Daily Prayer_February 3, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 3:6-7 (MSG)
⁶ Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. ⁷ Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 143:1 (ESV)
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 17:15-19 (HCSB)
¹⁵ But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. ¹⁶ He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ Then Jesus said, "Were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸ Didn't any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?" ¹⁹ And He told him, "Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well."

My observation:

Today I will focus on the response of the ten lepers to their healing. Then tomorrow we will return to this passage to look at another point.

The encounter of Jesus with the lepers included ten men. Up to a point they all did the right thing. All of them saw their need, they were humble, they took their need to Jesus, they were persistent, they had faith, and they were obedient.

Nine of the ten lepers failed to give thanks to Jesus for their healing. Instead they returned to their old way of life. However, one of them, the least of them did return to give thanks to Jesus.

We should run to God and ask him to meet our needs. However, we should also run to God to thank him for meeting our needs. We should each ponder the words of Jesus.

Luke 17:18 (HCSB)
Didn't any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?"

My prayer:

Father God, I pray that I will be like the Samaritan who returned to Jesus to give thanks. Father, I thank you that in your mercy you reached down and included me in that number of those you are pleased to call your children. Father, I was once a foreigner, but now I am in Christ, and for that I am forever grateful to you, and your son, Jesus my savior.

Ephesians 2:12-13 (HCSB)
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. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

My song:

Forever Grateful (Click on link below to listen to this song):

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

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Current topic: A Proverb a day for wisdom, and a Psalm a day for inspiration.

 

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

 





 

Daily Prayer_February 2, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 2:6-8 (ESV)
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; ⁷ he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, ⁸ guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 141:3-4 (MSG)
³ Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips. ⁴ Don't let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall into bad company. And these people who only do wrong— don't let them lure me with their sweet talk!

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 17:11-14 (HCSB)
¹¹ While traveling to Jerusalem, He passed between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As He entered a village, 10 men with serious skin diseases met Him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" ¹⁴ When He saw them, He told them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And while they were going, they were healed.

My observation:

There is so much to see in today's focal passage from Luke on the subject of prayer. It is even more revealing when you have the trusted and guiding hand of the Holy Spirit as your teacher. Like the Psalmist, I make this my prayer as I open the scriptures each day.

Psalm 119:18 (HCSB)
Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wonderful things from Your instruction.

In this passage I see demonstrated though these ten lepers in their encounter with Jesus the power of prayer in getting our most pressing needs met. These lepers had a need. Their community resources offered no hope for them. The community's response was to isolate them. That's what they did with leapers, they were outcasts.

Where do you turn for help when the world offers none? This encounter of the lepers gives us some direction. I constantly encourage myself by singing during the day, "Father, I stretch my hands to thee, no other help I know".

Whatever needs you have in your life you can do like the ten lepers. You can take those needs to Jesus, and he will take the time to listen to you. Jesus is still in the business of giving hope, help, and healing to those who ask the Savior to help them.

The ten lepers simply prayed this prayer, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us". Then, they did what Jesus told them to do. Faith in God and obedience to God still works.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that each of us will learn an important lesson on prayer from the encounter of the ten lepers with Jesus.

When others could not help them, they believed that Jesus could help them. If Jesus will take the time to help these ten outcast leapers, I am certain that my heavenly Father and my Savior will help me.

Father, I am not too proud to pray like these sinners prayed, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us". Father, I praise and thank you for being a hope for the hopeless, a helper for the helpless, and a healer in a class all by yourself.

My prayer:

What a Friend (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/789

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Current topic: A Proverb a day for wisdom, and a Psalm a day for inspiration.

 

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

 





 

Daily Prayer_February 1, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 1:7 (MSG)
Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 141:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ Lord, I call on You; hurry to ⌊help⌋ me. Listen to my voice when I call on You. ² May my prayer be set before You as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering.

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 12:22 (HCSB)
Then He said to His disciples: "Therefore I tell you, don't worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.

Luke 12:28-34 (HCSB)
²⁸ If that's how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you—you of little faith? ²⁹ Don't keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don't be anxious. ³⁰ For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. ³² Don't be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won't grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

My observation:

Today begins a new month, and we continue to walk through the gospel of Luke in search of what Luke wrote about prayer. Our focus has been on the prayer life of Jesus, and on his teaching of how his disciples could experience a prayer life like he had.

Our focal passage today finds Jesus in a conversation with his disciples. In this discourse he admonishes them to exchange the worry filled life with a life of faith in God. There is something that every believer needs to know, and that is your loving heavenly Father will provide for your needs.

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

The believer who trusts in God as their source need never be concerned about scarcity. God's storehouse has an abundant supply that will never be empty. Jesus put his finger on the problem of worry and anxiety.

Luke 12:28 (HCSB)
If that's how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you—you of little faith?

Prayer is the key that unlocks the door to the provision of our needs. If we ask the Father to meet our needs, even our little faith in a BIG GOD is sufficient. If you trust in God, he will do for you what no other person or power can do.

Matthew 17:20 (HCSB)
"Because of your little faith," He told them. "For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you will give me a confident faith, and the wisdom to trust in you to meet all of my needs. Father, I am so thankful that you are able and willing to exchange my worries and anxieties for the peace of God. Father, increase my faith, and deepen my prayer life.

My song:

Faith is the Victory (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_Faith_Is_The_Victory.html

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Current topic: A Proverb a day for wisdom, and a Psalm a day for inspiration.

 

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 31, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 31:10 (AMP)
A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

The Word for inspiration:

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

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 11:27-28 (HCSB)
²⁷ As He was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "The womb that bore You and the one who nursed You are blessed!" ²⁸ He said, "Even more, those who hear the word of God and keep it are blessed!"

My observation:

As I was reading through the gospel with my eyes alert for Jesus teaching on prayer today's focal passage leaped off the page.

What I saw in this passage portrayed for me a picture of a Christ like person of prayer. The comment of the woman presented Jesus with an opportunity to teach one of life's most important lessons. This woman thought of how wonderful it would be to have the privilege of being the mother of Jesus. For her that would be the ultimate blessing.

I am so glad that she asked that question. Jesus responded by saying that the greatest blessings are given to those who hear the word of God and keep it.

John 14:21 (HCSB)
The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him."

1 John 3:22 (HCSB)
and can receive whatever we ask from Him because we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray for the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to keep me in the Word, and submissive to the Word of God. Father, I desire to have the intimate and obedient relationship that Jesus had with you. Father, help me to be a person who hears and keeps the word of God so that I can receive the greatest blessings that comes to those who hear and keep Your Word.

My song:

There Shall be Showers of Blessing (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/260

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Current topic: A Proverb a day for wisdom, and a Psalm a day for inspiration.

 

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 28, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 28:9 (HCSB)
Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law— even his prayer is detestable.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 149:5 (HCSB)
Let the godly celebrate in ⌊triumphal⌋ glory; let them shout for joy on their beds.

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 11:11-13 (HCSB)
¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

My observation:

Today we conclude our focus on (Luke11:1-13). The center of this passage is Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray like he prayed. This is a passage that I intend to return to often so that I can reach the depth in my relationship with the Lord where I can commune with my heavenly Father the way that Jesus did.

I am so glad that we can depend upon our heavenly Father to be who is and to do what he says he will do. He is a good God, and he gives his children good gifts. He is a God of abundance, and he gives to his children generously.

James 1:17 (HCSB)
Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.

The ultimate demonstration of his care for us is the gift of the Holy Spirit that he gives to us at our spiritual birth. God who is good has given us himself.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (HCSB)
¹³ When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. ¹⁴ He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

The glorious thing about this promise is that he gives the Holy Spirit to every one of his children. Your prayers don't have to go very far to reach him because he abides within us always. I am so glad that God is a forever God. When you have God in your life, count your blessing. If you need something, ask the Father.

Romans 8:9 (HCSB)
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.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I delight to join with the Apostle Paul in singing the refrain, "to the praise of His glory". I gleefully join with the psalmist in celebrating in triumphal glory. Father, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit to every believer in Jesus.

Romans 8:15-17 (HCSB)
¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!" 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 co-heirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

My song:

I Am Praying for You (Click on link below for lyrics and to listen to this song):

http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/I_Am_Praying_for_You/midi/

 

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Current topic: A Proverb a day for wisdom, and a Psalm a day for inspiration.

 

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 27, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:28 (MSG)
Liars hate their victims; flatterers sabotage trust.

Proverbs 27:6 (MSG)
The wounds from a lover are worth it; kisses from an enemy do you in.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 149:4 (HCSB)
For Yahweh takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with salvation.

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 11:5-8 (HCSB)
⁵ He also said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶ because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don't have anything to offer him.' ⁷ Then he will answer from inside and say, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can't get up to give you anything.' ⁸ I tell you, even though he won't get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his ⌊friend's⌋ persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Luke 11:11-13 (HCSB)
¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

My observation:

Today our focus will be on the latter passage from Luke. The former passage will allow us to see the comparison Jesus made between earthly fathers, and the heavenly Father.

This passage lays out very clearly the role of the heavenly Father in prayer. Jesus makes the point that if our earthly fathers give good gifts to us, how much more our heavenly Father will give even better gifts to us.

Notice the contrast between our earthly fathers who are evil, yet they know how to give good gifts to their children, and the heavenly Father. Our heavenly Father who is perfect will certainly hear our prayers and meet our needs.

Tomorrow, I will comment further on this passage, and conclude this extended teaching of Jesus on prayer.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so glad that Yahweh takes pleasure in his people. The thought of knowing that my heavenly Father is satisfied with me is overwhelming when I consider the meaning of that for my future.

Father, I am acutely aware that your pleasure with me is because of the unspeakable gift of salvation that you gave to me.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB)
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 song:

Thank You Lord (Click on link below to listen to this song):

YouTube - Don Moen thank you Lord

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Current topic: A Proverb a day for wisdom, and a Psalm a day for inspiration.

 

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

 





 

Daily Prayer_January 26, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 26:17 (HCSB)
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 for inspiration:

Psalm 149:1 (HCSB)
Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the godly.

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 11:9-10 (HCSB)
⁹ "So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

My observation:

Jesus concludes his illustration on the believer's role in prayer with an exhortation. Then he gives them the point of the sermon. If we want to know what our role is in prayer we need only read and heed what Jesus said in this parable. The result will be answered prayer, sweet communion with the heavenly Father on a daily basis, and getting all of our needs met by the only one who is able and willing to meet our needs.

However, we must pray. If Jesus had to pray, then surely we need to pray. God is not a reluctant Father. Rather, he is a loving and caring Father who delights to commune with his children. What a blessing it is to be able to have so much face time with our maker and redeemer.

Proverbs 8:17 (HCSB)
I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.

Jeremiah 29:13 (HCSB)
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, what a blessing it is to be able to hear from the lips of Jesus this encouragement to pray.

Father, I pray that you would create in my heart the continuous desire to pray and not fret. Father, I pray that I will always remember the point that Jesus made in his little talk with his disciples.

Luke 11:10 (AMP)
For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.

My song:

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LMQfOp9w8k

--

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Current topic: A Proverb a day for wisdom, and a Psalm a day for inspiration.

 

Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.