365 Days of Praise
ENGAGE: Pray about Everything
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Our 2015 emphasis to actively ENGAGE in PRAYER; to PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING, as Philippians 4:6 says. In 2015 we can see victories won and the devil defeated…if we pray. We can maximine our usefulness for God’s kingdom…if we pray. Satan has it in for us and our families. Why don’t we turn it around and storm heaven’s gates with our prayers?
Prayer Tip: If you’re using Prayers of My Heart Prayer Journal, label the 1st Column in Week at a Glance with “LORD,” as a reminder to begin your day in praise. KING is what I put under LORD today. Then, I ignored the column lines under “Prayers for My Family,” and recorded across all the columns: “Serve YOU – mindful of the schemes of the enemy.” Next, I recorded specific prayers for Keith, our children and extended family.
Under “Prayers for Others,” I recorded:
Friends Ministry Church US/US Books Spking/Conf
Be prayer warriors Energetically serve You Leaders be wise Hunger for You Follow Your promptings Complete 2/28 details (You’ve customized the Prayers for Others column headings according to the work/ministry in which you’re in prayer.)
Actively ENGAGE in PRAYER in 2015
1) USE a PRAYER JOURNAL. Why? When we look at the names of family, friends, church, ministry, USA, across the top of the Weekly Page, it directs our minds to PRAY specifically. We ENGAGE in battle.
2) ATTEND a P.R.A.Y. with Passion ACROSS the NATION CONFERENCE: 2/21 Kerrville, TX, 4/25 Watson, LA; or invite Debbie to lead one in your church.
Heavenly Father, rouse each of us to engage in prayer for our families, churches, neighbors, and nation with new resolve and fervor. Open our eyes to see the enemy so we take prayer seriously.
WE ARE PRAYER WARRIORS
“Take up the full armor of God… Taking up the shield …. Take the Helmet …. and the sword
Why are Christians called “prayer warriors?”
God has given us battle gear: Armor, Shield, Helmet, and Sword.
God has named the enemy: devil, rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
God has handed us our assignment: “With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit.”
ARE WE ENGAGED in the WAR?
FOLLOWING are 2 OPPORTUNITIES to ENGAGE in 2015. I pray you’ll do BOTH.
1) USE a PRAYER JOURNAL. Why? When we look at the names of family, friends, church, ministry, USA, across the top of the Weekly Page, it directs our minds to PRAY specifically. We ENGAGE in battle.
2) FEB 21, 9 a.m. -12 noon CST – ATTEND in PERSON, LIVE STREAM, or set up a SIMULCAST of the P.R.A.Y. with Passion ACROSS the NATION CONFERENCE I’m teaching at Trinity Baptist Church, Kerrville, TX.
YOU and/or your CHURCH can watch via a laptop. Watch at home on your computer OR open the doors at your church, home, a military base, or college chapel and watch. There is NO COST. We’re praying for Christians in EVERY STATE in the US and for countries throughout the world to be a PART of this CONFERENCE. If you’ve been on a mission trip, will you let those to whom you ministered know of this opportunity? To set up a SIMULCAST group viewing, email Larry Danks, ldanks@tbck.org OR Greg Peschel, gpeschel@tbck.org. Call TBC at 830-895-0100 to register to attend or for more information.
Also, SEND ME A NOTE and let me know you’ll ENGAGE with me in battle by attending the P.R.A.Y. with Passion RALLY either in person or via live streaming or simulcast AND the STATE or COUNTRY in which you LIVE.
Heavenly Father, please rouse each of us to battle. Open our eyes to see the enemy and warfare as You do. Engage in Prayer. Engage P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference.
We Are Strong in the Lord
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.“
Why might this verse be in the Bible? What is the context? Do you recall? If not, you might want to open your Bibles to Ephesians 5-6. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul has been writing that Christians are to be imitators of God, filled with the Spirit; subject to one another. And, now, as if we aren’t already convinced that we need God’s might to accomplish His will; we’re getting ready to be warned that “world forces of darkness; spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” oppose us. To be specific, “the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11) will overtake us IF we are not being strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Good words, don’t you think? Good warnings for us as we approach the celebration of Christ’s birth. Be strong!
Heavenly Father, what tremendous warnings You give us. But, do we heed them? I pray that each of us do today and every day. Make us increasingly sensitive to the spiritual warfare around us and to the devil’s schemes. Make us increasingly STRONG in the STRENGTH of YOUR MIGHT.
“Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” a devotional to strengthen you in your walk with Christ.
We are LIGHT in the LORD
“you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”
What does it mean to you that you are: Light in the Lord? Quite frankly, it’s baffling to me. I was curious why the word “Light” was capitalized in the New American Standard version of the Bible. My research led me to a commentator’s explanation that the word “Light” in this verse means, “One in whom wisdom and spiritual purity shine forth and who imparts the same to others.”** Oh my! Am I living up to my identity in Christ? Are you? Are we those in whom wisdom and spiritual purity shine forth? Are we those who impart wisdom and spiritual purity to others? That is how GOD SEES US. That’s our potential. That’s how Jesus wants to use us today; and it is not “mission impossible.” Rather, because Christ has cleansed us, set up apart as His temple, and His mercies are new every morning to forgive our daily sins; we CAN BE HIS LIGHT. We can walk as children of Light. Is it a dreary day for you? Why not open your heart to the Lord of LIGHT and ask Him to fill you?
Heavenly Father, may we never forget that our identity rests not in us, but rather in what You have accomplished on our behalf. Forgive us when we fail to walk as Light. Fill us with the Light of Your presence so we walk as children of LIGHT.
“Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” a devotional to enlighten your day.
**http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5457&t=NASB
WE ARE FORGIVEN
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as GOD in Christ also HAS FORGIVEN YOU.“
Forgiven. A powerful word. Without God’s forgiveness we’re hell bound. With God’s forgiveness, our eternity is secured in heaven. The word “forgiveness” in this verse means “to pardon.” In our society, a pardon is “the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty; it is usually granted by a head of state (such as a monarch or president) or by acts of a parliament or a religious authority.* There is no greater “head of state” than He who is “head of the universe.” And it is HE, the LORD GOD, who has pardoned us of our crimes of sins and cancelled the relevant penalty due us. The babe from heaven came on a mission. Jesus was born to die so that we could be forgiven. May we keep our focus on God’s GIFT of FORGIVENESS in CHRIST this CHRISTmas!
Heavenly Father, We sing Your praises! We shout “hallelujah” for pardoning and forgiving us. Glory and honor to belong to You.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardon
WE ARE MEMBERS of ONE ANOTHER
“laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.“
In recent years, our ears have been tuned to Washington where lying seems to be increasing. We’ve been shocked. However, our ears have also been tuned to people in positions of spiritual leadership who have lied, and we’ve been disheartened. Why does it hurt us to an even greater degree when Christians lie to one another? The answer is because we are members of one another. And, as Ephesians 4:24 reminds us, we are to be living by our “new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the TRUTH.” What does this mean to us? We are not to lie to ourselves, God, or others. Before we hurl stones at Washington, perhaps we should check our hearts. Are we lying to ourselves about something? A sin? A promise? A relationship? Are we lying to another person-either directly or by withholding information? If we are, then today is the day God is calling us to “lay aside falsehood and speak truth; for we are MEMBERS of ONE ANOTHER.” Our lie never just hurts us. It hurts others. It hurts Christ.
Heavenly Father, forgive us for any way in which we have not spoken truth. Forgive us for any way that we have lived in or spoken falsehood. May we by the conviction and power of Your Holy Spirit lay falsehood aside and may we speak truth to one another.
WE ARE RIGHTEOUS
“put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.“
Heh Righteous! That’s right. I’m talking to you. If you’re a Christian, the Bible says you and I are righteous because of the substitutionary work Christ did on the cross when He paid our sin debt with His blood. I wonder if you’re thinking what I am? 1. Praise God for declaring me righteous. 2. I need to put on then new self, which has been created in righteousness. Why not greet your Christian family and friends with this reminder? Lets call each other who we are in Christ, and more importantly live accordingly.
Heavenly Father, thank You for declaring me righteous. Help me live according to the new person You have created me to be.
Have a great day, righteous friend.
WE ARE RENEWED in the SPIRIT of OUR MINDS
“…be renewed in the spirit of your mind,..”
Fascinating research has been done the last several years on the brain and how it can be “renewed.” Dr. Caroline Leaf in her book, Switch On Your Brain, explains, “As we think, we change the physical nature of our brain. As we consciously direct our thinking, we can wire out toxic patterns of thinking and replace them with healthy thoughts. New thought networks grow. We increase our intelligence and bring healing to our brains, minds, and physical bodies. It all starts in the realm of the mind, with our ability to think and choose – the most powerful thing in the universe after God, and indeed, fashioned after God.” (page 20) Ephesians 4:23 is more than a verse over which we should hurriedly read. It is a lifeline to new thoughts and behavior. Believers have the great hope and reality of a renewed mind and therefore life. Through the Spirit and the Word of God, we can be renewed in the spirit of our minds.
Heavenly Father, my heart is overwhelmed as I think on YOU; and that because of the way You created and recreated me in Christ Jesus, I can be renewed in the spirit of my mind. Help me take Your Word seriously and do my part to be increasingly renewed in the spirit of my mind.
If you’re looking for studies or books to help you be “renewed in the spirit of your mind,” please visit our bookstore.
WE HAVE A NEW SELF
“you, lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
It sounds simple, doesn’t it? “you, lay aside the old self.” The problem? If we could, we wouldn’t need a Savior. We would obey the Ten Commandments and all would be well. So why is a command given to lay aside our old self if we can’t do it? The answer isn’t simple, but it’s critical for us to understand. The command is given so we know what we are to do. Our stinky old self needs to be laid aside from our lives. But, here’s the point: we can’t do it in our own strength and with our old mindset. Therefore, we have to be renewed in the spirit of our mind. We have to learn Christ’s ways. Then, we have to call out to Christ to fill us with His Spirit. (put on the new self) Only then are we empowered to lay aside our old self (nature) and live in the likeness of God.
Heavenly Father, we know what to do; yet so often fail. Help us be renewed in the spirit of our minds and walk in the new self; Your likeness, righteousness, and holiness of truth.
WE are to GROW UP in ALL ASPECTS
“…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,“
It was Peter Pan who sang, “I won’t grow up.” Do you remember the lyrics?
“I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up
Not me,
Not I,
Not me!
So there!
‘Cause growing up is awfuller
Than all the awful things that ever were.
I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up,
No sir,
Not I,
Not me,
So there!”
I wonder if the Lord Jesus Christ ever looks upon us as having a “Peter Pan” attitude about growing up in ALL ASPECTS into Him? In other words, do we have a stubborn streak in some area? For instance, rather than “growing up” and being forgiving, do we harbor resentment? Instead of growing up in ALL ASPECTS into Jesus, do we maintain our “right” to do what we want, when we want, how we want; rather than do that which our Heavenly Father commands us to do? Rather than grow up in ALL ASPECTS into Jesus, do we worry rather than pray, exercise our right to indulge rather than exercise self control, hate rather than love? Maybe we should take a hard look in the mirror and then answer the question, “Do I look and sound more like Peter Pan or Jesus?”
Heavenly Father, I love how You provide specific instructions to us. Thank You for the reminder we’re to GROW UP IN ALL ASPECTS into Christ Jesus!