PrayerThots Devotional

Resurrection Lord Gives Victory

Background Context of 1Cor 15/16:
False teachers had been confusing
the Corinthians by denying the
doctrine of physical resurrection.
Paul defends the Resurrection
as a historical fact confirmed
by more than 500 eyewitnesses.
The Resurrection provides hope
for the believer’s body and soul
as well as motivates believers to
abound in the work of the Lord.

Lord, thanks for Confident Hope:
For when the trumpet is blown,
those who have died will Be Raised
to Live Forever. And we who are
Living will also be transformed.
For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality.
Then… Death is swallowed up
in victory (1 Corinthians15:52-54).
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
But thank God! He gives us
Victory over sin and death through
our Lord Jesus Christ (v55-57).
(So)… be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of
the Lord, knowing that your labour
is Not In Vain in the Lord (v58).

Lord, in a world filled with gloomy
news, thank You that Your Word
holds Great Hope for the future.
And someday all believers of Christ
will be given brand new bodies.
Eternal life with God in heaven is far
better than what we encounter here.
Thank You we can be confident for
Your good plan for us, that You’re
in control and grant victory. Amen.

Lord, the sting of death is not dying
but rather what will happen after.
Thank You for eliminating possibility
of hell; but giving eternal bliss in
heaven for all who believe in Christ.
Grateful all because Jesus had paid
price for our sin and rose from the
dead, death has No Power over us.
Realising importance of the gospel,
help us be worthy witnesses. Amen.

Lord, we recognise that You have
given us talents and spiritual gifts.
They may not be something overt
like teaching and singing; but skills
like cooking or greeting people.
For all that matters is that we use
them for the Lord and His church.
And God promises Nothing done
for Him will be useless; and that
You’ll Honour faithful service. Amen

God Spurs Love to Build the Church

Background Context of 1Cor 13/14:
Paul’s letter so far has dealt with
problems of a personal nature.
But now he addresses public issues
in the Corinthian church: the veiling
of women, the importance of the
Lord’s Supper & the use of spiritual
gifts. Worship must be characterised
by propriety and orderliness. And
spiritual gifts must be Exercised
In Love, for the building up of the
whole body of Christ. Only then
is the church of God properly
worshipping the God of the church.

Lord, we’ll Choose Way of Love:
Love is patient and kind;
love does not envy…
It does not demand its own way…
It is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs…
Love never gives up, never loses
faith, is always hopeful & endures
through every circumstance.
Love Never Fails (1Cor 13:4-8).
For… now I know in part…
And now these three remains:
faith, hope and love. But the
greatest of these is love (v12-13).
Pursue love and desire spiritual
gifts, especially that you may
prophesy… Helping others
encouraging them (1 Cor 14:1-3)

Lord, Thank You for Loving me,
being with me & constantly for me;
and I purpose to Love You more.
Help me Lord to Love Others,
even when it’s difficult to do so;
& lead me to be others-centred.
Enable me to express Your self-
giving love to those You have
put in my world; and show me
ways to love unreservedly. Amen.

Lord, I can fall into despair; and
so Increase my Faith; grant me the
steadfastness to persevere in faith.
At times I’m fearful of the future;
Increase my Hope & grant me the
solid assurance to rise above fear.
And Lord, I can have bitterness
toward situations & people; and so
grant me compassion for others and
grace to Persevere In Love. Amen.

Lord, help me to rest in Your love
and so be able to give love freely
to those in my life and influence.
Help me realize & not presume
that ministry sacrifices can be
substitutes for really loving pple.
Show me Lord where I have not
been loving in the busyness of life;
and show me who I could behave
more lovingly in the days ahead.
More Love, More of You in my life
For You’ve called me to love. Amen

God Promises Spiritual Gifts(Sep 26)

Background Context to 1Cor 11-14:
Paul’s letter so far has dealt with
problems of a personal nature.
But now he addresses public issues
in the Corinthian church: the veiling
of women, the importance of the
Lord’s Supper & use of spiritual gifts.
Worship must be characterised
by propriety and orderliness. And
spiritual gifts must be exercised
in love, for the building up of the
whole body of Christ. Only then
is the church of God properly
worshipping the God of the church.

Lord, we will Use Spiritual Gifts:
There are different kinds of gifts,
but the same Spirit distributes them.
There are different kinds of service
but the same Lord who does the
work in all of us (1Cor 12:4-6).
Now to each one of the
manifestation of the Spirit is
given for the Common Good.
To one is given the word of wisdom
through the Spirit, to another faith
by the same Spirit, to another
gifts of healings (v7-9).
But one and the same Spirit…
distributing to each one
individually as He wills (v11).

Lord, Your Word says that You give
Your people special gifts that they
can use to build Your kingdom.
Thank You for the different kinds
of gifts that the Spirit has given me.
Give me wisdom & discernment
and opportunities to use them
so as to help accomplish the
Lord’s will on earth; the work in
all of us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, grant me the gift of wisdom
and of special knowledge. Alert me
to Your gentle nudges to represent
You to others. Make me aware of
various creative ways You speak
so that I can speak forth Your word.
And teach me to ask: What are You
really saying; before I even think:
Why is this thing happening.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, I worship You for Your
creativity & sovereignty in my life.
May I never place limits on what
I expect You to say or how U say it.
Open my mind to anything that is
in Your heart; help me to discern
and to hear Your voice in others.
Help me to see past their flaws
and to recognise what You are
saying through them. Amen.

God Provides A Way Out

Backgrounder to 1 Cor 7-15:
The Corinthian Church had sent
Apostle Paul a list of questions
on marriage, morality, liberty,
worship and resurrection.
Building on Old Testament
quotations and Christ’s teaching,
Paul answered them in a way meant
to correct abuses in the church
and to show how important it is
that they live what they believe.

Lord, help us Resist Temptation:
We should not lust after evil things…
And do not become idolaters…
Nor let us commit sexual immorality..
nor complain as some of them
complain (1 Corinthians 10:6-10).
Therefore let him who thinks
he stands take heed lest he fall.
No temptation has overtaken
you except what is common
to mankind. And God is faithful;
He will Not let u be Tempted
Beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted,
He will also Provide A Way Out
so that you can endure it (v12-13)
Therefore my beloved, flee
from idolatry. I speak as to the
wise; judge for yourselves (v14-15).

Lord, help us to be watchful of evil,
idolatry & immorality lurking around.
Whilst You God don’t promise
to protect us from temptations,
You promise Your help In Resisting
temptations when we face them.
Thank You Lord for Your promise
that No temptation will ever
be so strong that we can’t
stand up against it. Amen.

Lord, at times we may feel
temptation is overpowering
and impossible to resist. But
Thank You for Holy Spirit to help
us recognise tempting situations
and show us the way to escape.
Help us stay away from every
activity we know that is wrong.
Help us Lord to consciously
choose to do only what is right.
Help us O Lord for apart from
You we can do nothing. Amen.

Lord, Thank You for promising
that we can always escape the
temptation that comes our way.
We trust You O God to keep
any temptation from becoming so
strong that we have to give in to it.
Help us Lord to Resist temptation
or Flee from it as Joseph once did.
Help us free from idolatry; and
Help us make wise judgments.Amen

The Passover Lamb Is Worthy

Backgrounder to 1 Corinthians 1-6:
Churches aren’t perfect because
churches are full of imperfect pple.
Paul writes to believers at Corinth
to correct errors in their public
and private behaviour which
are detracting their gospel witness.
These include factions, immorality
and lawsuits between believers.
Paul sets forth godly guidelines
for conduct consistent with the
grace of God given by Christ.

Lord, we’ll live Worthy of Passover:
Do you not know that a little leaven
leavens the while lump. Therefore
purge out the old leaven so that
you can stay pure. For Christ
our Passover Lamb has been
sacrificed for us (1Cor 5:6-7).
Your sins have been washed away
and you have been set apart
for God. You have been made
right with God because of what
the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of
our God have done for u (1C6:11).
Flee sexual immorality…
Do you not know that your body
is the temple of the Holy Spirit
who is in you… For you were
bought at a price; therefore
glorify God in your body (v19-20).

Lord Jesus, our Passover Lamb,
You had indeed bought us at
a high price; and being indwelt by
the Holy Spirit, we belong to You.
Lord urge us to flee from sexual sins;
and in the world, we can see
families torn apart and much pain,
from the misuse of Your good gift.
Help us to appreciate Your gift of
sex & use it as You intended. Amen

Lord, as we seek a deep sense
of holiness, we find ourselves
pushing against a very strong tide.
Only the power of Your gospel and
the reality that we belong to You
have pushback power against
this tide. Give us the word and
the Will to keep up the fight,
realising that our bodies indeed
belong to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Lord Jesus, You indeed bought
us at a heavy price and rightly
we purpose to love You and
consecrate for faithful service.
O Lord, I give myself to You;
for I am born to be Yours, to be
Your instrument to serve You.
Grant me the grace to abide
in You, to seek Your ways and
to be obedient to You. Amen.

Spirit of God Gives Insights

Churches aren’t perfect because
churches are full of imperfect pple.
Paul writes to the believers at
Corinth to correct errors in their
public & private behaviour which
are detracting from their witness.
These include factions, immorality
and lawsuits between believers.
And Paul set forth godly guidelines
for conduct consistent with the
grace of God given by Christ.

Lord, we Seek Your Insight:
I thank my God… that you were
enriched by Him in… all knowledge…
God, no eye has seen, no ear heard,
no mind has conceived what You
have prepared for those who love
You, but You have revealed it to us
by Your Spirit. The Spirit teaches
us all things, even the deep thing
of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 9-10).
What we have received is..the Spirit
who is from God, so that we may
understand what God has freely
given us. This is what we speak…
in words taught by the Spirit,
explaining Spiritual Realities
with Spirit-taught words (v12-13).
Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to teach him?
But we understand these things,
for we have the Mind of Christ (v16)

Lord, when we need insights and
direction or facing challenges,
we tend to seek worldly counsel.
But there is a more reliable and
excellent source of ultimate
knowledge, the Holy Spirit.
Thank You Father for giving us
the Holy Spirit who lives inside us.
O Spirit, do make clear spiritual
realities to us and enable us to
make correct decisions. Amen.

Lord, as I ponder on Scripture
each day, they lead me to see
Your instruction and direction.
As I consider my convictions and
as I think about the things people
are saying, I can sense Your voice.
And as I bring issues before You
and consider the circumstances,
I can see evidence of Your leading.
When I take all these together, I get
a sense of how You’re leading me.
Confirm Lord the inner impression
with Your Secrets and peace. Amen.

Lord, let me see as U see to enable
me to act according to Your vision.
And I also need to know clearly
Your will for only then can I be
confident of doing the right thing.
Lord, it can be very challenging
to decipher Your sovereign will.
Plant Your thots in me & move me
as You desire; for Your Word says:
we Have the Mind of Christ. Amen.

Christ Frees Us from Condemnation        & Inspiring hymn “And Can It Be”

Backgrounder on Romans 6-8:
Paul anticipates questions arising
fr hearing gospel of grace. If God’s
grace is free, then am I free to sin?
If I am free from the law, then can
I ignore the ethical demands of
the law? Paul has no illusions that
becoming a Christian means the
end of your troubles. But the life
-giving Spirit provides confidence,
for victorious Christian living
in the storms of everyday life.

Charles Wesley is probably the
greatest hymn writer the church
has ever known. From the time of
conversion in 1738, Wesley wrote
an average of two hymns a week
for 50 years composing five to six
thousand hymns during his lifetime.
Most of these hymns were written
as he travelled with his brother John,
ministering to thousands of poor
farmers and illiterate coal miners.
These were people at the margin
of society, people most churches
did not bother to think about. It
was for them that Charles Wesley
composed his hymns, where
people experienced the love of God.
The vastly popular hymn “And Can
It Be” was inspired by Romans 8.

Lord, we’ll Flow with the Spirit:
There is No Condemnation for
those who are In Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the
flesh but according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus has made me
free from the law of sin and death…
For those who live according to the
flesh set their minds on the things
of the flesh, but those who live
according to the Spirit, the things
of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-2, 5).
The Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We do not know what we ought
to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes
for us… He who searches our hearts… intercedes… in accordance with the will of God (v26-27).
And we know that in all things God
Works for the Good of those who
love Him, who have been called
according to His purpose (v28).

Lord Jesus, No Condemnation are
two of the most beautiful words.
Yet some days they are hard to
believe, hard to really take hold of.
On one hand, I may be quick some-
time to blame others for the problem
but deep down I condemn myself.
Help me Lord to live in the reality
of the freedom that comes from
Your grace and be at peace. Amen.

Father, forgive me for the times
that I wrongly think You want
to punish me for my failures.
For Jesus took my punishment
and gave me His righteousness.
Because of that Father You see me
as perfect and precious. And Lord,
help me to better understand Your
grace and mercy so that I might be
more gracious and merciful. Amen.

Holy Spirit, help me in my weakness
by interceding for me and thru me.
You know the will of the Father
and You know what to pray for.
Guide me and teach me especially
when I have exhausted all words.
Help me to communicate to God
my deepest thoughts, feelings,
fears and doubts, so that my
prayers are pleasing to God. Amen

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s Blood;
Died He for me who caused His Pain
For me, who Him to death pursued;
Amazing love! how can it be That
Thou my Lord, should Die for me?..
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His Grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free
For O my God, it found out me…
No condemnation now I dread
Jesus and all in Him is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head And
Clothed in righteousness divine;
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne &
Claim the crown, thru Christ my own.

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the apostolic letter
of Romans is to introduce Paul as
well as to give a sample of his key
message before he arrives in Rome.
Paul wrote that due to our rebellion
against God—against what is right—
all humanity has been condemned.
But God is merciful and gracious
and offers us justification, or
a way to be made right, through
faith in Jesus Christ, His Son.
By Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we
have been redeemed and saved.

On Monday, we learn from Rom 1
that God Releases Power In Gospel.
On Tuesday, we learn from Rom 3
that God Delivers Us From Sin.
On Wed, we learn from Rom 5
that God Uses Trials for Good.
On Thu, we learn from Rom 8 that
Christ Frees us from Condemnation.
On Friday, we learn from Rom 11
that Christ Amazes With His Love.
On Saturday, we learn from Rom 12
that God Renews & Transforms Us.

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 You Release Power in the
Gospel and Deliver Us from sin;
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as You Use Trials For Our Good
and Free Us From Condemnation;
For Christ Amazes us with His Love
and You Renew & Transform Us.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Renews & Transforms Us;        Inspiring: Take My Life & Let It Be

What u believe affect how u behave.
For 11 chapters Paul has set forth
the doctrine of the Christian faith.
The balance of his letter moves
into the practical outworking of
that faith. For every assignment,
there is an enablement from God:
Serve one another using the gifts
God gave you; be subject to higher
authorities; be sensitive to needs
of weaker brothers; be united
in purpose & have mind of Christ.

British hymnwriter Frances Ridley
Havergal wrote this hymn in Feb
 1874.

1874. Two months earlier, she
had made a complete surrender
of herself to Christ. She wrote:
I just yielded myself to Him, and
utterly trusted Him to keep me.
And in so doing I experienced
blessedness of true consecration
Ever, only All for Thee. The hymn:
      “Take My Life & Let It Be” was
      largely inspired by Romans 12.

Lord, we Consecrate our being to U:
Give your bodies to God. Let them
be a Living Sacrifice… When you
think of what He has done for you,
is this too much to ask? (Rom 12:1)
Don’t copy the behaviour and
customs of this world, but let God
Transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think.
Then you will Know what God
wants you to do, and you will
know how good and pleasing
and perfect His will really is (v2).
Let love be without hypocrisy… Be
kindly affectionate to one another…
fervent in spirit, serving the Lord…
continuing steadfast in prayer(9-12).

Lord, I don’t really know what
these days will hold, but I offer
myself to You as a living sacrifice.
Fill me with Your spirit of love, joy,
peace and patience. Renew and
transform my mind with Your truth.
Make me to be a new person, and
show me what You want me to do,
the person You want me to minister.
And all glory be unto You. Amen.

Lord, help me grow closer to You.
Help me understand the difference
between what You desire and
what the world offers. Teach me
not to apply the behaviours and
customs of this world but Be
Transformed into a new person.
As I seek to follow You, let me know
Your will. And help me Lord stay on
the right track as I purpose to take
small steps of faith each day. Amen

Lord, do Your transforming work
in me through Your Word that I may
learn to know Your heart desires.
Give me the mind of Christ so that
I’ll be able to make wise decisions
that will also be pleasing to You.
Guide me Lord in Your way and
by Your Word to embrace Your will.
And work in me Lord not only to will
but to do Your good pleasure. Amen.

Lord, Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee;
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise(2).
Take my hands & let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee (x2)…
Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne…Amen.

Christ Amazes With His Love

Charles Gabriel was born in 1856
Iowa. He is credited with writing
up to 8,000 hymns and songs in
his life. Some of his hymns include
His Eye is on the Sparrow, The Old
Rugged Cross & Away in a Manger.
Gabriel wrote both the words and
melody for I Stand Amazed in
the Presence. Rev Carlton Young,
editor of United Methodist Hymnal,
notes: This song of gratitude
for the atoning death of Jesus is
a personal interpretation of Luke’s
account of Jesus’ sweating blood
in the Garden of Gethsemane.
And we stand amazed at the depth
of God’s love and the way He works.
The hymn also inspired by Rom 11.

Lord, we’re Grateful and we Adore:
(Jesus) withdrew from them… and
He knelt down and prayed: Father,
if it is Your will, take this cup away
from Me; nevertheless not My will,
but Yours, be done…Being in agony,
He prayed more earnestly. Then
His sweat became like great drops
of blood falling down (Lk 22:41-44)
Frankly, I Stand Amazed at the
unfathomable complexity of God’s
wisdom and God’s knowledge.
How could man ever Understand
His Reasons for action or explain His
methods of working?(Rom11:33-34)

Lord Jesus, we enter into praise
and thanksgiving because of
Your Deep Love for each of us.
Fact that Jesus says “not My will
but Yours” shows Jesus loves
us more than He loves Himself.
Realising how much Jesus loves
us, challenges us how much
we should love Him in Gratitude.
And one day we will be in heaven
standing before our Savior, thanking
Him for His Great Love to me! Amen.

Lord, I will stop thinking that I must
understand everything You are
doing before I’m willing to accept it.
Forgive me for foolishly thinking
my plans will be better than Yours.
Forgive me for arrogantly thinking
I know more than You about the
solutions to my problems. I may
not understand Your decisions,
but I purpose to accept them.
And though I may not be able
to trace Your ways, but I will go
wherever You may lead. Amen.

I stand amazed in the presence
of Jesus the Nazarene, and
wonder how He could love me,
a sinner, condemned, unclean…
How marvelous! How wonderful
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful
is my Savior’s love for me!!
For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He bore the burden to Calvary,
and suffered and died for me…