Video Bible Lesson - A Prayer to Bless the Lord By Debbie McDaniel

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

7/29/2020

A Prayer to Bless the Lord

By Debbie McDaniel

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:1-5To “bless” the Lord means to give Him praise, to actually “kneel before Him;” to recognize His goodness and Sovereignty over our lives, by giving Him respect and honor.We have so many reasons to give God praise. If you’re having a tough day and can’t think of many, here’s just a few from these verses:He forgives our sin – For all of those times when we’ve missed the mark, turned our back on Him, or gone our own way, He forgives. He graciously extends mercy for every sin, when we simply come to Him and confess our need.He heals our diseases – Physical, emotional, spiritual, He covers every area of life where we have need. Sometimes our “disease” is a need to please. Sometimes our disease is a heart far away from God. Other times our disease is a physical illness or deep loss we’re facing. And He is able to heal all.He redeems our lives from the pit – He sets us apart for His purposes, He will never waste the painful times we experience. He lifts us out of dark places, He holds the power to make all things new. Nothing is impossible with Him. No one, no situation, is ever too far gone from His grasp of love and hope.He crowns us with love and mercy – He is faithful to reward us with his goodness. He gives constantly, continually, steadfastly, love and great mercy. We don’t deserve it, but He loves lavishly, He pours out His grace.He satisfies our desires with good – He is good to us in all our days. Life may not always be fair, life may not always be good, but God is always just and good. He brings favor and blessing.He renews our strength like the eagle – His Spirit flows through us, constantly renewing us with strength and power. We can be assured that He is with us, and He will help us to soar over every obstacle and trial.He has done great things...So thankful.Dear God,We bless your holy name today! Thank you for your goodness, thank you for your crown of steadfast love and mercy. We recognize all that you have done for us, all that you continue to do now, and all that you will do in the future. Thank you that your plans for us are good and that you renew our strength like the eagle’s. Thank you that you have redeemed our lives from the pit, you have forgiven our sin and healed all our disease. You are Restorer of the broken, Healer, and Redeemer. You are Father, you are Friend, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness. You are Faithful, you are True, you are Powerful, you are forever with us.You are Holy, you are Worthy, and we worship you this day, and always…In Jesus’ Name,Amen.

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

Hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the day of trouble? (Job 38:22-23).

Our trials are great opportunities. Too often we look on them as great obstacles. It would be a haven of rest and an inspiration of unspeakable power if each of us would henceforth recognize every difficult situation as one of God's chosen ways of proving to us His love and look around for the signals of His glorious manifestations; then, indeed, would every cloud become a rainbow, and every mountain a path of ascension and a scene of transfiguration.

If we will look back upon the past, many of us will find that the very time our Heavenly Father has chosen to do the kindest things for us, and given us the richest blessings, has been the time we were strained and shut in on every side.

God's jewels are often sent us in rough packages and by dark liveried servants, but within we find the very treasures of the King's palace and the Bridegroom's love.
--A. B. Simpson

Trust Him in the dark, honor Him with unwavering confidence even in the midst of mysterious dispensations, and the recompense of such faith will be like the moulting of the eagle's plumes, which was said to give them a new lease of youth and strength.
--J. R. Macduff

If we could see beyond today
As God can see;
If all the clouds should roll away,
The shadows flee;
O'er present griefs we would not fret.
Each sorrow we would soon forget,
For many joys are waiting yet
For you and me.
If we could know beyond today
As God doth know,
Why dearest treasures pass away
And tears must flow;
And why the darkness leads to light,
Why dreary paths will soon grow bright;
Some day life's wrongs will be made right,
Faith tells us so.
"If we could see, if we could know,"
We often say,
But God in love a veil doth throw
Across our way;
We cannot see what lies before,
And so we cling to Him the more,
He leads us till this life is o'er;
Trust and obey.

Refined by Fire.....Dr. Charles Stanley

Refined by Fire

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Peter 1:6-7

God is always at work in our lives. Even during seasons of adversity, He wants to accomplish something powerful and good. How should this knowledge affect our response? Today's passage teaches us to choose to rejoice during difficult times. This doesn't mean we have to be happy about the hardship itself. Instead, joy comes from drawing close to the Lord and believing steadfastly that through His redemptive power, He is growing and preparing us. If your usual response to trials is anxiety, anger, or depression, the idea of having joy in the midst of a negative situation might not seem logical. However, if you look beneath the surface, you will discover that this biblical directive makes sense for several reasons.

Often, our natural reaction to pain is to run in the opposite direction, and as fast as possible. However, God wants to teach us endurance--much like a long-distance runner builds up strength in training--so that we can fully benefit from what He is doing in our hearts. He uses trials as a refining fire to purify us like gold and bring us to greater spiritual maturity. As we realize that we are actually being made more complete through our adversities, we'll begin to face challenging times with confidence that He always has our best interest in mind.

While a worldly viewpoint sees hope and joy in the midst of dark times as naïve, a spiritual perspective discerns that we're really progressing on a journey toward life at its fullest. We can be filled with supernatural joy, knowing that the Lord is making us into world-changing spiritual warriors.

You Are More than the Mean Thoughts You Think About Yourself

You Are More than the Mean Thoughts You Think About Yourself
ASHLEY JACKSON

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV) 

I knew I shouldn’t hate myself, but I couldn't stop judging myself on behalf of others.

I imagined their mean thoughts toward me, how they must be whispering about me with their friends. I was always preparing myself for the inevitable rejection.

What was meant to be my protection had turned into my mental prison. I was suffocating in my own anxious mind, so I sought help.

My counselor asked me what came to mind when I thought of myself. My answer? A dorky girl being shoved into a locker by a mean bully. But I reasoned she “deserved it” with those old clothes, messy hair and chubby body. She was an embarrassment to most people.

Come to find out, that bully was me.

I was the one pushing myself into that locker by constantly berating myself — and I believed I was so embarrassing that I deserved it.

It was through this insight that God brought to mind 2 Corinthians 10:3-7: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as He is Christ’s, so also are we” (emphasis added, ESV).

In other words, what we think matters.

Little by little, the Lord taught me to fight for my mind, to see myself only as He does. It didn't happen overnight, but it did happen.

If we are Christ's, this is no passive task. This is war.

We destroy lies, take captive our hateful thoughts, look forward to a new plan, and remind ourselves of whose we are.

So here it is, your call to fight, take action and stand up and tell yourself you've had just about enough.

Paul tells us we have to take our thoughts captive and make them obey Christ. What does it mean to make our thoughts obey Christ?

It means if Jesus wouldn’t say it about us, we can’t say it to ourselves either.

Dear Jesus, thank You for dying for me to be free not just from hell but from the prison of my mind. You alone declare me worthy of Your love by going to the cross in my place. Help me believe this truth: Because of You, I am free. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 94:11-12, “The LORD knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless! Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions.” (NLT)

Ephesians 1:5-6, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.” (NLT)

All Your Days

All Your Days
by Anna Kuta

“Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).

Last month, my family was saddened to hear the news of a friend who suffered an untimely and tragic death. A believer in Christ, he had struggled with dementia for years.

At the funeral, the pastor read this verse from the Psalms:

“Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).

What a comforting and peaceful reminder that is – that there is nothing we can do to lengthen or shorten our days. How especially powerful those words are for anyone who has lost a loved one “too young.”

Before you were born, God already knew the number of days you would live on this earth. How incredible is that thought? Though circumstances and their timing don’t always make sense, we can trust that God, in his eternal wisdom, has written in His book a grand master plan. As He reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9: “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

No death is a surprise to God, nor is any death out of the control of His will. Though none of us know in advance how long we will live, we do know that the Lord is with us from the moment of conception until our last breath – and then for all eternity for those who have put their trust in Him as Savior.

Let us never doubt the significance and impact of any life – no matter how short – for God has ordained all of our days for His purpose.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Take a minute to consider the words of Psalm 139:16 – a testament to the holy power and omniscience of God. Though life and death is a mystery to us, it isn’t to God. Let us all strive to serve and live for Him today and every day, so whether we meet the Lord tomorrow or in 50 years, we will be ready when our time comes.

Further Reading
Psalm 139
Ecclesiastes 11:5
Psalm 119:73

How to Live Out of the Goodness of God’s Grace

How to Live Out of the Goodness of God’s Grace
by Lynette Kittle

A few years back, I spent numerous hours each week in our mini-van, commuting over 80 miles each day to work and back on the South Florida turnpike. It was tiring to say the least, especially on busy roadways filled with aggressive drivers. Daily, I found myself maneuvering through an onslaught of cars speeding up behind, passing, and cutting in front of me. I tried to keep a good attitude, but it wasn’t always easy.

On one particular day, a car sped up beside my vehicle, then maneuvered to pull in front of my car to exit the ramp. Unlike my usual reaction to let cars in ahead of me, I felt aggravated. Instead of slowing down to make room, I edged closer to the auto in front of me, preventing it from pulling in front of mine. Seeing I wasn't going to let him in, the driver sped ahead and cut in front of the next car.

Almost immediately after doing so, Philippians 2:3-4 came to mind. In examining my own heart, I realized how my actions had fallen short in meeting this exhortation to think of others as more important than myself. I hadn't look out for the merging car's interest, or for the other ones in front of me.

As God’s word gently spoke to my heart, I felt sorry for my prideful and selfish actions, turning to God in confession and repentance. Like 2 Corinthians 7:10 states, sincere, godly sorrow leads to repentance.

Consequently, with my thoughts elsewhere, I wasn’t paying close attention when approaching the tollbooths and unknowingly lined up behind a red light in a closed lane.  Finding myself stuck in a traffic-jam, parking lot type of going nowhere line, I needed someone to let me into a moving line, like the car a few minutes ago had wanted me to do.

Turning on my signal, I hoped someone would be kind. Yet, I thought of how I didn't deserve it after the way I had just acted. Looking in my rear mirror I saw a truck stop and motion to me to pull in front of his vehicle.

Just as immediate as my need to repent had come, I was flooded with the realization of God’s mercy and grace. As James 4:6 describes, God gives us more grace, showing favor to the humble.

In a few passing minutes in an everyday, ordinary commute, one where I behaved poorly, something extraordinary happened. I experienced God's wonderful grace through a person who lived out thinking more of my interests than his own.

A Prayer for Freedom from Condemnation

A Prayer for Freedom from CondemnationBy: Meg Bucher

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 8:1 ESV

“Wow,” my oldest daughter mused over her lunch, “this peanut butter and jelly sandwich is really good.”

From the time the child could chew, she’s been a picky eater. Once her teeth grew in, she ate an apple for lunch every single day. But when it came time for Kindergarten, I flipped through parenting magazines in search of a sandwich she would settle in on alongside her daily apple. We compromised on a “smore-wich,” graham crackers, marshmallow, and hazelnut spread. Seven years later, she’d discovered the simple joy of PB&J in her own time. And I was left convicted.

We have a tendency to default to condemnation, or criticism, even though Paul reminds us in today’s verse we are free in Christ. “Condemnation here especially focuses upon the believer’s freedom from the crippling power of sin in this life,” The Moody Bible Commentary explains. Jesus died to release us from all guilt and shame, to free us from the sin that so easily entangles us. “The Christian is no longer ‘under the law,’” the NIV “What does it mean to be ‘in Christ?’ True believers are ‘in Christ’ because they have died with Christ and have been raised to new life with him.”

Let’s pray to have patience with our children, and with each other. But let’s also pray for the strength to resist shame and guilt when we make mistakes, misunderstand, or becoming convicted of a close-minded view. “Those who believe in Christ have the unparalleled privilege of living life in the power of the Holy Spirit,” the Moody Bible Commentary states. “Jesus, through the medium of His sacrificed body, pronounced judgment on sin and broke its power.”

Father,

We tend to set the bar so high for ourselves, and fall into feelings of failure when we don’t meet our own unrealistic expectations. We do this to ourselves, and to others. The world puts so much pressure on us, and it truly is painful in a multitude of ways. We confess we compare ourselves to others, and hold ourselves to standards that are unrealistic and unnecessary. The truth is, we fail daily to meet your standard, but by your grace, through faith, we are saved from our sins. Free us from condemnation, for there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Guide our efforts to align with Your will, Lord. Let all we do, all of our strivings, be to bring glory and honor to Your great name, not to achieve a worldly standard or comparative status. Teach us how to live fully in the freedom of our faith.

Fill our hearts with patience, Father. Search our hearts, and renew a right spirit in them. Let us see, through Your eyes, who we are – your children. Give us Your perspective and open our ears to hear the godly voices of wisdom and encouragement you have purposefully placed in our lives. Remove our worry, and replace it with reminders of the peace we have in our Savior, Christ Jesus.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.