New Testament Reading: Luke 2
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118:9-16
Luke 1 & 2 are filled with worship, prayer, and God breaking into people's lives. Some people you'd expect to God to show up in their lives like a priest named Zechariah. Interestingly, he seems the most surprised to find out that God can actually do the impossible - make his barren wife pregnant! Others like an unassuming young woman named Mary and tired shepherds respond to God's sudden activity in their life with statements and acts of faith along with wonder and worship.
Psalm 118:14 says, "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." Do you know God can strengthen you? As we looked at yesterday, He is your help; He can set you free. I remember when God freed me from depression in college. Before I became depressed, I used to love to worship and sing. During the months I battled depression, I used to cry through many worship times. I had completely lost my joy; but when God set me free, I sang more than ever before - walking down the street, when I got home from work or school, at church meetings, everywhere! God became my song.
As we pray, let's remember the mighty things God has done for us. You may say I can't think of any - then start with the small ones. Don't be afraid raise your voice with shouts of joy! It will revolutionize your prayer life.
"Shout of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: 'The Lord's right hand has done mighty things!'" (Psalm 118:15)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Devotional Day 1 for Monday 3/1
New Testament Reading: Luke 1
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118:1-8
One of the major themes of the books of Luke & Acts is prayer. Over the next 40 days why not read 1 chapter a day of Luke and then into Acts? Look for how prayer is involved in Jesus' conception, birth, life, death, and instruction to his disciples. It was in the place of prayer that Jesus aligned himself with the Father's will, was empowered by the Holy Spirit, and was transfigured. Let's model Jesus' example!
Often times when I go to pray, I found myself tired or distracted by my thoughts. Psalm 118 encourages us. It is good to pray these verses back to God as you go to pray. It begins by reminding us that God's love and mercy endures forever! How freeing to know as we go to pray that God loves us and no matter what we have done, how far we have strayed, or how tired we feel there is mercy available to us because of Jesus' death on the cross! Thank Him for that.
It does not end there. Verse 5 reminds us that if we call out to Lord in the midst of our anguish; he will set us free. Do you feel bound as you approach God? Cry out in prayer. He will answer. Do you need help to pray? God is your help (vs. 7).
We may think. Why I am I fasting? Why am I walking up early? The answer is found in verse 8.
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." (Psalm 118:8)
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 118:1-8
One of the major themes of the books of Luke & Acts is prayer. Over the next 40 days why not read 1 chapter a day of Luke and then into Acts? Look for how prayer is involved in Jesus' conception, birth, life, death, and instruction to his disciples. It was in the place of prayer that Jesus aligned himself with the Father's will, was empowered by the Holy Spirit, and was transfigured. Let's model Jesus' example!
Often times when I go to pray, I found myself tired or distracted by my thoughts. Psalm 118 encourages us. It is good to pray these verses back to God as you go to pray. It begins by reminding us that God's love and mercy endures forever! How freeing to know as we go to pray that God loves us and no matter what we have done, how far we have strayed, or how tired we feel there is mercy available to us because of Jesus' death on the cross! Thank Him for that.
It does not end there. Verse 5 reminds us that if we call out to Lord in the midst of our anguish; he will set us free. Do you feel bound as you approach God? Cry out in prayer. He will answer. Do you need help to pray? God is your help (vs. 7).
We may think. Why I am I fasting? Why am I walking up early? The answer is found in verse 8.
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." (Psalm 118:8)
Intro to Daily Devotionals
As we were praying this morning, God put it on my heart to write a short, daily devotional for people to follow each of the 40 days of the fast. My hope is that is will allow us to unite as we read, ponder, and pray through the same things. At the least, it will help me keep some structure in how I am seeking God each day.
If you are ever interested in praying with us early in the morning, the details are below.
Early Morning Prayer 6AM - 7:15AM
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursdays
Ruggles Baptist Church
874 Beacon Street Boston 2nd Floor
If you are ever interested in praying with us early in the morning, the details are below.
Early Morning Prayer 6AM - 7:15AM
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursdays
Ruggles Baptist Church
874 Beacon Street Boston 2nd Floor
My Thoughts on the 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting
From my blog...
The 40 Days
The 40 Days
Starting tomorrow morning (March 1), many Christians from across the nation and especially in New England will be embarking on a 40 day Daniel fast to pray for an awakening in the churches and universities of New England. To learn more about this effort visit http://www.jhopboston.org .
Prayer in Luke & Acts
I have lately again been struck about the role of prayer in the books of Luke and Acts. In Luke, we see Jesus over and over again spending time in prayer with God aligning himself with the Father's purposes and receiving power from the Holy Spirit.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Nobody Cries (Part I)
Cross-posted at http://fenwaychurch.org/blog/?p=54.
Jesus wept. [1] Two words, one verse. To weep. To shed tears. [2]
He wept. [3] He mourned, lamented, bewailed. He wept as one who mourns for the dead. He wept as a sign of the pain and grief of things yet to come. [4]
He wept for the oppressed, the helpless, the children, the mothers and their babies. He wept for the dead. He wept anticipating the judgment that was to come. He wept because of their unbelief. He wept because he was human. He wept because he was God.
It has been said that when angels cry it rains. What happens when God cries?
What takes place in heaven as they watch the Son of God weep. What happens when the divine and human collide. When God’s tears mix with the salt of the earth. When Abba’s son shakes and wails. When his eyes redden and his brow contours. WHAT HAPPENS? WHO HEARS? When heaven cries?
The agony of death, the ravages of evil men, the darkened wombs of raped women, the silent whimpers of molested children, the groans of modern slaves, the cries of widowed mothers, the screams of tortured captives, and the wails of the unjustly bereaved. And yet:
There is no one to intervene… (Isa. 59:16)
Jesus, nobody cries any more. Daddy, release a great weeping in our midst. Holy Spirit, pour fire in our hearts. Burn the love of God within us. Show us what it means to cry again. Reveal your heart. Let injustice awaken us, let sin provoke us, let love compel us. Loose the captive and reveal our darkness, liberate the oppressed and show us our sin, destroy complacency and sharpen our conscience, teach us to cry like you did, Jesus.
[1] John 11:35
[2] http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=1145
[3] Luke 19:41
[4] http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=2799
[5] Isaiah 59:4-16
Jesus wept. [1] Two words, one verse. To weep. To shed tears. [2]
He wept. [3] He mourned, lamented, bewailed. He wept as one who mourns for the dead. He wept as a sign of the pain and grief of things yet to come. [4]
He wept for the oppressed, the helpless, the children, the mothers and their babies. He wept for the dead. He wept anticipating the judgment that was to come. He wept because of their unbelief. He wept because he was human. He wept because he was God.
It has been said that when angels cry it rains. What happens when God cries?
What takes place in heaven as they watch the Son of God weep. What happens when the divine and human collide. When God’s tears mix with the salt of the earth. When Abba’s son shakes and wails. When his eyes redden and his brow contours. WHAT HAPPENS? WHO HEARS? When heaven cries?
The agony of death, the ravages of evil men, the darkened wombs of raped women, the silent whimpers of molested children, the groans of modern slaves, the cries of widowed mothers, the screams of tortured captives, and the wails of the unjustly bereaved. And yet:
When the innocent ones, those who knew not evil become the prey. When the blood of the unborn cries from the ground. When the blood of the Iraqi children reach the ear of heaven. When the Son of Man hears the muffled cries of the crack baby and child prostitute. When the very heart of God is moved. Then his plan of redemption is set forth. The justice of a righteous God is readied to flow like a river. All of heaven converges. AND yet God pauses… Heaven gasps. Angels murmur. They stand appalled. And why? Shockingly because:4 No one calls for justice; they conceive
trouble and give birth to evil.
5 They hatch the eggs of
vipers and spin a spider’s
web… Their deeds are evil
deeds, and acts of violence are in their
hands.
7 Their feet rush into sin;
they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their
thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and
destruction mark their ways.
8 The way of peace they do not
know; there is no justice in their
paths… no one who walks in them will know
peace.
9 So justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us. We look
for light, but all is darkness; for
brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like the blind we grope
along the wall, feeling our way like men
without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it
were twilight; among the strong, we are like
the dead.
11 We all growl like
bears; we moan mournfully like
doves. We look for justice, but find
none; for deliverance, but it is far
away.
Our offenses are ever with
us:
13 Turning our backs on our
God, fomenting oppression and
revolt.
14 So justice is driven
back, and righteousness stands at a
distance…
15 Truth is nowhere to be
found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a
prey. [5]
There is no one to intervene… (Isa. 59:16)
Jesus, nobody cries any more. Daddy, release a great weeping in our midst. Holy Spirit, pour fire in our hearts. Burn the love of God within us. Show us what it means to cry again. Reveal your heart. Let injustice awaken us, let sin provoke us, let love compel us. Loose the captive and reveal our darkness, liberate the oppressed and show us our sin, destroy complacency and sharpen our conscience, teach us to cry like you did, Jesus.
[1] John 11:35
[2] http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=1145
[3] Luke 19:41
[4] http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=2799
[5] Isaiah 59:4-16
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Moving Blogs Once Again
With our recent church launch, I have switched blogs once again. I may occasionally post revival/movement oriented thoughts here, but my main blogging will now take place at: http://blog.fenwaychurch.org
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