AFTERNOON DEVOTION

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-10


Our life, as Christians, is not our own. We have been bought with a price; with the precious blood of Christ. We have been "accepted in the Beloved;" "according to the good pleasure of His will" (v.5 ,6). Our life is therefore meant to be one of totally dependence upon the Vine. We have been grafted in (reference Romans 11:17). It is vital that we give ourselves completely over to the Lord, so He can work His good purpose in and through us. Jesus gave up everything for us, and all He asks in return is that we trust Him completely to finish the work which He began in us. His is a glorious work, and ours is simply to receive all that He has purposed to pour into us. "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10b).

It should be our highest pursuit and joy to do that which pleases our heavenly Father. Sadly, many believers are not living their lives fully surrender to the Lord. Though we may not admit it, we live much of our life for ourselves, and we deny the Father what He desires and deserves - intimate fellowship and close communion with His children. We are limiting His power in our lives, and in the Church, because we hold back from Him what is rightfully His, and do not seek Him as we ought to in His Word and prayer. May we learn to lay everything at His feet when we enter into His presence in prayer - and leave it under His watchful and tender care. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2).

Heavenly Father,
How dearly I want to honor You with my life,
and do all to pleases You.
I want You to have all of Me, and all I want is all of You.
Fill me to full measure with Your life and power,
so I can live my life completely surrendered to You.
In You alone, Lord Jesus, am I satisfied.
Help me today and every day learn to depend fully upon You,
letting You do with my life whatever You will.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

It seems we often pray for healing and deliverance with arms lifted up in desperation, while our feet are firmly planted in the world. We want all that God has for us - His abundant blessings and infinite power, but we aren't willing to give Him all of us; our will is not fully surrender to His will. When we don't pray as often or as long as we should we keep ourselves distant from the Lord, and we miss out on the close and tender relationship our heavenly Father desires to have with us, and we limit His blessing and power in our lives; not to mention the blessings of ourselves which we rob from Him. This afternoon let us pray and ask the Lord to reveal those areas of our life that we have kept for ourselves and have not fully surrendered to Him. Let us be willing to surrender ourselves fully, so that we can abide completely in Him, giving the Father all that He desires and putting ourselves in a position to receive all that He has for us. "...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose" (Philippians 2:13).

__________________________________________________ _____________________

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: John 6:22-35


Jesus had fed the people, and they were full. They followed after Him, not because they desired Him, but because they wanted more of what He could give them. "...you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled" (v.26). Jesus had so much to offer them. He could give them eternal satisfaction for their souls, but the people just wanted what could satisfy their stomachs temporarily. They saw Him as the One who could supply their physical needs, but their eyes were blinded to see Him as the Source for all their spiritual needs. "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him" (v.27).

Jesus stood before the people as the Bread of Life. He was the divine bread that had come down from heaven to satisfy and fill their souls. In Him they would find complete satisfaction; if they would simply believe. "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst" (v.35). Jesus was sent from heaven to be our Source of eternal life. If we seek His kingdom and His righteousness, He will faithfully provide everything else that we need (reference Matthew 6:33). Jesus was moved with compassion to care for the needs of His people, but He remained focused on His mission which would provide for man's greatest need. Let us praise our Savior for His obedience to the Father which has made Him our eternal supply of abundant life, and offer Him our gratitude for His constant and faithful supply of our daily bread by feasting on His Word each day and living in obedience to His commands. "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare" (Isaiah 55:1-2).


Heavenly Father,
"When Your words came, I ate them;
they were my joy and my heart's delight,
for I bear Your name, O LORD God Almighty."
(Jeremiah 15:16)
Help me to look with gratitude on the portion
You have placed on my plate today,
acknowledging that You know exactly what I need.
Open my heart that I may feast on this portion
You have faithfully prepared,
and strengthen my faith to believe that it is
more than enough to meet all my needs
and the needs of those surrounding me.
"For the Lord's portion is His people."
(Deuteronomy 32:9a)
May all that I do and say today be to
Your delight, and bring satisfaction and glory
to Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.

We live in a world that constantly bombards us with enticing messages, telling us what we need to have, and calling us to doubt and question that we don't have enough. Jesus came with the message that He is more than enough. If we look to Him alone He will supply all that we need. "...immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." (Ephesians 3:20). This afternoon, pray for believers everywhere to resist the pull of the world which calls us to chase after material and temporal fulfillment; these are only artificial substitutes that will never gratify. Ours is a spiritual life, therefore only spiritual food will fully satisfy. Ask the Lord to send a fresh portion of His Holy Word to His children today, so we can "taste and see that the LORD is good" (Psalm 34:8a), and return to Him with wholehearted devotion so He can be our Portion forever. Pray for the Church to recognize its' lack of spiritual strength, fervor, and power, because we are waiting for God to show up, rather than following after Him - seeking Him in His Word and spending time with Him in prayer. Let us pray for the multitudes to find their ultimate satisfaction in Christ alone. Jesus is enough!
__________________________________________________ _____________________

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: Mark 6:45-52


Jesus sent His students to the other side of the lake while He Himself went off for a holy timeout with the Father. "And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray" (v.46). How He must have desired for His disciples to truly know who He was? Surely, He must have prayed for them that their hearts would be softened to take the seed of the Word He was planting in them. Unfortunately, when He met them on the water, their faith extended only as far as their eyes could see. "They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened" (v.51b, 52).

It wasn't enough for them to see with their eyes what He was doing, He wanted them to understand with their hearts. They were entrusted as messengers of the good news of the gospel, therefore it was vital they understand the treasure they were given. "The knowledge of the secret of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you..." (Matthew 13:14). They were His chosen ambassadors to carry His message and lead others to repentance; but they would not be able to lead others where they have not been themselves. "they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven" (Mark 4:12).

If we could grasp but one thing at this point in our journey it would be this: Jesus wants us to know Him. Not just mere head knowledge, but true heart knowledge. With every miracle performed Jesus was revealing Himself to His disciples, but this was getting lost in translation as they marveled at the miraculous display of power, and missed the main point of His message. "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" (Mark 8:17-19). When we pray we avail ourselves of experiencing fellowship with God Himself - the Giver of life. Every time God astounds us with His power, presence, and provision He is revealing Himself to us, but we, like the disciples, sometimes find ourselves lost in the act or answer itself. When we pray and make our requests of God, we are not asking solely for His blessings, we are asking for more of the One who does the blessing. May the utmost prayer of our heart be for deeper communion with God. The more time we spend with the Lord, the greater this desire will be as we open our heart to more of Him, and He fills our heart with more of Himself!

Heavenly Father,
As You search my heart
I ask that I might seek a deeper understanding of Yours.
I know in asking this You will take me through experiences
that I would not be able to bear if You were not there beside me.
Hold me close to Your heart until my heart beats in tune with Yours.
Break my heart for what breaks Yours until Your love flows
freely through me and empties into the lives of everyone around me.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

We are halfway through our journey. I pray that you are finding precious pockets in your day to retreat to a private place to pray as Jesus did, and that you are experiencing renewed strength and refreshment as you fellowship with Him. I am praying for your protection during this season of prayer knowing that the enemy is relentless in his attempts to distract you and tempt you away from communion with the Lord. Every moment we spend with the Lord in His Word, in prayer, in worship, and in fellowship with other believers we hinder the work of the enemy. Nothing else has the power to disarm Satan and destroy his wicked scheming as the time we spend in the presence of, and fellowship with, the Lord. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God..." (2 Corinthians 10:4). May you find the hours of your day, and the impact of your work, miraculously multiplied as you make spending time with the Lord your highest priority. "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26).

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: Luke 9:28-36


A transition was beginning to take place in the disciples' journey with Jesus. Peter had passed the test and identified Jesus for who He truly was. It was time to prepare them further as the cross lay just ahead. It was vital their vision be completely focused on the things of God and not on the things of men (Matthew 16:23). The disciples would not have to walk with Jesus to the cross, but they would have to decide afterwards if they would take up the cross and carry on the mission. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it" (v.24).

Jesus had called them to suffer for Him, now He encourages them with a special invitation for Peter, James, and John to join Him at a private spot on the mountain to pray. Up to this point they believed what they had seen with their eyes; Peter's answer revealed they were able to perceive with their hearts. Their reward would be an opportunity to see what they had first believed. As Jesus prayed He was transfigured: "As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus...A voice came from the cloud, saying, 'This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him' " (Luke 9:30-31, 35). Peter's right response to Jesus' question was confirmed on the mountain as he witnessed with his own eyes the glory of God. "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40).

The Lord loves to bless His faithful ones with a greater revelation of Himself if we are willing to wait upon Him, with complete dependence and trust. His faithfulness is proved over and over when His followers heed the words of the Father: "Listen to Him." He will never leave us nor forsake us, He will lead us down the path of righteousness, and He will see that we make it to the finish line. It is to the Father's glory that He complete His work in, and through, us. "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Heavenly Father,
It is my hearts desire to see what You see
and to hear Your voice
as You whisper the way to walk in my ear.
May each day that I walk with You
open my eyes to a greater revelation of who You are,
and lead me to lay down my selfish plans
to take up my cross and follow You - wherever You
desire to lead me. I only want to be where You are!
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

God's Word tell us, "that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:3-4). Each day we face difficult circumstances, decisions and challenges that the Lord will use to test our faith; to prove it and to make it more firm. May these trials lead us to spend more time in prayer so that we can look upon Jesus and not the difficulties, and learn from Him the humility we need to surrender to His Sovereign hand which He will use to transfigure us into a vessel of His glory. The disciples almost missed out on seeing Jesus in His glory, because they were sleepy; an act they would repeat when Jesus would be in His most difficult and agonizing prayer meeting in the garden of Gethsemane (reference Luke 22:39-46). As we pray this afternoon, let us be on our guard against weariness and lethargy. There is so much the Lord wants to reveal to us, but we must be diligent and alert. "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).


Pray especially for our father's today, asking our Father in heaven to bless them with child-like faith to experience the fullness of the love of the heavenly Father. Pray for believing father's all across the land to live fully surrendered to the Lord with whole-hearted obedience and dependence upon their heavenly Father, so their hearts can be filled with the Father-love of God and be able to receive His infinite love and compassion to be able to pour back into the hearts and lives of their own children and families. Let us pray fervently for our earthly fathers to cultivate fully yielded hearts which desire to know deeply and intimately the love of the heavenly Father and to learn to live in that love, so they will experience all the blessings of the father-child relationship as God intended it to be, and to be able to model that beautiful and tender relationship authentically to their children. May our churches be full of humble, holy men who know and walk in the heavenly Father's love, and who are strong spiritual leaders in their homes and godly examples to this generation, who desperately need to know the Father's love. "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers..." (Malachi 4:5, 6a).
__________________________________________________ _____________________

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:32-56

Three hours of darkness had enveloped the land; it was the middle of the day, and a dark cloud of despair covered the people like a heavy cloak. Jesus lifted up His voice and cried out to the Father, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" - which means, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (v.46). Jesus had prayed for strength to endure these dark hours of separation from the Father while He was laboring in prayer in the garden just hours before. Now that the time had come for Him to be forsaken by the Father, He cried out in a loud voice, laying hold of the Father for His support even though His back was turned on Him. He raised His voice like a trumpet and announced the hour of sacrifice.

Jesus lifted up His voice, and loudly proclaimed His final prayer, "It is finished"; and then He "bowed His head and gave up His spirit" (John 19:30). It was the ninth hour, the time of the evening sacrifice; our sacrificial lamb had laid down His life for the sins of the world. "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7 b). Jesus deposited His life into the hands of the Father "as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28), and His offering was accepted. "Into Your hands I commit My spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth" (Psalm 31:5). The Father did not prolong the suffering of His only begotten and beloved Son. Jesus had willingly surrendered to the Father's plans, and was received as a victor into the Father's hands. In that moment, the dividing wall came down, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom, and the way to God was opened to mankind. "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Heavenly Father,
"Therefore, since through God's mercy
we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
Rather, we have renounced secret
and shameful ways; we do not use deception,
nor do we distort the Word of God.
On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly
we commend ourselves to every man's conscience
in the sight of God."
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing power
is from God and not from us.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body...
Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes non on what is seen,
but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal"
(2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 7-10, 16-18).
In Jesus' Name. Amen.


As Jesus was being crucified, His friends stood by, helpless. How terrible it must have been to see Him in such pain and agony, and to watch Him suffer and die. Praise God that we are no longer powerless or helpless. On the contrary, our great Mediator has opened a "new and living way" to us, and has invited us to join Him in His heavenly occupation of intercession before the throne. This afternoon as we pray, let us offer praise to the One who has purchased our entrance into the throne room of heaven, and acceptance before the Father, with the sacrifice of His own body for our sins. As we come before His throne of grace, may we remember that Christ is in His kingdom and He has opened the kingdom to us to dispense forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who would come with repentant and believing hearts. May our every prayer be an extension of the love of the Father to bring these great treasures to all those in our circle of influence. Let us draw close to our Savior and look upon His nail-scarred hands, and lay hold of all the power and authority He has placed at our disposal when we pray. "What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to Him?" (Deuteronomy 4:7).

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3

Jesus calls us out of an ordinary life to walk the extraordinary path of love - the "most excellent way" as described in the first letter to the Corinthians. Jesus gave up His physical body on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins and commissions us, as His "spiritual" body, to take up the cross and carry His message of love and grace to the world. He calls us to carry this mission forward in the same manner in which it began - the way of love! "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Our sin-debt was paid in full on the cross, and our account has been wiped clean; yet one debt remains outstanding - the debt of love. "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another..." (Romans 13:8). Love is what keeps us connected to the Head, which is Christ Jesus (reference Colossians 1:18). To keep this vital connection, we have been called to "speak the truth in love," in doing so, "we will in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:15-16). Without prayer we are powerless and ineffective. The early church leaders understood that their success depended entirely on whether they were faithful or unfaithful in prayer. In prayer we are co-laborers with Christ.

There is no greater expression of love than one's willingness to lay down their life in fervent prayer for another. It is the one duty of the kingdom where only a faithful few will commit for the long term. Fervent, faithful prayer is a labor of love. As one writer has insightfully penned, "how slothful and unfit we are for this blessed work." Prayer is the highest and holiest work of the kingdom, and it requires discipline and determination. The best way to begin, is to simply begin. We can read and study about prayer all we want, but until we implement the discipline of prayer we can't unleash its' power. These next ten days of our journey we will put our love into action as we take what we have learned about the importance of prayer, following the example Jesus has provided for us, and begin to pray specifically for the various centers of influence which can either hinder or help advance the work of the kingdom. Today, let us pray that we would stay committed to these final days of our journey. May our time in the prayer closet each day lead us to put on our proper garment, so that we will be fully clothed with Christ and enabled to take on His heart with greater sensitivity and understanding to pray more fervently and specifically for those He has placed in our particular spheres of influence.

Heavenly Father,
Fill me with the knowledge of Your will,
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Help me to live a life worthy of You, that I may
please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good
work, and growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power according to Your
glorious might so that I may have great endurance
and patience as I pray. I joyfully give thanks to You
as You have qualified me to share in the inheritance of
the saints in the Kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:9-12)
May my prayers shed Your glorious light into the
hearts of those who are lost in this dark world.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
______________

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4a; Ephesians 4:1-16

The tabernacle in the wilderness was designed to provide a place where the presence of God would dwell in the midst of the people; in the same manner the Church has been established to become "a holy temple" where His Spirit can dwell. "And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22). His desire, both then and now, is to reveal His presence and power to the nations. Through His chosen people, Israel, God revealed His light to the Gentiles (reference Luke 2:32), and united them to fulfill His "eternal purpose" (reference Ephesians 3:6). Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God achieved what seemed impossible - He united the believing Jew and Gentile into one Church - that they would become one new man (reference Ephesians 2:15-16): "...that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You" (John 17:21); ultimately displaying through them His love to the world. "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me" (John 18:23). His purpose has not changed for thousands of years as He continues to work through His people to reveal His glory to the nations, so many will be drawn into His presence.

The early Church suffered tremendous persecution, which God used to achieve His purposes of bringing His message to the utmost parts of the world (reference Acts 1:8). Even though they were scattered, they remained unified as one body; encouraging one another, building each other up in the faith, and providing for each other to accomplish the mission they had been called to. "And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:19b, 20a). Unity in the church is a critical component of God's plan; we cannot carry a message that boasts of unity and harmony if the body, which is supposed to be operating as one, is cut off at the knees because of disputes and disagreements. "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink" (1 Corinthians 12:12).

The apostle Paul exhorted the church to keep the unity so we can continue to grow up into maturity under the Head which is Christ (reference Colossians 1:18): "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:2-6). As opposition and criticism towards Christianity intensifies, it is important that we, as the Body of Christ, realize that we need each other now, more than ever. We are a family and must stop our finger pointing and malicious talk which is wounding the entire body (reference Isaiah 58:9b), and instead stand united together as one in the bond of peace, to contend for the faith and to fulfill the great commission (reference Matthew 28:19-20). "Love suffers long and is kind..." (1 Corinthians 13:4a).

Heavenly Father,
May we, as Your Church,
"be like-minded, having the same love,
being one in spirit and purpose.
May we do nothing out of selfish ambition
or vain conceit, but in humility consider others
better than ourselves. Help us to not look to
our own interests" (Philippians 2:2-4), desiring not to build
our own little kingdoms, but to look to the interests of
others, and fulfill the greater work of building Your Kingdom.
To the praise and glory of Your name.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Church is the visible representation of Christ in the world, yet our divisions both inside the walls of many congregations, and across the lines of the various denominations, have distorted our message and weakened our impact to a watching world. The events of recent days only reveal the need for greater unity in the Body of Christ. The early church grew deeply in their love toward one another because they prayed together and for one another. This afternoon take time to pray for your church, your pastor, other leaders, and workers as well as the other churches in your community. Pray for a renewed sense of unity in vision and of heart - we are to be united as one heart, for "There is one body and one Spirit" (Ephesians 4:4a). Pray for a repentant and forgiving spirit, so that selfish pursuits and competition would be replaced with a holy unselfish love for one other, and ultimately the desire to please God above all else and bring glory to His name. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
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[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4b; 1 Timothy 2:1-6

God has ordained the system of human government. "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1). As Christians, we are citizens of heaven (reference Philippians 3:20), but we must submit to our earthly government as well as become active participants (i.e. exercising our right to vote and run for office) to help promote the good of our communities. "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men" (Titus 3:1-2). We are to exemplify the love of Christ to all people, and do so with humility and respect. "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:34). We must allow the Lord freedom to work through His people in the spirit of gentleness to break down the prideful walls of those who question and criticize Christianity, so they, like the Sanhedrin, will be unable to hold anything against us and will be brought to the knowledge of the truth. "We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1b).

As we pray for the ungodly who are in positions of power, we must also pray for believers who currently hold office, and for other believers to boldly step into the civil arena to exercise a godly influence in our communities and nation. "When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan" (Proverbs 29:2). Pray specifically for men and women of integrity to be promoted to higher levels of influence and power. "Well done, my good servant! ...Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities" (Luke 19:17). Pray that these godly men and women will use their positions to advance the cause of freedom and liberty so this nation will be blessed to fulfill our calling of being a beacon of light and hope to the world. "Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants" - William Penn.

Heavenly Father,
"O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
What is man that You are mindful of him,
the son of man that You care for him?
You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of Your hands;
You put everything under his feet." (Psalm 8:1a, 4-6)
Father, You made us in Your image and likeness
and committed to our hands the rule of Your creation.
Sin separated man from his original role as Your
representative on this earth, but Jesus You
redeemed us so we could be restored to our
rightful position - a position we can only
reclaim through Jesus Christ; and a role we
can only fulfill through prayer.
It would therefore seem, Lord Jesus,
that the blessed maintenance and restoration of the earth
can only be realized through the prayers
of those who have fully surrendered to You;
those whose only concern and interest is for
You and Your kingdom.
Father, give us praying men and women like these who
are fully yielded to You and whose every move is
made only by first inquiring of You.
Place them in the position of power and influence in
our pulpits, in the White House, in the halls of Congress,
in the seats of our courts, on our school boards,
in our state legislatures, in every position of government,
that they would dispense heaven's blessings upon
this nation through their fervent, unceasing prayers.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The prophet Daniel provides an example of a man who exercised "civil disobedience", because of his convictions to follow the word of God; and he did so with respect and courtesy, not wanting to bring harm to the guard who oversaw him (reference Daniel 1, 6). He lived a life above reproach, faithfully serving the Lord, and being a loving witness, not just to his own people, but to those in authority whose respect and confidence he gained. Those who wanted to silence him could find no just cause, therefore they had to create a moral dilemma in which to trap him. "They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent" (Daniel 6:4b). In the face of persecution, Daniel remained faithful to God, continuing in unceasing, fervent prayer, and the Lord promoted him to higher levels of influence, appointing him as God's witness to the kings of the land; which resulted in their hearts being transformed and a nation impacted because of his humble approach. If we are finding it difficult to pray for men and women who have overstepped the proper function of their role in government we need only read the account of Nebuchadnezzar to be reminded that the Lord is in control of men and nations (reference Daniel 4). "...your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules...Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed" (vv.26b, 27b). As concerned Christians, may we begin to exercise our greatest power and influence in the public arena by uniting in constant and fervent prayer for God to bring the change our nation so desperately needs - a return to the Judeo-Christian foundation this nation was built upon. "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). "As for me, far be it for me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23).
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[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:5a; 2 Timothy 3:16-17


Throughout the Scriptures we read of the wisdom, understanding, and discernment that was given to God's servants who had placed a priority upon, and were obedient to, His Word (reference Daniel 1:17). "Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them" (Daniel 10:12). The Lord desires that we would daily study His Word so we will grow up and become mature in the faith. "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Peter 2:1-3).


The Word of God is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12a); it is through God's Word and the Spirit of God that we are presented the gospel message and are enabled to recognize our sinful state and have an understanding of our great need for the forgiveness of the Savior. "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). We cannot carry a message we do not know or understand; nor will we have the passion and commitment of the early church as well as the faithful saints who have followed in their footsteps and who willingly laid down their lives for the sake of the gospel, if we do not learn to abide in Christ and submit to daily studying the Word of God and meeting with Him in prayer, so our hearts will be more fully yielded and open to the love of the Father and enabled to produce the fruit of love for those He desires to reach and save. "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others" (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). We are called as servants of Jesus Christ to "speak the truth in love." We are not to not think of our own interests, but to daily die to self and concern ourselves with the interests of others, so that the body of Christ can be built up. Our time dedicated to prayer and the Word is the necessary preparation we need to be used in the lives of others; it is when we exercise what we have learned from the Scriptures and have claimed in believing pray that we are able to grow and become mature in the faith. As God's children, we are also His students, and we should always be learning and then sharing what we have learned with others.


As we read yesterday, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1b). The more we study, meditate, memorize, and understand the Word of God, the more enabled we are to build others up in the most profitable way - for the good of others, for increasing our own faith, for the health of the Body, and for the ultimate benefit of advancing the kingdom of God. The Lord has placed in our hands the most amazing textbook, the Holy Bible, and it alone can bring hope and healing to the world, but we, who have been given this sacred trust must first open our hearts to receive it, with ever-increasing desire and hunger (reference Matthew 5:6), and then open our hands to share it (reference 1 Corinthians 4:2). May God stir up a deep hunger in the hearts of His people for His Word, so we will be prepared to speak boldly His life-giving words into the lives of who are perishing from lack of truth all around us.

Heavenly Father,
"Justice is driven back,
and righteousness stands at a distance;
truth has stumbled in the streets,
honesty cannot enter.
Truth is no where to be found,
and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
The LORD looked and was displeased
that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no one,
He was appalled that there was no one to intervene..."
(Isaiah 59:14-16a)
Father, "You have given me an instructed tongue
to know the word that sustains the weary.
Waken me morning by morning,
waken my ear to listen like one being taught.
Open my ears and help me to not
be rebellious" (reference Isaiah 50:4-5).
Lord, use this season of growing persecution
to draw Your people back to You with all our hearts.
Teach us to wait upon You and draw strength
from You so we can be thoroughly prepared
to build up the rest of the Body and carry Your
torch of Truth into this dark world.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

God's Word declares, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6a). It is no wonder therefore that God's greatest desire is that we know Him. He longs to reveal Himself to His people, and He invites us to meet Him in the secret place of prayer and yield ourselves to His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all Truth where He can reveal "deep and hidden things" (reference Jeremiah 33:3; Mark 4:11a; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 4:1); He has given us the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16b). This afternoon, let us pray for believers to all across this nation to begin to seek God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and become diligent students of the Word, so we can raise up a standard in this land and hold up the plumbline against which all information, laws and legislation are to be measured by. "Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land" (Hosea 4:1). It is imperative that we, the Church, be informed now more than ever, and go on to maturity in our knowledge and understanding of the Word of God, having our ears tuned to the truth so that we will not be "tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men and their deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14).

__________________________________________________ _____

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:5b; Ephesians 4:29-32

The Ethiopian eunuch and Simon the Sorcerer bear witness to the fact that there are many seekers in the faith (whether seekers of truth or seekers of personal gain) who are sincerely lost and who need our help in finding their way into relationship with Jesus Christ. As followers of Jesus Christ we are to imitate Him in all manner of life, to speak the truth in love, and to build one another up, becoming a help rather than a hindrance to those we meet on the pathway to salvation. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29). It is important that we recognize that it is God's Spirit living inside of us, and everything that comes out of our mouths should be in reverence to His holiness, and edifying to the our listeners. God's love dwells in our hearts, and every word and deed is to be an outward expression of that inner life. May our lives be "cleansed with the washing of water by the word" so the conversation that comes out of our mouths is out of the overflow of a heart that is filled with compassion and not corruption. "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (vv. 31-32).

The enemy desires to destroy our witness as much as he wants to destroy our relationship with the Lord. Our present sufferings or past difficulties should not hinder our willingness to reach whomever the Lord lays on our heart to share the good news of the gospel with. We are to be obedient vessels. One of the ways the enemy destroys our witness is when we fall into the temptation of allowing past hurts to prevent us from expressing God's love to others. "Love is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13:5b). We are called to offer forgiveness to others in the same way we have received it from the Lord. The early church did not allow the persecutions they faced to keep them hidden behind closed doors, rather they joyfully carried the gospel of grace to other people groups and the church grew exponentially. As we preach the forgiveness of Christ to others, let us examine our hearts to be sure we are not harboring unforgiveness towards another. We, who have received Christ's forgiveness should have a forgiving spirit - to everyone!

Heavenly Father,
May the message coming out of our mouths
match the message of the lives we live in private.
May our words minister Your grace to those
You have placed in our path. Forgive us where
we have offended and wounded others
with our words, rather than building them up
and improving their lives with Yours.
Teach us to guard our tongues that we
would not stir up wrath and evil in others.
Help us to be tender-hearted and forgiving.
You have placed Your seal upon us, Lord,
help us to live by that distinguishing mark
of holiness so that our every word and deed
is a declaration to the world that we are Yours.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Lord has entrusted to us His message of reconciliation. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are to boldly share God's message of reconciliation with a world that is growing more and more hostile and intolerant towards Christians. We are pilgrims in an immoral and corrupt world which believes that everyone has a right to live as they want to; it is just as it was in the time of the Judges where "...everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). We have no reason to fear man, "who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28a). Our Lord has already gone ahead of us and prepared the way for us to promote His message of grace and truth. Let us therefore pray for opportunities to share His love with someone new each and everyday - and remember our witness is as much about "showing" Jesus as it is "telling" about Jesus. Our actions speak louder than our words; they are the platform which draws others to question us about the peace, hope, and joy that we have in the face of persecution and trials (reference 1 Peter 3:15). Let us pray this afternoon, that just as the Gentiles "in the first century had grown weary of the multiple gods and loose morals of their nations" and came to Jerusalem "in search of truth", that the hearts of the people of our nation today would grow weary with the immorality, corruption and godlessness of our modern culture and begin to turn to the God's Church to find the answers they are looking for - and may we be prepared because we have prayed and have remained diligent students of God's Word and are united in purpose for what could be the greatest hour of the Church.

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:6; Matthew 5:14-16

Saul had an extraordinary encounter with Jesus Christ and was brought out of the darkness of sin and into His glorious light and forgiveness. Saul had been forgiven much and his life was radically transformed because of it (Luke 7:47). The once strong opposer and hater of the Way, had become the strong defender for those of the Way and had compassion for all that they had gone through to carry the message of the cross. Saul "began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God" and astounded the Jews with his boldness and power. He had met the risen Savior and desired all men to come to the knowledge of His saving grace. "But whatever was my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things" (Philippians 3:7-8).

The Lord put a stop to Saul's evil persecutions and the church was able to move forward with their divine mission. "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31). The Lord gives His light to His people through the presence of His indwelling Holy Spirit in their lives, so they can radiate His truth into the darkness of the world and lead others down the path into His glorious light. The "Light of the world" has commissioned us to be "the light of the world" while we are still in the world. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). We should not to hide our light because of fear, or of feelings of inadequacy; instead we are supposed allow God's light to radiate through us as His willing vessels so He alone receives all the glory. "...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16)

Heavenly Father,
Guide us everyday to walk in Your light
while we still have Your light in this world.
Forgive us for allowing anything in our
lives that would prevent us from radiating
the purity of Your light. We are to "do all things
without complaining and disputing that we may become
blameless and harmless, children of God without fault
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom we shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:14-15)
Help us to not waste the light we have been given
but to "Repent and do the things we did at first"
lest You "remove our lampstand from its' place," (Revelation 2:5)
May we radiate Your light brilliantly
so the world can get a glimpse of Your glory
and be drawn to You with praise.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

After having experiencing the glorious light of Christ, Saul had to sit in the dark - the contrast of such brilliance and radiance compared to the endless void that suffocated him was necessary for the Lord to get His message across to His chosen servant. Every so often we need to be reminded of how lost we once were so that we will realize how devastating and dark the void is that much of the world faces without Christ. Take time today to just turn out the lights and sit in the dark and pray for the millions that are facing an eternity without Christ because we fail at times to reflect His light. Let us enter into our prayer closets where the greatest light glows and bask in the warmth of God's glorious presence and then minister in that deep sense of peace, calm and joy we have received the rest of the day. "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). As the world grows more evil and wicked, and the love of most are growing cold, pray that God will radically encounter more Saul's in the world today; that they will have their own "Damascus Road" experience and be used to reach millions for Christ. "Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light" (John 12:36).

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[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:7a; Ephesians 6:10-20

It was divine providence that the first Gentile convert was a Roman centurion. Our Lord, who came as a humble and gentle Lamb to save us, will one day return as our Mighty Warrior-Messiah-King (reference Revelation 19:11-17). While we wait for the glorious culmination of His Kingdom, He is at work today building up His army of faithful followers who will carry His banner high and lead the charge to bring the world into His glorious Light. When Jesus walked the earth the people cried out for Him to establish His kingdom and save them from Roman oppression (reference Matthew 21:9; Luke 19:11). But His kingdom is not of this world; His is a spiritual kingdom, and He came to save His people from a greater oppression that keeps all men in bondage - sin. Jesus had a plan all along to bring down the Roman rule; however, as we discussed in yesterday's devotion, His ways are supremely higher than ours - He first goes after the heart and transforms the people from within. By saving Cornelius, His work was begun. "I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people" (Jeremiah 31:33b).

The enemy may thinks he has an inside advantage to stop God's kingdom building plans, but it is the Spirit of God who has access to the deep recesses of the heart and will of man; it is here, in the human heart, that the Lord does His greatest work. "I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19). The enemy works relentlessly every day to devour and destroy the Lord's faithful warriors; distracting them and causing discouragement and doubt. It is vitally important that we not neglect putting on our spiritual armor each day so that we can "take [our] stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:11). Any piece we neglect to take up or put on we risk exposing a vital organ to the enemy - without the "belt of truth" we get tangled in the lies of the enemy and find it difficult to resist temptation; without the "breastplate of righteousness" our heart becomes a target and we end up breathing in the poison of the enemy instead of breathing God's love in and then out upon the world; without our feet fitted with "the gospel of peace" we get tripped up in our anger and find we have lost our firm footing; without the "shield of faith" we are defenseless against the enemy's flaming arrows of deception; without the "helmet of salvation" firmly covering our minds and reminding us we are Christ's, the enemy gains access to this critical battlefield; and without our "sword of the spirit" - the Word of God - we leave ourselves defenseless, and unable to resist the devil, rather than confidently and aggressively advancing God's kingdom. Our defenses become weakened and less sensitive when we become too busy and too distracted to take the time necessary to adequately prepare ourselves in the Word and prayer each day. The entire Body suffers when each part doesn't take responsibility for it's own health and growth; and the kingdom building process is hindered. We must take our stand, fully clothed in the armor of God, and in Christ, and activate His protective equipment with prayer; and then move boldly forward guarding the faith and carrying the message to those on the other side of the battle line who are not our enemies to begin with. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (v.12).

Heavenly Father,
Guard my heart and mind today
and prepare me for battle;
recognizing that the people You have placed
in my path are the ones You want me to
reach for Your kingdom and not to
war against as enemies.
Help me to do my battles on my knees
as I seek Your protection for
all the saints as they also take up their
positions on the battlefield today.
"For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal
but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God..."
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5a)
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Lord has called His followers, "the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13a). Just as salt is used as a preservative and an additive for flavor, we as Christians are called to preserve and protect the gospel message from being harmed, and to maintain that message so it can be carried forward, while at the same time adding flavor to this tasteless world. "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him" (Psalm 34:8). In Roman times, salt was a very valuable resource. Soldiers would actually receive salt as part of their pay ("salt money") - the original language for the word salt ("solarium argentum") translates into our English word "salary." In God's economy love is the most valuable resource - we can never out give God - no matter how much love we pour out on others we always find ourselves with an ample supply. Jesus nailed our sin-debt to the cross and stamped it in His blood, "Paid in full!" In addition, the Lord credited to our account His righteousness. We have received compensation over and above the call of duty, long before our work even began. May we pour all that we have and all that we are back into His kingdom recognizing that there is no greater investment of our time, talents, or money. Pray this afternoon for all believers that we would all take up our positions on the battlefield, keep watch in prayer, and continue the work we have been called to do. "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel...Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should" (Ephesians 6:19-20).
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[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:7a; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Peter trusted; the Church prayed; and the answer came. No earthly kingdom or power can match the fervent and earnest prayers of God's people. When the people of God pray the power of God is unleashed, and something extraordinary always happens. The key to unlocking the door of heaven has been, and always will be, the praying church!

As the redeemed of God, believers have been set free to do the will of God and accomplish His kingdom purposes in the earth. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1). When Peter walked out of that prison, free from his shackles, it was if God was putting an exclamation point on the work that was done in Caesarea, where the door of salvation was opened to the Gentiles. "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17). Nothing can stop the kingdom of God from advancing. There is a world of people trapped in the shackles of sin. The Lord had allowed Peter to experienced the reality of what it meant to be held captive and then to be set free and to walk in a new life (reference Romans 6:4). Just as Peter had his shackles removed and had to put on his clothes and walking shoes, when we are set free from sin we are given a new garment to wear (reference Isaiah 61:3b; Zechariah 3:4b). "But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law" (Galatians 3:22-25) -- Just as Peter was no longer under the supervision of the guards in the prison! And just as Peter had been set free to continue the work of God, we also in like manner have been set free from sin so we can be used by God to set others free from sin. "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians 5:13-14). As believers, we walk around, as a jail guard does, with the keys that are able to unlock the shackles and chains that hold much of the world captive by sin; yet, when we don't take the time to pray as we should, we fail to exercise the power we've been given, and they are left to suffer in their chains. This afternoon let us begin to pray more earnestly for the release of the captives who are in our circle of influence, and give them every opportunity to be captivated by God and to join us in our song of praise! "For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound for the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 4:15).

Heavenly Father,
We praise You,
"For it is the God who commanded
light to shine out of darkness,
who has shone in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ."
Thank You for Your light which You have
shed abroad in our hearts and opened our
eyes to see clearly the beauty and majesty of Jesus Christ.
Thank You for Your indwelling presence in our lives
which helps us to see our afflictions and sufferings
through the lens of eternity and the glorious rewards
that await us there.
May our lives be given over to Your will
so the life of Jesus will be manifested
and lead others to Your salvation and eternal life
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The "god of this world", the devil, lives in darkness, and therefore keeps in darkness the minds and understanding of those who are under his deceptive influence. The gospel message of Jesus Christ is a brilliant light which awakens and rescues men from their ignorance and ushers them into the glorious light of salvation and to the knowledge of the truth. May we, as weak and broken vessels of God's mercy, pray for the courage and the conviction to not faint under suffering, but rather remain steadfast and firm in fervent prayers for the benefit of the Body of Christ, the Church, and spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord" (2 Corinthians 4:5a). May we continue to carry the torch of truth into the dark recesses of our homes, neighborhoods, communities, nation, and world until the whole world radiates the Glory of God! "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart" (v.1).

[Godbetheglory]

AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).


Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13; Isaiah 58:1-14

As we come to the end of our prayer journey, we cannot help but praise God for all that He has revealed to us through His Word, and express our gratitude for these precious hours that have been carved out of our day to spend intimate time with our Lord. He has opened our hearts to an understanding of how vital it is that the children of God exercise their privilege to pray daily, and how critical it is that His Church become the "house of prayer" God has intended it to be. Over these past 40 days we have hopefully established a daily discipline of sincere and earnest prayer that has instilled in us an insatiable desire to advance the work of His kingdom. Throughout our journey we have realized that we, as true Christ followers, hold the keys to unlocking the doors of heaven; we have the ability in our prayers, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, to tap into the vast wealth of God's blessings and pour them out on all those in need. Through God's provision we have power to help the helpless when we ourselves find that we are otherwise helpless to meet their needs. We recognize that we are debtors who have no means to repay the great price that was paid to earn our freedom, other than offering our lives in complete surrender to the Lord and submitting ourselves to the holy labor of prayer, that the storehouse of heaven would be opened to pour out God's provision on all His people. "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another" (Romans 13:8a).

When Jesus called us to take up our cross and follow Him, it was a commission to follow in His footsteps and emulate the life He lived. All that we have been given through His mercy, grace, and love is to be poured into the lives of others. We are called to live as He lived; to serve as He served; to give as He gave. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from our own flesh and blood?" (Isaiah 58:6-7). When we set everything aside to seek the Lord with fasting and prayer, our ears become more in tune to our Masters' voice. Through our sacrifice and in our weakness the Lord is able to increase our sensitivity to the pain and suffering of others; as we wait on Him to provide our Spiritual nourishment each day we are drawn closer to the Father's heart and gain a greater understanding into the deeper more spiritual needs of the people He desires to help. It is here that we learn to pray His will for their lives and are able to lay hold of the heavenly resources they need to help them persevere when they are too weak to reach out themselves. As we continue to pray for all the many needs of the people in our life, let us pray that they would experience God's comfort and peace knowing that "love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8); and that they would not doubt God's love for them and realize that the Lord will never leave or forsake them. May we be willing to be used of God to express His love in a tangible way, as His hands and feet, to those in need; giving them an opportunity to experience God's infinite and abounding love through the kindness and generosity of His children!

Heavenly Father,
"You defend the cause of the fatherless
and the widow" (Deuteronomy 10:18).
Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD!
He rescues the life of the needy
from the hands of the wicked" (Jeremiah 20:13)
Use us as Your hands and feet today, Lord Jesus,
to express You love and goodness to those in need.
You have blessed us to be a blessing to others.
Let our whole lives be lived in complete surrender
for the interests of Your kingdom alone,
so that the impoverished, persecuted,
starving, and suffering of the world may
experience Your peace, power, provision, and salvation.
For the glory of Your name!
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In the account of the widow's offering, recorded in Luke 21:1-4, we find an example of true sacrificial giving and faith. In ancient times, a widow had no security unless she had children who could care for her. This woman was a poor widow who gave everything she had to God. "This poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Throughout the Scriptures we recognize the special care and concern the Lord has for the widow, the poor, the orphan, and the alien. In the account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (reference 1 Kings 17:7-24), we read of God's miraculous provision for a widow and her son; even to the point of raising her son from the dead so she could have the security she needed. God used His prophet to show this widow how much He cared for her, and how He would provide for her daily needs. In Acts 6, we read how the widows were being overlooked, and how it was the responsibility of the church to care for them (Acts 6:1). As we pray this afternoon let us ask the Lord to give us a greater sensitivity and awareness of the needs of the people in our church or community. The expression of our commitment and love to, and faith in, God is expressed in our willingness to sacrifice and serve to meet the needs of others. "As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34b, 35).
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[Godbetheglory]