Month: August 2021

Inheritance Gives Confident Hope

Peter writes to scattered Jewish
Christians who are undergoing
intense persecution for their faith.
He reminds his readers God has
begotten us again unto a living hope.
So don’t be surprised when suffering
comes your way; expect it, prepare
for it and responds to it correctly.
And be sure you are doing what is
right, not for doing what it wrong.
If you do, God will richly reward
you when the trials of life are over.

Lord, our salvation is a gracious
gift from You with the hope of
eternal life, and our safety and
security are secure in You God.
Motivate us Lord to serve Christ
with commitment and grant us
grace to endure suffering faithfully.
Help us remember that You have
promised a Priceless Inheritance;
that we are Your Special People &
that You have Set Us Free. Amen.

Lord, we Receive Inheritance:
Praise be to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great
mercy He has given us new birth
into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, and into an inheritance
that can never perish, spoil or
fade. This inheritance is kept
in heaven for you (1Pet 1:3-4).
Father, thank You that it’s because
of Your boundless mercy that
I have the privilege of being born
again in Christ. Thank You for
giving Your Son to die for me
so that I could become Your child.
You promise that I can look forward
to a Priceless Inheritance with You,
an inheritance that can never
perish, spoil or fade. Amen.

Lord, we are Your Special People:
But you are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
His own Special People, that you
may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness
into His marvellous light (1Pet 2:9)
Lord, Thank You for bringing me
out of darkness into Your wonderful
light because of Your mercy.
Thank You for making us Your
people, Your very own possession.
Help me to continually yield to
You so that the life and character
of Christ will be formed in me.
Then others may see Your goodness
and will be drawn to You. Amen.

Lord, You’ve Set Us Free In Christ:
It is God’s will that your good lives
should silence those who make
foolish accusation against you.
You are not slaves; you are free.
But your freedom is not an excuse
to do evil. You’re free to live as God’s slaves. Show respect for everyone.
Love your Christian brothers and
sisters. Fear God (1Pet 2:15-17).
Lord, this is a phenomenal truth
that we are truly free in Christ;
but I do not always truly live it out.
Instead of joyful delight in Your
refreshing salvation, sometimes
I feel like barely making it. For
I am free not to live as I want,
but as You Lord desire. Amen.

Knowing God thru His Names

Apostle Paul’s purpose of writing
the book of Romans is to give
a sample of his message before
he arrives in the city of Rome.
This week we understand God better
thru knowing His attributes, mostly
related to His ability to meet needs.
On Monday, we learn from Rom 1
about Living the Power of God.
On Tues, we learn from Rom 3 that
Merciful God Frees You from Sin.
On Wed, we learn from Rom 5
that God Gives Hope In Hard Times.
On Thursday, we learn from Rom 8
that Spirit of Life Helps In Prayer.
On Friday, we learn from Rom 15
that Spirit Gives Confident Hope.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.

Spirit Gives Confident Hope

For 11 chapters Paul has set forth
the doctrine of the Christian faith.
The balance of his letter moves
into the practical outworking of
that faith. For every assignment,
there is a enablement from God:
Serve one another using the gifts
God gave you; be subject to higher
authorities; be sensitive to needs
of weaker brothers; be united
in purpose & have mind of Christ.

Lord,fill us with Joy, Peace & Hope:
For whatever things were written
before were written for our learning,
that we through the patience
and comfort of the Scripture
might have Hope… Jesus Christ
has become a servant to
the circumcision for the truth
of God, to confirm the promises
made… May the God of Hope fill
you with all joy and peace as you
trust Him so that u may Overflow
with Hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit (Rom 15:4, 9, 13). Amen.

Father, it is difficult to be peaceful
when facing difficult situations.
I need and want to overflow with
confident hope; and I appropriate
Apostle Paul’s prayer as my own.
As I continue to believe in You
and trust You, fill me with Your
peace, keep me happy and let me
overflow with hope through the
power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Spirit, I love Your Word, but I need
it to be personalised. Pour it deep
into my heart like a spiritual injection
the truth that I really need to hear.
Lord my abounding joy and peace,
I especially need You in this season
as I undergo preparation program
and perceive how I can best serve
You with my life. Teach me to trust
You more, so that I can rest more
joyfully and peacefully in You. Amen.

Lord, it’s still a pretty grim world
out there, and prolonged trials
can also cause us to doubt.
Fill me Lord to overflowing with
Hope as I turn my heart to You.
Fill me with hope and restore
me Lord even as I trust in You.
Help me to take my eyes off
the challenges as I hope in You
and wait upon You to act. Amen.

Spirit of Life Helps In Prayer

Paul anticipates questions that
will naturally arise as the result of
hearing a gospel of grace. If God’s
grace is free, then am I free to sin?
If I am free from the law, then can
I ignore the ethical demands of
the law? Paul has no illusions that
becoming a Christian means the
end of your troubles. But the life
-giving Spirit provides confidence,
for victorious Christian living
in the storms of everyday life.

Lord, help us Pray with Your Spirit:
There is… no condemnation to
those who are in Christ Jesus,
who walk according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of Life
In Christ has made me free from
the law of sin and death (Rom 8:1-2)
Those who are controlled by the
Holy Spirit think about things that
please the Spirit… (And) if the
Holy Spirit Controls your mind,
there’s life and peace (v5-6).
The Spirit Helps us in our weakness.
We do not know what we ought to
pray for, but the Spirit Intercedes
for… the saints in accordance with the will of God. And we know that…
God Works for the Good of those
who love him, who have been called according to His purpose (v26-28).

Father God, let Your Holy Spirit
Control my mind, heart and thoughts
so that I can experience life & peace.
Direct my thoughts even as I yield
my mind to You Lord each day.
Cause me to think about things
that please You. And guard my
mind from being controlled by any
-thing that is contrary to Your ways.
Thank You for setting me free from
sin and death through the power
of Your life-giving Spirit. Amen.

Holy Spirit, I don’t know how to pray
about certain things, but You do.
Help me Lord in my weakness by
interceding for me and through me.
You know the will of the Father
and You know what to pray for.
Guide me and teach me especially
when I have exhausted all words.
Help me to communicate to God
my deepest thoughts, feelings,
fears and doubts, so that my
prayers are pleasing to God. Amen

Lord Jesus, Thank You for praying
through us in perfect agreement
with the Father’s will. And thank
You Lord for interceding for us
at the throne of Almighty God.
In the midst of intense trials and
great pain, we often can’t pray.
We don’t know what to say; and
don’t have the strength to muster
the right words. And we trust You
to take our distress & work things
out for our Ultimate Good. Amen.

God Gives Hope In Hard Times

After painting humanity’s sorry
condition, Paul turns to God’s
merciful solution. Jesus’ death on
the cross has paid sin’s penalty and
satisfied God’s righteous demand.
To the one who in faith accepts
Jesus’ payment, God stamps
across the debt of sin: Paid in Full.
That is justification. Its basis is
the work of Christ; its means is
the grace of God; its requirement
is faith in God and His promise.

Lord, we Allow Problems Shape us:
Having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ…
We can rejoice when we run into
trials, for they help us to Endure.
And endurance develops strength
of character in us, and character
strengthens our confident expection
of salvation. And this expectation
will Not Disappoint us. For God
loves us dearly (Rom 5:1-4).
Having now been justified by
His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him…
We can rejoice because of what
Jesus has done for us in making
us Friends of God (v9-11). Amen.

Lord, You want me to Trust You
in the hard times. But rejoicing
isn’t natural for me, so make it
my supernatural response to
pressures & difficulties in my life.
Lord, I surrender and allow myself
to be Molded & Shaped by trials.
And teach me to Endure so that
my faith will grow steadily and
get stronger over time. Amen.

Lord, I place my Hope in You.
I trust that You are working on
my behalf, no matter how difficult
the circumstances become.
For I believe that You won’t just
put me through trials; but that
You also plan joys for me too.
Please fill me Lord with Hope
– the kind that comes from Your
Spirit and cannot disappoint. And
help me live in that Hope. Amen.

Father, I rejoice in my relationship
with You God all because of what
Jesus Christ has done for me.
Having an intimate relationship
with Jesus also enable me have
an eternal perspective about
anything that may happen to me.
I gratefully praise You for the
joy such a Friendship brings.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Merciful God Frees Us From Sin

Backgrounder on Romans 1-3:
Paul begins by describing the
helpless condition of humanity. A
rebellious nature has led to rejectn
of the Creator & worship of creation
God in turn has permitted the
sinful nature of human beings
to express the fullness of its
corruption and the whole human
race stands helpless before God.
Truly, all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God.

Lord, we’re Grateful for Your Mercy:
All have sinned; all fall short of
God’s glorious standard. Yet now
God in his gracious kindness
declares us Not Guilty. He has
done this through Christ Jesus,
who has Freed us by Taking Away
our sins. For God sent Jesus to
take the punishment for our sins..
We are made right with God
when we believe that Jesus
shed his blood, sacrificing His
life for us (Rom 3:23-25). Amen.

Father,thanks for loving us so much
that You make us right with You.
Because You are a just God and
could not simply overlook our sins,
You sent Your Son as the perfect
sacrifice to take the punishment
our sins required. So grateful we
made right with You when we trust
Your Son to Take Away all our sins;
and You remember them no lllrmore.
Because of Jesus’ death, You God
declares me Not Guilty; and sees
Christ’s righteousness instead of
my sin. Thanks for giving the Spirit
to empower me not to sin. Amen.

Lord, praise You for being Merciful.
And thank You for not giving us
the eternal death that we deserve;
instead we’re given life in Christ.
Jesus had said blessed are the
merciful for they shall obtain mercy
Teach me to Be Merciful also by
overlooking the wrongs of others.
And grant me grace to be lavish
and willing to bless those who
don’t deserve blessing. Amen.

Lord, challenge us to sow seeds
of kindness so that people’s
hearts be softened & open to the
gospel which can set them free.
Open our spiritual eyes that we
might see those in our life who are
hurting & open to the Good News.
And grant us courage to seize
every opportunity and share the
gospel message with them. Amen.

Living the Power of God

In his introductory greeting to
the believers in Rome, the apostle
Paul begins his legal brief by
describing the helpless condition
of humanity. A rebellious nature
has led to rejection of the Creator
and worship of the creation.
God in turn has permitted the
sinful nature of human beings
to express the fullness of its
corruption and the whole human
race stands helpless before God.
Truly, all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God.

Lord, we will Share the Gospel:
The gospel promises beforehand
through His prophets… regarding
His Son, who as to His human
nature was a descendant of David
& who through the Spirit of Holiness
was declared… to be the Son of God,
by His resurrection from the dead
Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 1:2-4).
I am eager to come to you in Rome
too to preach God’s Good News.
For I am not ashamed of this Good
News about Christ. It is the power
of God at work, saving everyone
who believes… This Good News
tells us how God makes us right
in his sight. This is accomplished
from start to finish by faith.
As the Scriptures say: It is
through faith that a righteous
person has life (Rom 1:15-17).

Father, I know that You have sent
Jesus into this world. Through Him
I have been declared righteous
and I am freed from the penalty
and the power of sin. He has done
for me what no other could ever do.
Enlarge my appreciation & affection
for Jesus and for Your gospel.
And may I share it to others. Amen.

Lord, what a treasure I have in Your
gospel. For the gospel promises
that the power of God will do for me
what I can’t possibly accomplish.
What Christ has done means that
my sins are forgiven, that I have
a right standing with God; and
that the power of God is at work
to produce the righteous life He
desires. So enlarge my gratitude
towards Your gospel so that I live
a life that is worthy of it. Amen.

Lord, thank You for the good news
that You have made a way for us
to be made right with You and
have peace with You. This truth,
this gospel has the power to change
everything. So we ask that this
power go to work deep in us. May
this good news of righteousness
provided to us in Christ transform
our interactions and expectations.
Work in us and thro the good news
towards those yet to know U. Amen.

Holy Spirit the Promised Gift

With Jesus’ last instruction still
in their ears, the disciples go forth
speaking words of eternal life.
Visited by their resurrected Lord
and empowered by the promised
Comforter, they fearlessly follow
their marching orders in spite of
mocking, threats & physical abuse.
The advance of the gospel is soon
opposed by adversaries;but prompt
discipline & resolute commitment
only serve to enlarge the church.

Lord, we’ll Be Open to Holy Spirit:
Wait for the Promise of the Father…
for… you shall be baptized with
the Holy Spirit… You Shall Receive
Power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you Shall
Be Witnesses to Me…(Acts 1:4-5,8)
In the last days… I will pour
out of My Spirit on all flesh…
and whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved (v17-21).
Having received from the Father the
promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured
out this which you now see & hear…
Peter said: Repent & be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; & you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit (v33, 38).
They devoted themselves to the
apostles’ teaching, to fellowship
and to prayer… And the Lord added
to the church daily those who
were being saved (v42,47) Amen.

Lord Jesus, thanks for giving us
Your Holy Spirit when we accepted
You, to Be Empowered and Be
Your Witness. Give me ears to hear
and teach me how to listen to You.
Enable me to better understand
virtues like grace, forgiveness,
eternity; and most of all You.
Keep me from the distraction
of busyness and draw me closer
to You Lord more each day. Amen.

Spirit, reveal any obstacle between
us or any change of heart I need
to make? Fill me and empower
me in concrete ways that I know
I will never be the same again; for
I’m open & have Your way in me.
Fill me with whatever gift You
may offer; for I want to experience
the reality of Your presence. And
may Your character & Your ways
rub off on me so that my heart can
become more like Yours. Amen.

Father, help me be diligent to the
study of Your Word and teach me
so that I understand it perfectly.
Draw me to be in fellowship and
communion with other believers.
Help me plan time for prayer for it
often gets set aside by other things.
Enable me to maintain that direct
line to You by praying constantly as
You bring things to my mind. Amen

Staying Connected to God

Just as a human body that fails
to breathe is labelled a dead body,
so too a faith that fails to breathe
us labelled a dead faith. And the
breath of faith in the Christian life
is good works: demonstrating
concern for the poor, controlling
the tongue & building up others.
True faith & good works cannot be
divorced, for your life is the lab in
which your faith is shown to be real.

Dear Lord, we realise You want
believers not only to hear the truth
but also to do it. Grant us grace
to Love You, Draw Close to You
and to Live Out our faith in You.
Help us Seek Wisdom from You;
Help us Humbly Submit to You;
Help us Keep On Praying. Amen.

Lord, we will Seek Your Wisdom:
The wisdom that comes from
heaven is first of all pure. It is
also peace loving, gentle at all
times and willing to yield to others.
It is full of mercy and good deeds…
And those who are peacemakers
will plant seeds of peace and reap
a harvest of goodness (Jas 3:17-18)
Lord, Thank You for making Your
divine wisdom available to us
through Your indwelling Holy Spirit.
Thank You for Your wisdom that
is peace-loving, gentle, merciful
and willing to yield to others.
Thank You for the provision of
Your wisdom as we abide in You.
Show us what to do in difficult
situations that we are facing; for
we need Your view of things. Amen.

Lord, we’ll Humbly Submit to You:
He gives more grace. Therefore
He says: God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.
Therefore submit to God. Resist
the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will
draw near to You (James 4:6-8).
Lord, keep me from being full
of myself, thinking myself better
or more important than others.
Also help me not to worry
about keeping up with others.
Help me to humbly submit to You
and draw near to You each day;
for You show favour to the humble.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we will Keep On Praying:
The prayer offered in faith
will make the sick person well…
Therefore confess your sins to
each other and pray for each
other so that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous man
is powerful & effective (Jas 5:15-16)
Lord, grateful our righteousness
comes because You have done
everything perfectly. And we are
seen as righteousness because
of Your great sacrifice on the cross.
Help us to confess our sins not
only to You, but also to each other
so that healing can come to us all.
Thank You for making our prayers
powerful and effective. Amen.