An Old Man's Prayer

Have you heard the story about the 85-year-old man who was arrested for praying ?

You probably have. That's the story of Daniel, an elderly Jewish resident in Babylon sentenced to death for faithfully talking to God (Dan. 6)

Although the prayer that sent Daniel to the lions' den is his most famous talk with God (6:11), it wasn't the only time we see him in prayer.

In Daniel 9, we read an example of how he prayed. Daniel had been reading in his scroll of Jeremiah that the captivity of his people would last 70 years, and the people were 67 years into the exile (Jer. 25:8-11). He was eager for it to end.

God had called His people to live righteously, but they weren't doing that. Daniel decided to live righteously despite their lack of faith. He began to pray that God would not delay the end of the captivity.

As he prayed, Daniel focused on worship and confession. His pattern of prayer gives us an important insight into talking to God. We are to recognize that God is "great and awesome" (v.4) and that "we have sinned" (v.15). In prayer, we praise and confess.

Let's follow Daniel's lead. To him, prayer was as vital as like itself.

"Dave Branon"

If you'd like help in learning to pray, read
Jesus' Blueprint For Prayer, a practical treatment of "The Lord's Prayer" in Matthew 6.
Visit:

http:www.discoveryseries.org/hj891

I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications.
Daniel 9:3

No one stands as tall as Christian on his knees.

"Our Daily Bread" - Nov 28/07

No One to Speak for Me

"And He [Jesus] said to them, Go into all the world
and preach and publish openly the good news (the
Gospel) to every creature [of the whole human race]."1

I vividly recall how, when visiting the Holocaust
Museum in Washington, DC--a profoundly sobering
experience--how deeply I was moved when reading the
words credited by some (but disputed by others) to
Martin Niemöller:

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

The plan to kill Jews today may be even more
destructive than in the Holocaust. I say this because
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has expressed
doubt that the Holocaust ever happened.2 He has also
declared openly that he wants Israel wiped off the
map, and it appears that in the not too distant future
he will have nuclear weapons--a frightening thought as
an ever increasing number of extremist Muslims are
determined to kill not only Jews, but Christians,
Americans and other Westerners, and pretty much all
who refuse to convert to their evil form of radical
religion. Their barbaric philosophy is "convert or
have your head cut off."

We Christians know that the only hope of the world is
the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, but what will we
Christians do about it? Will we again remain silent as
so many did for so long during Hitler's reign of
terror? I was also horrified to learn that we Western
countries refused to allow Jews to immigrate to our
countries even when we knew what Hitler was doing.
Consequently, six million Jews were sent to the death
chambers.

According to a recent survey of Christians in America
by the highly respected Barna Group, only 29% of
Christians see the need to explain their faith with
non-believers--which is down from 39% a year ago.3

Perhaps more than ever we need to take seriously
Christ's last commission to his disciples to "go into
all the world and preach the gospel to everyone
everywhere." Never before has this been as possible as
it is today.

May every one of us ask God daily to use us to be an
effective witness for Jesus.

Also, please go to www.actsweb.org/announce.php for a
very simple and non-threatening way to share God's
love and message of salvation with family, friends,
and contacts. And please support in prayer and
finances organizations that are actively involved in
reaching people with the gospel message of Jesus
Christ.

Suggested prayer:

"Dear God, I'm available. Please use
me to be an effective witness for you and do all that I
can to help spread the gospel around the world. Thank
you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in
Jesus' name, amen."

"ACTS Daily Encounter" - Nov 18/07

Speaking In the Spirit

Ephesians 5:15-20
"http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Ephesians+5:15-20"

Dear Father,

Help me speak to my spouse, my family, your church, and the world
about you and your grace.

Let my heart and my mouth overflow with the music of praise -
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs - as I sing and make melody in
my heart to the Lord.

Fill me with constant thanksgiving to you for everything. In the
name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

“Heartlight” - Praying with Paul - Nov 6/07

Jesus Came to Save the Lost!

"The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them."

-- Luke 19:10 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:

Jesus didn't come to please the religious crowd. Jesus didn't come to
pander to the social crowd. Jesus didn't come to hang out with the wild
bunch. Instead, Jesus entered the world to save sinners. When we look
back over the Gospel of Luke, we see Jesus reach out to men and women,
young and old, powerful and forgotten, demon possessed, and the
politically connected. He came to save sinners of all shapes, sizes,
and stripes. He came to save you and me.


TODAY'S PRAYER:

Holy and righteous God, thank you for your great desire to bring
salvation to all people -- including me. Open my heart and move me to
reach out to others who need to know your grace. Even more, dear
Father, stir me to seek the lost as passionately as your Son did ...
and still does. In Jesus' name. Amen.


“Heartlight” Nov 6/07

Forgiveness

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1, NIV).

A Word From Billy Graham

"Oh, the depth of God's Grace! Oh, the height of God's mercy, the breadth of God's love, that He is willing to say to you and to me, 'I forgive you. You will never have to face the judgment!' When that gets through to you, you can go to bed and sleep a new kind of sleep. You will say to yourself, 'I don't deserve this kind of release. Surely I will have to face the music sometime.' The full penalty has been paid. The Judge will never say, 'I pronounce sentence on you,' because Christ has accepted that sentence for you. In Christ you are free. Accept it by faith and go your way rejoicing. When you know the truth, the truth shall make you free. How wonderful! Sin is no longer in the throne room of my life. Christ sits there, and as I daily, moment by moment, yield my members to Him, He orders my life. Satan no longer has the power over my life that he once had. Sin is no longer in command. Oh, to be sure, I slip and fall, but Christ is there to pick me up and to put His arm around me and to love me."

Forgiveness Sets Us Free

"Forgiveness is more than leaving behind sin and its penalty. Forgiveness frees us to serve God, to relate to Him and to engage in the activities that He gives us the privilege to do with Him. To come to Jesus, seeking from God the forgiveness that Jesus has the authority to bestow, is to gain release from that which limits our ability to be what God created us to be. God longs to forgive us. If we do not know Him, we may come to Him seeking forgiveness. We may trust Him to give us release. He will do it; He has promised that He will. That is why He sent His Son to die in our place, to pay the penalty for our sin and to set the stage for our forgiveness. What more could God have done to show how much He wants us to turn to Him? Jesus showed that forgiveness from Him is available for the asking. Let us ask for that forgiveness and rejoice in getting to know our gracious Forgiver" (Darrell L. Bock).

Prayer

Father, help us to find forgiveness in You. Teach us to live in the freedom that Your forgiveness provides us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.


"Decision" magazine Weekly E-mail Devotional
Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Foregiveness

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Luke 6:37, NIV

A friend sent me the following illustration: One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person we refused to forgive for whatever they did, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag.

We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for two weeks, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work, etc.

The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually and emotionally, and how we had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget it and leave it in embarrassing places.

Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated. This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for nursing our grudges. Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person while it clearly is for ourselves!

So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself, Isn't your bag heavy enough?

Suggested prayer:

"Dear God, please help me to forgive all who have ever hurt me and to never nurse a grudge—no matter what others have done or have failed to do—just as you always forgive me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

"Daily Encounter" - Oct 31/07

Discouragement

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4, NIV).

______

Joshua

"In the Old Testament, Israel had waited to move for 40 years. God gave them three days to get ready.

Wherever we go, whatever we do, will put us in contact with circumstances that are beyond our control. When the people of Israel were about to face enemies that had been described as giants, God told Joshua not to be terrified or discouraged. Terror is a response to that which strikes like lightning--something unexpected, something overwhelming, something before which we cannot stand. Terror also is a person trembling in anticipation of the worst-case scenario.

Discouragement is not so much a flash of lightning as a fog bank. It's what happens when we are alone, when hope is gone. Discouragement comes when we feel worthless and incapable. Though not as spectacular as terror, discouragement may be more lethal.

The people of Israel were about to face enemies that had been described as giants. We all face giants on a regular basis. What do we do when we feel trapped, when giants seem to be converging on us? We take our burdens to God and leave them there. Four truths from the life of Joshua underscore God's provision for the needs of His people.
. First, nothing should terrify or discourage us if we rest in God's presence: 'As I was with Moses, so I will be with you' (Joshua 1:5, NIV). God was with Moses, He was with Joshua, and He is with us. He won't forsake us. In the darkest night, He is there.

. Second, nothing should terrify or discourage us if we rely on God's power: 'No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life' (Joshua 1:5, NIV). No one! The universe is under God's control--He leads forth the stars. Not one star is missing.

. Third, nothing should terrify or discourage us if we believe God's promises: 'I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses' (Joshua 1:3, NIV). . 'You will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them' (Joshua 1:6, NIV). Note that God's presence provides us the power to appropriate His promises. God promises to get His people over the river. He will be with us when the river is calm. Enjoy His presence. When the river is a torrent, trust His power. When difficulty comes, rely on God's promises.

. Fourth, nothing should terrify or discourage us if we obey God's Word: 'Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. . Meditate on [the Book] day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful' (Joshua 1:7-8, NIV).

Success is predicated upon obedience to God. To do that we must grow in our personal relationship with God. We must trust His power, claim His promises and obey His Commandments" (Joe Aldrich).


Prayer

Lord, too many times we let the circumstances around us prevent us from looking to You. Thank You that at these times Your presence remains with us. Teach us to trust You more. Use the hard times to draw us closer to You. We want to be more trusting and obedient each day. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

"Decision" magazine Weekly E-mail Devotional
Wednesday, October 24, 2007



Encouragement for Today

How easily human beings rebel against God's authority! The owner left the vineyard to the tenant farmers for a while, and somehow they got the idea that they had a right to all the proceeds. Their greed led to violence and even murder. Make no mistake—sin leads to more sin, unless we catch it and turn toward God, rather than away. If there's any area of your life that isn't fully surrendered to God, won't you confess that now and give him full ownership to your life? Sin is always dangerous.

“Encouraging Words: Your Daily Devotional” Oct 22/07