GOD’s Care and Daily Provision

FATHER, ____ is suffering and in (his/her) afflictions it is difficult, if not impossible, to see Your constant underlying provisions. Swing ____’s eyes off the conflict and onto Your Son. (I realize this is a supernatural request.)

“It will be well with the righteous….he is well fed; he feeds upon the flesh and blood of Jesus. He is well clothed; he wears the imputed righteousness of Christ. He is well housed; he dwells in God. He is well married; his soul is joined in the bonds of marriage union to Christ. He is well provided for; the Lord is his Shepherd. He is well endowed; heaven is his inheritance. It is well with the righteous…” (ref#34, April 14th PM).

Move ____ to believe You, FATHER, more than (his/her) eyes and feelings tell (him/her). Help (him/her) throw (his/her) entire dependence on Your goodwill. Praise You for allowing ____ the opportunity to recognize Your hourly dependence by permitting (him/her) to pray daily. Teach (him/her) to pray often so (he/she) can recognize Your constant love.

“Oh how rich is the grace that supplies us so continually and does not refrain itself because of our ingratitude” (ref#34, July 16th AM). “When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin and deep crevices, life grows” (ref#130, p58). FATHER, favor ____ with the ability to turn (his/her) thoughts toward You for the purpose of giving You thanks for Your provisions.

Intuition

“As the power of man’s intellect searches out things pertaining to man, so does our mind by the power of the Holy Spirit understand heavenly things” (ref#67, [1 Cor 2:11]).

“To know things in our intuition is what the Bible calls revelation. Revelation has no other meaning than that the Holy Spirit enables a believer to apprehend a particular matter…” (ref#101, p77).

The definition of “intuition” is— “…learning of something without the conscious use of reasoning…” (ref#110, p709). Kenneth S. Wuest’s, The New Testament, An Expanded Translation, talks of Christians as having a “instinctive perception” of You, FATHER (ref#37, [John 15:15] p252).

I am a subject of the teaching of the HOLY SPIRIT; He makes known truths to me by His illumination (ref#16, [1 Cor 2:10]). His spiritual sensing impinges on me directly without reason or cause (ref#101, p71). This makes it unnecessary to ask for the opinion of others or even to question myself (ref#101, p74). And, the moment I cease to follow my intuition at that very moment I begin to walk after the flesh and end up mingling spiritual things with things of the flesh (ref#101, p31).

“Walking after the spirit involves both the initiation of a work by revelation and execution of it through the Lord’s strength” (ref#101, p30). FATHER, give me faith enough to follow Your voice in my heart.

SPIRIT Check

“Let me faithfully study my character, be willing to bring it to light, observe myself in my trials, judge the reality and degree of my grace, consider how I have been ensnared or overcome” (ref#76, p84).

FATHER, “sin is…my viper born in my birth, alive all my life, strong in my character, dominating my faculties, following me as a shadow, intermingling with my every thought…” (ref#76, p41). I recognize it is only Your compassion that I am not consumed (ref#76, p39). Therefore I wish to be searched to find and confess the wicked ways in me (Ps 139:23-24).

• Have I flattered You, my WAITING FATHER, with only my lips (ref# 76, p39)?
• Do I set before myself some pleasure or profit or even striving for Your acceptance (ref#35, p150)?
• Do You live in my thoughts (ref#35, p151)?
• Do I covet by hoarding, improvidently squander, and not consecrate everything to You (ref#76, p87)?
• Do I go this way then that with various thoughts and ways, dreaming in my imaginations (ref#35, p150)?
• Do I resist “rebukes of conscience, admonitions of friends, leadings of providence” (ref#76, p192)?
• Am I settled yet experiencing peace and resting in Your “assurance of everlasting blessedness” (ref#35, p151)?
• Do I ungratefully receive Your benefits—forgetting to praise and thank You (ref#76, p192)?
• Have I really found CHRIST who will never grieve or trouble me (ref#35, p151)?
• Do I misuse my faculties, neglect opportunities, use words ill-advised (ref#76, p180)?
• Do I really know You in Your “excellency and desirableness” (ref#35, p151)?
• Do You have Your due place in my heart (ref#35, p151)?
• Are You my all in all (ref#35, p151)? “I repent of my folly and inconsiderate ways, my broken resolutions, untrue service, my backsliding steps, my vain thoughts” (ref#76, p180).

“…the tribute of praise which the saints are instructed to render to the Lord may arise either (a) in the acknowledgement of daily mercies, or (b) in thanksgiving for the great redemption, or (c) in contemplation of the divine perfection” (ref#65, p66).

There Is No God Like My GOD

GOD, You are the living GOD,
GOD, You endure forever;
Your kingdom shall never be destroyed,

and Your dominion shall be to the end.

You deliver and You rescue;
You work signs and wonders
in heaven and on the earth.
GOD, You are the living GOD (Dan 6:26-27).

No god is like my GOD,

descending from the heavens,

riding through the clouds
to come to my aid (Deut 33:26).

You, LORD GOD, keep faith forever,

You always do what You say—

keeping every promise,
always to be relied on (Ps 146:6).

You are slow to anger,
Huge in loyal love,
Forgiving iniquity and rebellion,
But never whitewashing sin (Num 14:18).

Your name and Your remembrance
are the desire of my soul,
I wait for You eagerly (Isa 26:8).
My spirit seeks You diligently (Isa 26:9).

Comforts of the SPIRIT

FATHER, the SPIRIT is my Comforter—comforting me as I become aware of my sin. Without the SPIRIT, satan and the law could accuse me of being an object of Your hatred because I am always sinning. But the SPIRIT bears witness with my spirit that I am Your child (Rom 8:16). Afflictions, too, would become overwhelming and I’d learn to despise hard times if it was not for the SPIRIT convincing me of Your good reasons for such circumstances (ref#35, p408).

The SPIRIT also comforts in the whole course of my obedience. Without the consolations of the SPIRIT, Christian duties would puff me up with pride. Prosperity would make me carnal and sensual and weaken me when adverse trials come. I would not be interested in the church’s problems or successes (ref#35, p408). On my own I would find no need to lean on You.

Without the SPIRIT’s intervention within, I “shall have wisdom for no work, peace in no condition, strength for no duty, success in no trial, joy in no state—no comfort in life, no light in death.” (ref#35, p 408) FATHER, I am able to continue in this world because the SPIRIT comforts me by Your love.

“Be pleased to live and move within me, breathing in my prayers, inhabiting my praises, speaking in my words, moving in my actions, living in my life, causing me to grow in grace” (ref#76, p160).

Prayer Facts:

“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness” Luther (ref#152, p135).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because for me, You foreordained, destined, and planned in love that I might be adopted as Your own child through JESUS CHRIST in accordance with the purpose of Your will because it pleased You and was Your kind intent (Eph 1:5), I will wait for You.
Because You draw me to Yourself, investing me with all the privileges and rewards of the new life in CHRIST (1 Thes 1:10), I will wait for You.

Trusting in the HOLY SPIRIT

“He breathes the mind and life of Christ in me, so that I live as He did, in and for the Father’s love” (ref#19, SEVENTH LESSON).

“…I trust the Holy Spirit. He has begun to deliver me from my innate sins, and I trust Him to drive them all out. I trust Him to curb my temper, to subdue my will, to enlighten my understanding, to check my passions, to comfort my despondency, to help my weakness, to illuminate my darkness. I trust

Him to dwell in me as my life; to reign in me as my King; to sanctify me wholly, spirit, soul, and body; and to take me up to dwell with the ‘saints in light’ (Col 1:12) forever” (ref#34, Oct 7th PM).

FATHER, thank You that the SPIRIT abides with me forever— permanently—even though I may not be sensible to His presence—even though He may withhold His comfort or suspend His influence for a while when I am walking carelessly. He may even permit indwelling corruptions for a moment but even when He breaks my heart, He always binds it up. He may fill me with godly grief but then thanksgiving (ref#61, Aug 26th). SPIRIT, thank You; I rely on You.

Backslider’s Activity Toward GOD

LORD, I observe ____ is stiffnecked (Rom 3:10-12). You, and You only must draw (him/her) (John 6:44) to repentance. And when the Lion of Judah roars (he/she) will come running (Hos 11:10). You are gracious and merciful and will not turn away Your face from ____ if (he/she) returns to You (2 Chron 30:9).

Since ____, as a backslider, is filled with (his/her) own ways, it is not easy to awaken (his/her) interests again in CHRIST. “It is always difficult to reach (his/her) conscience” W.P. Lockhart (ref#127, Prov 14:14, “Backslider in Heart,”).

“Argument does not succeed. The only thing to do is to bring them back to their first experience. They must come to Jesus afresh” W.P. Lockhart (ref#127, Prov 14:14, “Backslider in Heart,”).

“Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls….” (Jer 6:16 AMP).

The same exercise of grace is required as at (his/her) conversion—repentance. I pray that ____ come to CHRIST as (he/she) did at first. Give (him/her) FATHER, a word from You—a word powerful enough to astonish (him/her), chasing all fear away (ref#34, Oct 31st AM).

“No one can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as they ever were” (ref#34, Oct 31st AM).

FATHER, manifest Your holiness to ____ (Ezek 20:41) so (he/she) will remember all (his/her) evil deeds and how they have defiled (him/her). Quicken (him/her) to loath (himself/herself) for all the sin (he/she) have committed (Ezek 20:43). I pray (he/she) break up (his/her) fallow ground and seek You that You may come and rain righteousness again upon (him/her).

Deal with (him/her) for Your name’s sake. I want to recognize You in ____’s life again. I want to know that You are the LORD (Ezek 20:44).

Praying in JESUS’ Name

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,…” (Ps 115:1 ESV).

“We may speak with the familiarity, privileges, right, and voice of the Son of God whenever we pray to the Father in Jesus’ name” (ref#66, p89). To recognize His name is to recognize “…all which the Lord Jesus is in His Person and work]…” (ref#37, p463, [Phil 2:10]).

“Throughout the Bible persons use the name of God to indicate that fulfilling his purposes is their highest priority….” (ref#66, p24). FATHER, this is what I pray for ____—that (he/she) recognize the power of CHRIST’s name in (his/her) prayers—that it not be just a tag at the end to give the prayer more clout.

JESUS is finishing His work by continually making a way that ____ can access You. Assure (him/her) that to contact You there is no other way than through Your Son (John 14:6). Any requests without considering the Person of JESUS are not viable prayers.

Aid ____ to pray for CHRIST’s sake more than (his/her) own. Encourage (him/her) to present (his/her) desires and concerns to You, but to do so in the context of yielding (his/her) priorities to CHRIST’s priorities (ref#66, p13).

“When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are petitioning God to bring glory to Jesus and we are asking for his will to be done in everything so that he will be honored above all. Prayers in Jesus’ name are enveloped with concern that he be represented, blessed, and glorified. By appealing to Jesus’ name, we surrender our prayers to his purposes” (ref#66, p25).

The Benefits of Tribulation

“…The Lord has to break us down at the strongest part of our self-life before He can have His own way of blessing with us” James H. McConkey (ref#130, p138).

FATHER, ____ is suffering in (his/her) present circumstances. I pray You turn this adversity into prosperity. In (his/her) failure, give (him/her) the victory. Guide (him/her) to take up the sword of the SPIRIT (the Bible) and turn the battle to (his/her) advantage. Lift up ____’s spirit in this day of conflict. Do not let (him/her) sit in the dust, mourning. Do not let the enemy vex (him/her) sorely and make (him/her) fret (ref#34, April 15th PM). Remind ____, LORD, that when (he/she) stumbles (he/she) will never fall, for You will uphold (him/her) by Your hand (Ps 37:24).

JESUS suffered more tribulation than ____ will experience. “As He overcame, His followers will also surely overcome, for Jesus is the representative Man for His people” (ref#34, Oct 3rd PM). The Apostle Paul gives an example of the benefits of his suffering:

“…what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel…my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Phil 1:12-14 ESV).

FATHER, give ____ the excitement to follow CHRIST into suffering. Give (him/her) the ability to petition You as CHRIST did—with strong cries and tears (Heb 5:7). Settle ____ by causing (him/her) to recall that Your Son learned obedience from the things He suffered (Heb 5:8).