Quote from Forum Archives on April 18, 2005, 9:19 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Tue, 19 Apr 2005: Weekly Verses

Dear friends,

There was a season in my life where I wrote devotional messages
each day. I still enjoy reading them whenever I can (and I most
definitely advocate reading the Bible EVERY day). However, many
of you may find yourselves in positions where you cannot read
messages every day. Lately, I've found myself in a position
where I cannot send messages out every day.

My personal prayer is that each one of us has established enough
personal discipline that we read the Bible with regularity, and
we are in constant contact with God. If we fail to read the
Bible on any given day, we don't simply give up, we confess
privately to God that we have not read His Word, then we return
to Him and keep going.

I don't like missing reading the Bible, I don't like missing
having a quiet time, and I don't even like not sending out
regular messages. It happens, though, from time to time. When
it does, the best thing I can do is to make it right.

As I've commented before, these messages are simply things to
think about. Each of us need to develop our own ways to read and
study God's Word. Consistency is vital, whether you regularly
read these columns or not is of much lesser importance.

Phil Ware has some decent stuff. He collects short passages of
scripture and puts them together with a brief set of comments and
includes a short prayer with each message. There is usually a
theme that goes with each group of messages.

This week, the theme combines confession, prayer , and
conversation, three closely related topics concerning our Lord.

Yours in Christ,
Brian

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Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
www.crosswalkmail.com/dhjqylj_dqglwl.html

April 18, 2005

These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
www.crosswalkmail.com/hskbdap_dqglwl.html

~~~~~~~~~

MONDAY

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
--Romans 12:12
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Sometimes the key to survival is simply "setting our jaw"
and going on faithfully trusting that God is there helping us,
despite the outward circumstances. Choosing joy through hope
rather than despair, choosing patient endurance in times of
affliction, and choosing faithfulness in prayer are all
decisions of the will. We trust that God, who raised Jesus from
the dead, can also change our circumstances because he hears
our voice.

MY PRAYER...
Create in me, O Mighty God, a resolute and steadfast heart
so that I might persevere with joy no matter what the
difficulty. This I ask through your faithful Son. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then
will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will
heal their land.
--2 Chronicles 7:14
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Humility is not our culture's biggest asset or most desired
character quality. But humility is what is demanded -- not so
much because it's commanded (thought that would be enough), but
because we've earned it. Every year brings another wave of
major failures in morality, character, and spirituality.
Rather than progressing culturally, we find ourselves slipping.
Humility is earned! So let's be humble and call upon the
Lord!

MY PRAYER...
Holy and Almighty God, your deeds are awesome, your
faithfulness is overwhelming, and your mercy and grace are such
a blessing. Yet I come to you knowing that you hear me,
despite the incredible distance between you and I, between your
worth and holiness and my lack. I confess that I, and my
culture and country around me have made a mess of what you so
wonderfully blessed us with. I come humbly asking that you
reassert yourself in our nation in clearly recognizable ways.
I ask this in faith through Jesus. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

WEDNESDAY

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
--Philippians 4:6-7
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
God wants to hear our prayers, but to keep them from
becoming too self-focused, God wants us always to remember to
give thanks. It is so easy for us to turn prayer into a
request line. We are the ones who are left bereft when
thanksgiving and praise are robbed from our prayers.

MY PRAYER...
Gracious God, I have so many reasons to praise you. In the
face of trial and hardship I have your promises to reawaken my
hope. In the moment of victory I have you to thank for my
abilities. In the boredom of the routine, I have great joys in
your surprises. Thank you, God, for being so great and yet so
loving. In Jesus' name. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

THURSDAY

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that
you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful
and effective.
--James 5:16
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
To confess is to do two things with our sin: 1) to
recognize sin for what it is in God's eyes and 2) to get rid of
our secrets and be honest with another Christian. James'
language is powerful. He mentions that this confession doesn't
just bring forgiveness. It also brings healing.

MY PRAYER...
Holy Father, I have sinned. I now confess my own personal
sin of ____________. I ask for your forgiveness and for your
Spirit to strengthen me in overcoming temptation. I want to
live for you and not let my sin, any sin, entangle me and draw
me away from you. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

FRIDAY

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
--1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Where does your heart live? That's what these verses are
all about. Is there a constant awareness in your life that God
is present? Is he the unseen but always present companion in
all your ups and downs? Or is God here when it is convenient
and gone when things are busy? Joy comes from knowing we are
never alone. Prayer is the ongoing conversation we have,
Spirit to Spirit, with God. Thanksgiving is the great reminder
that we have been blessed no matter what the circumstances may
suggest.

MY PRAYER...
Precious and Righteous Father, thank you for being there.
Give me a deeper appreciation and a always more profound
awareness of your presence today. May my life reflect the joy
you have given me by saving me by grace. And may my heart
always find its home in you. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY

Make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be
always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know
how to answer everyone.

--Colossians 4:5-6
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
There are no random acts of kindness, only intentional acts
given the opportunity to happen. This is true not just in
deeds, but in words as well. But more than trying to avoid
poor speech, we are urged to use our speech to bless and help
others to come to know Christ.

MY PRAYER...
Father, forgive me for the careless words I have uttered
this week. I understand that these careless words are twice
sins -- a sin once when I committed it and a sin a second time
because I didn't see the opportunity to be redemptive. Open my
eyes Lord so that I may see what you have placed in my path.
Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death.
--Romans 8:1-2
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
"Free at last, free at last, praise Lord God Almighty I am
free at last." Becoming a Christian means we have been
liberated from law-keeping. We now have God living in us,
through the Holy Spirit, to not only help us know his will, but
to live it. Through the Spirit's power, we can do what no law
could make us do: live up to God's standards of righteousness.

MY PRAYER...
Gracious father, thank you for all of your gifts to me.
Today, I want to especially thank you for liberating me from
law and empowering me with your Spirit. Fill me and empower me
today with your Spirit as I live my life for you. Through
Jesus my Lord I pray. Amen.

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

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