Oct 27 Yours is the power

“You made the earth by Your power; You founded the world by Your wisdom and stretched out the heavens by Your understanding.

 When You thunder, the waters in the heavens roar; You make clouds rise from the ends of the earth. You send lightning with the rain and bring out the wind from Your storehouses.”

“You are the Maker of all things, including the people of Your inheritance – the Lord Almighty is Your name.”

Father, You are the One.  The Only.  You are forever my Creator and Savior.  And no one and no thing can stand against You.  No power, ruler, or authority.  Nothing in heaven, on the earth or below it.  What You purpose will come to pass.

“The Lord reigns!”  “Let the nations tremble.”  Father, I believe one day soon, You will reign on earth.  Nothing will be able to stand against You.  And the nations will tremble.

Your people looked for You to deliver them out of the hand of Babylon.  And You delivered.  But You had an even greater deliverance in mind.  “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”

When You walked this earth and sacrificed Yourself on the cross, that bought salvation and offered it to all.  And now, the world waits for “the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”

Father, You purified me with Your blood.  You gave me Your Word to teach me how to live.  Help me live as Yours.  Amen

Jeremiah 51:1-19; Psalm 99:1-3; Titus 2:11-14

 

 

Oct 10 Send an Encourager

Father, in Jeremiah’s time, even the priests and prophets were lying to their leaders and the people. They reported only what the people wanted to hear: that they would be safe; that there would be peace, and that these words came from ‘the Lord’. Father, would You send a true prophet, like Jeremiah, to the nations’ leaders of the world, and open their ears to Your truth. Jeremiah was not popular because he told it like it was. He relayed Your truth, not pacifying lies. I fear many of our nations’ counselors are not being ‘Jeremiahs’.

The media has become a ‘prophet’ of the day. And their reports are very skewed, so that the people are controlled by political and social interests and schemes. And yet the people are not completely innocent either. For they have chosen one by one how to live their lives and who or what they will worship.

You gave Jeremiah a very difficult task in a very difficult time, but You promised to rescue and save him. You said, “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose”.   Father, show me Your good purpose. Help me be strong in my faith like Jeremiah was.

Lord, You sent Paul to be an encouragement to the Thessalonians. Would You also send someone into my life, and into the lives of my loved ones, to be a mentor like Paul was.

Each one of us needs to be encouraged in our walk with You. Each one of us faces specific challenges and difficulties.   We may not be able to find direction, understanding and encouragement on our own. But You, Father, know each of us so intimately, You would know the exact person to send, who can relate to us and speak words of encouragement and comfort and instruction into our individual lives. You know how each of us needs to be “urged to live lives worthy of You”.

Not just anyone qualifies to speak into our lives. Father, would You “clear the way” for Your specific mentor to come to each of us and speak Your truth.   And like Paul’s prayer, would You “make our love increase and overflow for each other…and strengthen our hearts so that we will be blameless and holy in Your presence…”. Father, I need You and Your truth in my personal life and in my country. And Your encouragement to stay on the right path. Send Jeremiahs and Pauls. Send Your truth. Amen

Jeremiah 14:11-16; I Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

Dec 10 The lion has roared…

“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” 

Father, You gave a special message to a shepherd, Amos.  His was not in a priestly or kingly line, yet You gave him an important message for the people.  He was a shepherd of Tekoa, a place about six miles south of Bethlehem, as Bethlehem is about six miles south of Jerusalem.  At the time, the people he spoke to thought they were doing well.  But about thirty years later, the Assyrians took Israel into captivity.  The list of nations he voiced Your displeasure of and coming judgment on were eventually judged.

Father, it seems to me that when You choose to bless a nation, You hold that nation responsible for its national conduct.  Surely each person was not guilty of the offenses listed, but the nations were judged nonetheless.  My country has been blessed.  And I believe You will hold it responsible for its national conduct.  Right now, that is not looking good.  Amos questioned “Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey?”  Then answered: “The lion has roared – who will not fear?”  He was telling people there was a real and present danger.  I believe my country is being warned of a real and present danger if the people do not turn back to You.

You also revealed Your plan to John through Revelation.   He wrote down Your Words to specific churches.  I believe they were real churches at the time, but I also believe the same words are meant for Your church today.

In obedience to these words, would You help me remember that You are my first love; that You come before anything else in my heart.  And let me act accordingly.  Like the church in Ephesus, let me not tolerate wicked people, or listen to false teachers, or follow the Nicolaitan teachings of lustful immorality and lording church positions and power over lay people.  Give me the strength to “persevere…endure hardships for Your name, and not grow weary”.

Like the churches in Smyrna and Pergamum, let me remember my wealth comes from my relationship with You.  Show me where the evil one is influencing me, or my loved ones so we can reject it.  Increase our faith so we have the perseverance to remain true to Your Name.  Do not let us be led away from Your teachings by the temptations of Balaam who tempted the Israelites into immorality and idolatry.

Father, thank You for revealing Your plan to Your servants the prophets.  I have ears.  Let me hear and heed these words that are for my life and my country.  Open my ears and my understanding.  Amen

Amos 1:1-3:15; Revelation 2:1-17