Category: Prayer

A friend of sinners and outcastes

December 18, 2021

Jesus was often accused of being friends with sinners and outcastes by the religious leaders of His day. They could not understand why a man who claimed to be a religious leader would possibly have time for people that were considered sinners or outcastes by the religious “elite” of society.

Jesus loved all people and as He travelled around with His disciples, He made connections with people that most “religious” people would avoid while walking down the street. The thing I love about Jesus’ interactions with the people most considered sinners or outcastes is, they didn’t stay that way for long. After spending time with Jesus, they knew there was a better way. The Bible is full of stories of people who turned their lives around after an encounter with Jesus. Mary Magdalene, Zacchaeus, and the Samaritan woman at the well to name a few.

Why did Jesus take the time to do this? Luke 19:10 tells us this very clearly. It says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Jesus mission was, and still is, to seek and save the lost. Today He uses you and me to do this. We are His hands, His feet, and His mouthpiece to tell people just how much He loves them.

My heart is to not be like the “religious elite” of Jesus’ day, but to be a normal every day guy who loves people and points them to Jesus. Maybe instead of walking the dusty roads of Palestine, we sit at a desk in an office and share our faith when the opportunity arises, or we drive long distances to visit with people who need a listening ear, or we talk with our neighbours over the side fence?

However we do it, we just need to remember that our mission is to continue Jesus’ mission to seek and save the lost.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You that You came to seek and save the lost. Thank You that You found me. I pray that I will be able to continue Your mission. I pray You will show me people who need You. I pray You will give me a love for them and give me the right words to say when I speak to them. Use me to seek and save the lost. I ask this in Your name, Amen.

Mark a straight path

December 7, 2021

Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT – Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. [26] Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. [27] Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

I really like a few things in this wisdom from Proverbs chapter four. If we break it down we see four main ideas.

1. Look straight ahead in a focussed way.

2. Mark out a right path or course to follow.

3. Stay on that path and don’t get sidetracked.

4. Keep your feet from following the path of evil.

The thing I like about this is there a real choice. We are told to intentionally fix our eyes on something and set a path towards it. Then we need to be determined to follow that path and stay on track.

As I read these verses today it made me think about my eyes and my feet. It encouraged me to focus on a godly goal with my eyes, then to walk steadily towards it with my feet.

Prayer

Lord God, help me to focus on a good goal for Your Kingdom. Help me to stay focused and not stray from the path. I pray my feet will not follow evil. Help me to serve You and You alone. Amen.

Give justice

November 23, 2021

Psalm 82:3-4 NLT – “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. [4] Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

Some Bible verses need a commentary to help understand them. Verses like the ones above don’t. We can read them and understand what we need to do.

These verses tell us to look after vulnerable people. People who are struggling to look after themselves. People who are oppressed by others. People who are poor and helpless.

I believe caring for vulnerable people is very close to God’s heart. Time and time again in the Bible He encourages us to look after the weak, the widow, the orphan, the oppressed.

As I type I am challenged afresh by these verses. What have I done? What am I doing? What can I do next? These thoughts are words rolling around in my spirit.

Can I sponsor another child? Can I volunteer at a shelter? Can I do some training that well help me be more effective in helping? Do I know someone who needs help?

How about you?

Prayer

Lord God, I want to make a real and lasting difference in this world. I want to help the poor and helpless, I want to help the widow and the orphan, I want to help the oppressed. Please show me what I can do to help. Show me what You want me to do. I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do not let your hearts be troubled

November 22, 2021

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” ‭John‬ ‭14:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Don’t let our hearts be troubled implies that at times they will be. The remedy to this is trusting in God. God is all powerful. He knows the beginning from the end. He promises to care for us, protect us and provide for us. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ who is our strength. So we don’t have to be troubled!

Prayer

Thank You God that you are with me. You provide help, strength, protection and all I need in this life. Help me to trust You and not be troubled in my heart. Amen.

We don’t need to understand it all

November 13, 2021

“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20:24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We may make our plans by what we think we want to do, but it is the Lord who directs our steps. With this in mind, we don’t need to understand everything in complete detail along the way.

One of the great truths of the Bible is that God holds us in the palm of His hands. When we walk with Him, His guidance, protection and help are all par for the course. It is part of being His child.

So we don’t need to worry about the future. What we will do, what we will eat, where will we go, these are all in God’s hands. We just need to focus on His Kingdom and be obedient each and every day. God will take care of the rest.

Prayer

Dear God, I thank You that You hold me in the palm of Your hand. Help me to put my complete trust in You and seek Your Kingdom each day. Help me to understand that daily guidance, protection and supply are mine, because I am Your child. Amen.