Daily Prayer_December 3, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 29:4 (ESV)
⁴ By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 123:1 (ESV)
¹ To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

The Word of God for encouragement:

1 John 4:12-14 (ESV)
¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
¹³ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

My observation:

We are most alive when we love others with the love of the Lord. The most effective witness that we can be to others is to show them by our words and deeds that we care about them by loving them with the love of the Lord.

We have the divine gift of love within us; we need to allow it to come out of us with loving deeds done for others in Christ name.

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.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I thank you for the love of God that lives in the hearts of your people.

Father God, help us, by faith, to pass that love on to others in a loving and caring manner. Father, may your love be perfected in me. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_December 2, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 29:1 (HCSB)
¹ One who becomes stiff-necked, after many reprimands will be shattered instantly— beyond recovery.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 122:1 (HCSB)
¹ I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

The Word of God for encouragement:

1 John 3:4-11 (HCSB)
⁴ Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law; sin is the breaking of law.
⁵ You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him.
⁶ Everyone who remains in Him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen Him or known Him.
⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you! The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous.
⁸ The one who commits sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil's works.
⁹ Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because His seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God.
¹⁰ This is how God's children—and the Devil's children—are made evident. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother.
¹¹ For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another,

My observation:

The problem with sin in the life of a believer is that it is out of character. A genuine believer has within the divine nature of God. You have a new nature that is Christ in you. That new nature cannot sin. It's the old nature that is the problem.

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

God gives the believer in Jesus a new nature, but he does not remove the old nature. We may sometimes stumble, but we have an advocate with the Father.

1 John 3:6 (ESV)
⁶ No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

1 John 3:9 (ESV)
⁹ No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that you are a God who has the power to save, and the power to keep those that you save. Father, I am relying upon your power to keep me abiding in you.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Jude 1:24-25 (ESV)
²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,
²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

 

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_November 30, 2012

.The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 28:26 (HCSB)
²⁶ The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 120:1 (HCSB)
¹ In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me.

The Word of God for encouragement:

1 John 2:1-6 (HCSB)
¹ My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
² He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
³ This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands.
⁴ The one who says, "I have come to know Him," yet doesn't keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him:
⁶ The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.

My observation:

Who do you want defending you in the throne room of God? When Satan is the accuser, there is no one I would rather have then Jesus.

1 John 1:5 (HCSB)
⁵ Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.

It is wonderful to have Jesus as our advocate with the Father. However, he is more than that. Jesus is also an example for us to imitate. If you believe in God, and say that you love him; then do what he tells you to do in his word. Do what Jesus would do; follow his example.

1 John 2:6 (HCSB)
⁶ The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the work of Jesus in providing the means for our salvation.

1 John 2:2 (HCSB)
² He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

Thank you Jesus for taking my place, for bearing the wrath of God for my sins. Thank you Jesus for being my advocate before the Father. Lord, grant me the grace to be able to walk in obedience following the example of Jesus whose will was to do your will. In Jesus name, Amen.

John 5:30 (HCSB)
³⁰ "I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_November 29, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 28:23 (HCSB)
²³ One who rebukes a person will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Psalm 119:169-170 (HCSB)
¹⁶⁹ Let my cry reach You, LORD; give me understanding according to Your word.
¹⁷⁰ Let my plea reach You; rescue me according to Your promise.

The Word of God for encouragement:

1 John 1:1-4 (HCSB)
¹ What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life—
² that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—
³ what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
⁴ We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

My observation:

Today we begin our walk through the letter of 1 John. This is a book that would take more than five days to grasp the depth of the message that John declares in his writing.

I love the purpose for which he writes; in verse one he writes that we might have life, and in verse four he writes that we might have joy.

This life and this joy is something that the world has nothing to offer that would come close to what God offers to his beloved children.

What the world offers is incomplete, and temporary. Think about it. Everything that you can see with your eyes, and touch with your hands is perishing. Moses, one of the heroes of faith in Hebrews recognized this truth.

Hebrews 11:24-25 (HCSB)
²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter
²⁵ and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin.

Let's embrace the writings of John, and the life and the joy that God has for his people who know him, and have an abiding fellowship with him.

1 John 1:7 (HCSB)
⁷ But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for the privileges that we enjoy because we are children of God.

Father God, I thank you for eternal life, and for the fellowship that we enjoy daily as we walk in the life and the light of Jesus, our Savior.

Father, by faith in God, help and empower your people to enthrone Jesus as Lord over all of our life. Keep me and all of your people in the path that leads to complete joy. In Jesus name, Amen.

1 John 1:9 (HCSB)
⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_November 28, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 28:21 (ESV)
²¹ To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 119:130 (ESV)
¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

The Word of God for encouragement:

2 Peter 3:14-18 (ESV)
¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
¹⁵ And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
¹⁶ as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

My observation:

Peter's closing remarks have some great advice for the people in the first century. However, it is also very good advice for people of the twenty-first century.

Notice two encouragements; in verse fourteen he said, "be diligent", and in verse seventeen he said, "take care".

No matter how difficult things get in this world, don't allow anyone to take from you the hope that you have in God's word.

We live in a dark and dangerous world, but there are many open doors to share the gospel of Christ. God is still waiting patiently for the lost to trust in Jesus. He has chosen you, if you are one of his children, to participate in sharing the gospel.

2 Peter 3:15 (HCSB)
¹⁵ Also, regard the patience of our Lord as [an opportunity for] salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the sharing of the gospel of Christ. Father, most of all, I am grateful that the door of opportunity is open for the lost to come to Christ, and receive the gift of salvation. Father, I thank you for loving and caring about those who are outside of your sheepfold. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_November 27, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 28:19-20 (ESV)
¹⁹ Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

The Word of God inspiration:

Psalm 119:114 (ESV)
¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

The Word of God for encouragement:

2 Peter 2:1-3 (ESV)
¹ But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
³ And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

My observation:

The key thought that Peter emphasizes in chapter two is the destruction that false teachers cause, and the shambles they leave in their wake. They are a danger to everyone they encounter; they can corrupt your beliefs and your behavior.

The false teachers are so dangerous because of their deceit. Notice that they secretly bring in destructive heresies. In their tactics they use the same vocabulary, but not the same dictionary as the prophet and teachers sent by God.

Notice how destructive they are; first, they deny the Savior; and second, they deny the salvation that he provides.

2 Peter 2:1 (AMP)
¹ BUT ALSO [in those days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (destructive heresies), even denying and disowning the Master Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

Wherever God is working among his people, the Devil will show up. Therefore, we must be knowledgeable of the schemes of the Devil and his false teachers. Examine what those who hold themselves out as prophets and teachers say about the Savior and salvation. You can rely upon God's word to show you the truth.

2 Peter 1:19-21 (ESV)
¹⁹ And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.
²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I thank you for the precious word of God that provides us with the truth about Jesus, our Savior, who provides for our salvation. Father, I thank you for the word of God, and for the office work of the Holy Spirit of God. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_November 26, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 28:17-18 (HCSB)
¹⁷ A man burdened by bloodguilt will be a fugitive until death. Let no one help him.
¹⁸ The one who lives with integrity will be helped, but one who distorts right and wrong will suddenly fall.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 119:103-105 (HCSB)
¹⁰³ How sweet Your word is to my taste—[sweeter] than honey in my mouth.
¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

The Word of God for encouragement:

2 Peter 1:3-11 (HCSB)
³ His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
⁴ By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.
⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge,
⁶ knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness,
⁷ godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁹ The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.
¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.
¹¹ For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.

My observation:

The Apostle Peter was conscious that he was nearing the end of his earthly journey. His love and concern for God's people was on his heart knowing of the presence of false teachers in the assembly of God's people.

The best defense against false teaching is to know the word of God, and to keep growing in the word of God. If we are not growing, we are falling.

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. Knowing and growing in the word of God will be a blessing in your life, and your life will be a blessing to others.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for your abundant provisions to your people. Father, I pray that you would make me as useful and fruitful as you can. Father, make me to be willing where I am unwilling. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/