Father

Father

 

S And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

- 1 Samuel 3:10

 

O God had called to Samuel several times before that night but Samuel did not realise that it was him. He thought that it was his master, Eli. Eli finally realised that God had been calling Samuel and told him to answer God. When Samuel did answer God he did it humbly, calling himself God's servant. He was ready to listen to God.

 

A I had an experience of god speaking to me yesterday. I had been looking for my Uni textbook and couldn't find it so I asked god to show me where it was. But God didn't show me right then. Instead he said one word to me. That word was daughter. At first I thought I had misheard God. I know, silly me. But he said it again. As I listened to him say that one word, daughter I realised that he wanted something back from me. When I had prayed I had called him Lord and he is Lord. But God wanted me to call him Father at that moment. I called him Father and he called me daughter. It was a powerful moment where I let myself think of God as a loving and nurturing Father who I can trust with my whole heart. This is something that I struggle with often because of the relationship I had with my earthly father growing up. But God is so good. He is leading me into that true and good Father, daughter relationship that I have always longed for.

 

P Father, I come to you as your daughter in an attitude of love and trust. Thank you for letting me see you in this way. Forgive me father for placing human weaknesses upon you. That is not you. You are trustworthy, compassionate, loyal, nurturing and loving. Help me not to forget this. In Jesus' name. Amen

True Wealth

True wealth

 

S  Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. - 2 Corinthians 6:10

 

O  Being a follower of Christ is not always easy. People will ridicule us and even hate because of it. Our hearts will ache with the pain of rejection at times. But when we know Jesus we will always have joy in our hearts. How can we not when he has saved us. We may not have physical riches but we have the spiritual riches of salvation and an intimate relationship with God. And the great thing is that spiritual riches never run out. The more we share these riches with other the more riches God provides. We may have nothing but we have God and he is everything we need.

 

A  I often let the world's worries oppress me. My heart aches so bad when people reject me. I must remember that I have the greatest treasure in existence and that is salvation. When I get depressed I need to turn to God and not the world to rid me of my pain.

 

P  Thank you for my salvation Father. Thank you for everything I have and thank you for being there every time I turn to you. Forgive me Lord for expecting the world to ease my pain. Help me remember to always turn to you for everything Lord. In Jesus' name Amen

 

Not by Sight

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

Not by Sight

S For we live by believing and not by seeing. - 2 Corinthians 5:7

O I've heard people say 'I'll believe that when I see it' more times than I can remember. But that is not how it is meant to be with God. As Christians we believe in what we cannot see. For me, once I started believing in God and his promises I started 'seeing' them in my heart. I know without a shadow of a doubt that God is real and that he loves me.

A Okay, I know that God is real and I know that he loves me. But I also know that I'm not living like I believe it enough. I guess that come down to me not believing I'm worth loving. But he loves me anyway. He has accepted me as His princess and I should wear my 'crown' with pride. I need to be alive for God and live out my life in a way that he would want me too.

P Heavenly Father, thank you for just being you. You are so amazing. Thank you for the gift of faith that you have given me. Forgive me Lord for the times I have doubted your love. I know you love me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to you Lord. In Jesus' name Amen.

Beyond Understanding

Beyond Understanding

S  “Why do you ask my name?” the angel of the Lord replied. “It is too wonderful for you to understand.” - Judges 13:18

O  The angel did not reveal his name and said the his name was too wonderful to be understood.

A  I'm one of those people who want to know everything. It frustrates me when I can't find an answer. But I need to accept that some things of God are beyond my understanding and that is okay.

P  Heavenly Father, help me to be satisfied with the knowledge that I am given. You are a marvelous God and there is so much about you I don't understand. Strengthen my faith so that this is not an issue for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Careful Freedom

21st March 2011

Careful Freedom

S  You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. -1 Corinthians 6:12

O  We have freedom in Christ. His sacrifice means that we are no longer bound by all the rules and regulations of the old testament. But that does not means that we should just do whatever we want without regard. No because many things are no good for us. Some things can enslave us and cause us to draw away from God.

A  I need to be careful not to become complacent in my life. Even though I have the freedom to do whatever I want I should be aware of the consequences of my actions and how they can hurt me and others.

P  Heavenly Father, Thank you for the freedom I have in being your child. Help me to use that freedom wisely and not allow things into my life that are bad for me or will enslave me. In Jesus Name amen.

True Provider

8th March 2011

True Provider

S Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord - Deuteronomy 8:3

O God let the Israelite go hungry for a while so that they would turn to him for what they needed. He then miraculously provided them with food, Manna, which they had never seen or eaten before. He did this to teach to people not to become reliant on themselves but to rely on God for everything.

A It is easy to forget my reliance on God. I think that I  can make it alone. Sometimes I need a shake up from God. He needs to make my life difficult so that I will remember to turn to him. I need to learn to focus on my true provider whether times are good or bad.

P Heavenly Father, thank you that you provide for my every need. Thank you for the times you have make my life hard so that I will turn back to you. Forgive me LORD for the times I forget that I cannot live without you. Help me to keep you first in my mind today and everyday. In Jesus' name amen.

Praising Him through the tough times

7th March 2011

Praising Him through the tough times

S Why am I discouraged?

      Why is my heart so sad?

   I will put my hope in God!

      I will praise him again—

      my Saviour and my God!

-Psalm 43:5

O The psalmist asks why is he so discouraged and sad but he doesn't seem to find an answer. Even though he has no answer he chooses to put his hope in God. He chooses to praise God even though his heart is sad.

A When I am sad and discouraged I find it hard to see past my own problems and I forget about God. I need to remember that God is always there for me. And that even in my worst times I should praise God.

P Heavenly Father, often times I am so sad and discouraged and I don't know why. Help me to praise you always LORD through good and bad time. In Jesus' name amen

His Rules Not Mine

6th March 2001

His Rules Not Mine

S Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.  -Deuteronomy 4:2

O God has given us commands to obey and he tells us that these are the command we need and that we shouldn't ignore any of them and we shouldn't add any more to them either.

A It is easy to pick and choose the rules we want to follow. We omit those that we find difficult or perhaps don't understand and we add in ones that we think are important and should be followed. But we...I am not God. Only God is God. How dare I try to tell God which rule are important or not. That is not my place and I don't know what is best for me or for others. God does though and I should accept that and just follow him.

P Heavenly Father, you are so amazing and you know what is best for me. LORD I am sorry that I don't follow your commands like I should. Please forgive me. I am also worry that I place my rules upon myself and others when I shouldn't. Please forgive me. LORD help me to remember to focus on your way and not my way. In Jesus name amen.

Completely

5th March 2011

S Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me completely.                                                                        

1 Corinthians 13:12

O In this life we can only see a foggy version of everything and our knowledge is very limited. But when Jesus returns we will be able to see everything clearly and our knowledge will be complete. Nothing will be hidden or distorted. Just as nothing is hidden for God. He know everything about us. Both the good and the bad. We can't hide from him.

A It is good to remember that all that we see and think we know is not necessarily correct. There is so much for us to learn. It is also important to remember that we can't hide anything from God. He know us better than we  even know ourselves. We need to stop trying to hide from him and accept that he knows us and loves us anyway.

P Heavenly father, thankyou for the promise that one day I will see everything in its completeness and that I will have the answers the questions I ask. I also thankyou that you know me so completely yet you love me despite the bad things inside of me. Help me Lord to stop trying to hide things from you because you see them anyway.  In Jesus' name Amen

His Strength

S   The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11

O Strength doesn't come from anyway but God. Our own strength is nothing. God gives us strength. And he blesses us with peace. Peace that comes from knowing that  God gives us the strength to face anything  that may come our way.

A I need to stop trying to do everything in my own strength. I know that I always fail when I do. I am constantly stressed out worrying about how I will handle things that life throws at me when I don't need to be. What I need to be doing is looking to God to supply me with the strength I need everyday because when I do he blesses me with the peace that comes with it. And when I have that peace only He can give I feel like I can handle anything.

P Heavenly Father, Thank you for who you are, a strong, loving and generous God. Thank you that you love me and that you want to bless me. Forgive me Lord, for all the times that I don't turn to you when life is difficult and I try to do things in my own strength. It is your strength I need Lord everyday and the blessing of peace that comes with your strength. Father I ask that you give me the strength to face life Lord. Make me strong where I am weak. Bless me with the peace that comes only from you. Just knowing you gives me strength and peace Lord. Remind me of that today Lord. In Jesus' name Amen