Month: October 2023

God Helps us to Walk Worthily

Paul has many pleasant memories
of the infant Thessalonian church.
Their Faith, love and perseverance
in persecution are exemplary and
Paul’s labours as a spiritual parent
to the church have been rewarded.
He encourages the Thessalonians
to excel in their Faith, increase in
their love, and rejoice always as
they await the return of the Lord.

Lord, we will Walk Worthy of You:
We have been… entrusted with
the gospel, even as we speak, Not
Pleasing men, but God (1 Ths 2:4).
We exhort and… charge every of you
(to) Live your lives in a way that
God would consider Worthy (v11-12)
We never stop thanking God that
when you received His message
fr us, you didn’t think of our words
as mere human ideas. You accepted
what we said as the very word
of God, which of course, it is.
And this word continues to work
in you who believe (1 Thess 2:13).

Lord, thanks for Your plan of a
good future for each one of us.
Lead me to people who will clarify
and confirm Your purpose for me.
Fulfil Your purpose for me even
as I purpose to Please You God.
Grant me serenity to accept the
things I cannot change, courage to
change the things I can & wisdom
to know the difference. Amen.

Lord, You are my master and fully
deserving to be my first & foremost.
Forgive me Lord for sometimes
treating You as a minor player in
my life, as an auxiliary counsellor
when I need help solve problems.
Help me Lord to seek Your will,
put You God first and live in such a
way that will not bring shame to You
but Honour Your holy name, Amen.

Lord, help me to be careful from
becoming judgmental in opinions.
Help me from being conceited in
ministry as if my words have the
power to bring about change and
deep growth that is needed. For
it’s Your Word that is needed most,
Your Word that has the power to
bring about real & lasting change.
In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen.

God Honours Faith in Him

Paul has many pleasant memories
of the infant Thessalonian church.
Their Faith, love and perseverance
in persecution are exemplary and
Paul’s labours as a spiritual parent
to the church have been rewarded.
He encourages the Thessalonians
to excel in their Faith, increase in
their love, and rejoice always as
they await the return of the Lord.

Lord, we will Keep Faith In You:
We always thank God for all of
you and Pray for you constantly.
We remember before our Father
your work produced By Faith,
your labour prompted by love, and
your endurance inspired by hope
in our Lord Jesus Christ (1Ths 1:2-3).
You received the message with
joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of
the severe suffering… In this way,
you Imitated the Lord. As a result,
you have become an example
to all believers in Greece (v6-7).
Your faith toward God has gone out;
how you turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God;
and to wait for His Son (v8-10).

Lord, I Thank You for the gift of
direct access to You in Prayer.
Help me to model Apostle Paul
who encourages the Thessalonian
believers for their faith and love.
Bless my loved ones and friends
and draw them into ever
closer relationship with You.
And help me to be faithful in
praying for them regularly. Amen.

Lord Jesus, help us to be like
the Thessalonians in Imitating You
and causing many to believe in You.
Help us Lord to endure suffering
and lead a life of faith in action.
Help us not to be self-centred
but be Christ centred and also
consider the interest of others.
For living for You our Master is
really what we ought to do. Amen.

Heavenly Father, we were created
ultimately to honour You as our Lord.
Exercising Faith helps us do that for
faith is shown by seeking after You.
And Trusting You to see us through
in hard times brings You glory.
Give us sincere heart as well as
the faith that pursues after You.
Help us give up “idols” but instead
continue to serve You God. Amen.

God Completes Good Work

Philippians is a joyful letter, written
by Paul from a prison cell in Rome
to one of the churches he founded
on his second missionary journey
Despite Paul’s adverse situation,
Philippians is an encouraging
letter in the midst of persecution.
There is much for Paul to relate:
the Philippians’ repeated
financial assistance, the hope of
visiting the Philippian believers soon,
and the church’s steadfast
testimony for the gospel.

Lord, You’ll Complete Good Work:
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy because of
your partnership in the gospel…
Being confident of this, that He
who Began a good work in you
Will Carry it on to Completion until
the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:4-6).
That you may be able to discern
what is best and may be pure and
blameless until the day of Christ,
filled with fruit of righteousness
that comes through Christ (v9-11)

Lord, I am eternally linked to You
by grace through faith & I am part
of Your body for You are the head.
Thank You Lord that my needs
are fully met in You. Forgive me
for the times when I think and act
as though You are not enough.
For You will bring to completion
the good work that You began.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, I praise You for Your great
salvation; for You not only took
away sin, but also gave me a new
nature that longs to please You.
Continue Lord Your work in me;
for there’s still a lot of rough edges
and glad You do not give up on me.
Look forward Lord to the day when
Your work in me is finally complete
and I’ll be blameless for Your glory.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, please help us to grow
spiritually and understand what
really matters in life. We pray that
we will not chase after things that
doesn’t matter. But instead we will
focus on our relationship with You
and on growing to be more like You.
Grant us the faith and the strength
so that You’ll realise in us the ideals
You have taught us to cherish. Amen

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of the epistle to
the Philippians is to strengthen
the believers by showing them that true joy comes from Christ alone;
whilst that for Colossians is
to show that believers have
everything they need in Christ.

On Monday, we learn from Phil 1
that God Completes Good Work.
On Tuesday, we learn from Phil 2
that God Gives Power to Obey.
On Wednesday, we learn fr Phil 3
that God Helps Press On to Call.
On Thursday, we learn from Phil 4
that God Supplies Your Needs.
On Friday, we learn from Col 2 that
God Made Us Complete In Christ.
On Saturday, we learn from Col 3 that Gives Power For New Life.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who trust You:
for You made us complete in Christ
and give us power for new life.
for You give power to obey, help us
press on and complete good work;
for You supply all that we need
and You truly keep Your promises.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Gives Power for New Life

Heresy that Jesus is neither 
central nor supreme is undermining
the Colossian church. And Paul’s
 responds to these false teachings
by upholding Christ as the
Preeminent Head of the church
 and speaks against man-made
 regulations and ritualistic worship. 
Instead Paul encourages them
to pursue a godly life befitting
those who are risen with Christ.

Lord, we’ll Seek Things of Above:
 Since you have been raised to
New Life with Christ, seek those 
things which are above… Set
 your minds on things above , not
on things on the earth (Col 3:1-2).
 Put on the new man who is renewed.
Put on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness, longsuffering; 
bearing with one another, and
forgiving one another… But above
 all these things, put on love (v10-14)
Let the message about Christ in all
its richness, fill your lives. Counsel 
each other with all the wisdom He
gives. Sing spiritual songs to God
 with thankful hearts (v16). Amen.

Lord, help me to seek things which
 are above and not things on earth.
Help me trust in the realities of Your
kingdom and see with eyes of faith.
Help me to better understand
the changes that salvation brings.
Help me live as a brand new person
that I do not have to yield to sin.
For the same power that raised
Christ from the dead is available
to me to live as I should. Amen.

Lord, grant me the grace to put
to death vices like anger & critical
language and put on Your virtues.
Help me Lord to be tender hearted,
merciful & forbearing towards others
Help me to love and be forgiving
 just as You have loved & forgive me. 
Help me to recognise and discern
what is worthy of confrontation
and correction; and what I should
just graciously let it go. Amen.

Lord, we want to be filled with truth
of Christ & to live purposeful lives.
But we can be confused as the world
is full of lies and unholy agendas.
Help us focus & know You more as
we fill our hearts and minds with
Your words and spiritual songs.
And may our hearts and spirits
be more sensitive to Your Voice
and Your Will. In Jesus’ name. Am

God Made Us Complete In Christ

All is not well in Colosse.
A heresy that Jesus Christ is
neither central nor supreme
is undermining the church.
Paul’s response to these
false teachings is two-fold.
First, he upholds Christ as the
preeminent Head of the church
Next, he speaks out against the
rituals and man-made regulations
which typify worship at Colosse.

Lord Jesus, we’re Complete In You:
As you have received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk in Him, Rooted
and built up in Him & established
in the faith… abounding in it
with thanksgiving (Col 2:6-7).
In Christ the fullness of God lives
in a human body, and you are
Complete through your union
 with Christ, who is the head of all principality and powers (v9-10)
He Cancelled the record of the
Charges against us… And He has
taken it out of the way, having
nailed it to the cross. Having
disarmed principalities & power 
triumphing over them (v14-15).

Father God, You are worthy
of a heart that overflows
 with thanksgiving toward You.
When I think of all You’ve done 
and put in proper perspective,
I am filled with deep gratitude
 for Your mercy and generosity. 
Help me to stay Connected and 
Rooted In You, remembering always
 to express Thanks to You. Amen.

Father, it’s hard for me to grasp
 that there are absolutely no
 barriers between us for You
Cancelled all charges against us.
Let that truth sink into my heart,
 and help me live by it gratefully.
You have paid an enormous price
 to enable our intimacy. Prompt 
me not to waste the opportunity
 to experience You each day. Amen

Lord Jesus, You are so completely 
great and awesome! How can it be
 that You have chosen to live in me?
And yet You have. Help me to
 fully trust You, knowing that You 
are in control of all situations.
And that You are using everything
 that happens in my life to show
 me that I am Complete In You.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Supplies Your Needs (Oct 26)

Despite adverse circumstances,
Philippians is an encouraging
letter in the midst of persecution.
Paul rejoices especially in the church’s
steadfast testimony for the gospel.
Though that testimony is threatened
by divisions in the church, Paul is
confident unity will be restored as
they imitate the humility of Christ.
And Apostle Paul urges contentment
for God Will Supply all our needs.

Lord, You Will Provide Our Needs:
Be anxious for nothing but in every
-thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests
be made known to God; and the
peace of God which surpasses
all understanding will guard your
hearts and minds (Phil 4:6-7).
I have learned the secret of being
Content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do all this through Him who
Gives me Strength (Phil 4:12-13).
This same God who takes
care of me Will Supply all your
Needs from His glorious riches,
which have been given to us.
In Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Amen.

Lord, here is my worry and here
is my need; I give them to You,
and ask You to calm my anxious
heart and quiet my racing thoughts.
Help me refuse to think of what-ifs
thoughts; but Center them on Christ
Jesus, Your power and sufficiency.
Because I belong to You Lord, I know
that Your peace will guard my heart
and mind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, Thank You that You are
the God who provides my needs.
Grant me the grace to live joyfully
whether I have much or little.
And grant me Lord the grace to
Be Content in all circumstances.
Thank You Lord for promising
that You will give me the strength
I need to follow Your will and join
You in Your work. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, Thank You for the promise
to Supply all our needs. That
wonderful guarantee & assurance
enables us to feel secure and
contented in our journey thru life.
For we don’t have to struggle
on our own for the Creator of the
universe covers us. And we’re given
access to You because of what
Christ had done on the cross. Amen

God Gives Power to Obey (Oct 24)

Philippians is a joyful letter, written
by Paul from a prison cell in Rome
to the church he founded on
his second missionary journey.
Despite adverse circumstances,
Philippians is an encouraging letter
in the midst of persecution. There
is much for Paul to rejoice about
especially the church’s steadfast
testimony for the gospel.

Lord, grant us Power to Obey You:.             Fulfill my joy by being likeminded,
            having the same love, being of
                          one accord, of one mind (Phil 2:2).
Don’t be selfish. Be humble, think
of others as better than yourself.
Don’t think only about your own
                 affairs, but be interested in others
.             too…Your attitude should be the
.                 same that Christ Jesus had (v3-5).     
Continue to work out your
 salvation            with fear and trembling,
 for it is God Who Works in you to
 Will & to Act in order to    fulfill His
good purpose (Phil 2:12-13) Amen.

Lord of grace and wisdom, I want
to make the Father truly happy
with me by living in harmony with
my Christian brothers and sisters,
by loving them, and by working
together with one mind & purpose
to bring more people to Christ.
Grant me success in this important
endeavour. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, work in me the desire
to please You rather than to
impress others. Forgive me for
my selfishness and for focussing
 on my life, my needs, my problems.
Help me to care more about others
and their needs too. And help me
 to have a servant’s heart so that
 U can do Your work thro me. Amen

Lord, grateful You are at work
within me to fulfil His purpose.
Help me to do what is right
and to obey with reverence.
Help me to hold on in faith, and
new power to live as I should.
Wean me from the excuse that
“I am too tired”, “I am too weak”…
For Your strength is sufficient
for whatever I am facing. Amen.

God Completes Good Work

Philippians is a joyful letter, written
by Paul from a prison cell in Rome
to one of the churches he founded
on his second missionary journey.
Despite Paul’s adverse situation,
Philippians is an encouraging
letter in the midst of persecution.
There is much for Paul to rejoice
about: the Philippians’ repeated
financial assistance, the hope of
visiting the Philippian believers soon,
and the church’s steadfast
testimony for the gospel.

Lord, You’ll Complete Good Work:
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy because of
your partnership in the gospel…
Being confident of this, that He
who Began a good work in you
Will Carry it on to Completion until
the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:4-6).
That you may be able to discern
what is best and may be pure and
blameless until the day of Christ,
filled with fruit of righteousness
that comes through Christ (v9-11)

Lord, I am eternally linked to You
by grace through faith & I am part
of Your body for You are the head.
Thank You Lord that my needs
are fully met in You. Forgive me
for the times when I think and act
as though You are not enough.
For You will bring to completion
the good work that You began.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, I praise You for Your great
salvation; for You not only took
away sin, but also gave me a new
nature that longs to please You.
Continue Lord Your work in me;
for there’s still a lot of rough edges
and glad You do not give up on me.
Look forward Lord to the day when
Your work in me is finally complete
and I’ll be blameless for Your glory.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, please help us to grow
spiritually and understand what
really matters in life. We pray that
we will not chase after things that
doesn’t matter. But instead we will
focus on our relationship with You
and on growing to be more like You.
Grant us the faith and the strength
so that You’ll realise in us the ideals
You have taught us to cherish. Amen