"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another." John 15:12-17
Dear Lord,
Thank You for leaving us with these instructions regarding our relationships with one another. Thank You for spending Your time here on earth teaching Your disciples how to live in Your love. Thank You for the book that we have now, Your word, which gives us these instructions.
Lord, it is with humble adoration that I thank You that You call me friend. Thank You that everything the Father told You, You made known to us. Thank You that You chose me and appointed me. I pray that I would abide in You that I may bear fruit and bring glory to Your name.
In Your Name,
Amen.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
40 Days of Prayer: Day 36
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you."
John 14: 16-17
Dear Lord Jesus,
I thank You for these words that You left us with before going to the cross. I thank You that You promised not to leave us as orphans on this earth, but that You would come again. (John 14:18) I praise You for Your promise that until that time, another Helper is provided by the Father. Even though You couldn't stay on earth, You and the Father had a plan for how to not leave us alone: Your Holy Spirit dwells in each believer and I thank You for His presence. I ask that the Holy Spirit would guide and direct me today; that I would walk in Your way and follow Your will and that I would keep my eyes on You, the author and perfecter of my faith.
In Your Providing Name,
Amen.
John 14: 16-17
Dear Lord Jesus,
I thank You for these words that You left us with before going to the cross. I thank You that You promised not to leave us as orphans on this earth, but that You would come again. (John 14:18) I praise You for Your promise that until that time, another Helper is provided by the Father. Even though You couldn't stay on earth, You and the Father had a plan for how to not leave us alone: Your Holy Spirit dwells in each believer and I thank You for His presence. I ask that the Holy Spirit would guide and direct me today; that I would walk in Your way and follow Your will and that I would keep my eyes on You, the author and perfecter of my faith.
In Your Providing Name,
Amen.
Monday, March 29, 2010
40 Days of Prayer: Day 35
Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." John 12:42-50
Dear Lord,
As we contemplate the end of Your earthly life and ministry this week, I pray that we, as believers today, would not be like the rulers who believed in You but did not confess You as Lord and Savior. Lord Jesus, for myself, I pray that I would not love the approval of men more than Your approval. I ask that You would direct my heart and mind that I would seek Your approval and be bold in proclaiming Your name without fear or apprehension. I know that believing in You means that I believe in God, the One who sent You, and I desire to seek only His approval as I live in this fallen world.
In Your Name,
Amen
Dear Lord,
As we contemplate the end of Your earthly life and ministry this week, I pray that we, as believers today, would not be like the rulers who believed in You but did not confess You as Lord and Savior. Lord Jesus, for myself, I pray that I would not love the approval of men more than Your approval. I ask that You would direct my heart and mind that I would seek Your approval and be bold in proclaiming Your name without fear or apprehension. I know that believing in You means that I believe in God, the One who sent You, and I desire to seek only His approval as I live in this fallen world.
In Your Name,
Amen
Sunday, March 28, 2010
There Was a Time When Children Sang
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel." John 12:12-13
Today is Palm Sunday, the day we commemorate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem just five days before He went to the cross. He came to Jerusalem riding on a young donkey, just as had been prophesied many years before.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
In the days of Jesus, it was common custom in that land to cover, in some way, the path of someone thought worthy of the highest honor.
Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" Matthew 21:8-9
In his gospel account, John specifically mentions the spreading of palm branches to cover the road.
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel." John 12:12-13
The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and of victory in Jewish tradition, as we see in Leviticus and Revelation.
Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. Leviticus 23:40
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands. Revelation 7:9
How ironic that after all this royal treatment, just five days later, the people of Jerusalem would send Jesus to be crucifed. And when given the chance, they chose to release a known criminal instead of the King of the Jews as Pilate offered them.
"But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?" So they cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:39-40
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Palm Sunday was a beautiful day of rejoicing at the Savior's presence. As this hymnwriter says, all the hills of Judah rang with the children's exulting jubilee. Oh to have been there!
He still loves to hear our praise - children and adults alike. As we contemplate the last few days before Good Friday and then Easter, let us lift our voices to praise our glorious King, who paid the price for our sin and now is seated at God's right hand.
O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1
There Was a Time When Children Sang
Words by Thomas R. Taylor
There was a time when children sang
The Savior’s praise with sacred glee,
And all the hills of Judah rang
With their exulting jubilee.
O to have joined their rapturous songs,
And swelled their sweet hosannas high,
And blessed Him with our feeble tongues
As He, the Man of grief, went by!
But Christ is now a glorious King,
And angels in His presence bow;
The humble songs that we can sing,
O will He, can He, hear them now?
He can, He will, He loves to hear
The notes which loving children raise;
Jesus, we come with trembling fear:
O teach our hearts and tongues to praise!
We join the hosts around Thy throne,
Who once, like us, the desert trod;
And thus we make their song our own,
Hosanna to the Son of God!
Today is Palm Sunday, the day we commemorate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem just five days before He went to the cross. He came to Jerusalem riding on a young donkey, just as had been prophesied many years before.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
In the days of Jesus, it was common custom in that land to cover, in some way, the path of someone thought worthy of the highest honor.
Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" Matthew 21:8-9
In his gospel account, John specifically mentions the spreading of palm branches to cover the road.
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel." John 12:12-13
The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and of victory in Jewish tradition, as we see in Leviticus and Revelation.
Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. Leviticus 23:40
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands. Revelation 7:9
How ironic that after all this royal treatment, just five days later, the people of Jerusalem would send Jesus to be crucifed. And when given the chance, they chose to release a known criminal instead of the King of the Jews as Pilate offered them.
"But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?" So they cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:39-40
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Palm Sunday was a beautiful day of rejoicing at the Savior's presence. As this hymnwriter says, all the hills of Judah rang with the children's exulting jubilee. Oh to have been there!
He still loves to hear our praise - children and adults alike. As we contemplate the last few days before Good Friday and then Easter, let us lift our voices to praise our glorious King, who paid the price for our sin and now is seated at God's right hand.
O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1
There Was a Time When Children Sang
Words by Thomas R. Taylor
There was a time when children sang
The Savior’s praise with sacred glee,
And all the hills of Judah rang
With their exulting jubilee.
O to have joined their rapturous songs,
And swelled their sweet hosannas high,
And blessed Him with our feeble tongues
As He, the Man of grief, went by!
But Christ is now a glorious King,
And angels in His presence bow;
The humble songs that we can sing,
O will He, can He, hear them now?
He can, He will, He loves to hear
The notes which loving children raise;
Jesus, we come with trembling fear:
O teach our hearts and tongues to praise!
We join the hosts around Thy throne,
Who once, like us, the desert trod;
And thus we make their song our own,
Hosanna to the Son of God!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
40 Days of Prayer: Day 34
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24
Dear Lord,
I ask that you would search me and know me. Holy God, I do not want to have any hurtful way in me; I do not want to hurt You or others. Lead me in the everlasting way, Your way, and give me the grace to hide Your word in my heart that I would not sin against You. Lord, know my anxious thoughts. Deliver me from my anxiety and give me Your peace, the peace that passes understanding.
I ask it in Your Name,
Amen.
Dear Lord,
I ask that you would search me and know me. Holy God, I do not want to have any hurtful way in me; I do not want to hurt You or others. Lead me in the everlasting way, Your way, and give me the grace to hide Your word in my heart that I would not sin against You. Lord, know my anxious thoughts. Deliver me from my anxiety and give me Your peace, the peace that passes understanding.
I ask it in Your Name,
Amen.
Friday, March 26, 2010
40 Days of Prayer: Day 33
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Dear Lord,
Today I thank You for all the saints who have gone before me - such a great cloud of witnesses! I thank You for Your word in which You have left us great stories of Your faithfulness to the previous generations. I thank You that their stories of faith and perseverance are an encouragement to me today as I seek to run the race set before me. I ask that You would lift my head; that You would fix my eyes on Jesus in whom my faith rests. I pray that I would be focused on the joy set before me, the eventual reunion with You in heaven, and that I would not be entangled by this world. I pray that You would give me strength and grace to endure what You have ordained for me here on this earth and that I would never lose sight of Your love that will bring me to You.
In Your Name,
Amen.
Dear Lord,
Today I thank You for all the saints who have gone before me - such a great cloud of witnesses! I thank You for Your word in which You have left us great stories of Your faithfulness to the previous generations. I thank You that their stories of faith and perseverance are an encouragement to me today as I seek to run the race set before me. I ask that You would lift my head; that You would fix my eyes on Jesus in whom my faith rests. I pray that I would be focused on the joy set before me, the eventual reunion with You in heaven, and that I would not be entangled by this world. I pray that You would give me strength and grace to endure what You have ordained for me here on this earth and that I would never lose sight of Your love that will bring me to You.
In Your Name,
Amen.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
40 Days of Prayer: Day 32
Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24
Dear Lord,
Oh how I want to only boast in You! I know that everything I have - material things, gifts and skills, relationships, salvation - it all comes from You and is because of Your lovingkindness. Lord, let my boast be only in You so that I may give You all the glory for You are the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth. I will make my boast in You alone!
In Your Name,
Amen.
Dear Lord,
Oh how I want to only boast in You! I know that everything I have - material things, gifts and skills, relationships, salvation - it all comes from You and is because of Your lovingkindness. Lord, let my boast be only in You so that I may give You all the glory for You are the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth. I will make my boast in You alone!
In Your Name,
Amen.
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