Daily Word of God & Prayer_February 9, 2016

Title: Do You Have A Deep Longing For Rest?

Text:

John 13:5 (ESV) 

5  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

Observation:

I have the word rest on my mind today. It was prompted by listening to a devotional, "Lord, Bring Us Rest".

As I sat down at my desk this morning I recalled the lyrics of the hymn, "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say".

"I heard the voice of Jesus say,

  "Come unto Me, and rest;

Lay down, thou weary one, lay down

  Thy head upon My breast."

I came to Jesus as I was,

  Weary, and worn, and sad;

I found in Him a resting-place,

  And He has made me glad."

I have this picture of Jesus in my head of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. Now, that is a scene that is peaceful, restful, and it makes my heart glad.

Living in this fallen world we face many things that are hard, difficulty, and too heavy for us to bear in our strength alone. This is what Jesus prepared His disciples for before departing this world.

John 16:33 (ESV) 

33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." 

You don't have to live under the circumstances of the problems, difficulties, disappointments, and troubles that arise by living life in this fallen world.

Would you like to have the heavy load that you are carrying lifted? Then, why not accept the invitation of Jesus, and His promise to give you rest.

Matthew 11:28-29 (ESV) 

28  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Father, thank You for the invitation that You extend to the weary, tired, and worn to come to You and find rest.

Father, I pray that many who are tired will come to You, and will be able to say like the hymn writer, "I came to Jesus as I was, weary, and worn, and sad; I found in Him a resting-place and He has made me glad". In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

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

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Daily Word of God & Prayer_February 8, 2016

Title: How Gracious and Good is the Lord?

Text:

Isaiah 30:18 (ESV) 

18  Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. 

Observation:

There is nothing that I can think of that is more profound than the truth that God answers prayer.

Notice what the bible says, "Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you".

So what are you waiting for before you have a conversation with God? What in your life is so important that you don't have time to have a conversation with your creator?

Notice another thing that the bible says, "He exalts himself to show mercy to you". The LORD is a God of love, and love is gracious and generous. God is waiting to be love to you, and to be gracious and generous to you.

This is God's invitation to you; you can receive it as a personal invitation to visit Him in prayer. Store this word from the prophet in your heart.

Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV) 

3  Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. 

After you have talked to God, and listened to Him, the next step is to wait for Him to answer your prayers. The bible says, "Blessed are all those who wait for him".

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. I am so thankful that You are a God who delights to hear from Your people.

Father, I am so grateful that You are a God of grace and mercy because these are things that I need in my life.

Father, I am so appreciative that You are patient with Your children because You remember that You made us out of dirt.

Father, I will watch and wait while You wait for the right time, and the right way to answer my prayers. Father, I thank You for being a God who knows our needs, and meets our needs. In the might name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

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

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

Daily Word of God & Prayer_February 5, 2016

Title: How to Handle Your Big & Small Problems

Text:

Acts 4:18-20 (ESV) 

18  So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 

19  But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 

20  for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." 

Observation:

The Apostles Peter and John had a huge problem. After healing a man in the name of Jesus, they were brought before the authorities of the Government, and ordered to cease preaching in the name of Jesus.

Notice what these disciples did when they were facing this opposition from people who had the power to punish them severely. They gather with other Christ followers, and they prayed.

Acts 4:29 (ESV) 

29  And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 

When God's people pray the power of God moves in supernatural power. God hears and answers the prayers of His people, and He shows up in power.

Acts 4:31 (ESV) 

31  And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

Notice how God's people prayed. They had been warned not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Who do you think they obeyed? They chose to obey God.

They did this, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness".

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I ask that You would quicken and quiet our hearts before You. Father, I ask that You stir and steer our hearts to take our problems to You in prayer first, and not last.

Father, make the desires of our hearts to be like the desires of Your heart so that when we pray we will know that You will hear, and answer our prayers. 

Psalm 37:4 (ESV) 

4  Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Psalm 37:16 (ESV) 

16  Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. 

Father, create in us the desire to delight in You, to cast all of our cares upon You, and to be grateful, and thankful for what we have. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

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

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

Daily Word of God & Prayer_February 4, 2016

Title: The Power of Love

Text:

Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV) 

37  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 

38  This is the great and first commandment. 

39  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

Observation:

Today I want to focus on what Jesus had to say about the superiority, and the power of love. I'm glad Jesus was asked, and answered this question.

Matthew 22:36 (ESV) 

36  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 

Our focal passage for today gives the answer of Jesus to that question. We are further informed by what John wrote to those he described as his "dear little children".

The Apostle of Love said:

1 John 4:20-21 (ESV) 

20  If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 

21  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 

Is there anybody in your circle of influence that you find it difficult to love? Before you answer consider this.

1 John 4:21 (ESV) 

21  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 

Love is such a high priority with God that Jesus also said this about how God's people should love others.

Luke 6:27-28 (ESV) 

27  "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

28  bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 

Loving our enemies is not easy; it is not natural. Love is supernatural. God has poured love into your heart, and your responsibility before God is to love others with the love of God.

Romans 5:5 (ESV) 

5  and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 

This is something you can do. Before you say you can't love some people consider this verse.

Romans 8:9 (ESV) 

9  You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 

Prayer:

Father, I am so touched and convicted by this message of the bible on the priority that You put on loving You, and loving others; and how they go together.

Father, help us to be more loving today than we have ever been before. Father, I pray for the faith to take the next step in appropriating the love that You have poured into our hearts up to You, and out to others. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

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

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

Daily Word of God & Prayer_February 3, 2016

Title: Do You Have Something You Can Get Excited About?

Text:

Psalm 118:24 (KJV) 

24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Observation:

I don't know about you, but I am charged by being in the presence of people who have enthusiasm showing on their face, and in the way they live their lives.

The focal verse for today provides us with something that we can get excited about every day that you awake to behold the splendor and beauty of the day that the Lord has made.

Let's get all excited and show on our faces and what comes from our mouth our enthusiasm for the Lord, and what He has done.

"This is the day, this is the day.

That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.

We will rejoice, we will rejoice,

And be glad in it, and be glad in it.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the day, this is the day

That the Lord has made."

Prayer:

Father, I thank You that everyday is a day of rejoicing because it is a day that You have made, and everything that You make is good, and greatly to be praised.

So, today I am reminded of the encouragement of the Apostle Paul to the church at Philippi that we can rejoice always in the Lord.

Philippians 4:4 (ESV) 

4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Father, let everything that has breathe give praise and thanks to You, and rejoice evermore. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

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

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

Daily Word of God & Prayer_February 2, 2016

Title: Who Do You Walk With Daily?

Text:

John 1:4 (ESV) 

4  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

Observation:

In this verse the Apostle John writes about Jesus saying, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men".

When we walk daily with Jesus his life and light will shine through us, and we will shine brightly in a dark world; the light of Jesus will dispel the darkness.

John 1:5 (NLT) 

5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 

"While passing thro' this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you."

It's such a blessing to have a close and intimate relationship with Jesus, and take Him everywhere you go. Don't leave home without Jesus; allow His presence to shine through you.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your precious and powerful name. Father, I pray for sufficient grace in each of Your children that the life and light of Jesus will shine brightly through our everyday living in a dark and dangerous world. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

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

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

 

Daily Word of God & Prayer_February 1, 2016

Title: Two Things That Are On My Mind

Text:

1 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT) 

4  I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 

Hebrews 13:5-6 (HCSB) 

5  Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. 

6  Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 

Observation:

These two scripture have been on my mind within the past 24 hours. So, to work them into my heart I decided to write about them this morning.

The first scripture came to my mind as I read a chapter from a book about marriage. The author wrote about the problem of contempt in marriage that results when the couple looks at each others shortcomings. This focus results in a chain of contempt.

The second scripture came to my mind as I was listening to the daily scripture and prayer this morning.The focus of today's prayer was for contentment.

Can you have contentment in your life if you have contempt for other people who are made in the image of God? Of course sin has marred God's plan, and He has declared that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

The members of the church that Paul wrote to had many shortcomings. However, this did not stop Paul from being grateful for them. Paul was grateful for what God had done for them in Jesus Christ.

If you want to break the chain of contempt that you have for others, why not take the attitude that Jesus had for sinners. He embraced them, he went to their homes, he had dinner with them, and He even called some of them to be His disciples.

Showing gratitude and giving honor to people in spite of their shortcomings will break the chain of contempt in your heart. Why not cooperate with God in His desire to make you more holy; it may not make you happy, but pleasing God is better than being happy.

Remember that happiness is dependent upon right things happening, and happiness is for a season. But, pleasing God will give you joy, and you can have joy all the time.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I pray that You will give all of Your children a burning desire to be pleasing in Your eyes.

Father, help us to slay the dragon of contempt by cultivating the attitude of gratitude, and receive the blessing of contentment that You delight to give to Your children. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

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

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry