Day: February 11, 2024

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the gospel of Matthew is to prove that Jesus
is the Messiah, the eternal King.
Following ministry in Bethlehem
and Nazareth, the second segment
of Jesus ministry was in Galilee.
In Matthew 8-14, we see Jesus
demonstrating His power over
sickness, nature and spirit world
& sending apostles as ambassadors
of the kingdom. And in Matt 16-19,
we see the Messiah preaching to unveil Christ identity and priorities.

On Monday, we learn from Matt 8
that God Blesses those who Believe.
On Tuesday, we learn fr Matt 10 that
Christ Empowers & Cares the Called.
On Wed, we learn from Matt 11
that Jesus Is Tenderly Calling us.
On Thu, we learn from Matt 14 that Jesus’ Love Lifted and Saved us.
On Friday, we learn from Matt 16
that Christ urges us to Follow Him.
On Saturday, we learn from Mt 17
to Praise God of the Impossible.

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 Thanks
as You Bless, Care and Save us;
For You are worthy of our praise
being the God of the Impossible;
For Your partnership calling us
to follow & further His Kingdom.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Praise God of the Impossible

Mathew records many crucial
incidents from Jesus’ life in M16-19.
Though Christ takes time to heal
an epileptic boy, pay His temple
tax and confront hostile Pharisees,
His key concern is for His disciples
to continue the work He had begun.
Healings and discourses, miracles
and parables all focus on Jesus’
faithful followers to prepare them
for the difficult days just ahead.

Lord, we’ll Exercise Faith In You:
A man came to Him, kneeling…
and saying: Lord, have mercy on
my son, for he is an epileptic and
suffers severely… So I brought him
to Your disciples but they could
not cure him. Then Jesus said: O
faithless generation (Mt 17:14-17)
The disciples asked Jesus
privately: Why couldn’t we
cast out that boy’s demon?
So Jesus said to them: Because
of your unbelief; for assuredly
I say to you, if you Have Faith
as a mustard seed, you will say
to this mountain: Move from here
to there, and it will move; and
nothing will be impossible for you.
But this kind does not go except
by prayer and fasting (v19-21).

Lord, You promise that With Faith
In You Nothing Is Impossible.
Praise You for being the God
of the Impossible; for You are the
Almighty who moves mountains.
Help me Lord to realize that
my faith, even though small
and weak, can do great things.
For it’s not the amount of faith but
the Focus of the faith In You. Amen.

Lord, although circumstances
seem challenging, yet You
are the source of my strength.
Although my faith seems small,
yet when placed in the Creator’s
hands, it can produce a greater
harvest than I could ever imagine.
Lord, take my tiny seed of faith
and multiply it with Your strength.
Grateful for assurance that there’s
nothing impossible with You. Amen.

Lord, help me to pray in faith
trusting You to do the impossible.
For I am weak and helpless;
but You my strength shall be.
Guide me with Your gracious hand;
and there will my victory be.
For every time I pray,
I move the hand of God.
My prayer does the things
my hands cannot do.
For every time I pray,
the mountains are removed.
The paths are made straight,
and people turn to You. Amen.