Author: tanahmerah

God Grants Freedom & Fruit (Oct 11)

Galatians is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. He directs
this charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the liberty they possess in Christ.
Jewish legalists are influencing the
believers in Galatia to trade their
freedom in Christ for bondage to
the law. Paul writes to refute their
false gospel of works & to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we Yield to Your Control:
Stand fast… in the liberty by  which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled  again with a yoke of slavery. For you have been called to liberty;  only do not use liberty as an 

opportunity for the flesh (Gal 5:1,13.             The works of the flesh are evident:

hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions… envy,
murders… and the like (Gal 5:19-21)
When the Holy Spirit Controls
our lives, He will produce
this kind of fruit in us:
Love, Joy, Peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

Lord, we can be vulnerable to
the works of the flesh, including
contentions and fleshly emotions.
As fruit of the Spirit doesn’t reside
within my flesh, keep my life cleared
of things that crowd out Your Spirit.
Enable me Lord to humble myself
before You and rely on Your Spirit.
Train me to Yield to the Control of
the Holy Spirit and may the fruit You
produce draw others to You. Amen.

Lord, I need the Joy that only You
can give; and I want to be marked
by Your Peace and not to worry.
Forgive me Lord for the times I let
circumstances control my mood.
I need Your joy and peace so that
others might see the comfort and
assurance available only in You.
And teach me to rest in knowledge
that You are in control. Amen.

Loving Lord, grant me to overflow
with Your Love so that it will
spill out in my words and actions.
Help me pursue the path of love,
in difficult circumstances or with
difficult people; and cause Your
Goodness to flow through me.
For it’s not easy to think of others
or think of glorifying You when my
life is filled with pain. So, grant me
grace to live supernaturally. Amen.

God Adopts Us As His Children

This epistle is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
charter of Christian freedom to
people who are about to forsake
the liberty they possess in Christ.
Certain Jewish legalists are
influencing the believers in
Galatia to trade their freedom
in Christ for bondage to the law.
Paul writes to refute their false
gospel of works and to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Father God, we Love You:
When the set time had finally
come, God sent His Son, born
of a woman, born under the law,
to redeem those under the law,
that we might receive adoption
to sonship (Galatians 4:4-5).
And because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit
of His Son into your hearts,
crying out, “Abba Father!”
So you are no longer a slave,
but God’s child; and since you
are His child, God has made
you also an heir (v6-7).
Now we, brethren… are children
of promise… (And) we are not
children of the bondwoman
but of the free (v28-31).

Dear God, You are not just the
powerful Creator & righteous Lord,
You are also my loving Father.
And when I go thru hard times,
You care and listen to my pleas,
and will guide, provide & protect.
You are never impatient with me
and will not be “too busy” for me.
Lord Jesus, Thks for saving me; and
because of Yr grace & my faith in U,
I’m a child of the living God. Amen.

Lord, in times of severe trials,
we can be bombarded by doubts:
Why are all these happening to me?
I can’t believe a loving God will
let His children go thru such trauma.
And tough times can made me
wonder if I really am Your child.
Thank You Lord for the presence of
Your Spirit, who provides assurance
that I belong to You forever. Amen.

Lord, a key and great truth about
You God is that You are personal.
You want us to know You deeply
and intimately; for You Lord are
our Abba Father, Papa, Daddy.
I can readily come to You anytime
and say: Papa, please help me
with this problem. For You Lord are
a personal God; and You promise
to make Yourself real to us. Amen.

God Justifies Us By Faith (Oct 9)

This epistle is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
charter of Christian freedom to
people who are about to forsake
the liberty they possess in Christ.
Certain Jewish legalists are
influencing the believers in
Galatia to trade their freedom
in Christ for bondage to the law.
Paul writes to refute their false
gospel of works and to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we will Live By Faith:
Did u receive the Spirit by the works
of the law or by hearing of faith?
Are you so foolish? Having begun in
the Spirit, are you now being made
perfect by the flesh (Gal 3:2-3).
He who supplies the Spirit to you
and works miracles among you,
does He do it by the works of
the law or by the hearing of faith?
Just as Abraham believed God
and it was accounted to him
for righteousness (v5-6).
So then those who are of faith are
blessed with believing Abraham…
No one is justified by the law
in the sight of God is evident, for
the just shall Live By Faith (v9-11).

Father God, I did not receive the
Holy Spirit by the works of the law
but by the hearing of Faith. I am
not so foolish to turn to self efforts
to justify myself after I’ve admitted
that I can’t and that I need Jesus.
I am not the fool who begins new
life in the Spirit, then turns back
to works for justification; for Jesus
alone makes me perfect. Amen.

Father God does not give me His
Spirit because of the good works
that I do; or because I am sinless,
which I am obviously not at all.
He does these things because
I believe in Christ and in His Word,
and speaks it in the spirit of faith.
My belief becomes the springboard
for goodness in my life, and not
the works of righteousness. Amen.

Lord, I believe in Your power to do
miracles; and I desire to witness
the evidence of Your mighty work.
Help me Lord to believe fully in You
and to expect great things from You.
And I come to You believing not only
that You exist, but also believing
that You are a rewarder of those
who diligently seek You. Amen.

Christ Jesus Is Living In Me

This epistle is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
charter of Christian freedom to
people who are about to forsake
the liberty they possess in Christ.
Certain Jewish legalists are
influencing the believers in
Galatia to trade their freedom
in Christ for bondage to the law.
Paul writes to refute their false
gospel of works and to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we purpose to Live For You:
Knowing that a man is not justified
by the works of the law but by faith
in Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Christ Jesus, that we
must be justified by faith in Christ
and not by the works of the law;
for by the works of the law
no flesh shall be justified (Gal 2:16)
For through the law I died to the
law so that I might Live For God.
I have been crucified with Christ;
it is no longer I who live, but
Christ Lives In Me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh
I Live By Faith in the Son of God,
who Loved Me and Gave Himself
for me (Galatians 2:19-20). Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You that I have
been justified by Faith in You.
And thank You Lord for enabling
me to Live By Faith in this life. For
I’ve been crucified with Christ & so
I no longer live, but You Live in me.
May the truth of Yr Word enable me
to Trust You so that You dwell in me.
Grant me the grace to live joyously
because of my Faith in You. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving
me and giving Yourself for me.
Grateful for Your desire to live thru
me and enable me to Live for You.
What a wonder Lord that You want
to take up residence in my life.
In gratitude,I purpose to Live
wholly for You. Set me free Lord
to serve You with all my heart
and soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your
great sacrificial Love for us; for
dying for us to pay for sin’s penalty.
And Thank You for living in each
of us to purify us from sin’s power.
Teach me to Live by Faith in You
instead of confidence in myself.
Help me Lord to let the old ways of
my flesh die daily so that I can find
new resurrection life in You. Amen.

God Approves through the Gospel

This epistle has been called
the charter of Christian liberty.
It is Paul’s manifesto of justification
by faith & the liberty that produces.
Paul directs this great charter of
Christian freedom to people who
are about to forsake the priceless
liberty they possess in Christ.
Certain Jewish legalists are
influencing the believers in
Galatia to trade their freedom
in Christ for bondage to the law.
Paul writes to refute their false
gospel of works and to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we will Seek Your Approval:
Grace… and peace from God the
Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself for our sins,
that He might deliver us from
this present evil age (Gal 1:3-4).
I marvel that you are turning
away so soon from Him who
called you in the grace of Christ,
to a different gospel (v6).
If anyone preaches any other
gospel than the one you received,
let God’s curse fall upon that
person. Obviously I’m not trying
to be a people’s pleaser! No, I am
trying to please God. If I were
still trying to please people, I would
not be Christ’s servant (v9-10).

Thank You Father God and
Thank You Lord Jesus for
granting us grace and peace.
Thank You Lord Jesus for giving
Your life for our sins, just as
Father God planned to rescue us
from this evil world. Thank You
Lord for coming to my rescue
when I could not save myself.
All glory to God forever & ever.Amen

Lord, grant us discernment and
open our eyes to see the truth.
Pray that You would keep people
from being deceived by evil one.
Keep us and keep others from
being deceived and also keep us
from deceiving others inevitently.
And just as Apostle Paul exhorted
the Galatians, help us Lord hold
fast to the gospel each day. Amen.

Lord, I desire to live as Christ’s
servant & not as a people pleaser.
For I realise that I can’t seek
approval of others even as
I choose to live for You Lord.
It’s Your Approval I seek, for that’s
the one approval that really counts.
Help me Lord to speak and act
with boldness & love as I serve You.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God of Compassion Delivers Us

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 Secure:
All Praise to God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ…
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 Corinthians 1:3-4).
We should not trust in ourselves
but in God who raises the dead,
who delivered us from so great
a death and does deliver us;
in whom we trust that
He will still deliver us (v9-10).
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.
As 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 and comfort can flow. Amen.

Lord, we realise that Your way
of teaching us to rely on You God
more fully may mean that we will
be having only You to rely on.
And that can be uncomfortable,
for many of us have been taught
since young to be more self-reliant.
So Lord, we ask You to teach us
what it means to rely more fully
on You instead of ourselves. Amen.

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

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of 2nd Corinthians
is to affirm Paul’s ministry, defends
his authority as an apostle and to
refute the false teachers in Corinth.
After his first letter, Paul’s teaching,
character and motives were then
brought up under attack by some.
Paul writes to present his credentials
and vindicate his conduct; thanking
those who support him as well as appealing to the rebellious minority.

On Monday, we learn from 2 Cor 1
that God of Compassion Delivers Us.
On Tuesday, we learn from 2Cor 3
that Spirit of the Lord Enables Us.
On Wed, we learn from 2 Cor 4
that Spirit of Faith Empowers Us.
On Thu, we learn from 2 Cor 5
that God Made Us New Creation.
On Fri, we learn from 2Cor 10 that
God Provides Spiritual Resources.
On Saturday, we learn from 2Cor 12
that God Strengthens In Weakness.

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 made us New Creation and
the Spirit of the Lord Enables Us.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as God of Conpassion Delivers Us
and the Spirit of Faith Empowers Us.
For You Provide Spiritual Resources
and Strengthen Us In Weakness.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Strengthens In Weakness

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.

Lord, we will be Enabled by You:
Three different times I begged
the Lord to take (a thorn in my
flesh) away. Each time He said:
My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness.
So now I am glad to boast about
my weaknesses, so that the power
of Christ can work through me.
That’s why I take pleasure in
my weaknesses, hardships and
troubles that I suffer for Christ.
For when I am weak, then I am
strong (2 Cor 12:8-10). Amen.

Lord, teach me the art of looking
to You God instead of being
immersed at my problems.
Remind me Lord that anything
of lasting value in life is really
because of You and not me;
for success come from You.
Give me eyes of faith for Yr grace
that I may press on even when
I feel being overwhelmed. Amen.

Lord, I have much weaknesses
to give You; and You know all
my frailties that keep me feeling
insufficient. But You are my
sufficiency and my strength.
I fully depend on You Lord and
surrender my frailties over to You.
Please step Lord into my gaps
and weaknesses with Yourself
and Your help. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, You promise in Your Word
that Your power works best in
our weaknesses. So Lord work
in and thru all my weaknesses.
I am thankful and grateful Lord
that I don’t have to be perfect
so that I can be useful to You.
Help me trust Your strength to work
in my weaknesses; and You’ll raise
me up to more than I can be. Amen.

God Provides Spiritual Resources

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 do.
Trust that Your Word will speak
to the hearts of even the most
atheistic people and convict them.
For You have clearly promised that
Your Word will achieve its purpose
of telling the world the truth. Amen.

Lord, praise You for Your weapons
of warfare are mighty & supernatural
and will conquer rebellious ideas.
Teach us Lord to wield them even
as we stand against the enemy,
interceding for pre-believers.
Lord, pray that You will demolish
the devil’s dark strongholds and
establish Your kingdom of truth
and light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God Made Us His New Creation

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 effective in
calling people to repentance.

Lord, we are Your Ambassadors:
God… has given us the Spirit
as a guarantee… Therefore
we are always confident…
We live by faith, not by sight…
We make it our point to please Him…
For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of God that each
one may receive… according to
what he has done (2Cor 5:5-10).
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ
he is a New Creation; old things
have passed away; behold all things
have become new (2 Cor 5:17).
God… has given us the ministry of
reconciliation. God was reconciling
the world to Himself in Christ, not
counting people’s sins against them.
And He has committed to us the
message of reconciliation. We are
therefore Christ’s Ambassadors,
as though God were making
His appeal through us (v18-20).

Father, Thank You for giving us
the Spirit as a guarantee, so that
we can always be confident.
Praise You for being wise judge and
reigning over affairs of this world;
for nothing is hidden fr Your sight.
Grant us the grace to walk faithfully
and to do what’s pleasing to You.
And trust that You will restore and
bless Your people abundantly. Amen

Lord, Thank You for giving me new
life – a full life that will never end.
Thank You Lord because I am
In Christ, the old me is gone
and I am empowered not to sin.
For because of You Lord,
I have become a brand new
person; and I have the capacity
to change and grow into the image
of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Father God, through Christ You
forgive sins and bring sinners back
into relationship with Yourself.
Thank You Lord for drawing me to
Yourself and saving me eternally.
You have given the gospel to me
so that I might share it with others.
As Your ambassadors, make us
be more engaging to those who
yet to know You. In Jesus’ name.