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."
The Word, Time with Abba (Psalm 123:1-4; 2 Samuel 15:23-16:23; John 18:25-19:22, Proverbs 16:10-11)
Bible link:English(NIV):https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+2&version=NIV
Today's main passages:
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 up to Jesus as you listen to him.
Praise and Thanksgiving
Break.Build: 破.立 Break.Build:
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 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. 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 123:1-4; 2 Samuel 15:23-16:23; John 18:25-19:22, Proverbs 16:10-11)
Bible link:English(NIV):https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+2&version=NIV
Today's main passages:
I lift up my eyes to you,
to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
till he shows us his mercy. Psalm 123:1-2
to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
till he shows us his mercy. Psalm 123:1-2
20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
21 Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice. 2 Samuel 15:1-6
My Listening
Today's Psalm reminds me of a very important relationship. A relationship whether we lift up our eyes to our Lord? Or, we lift up our eyes to other lord?
The most striking moment this morning is when I read 2 Samuel 16:23 and aware the first time that both David and Absalom regarded the advice of Ahithophel as God's advice!
Oh! Since when did David not using Nathan as his mentor and advisor? His eyes turned to Ahithophel, and Ahitophel turned his eyes away from God and David stepped into sins deeper and deeper until he could not get out. Until Nathan appeared and turned David's eyes back to God!
When I think of this I think of a general phenomenon everywhere that I see people are holding their cel. phone, everybody looking downward on their Cel. almost all time, it is really very serious!
Many Christians use their Cel. for work or entertainment usually more than four hours a day. Those who are addicted to games may be more than eight hours a day. But, lots of them do not have even ten minutes to have daily devotion, is it so sad? Could our Cel. is somewhat like Ahithophel leading us to look down upon our Cel. and not look up on God each day?
May we pray that TWA(Time with Abba) and PCS(Pastoral Care School) will be our Nathan to lead us just as what David said in 2 Samuel 16:20 "restore to me his covenant blessing", that we have ample time with our Lord to have our eyes lift up to Him, to worship Him, listen to Him and to follow Him!
The most striking moment this morning is when I read 2 Samuel 16:23 and aware the first time that both David and Absalom regarded the advice of Ahithophel as God's advice!
Oh! Since when did David not using Nathan as his mentor and advisor? His eyes turned to Ahithophel, and Ahitophel turned his eyes away from God and David stepped into sins deeper and deeper until he could not get out. Until Nathan appeared and turned David's eyes back to God!
When I think of this I think of a general phenomenon everywhere that I see people are holding their cel. phone, everybody looking downward on their Cel. almost all time, it is really very serious!
Many Christians use their Cel. for work or entertainment usually more than four hours a day. Those who are addicted to games may be more than eight hours a day. But, lots of them do not have even ten minutes to have daily devotion, is it so sad? Could our Cel. is somewhat like Ahithophel leading us to look down upon our Cel. and not look up on God each day?
May we pray that TWA(Time with Abba) and PCS(Pastoral Care School) will be our Nathan to lead us just as what David said in 2 Samuel 16:20 "restore to me his covenant blessing", that we have ample time with our Lord to have our eyes lift up to Him, to worship Him, listen to Him and to follow Him!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to follow our Nathan and not Ahithophel, that we have ample time with you to have our eyes lift up to you, to worship you, listen to you and to follow you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Reflect on these questions:
1. What kind of warning have you got from today's message ?
2. How do you change your focus of your eyes to Jesus each day and not your cel. phone?
Family Corner:
Find an opportunity to share with your family about today's message Praise and Thanksgiving
Let's give thanks for God with us. Let us praise Him:
10,000 Reasons
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