Monday, August 30, 2010

Yet

I've been made righteous
Yet still I sin
I am more than a conqueror
Yet sometimes I have fear within
I am justified through Your blood
Yet I am still a sinner
For Paul called himself the chief of sinners
Even though he was redeemed

You make me bold and strong
Yet in weakness I depend upon You Lord
I praise You Lord for using me
To bring Your word to others
Yet I too desperately need You

You help me stand
Yet many times I fall
Thank You Jesus for being my best friend
Even though, sometimes, through my actions
I treat You as an enemy

Thank You Lord for saving me
For securing for me a home in heaven
Even though, in my walk, I have not yet arrived

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Right with God

For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Romans 3:19

Those of us that have received Christ as our Lord and Savior have also received His righteousness. We have been made right with God. We are made in right-standing with the Father. What a glorious truth. Knowing who we are in Christ boosts our confidence. It enables us to do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

We no longer have to live beaten down with the heavy burden of sin weighing on our shoulders. Romans 8:1 says that there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ. When we confess our sin, God is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God is for us; He is not against us. He has made a way through the cross to bring us victory.

Now that we have been made righteous, we can come boldly to the throne of grace. We can bring our requests to the Father in confidence knowing that He will hear our prayer. God loves us so very much.

Let's meditate on Scriptures that declare who we are in Jesus. When we do, God's strength will accompany us. And when we do, we will overflow with thanksgiving for what our Lord has done for us. Thank you Jesus for making us righteous through Your death, burial, and resurrection.

Dear Father God,

We ask that You give us a Spirit of wisdom and revelation knowledge of You. We ask that You would enlighten our hearts so that we can truly comprehend all that You have done for us. Thank you Father for sending Jesus to die for us. Thank You Jesus for becoming sin so that we could be made the righteousness of God in Christ (1 Corinthians 5:21). In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

I Will Praise You

Because of Your grace
I will praise You
While I seek Your unseen face
I will praise You
Because You took my place
I will praise You

When I'd rather complain
I will praise You
When You cleanse my sin-stains
I will praise You
As I give You the reigns
I will praise You

When I'm feeling blue
I will praise You
When I behold Your truth
I will praise You
When trouble brews
I will praise You
When I haven't a clue
I will praise You

When I finally come home
I will praise You
Kneeling with the saints around Your throne
Worshipping You alone
Forever we will praise You

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Mercy and Truth

Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Psalm 85:10 NKJV

Mercy apart from truth breeds compromise. Truth without mercy cuts to pieces. God blends the two in sweet harmonies. We are to love our world with the love birthed by the Holy Spirit tempered by the boundaries of truth. God will help us to offer truth to others with love as our motive and mercy as our serving plate. We can find balance as we obey the word of God with a heart of compassion.

When we come across individuals who rebel against the truth, our first reaction should not be to beat them with the Bible. Instead, we must remember that we once were enemies of God. Humility teaches us to speak the truth in love. Maybe the first thing we should do is to pray for such an individual. Time spent on our knees will help us to minister in mercy.

On the other hand, if we are afraid to speak words of wisdom to our friend, if we choose to sympathize with their predicament without influencing them towards the way, we will soon slide into the mirk and mire.

Let's choose to allow mercy and truth to meet together within us. Then we will walk in righteousness and we will allow God's peace to have its way in our hearts and lives.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

In Your Presence

In Your presence
I'm sheltered beneath Your wings
I've found a fountain of life, a wellspring

In Your presence
There is joy overflowing
And peace passing all understanding

In Your presence
I am made whole
Found a balm for my soul

In Your presence
I have faith overcoming
Victory unyielding

I sit at Your feet
You make me complete
In Your presence

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Spirit Like a Dove

Spirit like a dove
Descend upon us
Undeserving recipients are we
Yet fill us with Your glory

Gentle Spirit teach us to pray
Empower us to serve
Give us words to say

Mighty Spirit embolden Your people
Strengthen us in Your power
Stretch forth Your hand
Perform Your awesome deeds

Spirit like a dove
Make Your home within us
Help us to intimately know You
Lord, we extol You
Have Your way in us

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Praise Report

I want to thank those that prayed for my mom. She is doing well. The surgeon is confident that she has removed all the cancer, and my mom is recovering well. Please pray that she experiences a supernaturally quick recovery. Also please continue to pray for the salvation of my family. Thank you. Those that desire to leave comments on my blog are welcome to include prayer requests of their own.

Blessings,

Tom

Our Helper in Prayer

Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

The Holy Spirit is our Helper. He inspires us; He motivates us to follow after the Lord in a particular direction. One of the ways the Spirit helps us in in our prayer life. The Lord wants us to seek after Him in prayer, and when we pray, the Holy Spirit is there to give us the words to say. He wants to empower us to intercede. Whether we have the gift of tongues or not, the Holy Spirit lives within us, and as we allow Him, He desires to pray through us.

The Lord will give us specific scriptures to pray over specific situations. He will speak to our hearts directing us how to pray for individuals, cities, and nations. The Lord wants to fill us with His compassion. Our prayers can be ignited by God's love and faith, and we can see results. As we pray God's will for others, we will see God at work among us. Let's pray with faithfulness and fervency. Let's allow the Holy Spirit to guide us when we pray. Then as He moves in our midst, He will receive all the glory.