Month: October 2024

God Empowers Your Calling

In his 2nd letter to Thessalonians,
Paul commends their faithfulness
in persecution and encourages
them that present suffering
will be repaid with future glory.
Paul clarifies the Day of the Lord
had not yet arrived & recounts the
events which must take place first.
Labouring for the gospel, rather
than lazy resignation, can be the
only proper response to such truth.

Lord, make Effective our Calling:
We always thank God for you…
that your faith is flourishing
and you are all growing in love
for each other (2 Thess 1:3).
We… tell God’s other churches
about your endurance & faithfulness
in all the hardships you’re suffering;
and in His justice He will punish
those who persecute you (v5-6).
We keep on praying for you,
that our God will make you Worthy
of the life to which He Called you.
And we pray that God by His Power
will fulfill all your good intentions
and faithful deeds. Then everyone
will give honour to the name of our
Lord Jesus because of you (v11-12).

Lord, I lift up the needs of my
friends and loved ones to You.
I ask You will meet their physical,
emotional and spiritual needs.
Cause their faith to grow steadily
so that they would truly fear You.
Create in them the desire to love
others as they love themselves.
Help me Lord to consistently point
them to You in word and life. Amen.

Lord, we are challenged by the
faith of the Thessalonian church
under persecution and tribulation.
Grant us Lord the needed strength
to endure hardships and suffering.
In Your grace, impart Your power
to us so that we may live the life
to which You Lord have called us.
Make us Lord vessels of Your glory
so that those seeing our works will
look past us & be drawn to U. Amen

Lord Jesus, I realise apart from
You, I can do absolutely nothing.
So I humbly seek You in prayer,
admit my inadequacy and ask
for Your grace and sufficiency.
Grant me Lord tenacious faith in You
and Empower me to fulfil my calling.
For You alone can make me worthy
of the life which You’ve called me.
More love, more power, more of You
in my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Sanctifies Us Completely;              Inspiring “Take Time to Be Holy”

British William Longstaff heard
a sermon on the text: Be ye holy,
for I am holy, and wrote down
what holiness meant to him,
inspired by 1 Thessalonians 5.
A businessman at heart, William
wrote no pious sounding verses
but down-to-earth thoughts, which
appeared in Christian newspaper in

1882. Years later gospel composer
George Stebbins remembered the 
poem when he was asked if there’s
      a good hymn on living a holy life.
      Retrieving the newspaper clipping
      he saved, he set the poem to music;
      and ‘Take Time to be Holy’ was born.

Lord, we’ll seek to Do Your Will:
Therefore confort each other
and edify one another….
Be at Peace among yourselves…
Comfort the fainthearted, uphold
the weak, be patient with all…
Pursue what is good both for
yourselves & for all (1Ths 5:11-15)
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God (v16-18).
Now may the God of Peace Himself
Sanctify You completely; and may
your whole spirit, soul and body
be preserved blameless at
the coming of our Lord Jesus.
He who calls you Is Faithful,
who also Will Do it (v23-24) Amen

Lord, in this season of uncertainties,
many are searching for direction.
The Holy Spirit knows all needs,
know all things and inspires us
to build each other up with words
of comfort and words of edification.
O Spirit, use our imagination to write
Your will, impress Your thoughts
and speak into the hearts of Your
people through us. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, prompt us to rejoice always,
pray & give thanks without ceasing.
Lord God of peace, do Your holy
work of Sanctification within us
for we want to honour You with
our lives and to resist sin each day.
Preserve us Lord to be blameless.
Give us a deep love for You and
the zeal for Your glory that will
surpass any impure passion. Amen.

Lord, I believe the convictions and
longings in my heart are placed
there by You & I raise them to You. 
Use them Lord to accomplish
Your purposes; and I believe that
You will get me where I need to go.
I am prepared and available to work
out the calling You have for me.
For I know Lord that You are faithful
and that You will surely do it. Amen.

Take time to Be Holy,
Speak off with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children;
Help those who are weak;
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek…
Take time to Be Holy,
Let Him be thy guide,
And run not before Him
Whatever betide;
In joy or in sorrow
Still follow the Lord,
And looking to Jesus,
Still trust in His Word. Amen.

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… And this word continues
to work in you who believe (v13).

Lord, thanks for entrusting gospel
and good works for each one of us.
Lead me to people who will clarify
and confirm Your ministry 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 You consider worthy and
bring honour to Your 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 growth;
for it’s Your Word that is needed.
Speak through me with Your Word,
which has the power to bring
about real and lasting change.
Shine Jesus Shine. Send forth
Yr Word Lord & let there be light. Amen.

God Honours Work of Faith

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 Lord turn away from idols,
continually serving the living God;
and holding to Faith In You. Amen.

God Supplies All Your Needs;                        What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Joseph Scriven was a man who had
experienced friendship of Jesus thru
a life filled with personal tragedy.
When Scriven was a young man
in Ireland, his fiancée drowned
the evening before their wedding.
Soon after he set sail for Canada;
seemingly destined to live alone
with Jesus as his only close friend.
Scriven never intended to publish
“What A Friend we have in Jesus.”
He wrote the words of the hymn,
which was inspired by Philippians 4,
to accompany a letter to his mother,
who was ill in Ireland. He had no
material resources to send her –
only a reminder the most perfect of
friends, Jesus Himself was nearby;
and 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 (v12-13).
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 (v19).

Lord, Enable me to lift up in praise
& worship of whatever facing me.
Help me Lord not to be anxious or
worry about anything but instead
to release them in prayer to You.
Help me to refuse to think of
negative and what-if thoughts.
Help me to bring every concern
before You and leave it at Your feet.
Fill me with Your peace that passes
all understanding so that my heart
and mind will be protected. Amen.

Loving Lord, we praise You for You
are good and deeply care for us.
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, You’re Caring & Thank You for
the promise to Supply all our needs.
This amazing pledge & assurance
makes us feel secure as well as
contented in our journey thru life.
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. Thank You
Jesus for being such a friend, Amen

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!…
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer. Amen.

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the epistle to
the Philippians is to strengthen
the believers by showing them that true joy comes from Christ alone.
Divisions sometimes occur among
believers; but unity will be restored
as they follow servanthood of Christ.
And the purpose for Colossians
is to show that believers have
everything they need in Christ.
With Christ as all in all, Paul also encourages the Colossians to pursue a godly lifestyle, befitting
those who are risen with 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 Wed, we learn from Phil 3 that
God Helps In Pressing On to Call.
On Thursday, we learn from Phil 4
that God Supplies All Our Needs.
On Friday, we learn fr Col 1&2 that
God Made Us Complete In Christ.
On Saturday, we learn from Col 3
that God Gives Power For New 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 God Gives Power to Obey and
Helps Us In Pressing On to Call.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as God Completes Good Work
as well as Supplies All Our Needs.
For You Made Us Complete In Christ
as well as Give Power for New Life.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Gives Power For New Life;                       Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Helen Lemmel was already a noted
Christian singer on a day in 1918
when a missionary friend handed
her a tract called “Focused”. It said:
“Turn your eyes upon Him,
look full into His face & you will
find that the things of earth will
acquire a strange new dimness.”
Suddenly, she said later, I was
singing in my soul the chorus,
putting word to word to make
rhyme and note to note to make
melody. Later that year, the hymn,
which was also inspired by Col 3,
was published in London and
became a favourite at Keswick
Convention around the world.
Yes, Turn our eyes upon Jesus,
for He will empower our lives!

Lord, we’ll Seek Things Above:
Since you have been raised
to new life with Christ, set your
sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place
of honour at God’s right hand.
Think about the things of heaven,
not the things of earth. For you
died to this life and your real life is
hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:1-3)
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).

Father, help me 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.
Lord Jesus, fill my mind with eternal
thoughts and help me live effectively
as an influencer in Your kingdom.
And Holy Spirit, make me new for
only You can empower the life I am
meant to live. In Jesus’ name. 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. 
We can be confused as the world
is full of lies and unholy agendas. 
Help us Lord to know You more
as we fill our hearts and minds
with Your words & spiritual songs.  
And may our hearts and spirits
be more sensitive to Your Voice
and Your Will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

O soul, are you weary & troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free…
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth
will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory & grace…
His word shall not fail He promised
Believe Him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell. Amen.

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, were Complete In You:
We…(ask) God to fill you with the
Knowledge of His Will through all
spiritual wisdom & understanding
that u may walk worthy of the Lord,
fully pleasing Him, being fruitful
in every good work and increasing
in the knowledge of God(Col1:9-10)
Everything was created through
Him and for Him. He existed
before anything else & He holds
all creation together. And He is
the head of the body, the church..
that in all things He may have
the preeminence (Col 1:16-18).
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 & powers(Eph 2:9-10)

Lord, I pray for the people You’ve
put in my life and on my heart.
Fill them with wisdom and under-
standing and the knowledge of
Your Will so that they will stay
on the path You have for them.
I pray they will learn to hear Your
voice and come to know You
better, so that they can have
a closer walk with You. Amen.

Lord, You created me for Your
divine purpose; so help me be all that You created me to be and to do.
Dear Jesus, I adore You not only
for Your sacrificial love, but also condescending to live in & thru me.
Help me Lord to live in such a way
that I let You have the preeminence
in all things. In Jesus’ name, 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;
for power & victory is in Your hand.
And that You are using everything
that happens in my life to show me
that I am Complete In You. Amen.

God Supplies All Your Needs;                        What A Friend We Have In Jesus

PJoseph Scriven was a man who had
experienced friendship of Jesus thru
a life filled with personal tragedy.
When Scriven was a young man
in Ireland, his fiancée drowned
the evening before their wedding.
Soon after he set sail for Canada;
seemingly destined to live alone
with Jesus as his only close friend.
Scriven never intended to publish
“What A Friend we have in Jesus.”
He wrote the words of the hymn,
which was inspired by Philippians 3,
to accompany a letter to his mother,
who was ill in Ireland. He had no
material resources to send her –
only a reminder the most perfect of
friends, Jesus Himself was nearby;
and 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 (v12-13).
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 (v19).

Lord, Enable me to lift up in praise
& worship of whatever facing me.
Help me Lord not to be anxious or
worry about anything but instead
to release them in prayer to You.
Help me to refuse to think of
negative and what-if thoughts.
Help me to bring every concern
before You and leave it at Your feet.
Fill me with Your peace that passes
all understanding so that my heart
and mind will be protected. Amen.

Loving Lord, we praise You for You
are good and deeply care for us.
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, You’re Caring & Thank You for
the promise to Supply all our needs.
This amazing pledge & assurance
makes us feel secure as well as
contented in our journey thru life.
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. Thank You
Jesus for being such a friend, Amen

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!…
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer. Amen.

God Helps In Pressing On to Call          Inspiring ‘All to Jesus I Surrender’

Van De Venter (1855-1939) was
a teacher by profession and artist
at heart. After evangelistic meetings,
friends saw his gift in counselling &
urged him to become an evangelist.
For five years he wavered between
his love for art and God’s calling
to evangelistic ministry. He later
recalled: “I surrendered all. I became
an evangelist and discovered deep
in my soul a talent unknown to me.”
A few years later, Van De Venter
remembering that decisive moment
and wrote the hymn ‘I Surrender All’
inspired largely by Philippians 3:7-9.

Lord, we will Focus on the Call: 
But what things were gain to me,
these I’ve counted loss for Christ.
Everything else is worthless when 
compared with the infinite value
 of Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…
yes to know the power of His
resurrection and participation
in His suffering (Phil 3:7-10).
I am focusing all my energies on
this One Thing: Forgetting the past
and Looking Forward to what lies
ahead, I press toward the goal;
for the prize of the upward Call
of God in Christ Jesus (v13-14).
For our citizenship is In Heaven,
from which we eagerly wait for
the Saviour… who will transform
our lowly body that it be conformed
to His glorious body (v20-21).

Dear Jesus, You are Lord of my life
and I purpose to hold nothing back.
I surrender to You the promises
I’ve kept & those I’ve failed to keep.
I surrender my entire life to You;
the past, present and the future.
I surrender my emotions, fears
and insecurities for I belong to You.
Receive my will and all that I have;
for I purpose to Surrender All.
Grant me Your grace, for apart
from You I can do nothing. Amen.

Lord, help me to Keep my Eye On
the Goal, where You’re beckoning
me upward and onward to Jesus.
Keep me from being distracted by
the past; wrong choices & sins that
hv been washed in blood of Christ.
Grant me grace and strength not to
turn back, knowing You’re in control
and promise to meet my needs.
And help me keep my eyes fixed
on the eternal prize – unending life
in Your glorious presence. Amen.

Lord, I praise and Thank You for
giving me eternal life & listing me
among the residents of Heaven.
Though this current life is filled
with trouble and challenges,
I know I am only passing through.
Help me to Seek You First and
stop worrying about tomorrow.
Grant me an Eternity Mindset
so that I can endure the temporal
difficulties that come my way.Amen

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live…
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all…
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me…Amen.