#687 Ready for Service

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

As it is God that calls us to service for Him, we must acknowledge that our ministry for the Him requires His strength, not only to accomplish the task for which we are called but also to be physically enabled to perform the task.  While we are to keep our bodies prepared for the Lord’s service, there are other disciplines that are required in order to be ready to serve Him as He calls us.  We first must know and understand God’s will for our lives which requires us to know His Word, the Bible, so we may be able to apply the Scripture to our ministry.  Seeking His wisdom, strength and guidance to proceed with and perform God’s called service should be a part of our continuing prayer life.  In other words, what we do in our daily walk with the Lord should not only be with the aim of making us more Christlike but also with the aim of being constantly prepared and ready to serve Him when He calls us.

 

Are you prepared for God’s call and ready to serve Him when He does call?

 

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”  (Romans 11:29)

#686 Strength and Guidance

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

Following the previous devotional on the need for prayers of healing, the question was posed as to God’s care and strength for those doing His calling and ministry.  Certainly, the example of Elijah can be applied to this question as well as God’s overall care for him.  Elijah had won a great victory for the Lord over the priests of Baal, ultimately having the people turn to the Lord and the false priests killed, thus causing the threats of Queen Jezebel.  The odds were greatly against him, but the Lord provided the strength he needed to accomplish the ministry and task given him by the Lord; however, it did take a major toll on his body and emotions.  When we are sold out to the Lord and obeying His calling, there will be times when we will become exhausted and possibly ill.  While the Lord’s strength will be with us during those times, we should also listen to God’s voice as to taking care of our bodies and not neglecting them.  Following God’s plan for our lives will produce great results for His kingdom and His care and strength will be with us just as it was with Elijah.

 

As you serve the Lord, trust Him to provide strength, remembering that your body is His temple, always praying for His guidance throughout your life of service!

 

“It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”  (Psalm 18:32)

#685 Intercessory Prayer – Prayers for Healing

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

God is the Great Physician, the Great Healer, One we can call upon in times of distress and illness, both physical and emotional.  We recall how God took care of Elijah when he had the great victory over the priests of Baal.  Under the threats of Jezebel, he fled down Mount Carmel and hid, physically and emotionally exhausted, afraid, and depressed.  It was God’s compassionate care of Elijah that brought him back from the brink of defeat, and it started with healing and strengthening his body.[1]  So it is with us today:  we often push ourselves in our daily lives, including our work for the Lord, resulting in our becoming physically exhausted and ill.  Knowing that God still has ministry for us to do and can heal us is a call for each of us to pray for the healing of those around us who are in those circumstances.  Intercessory prayer is a ministry every Christian can and should perform, calling on the One who loves and cares for His disciples.  As we begin a new year, let us faithfully begin, expand, or strengthen our ministry of intercessory prayer.

 

Do you know someone who is suffering, whether physically or emotionally?  If so, pray for the Great Physician’s healing of body and mind!

 

“And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, ‘Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.’  And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”  (I Kings 19:7-8)

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[1] I Kings 19:1-8