Month: February 2024

Praise the Living God In Control

The Jews are poised within view of
the land promised to their ancestors
& denied their unbelieving parents.
The task seems impossible:
a turbulent river; rough terrain to
cross and walled cities to conquer.
So God begins to prepare His people
for the days of warfare just ahead.
He reminds Joshua that careful
attention to His Word brings
blessing and success. Spies are
sent to survey Jericho, the first
obstacle in the land. The priests
bearing the ark of covenant lead the
pple across the rampaging Jordan.

Praise be Supreme God In Control:
Rahab: We have heard how the
Lord made a dry path for you
through the Red Sea. And we
know what you did to the two
Amorite kings east of the Jordan
River, whose people you completely
destroyed… For the Lord your God is
supreme God in heaven(Jos 2:10-11)
So Joshua said to the children of
Israel: This is how you will know
that the Living God… is among you
and that He will certainly drive out
the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites…
Amorites and the Jebusites.
Behold, the ark of the covenant
of the Lord is crossing before
you into the Jordan (Jos 3:10-11).
As soon as the priests who carry
the ark of the Lord, the Lord of
All The Earth set foot in the Jordan,
its waters flowing downstream
will be cut off and stand up
in a heap (Joshua 3:13).

Lord God Almighty, You sit
in the throne in heaven above.
You are truly ruler over all; and
Power and might are in Your hand.
You alone can go before us to
open doors we could not open
on our own, and lead in a path we
could not have created on our own.
Be gracious Lord towards us as we
lift up our eyes & look to You. Amen

O Living God, we praise You
for Your powerful life-giving name.
Thank You for being active and
engaged in our everyday life.
You are not a God who is distant
and not keen in what happens to us.
Just as You helped the Israelites,
You Lord are alive and moving in
the situations of our lives as well.
Grateful for Your loving care. Amen

Lord of All The Earth, we praise
& exalt You Lord for Your ability to
subdue all that’s in Your creation.
You are the great and awesome
God who still does mighty
acts on behalf of Your people.
It is so comforting to know that
nothing is too difficult for You or
removed from Your control. And
in You we can find peace. Amen.

God of Grace Gives Courage

Harry Emerson Fosdick, one of
the leaders of the liberal Protestant
movt in the 1920s and 1930s, was
denounced by many conservatives,
some of whom now sing the hymn
he wrote. In 1930, when the new
building for the Riverside Church
in New York City was dedicated,
this hymn was sung as dedication.
It is a prayer of dedication that can
be uttered any day. And the prayer
of our hearts should constantly
be “Grant us wisdom, grant us
courage for the facing of this hour.”

Lord, we will Be Courageous:
After the death of Moses…
the Lord spoke to Joshua…
Be Strong and Courageous,
because You will lead the people to Inherit the land I Swore to
their forefathers (Joshua 1:1,6).
Be Strong and Very Courageous.
Be Careful To Obey all the law
my servant Moses gave you;
do not turn to the right
or to the left, that you may be
successful wherever you go (v7).
Have I not commanded you?
Be Strong and Courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not
be discouraged, for the Lord
your God Will Be With You
wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

Lord, I pray that every time I read
Your Word, You will teach me all
I need to know. Help me understand
Your truth & speak to me specifically
about how each passage relates
to my life and the lives of others.
Help me to meditate on Your Word
and take steps of obedience so that
I can live in Your perfect will and
prosper as You’ve promised. Amen.

Lord, I can feel overwhelmed often
But I know a glimpse of You radically
change my perspective. Thank You
for Your promise of being with me
no matter what happens. Please
overshadow my fears and worries
with Your strength. Help me be
strong and courageous in every
challenge that I may face. Amen.

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power
Crown Thine ancient Church’s story
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour (2)
Cure Thy children warring madness
Bend our pride to Thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom goal.
Amen and amen.

Christ Blesses Agreement In Prayer

Matthew 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 will Agree in Prayer:
(Jesus said) Whatever You bind
on earth will be bound in heaven
and whatever you loose on earth
will be loosed in heaven (Mt 18:18).
Again I tell you that if two of you
agree here on earth about anything
you ask, my Father in heaven
will do it for you (Matt 18:19).
For where two or three gather
together as my followers, I am
there among them (Matt 18:20).

Father, I humbly approach You,
holding on the promise in Mt 18:18.
With reverence, I ask and seek
Your authority to bind and loose,
aligning my will with Yours.
May Your wisdom guide decisions,
and your love mend relationships.
I release healing, and restoration;
Break the chains of bondage,
and open doors of opportunity.
With unwavering faith, I declare
victory in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Lord, thank You for friends whose
fellowship can make life better.
Trusted friends can also offer us
wise counsel & sharpen our prayers.
Despite differences of views, help us
adopt attitude to seek agreement.
For You promise if we can agree,
You Will hear & answer our prayers
when we gather together in the
mighty name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

Lord, grateful that where two or
three come together in Your name,
You will be there with them.
The fact that God is found in union
and agreement show its efficacy.
God wants us to Agree in Prayer;
and You want to answer our prayer
so that we can be encouraged.
So we ask for a manifestation
of this promise through the
Prayer of Agreement. Amen.

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 (Mt 1-7) and Galilee                 (Matt 8-19), the final segment of
Jesus ministry was in Jerusalem.
We hear the Sermons of the Messiah
in Mt 16-19, Parables in Mt 20-23
and Prophesies in Matt 24-25,                  before Seeing the Finished Work
of the Messiah in Matt 26-28.

On Monday, we learn fr Mt 18 that
Christ Blesses Prayer Agreement.
On Tuesday, we learn from Matt 20              that Christ Exalts His Servants.
On Wed, we learn from Mt 21 that
Christ Answers Prayers of Faith.
On Thu, we learn from Matt 24
that Christ Promises His Return.
On Friday, we learn from Matt 26
that Christ Submits to Father’s Will.
On Saturday, we learn from Mt 28
Christ Jesus Always With Us. Amen.

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 Agreement in prayer
as well as Answer Prayers of Faith;
For You are worthy of our praise
as You Exalt Your Servants;
For You Submit to the Father’s Will,
Promise to Return & Alway with Us.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Christ Jesus Always With Us

The events in the final two days of
Jesus’ earthly life carry shadows of
the cross: the anointing in Bethany,
the Passover Observance, Lord’s 
Supper, the prayer in Gethsemane.
.. Jesus is arrested, tried, condemned
 executed and placed in a tomb. But
in triumph, Jesus comes forth from
the grave in resurrection power.
The Kings of the Jews Lives again,
a message which His followers
are commissioned to share.

Lord, we Affirm Your Commission:
 Then the eleven disciples went
into Galilee, to the mountain which
Jesus had appointed for them…
And Jesus came to them and
said: All authority has been
given to Me… (Matt 28:16-18).
Go and make disciples of all the
nations… teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you;
and lo I am With you Always, even
to the end of the age (Mt 28:19-20)
This gospel of the kingdom will
be preached in all the world as
a witness to all the nations, and
then the end will come They will
see the Son of Man coming on
the clouds of heaven with power
and great glory (Matt 24:14, 30).

Lord, You’ve appointed & given us
authority; and it’s very clear about
the task You have left for us to do.
Help us step out of comfort zone
to seek pple who need to know You.
Help us witness to those You have
placed in our sphere of influence
in words, deeds and attitudes.
Help us Lord reflect You clearly
as people with fragrance who
have found the answer to life.
Help us be disciples and make
disciples. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord Jesus, You have promised
Your appointed followers that
You Will Be With them Always.
Though busyness and activities
may disconnect me from others,
it will never separate me from You.
Your promise is reliable in a world
where most promises are not.
Thank You Lord for the permanent
nature of Your promise. Amen.

Lord, the current signs of the times
including the Israel-Hamas war;
the lingering war in Ukraine
and long Covid pandemic,
remind us we are at end of age.
And the promise of Your coming
reminds and spurs us to evangelism.
We commit ourselves to the
service of Christ in submission
to His authority over our lives.
We believe faith in Christ Jesus
alone brings about salvation; and
we purpose to share this message
to our friends, loved ones and those
in our cycles of influence, Amen.

Christ Submits to Father’s Will

The events during the final two
days of Jesus’ earthly life carry
the shadow of the cross. Everything
He says and does foreshadows
that symbol of shame, sacrifice
and salvation: the anointing in
Bethany, the Passover observance,
the Lord’s Supper and the prayer
in Gethsamane. Jesus is arrested
and tried, first by the Jews, then
the Romans; He is condemned,
executed and placed in a tomb.
But the story does not end there.
In glorious triumph, Jesus comes
forth from the grave in resurrection
power. Indeed, the King of the
Jews lives again, a message of
Good News which His followers
are commissioned to share.

Lord, we’ll learn to Seek God’s Will:
While they were eating, Jesus took
bread, gave thanks and broke it
and gave it to His disciples saying:
Take and eat; this is my body.
Then He took the cup, gave thanks
and offered it to them saying:
Drink from it, all of you. This is
my blood of the covenant, which
is poured out for many for the
forgiveness of sins (Mt 26:26-28)
My Father, if it is possible, may
this cup be taken from me. Yet
not as I will but as You will. Then
He returned to His disciples and
found them sleeping and said:
Could you not watch with Me one
hour? Watch and pray, lest you
enter into temptation (v39-41).
He went away 2nd time & prayed:
My Father, if it is not possible for
this cup to be taken away unless
I drink it, may Your will be done.
When He came back, he found them
sleeping. So He left & prayed the
third time the same thing (v42-44).

Lord Jesus, thank You for the bread
and the cup for they signify You
offering Yourself for our sake.
Thank You Lord how much You love
us; and in gratefulness we’re drawn
into a deep relationship with You.
Remind us in each Lord’s Supper
that we are receiving Your gift of
Yourself to us, and that we will live
for You through Your Love. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You tell us in Your
Word to watch and pray so that
we may not fall into temptation.
We realize as Christian soldiers
we’re compelled to constant guard
for the enemy is like a roaring lion
seeking to take advantage of us.
Make me Lord a worthy soldier of
Your army so that I will not fail You
or cause others to stumble. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You were totally
committed to Your Father’s will;
obedient to do what He wanted.
Your prayer for the removal of the
cup was denied and You submitted.
Father God, we know that You
have good plans for our lives; and
we want Your Will be done in our life.
Reveal Lord Your specific will and
help us to pray accordingly. Amen.

Christ Promises His Return

Herod’s magnificent temple
captured the attention of all who
passed by. Commenting on its
beauty & splendour, the disciples
set the stage for Jesus’ Olivet
Discourse, a prophetic look at
future events. His followers are
urged to watchful expectation
coupled with faithful service
because, despite the signs of
His coming, the return of Christ
will be unannounced. His coming
will bring vengeance on His
enemies, judgment on the nations
and rewards for His followers.

Lord, we’ll Prepare for Your Return:
Immediately after the tribulation…
the sun will be darkened… Then…
they will see Son of Man Coming
on the clouds with power & great
glory. He will send forth his angels
with the sound of a mighty trumpet
& they will gather his chosen ones
from the farthest ends of the earth.
When you see the events I have
described beginning to happen,
u can know His Return is very near
right at the door (Matt 24:31-33).
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My Words will by No Means
Pass Away (Matthew 24:35).
Watch therefore for you do not know
what hour your Lord is coming…
Therefore you also Be Ready
for the Son of Man is coming at
an hour you do not expect (v42-44).

Lord Jesus, let us be settled in
our hearts that You are Returning.
Help me to be sensitive to the
changing season in my life and
in the lives of those around me.
Help me Lord to share U with those
who yearn to know more about You.
Open my eyes to the signs all
around so that I may prepare for
and anticipate Your Return. Amen

Lord, Your Words will Never Pass
Away for they speak in present
ways into the nows of our lives.
In fact the scriptures contain
Your truth and sacred promises
which I can base my life on.
Lord, let Your Word teach me,
shape me and saturate me;
and then speak Your Word
through me to others. Amen.

Lord, help us Keep Watch and
Be Ready for Your sure return
so that we may be able to give an
account of ourselves at any time.
Help us declare the word of the Lord
for righteousness being restored.
These are the days of the harvest;
the fields are as white in Your world.
We’re the labourers in Your vineyard
declaring the word of the Lord!Amen

Christ Answers Prayers of Faith

After Peter’s dramatic confession
of Jesus as the Christ, the Son
of the living God, Jesus began to
shew unto His disciples how He
must go to Jerusalem and suffer
many things, be killed and raised
again the third day. After preparing
His disciples for the unexpected
events, Jesus begins His final
journey to Jerusalem. Arriving
to a hero’s welcome, He is hailed
as King while making His humble
entrance into the city. It’s now the
final week of Christ’s earthly life.

Lord, we’ll ask with believing heart:
As (Jesus) returned to the city,
He was hungry. And seeing a fig
tree by the road, He came to it
and found nothing on it but leaves,
and said to it: Let no fruit grow on
you ever again. Immediately the
fig tree withered away(Mt 21:18-19)
Jesus said: Assuredly I say to you,
if you Have Faith and do not doubt,
you will not only do what was done
to the fig tree, but also if you say
to this mountain: Be removed and
Be cast into the sea, it will be done.
And whatever things you ask
in prayer, Believing you will
receive (Matthew 21:21-22).
Jesus said: A man with two sons
told the older boy: Son go out
and work in the vineyard today.
The son answered: No, I won’t go
but later he changed his mind
and went anyway. Then the father
told the other son: You go and
he said: Yes sir I will. But he
didn’t go. Which of the two
did the will of the father?
They said: The first (v28-31).

Lord, take away any unbelief in us;
and increase our faith to believe
for great things. Help me to have
faith enough to not pray too small.
I know Lord it’s not about trusting
in faith itself but trusting in You.
It’s not about believing in my ability
to believe or perform, but rather
it is believing in Your ability and
promise to hear and answer. Amen.

Lord, help me not think that some
problems are too big and hence
best considered as lost causes.
Help me not to focus on the size
of the mountain but rather how
much power You Creator God have.
So, I leave the mountain of
challenge in Your hands. For You
Lord can do as You will; and the
mountain is not too big for U. Amen

Lord, help me obey You in action
and not merely assenting words.
Help me Lord to obey You where
You lead me and told me to do.
Help me not write off people
who walk away from Your calling
but pray that You draw them back.
Help me Lord lift up those who
have turned away; for You are able
to draw them back to You. Amen.

Christ Exalts His Servants 
 After Peter’s dramatic confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus began to show His disciples how He must go toJerusalem and suffer many things of elders and chief priests, be killedand be raised again the third day.After preparing His disciplesfor the unexpected events whichwould soon take place, Jesus beginsHis final journey to Jerusalem.Arriving to a hero’s welcome,He is hailed as King while makingHis humble entrance into the city.It’s now the final week of Christ’s earthly life.

Lord, help us Serve as Servants:
Jesus said: You know the rulers
of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and those who are great exercise
authority over them. Yet it shall
not be so among you (Matt 20:25).
Whoever wants to become great
among you must be your servant
and whoever wants to be first
must be your slave. Just as the Son
of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many (Matt 20:26-28)
Two blind men… when they heard…
Jesus was passing by cried out…
Have mercy on us O Lord Son of
David! Then the multitude warned
them that they should be quiet;
but they cried out all the more…
Have mercy on us O Lord…
Jesus called them: What do you
want Me to do for you? They said:
Lord that our eyes may be opened.
So Jesus had compassion and
touched their eyes. And immediately
their eyes received sight (v29-34).

Lord, Your Word teaches that true
reward awaits those who humble
themselves in loving service.
Keep me Lord from the tendency
to be too driven and to exalt myself.
Give me Lord instead the grace
to choose the way of servanthood;
for I want to be more like You.
Help me to consider others’ needs
and desires besides my own. Amen.

Lord, You have given to each of us
the freedom and calling to serve.
Thank You Lord for freeing me from
sinful nature & giving the willingness
to reach out and serve others.
Show me where I can use my
giftings to make a difference for
the advancement of Your kingdom.
May an attitude of humble service
grow more & more in my life. Amen.

Lord, we learn from the two blind
men to seize the opportunity
to appeal for Your healing for
You wouldn’t pass that way again.
We also learn of their humility
to simply ask for Your mercy.
We also learn of their persistent
faith in praying for their need.
We humbly come to You with our
need; for You’re compassionate and
You respond to prayer in faith. Amen