Armor of GOD

FATHER, help ____ gird (his/her) “loins in the sphere of truth” (ref#37, p457, [Eph 6:14]). Remind (him/her) that Truth is not found anywhere in the GOD-ignoring air of this world.

Help (him/her) clothe (himself/herself) with the breastplate of righteousness (Eph 6:14)— that is the sinless righteousness of CHRIST, full of power—power like You FATHER, exerted in raising CHRIST from the dead (Gal 1:1).

Help ____ sandal (his/her) feet with a firm foundation in the Gospel (Eph 6:15) by preaching it to (himself/herself) every day making it as much of a reality as the physical world (he/she) sees.

Cause (him/her) to remember to hold in front of (him/her) the shield of faith (Eph 6:16,17) and prod (him/her) to put on the helmet of (his/her) assurance of salvation.

Propel (him/her) to wield the sword of the SPIRIT that is Your infallible Word (Eph 6:17). (His/Her) shield, (his/her) helmet, (his/her) sword—surely this in where (he/she) will find (his/her) strength.

With all this armor that You, SUFFICIENT ONE, provide, (he/she) should be more than able to stand saying, “He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Overwhelming Circumstances Are Okay

FATHER, You have set me on a course of looking for people to minister to—and I HAVE FOUND THEM! My initial reaction is very much like the sluggard in Proverbs. He says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets” (Prov 22:13)! How can I minister successfully to all that clamor for my attention? “There are too many; I will exhaust myself.”

LORD, when You command, I must do it immediately. Questioning is not a prerogative. Oswald Chambers says, “When you know you should do a thing, and do it, immediately you know more” (ref#7, June 8th). FATHER, has not Your inspiration come in the past, and has it not come with such miraculous power in such a way that I am able to “arise from the dead and do the impossible thing” (ref#7, Feb 16th)?

“Jesus is asking us to take one end of the yoke—‘My yoke is easy, get alongside Me and we will pull together’” (ref#7, April 14th).

Compel me, FATHER, to not be a sluggard. Continually remind me I am not responsible for Christian service (because You, Yourself do the work), but I am only responsible “to keep in living, constant, touch” with You (ref#7, April 23rd).

CHRIST says, “Follow me, run along behind Me! That is all” (ref#10, p 58). Advise me to “see only him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for” me (ref#10, p88).

Remind me that “bewilderment is the true comprehension. Not to know where you are going is the true knowledge” (ref#10, p93).

Oh soul, do not run ahead or lag behind paralyzed in fear. FATHER, I desire to wait for You then run with You—for Your closeness is the place of rest. Strengthen my trust in You—weaken my trust in myself. Empower me to put all my hope in You for You are all steadfast love (Ps 33:22).

Placing Myself Above Others

“Anger is always an attack on the brother’s life, for it refuses to let him live and aims at his destruction….Every idle word which we think so little of betrays our lack of respect for our neighbour, and shows that we place ourselves on a pinnacle above him and value our own lives higher than his. The angry word is a blow struck at our brother, a stab at his heart: it seeks to hit, to hurt and to destroy….When a man gets angry with his brother…when he…insults or slanders him, he is guilty of murder…He erects a barrier not only between himself and his brother, but also between himself and God. He no longer has access to him: his sacrifice, worship and prayer are not acceptable in his sight. For the Christian, worship cannot be divorced from the service of the brethren,… God will not be separated from our brother: he wants no honour for himself so long as our brother is dishonoured….There is therefore only one way of following Jesus and of worshipping God, and that is to be reconciled with our brethren” (ref#10, p127-129).

FATHER, Your love for everyone in Your creation is so great that You refuse to commune with me any further if I am the least bit critical of anyone. I cannot be as sweet water, worshipping You and, at the same time, bitter water and angry at my bother. If I’m not sweet to my brother, You will be bitter toward me. How greatly grieved You are when my words, even in jest, speak negatively of someone.

The Apostle Paul says, “…I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:27 ESV). Paul knows how easy it is to put himself above
others with angry or idle words. He

knows he must subdue his corrupt tendencies and thus warns himself (and me). (ref#16, [1 Cor 9:27]).

So, today, FATHER, I ask that You make me aware of how I dishonor people. I surely desire to not lose Your presence because of saying and thinking unkindness toward someone.

“It is for our highest enrichment if we make it our daily prayer that the blessed Spirit would frequently bear us right out of ourselves and lift us above all the small concerns that surround us, till we are only conscious of God and His exceeding glory” (ref#104, Day 10).

This is My GOD – Clothed In Majesty

“The Lord reigns,
He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.

Surely the world is established,
so that it cannot be moved” (Ps 93:1 NKJV).

“…give glory and honor and thanks to him… who lives forever and ever,” (Rev 4:9 ESV).

“…’Behold, this is (my) God;
(I) have waited for him, that he might save (me)…” (Isa 25:9 ESV).

“In Him…(I) have obtained an inheritance,…

according to the counsel of His will,” (Eph 1:11 NKJV).

You, LORD, reign
You are clothed with majesty
You are clothed,
And have girded Yourself with strength.

Spontaneous Worship

I ascribe to You, GOD, THREE IN ONE, the glory due Your name even though I’m a creature only able to recognize or express a tiny bit of Your glory. You are perfect and pure (Rev 15:4). My spirit, so inclined to sin, falls prostrate before Your feet to pay honor to You (Rev 19:10). With fear and trembling (Ps 96:9) I gaze upon Your beauty— Your delightful loveliness—Your sweet attractiveness (Ps 27:4).

You bless me by choosing me and causing me to come near that I may dwell in Your presence. You make me satisfied by fearful and glorious things—these things that terrify the wicked but make me sing praises (Ps 65:4,5). Truly, a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (Ps 84:10). I spontaneously worship in the splendor of Your holiness (Ps 29:2).

Prayer Facts:

“No sacrifice which a lover would make for his beloved is too great for
us to make for our enemy….if we pray for them, we are taking their distress and poverty, their guilt and perdition upon ourselves, and pleading to God for them. We are doing vicariously for them what they cannot do for themselves” (ref#10, p148-150).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You formed my inward parts and knitted me together in my mother’s womb (Ps 139:13), I will wait for You.
Because You search me thoroughly and know me (Ps 139:1), I will wait for You.

Because You understand my thoughts and are acquainted with all my ways (Ps 139:2-3), I will wait for You.

Because You are upright and make my path level (Isa 26:7), I will wait for You.

Because You draw near on the day I call to You (Lam 3:57), I will wait for You.

Because You hear my voice and take up my cause (Lam 3:56,58), I will wait for You.

“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all…” (Ps 104:24 ESV).

FATHER, You are “omniscient.” You know all things and have infinite knowledge (ref#110, p946).

You have “wisdom.” You have the “power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action” (ref#110, p1533).

You are “knowing.” You are aware and have knowledge, understanding and are deliberate and intentional (ref#110, p748).

You are a “torch”—“a source of enlightenment, illumination, inspiration” (ref#110, p1411).

You are “luminous.” You are filled with light—clear and brilliant (ref#110, p804). “Great is our Lord…His understanding is infinite” (Ps 147:5 NASU).

Omniscient

FATHER, how manifold are Your works (Ps 104:24).

You are omniscient—
knowing all things and
having infinite knowledge (ref#110, p946).

In wisdom You have made Your works (Ps 104:24).

You have the “power of judging rightly

and following the soundest course of action.”
You are the all-wise GOD (ref#110, p1533).

Great are You, LORD (Ps 147:5).
You are the “source of enlightenment;”
You illuminate and inspire (ref#110, p1411).

You are filled with light (ref#110, p804).

Your understanding is infinite (Ps 147:5);

You are the all-knowing GOD—

deliberate and intentional—
And aware of everything (ref#110, p748).

PSALM 89:15-18

FATHER, how blessed and happy I am, yes, how fortunate and to be envied for I understand and appreciate Your spiritual blessings. I have accepted Your invitation to walk in the light of Your face (Ps 89:15).

With Your favor my walk is stately and self-assured (ref#68, [Ps 89:15]). I feel in my conscience that You are my FATHER (ref#67, [Ps 89:15]). I shall live in Your acts of kindness and enjoy Your smiles (ref#16, [Ps 89:15]).

Because of You, I rejoice; because of Your righteousness You exalt me (Ps 89:16). You justify me freely from all things; You purify me from all unrighteousness. I am growing in grace and in the knowledge of JESUS now, and at last will be exalted to Your right hand to reign with You forever (ref#15, [Ps 89:16]). In the enjoyment of Your divine favor I grow more wise, more holy, more powerful, and, consequently, more happy (ref #15, [Ps 89:17]).

All I am and have I owe to You (Ps 89:18). All that I rely on as a defense belongs to You or is of You (ref#16, [Ps 89:18]). Since You are my ruler, You are my defender; and who is he then that can harm me (ref#18, [Ps 89:18])?

I am blessed to know the joyful sound—to know I am convened to the place of Your worship (ref#16, [Ps 89:15]). I am blessed to know the festal shout, I walk, O LORD, in the light of Your face, I exult in Your name all the day and in Your righteousness I’m exalted (Ps 89:15-16).

For You are the glory of my strength; by Your favor my horn is exalted. For my shield belongs to You, O LORD, my very self to the Holy One of Israel (Ps 89:17-18). I know the festal shout For I walk in the light of Your face, You are the glory of my strength My shield belongs to You, O LORD.

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Amen

Who Are the Resisters?

FATHER, Your general revelation makes You universally known (Rom 1:19-20). But, although everyone knows of You, many refuse to honor You or give You thanks (Rom 1:21). Instead many give worship and pay homage to other powers and objects (Rom 1:23) even though their conscience condemns them (ref#56, p1613, “Mankind’s Guilty Knowledge of God”).

FATHER, You rise up early and speak, but I’m not sure ____ hears; You call (him/her) but (he/she) does not answer (Jer 7:13). I don’t believe that (he/she) knows that sinning against You wrongs (his/her) own soul (Prov 8:36). (He/She) seems to be wise in (his/her) own eyes and clever in (his/her) own sight (Isa 5:21).

Sometimes (he/she) is as quick to flee from You, as Jonah (Jonah 1:3). Sometimes (he/she) does not pay attention to Your outstretched hand (Prov 1:24), ignoring Your counsel and having none of Your reproof (Prov 1:25). Yes, most often (he/she) is complacent toward You, not seeking or inquiring of You (Zeph 1:6). As a “resister,” ____ makes two mistakes: (he/she) forsakes You (Jer 2:13), and depends on (his/her) own wisdom (Rom 1:22).

FATHER, I pray that ____ has not become so complacent that (he/she) is settled and indifferent toward You (ref#56, p1317, [Zeph 1:12])—that (he/she) sits down comfortable in the seat of scoffers (Ps 1:1).

Please put a fear of You in (him/her) so (he/she) accepts correction (Zeph 3:7). I long to see the day when (he/she) waits for You (Zeph 3:8)—when (he/she) calls upon You and serves You (Zeph 3:9).

It is You alone who will take away the judgments against ____ (Zeph 3:15). You alone are the mighty One who will save (Zeph 3:17). You alone gather the outcasts (Zeph 3:19). And, in You alone (he/she) will rest quietly content in Your sovereignty and love (Zeph 3:17) convinced You always have (his/her) best interests in mind.

To Be Purposeful

FATHER, prompt ____ to strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and let (him/her) run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before (him/her), looking away from all that will distract, to JESUS (Heb 12:1-2).

ATTENTIVE FATHER, allow ____ to discover the unnecessary things that are just occupying (his/her) time. Show (him/her) the things to do that are most worthwhile (ref# 81, July 29). In all (his/her) affairs may (he/she) distinguish between the important and the urgent. May (his/her) character and not (his/her) circumstances chiefly engage (him/her) (ref# 76, p78). May (his/her) desires for a good self-image be replaced with glory-making for You alone. Soli Deo Gloria—To GOD alone the glory.

Embolden ____’s cowardly hesitation (Rev 21:8). You say the one who conquers will possess Your heritage (Rev 21:7). Remind (him/her) repeatedly to be actively persistent—to be purposeful in (his/her) daily activities (Heb 12:1).

The one fact CHRIST mentions to all seven churches He addresses in the book of Revelation is if they overcome He will grant them fellowship (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26: 3:5, 12, 21). I pray for ____, FATHER, to prevail over the tangents on the race set before (him/her) whether they come in moments of urgency or during the mundane tasks of life.