S: Titus 3:5,6 NLT "He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth , and a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior."
O: Paul was contrasting what our lives were like before and how they have been changed. Jesus washed away our sins by his death and we were reborn and given new life through the Holy Spirit.
A/P: Jesus I love the picture of you pouring out the Holy Spirit on us and through us. Through your blood we are washed clean and through your blood we are given the Holy Spirit. I need your empowering strength today to live according to your word. To have the faith to believe. To raise children in your ways. To be a faithful witness to the lost around me. To build your church. Pour out your Spirit on me I ask through Jesus and his sacrifice.
Scripture: 2 Kings 23:25 (AMP)25 There was no king like him before or after [Josiah] who turned to the Lord with all his heart and all his soul and all his might, according to all the Law of Moses. "
Observation: 1) Josiah was unique 2) He turned to the Lord 3) With all his heart and soul 4) he obeyed God 5) He didn't limit what God could do to what had happened in his past (evil father and grandfather, and many years of Israel's disobedience.
Application: As I read Kings I'm reminded of how spiritual warfare, and spiritual progress seem to take 2 steps forward and 1 step back. The seem to be like losing the same 10 pounds over and over again. This thought is disheartening to me, because in my heart of hearts, I believe that the past determines the future. But this is not true. My heart and soul today determine the victories or losses I will experience in the near future. God promises to lead me in triumph, but am I following? Have I turned to the LORD WITH ALL MY HEART AND ALL MY SOUL? I need to pray about this today, and recommit to the Lord my time, energy, heart, and soul.
Prayer: Lord, I come before you today and am humbled by the example of Josiah. Lord, he had such horrible role models and yet he turned to you heart and soul, and he obeyed you in many many many things even though the inertia of the past 2 generations would have lead him to more sin. Lord, I ask you to change me. Help me to not be content with the status quo. Help me to turn to you with ALL MY HEART AND SOUL. Lord, help me to obey you in all things. Not just the "thou shalt nots", but also the "thou shalts." So many of the discipline routines go out the window on vacation. Now that I'm here in Brno, give me discipline, wisdom and energy to establish the routines which will help me to pursue you with all my heart and soul. Discipline doesn't insure passion, but lack of discipline insures half-heartedness, and a less intimate relationship with you. Lord, you are all I want, you are all I need, but my human side craves for so much more. Lord, come meet me today. Encourage me, love me, meet with me, and I pray that I bring you joy, as I follow you heart and soul today. Amen
Title: Pour Out Your Spirit
ReplyDeleteMentor: Paul
S: Titus 3:5,6 NLT "He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth , and a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior."
O: Paul was contrasting what our lives were like before and how they have been changed. Jesus washed away our sins by his death and we were reborn and given new life through the Holy Spirit.
A/P: Jesus I love the picture of you pouring out the Holy Spirit on us and through us. Through your blood we are washed clean and through your blood we are given the Holy Spirit. I need your empowering strength today to live according to your word. To have the faith to believe. To raise children in your ways. To be a faithful witness to the lost around me. To build your church. Pour out your Spirit on me I ask through Jesus and his sacrifice.
Title: 100% Turning to God
ReplyDeleteMentor: Josiah
Scripture: 2 Kings 23:25 (AMP)25 There was no king like him before or after [Josiah] who turned to the Lord with all his heart and all his soul and all his might, according to all the Law of Moses. "
Observation: 1) Josiah was unique 2) He turned to the Lord 3) With all his heart and soul 4) he obeyed God 5) He didn't limit what God could do to what had happened in his past (evil father and grandfather, and many years of Israel's disobedience.
Application: As I read Kings I'm reminded of how spiritual warfare, and spiritual progress seem to take 2 steps forward and 1 step back. The seem to be like losing the same 10 pounds over and over again. This thought is disheartening to me, because in my heart of hearts, I believe that the past determines the future. But this is not true. My heart and soul today determine the victories or losses I will experience in the near future. God promises to lead me in triumph, but am I following? Have I turned to the LORD WITH ALL MY HEART AND ALL MY SOUL? I need to pray about this today, and recommit to the Lord my time, energy, heart, and soul.
Prayer: Lord, I come before you today and am humbled by the example of Josiah. Lord, he had such horrible role models and yet he turned to you heart and soul, and he obeyed you in many many many things even though the inertia of the past 2 generations would have lead him to more sin. Lord, I ask you to change me. Help me to not be content with the status quo. Help me to turn to you with ALL MY HEART AND SOUL. Lord, help me to obey you in all things. Not just the "thou shalt nots", but also the "thou shalts." So many of the discipline routines go out the window on vacation. Now that I'm here in Brno, give me discipline, wisdom and energy to establish the routines which will help me to pursue you with all my heart and soul. Discipline doesn't insure passion, but lack of discipline insures half-heartedness, and a less intimate relationship with you. Lord, you are all I want, you are all I need, but my human side craves for so much more. Lord, come meet me today. Encourage me, love me, meet with me, and I pray that I bring you joy, as I follow you heart and soul today. Amen