How to get through crisis?

       

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.”

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 27:7-14, Leviticus 6:1-7:27; Mark 3:7-30; Proverbs 10:3-4)

    Today's key passage:

      Hear my voice when I call, Lord;

    be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:7-14

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: How to get through crisis?

     To get through crisis seems to be a daily problem for people in nowadays. Many people cannot deal with that and live under pressure, troubles, anxiety or even depression, never be able to get out of that!

Today's four passages give us very clear and exciting guidelines and directions: 

1. How to get through crisis?

   a.  Seek His face

       You want your friend to help you, letter, email, WhatsApp or phone call may not be enough. You need to talk to your friend face to face. Frequent seeing each others is the best way. So, do you see Jesus' face regularly? 

   b. Trust

       - Psalm 27:9, 12 There are four "do not": hide His face, turn away, reject me, turn me over to my foes

       - Psalm 27:11    There are four "He will": receive me, teach me, lead me, see His goodness

       - Proverbs 10:3     Trust that God won't let you to go hungry, He will surely provide 

   c. Wait: Psalm 27:14

2. After you get through your crisis, how can you receive His authority and power 

    a.  How to receive God's authority and power?

         We can learn that from Mark 3:13-15 the way to receive His authority and power:

          -   Listen to Jesus' call and come 

          -   Be with Jesus 

          -   Obey His command 

    b. How does the power work? 

        - To preach

        - To heal

        - To drive out demons

    c. Where does the power come from?

        From the Holy Spirit!

        That's why we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily, to be freshly anointed daily so that we can have the courage and faith to exercise God given spiritual authority to preach, heal and drive out demons. 

    Are you ready to allow Jesus to lead you through your crisis and be renewed?

    

      

    Dear Lord Jesus, 

    Lead us to get through our crisis and be renewed because we are willing to follow the guidelines and instructions you give us today.  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: 

 https://youtu.be/uLKD82iZnkU

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org