Prayer Affair

SABBATH

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THE SABBATH DEFINED

“…remembering the Sabbath by keeping it holy is integral to…life as the people who are sanctified (or ‘made holy’) by the Lord…” (ref#125, p 196, [Ex 31:12-17]).

“…actual intent of the Sabbath – to bring rest and well-being…” (ref#125, p1844, [Matt 12:8]).

“The Sabbath is given as a gift to man (for physical and spiritual refreshment)” (ref#125, p 1897, [Mark 2:27-28]).

“…the Sabbath was not meant to be a day of total idleness, and of entire cessation from all kinds and sorts of work. ‘The Sabbath was made for man,’ for his benefit, comfort, and advantage” (ref#13, Vol. Three, p280, [John 5:17]).

“Our Lord’s reply…’Though my Father rested on the seventh day from His work of creation, He has never rested for a moment from His providential government of the world, and from His merciful work of supplying the daily wants of all His creatures….I do not break the fourth commandment when I heal the sick, anymore than my Father breaks it when He causes the sun to rise and the grass to grow on the Sabbath’” (ref#13, Vol. Three, p277, [John 5:16-23]).

“The Sabbath is a covenant sign that represents a lifestyle of devotion to the Lord, for it requires the practical reorganization of every week around him (cf. Ex 31:12-17; Ezek 20:18-20)” (ref#125, p1342, [Isa 56:2]).

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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SCRIPTURE DID IT

9/18/13

Screen Shot 2015-09-26 at 9.59.53 AMToday my FATHER has encouraged me greatly. Let me record the scenario here.

The enemy of my soul gave me a thought of listing my present failures. I quickly named four. And the rest of the morning was spent confirming them in my head.

Influenced by such thinking I made the decision to give up writing the daily devotional book I was working on. It wasn’t going well anyway.

I was at a pivotal point in writing. With the first draft finally completed, I really looked forward to using it in my devotions while working on the next draft.

But, after the first week’s use, I did not experience the great awesome joy of the LORD I was expecting. Confidence shaken, I continued with the second week’s pages only to, after working and re-working, throw out two of them.

How many others would I have to throw out? How could I, at the end of the year, have enough written to complete a devotional book?

Little did I know as I went off to prayer meeting that GOD had already determined to change my thinking. The following Scripture was read:

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,” (2 Thess 1:11 ESV).

FATHER, You have turned my heart with Your life-giving Word! I know You have called me to write. Today—right now, I gladly resolve to write.

Have You called me to write a complete book so You can draw Yourself to others with my words? I don’t know. But, today, with a great amount of happiness, I’ll continue to pursue writing.

And, by the way, I DO have faith in Your power. So, I will think no more about not having enough pages to complete the book.

Desk chair here I come!

SUPPLICATION

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TO BE PURPOSEFUL

Screen Shot 2015-09-26 at 10.48.05 AMFATHER, 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.

 

THANKSGIVING

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O MOST HIGH

Screen Shot 2015-09-26 at 10.39.38 AMO MOST HIGH, I will give thanks,

With my whole heart; I will thank You.

I will recount all Your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and exult in You (Ps 9:1-2).

 

Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD,

Or declare all His praise (Ps 106:2)?

Full of splendor and majesty is all His work (Ps 111:3).

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so (Ps 107:2).

 

He remembers His covenant forever (Ps 105:8).

All His precepts are trustworthy (Ps 111:7).

He satisfies the longing soul,

And the hungry soul He fills with good things (Ps 107:9).

 

You have turned for me…

My mourning into dancing;

You have clothed me with gladness (Ps 30:11).

I will sing Your praise and not be silent (Ps 30:12).

 

I give thanks to You, for You are good,

Your steadfast love endures forever (Ps 136:1).

I will sing praise to Your name,

O MOST HIGH (Ps 9:2).

 

ADORATION

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INCONTESTABLE

Screen Shot 2015-09-26 at 10.13.38 AMYou are GOD of gods and LORD of lords (Ps 8:1).

Incontestable—not to be contested,

unquestionable—not to be questioned,

You are sovereign (ref#110, p676).

 

You are in the heavens (Isa 29:14)—above others,

excelling and surpassing, having authority and power (ref#110, p1062).

You are effective in action (ref#110, p1056)—

potent and preeminent (ref#110, p1056, 1062).

 

You do as You please (Isa 29:14),

subsisting by and of Yourself,

without external agency.

You are self-existent (ref#110, p1218).

 

You are great and mighty—the awesome GOD (Ps 8:1).

You are imperial—

having supreme authority (ref#110, p676).

You cannot be compelled and are unconstrained (ref#110, p1453).

 

GOD of gods—

LORD of lords—

the great, the mighty—

the awesome GOD (Ps 8:1)!

THANKSGIVING

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THE INERRANCY OF THE BIBLE

“…the word of the Lord remains forever…’” (1 Pet 1:25 ESV).

Screen Shot 2015-09-24 at 1.25.56 PMFATHER, Your Bible does not and cannot have errors: the sinless CHRIST cannot error. He says the Bible is Your Word, therefore the Bible cannot error (ref#95).

CHRIST, GOD INCARNATE, in Your earthly ministry You advocated what had been written of the FATHER previous to Your coming. Time after time You preface Your subject with the words, “it is written” (Matt 4:4,7,10). You did not come to abolish what had been written, but to fulfill what had been written (Matt 5:17-18).

You say Yourself that the Scriptures cannot be set aside or annulled (John 10:35). Even the hard-to-believe Scriptures You confessed as true. Jonah was indeed three days in the belly of a great fish (Matt 12:40). Your FATHER’s word is truth and without error (John 17:17).

“My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right” (Ps 119:172 ESV).

The Bible does not and cannot have errors: OMNIPOTENT, HOLY, PERFECT FATHER, You cannot error. You say the Bible is Your Word, therefore the Bible cannot error (ref#95).

The sum of Your Word is truth and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever (Ps 119:160). You never lie (Titus 1:2); it is impossible for You to lie (Heb 6:18).

You are true even if we are all liars (Rom 3:4)—even if we are faithless, You remain faithful for You cannot deny Yourself (2 Tim 2:13). Your Word is Truth (John 17:17). The audacity of Your creatures to accuse You of allowing an errant book to represent You!!

You revealed Yourself in words and resided over them as they were written in an earthly Book for all generations to read. The Bible is the prime testimony of Your compassion and caring.

CONFESSION

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CONVICTING SPIRIT

Screen Shot 2015-09-23 at 8.40.19 PM…FATHER, the discovery of my sin is a part of the wisdom that is hid in CHRIST and made known to me through the SPIRIT (Col 2:2,3). If I am not attentive to the SPIRIT I only have a sense and knowledge of sin that is revealed by my conscience; it is the general knowledge of good and evil. But, it’s obscure so I notice my own faults only if they are very obvious or I sin in such a way that they are particularly embarrassing to me (ref#35, p200).

Familiarizing myself with the laws set down in the Old Testament helps me recognize more of my corruptions. But even laws do nothing to make me see my deep personal sin (ref#35, p202).

The work of conviction, from Your SPIRIT, gives me the best knowledge of sin. This knowledge is so useful that it reveals sins that I, on my own, do not have the ability to detect; these sins must be made real to me by Your SPIRIT—a source not connected with my native nature (ref#35, p202).

I thank You FATHER, for Your SPIRIT’s conviction. I am not offended when I recognize His voice, instead, I’m humbled. He has the ability to convince me of sin in such a way that I’m unable to deny His words and am ready to repent. I thank You, FATHER, that Your SPIRIT not only is able to point out my sins but has the ability to accomplish in me the sorrow for sin which leads me to the obedience You require. So, search me, O GOD, and see if there is any grievous way in me and then lead me in the right way (Ps 139:23-24).

ADORATION

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PRELUDE TO PRAISE

…Prayer Facts:

Screen Shot 2015-10-06 at 7.26.38 AM“If no answer comes, we are not to…suppose that it is not God’s will to give an answer. No; there must be something in the prayer that is not as God would have it…It is far easier to the flesh to submit without the answer than to yield itself to be searched and purified by the Spirit, until it has learnt to pray the prayer of faith” Andrew Murray (ref#19, FIFTH LESSON).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You send the SPIRIT to represent CHRIST and act on His behalf (John 14:26), I will wait for You.

Because the SPIRIT will show me what is true (John 14:17), I will wait for You.

Because the SPIRIT will teach me everything (John 14:26), I will wait for You.

Because the SPIRIT will always be with me and help me (John 14:16), I will wait for

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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DOWNFALL: REVIEWING SINS

…2/16/12

Screen Shot 2015-09-23 at 8.19.43 PM…Am being reminded lately of some failures in my person that I really would like to become successes. I am missing opportunities to tote CHRIST. I watch my friends take advantage of every opportunity. I’m a little dunce-y—unable to think of anything to say or do. Some friends are really good making me look really bad. What do they think of me?

The old pride is rearing its ugly head—I want to keep up with my friends—at least not be so far behind I’m out of their league. I don’t want to lose them as a friend. I certainly don’t want them to view me as a “project.” This pride pushes me into picking events to share that make me look good. That’s not good.

I need to be more purposeful. But, how can I be when my mind is empty. I see opportunities—lulls in conversation where I could open my mouth—but, searching my mind yields nothing. My corporate prayers are halting and simple—only presentable because I premeditate them.

And, darn, I can’t get down those piano songs. The more I practice the more I make a habit of the mistakes. I feel so far away from my FATHER playing the piano because I can’t hit the right notes. The harder I try the further I am from Him. How can I teach the kids about worship when I’m still stuck in my life-long problem of having to think about the song so I cannot think of the LORD?

Okay, I see what I’m doing—reviewing my flaws—and the enemy is helping me find more than I realize I have. This is the wrong road to go down.

So, forgive me, FATHER, I’m letting my old nature revive and get into my head. CHRIST has rendered my flesh inoperative by His death on the cross. I believe that and will turn my thoughts elsewhere.

I am not who my friends are. Their gifting is different than mine. Dare I say, I’m a writer—self motivated, willing to spend long hours researching, loving every minute of collaborating with You, FATHER. And, for who’s benefit? It doesn’t matter. Behind my desk is my home—my second prayer closet. You are there and this is where You draw me to. Is this not enough to shove flesh back in the grave and laugh when pride tries to talk?

I worship You continually because that is always my desire. Feeling close to You while playing the piano is only something flesh wishes it could accomplish. And, I worship You even when I must put all my concentration on trying to hit the right notes and feel a thousand miles away from You.

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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BEFORE I CALL HE ANSWERS

…9/20/2015

Screen Shot 2015-09-23 at 12.02.44 PM…I went to bed Saturday night (see 9/26/post) with the happy anticipation of what the LORD would lead me to Sunday. At 1:30AM I woke with piano playing on my heart. The fullness of the thought made me go to this computer.

Piano—the very thing I thought of quitting eight hours before—the very thing that started my slide into the valley for I love piano but, there cutting up water chestnuts for dinner, I decided it was the logical thing to eliminate from my busy schedule.

So it happened, in the early morning hours GOD took away my weariness and gave me the strength for another week with just the forward thought of playing piano after church today. How does He do that?

GOD’s timing. Usually my excited soul must wait for His move but now He answers before I call (Isa 65:24). As I sit here thinking of piano I decide it is His revealed love for me personally that flies me to the mountaintop.