Month: December 2021

Christ Draws You to First Love

John writes to the seven churches
in Asia Minor to address their
scriptural need. Each message
begins with the expression:
I know thy works; each contains
a promise: to him that overcometh;
each concludes with the warning:
He that hath ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.
In short, John sends words of
reproof and reassurance from
Jesus Christ, the Alpha & Omega.

Lord, we’ll Come Back to First Love:
I have seen your hard work and
your patient endurance… But
I have this complaint against you.
You don’t love Me… as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to Me
again as you did at first (Rev 2:2-5)
I will never erase their names
from the Book of Life, but I will
announce before my father…
that they are mine (Rev 3:5).
As many as I love, I… chasten.
Therefore be zealous and repent.
Behold I stand at the door & knock.
If anyone hears My voice and opens
the door I’ll come in to him(v19-20)

Lord, we confess been doing a lot
for You; but have somewhat ease
the simple devotion of loving You.
Grateful Lord You’re ever calling me
back to deep intimacy with You; with
Your arms open wide to receive me.
Help me to once again abandon
myself to You, to experience Your
unfailing love for me, and to live in
pure devotion to Your heart. Amen.

Lord Jesus, we will speak of
Your friendship and love for us
and You intend to bless us
beyond anything we can imagine.
Help us never stop doing good;
stay to fight the good fight and
don’t give up no matter what.
For we are Yours Lord and we will
serve You out of gratitude for all
that You had done for us. Amen.

Lord, we will Draw Near to You;
for You are always near and
always desirous of our attention.
Forgive me for the times I ignore
or push You to the edges of my life;
for You deserve the central place.
Whenever I hear You calling and
knocking, help me to open myself
to You so that we can enjoy intimacy
together. Draw me Close to U. Amen

God Gives You Ability to Love

Apostle John desires his spiritual
children to enjoy close fellowship
with God & writes telling them how:
God is Light and therefore to
engage in fellowship with Him
means walking in the light of
His commandments. God is Love,
and thus His children must walk
in love. God is Life, and those
who desire fellowship with Him
must possess the spiritual life,
which begins with spiritual birth.

Lord, we’ll be Confident In Yr Love:
God Is Love and all who live in love
live in God, and God lives in them.
And as we live in God, our love
grows more perfect. So we will not
be afraid on the day of judgment,
but can face Him with Confidence
because we are like Christ here in
this world. Such love has no fear
because perfect love expels all fear.
We love Him because He First
Loved us (1Jn 4:16-19). Amen.

Lord, You are love personified;
and the fruit of the Spirit is love.
Reveal to me to know You more
and the ability to love You more.
Refresh me constantly with the 
fountain of Your love so that it will
overflow in my actions and words.
And help me find the path of love, 
even in difficult circumstances
and with difficult people. Amen.

Lord, we humans are often fearful
about the events swirling about us.
Fill me Lord with Your Perfect Love;
which has no fear; and quieten my
heart so that I don’t have to worry.
I need perfect love for Your glory
so that others might see the peace
& assurance available only thru You.
Teach me to rest in the knowledge
that You are in full control. Amen.

Lord, thank You for First loving us.
As we live in You, our love grows
more complete. Although I don’t
understand all the trials I may go
through, I trust in Your love for me.
Help me abide in You & Fill me with
Your perfect love that casts out fear.
Hence, I can Live In Confidence and
share Your amazing love with others.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord Enables Godly Living

Peter’s 2nd letter teaches opposing
internal spiritual attacks by Satan
with the knowledge of the truth.
Peter warns against apostasy within
the church, moral perversions
and the denial of Christ’s return
that false teachers propagate.
He exhorts his readers to grow in
grace & knowledge that come thru
Christ, thereby gaining strength
to resist error and avoid heresy.

Lord, You Enable Godly Living:
By His divine power, God has given
us everything we need for living a
godly life… He has given us great
…promises; which enable you to
share His divine nature (2Pet 1:3-4)
Brethren, be…diligent to make your
call and election sure, for if you do
these things you will never stumble;
for so an entrance will be supplied to
you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord (v10-11).
And so we have the prophetic
Word confirmed, which you do
well to heed as a light that shines
in a dark place… and the morning
star rises in your hearts (v19).

Father God, I claim your promises:
that You Give us Godly Nature
and that You Enable Godly Living.
Grant me grace of developing more
intimate relationship with You as
I know more of You & Christ Jesus.
Help me remember what You teach
& be diligent in faithful obedience.
Help me grow spiritually; so that
I may live wholly for You. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving
me new life that will never end.
Your holy word says if anyone is in
Christ; the new creation has come:
the old has gone; the new is here.
I purpose Lord to make the call
and election sure; so that I will not
stumble but grow into Your image.
And with Your empowerment, I will
have the capacity to further Your
kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Holy Spirit, teach me how to tap
into Your divine power so that I will
not lack anything that You offer.
Shine Your light in areas of darkness
as morning star shines in my heart.
Fill me continually Lord, for I want
to experience You more and more.
Holy Spirit, increase the evidence
of Your presence in my life; so that
I will display more love, more power,
more of You in my life. Amen!!

Shepherd of Your Souls (Dec 28)

Peter writes to scattered Jewish
Christians who are undergoing
intense persecution for their faith.
God has begotten us again unto a
living hope. So don’t be surprised
when suffering comes your way;
prepare & respond to it correctly.
Purpose to do what is right and 
imitate Christ in submissive spirit.
And God will richly reward you
when the trials of life are over.

Lord, we’ll Live as Your 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)
Live such good lives among the
pagans that…they may see your
good deeds and Glorify God.
Live as Free People, but do not
use your freedom as a cover-up for 
evil; live as God’s servants (v12,16).
(For) we having died to sins,
might live for righteousness…
For you were like sheep going
astray, but have now returned
to the Shepherd and Overseer
of your souls (1 Peter 2:24-25).

Lord, Thank You for bringing us
out of darkness into Your wonderful
light because of Your great mercy.
Thanks for making us Your Special
People, Your very own possession.
Help us to continually yield to You
Lord so that the life and character
of Christ Jesus will be formed in us.
Then others may see Your goodness
and will be drawn to You. Amen.

Lord, You are good and holy and
we pray our lives will honour You.
We pray You will enable us have
godly character so that our lives
will be a Shining Example of You.
Lord, live in us and live through us
so that those who disagree or even
dislike us will be drawn to You & to
the saving knowledge of You.Amen

Lord, Thanks for the phenomenal
truth that we’re truely Free In Christ.
We confess not always living it out;
instead of joyful delight in Your
refreshing salvation, sometimes
we feel like just barely making it.
We claim that we are free in Christ.
Help us live in line with Your desire;
and help us live in righteousness;
for You’re the Shepherd of our souls.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Wants to Draw Near to You

Just as a human body that fails to
breathe is a dead body, so a faith
that fails to breathe is a dead faith.
The breath of faith in the Christian
life is good works: demonstrating
concern for the poor, controlling
the tongue & building up others.
If you think you have faith but there
is no demonstration of that faith in
your life, then your faith is worthless.
True faith & good works cannot be
divorced, for your life is the lab in
which your faith is shown to be real.

Lord, we’ll Come & Submit to You:
Do you not know that friendship
with the world is enmity with God?
…The Spirit who dwells in us
yearns jealously. But He gives
more grace. Therefore He says:
God Resists the proud, but gives
grace to the humble (Jas 4:4-6)
Therefore submit to God. Resist the
devil and he will flee from you (v7).
Draw Near to God and He will draw
near to You. Cleanse your hands…
and purify your hearts… Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord
and He will lift you up (Jas 4:8-10).

Lord, You Resist the proud but show
grace and favour to the humble.
Keep me from being full of myself
and thinking myself better than
or more important than others.
Help me Lord not to be seduced
to embrace a busy lifestyle
and let pride reign over me.
For I purpose to be a friend of
God and not of the world. Amen.

Lord, Thank You for Your grace;
thank You for dying for my sins and
thank You for being my protector.
O God, my enemy is strong and
sinister; but You are stronger.
Give me the grace to recognise
the attacks of the enemy and the
strength to spurn his sinful offers.
Grant me the will to Submit to You
Lord and to Resist the devil. Amen.

Lord, I want to know You more and
know Your specific will for my life. 
Your Word says You Make Your
heartbeat known to those whose
hearts Draw Near towards You and
to those whose hearts are tender.
And even as I purpose to yield
my heart towards You Lord, share
Your deepest heartbeat with me.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Anchors Our Souls

God spoke in times past through
the prophets, but He has reserved
the declaration of His glory for
His Son. By His death, Jesus lifts
mankind into the family of God.
Because of His perfect humanity,
Jesus is uniquely qualified to serve
as High Priest for sinful mankind.
And Christ will bring His people into
the eternal resting place of heaven.

Lord, You Remember & Anchor Us:
For God is not unfair. He will not
forget how hard you have worked
for Him and how you have shown
your love to Him by caring for
other Christians (Heb 6:10).
God also bound Himself with an
oath, so that those who received
the promise could be perfectly sure
He would never change His mind…
These 2 things are unchangeable
because it is impossible for God
to lie. Therefore, we who have
fled to Him for refuge can take
new courage, for we can hold on
to His promise with confidence.
This confidence is like a strong
and trustworthy Anchor for
Our Souls (Heb 6:17-19). Amen.

Lord, sometimes we struggle with
living in a world where good is
ignored or even disadvantaged.
Help us to keep our eyes on You
and on the truth of Your Word.
You are righteous in all You do;
and thanks for the promise
that You will never forget all
that we do for Your kingdom.
Grant us grace as we purpose
to continue to do good. Amen.

Lord, ministry can be tough, like
a grind with endless repetition of
routines. We wish someone will
notice how hard we are working.
Thankfully this is not really so.
For You God sees what we do,
will reward the sacrifices made;
and greatly approves when we
further the kingdom of Christ.
And God has promised that He will
never forget. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Lord, Thank You for providing
something to hold on to when
everything seems to be shaking.
Our hope in Jesus is an Anchor
for our souls and will keep us
steady in all the storms of life.
Thank You for the promise that
those who flee to You for refuge
can take new courage because
Your promises are true and You
never break Your word! Amen.

Knowing God thru His Shepherding

The purpose of Thessalonians is to
strengthen Christians in their faith
and give them assurance of Christ’s
return while for 2Tim is to encourage
him, the pastor of Ephesian church;
and for Hebrews is to present the
sufficiency and superiority of Christ.
This week we understand God better
thru seeing His Shepherding Ways.
On Monday, we learn from 1Ths 5
that God of Peace Is Faithful.
On Tuesday, we learn from 2Ths1/2
that God Enables & Establishes.
On Wed, we learn from 2Tim 1
that God Keeos the Committed.
On Thursday, we learn from Heb 6
that God Anchors Our Souls.
On Friday, we learn from Heb 12
that Christ is Finisher of Our Faith.
On Sat, we learn from Hebrews 13 of
that Great Shepherd of the Sheep.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.

Great Shepherd of the Sheep

Hebrews closes with an appeal for
a persevering Faith that relies on
the promises of God regardless
of the circumstances. Writing to
an audience whose actions were
being shaped by pressure from
the world rather than promises
from God, the author urges the
kind of Faith-inspired walk that
characterised so many OT saints.
Being so convinced of God’s
Faithfulness, they ordered their
lives according to His Word.
Follow their commendable example
and walk by Faith; and not by sight.

Lord, we’ll Hold On to Your Word:
Be content for He Himself has said:
I’ll Never Leave You nor forsake you.
So we may boldly say: The Lord
is my helper; I will not fear. What
can man do to me? (Heb 13:5-6)
(For) Jesus Christ is The Same
yesterday, today and forever (v8).
May the God of peace,
who through the blood of the
eternal covenant brought back
from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that Great Shepherd of the Sheep,
equip you with everything good
for doing His will, and may He
work in us what is pleasing to Him
through Jesus Christ (v20-21).

Lord, thank You for the promise
that You will be Always With
me in times of great trouble.
Thank You that You are my God
and my Saviour; and that You
love me and I’m precious to You.
Grateful Lord for Your presence,
protection and shalom peace.
You are the one true God and
the only One who saves. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thanks that You never
change, which give me confidence.
Your immutability means so much
for I can trust that Your words
and character are as trustworthy
now as when You were on earth.
So, I can trust Your promises;
and I can rely firmly on the fact
that You are always compassionate;
that You will never give up on me &
that You’ll always be with me. Amen

Lord Jesus and Great Shepherd
of the Sheep, prepare me for
what You are preparing for me.
Strengthen and equip me with every
good thing so that I can do Your will.
Open my heart to the working of Yr
Spirit so that my life will Honour You.
Produce in me, through the power
of Christ all that is pleasing to You
so that I’ll be Complete in You. Amen

Finisher of Our Faith (Dec 24)

Hebrews closes with an appeal for
a persevering Faith that relies on
the promises of God regardless
of the circumstances. Writing to
an audience whose actions were
being shaped by pressure from
the world rather than promises
from God, the author urges the
kind of Faith-inspired walk that
characterised so many OT saints.
Being so convinced of God’s
Faithfulness, they ordered their
lives according to His Word. Follow
their commendable example and
walk by Faith; and not by sight!

Lord, help us Endure the Race:
Since we are surrounded by
so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight and
the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross… and has sat
down at the right hand of the
throne of God. For consider Him
who endured such hostility…
lest you become weary and
discouraged (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Father, I want to keep my eyes
on Jesus, my Saviour & Master.
Grant me grace to consciously
turn my eyes away from problems
and the things of this world.
Help me focus on the one whom
my faith depends from start to finish.
Open my ears to Your voice and
Soften my heart towards You and
to live closely with You. Amen.

Lord, thank you for the promise
in Isa 26:3-4: You will keep in
perfect peace those whose minds
are steadfast, because they trust
in You. Trust in the Lord… for the
Lord himself is the Rock eternal.
Lord, You promise peace to those
who trust in You and set their
minds on You – the solid and
dependable one. You are worthy
of my full trust for You are my rock.
As long as I look to You, I cannot
be shaken for U are with me. Amen

Lord, I purpose to run the race
by keeping my eyes on You
Jesus, the champion who
initiates and perfects our faith.
Jesus, it is so easy to forget
that my life is all about You.
My desire to follow You,
my longing to hear Your voice.
It really all about You. As You
live Your life within me, let
my spiritual ears open up and
my heart softens towards God.
And may You live fully, deeply,
boldly in my total being. Amen.