Tag: Psalm 55:16-18
The common bond of the brotherhood
Scripture reading for October 13th: 1st Peter 5, Psalm 55, Proverbs 19
1st Peter 5:6-11 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, Who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
In this life, we as believers will face trials, persecution, and suffering. We are to humbly accept that God is sovereign over every area of our lives and look to Him in daily prayer. Peter tells the Church to cast all their anxieties on the Lord because God cares for each person. He warns the believers that they have an adversary that is not flesh and blood: the devil. Faith is the weapon of choice in dealing with demonic power. We also are to recognize that satanic attacks and trials of our faith are common to all believers in all the world. God hears each one’s cries and will save and deliver them at the proper time: “a little while.” In the mean time, we are to keep watch and pray in faith. Our Lord will deliver us ‘in a little while’ and we will rule and reign with Him forever and ever! Amen!
Psalm 55:16-18 “But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and He hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.”
Prayer: Father God, I often fret about the trouble in this world. Forgive me for my lack of faith and failure to gain understanding from your Word. I am slowly learning to cast all my anxieties on You and trusting in Your care for me and others. Thank You that You do care for each believer around the world that is undergoing a fiery trial. Empower me to pray for them and keep watch and warn of the devil’s attacks.
Proverbs 19:11 “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
Compassion in desperate times!
Scripture reading for August 4th: Amos 4-6, Psalm 55, Matthew 14
Matthew 14:10-14 “He (Herod) sent and had John (the Baptist) beheaded in prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard this, He withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by Himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the towns. When He went ashore He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick.”
Matthew told the story of Jesus’ response to the beheading of John the Baptist by Herod due to an oath taken at a drunken party. Jesus lived and ministered in the wicked world of the Roman empire where violence and murder was common and the government was corrupt. This wickedness broke Jesus’ heart and He withdrew to seek His Father’s direction. However, lost and hurting people followed Jesus on foot and were there as He arrived. The compassion of the Father flowed through Jesus to heal all their sick and oppressed and even to feed them a meal! God’s love never fails!
Psalm 55:16-18 “But I call to God, the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and He hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, He Who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your promises of hearing my prayers and protecting me and all believers from the traps of the wicked. We live in desperate times and I ask for a fresh anointing of power and compassion for the lost and hurting to counter the cruelty of this time. Pour out Your Spirit in conviction of the lost so that they might change and fear God to their salvation in Jesus Christ.
Amos 5:13-15 “Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
The disciple’s prayer!
Scripture reading for January 8th: Matthew 6
Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. This prayer was not intended to be just some words prayed by rote memory. Jesus wanted the disciples to know God as their Father and have a relationship with others and the Father. He was to be addressed corporately as “Our Father”! We stand in relationship with others also praying to the same Father in heaven.
This Father is holy and His Name is to be reverenced. His disciples remind themselves of God’s holiness and their need of humility and reverence every time they approach God’s throne. The Father is also a King and has a kingdom. His children pray that Kingdom will come upon the earth and His will will be done here as it is done perfectly in heaven.
The disciples are also dependent on God for daily provision. We recognize God as our provider as well as the only One who can forgive us our sins. Forgiveness can only be granted to us as we release those who have offended us! God alone can protect us from our enemy, “the Evil One”, or Satan. We need this protection each day as well as provision and forgiveness.
Observations for over-comers: Prayer is the lifeline of disciples of Jesus. “But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me. .” (Psalm 55:16-18)