Month: October 2019

God Provides Mighty Weapons

Paul defended his ministry by
showing how individuals can be
reconciled to a loving God. And
 he pleads with the Corinthian
 church to be reconciled to
him as their spiritual father.
In his final words, Paul draws upon
his authority as an apostle to exhort
 the rebellious to repent so that 
his approaching visit can be a time
of rejoicing rather than rebuke.

Lord, we’ll use Yr mighty weapons:
 We are humans but we don’t wage
war with human plans & methods.
We use God’s mighty weapons, not
mere worldly weapons, to knock
down the Devil’s strongholds.
With these weapons we break
down every proud argument that
keeps people from knowing God.
With these weapons we conquer
their rebellious ideas & teach them
to obey Christ (2Cor 10:3-6) Amen.

Lord, thanks for providing resources
including Word of God and Prayer
which are “God’s mighty weapons.”
And thank You that our arsenal are
more powerful than Satan’s & open
the way for God’s spirit to work.
Help us use these spiritual weapons
effectively as we trust in Your power.
Remove the mountains in our lives &
make the impossible possible. Amen

Lord, praise You for the power
of Your Word. For it can penetrate
hearts in ways no amount of
human reasoning and philosophy
can Trust that Your Word will speak
to the hearts of even the most
atheistic people for You have
promised that Your Word will
achieve its purpose of telling
the world the truth. Amen.

Lord, thank You for Your weapons
of warfare, which are mighty and
supernatural. Teach me to wield
them as I stand against the enemy.
Strengthen me even as I Intercede 
for others. Lord, I pray that You 
will demolish the devil’s dark
strongholds and establish Your
kingdom of light and truth. Amen.

God Empowers Us In Troubles

Paul opens his 2nd epistle to the
Corinthians by establishing his
authority & source of his revelation.
He then praises God for what
He has done. In contrast to the
old covenant which condemned,
the glorious new covenant sealed
by Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold & effective
in calling people to repentance.

Lord, we will Tap to Your Power:
This light & power that now shine
within us is held in our weak bodies
So everyone can see that our
glorious power is from God and
not our own. We are pressed on
every side by troubles but we are
not broken. We are perplexed but
we don’t give up and quit… God
never abandons us (2Cor 4:7-9).
Our present troubles won’t last very
long. Yet they produce for us an
immeasurably great glory that will
last forever! So we don’t look at
the troubles we can see right now;
rather we look forward to what we
have not yet seen. For the troubles
will soon be over; but the joys to
come will last forever (17-18) Amen

Lord, thank you for designing me
to be a clay jar with an amazing
treasure inside. Although the
circumstances may press me
down, You never abandon me.
May others see Your power and
light through my life. And may
You be glorified in my weakness in
this earthen vessel that I am.Amen

Lord, I recognise opposing forces
and troubles can press me down.
Restore my hope in You O Lord and
help me take my eyes away from
problems as I wait patiently on You.
Grant me the faith, courage and
perseverance to keep following
after you. I want to keep going,
to do Your will and have an eternal
impact on those around me. Amen

Lord, focus my eyes clearly
on the eternal, for that will
put my present troubles into
a proper perspective. Help me
to see You as You are, to perceive
You with my spirit & not just with
my mind. And help me to realise
that U are in me and I am in You.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Reflecting the Glory of God

Paul opens his 2nd epistle to the
Corinthians by establishing his
authority & source of his revelation.
He then praises God for what
He has done. In contrast to the
old covenant which condemned,
the glorious new covenant sealed
by Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold & effective
in calling people to repentance.

Lord, You Will Make Us Able:
You are an epistle of Christ…
written by the Spirit of God…
Such confidence we have through
Christ. Not that we are sufficient
of ourselves to think of anything
as being from ourselves but our
sufficiency is fr God (2Cor 3:3-5).
Whenever someone turns to
the Lord, the veil is taken away…
So all of us who have had the veil
removed can see and reflect the
glory of the Lord. And the Lord…
makes us more and more like
Him as we are changed into His
glorious image (v16-18). Amen.

Lord, I realise the areas which
I feel inadequate or struggle,
draw me to You. And that I am
able to accomplish what You ask
of me only through Your power.
Thank you for your Word for in it
I learn that You are my adequacy
and my sufficiency. May my
confidence always be in You
through Christ Jesus; and then
You will receive all praise. Amen.

Lord, teach me the art of looking
to You instead of the problems.
Remind me that anything of
lasting value in my life is because
of You, not me. Power & success
come from You. Give me eyes
of faith so that I might press on
even when I feel the challenges
are too overwhelming. Amen.

Lord, thank you for loving me
enough to work in me. Make me
aware of your presence and make
me cooperative with Your Spirit.
Give me unveiled encounters;
for I know there are no limits in
knowing You & be known by You.
I want to reflect as much of Your
glory as You will allow. Although
I may not always see signs of
change but pray others can. Amen

God’s Promises Are Yes & Amen !!

Paul opens his second epistle
to the Corinthians the same way
he began his first by establishing
his authority and documenting the
source of his revelation. He then
praises God for what He has done
for Timothy & him. In contrast to
the old covenant which condemned
the glorious new covenant sealed
in Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold & effective
in calling people to repentance.

Lord, Your Promises are Yes & Amen: 
All Praise to God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the
source of every mercy and the
God who comforts us. He comforts
us in all our troubles so that
we can comfort others. When
others are troubled, we will be able
to give them the same comfort
God has given us (2 Cor 1:3-4).
As God is faithful, our word to
you was not Yes and No… For
all the promises of God In (Christ)
are Yes and in Him Amen (v18-20).

Lord, thank You for the times
You have comforted me. I know
that You have comforted me so
that I can do the same for others.
This world is full of people who
are hurting. Make me sensitive
to those I meet who need Your
touch of comfort. Keep me an
open vessel through which Your
love & comfort can flow. Amen.

Lord, suffering is painful and
something I prefer to avoid.
And You God doesn’t always
give Your comfort in suffering
the way I might ask or wish.
Teach me to respond in a godly
fashion to suffering for I know 
U use difficulties to transform me.
Bless me so that I can be creditable
and effective encourager of my
brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen

Lord, Thank You for Your great
and precious promises! Thank You
for reminding us that Jesus is the
“Divine Yes”, the affirmation of all
Your promises, Help me to sense
and experience Your love behind
every promise even as I trust in You.
And help me to pray with confidence
because I know that not one of Your
promises will ever fail. Amen & amen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsMAXhc0QTs

Praising God in Difficult Times

Book 2 of Psalms (42-72) is similar to
Exodus sharing Israel’s deliverance.
These psalms help us worship God,
pray for deliverance, confess sin
and encourage us to Trust God. And
in today’s psalms, David & Solomon
show God is Worthy of Praise for
His judgments (67), provision (68),
attentiveness to cries (69-70),
strength to the weak (71) and
sovereignty over the nations (72).

Dear Lord, thanks for Psalm 60-72,
that shows how David maintained
Faith In You during difficult times.
Thanks for assurance of response
to our cries, provision & strength.
Prompt us to run to You for refuge
and rest when facing difficulties.
And grant us signs of deliverance,
lest our hearts be overwhelmed.
In deep gratitude, we purpose that:
We will Testify of Your Goodness;
We will Emulate of Your Godliness;
We will Praise of Your Graciousness.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we’ll Emulate Your Godliness:
If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
but God had surely listened
and heard my voice in prayer.
Praise be to God, who has not
rejected my prayer or withheld
his love for me (Ps 66:18-20).
Lord, I don’t want to entertain sin in
my heart. I want my heart to be right
so that You will hear my prayers.
I know I don’t do everything right,
so I ask that by the power of Your
Holy Spirit You will enable me keep
my heart pure and my hands clean.
Thanks for loving me & helping me
do what is right in Your sight. Amen

Lord, we’ll Testify Your Goodness:
In you O Lord I put my trust…
Incline Your ear to me & save me…
I will hope continually, and I will
praise You yet more and more.
I will proclaim Your saving power…
I will praise Your mighty deeds,
O Sovereign Lord. I will tell
everyone that You alone are just
and good. O God, I’ve constantly
told others about the wonderful
things You do (Ps 71:1-2, 14-17).
Lord, in Your goodness & mercy,
I ask for Your speedy deliverance.
And let me proclaim the wonderful
things You have done. Thank You
for Your faithfulness in my life
through the troubles and joy. And
I pray a new generation will rise
up and be devoted to You. Amen.

Lord, we’ll Praise Yr Graciousness:
May the king’s rule be refreshing
like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
like the showers that water the earth.
May all the godly flourish during
His reign…Blessed be the Lord God…
Who only does wondrous things.
Praise His glorious name forever.
And let the whole earth be filled
with His glory. (Ps 72:6-7, 18-19).
Lord, we lift our thoughts & hearts
this day to Your glorious name.
For praise is the best of all sacrifices;
and the true evidence of godliness.
Lord, we bow our knees and will,
and say: You are Lord! You WILL
be honoured. You will receive the
glory You deserve. May that be
true in our lives these days. Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gt-OouIx8Lk

Emboldened in Difficult Times

The 2nd book of Psalms (42-72)
is similar to Exodus, describing
Israel as ruined and then delivered.
These psalms help us worship God,
pray for deliverance, confess sin
and encourage us to Trust God.
And today’s five psalms of lament
(Ps 60, 61, 63-65), David stands
on the promises of God in the face
of defeat, discouragement & deceit.
Through it all the psalmist finds
God is a worthy refuge (Ps 62&66).

Dear Lord, thanks for Psalm 60-65,
that shows how David maintained
faith in You during difficult times.
Help us Come to You for Shelter;
Help us Quietly Wait for You;
Help us Seek & Thirst for You.
Grant us deliverance so that we
can Testify of Your Goodness. Amen

Lord, we’ll Come to You for Shelter:
O God, listen to my cry! Hear my
prayer! I will cry to You for help,
for my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock
of safety, for You are my safe
refuge… Let me live forever in
Your sanctuary, safe beneath the
Shelter of Your wings (Ps 61:1-4).
Lord, I cry to You for help, for
You are my true and safe refuge.
Even though my heart may feel
overwhelmed, You alone can lead
me to Your towering rock of safety.
Thanks for providing such a safe
refuge for me to rest beneath
the Shelter of Your wings. Amen.

Lord, we will Quietly Wait for You:
Truly my soul silently wait for God;
from Him comes my salvation. He
only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense; I shall not be
greatly moved… I wait quietly
before God, for my hope is in Him.
He alone is my rock & my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be
shaken. My salvation & my honour
come from God alone (Ps 62:1-7).
Lord, I lift my eyes to You, my rock,
my salvation, fortress and refuge.
Quieten my heart to wait on You, for
my hope in in You. Help me to wait
for U in the storm & in the darkness.
Let my confidence not be shaken
by what circumstances may say
or by what my mind may think.
Thank You that my confidence rests
on the One who is the rock. Amen.

Lord, we will Seek & Thirst for You:
O God, You are my God, earnestly
I seek you; my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you, in a dry and
weary land where there is no water.
Yr lovingkingness is better than life.
My lips shall praise You. Thus I will
bless You while I live; I will lift up
my hands in Yr name (Ps 63:1-4).
Lord, I seek Your presence in my
life; and I come to You to quench
spiritual thirst as only You can do.
Thank You for Your promise that
those who seek You will find You.
Let me see You and gaze on Your
power and glory. And draw me into
intimacy with You to experience
Your sweet Loving Kindness. Amen.

Secure Hope Not Labouring In Vain

False teachers had been confusing
the Corinthians by denying the
doctrine of physical resurrection.
Paul defends the Resurrection
as a historical fact confirmed
by more than 500 eyewitnesses.
The Resurrection provides hope
for the believer’s body and soul
as well as motivates believers to
abound in the work of the Lord.

Lord, thanks for Confident Hope:
For when the trumpet is blown,
those who have died will Be Raised
to Live Forever. And we who are
Living will also be transformed…
O death, where is your victory ?
O death, where is your sting ?
But thank God! He gives us Victory
over sin and death through our Lord
Jesus Christ (1Cor 15:52-57). (So)…
be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labour is Not In
Vain in the Lord (1Cor 15:58). Amen

Lord, in a world filled with gloomy
news, thank You that Your Word
holds Great Hope for the future.
Someday all believers of Christ
will be given new bodies. And
eternal life with God in heaven is far
better than what we experience here.
Thank You we can be confident for
Your good plan for us and that You
are in control of everything. Amen.

Lord, the sting of death is not dying
but rather what happens after.
Thank You for eliminating possibility
of hell; but giving eternal bliss in
heaven for all who believe in Christ.
Because Jesus had paid for our sin
and rose from the dead, death has
No Power over us. In gratitude and
realising importance of the gospel,
help us be worthy witnesses. Amen

Lord, we recognise that you
have given us talents and gifts.
They may not be something overt
like teaching and singing; but skills
like cooking or greeting people.
For all that matters is that we use
them for the Lord. God promises
that Nothing done for Him will
be useless. And You Will Honour
us for the faithful service. Amen.

Love the Highest Goal

Paul’s letter so far has dealt with
problems of a personal nature.
But now he addresses public issues
in the Corinthian church: the veiling
of women, the importance of the
Lord’s Supper & the use of spiritual
gifts. Worship must be characterised
by propriety and orderliness. And
spiritual gifts must be Exercised
In Love, for the building up of the
whole body of Christ. Only then
is the church of God properly
worshipping the God of the church.

Lord, we’ll Choose Way of Love:
Love is patient and kind…
It does not demand its own way…
Love never gives up, never loses
faith, is always hopeful & endures
through every circumstance.
Love never fails (1Cor13:4-8) Amen
Pursue love and desire spiritual
gifts, especially that you may
prophesy… One who prophesies
is helping others grow in the Lord,
encouraging and comforting them..
Since you are so eager to have
spiritual gifts, ask God for those
that will be of Real Help to the whole
church (1 Cor 14:1-3 & 12) Amen.

Lord, thank you for loving me,
being with me and for me; and
I purpose to love You more.
Help me Lord to love others,
even when it is difficult to do so.
Help me to be other-centred.
Enable me to express your self-
giving love to those you have
put in my world. And show me
ways to love unreservedly. Amen.

Lord, help me to rest in Your love
and so be able to give love freely
to those in my life and influence.
Help me to give love without
condition and without judgment.
Help me not to presume that
ministry sacrifices are substitutes
for really loving people. Show me
where I have not been loving in
recent busy days. And show me
where I could act more lovingly in
the days ahead. In His name. Amen.

Lord, I ask You to give me
the spiritual gifts that You know
will be of Real Help to the church
and will also fulfil Your purpose.
Thank you for creating me with
particular interests and talents.
Help me to see opportunities
to use them to serve others,
to fulfil your destiny for my life
and to glorify Your name. Amen.

Gifts for the Common Good

Paul’s letter so far has dealt with
problems of a personal nature.
But now he addresses public issues
in the Corinthian church: the veiling
of women, the importance of the
Lord’s Supper & the use of spiritual
gifts. Worship must be characterised
by propriety and orderliness. And
spiritual gifts must be exercised
in love, for the building up of the
whole body of Christ. Only then
is the church of God properly
worshipping the God of the church.

Lord, we will Use Spiritual Gifts:
There are different kinds of gifts,
but the same Spirit distributes
them. There are different kinds
of service but the same Lord
who does the work in all of us…
Now to each one of the
manifestation of the Spirit is
given for the Common Good.
To one is given the word of wisdom
through the Spirit, to another faith
by the same Spirit, to another gifts
of healings (1 Cor 12:4-9) Amen.

Lord, Your Word says that You give
your people special gifts that they
can use to build your kingdom.
Thank you for the different kinds
of gifts that the Spirit has given me.
Give me wisdom & discernment
and opportunities to use them
so as to help accomplish the
Lord’s will on earth. Amen.

Lord, I worship You for Your
creativity & welcome it in my life.
May I never place limits on what
I expect You to say or how U say it.
Open my mind to anything that is
in Your heart. Help me to discern
and to hear Your voice in others.
Help me to see past their flaws
and to recognise what You are
saying through them. Amen.

Lord, grant me the gift of wisdom
and of special knowledge. Alert me
to Your gentle nudges to represent
You to others. Make me aware of
the various creative ways You speak
so that I can speak forrh Your word.
And teach me to ask: What are You
really saying; before I ever think:
Why is this thing happening.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Provides Way Out 

The Corinthian Church had sent
Apostle Paul a list of questions
on marriage, morality, liberty,
worship & resurrection. And Paul
answered them in a way meant
to correct abuses in the church
and to show how important it is
that they live what they believe.

Lord, we will Resist Temptation:
We should not lust after evil things.
Therefore let him who thinks
he stands take heed lest he fall.
No temptation has overtaken
you except what is common to
mankind. And God is faithful; He
will Not let u be Tempted Beyond
what you can bear. But when
you are tempted, He will also
Provide A Way Out so that u can
endure it (1 Cor 10:6,12-13) Amen.

Lord, it is a tough world out there,
with temptations lurking around
everywhere. Whilst U don’t promise
to protect us From temptation,
You clearly do promise Your help
In Resisting temptation when
we face it. Thank you for your
promise that No Temptation
will ever be So Strong that
we can’t stand up against it. Amen.

Lord, thank you for your promise
in 1Cor 10:13 that those who
love God Can Always Escape the
temptation that comes our way.
We trust You O God to keep any
temptation from becoming so
strong that we have to give in.
Lord, Help us to Resist or Flee
from temptation for altho it’s not
always easy to escape temptation,
it is always possible. Amen.

Lord, at times we may feel that
temptation is overpowering or
impossible to resist. But thank
You for Providing A Way Out.
Thank you for Holy Spirit to help
us recognise tempting situations
and show the way to escape.
Help us stay away from every
activity we know that is wrong.
Help us consciously choose
to do only what is right.
Help us O Lord for apart from
You we can do nothing. Amen.