40 days "Break.Build" blog and podcast, Day 4:
https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2020/03/day-4-new-role-follow-jesus-to.html
Please click this link for the video version:
Nicky Gumbel's Bible in one year today:
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)
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.”
"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sins. 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."
We may not have that painful experience being in a city under siege, almost waiting to be slaughtered. But, to those people in Ukraine, they are!
“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 sins. 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 Word, Time with Abba (Psalm 31:19-24, Leviticus 16:29-18:30; Mark 7:24-8:10; Proverbs 10:15-16)
Today's key passage:
How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the Lord,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:19-24
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: Great peace in a city under siege!
We may not have that painful experience being in a city under siege, almost waiting to be slaughtered. But, to those people in Ukraine, they are!
We must have many occasions that we are stuck and not able to do anything or unwilling to do anything to get out of our inability. Actually, the whole world had been under siege by Coronavirus for three years!
How can we have great peace in those cities under siege?
That's how it says in today's Proverbs that those wealthy people think that their wealth is their fortified city. Yet, what is really our fortified city?
Our fortified city is for us to be willing to listen and obey to the command of the Lord. It is not easy for Jesus' disciples to let go of their seven loaves of bread. But, if they did not do so, that miracle could not happen. It is not easy for that king in the city under siege to look upon the Lord for protection and provision. But, if he does, then he would experience God will protect his city to be a fortified city.
How can we have great peace in those cities under siege?
That's the situation of how the Psalmist describes his situation being in a city under siege, that's how Jesus disciples were stuck and said to Jesus that what they got was only seven loaves of bread and no more. They rather secured their seven loaves of bread rather than to let Jesus to take that away.
That's how it says in today's Proverbs that those wealthy people think that their wealth is their fortified city. Yet, what is really our fortified city?
Our fortified city is for us to be willing to listen and obey to the command of the Lord. It is not easy for Jesus' disciples to let go of their seven loaves of bread. But, if they did not do so, that miracle could not happen. It is not easy for that king in the city under siege to look upon the Lord for protection and provision. But, if he does, then he would experience God will protect his city to be a fortified city.
So, if you are in fear and your city seems sooner or later under siege, don't worry. Just listen, wait, listen, wait, until you are able to receive a personal voice from the Lord and do what He says. You will know that what He has stored up for you are far more greater than what you think you have stored up!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to live a life close to you each day that we can experience your daily protection and provision . 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.
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