"For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Acts 5

"For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” v38-39

For believers this is a powerful reminder that God's will is unstoppable - period.  An equally important message is that plans that are of "human origin" (as noted by Gamaliel) will fail...we must seek guidance and validation that our plans are in line with God's purpose and will.  

How can we validate that our plans are in line with God's will for our lives?
- Read the Bible; it is God and it is God's word for us
- Pray
- Seek wise counsel (Exodus 18:13-27)
- Ask yourself if you are at peace; peace is an indicator of the extent to which You are following God (Galatians 5:22)
- Seek confirming circumstances (God is unstoppable and His will should be clear to the extent that you are getting "positive" results).

To be clear, you should probably use ALL five methods to validate God's will for your life as for many of us, myself included, we can can easily use one method or another to validate that our own plans are God's will.

My Prayer: Lord, You are indeed great and Your design and will is perfect.  I have seen Your hand in my life and in the life of others.  Perfect!  I know You have a plan for me and it is not to harm me but to prosper me as You say in Jeremiah.  Thank You Jesus that You love me so much despite my sin.  I am weak, selfish, impatient, I worry too much, I am quick to anger, slow to listen, etc.  Please forgive me for such sin and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as Your do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me know and follow Your will for my life.

Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Acts 5

Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. v11

Ananias and his wife Sapphira knew that they held back in their giving to the church and they paid the ultimate price for their sin. Yet at the same time, all of us hold back from God in some form or another...whether it is $$ of some other aspect of our life.  It is in our nature to want to control...we don't want to fully surrender all aspects of our life to Jesus.  This is sinful - we are to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37-38).  At the same time, we don't truly believe that we will pay any price for our sin...unfortunately we will and the timing and the form of our price is entirely at the mercy of Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior.

We know this:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

...and this:

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens[.] Ecclesiastes 3:1

Healthy fear and respect for the Lord is a critical component of our love for Him.

My Prayer: Lord, You are great and Your design and will are also great.  You have designed my life and while I grumble (sinfully so) about it...I do recognize that it is perfect in Your eyes and You have blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  I not only grumble way too much...but I am selfish, quick to anger, slow to listen, harsh with my words, impatient, etc.  Thank You for the many blessings You have provided and for loving me no less - despite my sin.  Please forgive me for my grumbling and my other sin...help me turn from such sin and towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me have fear and respect for You Jesus.

For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Acts 4

For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. v34-35

I am blessed with resources well beyond what I need and I am convicted to be generous with my resources with the church and others in need.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7

My Prayer: Lord, You have indeed blessed me well beyond what I need and provide for all of my needs - spiritual, emotional, physical, etc.  You protect, heal, encourage, and teach me, just to name a few among the infinite number of ways You bless me.  You suffered a gruesome death...willingly...for me.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, selfish, harsh with my words, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin.  Help me turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be cheerful giver.

They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Acts 4

They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. v21-22

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter and John spoke powerfully and healed the lame beggar.  It was undeniable to all, including the Jewish leaders, that there was something very powerful within Peter and John.  Several challenges come to mind, including:

• do I request and allow the Holy Spirit to work through me?
• what is my response when I witness the Holy Spirit at work - do I deny it or do I submit?

 Scripture here and below comes to mind:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

In all my ways...this is key.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are great indeed.  That You are able to redeem my sin and use it for Your glory is incredible. I know I deserve to die yet You chose me and then redeemed me through Your death on the cross.  I am not worth such love, blessing, and sacrifice.  I am quick to anger, harsh with my words, selfish, prideful, slow to listen, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do and help me grow in my faith.

"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see."

Acts 3

"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see." v16

Building on my post from yesterday, there is no doubt that Peter is a changed man.  Transformed of course by the Power of the Holy Spirit:

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Contrast Peter's words above that reflect a focus on God versus a focus on himself in the scriptures below:

But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. Matthew 26:35 (prideful Peter)

...

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. Luke 22:31 (arrogant Peter)

Clearly, Peter is transformed via Christ and the Holy Spirit and his focus on God first and himself second.  Humility is key to growth in Christ - we are to be Christ-focused, then "others" focused.

My Prayer: Lord, You are indeed great as I have personally seen my mind, heart, and life transformed by the Power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Thank You Jesus for such love and blessing!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing - I am quick to anger, slow to listen, impatient, prideful, arrogant, selfish, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 3

 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. v9-10

The Holy Spirit has power and all believers have access to the Holy Spirit.  We must recognize this power.  Peter certainly did here.  I should have trust and faith in God that the Holy Spirit is with me always.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, that You died, rose again, and left us with Your Holy Spirit as a helper, an Advocate (as You called it), is an amazing gift that has no parallel.  I am not deserving of such a gift...that is of course what it is.  I am selfish, lazy, impatient, quick to anger, slow to listen, prideful, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me such sin and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” v36

Acts 2

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” v36

Wow...Peter is "on fire"!  Surely, one cannot read Peter's message to those who witnessed the events of Acts 2 and walk away thinking this was the Peter "himself".  It is the Peter whom God promised to all His children: the God who will always be there, and who will always work and speak through us.  Just as God gave Moses words, Jesus gives Peter words.  Here is God talking to Moses:

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

 

Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.  He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. Exodus 4:13-16

I know I have access to the power of Christ when I speak but I often rely on myself and speak harshly as a result.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:9-10

My Prayer:  Lord You are indeed great and Your words have power...all the power I will ever need.  Through Scripture and the Holy Spirit, I know I have access to the all the power I need...yet I am not deserving to have such power.  I sin often and misuse my words by being harsh.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me and help me turn from such sin.  Help me turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say."

Acts 2

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say." v14

While it is typical of Peter to sometimes be impulsive and act without thought (see Matthew 26:33-35, John 18:10).  Peter's impulsiveness here seems...well...less impulsive.  Peter (and all the apostles) has previously been called to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, but now he has the Holy Spirit to guide him. 

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth." John 16:13

This time, he is rooted in Truth and backed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Somehow, in my view, this is either not at all, or certainly less impulsive.

Question is...ARE you less impulsive if you act quickly but you are rooted in faith and confident in the leading of the Holy Spirit?

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great not only of course because You know everything about me yet You chose me then suffered and died for me.  You are great also because You sent the Holy Spirit to help me and to give me power.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am impatient, arrogant, selfish, prideful, quick to anger, slow to listen, and harsh with my words.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help grow in my faith.  Help me fully appreciate, understand, and use the power of the Holy Spirit.

Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen o take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 1

Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen o take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.  V24-26

God wants us to come to Him in prayer for everything - big and small - we are to be dependent on Him for all things...wisdom in daily decisions included.  We cannot assume that a detail of life is too small to concern Jesus...not true.  While the choice of a new apostle to replace Judas is certainly deserving of Christ's wisdom through prayer, I often make many consequential decisions without going to the Lord in prayer.

Similarly, we cannot assume that anyone is inconsequential to Him....we all matter:

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar. Psalm 138:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, though You are the Name above all Names, the Lord Most High, You love me even though You know everything about me, including all of my sin...how great You are!  I am not worth Your love and blessing Jesus.  I am lazy, selfish, harsh with my words, impatient, quick to anger, slow to listen, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

John 21

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. v25

We all want more evidence that Jesus is real, particularly in times of distress.  What is true however, in my view, is that we are more likely to build our faith in Jesus when times are good.  We must be aware of the blessings that we do have, remain humble that they are not of our hand, and believe instead that they are of God's hand.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great and I am unbelievably blessed...unbelievable to the extent that I KNOW it is not my hand but Yours.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am lazy, selfish, disobedient, impatient, quick to anger, slow to listen, and harsh.  Thank You that You love me anyway, but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do and help me grow in my faith.

 
  

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

John 19

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. v15

What is interesting here is that the Jews very often accepted and even wanted a king.  

“You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” 1 Samuel 8:5

The chief priests just did not want Jesus as their King.  The question of course becomes: do I reject Jesus?  No and Yes.  Not explicitly but implicitly through sin and disobedience.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus...You are a great God full of love and compassion for me.  You know everything about me...including my sin, even sin I have yet to commit...yet You love me anyway and You even died for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  I am full of anger, selfishness, impatience, etc. Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. 

"In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth."

John 18

"In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth." v37

We all know that Jesus came to earth to die for our sins so that we would no longer be slaves to our sins.  Jesus says this another way in this verse above...He stands for truth.   Truth for many is a threat...a threat to control over people, status, etc.  Pilate and the Jewish leaders know this so they have no problem killing Jesus. 

We must examine the extent to which we are threatened by Truth.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great and Your word is great.  The Word is truth and it is God and I have seen my heart and life transformed by the Word and by God.  I am grateful indeed, even more so because I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  I lack patience, compassion, kindness...and instead am harsh, quick to anger and slow to listen.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me...help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

John 18

 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. v18

I did not read far enough yesterday to catch this but fear and desire to stay in one's comfort zone work hand in hand.  Peter perhaps was led to say "Yes, I am" but fear for his life - justifiably so - kept him in his comfort zone.  For him, he had an option to stay comfortable...literally he kept comfortable warming himself on a cold night. 

We are no different from Peter.  When led to take a step in a direction that is fearful for us, when provided an option to remain in our comfort zone...we very often stay in our comfort zone...I know I do.

One thing for us to consider is that Jesus provides comfort, while at the same time He calls us to step out to perform His work. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You provide comfort and refuge during fearful times.  Yet You call us out to do Your work at the same time. I have witnessed the comfort that comes from staying near to You when stepping out.  Your plans and Your design is perfect.  You are always there.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not worth the love, blessing, refuge, protection, comfort You provide...too often I am cowardly, lacking in trust/faith, lazy, etc.  Please forgive me...help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

John 18

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. v17

Fear is a very powerful and natural emotion...yet it is sinful as well in the context of not having faith and trust in Christ to see us through difficult circumstances.  We are told not to worry:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 25:34

Clearly, Peter is fearing for his life when Jesus is arrested and it is easy for me to say that we should not worry...the only thing I can say is that this is what Jesus says.  There are many who stand on a firm faith in very difficult circumstances and I can only hope and pray that I can have the peace of Christ when I face challenging times.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God full of love and compassion...for me.  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  I am weak..I continue to succumb to anger, worry, impatience, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity."

John 17

"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity." v22-23

Jesus continues to pray for the disciples and as He does, His prayer expands to include a prayer for all believers and that all believers be in unity.  We not only need to be in unity so that we can best support and encourage one another, but also to serve others and bring others to Jesus...if we are unified consider how much more effective we would be in bringing others to Jesus.  Too often we focus on what divides us but we should focus on what unites us.  I am thinking of yet another verse from Acts 2.  Luke describes the early church:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. v42-47

Key to bringing others to Christ is UNITY...note the use of "together" and "had everything in common".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are awesome!  You designed each of us to be different in terms of our gifts, abilities, faults, trials, etc.  Yet You created a church that knits us together so that we can lean on You and on each other.  How awesome is Your design...Your power...etc.  You don't need me at all but You CHOSE me then died for me.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I continue to be impatient, quick to anger, slow to listen, selfish, impatient, etc.  Thank You that you love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Please help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

"For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."

John 17

"For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."  v17

Continuing on from my post yesterday, Jesus is praying before He heads to the cross and with this passage above He explicitly reveals the purpose of His death on the cross.  While I have read the other gospels, I can't recall the other gospels including details of Jesus' prayers that explicitly detail the purpose of His crucifixion.  It is a very real possibility that I have missed something...

On a related note, here is a dictionary definition of sanctify...I like definition #2 "to free from sin".
 
Anyway, this is proof positive of Jesus' love for us...and for me because He says He is dying for us...the ultimate act of service.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God...You love me so much You died for me.  I am in awe...I can't believe that You would do such a thing particularly because I continue to sin.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am lack patience and then some!  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you."

John 17

"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you." v11

As the time draws near for Jesus to be crucified, He thinks not of Himself but of the disciples...His children.  This passage of scripture makes me think of my own children and my role as a father...and in general my role as a believer.  I am called to love others as Jesus does and this means service, sacrifice, prayer, etc....a focus on the things eternal.  I will not be on earth for very long, making it all the more important that I focus on passing on a love of Christ so my kids are well rooted and firm in the faith. I cannot guarantee that they will believe and accept in Christ so that is where the prayer comes into play.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing...You never stop thinking about me and acting on my behalf.  How great You are...even more so because You know everything about me and You always have...sin and all.  I am not worth such love and blessing - that You think about me and serve me constantly.  I am quick to anger and slow to listen...and greatly impatient.  I have often asked to be healed of such sin but it has not been the case...I suppose it may yet happen...I've certainly been transformed in these areas but there is more to do.  Forgive me for these sins and help me turn away from them and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” v33

In small group this past Sunday, we were talking about the day's sermon at church on why bad things happen to good people.  For believers it is important to recognize that bad things happen to good people because God says so...simple as that.  It is part of God's plan.  Why is it part of God's plan?  So that God can be glorified.  If we need to elaborate, He knows better than I do why things happen, He has a plan, and the bad things are part of the plan.  I can question further but I lean on scripture such as Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

My Prayer: Lord You are great because You are able to turn suffering into glory and blessing, just as You are able to turn water into wine, part the Red Sea, make manna fall from the sky, etc.  I should not doubt Your greatness or wisdom or that You love me but I sometimes do.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and doubts and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

"All this I have told you so that you will not fall away."

John 16

"All this I have told you so that you will not fall away." v1

  
Jesus warns His disciples that things are going to get difficult.  Our relationships will be impacted, careers, and for many people in certain parts of the world, your life will be in danger.  On this latter point, I am thankful that I live in the U.S. where I don't fear for my life by being a Christian.  

We are to recognize that what Jesus has left us with (Bible, Holy Spirit, etc.) will help us endure.   Once we recognize that we have these things, we should theoretically be better armed to ensure trials and temptations.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great...in ways that I can only imagine being great for myself.  I know that through You I can be great when I allow You to work through me...although I have doubts...often.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for my doubts.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

"And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning."

John 15

"And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning." v27

Although I was not present when Jesus walked the earth, I have the Bible and I know His story.   I also know the power of His hand and of His Spirit.  I am commanded to speak boldly about Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great and I have personally witnessed Your power in my life and in the life of those around me.  Yet I often neglect, deny, or disobey You.  I am deeply sorry Jesus and I thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me!  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me publicly and proudly proclaim Your greatness.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."

John 15

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." v16

As I was encouraged yesterday, I am equally encouraged today-that God chose me...knowing everything about me before I was even born - sin and all.  He appointed me in the sense that He wired me with faults and strengths all so I can glorify Him.  The fact that He thinks I am able to glorify Him is highly encouraging.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great!  You wired me in a specific way and wired my life in a certain way - I am blessed beyond what I am able to do on my own.  Thank You Jesus!  But I am not worth such love and blessing...I am weak and too quick to anger.  Thank You again that You love me anyway but please forgive me for such sin and help me turn from such sin and towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

"No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." v4

John 15

"No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." v4

This verse is highly encouraging to me because it gives me even more desire to seek God.  Why would I not want to be "even more fruitful" (see v2).  

My Prayer: Lord, You have produced fruit in me and others that I seen with my own eyes.  You are indeed great - what You have produced would NOT have been possible on our own.   I don't why You bless me so much.  I am not worthy of such love and blessing.  I worry far too much.  Thank You Jesus that You love me anyway but please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.