with a heart of integrity in my house.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Titus 3:8-11 (HCSB)
⁸ This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.
⁹ But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
¹⁰ Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning,
¹¹ knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.

My observation:

The key thought that I take away from today's focal passage from Titus is this phrase, "God's work". Paul admonishes Titus to insist upon this truth when he leads God's people.

Titus 3:8 (HCSB)
⁸ This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.

Now we must always be mindful that we don't work to obtain salvation. Our salvation is the work of God. Paul said on another occasion, "It is the gift of God". This is what he said to Titus.

Titus 3:4-7 (HCSB)
⁴ But when the goodness of God and His love for mankind appeared,
⁵ He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
⁶ He poured out this [Spirit] on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
⁷ so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful for the work of the triune God in providing for the salvation of my sin sick soul. Father, I thank you for such a wonderful salvation; such a magnificent demonstration of love, grace, and mercy.

Father God, may we as your people determine to purpose in our hearts to work with our hands and out feet to do your will and your work in this world in which we live.

Father, we realize that without you working in us and through us we can't do anything that will be of eternal value. In Jesus name, Amen.

John 15:5 (HCSB)
⁵ "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 26, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that's not his is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 99:1 (HCSB)
¹ The LORD reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He is enthroned above the cherubim. Let the earth quake.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Titus 1:5 (HCSB)
⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town:

My observation:

Paul could not do the work that God appointed him to do without the help of others. One of those helpers who God called to work along the side of Paul was Titus. The task fell to Titus to complete the work that Paul had begun in Crete.

I note three very important things about the instructions that Paul gave to Titus that would benefit every church of every age.

First, a church must have the right kind of leaders.

Titus 1:5 (HCSB)
⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town:

Paul gives the qualifications for those leaders in Titus 1:6-9.

Second, a church must have the right kind of teaching.

Titus 2:1 (HCSB)
¹ But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching.

Third, a church must have the right kind of living.

Titus 2:7 (HCSB)
⁷ in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching.

Titus 2:14 (HCSB)
¹⁴ He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.

A church with the right leaders, right teaching, and right living will result in a healthy body, and a health body will result in a growing body.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, the instructions that the Apostle Paul gave to Titus is sound teaching that would greatly benefit every pastor and every church. Father, lead and guide your people to read carefully this letter to Titus, and apply the teaching to our lives and to our churches. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 25, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 24:26 (HCSB)
²⁶ He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 97:1 (HCSB)
¹ The LORD reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Titus 1:1-4 (HCSB)
¹ Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,
² in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
³ In His own time He has revealed His message in the proclamation that I was entrusted with by the command of God our Savior:
⁴ To Titus, my true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

My observation:

This is election season in my country where elections are important, and where elections have consequences. We cherish our freedom to elect those who will rule over us.

However, even though I cherish the privilege of electing our leaders; there is another election that I cherish even more.

In one of the longest greetings, the Apostle Paul says some very profound things to his son in the faith, Titus; the recipient of this letter.

The key phrase that leaped off the page and into my heart today is, "to build up the faith of God's elect". Now how consequential is that election? How profound is it to know that God has chosen people of faith to be His own possession; not just for a season, but for eternity. The God who promised this cannot lie.

Numbers 23:19 (HCSB)
¹⁹ God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?

I need to give God a hand clap and a shout of praise, but I need some help. Right now I am alone in my prayer closet, but I feel some help coming.

Psalm 98:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains shout together for joy.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I clap my hands, and I shout for joy for the love that you have for the people you have elected to be your own possession.

Father God, may all who belong to you take joy in being a slave of God. Father, may we never forget that we belong to you, and not to ourselves. Father, may we live for you, and not for ourselves. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 24, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:12 (HCSB)
¹² Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 95:10-11 (HCSB)
¹⁰ For 40 years I was disgusted with that generation; I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray; they do not know My ways."
¹¹ So I swore in My anger, "They will not enter My rest."

The Word of God for encouragement:

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (HCSB)
¹ I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom:
² Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
³ For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.
⁴ They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
⁵ But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

My observation:

In our focal passage for today the Apostle Paul gives to Timothy a solemn charge to preach the gospel of Christ.

The charge is solemn because of the one who has called, anointed, and sent you to preach the gospel. The authority of God, who called Timothy to preach, should give him great comfort, and remove from him the fear of man. When God is for you, you don't have to fear man or seek the favor of man; you need only fear God, and obediently do the work he called you to do.

The task of proclaiming the gospel is not easy; it will take you out of your comfort zone. People will have itching ears to hear things that make them comfortable, and that pleases them. Notice what the task of the preacher is.

2 Timothy 4:2 (HCSB)
² Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

There is an old adage of preachers that says, "The preaching of sound doctrine should afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted".

One of the things I observed about the preaching of Billy Graham is that he frequently held his bible in his hand, and said, "The bible says".

The Apostle Paul was a wonderful example for Timothy to follow. Paul preached the gospel; he preached on stormy seas, and he preached behind prison bars. Paul did not make excuses; he seized every opportunity.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (HCSB)
⁴ One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful for every faithful servant of God, who preaches sound doctrine; who preaches the gospel of Christ in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit of God.

Father, I pray that we will never grow weary in telling the goodnews of the gospel of Christ. In Jesus name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV)
¹⁸ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 23, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 15:1 (HCSB)
¹ A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.

Proverbs 15:4 (HCSB)
⁴ The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 94:18-19 (HCSB)
¹⁸ If I say, "My foot is slipping," Your faithful love will support me, LORD.
¹⁹ When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.

The Word of God for encouragement:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (HCSB)
¹ But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days.
² For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
³ unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,
⁴ traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
⁵ holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!

My observation:

The last days are the topic that Paul writes about in our focal passage for today. We know from the scripture when these days started.

Hebrews 1:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
² In these last days, He has spoken to us by [His] Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him.

When will these days end? The Apostle Paul answers that question also; this season will end when Jesus returns.

2 Timothy 4:1 (HCSB)
¹ I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom:

So, yes we are living in the last days, and we can live our lives in the blessed assurance that Jesus is coming again. Things are difficult now, and they are going to get worse. However, we who belong to Christ have hope, and our hope is in Christ Jesus. Is there anybody or anything that you would rather have than Jesus?

The Apostle describes many who will have another agenda in the last days; they will be lovers of self, and not lovers of God. When self is on the throne; God has to take a back seat. That leads to a very difficult condition in the world.

When people are lovers of self they tend to turn to loving things and using people. God's design for us is that we love God. When we love God; then we have the desire to love people, and to use things.

What should a believer do? Paul gives the answer in the last part of verse five, "Avoid these people".

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that you provide the wisdom that we need to live through all of the seasons of our life in the world. There is nothing that will happen in our future that will be a surprise to you.

Father, I pray that your people will follow the right examples, and stay with the word of God. We are too close to turn around now. In Jesus name, Amen.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 (HCSB)
¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,
¹⁵ and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 22, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:3 (HCSB)
³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 91:9-11 (HCSB)
⁹ Because you have made the LORD—my refuge, the Most High—your dwelling place,
¹⁰ no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent.
¹¹ For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.

The Word of God for encouragement:

2 Timothy 2:1 (HCSB)
¹ You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

My observation:

In our walk through this world we soon discover that life is not a bed of roses when you are a servant of God. Being a believer does not come with a pass that exempts you from the troubles of this world. You will find that friends are few, and even those you trust will disappoint you.

Let's examine what the therefore is there for in Paul's encouragement to Timothy. Paul wanted Timothy to consider what had happen to him.

2 Timothy 1:13-15 (HCSB)
¹³ Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
¹⁴ Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you.
¹⁵ This you know: All those in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

You may not always be able to count on the support of your friends. However, you will always be able to depend upon your God. You can stand on the promises of God when everything around you appears to be crumbling and falling apart. Learn what to hold on to, and what to let go.

You have to be strong to be an effective servant of the Lord. The strength needed is not physical, but spiritual, and you need it continuously. You cannot be strong in the Lord if you are not feeding daily on God's word, and always in prayer.

2 Timothy 2:15 (HCSB)
¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

2 Timothy 1:3 (HCSB)
³ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that the grace of God is sufficient for any need we will ever encounter in our walk through this world. Father, I pray that you will enable us by the Spirit of God to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Lord, help us by the power of the Spirit of God to hold on to what is good and that will make us strong in the Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 21, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool.
² Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 90:12 (HCSB)
¹² Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.

The Word of God for encouragement:

2 Timothy 1:3-7 (HCSB)
³ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.
⁴ Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy,
⁵ clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also.
⁶ Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

My observation:

No matter how long we have served the Lord, we all stand in the shoes of Timothy at one time or another in our life.

We all need encouragement and we all need the prayers of others. Timothy was a blessed man to have Paul in his life.

How blessed he was to have someone who loved him, cared about him, and who prayed for him constantly.

Notice how sincere and fervent was the prayers of Paul for Timothy, "I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day".

O the favor that results from the fervent prayer that we pray for one another. Let's heed the teaching and the practice of the Apostle Paul by praying for one another fervently and constantly.

Colossians 4:2 (HCSB)
² Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that each of us would have someone that we hold close enough in our heart to have a burden for, and the blessing of praying for that person fervently and constantly. Father, I thank you for hearing and answering the prayers of the saints for one another. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 19, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 25:28 (HCSB)
²⁸ A man who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 89:2 (HCSB)
² For I will declare, "Faithful love is built up forever; You establish Your faithfulness in the heavens."

The Word of God for encouragement:

1 Timothy 4:6-10 (HCSB)
⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed.
⁷ But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness,
⁸ for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
⁹ This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.
¹⁰ In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.

My observation:

Paul gives Timothy a measuring tool by which he can evaluate his ministry. O, that we would all have a burning desire to be "a good servant of Christ Jesus". To be anything less is to fall short of the purpose of God for your life.

God's commitment to you is forever. Notice what the psalmist said, "Faithful love is built up forever". God loves you with an everlasting love, and you can bank on that promise. I read this wonderful promise in the book.

Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB)
³ You will keep the mind [that is] dependent [on You] in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.

In closing, notice this thought, "godliness is beneficial in every way". Paul said that in verse eight. In the previous verse Paul tells Timothy how to grow in godliness. Here is the key, "train yourself in godliness". This is why it is so important, "since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come". Physical training is valuable, but it is small in comparison to training in godliness.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise you and I thank you for these encouraging words from the scriptures. Father, I pray that they will find a home in good soil, and yield results in the lives of many that will last forever.

Father, create a burning desire in our hearts to train our lives in godliness since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 18, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 25:23 (HCSB)
²³ The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 89:1 (HCSB)
¹ I will sing about the LORD's faithful love forever; I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth.

The Word of God for encouragement:

1 Timothy 3:14-16 (HCSB)
¹⁴ I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon.
¹⁵ But if I should be delayed, [I have written] so that you will know how people ought to act in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
¹⁶ And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

My observation:

What is your view of the church? How does it align with the view expressed by Paul in his letter to Timothy?

Perhaps we all need to revisit our view of the church; we need to see the church as God sees the church. There is no perfect church; neither are there any perfect church members. However, we do serve a perfect God. This perfect God meets his people in the church.

You are missing the most glorious thing you can experience this side of heaven when you don't go to church to worship and fellowship with God's people, and experience the presence of God among his people.

Matthew 18:20 (HCSB)
²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them."

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you will elevate my attitude about the church so that it will align more closely with the attitude of Jesus.

Father God, give us a love for the church like Christ Jesus had for the church. Father, help us to give more of ourselves to the church that Jesus loved, and gave himself for her sake.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Ephesians 5:25-26 (HCSB)
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her
²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 17, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 25:21-22 (HCSB)
²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
²² for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 88:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out before You day and night.
² May my prayer reach Your presence; listen to my cry.

The Word of God for encouragement:

1 Timothy 2:1-6 (HCSB)
¹ First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,
² for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
³ This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,
⁴ who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human,
⁶ who gave Himself—a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

My observation:

The keyword for today is prayer. How appropriate that the Lord would engineer it so that the priority of prayer would come the morning after the second presidential debate last night. It gets even better; to have the featured Psalm be the saddest Psalm in the Psalter. However, even in the depths of his sadness and sorrow; the psalmist still had enough faith in God to pray.

At the time that Paul made this appeal to God's people to pray; they did not have a very friendly face in the government. Nero was no friend of the believers.

Our hope should not be in the government. Rather, our hope should be in God. Our hope and our help should come from the Lord, and not from the government.

Our prayers to God should follow the model that Paul sets out in his letter to Timothy. Let's align our expectations of government to have a more limited role in our life; we don't need the government to be our savior; we already have a Savior, and he is Christ Jesus our Lord.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you will unite and strengthen your people; please direct our hearts to look up to you, and not to the government to meet all of our needs. Father, I thank you that you are a promise-keeping God. In Jesus name, Amen.

Philippians 4:19 (HCSB)
¹⁹ And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 55:22 (HCSB)
²² Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

 

--

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_October 16, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 25:18-19 (HCSB)
¹⁸ A man giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
¹⁹ Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 87:3 (HCSB)
³ Glorious things are said about you, city of God. Selah

The Word of God for encouragement:

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (HCSB)
¹² I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—
¹³ one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.
¹⁴ And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
¹⁵ This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"—and I am the worst of them.
¹⁶ But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst [of them], Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

My observation:

Today we begin reading through the first of two letters that Paul wrote to his son in the faith; Timothy. The encouraging message in this first chapter is that God is the giver of mercy to his needy people. All of us stand in the same shoes that Paul stood in, and I am so thankful that God's grace is sufficient, even for the worst of sinners. That is Paul's testimony.

God will meet you where you are; he met Paul where he was, and Paul wrote to encourage Timothy that what God did for him, he would do for Timothy.

God is a faithful God, and he will meet you in whatever condition you are currently in. God is looking for some wayward daughter or son to come home.

"Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me?

Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, mercies for you and for me?"

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that you are a God who has an abundance of grace and mercy, and that you love us supremely.

Father, the value you place on the life of the worst of sinners amazes me. You stand alone as being the God of grace and mercy. I thank you Lord for all that you have done for all who have come to you in faith. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

I love the smell and taste of freshly baked bread. I like it so much myself that I delight to share a slice with you daily. Just click on link below to try a slice of freshly baked bread; it's the source of life.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Matthew 6:11 (KJV)
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

Daily Prayer_October 15, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 25:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house; otherwise, he'll get sick of you and hate you.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 86:3 (HCSB)
³ Be gracious to me, Lord, for I call to You all day long.

The Word of God for encouragement:

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (HCSB)
¹³ But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
¹⁵ Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, either by our message or by our letter.
¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,
¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.

My observation:

It is so amazing in one sense, and so comforting in another sense, to read of the unfathomable love that God has for the crown of his creation; you and me. Read this verse and take some time to let it sink deep into your mind and soul.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 (HCSB)
¹³ But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

How great is this? God's work of salvation did not start two thousand years ago on Calvary. God had salvation on his mind before creation. That is mind stretching, huh? Yes, it's a God thing; it's a big thing, and I am so glad it depends upon his work, and not my work.

Many times I have had to confess in so many areas of my walk that "I can't". However, I don't have to, and God never said that I could; he said that he would. Notice that sanctification is God's work.

What is our part? This verse has the answer to that question also; it is belief in the truth. No matter what test or trial you may face in life; stay close to God, and he will carry you through it all. Keep on trusting in the one who saved you, and is sanctifying you by the Holy Spirit of God. He will complete in you what he has started.

Stand firm on the word of God, and upon Jesus Christ, the solid rock; all other ground is sinking sand. In closing, Paul says that it's always a good time and the right to give praise and thanksgiving to God for so great a salvation.

My prayer:

Father, I am so delighted to associate myself with the saints of the ages in giving praise and thanksgiving to you for who you are, and for what you have done. Only eternity future will reveal the greatness of our salvation. Praise the Lord!

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (HCSB)
¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,
¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.

--

I love the smell and taste of freshly baked bread. I like it so much myself that I delight to share a slice with you daily. Just click on link below to try a slice of freshly baked bread; it's the source of life.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Matthew 6:11 (KJV)
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.