On Wings Of Eagles

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Friday, July 31, 2009

Where is your treasure

When all the clutter is stripped away, what is your real hope? When you push aside the diplomas, awards, accolades, and honors, what is the basis of your significance? Only One endures forever! Only God guarantees that our life is significant. Only our Savior can provide for us a place where our valuables won't decay and aren't stolen and won't rot. So let's not place our treasures or our hopes in anyone but the LORD.

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.— Psalm 31:1

Dear Lord, thank you for allowing me to place my hope, my future, and my significance in your hands. Give me the courage and the confidence to know that you will not let me be put to shame, but that you will share with me your righteousness on that day I stand in your presence. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Judgmental?

Are you judgmental? Do you assume you can judge the intent of another person's heart? Are you critical and negative about the actions of others? Jesus wants us all to realize that we cannot know the motivations of someone's heart. When we are unfairly harsh or bitingly critical in our judgment of others, we are setting the standard by which God will judge us. I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to exchange God's grace for my unreasonable harshness. I’m going to work harder at viewing others with mercy and grace.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
— Matthew 7:1

Dear God, please forgive me for being unfairly harsh and critical in my assessment of others. Thank you for being so rich and free with your mercy and grace lavished on me in Jesus. Please help me to be more gracious and merciful in the way I assess the intent and motivation of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and of non-Christians as well. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Hardship turned to rejoicing

God is the God of all comfort (see 2 Cor. 1). Even when he deals harshly with our sin and rebellion, it is for our good. It will last only a short while and then it gives way to rejoicing. If you are in a time of discipline or facing the cruel consequences of sin, please don't give up. Morning will come, and on that dawn will come God's grace. It's more than worth the wait!

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
— Psalm 30:5

Dear Lord, please bless your children who are facing hardships and difficulty. Please help them endure through "the night" so that when your dawn comes, they can experience the great rejoicing that lies ahead. Please bless the following people _______________, and help them find your joy .... In Jesus' name. Amen

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

God reveals Himself

Jesus' coming to earth is not inconsistent with the God who reveals himself in the Old Testament. God is high and holy. God is righteous and majestic. However, God loves people, especially people who come to him knowing that they need his love and grace. To those who seek him with passion and reverence, God brings revival that touches the spirit and heart.

For this is what the high and lofty One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."
— Isaiah 57:15

Dear Lord , thank you for loving me and coming to save me, Father, I do come humbly to you asking that you fill me with your Spirit in a more powerful way and revive my heart and stir my spirit to work for your glory in my life today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Judgement

Finding fault in someone else is so easy for most of us. Finding fault in ourselves is much trickier. Jesus reminds us that we must deal with the shortcomings and sins in our own lives before we start telling others how to live. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? But we all know it isn't.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
— Matthew 7:3-5

Dear Lord forgive me when I am severe, harsh, and judgmental toward others. I know there are problems in my own life that need the work of your Holy Spirit. I confess that there are routine sins that I find myself excusing more and more. Please, dear LORD, forgive my sin and empower me to move beyond it. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

God preserves Himself

In the context of this passage, God reminds his people that they are precious to him. He formed them and redeemed them. He is not about to abandon them. No matter what challenges or difficulties they face, he will be with them to deliver them and bring them to safety and victory. We can accept this same promise; we also have the benefit of history to show God's faithfulness. We can see how God did preserve his people and redeemed them time and time again from their bondage to their enemies. God will not forget his children! We know it by promise. We know it by history. We know it by faith!

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior ..."— Isaiah 43:2-3

Dear Lord. I know that there are many times when I am not aware of your nearness or of your providence at work or of your miraculous moving in history. Nevertheless, I do believe, dear Father, that you are near even when I feel alone and your presence seems so far away. In those times, dear God, please give me confidence and perseverance to stand through the times of trial so that I can also share in your times of triumph. In Jesus' name. Amen.