Thursday, March 23, 2023

The present darkness of this world won't make you downcast and disturbed, if you .....

                   


40 days "Break.Build" blog and podcast, Day 26:

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2020/05/day-26-new-discernment-be-careful-who.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.”



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 Word, Time with Abba (Psalm 42:6-11, Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46; Luke  5:29-6:11; Proverbs 11:24-26)

    Today's key passage: 

    
 I say to God my Rock,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
    as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:9-11

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 The present darkness of this world won't make you downcast and disturbed, if you .....

    But, the global situation of COVID-19, war in Ukraine and the fear of recession really makes a lot of people downcast and disturbed! So, what can we do?

    Today's Psalm gives us the reality of the Psalmist:
    1. God forgets me!
    2. I have been oppressed by my enemies and in mourning always.

 Mourning! It's like you have loved ones died and you mourn. May be those Israelites were being bullied in words and deeds by the Babylonians, a number of their loved ones died and they were in deep pain!
    3. Their words of bullying hurt their souls and they were crushed!
    4. Those Babylonians laughed at him and said, "Where is your God? Is he on holiday?"

    Now, try to replace the present worldwide darkness to this situation, then you may be able to understand the feeling of a lot of people, may be including you: downcast and disturbed!

    Don't be frightened! You have the antidote in Psalm 42:11
    1. Put your hope in God, He is your only hope, your Rock and Salvation! Don't spend much time to look at things concerning with those news to pull you down to the pit of darkness! Spend more time to be with God and read His words!

    2. Sing more Praise songs at home. Sing it out, sing it loud, sing more and you will be better!

    If you are willing to be close to God and praise Him like that, you will surely be pulled out of darkness into His light, just like Moses, his face was full of light!

     Because the more you praise, the more closer you are with God,
the more closer you are with God, the more light in your face,
because God's countenance shines upon you and that shows into your face, full of light!
     Then, you will be transformed from downcast and disturbed to full of joy and laughter, full of peace and light!

    Dear Lord Jesus,
Come to save us and heal us that we can be transformed from downcast and disturbed to full of joy and laughter, full of peace and light. 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 closer to Jesus?
    
           Family Corner:
     Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 
     

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