[S] Mark 13:37 --
37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”(NIV)
37 What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'" (NASB)
[O] These days I absorb so much information from all over the place including my smart phone, SMS message, email, blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc., etc. At the end of the day, I'm totally overloaded and can't even process all the information coming at me. And any sort of crisis on top of that will bring an earthquake jitters, crumbling down everything into shambles. Jesus says, to "Watch!" This verb portrays a very active concept of watching, searching for certain objects. It's not a passive just happen to be catching a glimpse.
[A] My life shouldn't rely on some happenstances but I must watch for the right things and expect the right things from God as these things come without any pre-warning but if prepared I will watch and catch it.
[P] Dear Father, please train my eyes and mind to watch You attentively every day. I don't want to miss anything from You especially the message that You intend for me to hear and apply to my own life for You glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.
From my Life devotional journaling and more (Read Today's Passage)
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
Showing posts with label Preparedness of Heart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Preparedness of Heart. Show all posts
Monday, March 05, 2012
Sunday, April 17, 2011
From That Day On
[S] 1 Samuel 18:9 --
9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
[O] Saul was initially called by God to lead His people but after failing to obey God's commands fully he began towards the downward spiral not because God had abandoned him but mainly because he did not repent before God to seek His mercy and grace. Furthermore, such a state of mind grew into fear of losing his position while scheming ways to sustain his power and position more focused on the popularity than what God prefers. At this point, the women's song of praising David higher than him put him over into jealousy. The role of a leadership is very susceptible to the voices of the public and hearing God's voice in the midst of all that "noise" is one of the virtues of great leadership. Here we can see how Saul was swept away by what the people were saying instead of leaning on what God was telling him to do.
[A] Even though the leaders are to lead the people and to listen and care for their needs, how one goes about doing that must originate from God's principles by first obeying His commands to the fullest. I must learn to hear His voice in the midst of the noises of various voices surrounding me. These are not the voices from the master of deception, per se, but from those close to me or the general public sharing their thoughts with good intentions; however if my heart is not right with God, these will easily put me into a territory that I would not want to be in.
[P] Dear Father, I do not believe Saul turned from Your chosen servant to where he is now overnight but he began to take steps which drew him away from God gradually so please guard my heart so I would not compromise in what seems like little things because they all add up to doing Your will properly without my selfish motives entering into the picture. In Jesus' name. Amen.
9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
[O] Saul was initially called by God to lead His people but after failing to obey God's commands fully he began towards the downward spiral not because God had abandoned him but mainly because he did not repent before God to seek His mercy and grace. Furthermore, such a state of mind grew into fear of losing his position while scheming ways to sustain his power and position more focused on the popularity than what God prefers. At this point, the women's song of praising David higher than him put him over into jealousy. The role of a leadership is very susceptible to the voices of the public and hearing God's voice in the midst of all that "noise" is one of the virtues of great leadership. Here we can see how Saul was swept away by what the people were saying instead of leaning on what God was telling him to do.
[A] Even though the leaders are to lead the people and to listen and care for their needs, how one goes about doing that must originate from God's principles by first obeying His commands to the fullest. I must learn to hear His voice in the midst of the noises of various voices surrounding me. These are not the voices from the master of deception, per se, but from those close to me or the general public sharing their thoughts with good intentions; however if my heart is not right with God, these will easily put me into a territory that I would not want to be in.
[P] Dear Father, I do not believe Saul turned from Your chosen servant to where he is now overnight but he began to take steps which drew him away from God gradually so please guard my heart so I would not compromise in what seems like little things because they all add up to doing Your will properly without my selfish motives entering into the picture. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Be the Glowing Star That Cannot Be Ignored
[S] Acts 27:35-37 --
35Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat. 36All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food. 37All of us in the ship were two hundred and seventy-six persons.
[O] Paul comforted and injected strength and hope to the 275 people on board by encouraging them and to break the bread after giving thanks to God. Today's sermon was about becoming the glowing "stars" in the darkness (this world we live in), and Paul was just that to these people who were watching him. As soon as they witnessed Paul they were encouraged and they also ate food and gained strengths. Before this situation, they ignored Paul's warning of danger ahead and now they are all ears when Paul spoke. Once again this exemplifies how God's people tuned into His Spirit can provide the hope and direction for those around them by living out the life that glows.
[A] Yesterday I reflected on the boldness and clear-cut way of Paul's defense of his own beliefs. Today, his boldness manifested in a different way is what challenges me -- his non-threatening and yet impacting lifestyle. He didn't have to challenge anyone in a debate but simply had to show how his God is more powerful than any system and knowledge of this world. I need to continue to develop my intimacy with God such that what I say will be so in line with what God desires.
[P] Dear Father, please put in me the same heart and lifestyle of Paul as I am in this world of sinking ship being tossed by the waves of this world. Sooner or later the people on board will realize how true Your words are and will turn to Your people to seek encouragement and strength. Please use me as one of those people and may I daily learn to submit to You so my life will be prepared for such a time. In Jesus' name. Amen
35Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat. 36All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food. 37All of us in the ship were two hundred and seventy-six persons.
[O] Paul comforted and injected strength and hope to the 275 people on board by encouraging them and to break the bread after giving thanks to God. Today's sermon was about becoming the glowing "stars" in the darkness (this world we live in), and Paul was just that to these people who were watching him. As soon as they witnessed Paul they were encouraged and they also ate food and gained strengths. Before this situation, they ignored Paul's warning of danger ahead and now they are all ears when Paul spoke. Once again this exemplifies how God's people tuned into His Spirit can provide the hope and direction for those around them by living out the life that glows.
[A] Yesterday I reflected on the boldness and clear-cut way of Paul's defense of his own beliefs. Today, his boldness manifested in a different way is what challenges me -- his non-threatening and yet impacting lifestyle. He didn't have to challenge anyone in a debate but simply had to show how his God is more powerful than any system and knowledge of this world. I need to continue to develop my intimacy with God such that what I say will be so in line with what God desires.
[P] Dear Father, please put in me the same heart and lifestyle of Paul as I am in this world of sinking ship being tossed by the waves of this world. Sooner or later the people on board will realize how true Your words are and will turn to Your people to seek encouragement and strength. Please use me as one of those people and may I daily learn to submit to You so my life will be prepared for such a time. In Jesus' name. Amen
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Turning the World Upside Down
[S] Acts 17:6 --
6When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also;
[O] The New King James Version states the above verse as, "These who have turned the world upside down" and that statement seems to describe how influential Jesus' disciples were spreading the news of the power of His suffering, death, and resurrection. I'm wondering how my life in the midst of the Christian community I belong to is affecting the world around me. I shouldn't be go looking for trouble (to be dragged out by upset people) but is my life making an impact for the non-believers? Am I too silent with the impacting good news of Jesus Christ? Just today, one of the co-worker who is a vegetarian mentioned that he was going to end his vegetarian this year because the end of the world may start next year and that means he may have to eat whatever necessary to survive so wants to prepare for those times. He said he was basing this on the Bible (Book of Revelation) and wants to prepare just in case it does come true. I do not believe this person is a follower of Christ and I was urged to say something then but did not because I wasn't sure what to say in that short moment. I'm definitely going to follow up prayerfully but based on today's verse I'm wondering if I was one of the men who have upset the world or just stayed too quiet to just hear about what the world is saying.
[A] Need to prepare my heart to speak the truth in a concise way in situations like these. It's all about presenting Jesus in the right situation with the right approach so it will effectively reach the hearts of those around me.
[P] Dear Father, I ask You to instill in me the wisdom and the heart of preparedness to speak the truth to those around me with boldness and confidence while reaching with Your love so they may hear and realize what they were missing in their lives to approach You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
6When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also;
[O] The New King James Version states the above verse as, "These who have turned the world upside down" and that statement seems to describe how influential Jesus' disciples were spreading the news of the power of His suffering, death, and resurrection. I'm wondering how my life in the midst of the Christian community I belong to is affecting the world around me. I shouldn't be go looking for trouble (to be dragged out by upset people) but is my life making an impact for the non-believers? Am I too silent with the impacting good news of Jesus Christ? Just today, one of the co-worker who is a vegetarian mentioned that he was going to end his vegetarian this year because the end of the world may start next year and that means he may have to eat whatever necessary to survive so wants to prepare for those times. He said he was basing this on the Bible (Book of Revelation) and wants to prepare just in case it does come true. I do not believe this person is a follower of Christ and I was urged to say something then but did not because I wasn't sure what to say in that short moment. I'm definitely going to follow up prayerfully but based on today's verse I'm wondering if I was one of the men who have upset the world or just stayed too quiet to just hear about what the world is saying.
[A] Need to prepare my heart to speak the truth in a concise way in situations like these. It's all about presenting Jesus in the right situation with the right approach so it will effectively reach the hearts of those around me.
[P] Dear Father, I ask You to instill in me the wisdom and the heart of preparedness to speak the truth to those around me with boldness and confidence while reaching with Your love so they may hear and realize what they were missing in their lives to approach You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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