As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!

 

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 58:1-11, Joshua 24:1-33; Luke 21:1-28; Proverbs 13:20-23)

    Today's key passage: 

    

         14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

      31 Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.

     Joshua 24:14-15, 31

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 today from Jesus is:  As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!

    Before Joshua died, he called all the Israelites and their elders to renew their covenant with God. He started to count God's blessings from Abraham's time of God's amazing grace and all those signs and wonders. Joshua commanded them to fear God and to serve Him faithfully, to choose blessings and not disaster.

    Joshua said, 'But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!"

    All the Israelites said, "We will serve the Lord our God and obey Him."

    Sadly, as recorded in Joshua 24:31 is that after Joshua and all the elders died, all Israelites did not serve the Lord anymore!

    How could this tragedy happen?

    I think it is because when the second generation and third generation lived in peace and they did not need God and had not experienced God anymore. Slowly they were being blended in with other religions surrounding them worshiping all kinds of idols. So sad, as strong as Moses and Joshua could not lead their descendants to serve the Lord faithfully!

    If you walk in my front door, you will find Joshua 24:14-15 hanging on the wall. The mug I have been using for many years at home is what Joshua heard the first time of God's command to him through Moses: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.". God commanded this to Joshua two times through Moses(Deuteronomy 31:6,7). God commanded to Joshua Himself one time when Moses was still living(Deuteronomy 31:23), and God commanded to Joshua three times after Moses died (Joshua 1:6,7,9).

    I went to the front door a few minutes ago holding the mug, look at that plate of Joshua 24:14-15 and renewed my covenant with the Lord. And, to receive God's promise in His presence that He promised Joshua six times!

    Are you willing to renew your covenant with the Lord now?

    

     Dear Lord Jesus,  

     As for me and my household, we choose to serve you all the time of our lives. Give me courage and that we will not fear COVID-19 or any kind of crisis, because you promise to be with us. 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