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
3. Sing a song to praise God (you are welcome to use "Father, I adore you" which I have been singing every morning for the past 20 years or your own choice to praise God)
Father, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
Jesus, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
Spirit, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html
1. Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:
“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 and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins 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 gifts to love God and His people. 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 and having Jesus as my Lord. 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 sins 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 gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."
3. John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)
(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/
"Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
The link to today's Time with Abba passages: http://api.pastoralcareschool.org/twa/
Time with Abba passages: (Psalm 11:1-7, Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23; Proverbs 3:33-35)
Today's key passages:
When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
Psalm 11:3
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to him.
My Listening
The topic I received from Jesus is: The foundations are destroyed, what can you do?
Yesterday we learned that Israel, the father of all Israelites needed 28 years to be revived!
Today's Psalm 11:3 gives us a sad reality of human beings after being created by God:
When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
The topic I received is: The foundations are being destroyed, what can you do?
We can see the big difference of Jacob of "God with him" and "God was not with him" in the past two days. We can see in today's Genesis passages of how powerful it was that God was with Joseph. We can see two very important points of having God as the foundation and being with God:
1. Successful in everywhere and in everything he did
The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care,
because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did
Genesis 39:23
2. Knowing that this is not his power but God's miraculous works
and be willing to exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit
"but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
Genesis 41:16
How about you?
Jesus tells us in today's Matthew that those people who are consider as "foundations being destroyed" are those who's hearts have become calloused, listen but can't hear anything, see but can't see anything!
Why? Look at Jacob and you know why! Jacob listened and have seen much of what God led him, but his anger against God of taking away his beloved wife made him to be in a "spiritual coma" for 28 years! After 28 years he was being revived!
The foundations are being destroyed, what can you do?
Jesus tells us in today's Matthew that those people who are consider as "foundations being destroyed" are those who's hearts have become calloused, listen but can't hear anything, see but can't see anything!
Why? Look at Jacob and you know why! Jacob listened and have seen much of what God led him, but his anger against God of taking away his beloved wife made him to be in a "spiritual coma" for 28 years! After 28 years he was being revived!
The foundations are being destroyed, what can you do?
Today's Proverbs 3:33-35 gives us an answer:
The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
This is exactly what Joseph experienced and witnessed?
This is exactly how Jesus promises to all who are His family members:
"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven
is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 12:50
May we pray for our church on the 87th day of our 100 days Prayer Meeting now:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help me to remember to be with you each day. You are the one and only foundation. Lead me each day so that you can use me to bring your healing, freedom and salvation. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Reflect on these questions:
1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?
2. What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus?
Family Corner:
Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message.
Please click this link for the video version of this blog:
To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org
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