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 119:105-112; Proverbs 27:1-2; Ezekiel 10:1-11:25; Hebrews 6:1-20)
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 "How to remove your heart of stone?"
This morning when we were worshiping after our Time with Abba, the Holy Spirit opened my eye to see beyond the word "heart of stone". It was a wonderful experience to receive the seven steps concerning of removing of our hearts of stone:
3. Receiving an undivided heart (Ezekiel 11:19)
In Chinese translation it is "a heart of unity". But I think the English translation should be closer to the original Hebrew word. Yes, we do have "divided" heart in all kinds of areas that make us unable to focus on worshipping God as the only One we worship and forbidding us to stay in unity!
4. Welcoming a new spirit - the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19)
After we are willing to remove our detestable idols and ready to receive an undivided heart, the Holy Spirit will fill us.
5. Removing from us our heart of stone (Ezekiel 11:19)
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to remove our heart of stone and we are not able to do that. Only the Holy Spirit can do that for us! Which means if we do not allow the Holy Spirit to work or we are not filled with the Holy Spirit, there is no hope that our heart of stone can be removed!
6. Receiving a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19)
And then the Holy Spirit will give us a heart of flesh. We are not able to get that no matter how hard we do!
7. Following and obeying God to be His people (Ezekiel 11: 20)
We are willing and be able to follow and obey God again to be under His protection and blessing that He is our Lord and King.
This morning when we were worshiping after our Time with Abba, the Holy Spirit opened my eye to see beyond the word "heart of stone". It was a wonderful experience to receive the seven steps concerning of removing of our hearts of stone:
1. Gathering by God (Ezekiel 11:17-18a)
We read from Ezekiel 10:1-22 of how the glory of God departed the Temple. In Ezekiel 11:17-18a we know that in God's time he will come to gather His people again and for those who are willing to return will experience God's glorious works.
2. Removing detestable idols (Ezekiel 11:18b)
When God's people return to Him, the first thing we need to do is to remove all those detestable idols. Do you know if you have any detestable idols in images, forms, objects or thoughts?3. Receiving an undivided heart (Ezekiel 11:19)
In Chinese translation it is "a heart of unity". But I think the English translation should be closer to the original Hebrew word. Yes, we do have "divided" heart in all kinds of areas that make us unable to focus on worshipping God as the only One we worship and forbidding us to stay in unity!
4. Welcoming a new spirit - the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19)
After we are willing to remove our detestable idols and ready to receive an undivided heart, the Holy Spirit will fill us.
5. Removing from us our heart of stone (Ezekiel 11:19)
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to remove our heart of stone and we are not able to do that. Only the Holy Spirit can do that for us! Which means if we do not allow the Holy Spirit to work or we are not filled with the Holy Spirit, there is no hope that our heart of stone can be removed!
6. Receiving a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19)
And then the Holy Spirit will give us a heart of flesh. We are not able to get that no matter how hard we do!
7. Following and obeying God to be His people (Ezekiel 11: 20)
We are willing and be able to follow and obey God again to be under His protection and blessing that He is our Lord and King.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to be willing to live out these seven steps each day that we can taste the sweetness of your presence and the power of you being our Lord and King. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Reflect on these questions:
1. How do you discern if you have a heart of stone or not?
2. How can this seven steps give you inspiration and action to return to our Lord and King?
3. What have you received 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