Agree With Your Adversary Quickly

Jesus said to Judas Iscariot "Whatever you have to do, then do it quickly." What does He mean by that? In part, it is His desire to reconcile all things to Himself. Secondly, whenever your enemy seeks to bring something against you, it is better to let him do it quickly, otherwise it will be given time to grow and fester into a greater problem than if it is vented suddenly and put to rest. Our Lord seeks reconcilation in all forms. He prefer that you leave your gift at the alter and reconcile yourself with your brother and then come back and present your gift.

Daily Prayer: We know that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. Father, lead me in the way that I should go and help me remain faithful to the task. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

When God Lays Hold Of Your Spirit

Flesh was created to serve flesh. Spirit was created to serve Spirit. Never approach service to God in the flesh because that service is not from God, but from man. In the same way, if I am called to preach the Word for God, be sure it is not my words I preach, instead the Word of God.
We in our flesh cannot satisfy a Holy God. What we can do is obey Him in spirit and in truth.

Daily Prayer: Father, just as you had chosen Jonah to proclaim Your message to the unregenerate, when You lay hold of me, let me not run away as with Jonah. Instead,
create in me the spirit of obedience so that I may speak the words given to me so that
Your purposes can be accomplished in me. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

God's Grace Is So That We Can Live-Out Our Salvation

We know that by grace we are saved by faith apart from works. We, however, need to examine our selves daily so that we can continue to draw on God's grace so that we may experience the joy of our salvation. We should not have the attitude that I will suffer until I arrive at my time of prayer. Draw on God's grace now. Now is the key component in God's gospel. We were not saved so that we can work in the flesh for awhile and then in the Spirt for awhile. We were saved to walk in the light like He is in the light step by step by grace.

Daily Prayer: Lord, once we have been saved without works, don't let us backslide with the feeling that we must somehow have to earn God's merit in the future. We cannot on our best day earn God's favor. It was yesterday, it will be today, and again in the future be dependant on God's grace for you now and then again tomorrow. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Receiving Yourself in the Fires of Sorrow

Sin, sorrow, and suffering are, and it is not for us to say that God has made a mistake in allowing them. Sorrow removes a person's shallowness, but it does not make us a better person. Suffering gives us over to ourself or destroys us. You cannot find or receive yourself through success, because you lose your head over pride. You cannot receive yourself through monotony because you give in to complaining. The only way to find yourself is through the fires of sorrow.
You can tell the person who has been through the fires of sorrow, because in the time of trouble, this one is a benefit to many. For the one who has not shared that same experience, he is contemptuous and turns away others.

Daily Prayer: Father, we know that all things come together for good to those who love you. Allow us to receive from Your hand whatever You will knowing that all things you do are for good even if we cannot see the end from the beginning. Let us decide to trust You in all matters.
Amen.

Where Sin Is, There Grief Dwells

The Bible says that our Lord was acquainted with grief. This is because He realized something that we do not see. He understands that sins effect on God's good life is to kill and destroy it.
Sin has no life of it's own. It can only live off the life God has given. This is the very reason Jesus
suffered on the cross, died, and rose again so that sin can itself be put to death, not only by Him, but every believer in Jesus Christ. So the mission then, for every believer, is to by the power of the Holy Spirit within them, die to sin and live to God.

Daily Prayer: Father, all Christians who confess the victory at the Cross agree with You concerning the plight of sin in the lives of people. I thank You for sending the Son and the Holy Spirit to rescue us. Let us not fail to relive the Cross daily and let us not grieve the Holy Spirit.
Instead, let us trust in Jesus and depend on the Holy Spirit, so that we can live the live you gave us. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

BE WARY OF JUDGING OTHERS

The reason Jesus warns us not to judge others is because that same standard will be used against us. Jesus says that to judge others means that you have that same sin in your own heart. Jesus' preferred way of handling judgment is for Him to take it upon Himself on the Cross so that men and women can be reconciled to the Father and inherit eternal life. The one who makes judgment is doing the very opposite of what Jesus would do. Jesus offers grace by faith and the one who judges seeks to take vengence into his own hands. This is why Jesus told the parable of the two who were forgiven there debts. One was forgiven much and should have been most thankful. Instead of giving thanks, he seeks judgment on another who owes him very little. In the parable the one who forgave much brought back judgment on this man and put him in jail because he offered no compassion on his brother.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, let us learn from this lesson. As long as we have a Savior, we never need to take things into our own hands. Let us live our life how You lead Yours and that is dependance of God to handle our problems. Amen

Putting One's Self To Death So That We Can Live Our Life "In Christ Jesus"

The Apostle Paul said that in my flesh dwells no good thing. Yet Christ went to the cross for the atonement of the saints. Christ's mission was not to improve the physical life of the saint, but instead to make a way for the saint to dwell under the shadow of the Most High. It is in Christ were our righteousness can be found. One can work oneself to death trying to please God, but if you approach God in Christ, God welcomes you as a son or daughter for whom Christ died for.
We become co-heirs with Christ and we inherit Christ's holiness by our faith in Him.

Daily Prayer: Father, let us quit trying to come to you through our own good intentions. You have made a way for me to please you and be with You if I believe in the One whom You sent to redeem my soul. Let that be my sufficiency for You. This I pray Amen.

Discipleship: It's Not What We Do For Jesus, But Who We Are To Jesus

We have heard it said over and over that salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ apart from any works, but our protestant ethic desires to work for Jesus' cause. Unfortunately that's not what Jesus wants. What Jesus desires is for us to be passionate for Him. He wants us to have zeal.
Jesus says in Revelation that He wants either hot or cold, but warm He will spit out of His mouth. So how does one show passion for Christ? By obedience to Him. It is putting Him first and everything and anyone else after that. Passion is also shown in our persistant pursuit of Him. Peter is a good example. He had many faults, but even after denying Jesus, Jesus came to him and said "feed my sheep." Jesus wanted Peter to yoke with Him and learn from Him, just as a young boy follows his father and learns from him. This is what Jesus desires.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know that I belong to You. Do with me what seems best to You.
Comfort me by reaffirming with me that we are on the right track and let Your goodness be shown through me. In Your Holy Name I pray Amen.

What God Seeks Is Our Total Abondonment To Him

When one comes to a place of total abondonment, circumstances of life do not matter. It is like when the Jews were to enter the Promised Land and they sent scouts to check out the land (and their circumstances) and the report came back that the inhabitants of the land are much bigger than the Israelites! It was then that most wanted to turn back, but not Caleb and Joshua who said "then lets go move them out, because God is with us." Only two among all those people were totally sold out to God and His power, defying any opposition. The same was true with David and Goliath. When King Saul and the army didn't want to confront the giant, it was young David who said " who is this uncircumcised fellow that he threatens the Chosen People of God?"
It is when your God is bigger than your circumstances that you are allowed to experience God's power.

Daily Prayer: Father, help us to keep our eyes on You and not the lure of the world. Strengthen our faith in You so that when trouble comes we do not waiver. In Your Holy Name I pray Amen.

We Are Not Called To Die For Jesus, But To Lay Our Life Down For Him

Many people think that when Jesus said He lays His life down for His friends, they think He means the Cross. He does not mean the Cross, but He means that He set aside His heavenly glory to empty Himself for our sakes. This was an every day affair for Him. Because of the Cross, we are saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit at no cost to us because Jesus paid it all. Now Jesus says if you call me your friend, lay down your life for Me. We lay down our life whenever we choose His will over our own. Whenever we say not my will but Thy will be done. This is the high calling of the Christian life.

Daily Prayer: Lord, we thank you that we can start every day new. Yesterday's errors belong to yesterday and today is a new creation. Let us abide in You and You in me so that my life will be well pleasing to You. In Your Holy Name I pray Amen.

ONE CANNOT ACT OUTSIDE OF THEIR OWN CHARACTER

When we are born again by the Spirit of God, it places within us God's divine nature. Yet character in not a result of Spirit, but a result of works of the Spirit. It is a matter of practicing all diligence to the smallest detail of our lives. It is this "practice" which builds character and godly habits in God's elect. This is so that in the world, we are living testimonies of the grace of our salvation and it invites others to share in such a great salvation.

Daily Prayer: Father, place within me the boldness to be diligent and practice godliness this side of heaven. Let me develop godly habits and add to them daily so that I may be a partaker in Your divine nature. In Jesus name and for His sake I pray Amen.

DO NOT SAY "YES LORD BUT..."

The three letter word "but" is the greatest hinderance in our lives. "I would but...I could but...I will but..." You may have what you think are reasonable things you need to get in order before you allow Jesus His sway in your life. Jesus said "whoever puts his parents first, or his brother first, or even his own life first is not worthy to be My disciple." Jesus is not seeking sacrifice, he wants a relationship that abides in every aspect of our human experience. Only then can He do in and through you all the things He has planned since the beginning of time.

Daily Prayer. Lord Jesus, it is a sin to make excuses for not placing You first. Where would I be if you set aside the cross for other plans? Keep my heart faithful and my mind obedient so that my life is no longer my own, but the life that I live for You. Amen.

ABIDING IN SELF OR IN CHRIST

You can't have it both ways. You are either abiding in Christ and making Him the King He really is over your life or you set yourself on the throne and make yourself king. Abiding is the surrender of one's own self in favor of one whom you are not worthy to untie His sandel. Nobody is greater than their own Master. This is why it is important to let Jesus feed you your spiritual food so that you may be useful to Him in His Kingdom.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, all too often I have been an enemy of Your Kingdom so please forgive me. Let me start today to be aware that when I find myself striving for my own self-interests, I am in reality in rebellion against You. By Your Spirit, use me and direct me so that I neither stumble or fall. In Your Holy Name I pray Amen.

Jesus Says "Come To Me"

Many people who have been saved by the Cross of Christ feel that they must somehow suffer to gain Christ's favor. This is not what Jesus says. He says to come to Him and He will give you rest. Those who feel that must earn His favor reject that and try to fight the good fight instead of resting in Jesus. It is a matter of grace. Most have a hard time accepting grace since it is unmerited favor. Yet the only way to salvation is by grace apart from any labor. The ultimate Christian life is resting in Christ for your salvation and depending on the Spirit for your fruitful life. This is what the Bible teaches.

Daily Prayer: Lord, it is time to give up futile efforts to strive with You. It is also time for me to realize that the battle has already been won by You on the Cross. What battle do I feel I should be winning? Give me the wisdom to allow You to be King over Your Kingdom. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

ASK THE FATHER FROM YOUR OWN POVERTY

The greatest reason that we do not receive from the Father is that we are too proud to ask. Remember it was pride that was Lucifer's greatest sin. When we ask, we should be asking out of our own poverty. The panhandler does not ask with a particular outcome in mind. The panhandler realizes his impoverished condition and asks from his own poverty and is not too proud to do so. For this reason when we examine ourselves step up to ask the Father our greatest need so that He can provide for you.

Daily Prayer: Father, You know the condition of our heart. Let us set aside our self-esteem and put to death our pride. Let us trust you once again as we cry Abba, Father. Amen.

It Is Not Sacrofice, But Discernment That God Desires

Our calling is not one for predestined pain and suffering. Our calling is not one of myrterdome. Our calling is to spiritual discernment in the life choices we make.
God says "I desire obedience, not sacrifice." So how does one develop the spiritual discernment God requires? By doing those things God clearly wants us to do, even if they seem small or unimportant in our own eyes. By doing so, later on we willl discover that there was a reason for what we did in obedience and it will allow us to advance to another level.

Daily Prayer: Father, let us practice living by faith and not by sight. Common sense is not sufficient for us, but instead revelation guides our paths into all truth. Let us grow our faith so that even if it is small today, when the harvest is ready it will be in full bloom and accomplish it's goal. Amen.

WHERE YOUR POWER RESTS...

If a non-believer were to ask you what is your greatest strength and power as a Child of God you would be correct if you replied that the redemption "in Christ," is where your power rests. When we use the term "in Chirst" we are referring to the baptism of the Spirit where we are taken from the headship of Adam and placed under the head of the second Adam who is Christ Jesus. Now, whatever you ask in His Name will be done for you by the Father because when you abide in Christ and He is in you, your requests of the Father are His preordained will and not of the flesh. Flesh begets flesh and spirit begets spirit. In Christ your spirit connects with His Spirit so that the two become one new man and operates within God's will.

Daily Prayer: Lord, let the Spirit of Truth lead us in all of our ways. Let us not backslide in the flesh, because the Father is spirit and desires to help His children.
Give us the confidence to let go and let God. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

WHEN GOD'S WORD IS TRUE, THEN EVERYTHING THAT OPPOSES IT IS A LIAR

We just got done stating that God said "I will never leave you or forsake you." If God's word is true, then every circumstance or opponent that causes us to fear or doubt is a liar. It is like the Children of Israel who feared the occupants of the Promised Land so much that they themselves did not enter! This is really folly for the same people who watched God part the Red Sea. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want," the psalmist writes. He goes on to say "though he walk through the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, because God is with me." Is it any different for the New Testament saint? Then when trouble comes, yield to God and not to His enemy.

Daily Prayer: Father, we are quick to speak, but slow to believe. Plant in us the courage of David so that we fear our Maker and not His enemy. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU

These are the first person words of our Lord. Although God has many different attributes, faithfulness is the most outstanding to me. God demonstrates one-way loyal love in the raising of the sun each morning and for our slumber at night. God's love is not a conditional love, rather it is sacrificial agape love. God assures us that through His Son that our sins will be remembered no more. We don't forgive ourselves that completely. We get hung up in the "affairs of this world" forgetting that there is much more life in the heavenlies. The eye has not seen, nor the ear heard all that plans that God has for me.

Daily Prayer: Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson writes "Tell me Lord, what have I ever done, to deserve even one of the pleasures I have known." We don't deserve, Lord, nor can we repay.
Let us then receive Your grace and not try to earn it. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

"Him Shall He Teach In The Way That He Chooses"

Our Father is just that - a Father. He by His Son, puts the mind of Christ in those who are His. No longer do we seek God's will because we know it. By the Spirit, He guides our choices and if we stray He sends restraint. We can represent Him in our daily life because the activity of the Triune God is at work in the mind of the believer.

Daily Prayer: Father, thank you for Your concern and knowledge and control over my life. Thank you for the Son who is our model. Thank You for the Spirit who guides my conscience.
Finally, use me it what ever way You decide and I will be satisfied. Amen.

To Be Hidden In Christ

The Bible teaches us that we are to abide in Him and He in me. Oneness is the outcome of the Cross for a child of God. It is a removal of a world view of self and taking on a world view of Jesus. If we are to be his disciple, nothing and nobody can interfere with that relationship. It is also a taking on of His power. Oneness means that what Jesus has, I have in Him. This is why nothing can separate us from His love. His abiding presence is with us in every experience in life to teach us and to guide us.

Daily Prayer: Search me Lord Jesus. Put to death anything that comes in the way of an abiding relationship with You. Uphold me by Your Spirit so that others will be able to see You in me. Amen.