Month: September 2024

God Arranges Divine Encounters

Two years after Commission, only
Jerusalem had heard the good news
Then persecution hits, scattering
disciples into Judea and Samaria.
Phillip extends his witness to Africa
thru conversion of visiting dignitary.
And Saul encounters the risen
Lord on the road to Damascus,
transforming him from Saul the
Antagonist to Paul the Missionary.

Lord, we seek to Encounter You:
The Lord told (Ananias): Go to house
of Judas on Straight Street and ask
for a man from Tarsus named Saul
for he is Praying. And in a vision he
has seen you putting your hand on
him… Go for he is a chosen vessel
of Mine to bear My name before
Gentiles… Immediately he preached
Christ in the synagogues that He
is the Son of God (Acts 9:11-20).
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he
tried to meet with the believers, but
they were all afraid… Then Barnabas
brought him to the apostles & told
them how Saul had seen the Lord
on the way to Damascus (v26-27).
Then the churches throughout
Judea, Galilee and Samaria…were
edified. And walking in the fear of
the Lord and in the comfort of the
Holy Spirit, they… multiplied (v31).

Lord, You gave Paul a dramatic
Encounter on the road to Damascus.
The encounter and the fruit of
Paul’s life validated his testimony.
An Encounter with You Lord can turn
anyone into a passionate believer
who will earnestly give You glory.
So step into our experiences in
powerful and life-altering ways
and show us Your glory. Amen.

Lord, You appeared to Saul,
blinded him to get his attention
and then turnaround his life.
Likewise, You may allow me
to get to a dark place where
I can’t see without Your help.
At those times, help me to do as
Paul did and Pray fervently so that
my spiritual sight can be restored
and Your Will Be Done. Amen.

Lord, help me to see others with
Your eyes; and make me to be
an encourager like Barnabas.
Give me Lord the vision to see the
potential You’ve deposited in them.
Fill me with courage to stand with
those in trouble and need my help.
Make me an encouragement from
Your heart to the hearts of others.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Christ the Cornerstone Strengthens

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 will Share the Gospel:
Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said:
Elders of Israel: This is the stone
which was rejected by you… which
has become the chief Cornerstone.
Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name..by which
we must be saved (Acts 4:8-12).
O Lord, hear their threats, and give
us Your servants great boldness
in preaching Your word. Stretch
out Your hand with healing power;
may miraculous signs and wonders
be done through the name of
Your Holy Servant Jesus (v29-30).
When they had prayed, the place
where they were assembled was
shaken; and they were all filled with
the Holy Spirit and they spoke the
word of God with boldness (v31).

Father God, free each one of us:
From Timidity that worries more
about what others will think of us;
From the Rationalization that says
it isn’t my calling or my season;
From Selfishness that doesn’t want
to invest time in other people lives.
From Indifference that affirms
truth but doesn’t act in them;
From the Busyness that dominates
our lives with non-essential things.
Replace our concerns with mindset
to point others to Christ. Amen.

Lord, I ask that You would open
the eyes of my friends and loved
ones to see Your great salvation.
Give me the discernment to see
as well as the boldness to act
on opportunities as they arise.
And I pray that words be given me
that I may open my mouth boldly
to make known the mystery of
the gospel. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, You tend to give Your servants
great boldness in times of distress.
Perhaps because intensity of our
prayers increased with intensity
of circumstances.; and God gives
what we need to follow Him well.
Lord, we long for the boldness
and power of the early church.
And bless us with fruitfulness,
esp when we face hardships. Amen.

Christ Provides Power Source

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 and resolute commitment
only serve to enlarge the church.

Lord, we’ll Be Open to Holy Spirit:
On the day of Pentecost, seven
weeks after Jesus’ resurrection,
the believers were meeting in
one place… There was a sound
from heaven. And they were Filled
with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).
In the last days… I will pour out
of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons
and daughters shall prophesy…
and whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved (v17-21).
They devoted themselves to
the apostles’ teaching and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer… And the Lord
added to the church daily those
who were being saved (v42,47).

Lord Jesus, grant us the unity
and fervency in prayer that Your
followers had in the upper room.
We long to see Your kingdom
expand, Your Spirit Poured Out
in power and the accomplishment
of Your will & purpose in our time.
Grant us hearts to take an active
role in laying the tracks for Your
Spirit’s work in our generation. Amen

Spirit, reveal any obstacle between
us or the change that is needed.
Empower us & renew us, for we
are open to have Your way in us.
Fill us for we want to experience
the reality of Your presence. And
may Your character and Your ways
rub off on us so that our hearts
can become more like Yours & more
be added to the kingdom. Amen.

Father, help us be diligent to the
study of Your Word and teach us
so that we understand it fully.
Help us Lord to be in fellowship
and to encourage one another.
Help us make prayer a priority
by setting planned time for it.
Enable us to maintain that direct
line to You by praying constantly as
You bring things to our mind. Amen.

Christ Made Us His Witnesses;             Inspiring: I Love to Tell the Story


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 followtheir marching orders in spite ofmocking, threats & physical abuse.The advance of the gospel issoon opposed by adversaries. But
prompt discipline, wise leadershipand unflinching commitmentonly serve to enlarge the church.

Katherine Hankey (1834-1911)
the daughter of a British banker,
grew up in a London suburb.
And in her twenties, she started
Bible classes for factory girls.
When she was in her thirties, Kate
became seriously ill and doctors
said she needed a year of rest.
During her recovery, she wrote two
poems. The first became the hymn:
Tell me the Old Old Story. The 2nd
became: I Love to Tell the Story.

Lord, we will Be Your Witnesses:
Wait for the Promise of the Father…
For John… baptized with water,
but you shall be baptized
with the Holy Spirit not many
days from now (Acts 1:4-5).
Jesus said: You Shall Receive
Power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you Shall
Be Witnesses to Me (Acts 1:8).
 Jesus has been taken from you
into heaven, but someday
He Will Return in the same way
you saw Him go into heaven (v11)

Lord, 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 & draw me closer
to You more and more. Amen.

Lord, let it be settled in my heart
that You Are Returning. Help me
to be sensitive to changing seasons
both in my life & those around me.
Help me to share Your life with
others who are open to know more
about You. Open my eyes to the
signs around me so that I might
prepare for Your Return out of
gratitude for Your great love. Amen

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank
You for Your deep love for us;
for providing our every need; and
for Your great gift of salvation.
And Lord Jesus, in gratitude,
we purpose to tell of Your story.
For Christ Jesus You satisfy our
longings as nothing else will do.
For twill be my theme in glory
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and His love!! Amen.

I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know ’tis true…
the message of salvation
from God’s own holy Word…
I love to tell the story,
‘Twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love!!

 

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The path to intentional discipleship
is to grow towards spiritual maturity
by nurturing key disciple attitudes.
So for past 2-3 years, we had been
Seeking God thru biblical prayers;
and Trusting God thru His Promises.
And for the past 8+ months; we have
been Adoring God through Thanking
Him for what He has done for us
and Praising Him for who He is.

From the earliest days of the church,
the singing of hymns and spiritual
songs has been an integral part
of Christian worship. It is a means
for believers to express praise to
their Creator and Saviour. And it’s
also a way for us to communicate
with God using more than words.
For it enables us to pour out the
grateful feelings of the heart and
to express commitment to God.

We are meditating through the Bible,
which is clearly organised by genres:
Laws, History, Poetry and Prophets…
And the purpose of the Gospels is to bring people into a right relationship with God. Jesus Christ came to earth, fully God and fully human,
to bridge the gap between God
and humanity. Through His death
and resurrection, Jesus made
it possible for us to have a
restored relationship with God.

Having completed the OT & gospel,
we will continue to the rest of NT. But here are the key thoughts
from the four gospel interludes;
which highlights the goodness
of God in meeting all of all needs:
Feb 5: Father Provides Needs (Mt 6)
F12: Christ Empowers Called (Mt 10)
F20: Christ Urges Pyr Agreemt(Mt18
Apr14:God Answers Faith Pyr (Mk11)
July 7: Christ Seeks the Lost (Lk 19)
Aug 25: God So Loved Us (Jn 3)
Sep 2: Shepherd Lead us (Jn 10)
Sep 8: Christ Gives Peace (Jn 14)
Navigation: Click PrayerThots.com
Scroll to Calendar, Select mth & day.

Christ the Way Gives Peace Inspiring        hymn: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus

Louisa Stead and her husband
were relaxing with their four-year
old daughter on Long Island beach
when they heard a desperate child’s
cry. A boy was drowning & Louisa’s
husband tried to rescue him.
In desperation the boy pulled Mr
Stead under water & both drowned.
Louisa was left with no means of
support & experienced dire poverty.
One morning when she had no food
for the day she opened the front
door and found that someone had
left food & money in her doorstep.
That day she wrote the hymn:
‘Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus,
inspired largely by John 14.

Lord, we will wholly Trust In You:
Let not your heart be troubled;
you believe in God, believe also
in Me. In My Father’s house are
many mansions… I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and
prepare for you, I will come
again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you
may be also (John 14:1-3).
I am the way, the truth and
the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me (v6).
And I will pray (to) the Father, and
He will give you another Helper
that He may abide with you forever…
Peace I leave with you, My peace
I give to you; not as the world
gives do I give to you. Let
not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid (v16, 27).

Lord, in life challenges that come,
I will not let my heart be troubled
but will choose to keep trusting
You to deliver on Your promises.
For I trust in You with all my heart;
for I have purposed to live by faith.
For my God knows the plans He
has for me, plans to prosper me
and not to harm me, to give me
a future and a hope. Amen.

Lord, grateful for the mansion You
have prepared so that I will live with
You in a perfect place for eternity.
Thank You for the promise that You
will escort me to my heavenly home.
Thank You for giving me eternal life:
Though this life is filled with trouble,
I know that I’m only passing through.
Grant me an eternal mindset so that
I can endure temporal difficulties
that may come my way. Amen.

Lord, we may have afflictions
but You will surely Deliver us;
for You love and care much for us.
Loving Lord we choose to keep faith,
trusting You will protect & provide.
And thank You for the comfort
and the reminder from the hymn:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er & o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more. Amen

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the gospel of John
is to prove conclusively that Jesus
is the Son of God and that all who
believe in Him will have eternal life.
And the Upper Room Discourse
contains Jesus’ final words of
instruction and encouragement
to His disciples before His death.
Only John records these intimate
moments between Jesus & His men
as He models true humility (Jn 13),
describes the Holy Spirit who will
comfort & Empower them (Jn 14-16)
and intercedes for protection and
unity of His disciples worldwide(J17)

On Monday, we learn from Jn 13
that Christ Models Caring Love.
On Tuesday, we learn from Jn 14
that Christ the Way Gives Peace.
On Wed, we learn from Jn 15 that
Christ the Vine Desires Fruitfulness.
On Thursday we learn from Jn 16
that Christ Sends Us Helper Spirit.
On Friday, we learn from John 17
that Christ Intercedes for our Unity.
On Saturday, we learn from Jn 20
that Christ is the True Way to Life.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You are worthy of our Praise
as You Christ Models Caring Love
and You are the True Way to Life;
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as Christ the Way Gives Peace and
as the Vine Enables Fruitfulness;
For You Christ sends Helper Spirit
as well as Intercedes for our Unity.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Christ the True Way to Life; and            Inspiring the Hymn “In the Garden”

Following betrayal of Judas and
denial of Peter, John focuses on
the trial before Pilate & governor’s
futile efforts to release Jesus.
Yielding to political expediency
and mob pressure, Pilate sentences
Jesus to be crucified. Many of the
details John includes are unique:
soldiers casting dice for Jesus’robe
the spear trust into Jesus’ side;
the various post-resurrection
appearances including to Mary
and to Thomas. Through it all,
John’s purpose shines forth clearly
to present Jesus as the Son of God
in His life, death and resurrection.

Austin Miles (1868 –1946) was a
prolific American writer of gospel
songs, best known for his 1912
hymn: In the Garden. He wrote…
I was seated in the darkroom where
I kept my photographic equipment.
I drew my Bible & opened at Jn 20.
As I read it, I seemed to be part of
the scene. I became a silent witness
to that dramatic moment in Mary’s
life, when she knelt before her Lord,
and cried, “Rabboni!” Under the
inspiration of this vision I wrote as
quickly as the words were formed.
That evening I wrote the music.

Lord, we purpose to Believe In You:
Woman, Why are you Weeping?…
Jesus said to her: Mary! She turned
and said to him: Rabonni! Jesus said
to her: Go to my brethren & say to
them: I am ascending to My Father
and your Father (Jn 20:13-17).
And Thomas answered and said
to Him: My Lord and my God!
Then Jesus told him: Blessed are
those who have Not Seen and
yet Have Believed (v28-29).
The disciples saw Jesus do many
other miraculous signs in addition
to the ones recorded in this book.
But these are written so that
you may continue to Believe
that Jesus is the Messiah, the
Son of God, and that By Believing
in Him you will Have Life by the
power of His name (Jn 20:30-31).

Father, thanks for the wonderful
fact that Christ is indeed risen!
Help us Lord to put every aspect
of our lives in that perspective.
Continue to pour out Your grace
and Your mercy on Your people.
Lead us to perfect freedom in Christ.
And let the joy to be fulfilled in
heaven will also gladden our way
on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, we can turn very skeptical
when we go through tough times.
Like Thomas, we may want proof
that Your words are really true.
Help us Lord in spiritual matters
to Believe whether or not we see
or understand all that is going on.
And when we do so, we ask that
You will grant us experience Your
blessings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, Your word says By Believing
in You, we will have abundant life.
Thank You for the peace even
when problem comes along my way.
I purpose to turn to You; for I know
my situation will be in Your hand
& that You will lead me through it.
Help me Lord to continue to draw
near to You in Word and prayer.
And may Your inner witness be
my comfort and strength. Amen.

Lord, I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses.
And the voice I hear,
falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And Joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known. Amen.

Christ Intercedes for our Unity

Christ Jesus Prays for Our Unity:
The Upper Room Discourse
contains Jesus’ final words of
instruction and encouragement
to His disciples before His death.
Only John records these intimate
moments between Jesus and His
men as He models true humility,
describes the Holy Spirit who
will comfort and empower them;
and Intercedes for Protection and
Unity of His disciples worldwide.

Lord, we pray for Unity among us:
Holy Father, keep those You have
given Me, that they be one as
We are… They are not of the world,
just as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them by Your Truth…
As You Sent Me into the world,
I also Have Sent them into
the world (John 17:11-18).
I pray also for those who will
believe in Me thru their message,
that all of them May Be One…
that they also may be One In Us,
that the world may believe
that You sent me (v20-21).
I have given them the glory You
gave me, so they may be one as
We are one… May they experience
such perfect unity that the world
will know… You have loved them
as You have loved Me (v22-23).

Lord Jesus, You are one with
the Father in desires, mission,
purpose, character & in substance.
Just as You and the Father are one,
help us to be one among believers.
Fulfil this union in every way and
let there be no division in the church
so that prebelievers be drawn to U.
And may Your love, word and deed
flow thru each of us for Your glory
& extension of Your kingdom. Amen.

Lord Jesus, we pray for Unity
among believers regardless of
any differences in views & values.
May we be truly one with the
Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit.
May this Unity we have with You and
with one another show the world,
that You Jesus came fr the Father.
May this Unity draw prebelievers
to You Jesus so that they too
may experience Your love. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You have sent us
into the world with an assignment.
You have provided Your Word to
protect us from worldly influence.
Help us soak our mind, will and
emotion with Your Word; and let
it flavour every aspect of our life.
Help us Lord to be truly salt of
the earth & light of the world; and
Help us Lord be One Voice. Amen.

Christ Sends to Us Helper Spirit

The Upper Room Discourse
contains Jesus’ final words of
instruction and encouragement
to His disciples before His death.
Only John records these intimate
moments between Jesus & His men
as He models true humility (Jn 13),
describes the Holy Spirit who will
comfort & Empower them (Jn 14-16)
and intercedes for protection and
unity of His disciples worldwide(J17)

Lord, we look to Your Spirit for Help:
Very truly I tell you, it is for your
good that I am going away. Unless
I go away, the Helper will not come..
but if I go, I will Send Him to you.
When He comes, He will convict
the world of sin, of righteousness
and of judgment (John 16:7-8).
When the Spirit of truth comes,
He will Guide you into all truth…
He will tell you about the future…
He will glorify me by telling u what-
ever He received from Me (v13-14).
Most assuredly, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father
in My name He will give you…
These things I have spoken to you,
that in Me you may have Peace.
In the world you will have tribulation
but be of good cheer, I have
Overcome the world (v23, 33).

Lord Jesus, hard times are to be
expected in this life; but thank You
for sending Your Spirit to help us.
I don’t have to go through difficulty
alone; for You are always with me.
Thanks for Your powerful presence
to help, counsel and pray for me.
As I follow Yr leading & yield to You,
let Your power flow through me;
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Holy Spirit, only You can sort out
the different voices in my mind;
and I trust You to do just that.
Keep me away from deception
and instead lead me to the truth.
Show me Lord enough of the future
and how it fits with Your purposes.
Lord Jesus, let the Spirit bring You
glory by revealing Your truth to me
that I can share with others. Amen.

Father God, trials and tribulations
are normal part and parcel of life.
Though I don’t like this reality, but it
reminds me of my need for You God.
I praise You for being more powerful
than any worldly trouble I may face.
Remind me Jesus always to keep me
looking to You & asking in Yr name.
And I have the peace, knowing that
You Lord are surely for me and that
You’ve overcome the world. Amen.