Tag: blessing
The power of Faith in God
Scripture reading for January 16th: Mark 11, Psalm 11, Proverbs 11
Mark 11: 21-25 “And Peter remembered and said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Jesus taught His disciples the power of prayer and the power of our mouth and tongue to bless or curse. He used His own cursing of the fig tree that had no fruit but only leaves to illustrate the power of faith and of our words. Like the disciples of old, we face many mountains and obstacles during our pilgrimage on earth. We often fail to ask God for help or to believe His Word and speak in faith to the mountains. Jesus used an illustration visible right there to these disciples in that Herod had literally moved a mountain over about 10 years with many slaves to build his palace. Jesus likely referred to this human feat and the Dead Sea glittering in the distance to impress a vital truth on the hearts of his disciples.
Proverbs11:11-12 “By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.”
Prayer: Father God, I choose again today to ask for Your forgiveness for my lack of faith and sometimes my failure to forgive others and belittling them. Fill me with grace and faith in Your Word that I may ask You for strength to remove and move mountains of difficulty, bitterness, and unforgiveness. May they all be cast into the sea of Your grace! May my mouth bring blessings to my family or help me remain silent!
Psalm 11:7 “For the Lord is righteous; He loves the righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face!”
Great reward in loving enemies!
Scripture reading for March 18th: Deuteronomy 4-5, Luke 6
Luke 6: 32-36 “”If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.””
Jesus had some hard questions for His followers. It is easy to love those who love you and to do good to those who will repay the kindness. We can lend to those we know will repay. But Jesus challenged us to love those who were our enemies and sought to do us harm. He commanded us to do good to those who would misuse us and to lend to those who could never repay. This was a reflection of the Father’s heart of mercy. He loves to show mercy because it is His kindness that leads us to repentance. Those who obey the Father’s leading will reap a great reward! It may be that these enemies will become brothers and sisters living with us for eternity!
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?”
Prayer: Father God, I am always amazed at Your heart of mercy for people. I am learning slowly to obey in these difficult areas of loving my enemies and doing good to those who would hurt me. Patiently help me to reflect Your heart and character towards lost and hurting people and I would love to see them all in heaven enjoying eternal life! What a great reward!
Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”
Jesus, the blessing of all nations!
Scripture reading for January 17th: Genesis 28-29; Mark 11
Mark 11:7-11 “And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” And He entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when He had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.”
Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a colt to the cries of worship from the crowd who had viewed Him as the coming and promised Messiah. Jesus was a descendant of King David through his mother and even through His adoptive father Joseph. There were coats laid out on the road, palm branches, and cries of “Hosanna” (The Lord Saves). Jesus entered Jerusalem on Passover week as the “Lamb of God” who would take away the sins of the world. He went to the temple where the Levites, scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees were in charge and charging returning pilgrims for sacrifices. Jesus quietly observed and then left with the twelve. He would return to drive out the money-changers and declare God’s purpose for His House–a place of prayer for the nations! All nations would be blessed through Jesus’ final sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Mark 11:17 “And He was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”
Faith confession: Father God, Thank You that I am now a part of Your ‘House of prayer’ here on earth. May all nations be reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the Jews welcomed Jesus at the beginning of that Passover week, I look forward to worshiping Jesus every day of the week and one day to welcome Him as King of Kings. Prepare me to be part of the bridal company to greet Jesus with lamps burning when He returns!
Genesis 28:12-14 “And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all families of the earth be blessed.””
This beast is not tamed!
Scripture reading for October 7th: Jeremiah 25, 35, 36, 45, Psalm 133, James 3
Key Scriptures: James 3:6-10 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
James knew the power of the small tongue. He likened it to a fire, starting small but soon spreading to cover a whole life. He told how this fire was started in hell and by Satan. This fire is also like a beast that cannot be tamed. All creatures have been put under man’s dominion, but the tongue cannot be tamed. Evidence of this is that we can use our tongue to bless God and then in the same breath curse people made in God’s image. Only yielding our tongues to the Holy Spirit will tame the beast and put out the fire bringing peace and unity.
Psalm 133:1-2 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!”
Faith confession and prayer: I thank You that I can give my tongue to You as an instrument of unity and worship. Fill me with the Holy Spirit to bless Your Name and those made in Your image!
Jeremiah 35:13 “”Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to My Words? declares the Lord.””
Compassion for the hurting widow!
Scripture reading for March 19th: Deuteronomy 6-9, Luke 7
Key Scriptures: Luke 7:12-15 “As He drew near to the gate of the town, behold a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.” Then He came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.”
As God had commanded His people in the Old Testament law, Jesus was caring and compassionate towards a widow. This widow had lost her only son and would be left without support. The funeral procession was passing by and Jesus reached out and touched the bier containing the body. He spoke to the body of the man and commanded him to arise. To the amazement of all (except Jesus), the young man arose and began to speak!
Faith Confession and prayer: Lord, thank You for Your demonstrated compassion for the hurting and for orphans and widows. Fill me with Your heart of love and compassion and use me to bring life and restoration. Multiply Your kingdom!
Deuteronomy 7:12-13 “And because you listen to theses rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that He swore to your fathers. He will love you and bless you, and multiply you.”
Safe from the storms!
Scripture reading for March 18th: Deuteronomy 4-5, Luke 6
Key Scriptures: Luke 6:46-49 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well-built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Hearing the Word of God brings great accountability to obey the truth received and revealed. Jesus told this story of a man building a house. Only the one building on the rock of obedience will have a rock foundation. Storms will come breaking against our life. Hearing and obeying is the only safe choice. Failure will be exposed by a great eternal ruin.
Faith confession: I am trusting in Jesus Christ, and His perfect obedience to God’s Word. I build my life on Jesus and trust in the power He gives me through the Holy Spirit and grace to weather the storms of life and possess eternal life.
Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”
I receive the blessing!
Scripture reading for March 4th: Numbers 6-7, Hebrews 13
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
The Jewish believer who wrote Hebrews, ended his letter with a wonderful benediction or blessing. He speaks a prayer of blessing over believers that the “God of peace” Who raised Jesus Christ, His Son, from the dead, would equip them with all they needed to do His will and be pleasing in His sight. The “Great Shepherd” Jesus Himself would enable them. His glory would be eternal! Amen!
Numbers 6:22-27 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” So shall you put My Name upon the people of Israel and I will bless them.”
Faith Confession and prayer: I receive the blessings of God through Jesus Christ my Lord and Great Shepherd, risen from the dead by my Father of peace. Lord, equip me afresh today to do Your will and bring You eternal glory. Amen!
Promises of health and protection!
Scripture reading for February 10th: Exodus 22-24, Psalm 109, Ephesians 6
Key Scriptures: Exodus 23:25-27 “You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. I will send My terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs towards you.”
Our merciful God promised His people healing and divine health under the old covenant at Mt. Sinai. He would bless them with fruitfulness and long life as well as defeating all their enemies. Their responsibility was simply to serve the Lord and worship Him alone. Under the New Covenant with Jesus Christ, we stand in Christ Jesus against all the tricks of the enemy, knowing he is a defeated foe! Amen!
Faith Confession and Prayer: Lord Jesus, I trust You for my health, healing, and fruitfulness and defeat of my foes. Help me to stand in the armor You have provided.
Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Psalm 109:31 “For He stands at the right hand of the needy one; to save him from those who would condemn his soul to death.”
Give God no rest!
Scripture reading for January 20th: Genesis 32-34, Mark 13, Psalm 145
Key Scriptures: Mark 13:31-33 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away. But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.”
Genesis 32:24-28 “And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.””
Jacob was afraid of his coming meeting with Esau. He prayed for God’s help and favor but stayed up all night in a wrestling match with a ‘man’ who later was found to be God or an angel representing God. He did not sleep but kept alert in prevailing prayer. Jesus said that that was to be the posture of His disciples concerning His return in power and glory.
Faith Confession and prayer: Father, thank You for the examples and warnings of Scripture concerning the need for Your people to remain alert and ready, even wrestling to lay hold of the promised blessings. Keep me in Your Word and the power of the Holy Spirit so I might prevail!
Psalm 145:14 “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”
Give me that blessing!
Scripture reading for January 15th: Genesis 26-27, Mark 10
Key Scriptures: Genesis 27:26-29 “Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed! May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!””
Jesus’ disciples tried to keep parents from bringing their children to their Master. But Jesus rebuked them and welcomed the children, laying His hands on them and blessing them! In our Genesis reading, there is competition for the father’s blessing by Isaac’s two sons. Jacob schemes to lay hold and obtains it. Esau’s bitter cry is of a blessing missed!
Faith Confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I want Your hand of blessing laid on me with Your declaration of “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Let me help others to obtain your blessing!
Mark 10:13-16 “And they were bringing children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them.”