Daily Prayer_July 8, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 18:22 (HCSB)
²² A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 107:24-28 (HCSB)
²⁴ They saw the LORD's works, His wonderful works in the deep.
²⁵ He spoke and raised a tempest that stirred up the waves of the sea.
²⁶ Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage melting away in anguish,
²⁷ they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and all their skill was useless.
²⁸ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Acts 27:21 (HCSB)
²¹ Since many were going without food, Paul stood up among them and said, "You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss.

Acts 27:33 (HCSB)
³³ When it was about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing.

My observation:

The  scriptures for our meditation today show the devastating results of not listening to sound advice. We find this happening in the passage from the Psalm and Acts.

The waters of life are dangerous. We need a tried and trusted captain to guide us. We need to listen to the one who knows the way. How long will you go without listening to God?

As we travel through this world, we need an unfailing guide, and we need a pattern for living, and for surviving during the storms of life. We find that guide in Jesus, and we find that pattern in the word of God.

In this world, we are all in the same boat. All of us need to get into, and stay in the word to make it safely to the other shore. Get on board the Old Ship of Zion, and the Master, and the bible will guide you safely to the Father's home.

Psalm 119:11 (HCSB)
¹¹ I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that you have provided in Jesus, the person we need, and in the bible, the book we need.

Father God, keep me near the cross, where Jesus paid the price for my redemption, and keep me near the bible, that will provide the pattern, the provisions, and the power to enable me to survive the storms of life, and make it safely to my home in heaven.  Amen.

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

Acts 1:8 (HCSB)
⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

 

 

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Daily Prayer_July 6, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 18:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 5:3 (NLT)
³ Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Acts 25:13-16 (HCSB)
¹³ After some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus.
¹⁴ Since they stayed there many days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king, saying, "There's a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.
¹⁵ When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked for a judgment against him.
¹⁶ I answered them that it's not the Romans' custom to give any man up before the accused confronts the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to give a defense concerning the charges.

My observation:

If you think the politics are bad today, you need to take a closer look at what the Apostle Paul had to go through in his day. He had to deal with crooked religious leaders, and with crooked government leaders. You have to scratch your head and wonder if anything good can come out of this perilous situation that Paul finds himself in the midst of.

The reality is that God does not clean up all of the messes that his people get involved in a tidy manner. In this world life is hard, and in many cases it is not fair or just. Paul did not get justice from the religious leaders or from the government leaders.

However, Paul was not without help or without hope. The Lord was in charge and in control of Paul, and of those he had to deal with. Although many of the things that Paul experienced were not pleasurable, they were purposeful.

What was Paul's crime?

Acts 25:18-19 (HCSB)
¹⁸ Concerning him, the accusers stood up and brought no charge of the sort I was expecting.
¹⁹ Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive.

Paul  may not have understood why all of those things were happening to him, but his faith in the Lord remained firm, and Paul remained faithful. You are in good hands when you place yourself in the hands of the Lord, and not man.

The Lord's servants live on the promises of God, and God is faithful to keep his promises. Consider these promises that the Lord made to Paul. Then observe how God fulfilled those promises in the midst of the rough waters that Paul had to sail through because of the false accusations against him by the religious leaders. When the storm is over you always learn something new about God.

Acts 9:15 (HCSB)
¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, "Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites.

Acts 23:11 (HCSB)
¹¹ The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am encouraged that even in the hard times we experience in life, that your people can find consolation in knowing that you are with us. Father, I thank you for always being near us, and for never forsaking us.

 Father, I have hope  in knowing that you are working in the midst of our storms in a purposeful way, and that when your work is complete, we will have the peace of God  in our life. Amen.

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

Acts 1:8 (HCSB)
⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

 

 

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Daily Prayer_July 5, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 18:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 4:8 (HCSB)
⁸ I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, LORD, make me live in safety.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Acts 24:14-15 (HCSB)
¹⁴ But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers' God according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
¹⁵ And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

My observation:

In our focal passage in Acts Paul finds himself before a civil judge. The accusation against him is that he is involved in an illegal religion.

These are his accusers:

Acts 24:1 (HCSB)
¹ After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.

This is their accusation:

Acts 24:5 (HCSB)
⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes!

In bringing charges against Paul, the lawyer used flattery of the judge, slander of Paul, and finally false witnesses against Paul.

However, in the midst of this unfair onslaught on Paul, we find in our focal passage that Paul demonstrated courage. It took courage for Paul to say, "But I confess this to you". Paul was not ashamed of the God he worshipped or of the gospel he proclaimed.

Paul rested in and had peace in his soul because of his trust in the Lord. He could say like the Psalmist said:

Psalm 4:8 (HCSB)
⁸ I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, LORD, make me live in safety.

In fact, this is what Paul said in his letter to the church at Rome:

Romans 1:16 (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.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you will strengthen my faith so that I will have the courage of my conviction when I face opposition.

Father, I ask you to help me to always remember that the safest place for Paul was in prison because you had much work for him to do there.

O, how rich we are because of the letters that Paul wrote while he was falsely imprisoned. Father God, it is hard for us to understand why lies prevail against the just, and the guilty appear to go free. However, help us to remember that you get the final say, and that the final judgment is in your hands.

So, today I will take comfort in knowing that God is in charge, and that I can rest in the promises of my God who knows, cares, and provides for all of my needs. Amen.

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

Acts 1:8 (HCSB)
⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

 

 

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Daily Prayer_July 4, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 18:14 (AMP)
¹⁴ The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 3:4-5 (AMP)
⁴ With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears and answers me out of His holy hill. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
⁵ I lay down and slept; I wakened again, for the Lord sustains me.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Acts 23:11 (HCSB)
¹¹ The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

My observation:

I am grateful for Independence Day in America. However, there is another day that I am more grateful for, and that is what I call Freedom Day. It's the day that Jesus set the captives free.

John 8:36 (HCSB)
³⁶ Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.

No matter what you face in this world the Christ believer and follower has the assurance of knowing that they never have to face any problem alone. The Apostle Paul had a helper, and you and I have a helper to equip and enable us to fulfill our mission and ministry.

As the Lord stood by Paul, he will stand by you. When God is with you nothing is impossible. The one who made the highest mountain is the God who can move the mountains posing as mission impossible in your life.

What freedom we have in Christ, and what a friend we have in Jesus. Yes, the hymn says, "All our sins and griefs to bear". Don't forfeit your freedom, receive it.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that you are a God who delights to be in the presence of your people. Father, I draw strength from the abiding and the abundant presence of the Lord in my life. Father, help me to have courage, with the knowledge that you will provide and protect. In Jesus name, Amen.

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

Acts 1:8 (HCSB)
⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

 

 

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Daily Prayer_July 3, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 18:13 (NLT)
¹³ Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 2:11 (NLT)
¹¹ Serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Acts 22:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ "After I came back to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple complex, I went into a visionary state.

My observation:

The Apostle Paul was near the end of his earthly journey, and he finds himself in another difficult circumstance. In times when friends are few, it is comforting to know that you are never alone when you are a person who depends upon the Lord for your strength.

When Paul started this final journey to Jerusalem he had a tearful departure with his friends. They knew that they would never see him again this side of heaven. Notice the consistency of Paul's prayer life in his farewell time with his friends  and his flock.

Acts 20:36-38 (HCSB)
³⁶ After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.
³⁷ There was a great deal of weeping by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him,
³⁸ grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

Paul was like his Lord, he prayed all the time, and in every situation. The Apostle Paul not only preached about prayer, he prayed. We should do the same.

Philippians 4:6-7 (HCSB)
⁶ Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that I have a God in whom I can trust, and that help is always just a prayer away.

Father God, I pray that my family and my friends, and all of those who come in contact with me, will see your servant leaning hard on Thee; that they will see me leaning hard on my maker and my keeper. In Jesus name, Amen.

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

Acts 1:8 (HCSB)
⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

 

 

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Daily Prayer_July 2, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 18:12 (NLT)
¹² Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)
¹ Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
² But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.
³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Acts 21:37-22:2 (HCSB)
³⁷ As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, "Am I allowed to say something to you?" He replied, "Do you know Greek?
³⁸ Aren't you the Egyptian who raised a rebellion some time ago and led 4,000 Assassins into the wilderness?"
³⁹ Paul said, "I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people."
⁴⁰ After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language:
¹ "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you."
² When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even quieter.

My observation:

It is enlightening  and edifying to see what you can accomplish when you approach people with diplomacy and discernment. It pays to have it, and it cost to be lacking in it.

The Apostle Paul used tact and it enabled him to make contact, and a hearing before his accusers. Having respect for others is always wise when you want to establish a relationship where you can gain a listening ear to present your point of view.

Being tactful does not require that you compromise your character. However, it goes a long way in getting others to listen to you.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, help me and all of your believing people to realize that we can be truthful and tactful, and not compromise who we are in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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

Acts 1:8 (HCSB)
⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

 

 

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Daily Prayer_July 1, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 18:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 150:6 (NLT)
⁶ Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD! Praise the LORD!

The Word of God for encouragement:

Acts 21:17-21 (HCSB)
¹⁷ When we reached Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.
¹⁸ The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
¹⁹ After greeting them, he related in detail what God did among the Gentiles through his ministry.
²⁰ When they heard it, they glorified God and said, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.
²¹ But they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, by telling them not to circumcise their children or to walk in our customs.

My observation:

In our focal passage for today, the Apostle Paul arrives in Jerusalem. He had been warned by many of the elders not to go to Jerusalem because troubled awaited him there. However, like Jesus, the Apostle did not shy away from trouble when doing the will of God was at stake. Jesus had to make a choice about going to Jerusalem, and he went in spite of what awaited him there.

Luke 9:51 (HCSB)
⁵¹ When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He determined to journey to Jerusalem.

Living for Jesus in this world will sometimes take you into difficult places and difficult circumstances. However, we just have to press on, when we are doing the Lord's will and doing the Lord's work.

My prayer:

Father God, I am so thankful that you have not left us in the world without the resources we need to do your will and work. Father, I thank you for being our constant companion along life's highways and byways.

 Father, help me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, and I know that if I stay close to him, everything will be all right. Amen.

--

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

Acts 1:8 (HCSB)
⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

 

 

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