Author: tanahmerah

The Living God Is 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’s Presence Gives Courage

Moses has died and Joshua is
appointed by God to take the reins
of leadership. The people are
poised within view of the land
promised to their ancestors and
denied their unbelieving parents.
The time has come to cross pover,
conquer and possess the land.
The task seems impossible: a
turbulent river and mighty walled
cities. So God begins to prepare
His people for the warfare ahead.
He reminds Joshua that attention
to His word brings success.

Lord, we will Be Courageous:
Be Strong and Courageous,
because You will lead them
people to Inherit the land
I Swore to their forefathers
to give to them (Joshua 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). Amen and amen.

Father God, I will be strong and
courageous, I shall not be afraid
for the LORD my God goes with me.
In fact You have Promised in Your
Word an Inheritance; and You
will surely not fail nor forsake me.
And since You promised that It is
the Lord who goes before me; You
will be with me & will not leave me.
Therefore I shall not be afraid what-
ever the challenge before me. Amen

Lord, I pray that every time
when I read Your Word, You will
teach me all that I need to know.
Help me Lord to understand Your
truth and 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 be
successful as You promise. Amen.

Lord, I can feel overwhelmed,
but I know a glimpse of You can
radically change my perspective.
Thanks for Your promise of being
With Me no matter what happens.
Lord please overshadow my fears
and worries with Your strength.
Help me be strong and courageous
in every challenge that I may face.
In Jesus’ mighty name, 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:
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 Models Seeking 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, 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, 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 were totally
committed to Your Father’s plan;
obedient to do what He wanted.
Your prayer for the removal of the
cup was denied and Your 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

God Regards Humility & Authenticity

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, help us to Be Authentic:
You must obey the Pharisees…
But don’t do what they do, for they
do not practice what they preach…
The greatest among you will be
your servant. For those who exalt
themselves will be humbled and
those who Humble themselves
will be exalted (Matt 23:3, 11-12).
Woe to you, Teachers of the law,
you hypocrites! You have neglected
the more impt matters of the law –
justice, Mercy and faithfulness…
Woe to you Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you are so careful to clean
the outside of the cup & the dish,
but inside you are filthy. First Wash
the Inside… and then the outside
will become clean too (v23-26).
O Jerusalem… how often I wanted
to gather your children together,
as a hen gathers her chicks under
her wings but you would not (v37)

Lord, help us to focus on You God
rather than ourselves; and replace
our self-centredness with Humility.
Help us lead a way of life that
furthers Yr kingdom & serve others.
Help us Lord to have a Servant
mindset in service and live out
our Christianity in truth and grace.
Help us to do justly, love mercy &
Walk Humbly before You. Amen.

Lord, we realise it’s so easy to fall
into the trap of being judgmental.
It’s so easy to point out tiny faults
in others and yet ignore the huge
shortcomings in Our Own Lives.
Even when we feel we have not
much fault, we still have pride in us.
Help us Offer Our Hearts and minds
daily to You God so that Your grace
can redeem our failures. Amen.

Lord, make us to love You that
You may be to us a fire of love,
purifying us and not destroying.
And let us Lord not serve You
with a spirit of a slave but with gladness of heart of children.
Make us delight ourselves in You and rejoice in Your kingdom work.
In Jesus’ precious name, 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:
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
shew unto His disciples how He
must go to Jerusalem and suffer
many things of elders and chief
priests, be killed & be raised again
the third day. After preparing
His disciples for the unexpected
events which would soon take
place, 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, 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 gifts
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

Christ Gives Rest to the Weary

Jesus came to earth to begin His
kingdom. Matthew focuses on 10
miracles in Mt8&9 demonstrating
Jesus’ power over disease, the
forces of nature & the spirit world.
Christ then bestows that same
power & authority on His chosen
apostles and sends them out
as ambassadors of the kingdom.
He first instructs them how to act,
then warns them of the dangers
they will face, as He calls them
to committed discipleship.

Lord, You Care for the Weary:
Jesus spoke to the crowds…
John came neither eating nor
drinking, and they say, ‘He has
a demon’; the Son of Man came
eating and drinking, and they
say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors
and sinners’ (Matt 11:16-19).
O Father Lord of heaven and earth,
thank You for hiding these things
from those who think themselves
wise and clever and for Revealing
them to the childlike (v25-26).
Jesus said: Come To Me, all of you
who are weary and carry heavy
burdens, and I will give you Rest.
Take my yoke upon you… and
you will Find Rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy to bear, and the
burdens I give you is light (v28-30).

Lord, we tend to judge, dismiss and
reject people & we need Your help.
Reveal where we are called
to be more free of prejudices.
Reveal who are the sinners
that we are called to befriend.
Grant us wisdom to interpret
the truth and the call to change.
Grant us freedom that opens us
to follow Christ more closely. Amen.

Father, we want to hear Your voice
in the midst of life circumstances,
like Jesus did in His chat with You.
Apostle Paul tells us to “never stop
praying” and we can attempt that.
But hearing from God unceasingly
and picking up Your voice
consistently can be challenging.
Give us Lord the sensitivity to
hear from You clearly as well as
the boldness to believe. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your
offer to carry my burdens for me.
I give them all to You and gladly
receive Your Rest that You give.
In Your infinite care You carried
the burden of my sins on the cross.
I thank You and praise You for
Your great love and compassion.
Help me Lord to walk in the ways
You have set before me. Amen.

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of gospel of Matthew
is to prove that Jesus is the Messiah
the eternal King. From Matthew 8,
we see Jesus sending His disciples as ambassadors of the kingdom.
On Monday, we learn from Matt 8
that God Blesses those who Believe.
On Tuesday, we learn from Matt 10
that Christ Empowers the Called.
On Wednesday, we learn from Mt 11
that Christ Gives Rest to the Weary.
On Thur, we learn from Matt 13/14
that God Reveals His Will to Us.
On Friday, we learn from Matt 17
that God Can Perform Impossible.
On Saturday, we learn from Matt 18
that Christ Blesses Unity in Prayer.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who are ready
to be His faithful ambassadors.
Help us trust You for revelation,
rest and deliverance as well as empowerment & blessings. Amen.