TODAY'S WHISPER: Remember that promises follow principles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S VERSE: 2 Corinthians 7:1
[New International Version]: "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."
[The Message Bible]: "With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let's make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let's make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God."
[Amplified Bible]: "THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God."
[Contemporary English Version]: "My friends, God has made us these promises. So we should stay away from everything that keeps our bodies and spirits from being clean. We should honor God and try to be completely like him."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When am I going to receive this blessing?? When is this storm going to stop?? When will I finally see the deliverance I've prayed for so long?? When am I going to see the fulfillment of God's promise in my life?? Will it ever happen??
I'm sure all of us have made these questions sometime in our Christian journey. We pray very hard. We fast several times. We confess God's Word and declare it true. We believe with all our hearts. Yet, the answer seems so far away...
The truth is that our Almighty Heavenly Father knows everything about our life and our needs, and He has ALL the power in the entire universe to fulfill His promises unto us. However, God has also established Biblical principles that serve as guidelines to ensure our safety and success --and provide great opportunities to build patience and strength along the way. So, while God is able to perform a miracle in our life anytime and anywhere, most of the time He will prefer to work through the principles He has already established. Our part is then to believe the promise and seek wisdom to follow the principle.
So, my friend, don't get discouraged if you haven't seen your answer yet. God is already working on your behalf, and the answer is closer than you think. Just exercise your patience and keep seeking godly wisdom. You will soon reach the other end and celebrate God's goodness.
-- Brother Abnel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for always being faithful to Your promises. Help me to continue being faithful in seeking Your face and Your will. As I become more and more like You, I trust that You will provide the answer to every one of my needs. In Jesus' name I pray and rejoice, amen.
26.9.07
A contrite heart i come before You
TODAY'S WHISPER: God desires to give you a brand new start!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S VERSE: 1 John 1:9
[The Message Bible]: "...if we admit our sins--make a clean breast of them--he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing."
[Amplified Version]: "If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]."
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:1-11 compared to John 21:1-13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you take a moment and read the two Biblical portions provided in Today's Scripture, you will notice something very interesting. While both incidents happened at different times of Jesus' earthly ministry --the first during the selection of His twelve main disciples; the second days after His resurrection--, the miracles were basically the same: the catch of a big number of fish during daytime hours after having tried all night without success. Now, what I find most interesting is the fact that Jesus did not give up on His chosen people --even after what happened to Him at the cross. Rather, He led them to experience once again the same miracle He had performed when they were asked to follow Him... as if He were telling them, "Hey guys, don't worry about the past; let's just start all over again."
This is key to Jesus' message and the reality of The Gospel. Our God is a God of second chances, Who, despite our past mistakes and wrongdoings, is faithful to keep believing in us and grant us a complete fresh start!
Don't let no one tell you that there's no hope, that you cannot make it. God is always ready to cleanse us and make us whole if we humbly confess our wrongdoings and commit to follow Him.
YES!... you and I **can** have a brand new start. Let's simply follow Jesus.
-- Brother Abnel
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love and faithfulness even when I have not done the right things. Thank You for being a God of second chances, always able to forgive and grant fresh beginnings. I ask Your forgiveness right now and commit to follow Your lead. In Jesus' precious name, amen.
Today's whispers came in two days late. but they still tie in so well. I was reading Psalm 51 during QT on monday night. cried a bucket. but learnt and had my peace of mind.a prayer formally made, more dan 3 months late. but God is merciful. few verses caught me. n i know i hav to keep them in mind fr now.. wherever i am..
verse 10: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
verse 12: Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
verse 17: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.
they simply reminded me to, remain steadfast like how i was in the beginning of my christian life, tat is, to remain firm in purpose, fix my eyes on jesus n follow Him closely everyday of my life. Be reminded of the joy of salvation, take pride and live up to His name. n of coz, nver forget that our God is a forgiving God. but of coz, with a contrite heart to come before Him for his forgiveness.
I will be good.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S VERSE: 1 John 1:9
[The Message Bible]: "...if we admit our sins--make a clean breast of them--he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing."
[Amplified Version]: "If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]."
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:1-11 compared to John 21:1-13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you take a moment and read the two Biblical portions provided in Today's Scripture, you will notice something very interesting. While both incidents happened at different times of Jesus' earthly ministry --the first during the selection of His twelve main disciples; the second days after His resurrection--, the miracles were basically the same: the catch of a big number of fish during daytime hours after having tried all night without success. Now, what I find most interesting is the fact that Jesus did not give up on His chosen people --even after what happened to Him at the cross. Rather, He led them to experience once again the same miracle He had performed when they were asked to follow Him... as if He were telling them, "Hey guys, don't worry about the past; let's just start all over again."
This is key to Jesus' message and the reality of The Gospel. Our God is a God of second chances, Who, despite our past mistakes and wrongdoings, is faithful to keep believing in us and grant us a complete fresh start!
Don't let no one tell you that there's no hope, that you cannot make it. God is always ready to cleanse us and make us whole if we humbly confess our wrongdoings and commit to follow Him.
YES!... you and I **can** have a brand new start. Let's simply follow Jesus.
-- Brother Abnel
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love and faithfulness even when I have not done the right things. Thank You for being a God of second chances, always able to forgive and grant fresh beginnings. I ask Your forgiveness right now and commit to follow Your lead. In Jesus' precious name, amen.
Today's whispers came in two days late. but they still tie in so well. I was reading Psalm 51 during QT on monday night. cried a bucket. but learnt and had my peace of mind.a prayer formally made, more dan 3 months late. but God is merciful. few verses caught me. n i know i hav to keep them in mind fr now.. wherever i am..
verse 10: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
verse 12: Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
verse 17: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.
they simply reminded me to, remain steadfast like how i was in the beginning of my christian life, tat is, to remain firm in purpose, fix my eyes on jesus n follow Him closely everyday of my life. Be reminded of the joy of salvation, take pride and live up to His name. n of coz, nver forget that our God is a forgiving God. but of coz, with a contrite heart to come before Him for his forgiveness.
I will be good.
14.9.07
5.9.07
TODAY'S WHISPER: Don't let the rational limit the imaginable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S VERSE: Genesis 18:14 [New Living Translation]: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Genesis 18:1-15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Where will you be 10 years from now?" is a common question brought forth during job interviews. It is also a great question to make to ourselves when it comes to planning for our future. For even though God is the only One Who can see what's ahead, His Spirit's daily guidance can definitely show us where our God desires us to be, where we were and are meant to be at the appointed time.
The true challenge here is our tendency as humans to place limitations to our future based upon today's circumstances and our rational minds. "Do we have enough money and resources to get there? Do we have the degree or requirements to achieve this or that position? Can we really achieve it and be there?" These are just a few of all the rational questions that easily hinder our vision towards what God has already in store for our future.
But the truth is simple: we do NOT need to allow our rational thoughts to limit the imaginable. Just as in Genesis 18, Sara did not think possible the blessing of a child at an advanced age (Who does?). But as the Holy Scriptures clearly declare in verse 14, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" We find the answer to this key question in the words of the angel who, many years later, visited Mary, our Lord Jesus' mother, to announce the virgin birth: "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37, New Living Translation)
To be the people God designed us to be, and to live the abundant life God intended for us to have in Jesus, we need to continue dreaming BIG, and allowing God's Spirit to reveal to us the what, where, who, when and how's. If we choose to believe God, The Creator of our Universe, then NOTHING will ever be impossible for us!! Even the imaginable today will have its reality tomorrow at the proper time and place.
-- Brother Abnel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for designing me with a purpose and destiny, and for already setting forth a bright and meaningful future. Help me to acknowledge Your awesome power in every step I take, and lead me in the right path every single day. I pray and believe this in the precious name of Jesus, amen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S VERSE: Genesis 18:14 [New Living Translation]: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Genesis 18:1-15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Where will you be 10 years from now?" is a common question brought forth during job interviews. It is also a great question to make to ourselves when it comes to planning for our future. For even though God is the only One Who can see what's ahead, His Spirit's daily guidance can definitely show us where our God desires us to be, where we were and are meant to be at the appointed time.
The true challenge here is our tendency as humans to place limitations to our future based upon today's circumstances and our rational minds. "Do we have enough money and resources to get there? Do we have the degree or requirements to achieve this or that position? Can we really achieve it and be there?" These are just a few of all the rational questions that easily hinder our vision towards what God has already in store for our future.
But the truth is simple: we do NOT need to allow our rational thoughts to limit the imaginable. Just as in Genesis 18, Sara did not think possible the blessing of a child at an advanced age (Who does?). But as the Holy Scriptures clearly declare in verse 14, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" We find the answer to this key question in the words of the angel who, many years later, visited Mary, our Lord Jesus' mother, to announce the virgin birth: "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37, New Living Translation)
To be the people God designed us to be, and to live the abundant life God intended for us to have in Jesus, we need to continue dreaming BIG, and allowing God's Spirit to reveal to us the what, where, who, when and how's. If we choose to believe God, The Creator of our Universe, then NOTHING will ever be impossible for us!! Even the imaginable today will have its reality tomorrow at the proper time and place.
-- Brother Abnel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for designing me with a purpose and destiny, and for already setting forth a bright and meaningful future. Help me to acknowledge Your awesome power in every step I take, and lead me in the right path every single day. I pray and believe this in the precious name of Jesus, amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)