Tag Archives: pray

The election is over (Luke 11:46-52) November 11, 2016

Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Zechariah 1-7

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Luke 11:46-52
Jesus: Well, now that you mention it, watch out, all you religious scholars! Judgment will come on you too! You load other people down with unbearable burdens of rules and regulations, but you don’t lift a finger to help others. Woe to you; you don’t fool anybody! You seem very religious—honoring the prophets by building them elaborate memorial tombs. Come to think of it, that’s very fitting, since you’re so much like the people who killed the prophets! They killed the prophets; you build their tombs—you’re all in the same family business!
This is why the Wisdom of God said, “I will send these people My prophets and emissaries, and these people will kill and persecute many of them.” As a result, this generation will be held accountable for the blood of all the prophets shed from the very beginning of time, from Abel’s blood to Zechariah’s blood, who was killed in the temple itself between the altar and the holy place. I’m serious: this generation will be held accountable.
So, religious scholars, judgment will come on you! You’re supposed to be teachers, unlocking the door of knowledge and guiding people through it. But the fact is, you’ve never even passed through the doorway yourselves. You’ve taken the key, left the door locked tight, and stood in the way of everyone who sought entry.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

We are three days past the election in the United States and we’ve never needed to hear words like these more than today. Yes, Mr. Trump has won the Electoral College and will be the next President. And yes, it appears Mrs. Clinton will win the popular vote and lose the election. Those whose candidate won have rubbed it in the face of the losers, called names, demanded immediate change when no one has taken office yet. Those whose candidate lost have taken to the streets in protest and said Mr. Trump isn’t their President. I’ve been pretty amazed at the way people who say they are Christians have reacted on both sides of the fence.

What ever happened to grace? The election is over and whatever your personal opinion, the presidency has been decided. The framers of our Constitution were really brilliant men when they wrote the rules for electing the national leadership of the country. Even in the nation’s infancy, they knew a representative democracy allowed the smallest voices to be heard. So those who decry the outcome of the popular versus the Electoral College should look back in history at the other four times this has happened. Look at the election results by country and discover that the small and mid-sized towns went one direction and the metropolitan areas went another.

The country is divided urban against suburban and rural. Which life is better? Neither. They are different. Which one do you like? It’s your preference. Half the country lives and works in one, half the country lives and works in the other. Half the country voted for one candidate. Half the country voted for the other. This time, it just so happens those that feed the nation, the places considered the rural areas won the right to choose the next president. Is that bad? Not according to them. Is it good? Not according to the urbanites.

So what should we do? If the nation is so divided along the country lines described by this election? Should the rural areas just stop sending food to the cities since their political views are so different? Should the cities stop sending electricity and other metropolitan services to rural areas since they can’t seem to see eye to eye? Who wins in such a nation?

I mentioned Jesus earlier words, “A kingdom divided against itself will collapse.” So what will we do in the coming days? As Christians we can teach our brothers and sisters to act like Christ rather than the scribes He speaks to in the words we heard today. We can stand in the way and build those barriers. We can continue to criticize the other side and talk about how terrible the other party is and how corrupt the opposition has become. We can complain about how poorly run the government will be because of the divide and how nothing will get done.

Or we can do something remarkable as Christians. We can lift every newly elected official in prayer. We can send them messages of encouragement and stand behind them as our leaders regardless of their party affiliation. We can determine that together we can bring unity to our land, not a party member, but as an American. We can forget about color and gender and race and socioeconomic standing. We can begin to show the love of God to all the people who live in our neighborhood and show them what really matters is belonging to the Kingdom of God and nothing more.

Did your candidate win? It doesn’t matter because God allowed Mr. Trump to win the Electoral College vote. Never forget that! God allowed the 45th President of the United States to have never held a public office, never served in the Armed Forces, never been a government employee. God allowed the election to turn the way it did. This has not surprised Him. So what do we do now?

“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” See, we have not elected the right candidate in a long time. It’s time we get down to business, quit complaining, quit acting like the scribes and Pharisees, humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, and pray folks. Our nation needs it, our leaders need it, we need it, I need it. It’s time.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Read and pray (1 Timothy 4:1-16) December 8, 2015

Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Timothy 4:6-16

Set – 1 Timothy 3-4

Go! – 1 Timothy 1-4

1 Timothy 4:6-16
6 Place these truths before the brothers and sisters. If you do, you will be a good servant of Jesus the Anointed, raised and fed on words of true belief, trained in the good instruction you have so clearly followed. 7 Reject worldly fables. Refuse old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself toward godliness. 8 Although training your body has certain payoffs, godliness benefits all things—holding promise for life here and now and promise for the life that is coming. 9 This statement is worthy of trust and our full acceptance. 10 This is what we work so hard for! This is why we are constantly struggling: because we have an assured hope fixed upon a living God who is the Savior of all humankind—especially all of us who believe.
11 So go out and insist on these things. Teach them. 12 Don’t let anyone belittle you because you are young. Instead, show the faithful, young and old, an example of how to live: set the standard for how to talk, act, love, and be faithful and pure. 13 Until I get there, make sure to devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that was given to you through the prophecy spoken when the company of the elders laid their hands on you. 15 Cultivate all these practices; live by them so that all will see how you are advancing and growing. 16 Take care of yourself, concentrate on your teaching, and stick with these things. If you do, then you will be effective in bringing salvation to yourself and all who hear you.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You hear all kinds of churches coming into existence today. They share all kinds of messages. Many give you messages you like to hear so you’ll feel good about yourself. In some instances, you should feel good about yourself, but only after you acknowledge that everyone is first and foremost a sinner, lost and separated from Me unless they repent of their sins.

I don’t like the fact that everyone has sinned, but it began with Adam and Eve. They taught their children selfish instincts and those lessons have passed through the generations without interruption. Everyone wants their own way until they finally come to the realization that their way doesn’t work. You can’t find the peace you’re looking for until you abandon yourself and let Me take control of your life. That’s the way I created the world.

You might not like that I created it that way, but it’s My world and that’s how it is. Hey, I’m God. I can do what I want with My world. And what I did was make a way for you to get over your selfish desires. I made a way for you to come back to Me. I became like you so you would know I understand what it’s like to live in your shoes and then I died for you to pay the penalty for your sins. That wasn’t fair either, but it’s My world and I can do what I want. I’m God. And I want you back.

But I want you to want to come back to Me. I won’t make you. And therein lies the rub. There are too many today who way they want to come back to Me, but don’t like the rules I make. They don’t like the fact that I am holy. They want to preach the grace and mercy side of Me, but want to wish away the wrath that comes from My holiness in supressing evil in the world. There is that side of Me, too, if I am to remain a holy God. I cannot be only grace and mercy if I remain holy. I must also pour out wrath on wickedness.

So how do you know if the church you attend is in line with Me? How do you know if they just teach what you want to hear or really teach My word? How can you guard yourself against the false prophets My representatives always warn about in their writings?

It’s really pretty simple. Do two things consistently and you’ll figure out the counterfeits. You’ll know whether your church is sound in doctrine if you do these two things. Ready? First, read and study My word every day. Read it from cover to cover. Don’t just pick your favorite verses and pull them out of context. Read chapters and books at a time. Get the story I’m trying to tell you through My prophets and apostles. My word does not contradict itself. The theme is the same from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. The Bible is My story of redemption for you (insert your name in that pronoun).

Second, pray. As you read My word again and again, you will begin to pray fervently. Your prayers may begin for yourself, but as My word is absorbed into your life you’ll begin to pray My will for your life and for the lives of others. You’ll find yourself absorbed by the concepts in My word and as they transform your mind, your prayers will help you discern truth from falsehood.

Do those two things faithfully, read My word and pray, and you’ll know if your church is true to Me and My word. You’ll know if it’s a place that will feed your soul or take you to troubled waters. Be careful in these last days. It’s important to you, your family, and friends. Know you can trust the leaders where you worship.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Get to know God – pray (Ephesians 6:10-23), June 10, 2015

Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 6:10-23
Set – Song of Songs 1-2; Ephesians 6
Go! – Song of Songs 1-4; Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6:10-23
10 Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God. 11 Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes. 12 We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places.

13 And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground. 14 Yes, stand—truth banded around your waist, righteousness as your chest plate, 15 and feet protected in preparation to proclaim the good news of peace. 16 Don’t forget to raise the shield of faith above all else, so you will be able to extinguish flaming spears hurled at you from the wicked one. 17 Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how! And keeping all this in mind, pray on behalf of God’s people. Keep on praying feverishly, and be on the lookout until evil has been stayed. 19 And please pray for me. Pray that truth will be with me before I even open my mouth. Ask the Spirit to guide me while I boldly defend the mystery that is the good news— 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains—so pray that I can bravely pronounce the truth, as I should do.

21 I am sending to you Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord. He will tell you everything that has been going on here with me 22 so you will know how I am and what I am doing. He’s coming with news that will hopefully comfort your hearts. 23 Brothers and sisters, let me leave you with a blessing:

May peace and love with faith be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul admonishes you to talk to Me, to pray. He tells you to pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how. Paul demonstrated prayer and interrupted his short letter to the Ephesians with short interludes of prayer written into his letter. Paul believed in prayer.

Why is it so hard for you to grab hold of that concept and understand the importance of prayer in your life? Why is prayer such a battle for you? Why do My children struggle so to spend time talking with Me, sharing their thoughts with Me in quiet times of prayer and meditation?

All My saints discovered the importance of the discipline as part of their growth in their spiritual maturity. You can’t get close to Me without it. It’s a natural progression in maturing your relationship. Just like talking with your friend is important in maturing your relationship with your friend.

Can you imagine a friendship growing if you never spoke to each other? Can you imagine a marriage surviving if you never shared your inner most thoughts? Communication is vital to the success of any relationship. So how can your relationship with Me grow and abound if we don’t talk with each other? Pray is vital to your spiritual life.

So pray. Pray about everything. I’m interested in the smallest items in your life. I’m interested in your joys. I’m interested in your children. I’m interested in your hurts. I’m interested in your job. I’m interested in your phone calls. I’m interested in the clothes you buy and the food you eat. I’m interested in everything about you. So talk to Me.

It’s the only way we really get to know each other.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.