Quote from Forum Archives on October 10, 2002, 10:58 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Today's message may be difficult to grasp for someone without
faith, but it is a key to really unleashing the power of what God
has freely given to us. To live our lives in complete abandon
for God may seem to some people as foolish, but that's just what
the scripture says, to give ourselves completely to God, and
scripture also indicates that those who live their lives without
God in mind will consider the things of God to be foolish.

My prayer is that you will carefully read today's message and
consider where you want to place your emphasis - on giving your
life completely to God and fulfilling God's plan for your life,
or in living for yourself. God does allow us to make that
choice, but one day each of us will stand before God to make an
account for our choices. I pray that you will choose God, and
that this message will be meaningful and practical for every day
choices that each of us has to make.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

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Q U I E T W A L K D E V O T I O N A L
by Walk Thru the Bible

Thursday, October 10, 2002

PHILIPPIANS 1

Paul urges us to have his perspective: 'To live is Christ, and
to die is gain' (v. 21).

INSIGHT

With Paul's perspective on life, he cannot lose. Wherever he is,
Paul considers it 'the world' into which the Lord wants him to
go to preach the Gospel. Even prison is a positive experience
for Paul, because he is able to spread the Gospel there. And if
he is to die, that is even better. To live is fruitful ministry,
but to die is gain. Most of us have our affections too deeply
implanted in the things of this world to identify with his
perspective. We must learn to let go.

PRAYER

* The Lord is worthy of our praise:

'Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth
by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too
hard for You. You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay
the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children
after them; the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of
hosts. You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your
eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give
everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his
doings' (Jeremiah 32:17-19).

* Pause for praise and thanksgiving.
Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free
from sin:

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your
tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:1-3).

* Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Then pray this affirmation to the Lord:

You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His
poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

* As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
* an eternal perspective,
* your ministry in your local church,
* whatever else is on your heart.

* Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:

To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that
we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him
be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).

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Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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