Daily Prayer_February 8, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 8:12-13 (HCSB)
¹² I, Wisdom, share a home with shrewdness and have knowledge and discretion.
¹³ To fear the LORD is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 31:9 (HCSB)
⁹ Be gracious to me, LORD, because I am in distress; my eyes are worn out from angry sorrow— my whole being as well.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 26:6-13 (HCSB)
⁶ While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, a man who had a serious skin disease,
⁷ a woman approached Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil. She poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table.
⁸ When the disciples saw it, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked.
⁹ "This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor."
¹⁰ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for Me.
¹¹ You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.
¹² By pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she has prepared Me for burial.
¹³ I assure you: Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her."

Matthew 26:14-16 (HCSB)
¹⁴ Then one of the Twelve—the man called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests
¹⁵ and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" So they weighed out 30 pieces of silver for him.
¹⁶ And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.

My observation:

Today's focal passage from the Gospel of Matthew provides a vivid contrast in how two people used opportunities.

Mary used her opportunity to show her devotion to Jesus. Some opportunities present rare moments. If we don't seize the moment, the opportunity will be lost. By taking advantage of her opportunity Mary did something that Jesus called noble.

Conversely, Judas thought she had wasted the opportunity by her anointing of Jesus before his impending death. The response of Jesus was that you will always have an opportunity to give to the poor because they will always be among you.

Judas failed twice, and the second failure was worse than the first. He used the opportunity presented to him to betray Jesus.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I ask for wisdom and discernment so that I might respond with gratitude to the opportunities that are presented to me. Father, I pray that I will see opportunities as gifts from the heart and the hand of my loving heavenly Father. Lord, I pray that I will receive them with a grateful heart, and use them wisely to bring honor to Your name.

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

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_February 7, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 8:1 (NLT)
¹ Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 31:7 (NLT)
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 25:11-12 (HCSB)
¹¹ "Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, 'Master, master, open up for us!'
¹² "But he replied, 'I assure you: I do not know you!'

My observation:

The focal passage for today is two key verses that spoke into my heart from the larger passage of the parable of the ten virgins as told by Jesus.

This passage caused me to pause, and reflect upon the telling words of Jesus, "I assure you: I do not know you!"

The bible speaks in the Old and the New Testament about God knowing people, and especially knowing those who belong to Him. Here are two choice passages from the New Testament.

John 10:14 (HCSB)
¹⁴ "I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me,

Galatians 4:8-9 (HCSB)
⁸ But in the past, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.
⁹ But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so thankful to You for taking the initiative in sending Your only begotten Son into the world so that I may know you, and be known by You. Knowing God, and to be known by Him is a gift of God that I gladly receive. My soul sings praise to the God of my salvation.

Thank You Lord (Seth and Bessie Sykes):

Some thank the Lord for friends and home,
For mercies sure and sweet;
But I would praise Him for His grace –
In prayer I would repeat:

CHORUS
Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank You, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.

--

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

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_February 6, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 7:24-25 (NLT)
²⁴ So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words.
²⁵ Don't let your hearts stray away toward her. Don't wander down her wayward path.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 30:4-5 (NLT)
⁴ Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 24:42-44 (HCSB)
⁴² Therefore be alert, since you don't know what day your Lord is coming.
⁴³ But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into.
⁴⁴ This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

My observation:

The time to prepare for the Lord's coming is now. The day of His appearing will be too late. Hence, the gospel writer warns us to be alert.

The Apostle Paul has some more instructions for being ready for our Lord's second coming. Ponder this message as you start a new day that could be the day of His appearing.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (HCSB)
⁸ But since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that my heart will be alert every day, and all the day long, so that I might not be surprised by your swift and sudden coming. Father, help me to see the importance of "now time". Lord, help each of us to see that the choice we make before that day determines our destiny. Lord, I want to be ready when Jesus comes.

Hebrews 4:7 (HCSB)
⁷ again, He specifies a certain day—today—speaking through David after such a long time, as previously stated: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.

Romans 13:11 (HCSB)
¹¹ Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

--

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

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Sunday Morning Reflections_February 5, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 7:4 (NLT)
⁴ Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 29:11 (NLT)
¹¹ The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 24:3 (HCSB)
³ While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?"

1 Peter 4:7-9 (HCSB)
⁷ Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and disciplined for prayer.
⁸ Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.
⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

My observation:

Today as I read Matthew chapter 24 in my Daily Bible Reading plan verse three reminded me that we are closer to the close of the age than we have ever been before.

How then shall we live? The Apostle Peter supplies the answer for every age until that blessed day and hour arrives.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that my times are in your capable and powerful hands. Father, I pray that I might use the signs of the end of the age as motivation to be serious and disciplined for prayer, and for maintaining an intense love for God and love for each other.

My song:

The King is Coming (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMMy-PlexHQ&feature=related

--

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

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_February 3, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 7:1-3 (NLT)
¹ Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.
² Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.
³ Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 27:7-8 (NLT)
⁷ Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me!
⁸ My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 22:34-40 (HCSB)
³⁴ When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together.
³⁵ And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him:
³⁶ "Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?"
³⁷ He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
³⁸ This is the greatest and most important command.
³⁹ The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands."

My observation:

Lots of people are like the religious leaders who questioned Jesus in our focal passage from Matthew. They want to argue about religion; they have no interest in worshipping and serving God. They use arrogance to hide their ignorance. It is the problem that man has had from the beginning. Job is an early example.

Job 38:1-3 (HCSB)
¹ Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:
² Who is this who obscures [My] counsel with ignorant words?
³ Get ready to answer Me like a man; when I question you, you will inform Me.

Jesus nailed the crux of the matter when he asked the religious leaders a very piercing question. Of course, they did not get this one right either.

Matthew 22:41-42 (HCSB)
⁴¹ While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them,
⁴² "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose Son is He?" "David's," they told Him.

My takeaway from today's focal passage is that in regards to the law we should focus on what we can do, rather than what we can't do. If Jesus is the Lord of your life, nothing is impossible when you put your trust in Him.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful that the love of God has been poured out within my heart by the Holy Spirit who you have given to your believing children. Father, by the Holy Spirit's power, I am able to love the Lord with my whole heart, and love my neighbor as myself.

My song:

Love the Lord (Click on link below to listen to this song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8mr839-TVs

--

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

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_February 2, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 6:20-23 (NLT)
²⁰ My son, obey your father's commands, and don't neglect your mother's instruction.
²¹ Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck.
²² When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you.
²³ For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 27:4-5 (NLT)
⁴ The one thing I ask of the LORD— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple.
⁵ For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 22:11-12 (HCSB)
¹¹ But when the king came in to view the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding.
¹² So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.

Matthew 11:27 (HCSB)
²⁷ All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.

My observation:

Do you have the right clothing to wear to the feast that God the Father, and Jesus his only begotten has invited you to?

Isaiah 64:6 (HCSB)
⁶ All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

It takes clothes provided by the host to get into this feast.

Isaiah 61:10 (HCSB)
¹⁰ I greatly rejoice in the LORD, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a turban and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

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

My prayer:

Father God, I thank you that I am able to stand in Your presence because of Christ alone. Oh, precious is the blood that makes me white as snow. It was nothing but the blood of Jesus that saved my sin sick soul.  Glory be to the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen and Amen.

--

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

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 





 

Daily Prayer_February 1, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT)
¹⁶ There are six things the LORD hates— no, seven things he detests:
¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,
¹⁸ a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,
¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 26:1 (HCSB)
¹ Vindicate me, LORD, because I have lived with integrity and have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

Psalm 26:11-12 (HCSB)
¹¹ But I live with integrity; redeem me and be gracious to me.
¹² My foot stands on level ground; I will praise the LORD in the assemblies.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 21:28-32 (HCSB)
²⁸ "But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'My son, go, work in the vineyard today.'
²⁹ "He answered, 'I don't want to!' Yet later he changed his mind and went.
³⁰ Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. "'I will, sir,' he answered. But he didn't go.
³¹ "Which of the two did his father's will?" "The first," they said. Jesus said to them, "I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!
³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn't even change your minds then and believe him.

My observation:

The parable of the two sons was very telling for the religious leaders who listened to Jesus tell the story. They got the meaning of the story, but the application by Jesus must have been piercing to their ears.

Many people say they have faith in God. In the light of what Jesus said, do we trust in the Lord if we are not doing what the Lord tells us to do? What kind of faith do you have?

James 2:14 (HCSB)
¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith save him?

James 2:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I come before you today like an empty pitcher before a full fountain, and I cry out like the Psalmist, Vindicate me. Lord, I believe in Jesus, help thou my unbelief. Father, I stretch my hands to Thee, no other help I know, if Thou withdraw Thyself from me, where would I go? Father, give me an alive faith. Amen.

--

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

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.