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 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.”
"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."
“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 132:6-12, Daniel 6:1-28; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Proverbs 28:21-22)
Today's key passage:
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
2 Peter 3:8-12
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 end is here? Are you prepared?
Last Sunday, just two days ago was the first day of New Year according to the tradition of the Church and is the first day of Advent. Every year, the readings of 1st Advent is about the End Time, reminding and warning people to be prepared. And, the passage I received from Jesus today from today's Time with Abba is also the passage about the End Time!
Actually this warning of the coming of the end of the world since the Early Church has been more than two thousand years and it has not happened yet. Many people start not to think about that any more!
Today's 2 Peter tells us that the end has not come is not "the Lord is slow in keeping His promise but He is patient with us, do not want us to perish but wait for us to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
What we need to do is a two steps life changes to prepare the End Time or the time of our own end: 1. Live holy: This is our character change, to be away from unclean thoughts and deeds so as to be more and more holy 2. Godly lives: This is our relationship change, to be more and more close with God so that we can live a life more like Jesus
If we can have this life renewal, then when the end comes, we are ready!
Actually I have two high school classmates died recently. One died three weeks ago, one last Saturday! We never know whether we are here on earth tomorrow. Only Jesus knows! What we know for sure is Jesus loves us! Jesus loves you!
Dear Lord Jesus, Help us to prepare ourselves each day to live holy and have a Godly life. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Reflect on these questions:
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
2 Peter 3:8-12
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 end is here? Are you prepared?
Last Sunday, just two days ago was the first day of New Year according to the tradition of the Church and is the first day of Advent. Every year, the readings of 1st Advent is about the End Time, reminding and warning people to be prepared. And, the passage I received from Jesus today from today's Time with Abba is also the passage about the End Time!
Actually this warning of the coming of the end of the world since the Early Church has been more than two thousand years and it has not happened yet. Many people start not to think about that any more!
Today's 2 Peter tells us that the end has not come is not "the Lord is slow in keeping His promise but He is patient with us, do not want us to perish but wait for us to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
What we need to do is a two steps life changes to prepare the End Time or the time of our own end:
1. Live holy: This is our character change, to be away from unclean thoughts and deeds so as to be more and more holy
2. Godly lives: This is our relationship change, to be more and more close with God so that we can live a life more like Jesus
If we can have this life renewal, then when the end comes, we are ready!
Actually I have two high school classmates died recently. One died three weeks ago, one last Saturday! We never know whether we are here on earth tomorrow. Only Jesus knows! What we know for sure is Jesus loves us! Jesus loves you!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Help us to prepare ourselves each day to live holy and have a Godly life. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Reflect on these questions:
1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch? 2. What is your next step?
1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch?
2. What is your next step?
Family Corner:
Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message.
To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org