Day: May 23, 2021

A Sanctuary for His People

Backgrounder on Ezekiel 7-11:
In a series of visions, Ezekiel
foresees the what, why and how
of God’s judgment upon Judah.
The What: total destruction of
Jerusalem and the departure
of God’s glory from the temple.
The Why: generations of idolatry,
wickedness & spiritual indifference.
The How: through the cruel Baby-
lonians, God’s agents of judgment.
But the harshness of the sentence
is tempered by a tender reminder:
A remnant will survive, receive
sanctuary in a foreign country
and return to the Land of Promise.

Lord, You Provide Your People Sanctuary as well as New Heart:
Tell the exiles, this is what the
Sovereign Lord says: Although
I have scattered u in the countries
of the world, I will be a Sanctuary
to you during your time in exile…
I will gather you… and give you
the land of Israel (Ezek 11:16-17).
I will give them an undivided Heart
and put a new spirit in them;
I will remove from them their
heart of stone and give them
a Heart of Flesh… Then they
will truly be my people, and
I will be their God (Ezek 11:19-20).

Lord, thank You that You are
my Sanctuary and my refuge.
Thank You for the promise of
protection in Psalm 91 that: if
you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your
shelter, no evil will conquer you.
Thank You for the promise of
Your Presence & Help in Ps 139:
that I can never get away
from Your Presence… and that
Your hand will guide me & Your
strength will support me. Amen.

Lord, I pray You will fill me with
Your love; and keep my heart
from wandering away from You.
Make my heart Lord to be
undivided and take away
any hardheartedness in me.
I invite You to take charge of
my mind and emotions & help me
to give complete control to You.
Light a flame of desire in me
for You that never goes out. Amen.

Lord, thank You that when we
become Christians, You did a
miracle by making us new inside.
You took out the hard cold hearts
and put in new & compassionate
hearts so that we are able to
serve, do good and help others.
Help us to have an ear for those
who need counsel or a kind word.
Help us to give practical helps
when someone has a real need.
Help us to intercede for people
who are in trouble or need healing.
Help us to live as we should. Amen.

Liberty & Freedom In Christ

Backgrounder: This epistle is
essentially Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. Paul directs
this charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the priceless liberty they possess
in Christ. Certain Jewish legalists
are influencing the believers in
Galatia to trade their freedom
in Christ for bondage to the law.
Paul writes to refute their false
gospel of works & to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, thank You that faith in Christ
brings about true freedom from
sin and from futile attempt to be
right with God by keeping the law.
It also frees us to serve Christ
out of gratitude, which results in
living purposeful & fulfilling lives.
Lord, Grant us grace as we purpose
to Live as Your Grateful Children,
to Move into Your Freedom and
to Not Lose Heart in service. Amen

Lord, we will be Grateful Children:
God sent his Son to redeem those
under the law, that we might
receive adoption to sonship.
Because you are sons, God sent
the Spirit of His Son into our
hearts, crying out Abba Father!
So you are no longer a slave,
but God’s child; and since you
are His child, God has made you
also an heir (Gal 4:4-7). Amen.
Lord, Thank you for revealing
yourself to me and saving me.
Because of your grace and my
faith I am a child of the living God.
In times of trial, I am bombarded
by doubts; and tough times can
make me wonder if I’m Your child.
Thank you for the presence of
Your Spirit who provides assurance
that I truly belong to You. Amen.

Lord,we’ll move into Your Freedom:
We are not children of the slave
woman, obligated to the law.
We are children of the free women,
acceptable to God because of our
Faith. It is for Freedom that Christ
has set us Free. Stand firm
then, and do not let yourselves
be burdened again by a yoke
of slavery. (Gal 4:31-5:1). Amen.
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving
Your life so that I can be set free
from the yoke of slavery to the
enemy of my soul. Help me not
become entangled by bondage
for which You died to set me free.
Help me stand firm in the freedom
You have secured for me. Amen.

Lord, we will Not Lose Heart:
And let us not grow weary while
doing good, for in due season we
shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Therefore, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to all, especially to
those who are of the household
of faith (Galatians 6:9-10) Amen.
Lord, thank U for teaching me in
my weariness that I can do nothing
apart from You. I give myself to U
for You are my life, my strength
and my salvation. As I purpose
not to lose heart, grant me the
power of Your life to restore joy.
And renew my vision to keep
doing your will & to do good. Amen

http://worshiptogether.com/songs/jesus-we-celebrate-your-victory/