Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few

    

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 69:1-4, 1 Samuel 13:23-14:52;John 7:30-52; Proverbs 15:5-7)

    Today's key passage: 

    

               6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

1 Samuel 14:6-7

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: Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few

    Yes, God's victory is because those people have God with them, no matter many or only a few!

    Jonathan had God with Him and he received God's strategy to win. What Jonathan got was only his Armor-bearer and he could kill twenty Philistines. It was a one man against ten men victory.

    But, more than that, because of this victory, the whole army of Philistines melting away in all directions and they stroke each other with their sword and God gave victory to the Israelites.

    According to 1 Samuel 13:5 the Philistines had three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore! 

    Can you believe that? Jonathan, just one man could cause so many Philistines to be defeated! 

    In the vast army of COVID-19, what we need are those Christian leaders who have the presence of God and who can receive the strategy from God as He gave Jonathan so that we can take down this vast army to glorify God's mighty name!

    Are you willing to be used by God as He used Jonathan?

     Dear Lord Jesus,  

     Help us to be willing to be used by you as you used Jonathan to glorify your mighty name. 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/f7HAVb-VQk8  

  

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