The Lord bless you and keep you!

  

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 67:1-7, 1 Samuel 2:22-4:22;John 5:24-47; Proverbs 14:30-31)

    Today's key passages: 

    

      May God be gracious to us and bless us

    and make his face shine on us—
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
    your salvation among all nations.

Psalm 67:1-2

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Numbers 6:22-27

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passages we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him. 

   

     My Listening

    The topic I received today from Jesus is: The Lord bless you and keep you!

    When I was listening to what Jesus wanted me to share in this blog, He gave me Psalm 67:1 which brings back many sweet memories!

    Actually this verse is like the highlight of the famous Moses Blessing or the Priestly Blessing as recorded in Numbers 6:24-26.

     What Jesus gave me today is very precious because He reminded the sweet memories of those numerous times I conducted the choral piece "The Lord bless you and keep you" when I was the Choir Conductor of Holy Trinity Church in Hong Kong(now Holy Trinity Cathedral)from 1978 to 1984!

     Yes, in this dark time of the whole world, Jesus invites you to be close to Him each day. As close as how Moses was closed to God and how he experienced God to have the light of God shining on his face!

     It is a close protection and peace beyond understanding, warm blessing and amazing grace!

     Dear Abba Father,  

     Help us to be as close as we can to you in this dark time, just the same as how Moses was closed to you. 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/KIjcgCmyMII   

  

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