Silence
1. Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence
2. Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.
Praise and Thanksgiving
1. Think through your day, all the times that made you smile
2. Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people
"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."
Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html)
1. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you:
“Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
“Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
2. Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:
"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."
The Word, Time with Abba (Psalm 119:65-72; Proverbs 26:21-22; Lamentations 2:20-3:66; Hebrews 1:1-14)
Bible link:
English(ESV):https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=列+王+紀+下+13&version=ESV
Bible link:
English(ESV):https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=列+王+紀+下+13&version=ESV
PAUSE HERE!!!
Please read all four passages first before reading my sharing.
To know, learn and practice this method of Time with Abba, please click this link:
http://api.pastoralcareschool.org/twa/
Please see below the passages I copied today:
Reflect on these questions:
My Listening
The message I received today from our Lord Jesus Christ is "It was good for me to be afflicted! God has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long!"
Wow! Today's four passages gives us a new understanding on why God allows us to suffer. Even though there may be other reasons that God allows sufferings happen to our lives but today's message really can give us some inspirations!
Starts with the very beginning in Psalm 119: 67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." Psalm 119: 71-72 "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold."
See what could happen to our lives? Because we went astray, that's why God allows us to be afflicted so that we can have the opportunity to come back to him and not cling to thousands of pieces of silver and gold and other things!
When we went astray, we might fall into what it describes in today's Proverbs 26:21-22. We become a quarrelsome person kindling fire to everywhere and we gossip to hurt other people even going down to their inmost parts! How bitter we could become if we go astray!
We love the Hyman "Great is Thy faithfulness" but what we might not know is that the message of this Hyman comes from today's Lamentations!
Lamentations 22-27 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young."
Would you agree for that? "It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young."? That means for young people to be under afflictions is good because that can make them humble and know and experience that God is God!
But, the story of the people of God is always not that. Lots of time we are arrogant, self-centred and go astray. That's why Jeremiah gives us this very heavy and painful words, Lamentations"
"I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord's wrath.
He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long."
Can you believe that God can do that to you? Yes, He will because He loves you and wants you to become a faithful disciple of Him so that you can experience the glorious status as described in today's Hebrews:
"But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for every and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."
Brothers and sisters, let's come to worship our Lord and King, Jesus Christ each day. To come before His throne of mercy so that we can be anointed by the Holy Spirit with the oil of joy!
JOY! JOY! JOY! The oil of JOY!
Wow! Today's four passages gives us a new understanding on why God allows us to suffer. Even though there may be other reasons that God allows sufferings happen to our lives but today's message really can give us some inspirations!
Starts with the very beginning in Psalm 119: 67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." Psalm 119: 71-72 "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold."
See what could happen to our lives? Because we went astray, that's why God allows us to be afflicted so that we can have the opportunity to come back to him and not cling to thousands of pieces of silver and gold and other things!
When we went astray, we might fall into what it describes in today's Proverbs 26:21-22. We become a quarrelsome person kindling fire to everywhere and we gossip to hurt other people even going down to their inmost parts! How bitter we could become if we go astray!
We love the Hyman "Great is Thy faithfulness" but what we might not know is that the message of this Hyman comes from today's Lamentations!
Lamentations 22-27 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young."
Would you agree for that? "It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young."? That means for young people to be under afflictions is good because that can make them humble and know and experience that God is God!
But, the story of the people of God is always not that. Lots of time we are arrogant, self-centred and go astray. That's why Jeremiah gives us this very heavy and painful words, Lamentations"
"I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord's wrath.
He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long."
Can you believe that God can do that to you? Yes, He will because He loves you and wants you to become a faithful disciple of Him so that you can experience the glorious status as described in today's Hebrews:
"But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for every and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."
Brothers and sisters, let's come to worship our Lord and King, Jesus Christ each day. To come before His throne of mercy so that we can be anointed by the Holy Spirit with the oil of joy!
JOY! JOY! JOY! The oil of JOY!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to understand that you can pour down afflictions on us if we go astray and you love to anoint us with the oil of joy. Help us to know the difference and to come to you each day before your throne to receive the oil of joy each day. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Reflect on these questions:
1. Are you in affliction or in joy recently?
2. How can today's message helps you to receive the oil of joy everyday??
2. How can today's message helps you to receive the oil of joy everyday??
3. What have you got from Jesus today?
Let us praise the Lord:
10,000 Reasons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E