#877 God’s Response to Spiritual Concerns – Ineffective or No Prayer Life, continued

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we have observed what God’s expects us to avoid when praying, we begin to realize how He wishes us to pray.  Instead of praying long, loud, and repetitiously to be noticed, we are to pray secretly, humbly, and from the heart.  God expects us to spend time with Him in private communion and devotion, but there may be times when we are called upon in church to pray or are participating in a corporate prayer service.  The prayer should be from the heart and not intentionally loud or long in order to gain attention.  Likewise, churches often pray the Lord’s Prayer in their services, and rightfully so; however, we are to pray it from the heart, not just repeating the words.  As we continue Monday, we will see other ways that honor God when we are communing with Him.

Is your prayer life humble and honoring to the Lord?

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”   (Matthew 6:6)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#757 Little Foxes and Relationships – Responding Appropriately

Inspired by and adapted from a sermon entitled Catching the Little Foxes by Dr. D. L. Lowrie, Sr.; used with permission.

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Over the previous two days we have seen two words mentioned frequently:  “responding” and “appropriately.”  It has been suggested that responding appropriately when we are being hurt, insulted, disappointed, or upset by someone would have prevented us from allowing the anger within us to fester into the little fox of bitterness.  Responding appropriately, though, is easy to say and considerably more difficult to place into action, especially when someone is tearing us apart verbally.  Although it is generally important that the other person know our side of the discussion, it is not important that we “win” the discussion or argument, especially if it means treating the other person the same inconsiderate way we are being treated.  When we reply with the same grace and forgiveness shown by our Lord toward us, we can walk away with a peaceful heart, not harboring the anger and resulting bitterness, knowing that we are honoring and glorifying God in doing so.

The next time you are in a discussion that turns into more of an argument, think of the grace and forgiveness that God has shown you, and allow Him to guide you as you “respond appropriately” to the other person!

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”   (I Peter 3:9 – NIV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#617 Worship – Use of Talent for God

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A third facet in the worship of giving is of our talents and abilities for God’s glory.  Many of us Christians serve the Lord in capacities that never utilize our talent(s).  In Scripture Jesus spoke “The Parable of the Talents”[1] in which the men who used the talents given them saw their talents doubled while the man who buried his talent drew his master’s displeasure.  The talent in the parable was money, whereas today we consider a talent to be a special natural ability, aptitude or capacity for achievement or success that we as Christians have been given by God to use for His honor and glory.  As different talents are given to different Christians, they all work together to glorify God and edify each other.  It is amazing how God has given a special talent to every one of His children, but it is also amazing how many of His children bury their talent, failing to worship the Lord with it.  This displeases our Master who desires and deserves our genuine worship.

What is your God-given talent?  Do you bury it or use it in worship of your Lord?

“So, we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,” (Romans 12:5-6a)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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[1] Matthew 25:14-28

#582 Christian Brothers and Sisters – Fellowship in Christ

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A product of Christian brotherhood, being Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, is Christian fellowship.  This fellowship comes through the power of the Holy Spirit in the Christians’ lives and should be accompanied with a joyful attitude on the part of all Christians.  When we refer to fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters, we recognize that we all have a commonality in our salvation through Jesus Christ, our heavenly Father, an inheritance, grace, and suffering for the sake of Christ.  Another word that is closely related to fellowship in the Bible is “partner.”  As brothers and sisters in Christ, our times of fellowship bring us closer to each other, resulting in Christian partners who band together in worship and witness for our Lord.

Develop stronger fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ so you may be partners with them in Christian activities that honor and glorify Him!  

“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”  (Romans 15:7)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#565 Patience – God Answers Prayer

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We spend a lot of time in prayer, praying for our needs and desires, claiming God’s promise to answer our prayers, and fully expecting to receive an answer quickly.  We have faith that His promises are genuine and that He will absolutely fulfill every one He has made; therefore, we automatically expect an answer shortly after the prayers have been uttered.  Immediate answers not coming forth create a crisis within our heart.  We may begin to doubt the promises of God’s Word that He will answer our prayers which then may lead to doubting other promises in His Word which then may lead to doubting God Himself which then may lead to our prayer life and Christian walk being hindered.  God’s timing is perfect; He answers our prayers in accordance with His will, in a manner that will reflect honor and glory upon Him, be best for our walk with Him, and in His perfect timing.  Sometimes, this requires patience, waiting for His answer to come which may be a few days, months or even years, but He will fulfill His promise of answering.

Don’t get impatient with God when He does not answer your prayers quickly, He knows what is best and when is best for you!

“And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.”  (Jeremiah 42:7)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#548 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – The Christian Walk of Wisdom

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we have seen during the previous devotionals, ants live and work in ways that can teach us valuable lessons.  Although aimed at the sluggard, we do not have to be sluggards to learn and apply the lessons from ants in order to be wise.  As Christians we should strive to walk a walk that would be pleasing to God; Paul’s desire being to be more Christlike.  Having the ants as examples, we should have an attitude of initiative in our witness, listening to God’s calling, not waiting for someone else to lead us.  Our witness for Christ should be enduring and persevering, regardless of the results we see.  A right attitude and nature of integrity will show nonbelievers we have Christ in our hearts as we strive toward the prize of eternity with God.  When we have a taste of industriousness, we will work steadfastly for the Lord, exercising self discipline in avoiding what would hinder us.  We are able to live a Christian walk that is pleasing to the Lord only as we recognize that our Source of Insight is the Lord, spending time in His Word and being constantly in fellowship with Him.  Let us all learn these lessons from ants, gaining the wisdom God desires of us from His Word.

Learn these lessons from ants, apply them to your life, and experience a Christian walk that will continue to mature you spiritually and please and honor the Lord!

“Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”  (Daniel 12:10 – NASB)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#543 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – A Just God Judges Our Service

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christians are to labor laboriously not only so the Lord will remember and honor our work for Him, but also because our works for the Lord will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  This judgment does not determine whether someone is going to Heaven or Hell; this is for Christians only, those who have accepted Christ as personal Savior.  Those who have not accepted Him are bound for eternal separation from God and will be judged solely on whether they accepted or rejected Jesus Christ as personal Savior.  It is necessary that the service of all born-again Christians be analyzed and evaluated with the Judgment Seat of Christ being God’s appraisal of Christians’ works and service for Him in this life, determining reward or loss of reward.  No works in this life for God will receive no reward when judged by our righteous God.  It should be our desire to please and honor the Lord in such a way that He will be pleased to present a reward to us.  Our greatest reward will be spending eternity with Him in Heaven, thus we should have a desire to have a thirst for the things of the Lord and a thirst for industriousness in serving the Lord, knowing that we are honoring and glorifying Him.

As a Christian, are you ready to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ as your service for Him is evaluated?

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”  (II Corinthians 5:10 – ESV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#534 Serving the Lord (I Peter 4:11) – Claiming This Verse Personally

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Do you let God’s Word speak to you personally, obediently applying it to your life, and allowing it to change the way you serve the Lord?  We recently received an email from a Christian gentleman and devotional recipient who has done this.  He is a cancer survivor who has gone through brain surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, all of which have left him continually exhausted.  Yet, he has faithfully served the Lord, most recently as part of Disaster Relief Teams.  He testifies concerning I Peter 4:11, one of his life verses:  “This verse helped me understand that I could not serve the Lord in my strength and be successful.  It was only when I claimed the promise of His Word and called upon Jehovah-Jireh for the strength the Lord promises and provides that I was able to physically serve Him so that all glory and praise went to Jesus.”[1]  Each of us can have the same results when we serve the Lord in His strength and give Him all the honor and glory!

Examine your service for the Lord.  Is it done in your strength or the Lord’s strength?  Do you receive the glory or does the Lord receive all the honor and glory?  Let I Peter 4:11 be your guide in serving the Lord! 

“Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:  To whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.”   (Galatians 1:4-5)

May God Richly Bless You Today

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[1] Email received from devotional recipient concerning I Peter 4:11

#533 Serving the Lord (I Peter 4:11) – A Doxology Honoring Jesus Christ

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Peter concludes our focal verse appropriately with a short doxology that ascribes the glory, praise, might, dominion, and power for our ministry for the Lord to the One who should always receive our praise, Jesus Christ.  God is glorified in all things, and Jesus is the One through whom glory is given our heavenly Father, the One raised from the dead by our heavenly Father, and the One through whom we have salvation and a relationship with our heavenly Father, this relationship enabling us to receive and use spiritual gifts to serve others.   This praise and dominion is unlimited and everlasting, forever and ever, unto the ages of ages.  Many of us are faithful in serving the Lord, but many of us also fail to give Him the praise He deserves, and this praise is not just based on our service for Him, but also for who He is.  May we be faithful in giving Him all the glory and power forever and ever!  Amen, so be it!

As a Christian, do you daily glorify God through Jesus Christ who is your Savior and Lord?

“To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever.  Amen.”  (Romans 9:5)  

May God Richly Bless You Today

#532 Serving the Lord (I Peter 4:11) – Glory to God through Jesus Christ

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When our ministry and service for the Lord brings honor and glory to Him, it must do so through Jesus Christ, the only One through whom we come to the Father.  Jesus Christ is the mediator, our High Priest, through whom all blessings descend to us, and through whom all praises ascend to God.  Using our gifts as God would have us enables others to see Jesus Christ in the gifts and glory will be ascribed to God through Jesus Christ and the gifts that He has given us.  As we use our gifts to help others, they will not only see Jesus in us, they will praise God for the help they have received through the gifts.  Jesus is the medium by which God is honored.  It is only through Jesus Christ that God can be glorified not only in us but also in our sayings and doings.  As we continue to serve the Lord, we need to be sure our service is such that God will be glorified in everything.

Glorify God in all that you say and do as you serve Him today!

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”  (Matthew 5:16)  

May God Richly Bless You Today