Category: Life in Christ

Friday Morning Prayer: 28 Aug 2020 – Psalm 132:14-16, Colossians 1:21-2:7 ~ build your life on Christ

Friday Morning Prayer, 28 Aug 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Almighty God, whose most dear Son suffered pain before he went up to joy, and was crucified before he entered into glory: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

“And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.“
(Colossians 1:27)

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Scripture: 

Psalm 132:14-16 (NLT)

For the Lord has chosen Zion;
he has desired it for his dwelling place:
“This is my resting place forever;
here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provisions;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
and her saints will shout for joy.

Bedford Psalm 132: 14-16 – (Gaelic Psalms from the Hebrides of Scotland)

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Scripture Reading

Colossians 1:22-23, 26-27, 2:6-7 (NLT)

God has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.
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This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
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And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

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Reflection:

Christ lives in you

“And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.”
(Colossians 1:27)

Take this as the secret of Christ’s life in you: His Spirit dwells in your innermost spirit. Meditate on it, believe in it, and remember it until this glorious truth produces within you a holy fear and wonderment that the Holy Spirit indeed abides in you.
(Watchman Nee)

Share his glory

“Christian joy is letting Christ live His life out through you so that what He is, you become.” ( David Jeremiah)

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Prayer:

Thank you Heavenly Father: for rescuing me from the dark power of Satan and bringing me into the kingdom of your dear Son, who lives in me.

+ Christ in me – is exactly like God, who cannot be seen….

+ Christ in me – means the fullness of God lives in me….

+ Christ in me – made everything in heaven and on earth….

+ Christ in me – made everything and holds it all together….

+ Christ in me – was the first to be raised from the dead….

+ Christ in me – sacrificed his blood on the cross, so that everyone would be brought back to God….

Thank you Heavenly Father: for making peace with me, and allowing me to stand in your presence as one who is holy and faultless and innocent. Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

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You are my shelter
You are my peace
No matter the storms
That rage at me
Even when I falter
I know I’m in your hands

I long for You (I long for You)
I long for You (I long for You)

“Habitation” – Heartcry of David Collective

When I look at the heavens
The work of Your hands
The moon and stars
All at Your command
Even when I falter
I know I’m in your hands

Make me Your habitation
Make me a dwelling place for You
That I might carry Your presence
Wherever You lead me to

I long for You (I long for You)
I long for You (I long for You)
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Closing: 

“just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”  (Colossians 2:7)

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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thursday Morning Prayer: 27 Aug 2020 -Psalm 122, 123, Philippians 4:4-9 ~ don’t worry; pray instead

Thursday Morning Prayer, 27 Aug 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“[God’s] peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.“
(Philippians 4:7b)

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Scripture: Psalm 122:6-9, 123 (NLT)

Psalm 122:6-9 (NLT)

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper.
O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
and prosperity in your palaces.
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
“May you have peace.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.
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Psalm 123:1-4 (NLT)

I lift my eyes to you,
O God, enthroned in heaven.
We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy,
just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
for we have had our fill of contempt.
We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud
and the contempt of the arrogant.
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Psalm 122:6 – Shalom Jerusalem – paul wilbur

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Scripture Reading

Philippians 4:4-9 (NLT)

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

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Reflection:

God’s peace

“[God’s] peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:7b)

  •  God’s peace comes to us as a gift from God.
  • God’s peace describes a relationship that we enter into through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
  • God’s peace is beyond our ability to understand and to explain; it must be experienced.

“What is God’s peace? The unruffled serenity of the infinitely-happy God, the eternal composure of the absolutely well-contented God.” (Spurgeon)

Guard your hearts and minds

The peace of God is on guard over our hearts and minds.

“God’s peace, like a sentinel, patrols before the heart.” (Vincent)

“Shall keep them as in a strong place or a castle.” (Clarke)

This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under our troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and sedate, without discomposure of passion, and with inward satisfaction. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, Isa. 26:3. (Matthew Henry)

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus, and grant me your peace –

+ that I may focus on what’s true, and ignore what’s false….
+ that I may focus on what’s honorable, and ignore what’s deceptive….
+ that I may focus on what’s right, and ignore what’s wrong….
+ that I may focus on what’s pure, and ignore what’s corrupt….
+ that I may focus on what’s lovely, and ignore what’s ugly….
+ that I may focus on what’s admirable, and ignore what’s shameful….

Heavenly Father: Guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus, that I may practice what I know to be true, and experience your peace. Amen.

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“Think On These Things” – Bob Wilson

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Closing: 

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  (Philippians 4:8)

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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wednesday Morning Prayer: 26 Aug 2020 -Psalm 118, Philippians 3:1-21 ~ stay focused and press on

Wednesday Morning Prayer, 26 Aug 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God,
through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
(Philippians 3:13-14 )

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Scripture: Psalm 118:1, 5-9 (NLT)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
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In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

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 Psalm 118: 5, 21, 17, 22, 28 (“I will praise You, for You answered me”) – MIQEDEM

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Scripture Reading

Philippians 3:9-14 (NLT)

God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

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Reflection:

“I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize.” (Philippians 3:12b (CEV)

stay focused

“It is a deception to live either in the past or in the future; God wants us to press on in the present, because the present is where eternity touches us now.” (Guzik)

press on

to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal…. to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire. (Strong’s)

perfection

“Just as a little child is a perfect human being, but still is far from perfect in all his development as man, so the true child of God is also perfect in all parts, although not yet perfect in all the stages of his development in faith.” (Muller)

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Prayer:

+ Heavenly Father: Thank you for adopting me as your child. I want to live my life the way that you have ordained, and run the race that you have set before me. Help me to press on towards the goal of my calling in Christ Jesus, trusting in Him to overcome every problem, disappointment and challenge I may face, to Your praise and glory, AMEN.

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“Press On” – Selah

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Closing: 

“”Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”  (Philippians 3:13-14)

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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday Morning Prayer: 25 Aug 2020 -Psalm 119:129-152, Philippians 2:12-18 ~ live as children of God

Tuesday Morning Prayer, 25 Aug 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

“Live clean, innocent lives as children of God,
shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people”
(Philippians 2:15)

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Scripture: Psalm 119:130, 133-134, 137-138, 142-143, 147 (NLT)

The teaching of your word gives light,
so even the simple can understand.
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Guide my steps by your word,
so I will not be overcome by evil.
Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
then I can obey your commandments.
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O Lord, you are righteous,
and your regulations are fair.
Your laws are perfect
and completely trustworthy.
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Your justice is eternal,
and your instructions are perfectly true.
As pressure and stress bear down on me,
I find joy in your commands.
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I rise early, before the sun is up;
I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

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Teach Me Thy Way – Calvary Chapel Music

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Scripture Reading

Philippians 2:12-18 (NLT)

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

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Reflection:

“shine like bright lights”

“Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people”
(Philippians 2:15)

Christians are lights in the world; the only question is, “How brightly do they shine?” (David Guzik)

+ Don’t complain and argue with God –  like rebellious Israel during the wilderness sojourn.
+ Don’t complain and argue with other believers – like those who rail accusations accusations against them.

When Calvin was told that Luther had spoken ill of him, he said, ‘Let Luther call me devil if he please, I will never say of him but that he is a most dear and valiant servant of the Lord.’ Raise not intricate and knotty points by way of controversy.” (Spurgeon)

“Not lights merely, but luminaries, heavenly bodies. But this can hardly be satisfactorily given in an English version.” (Alford)

+ Lights are used to make things evident.
+ Lights are used to guide.
+ Lights are used as a warning.
+ Lights are used to bring cheer.
+ Lights are used to make things safe.

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Thank you for adopting me into your family; give me a reverent and obedient heart, that I may honor you.

+ Please forgive my complaining, or arguing, whether against you or other believers….

+ Fill me with the energy and desire to live and love as Jesus did….
+ Fill me with your Spirit to help me do what I can’t do by myself….

Please help me live as your child, as a bright light in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

+ That I may demonstrate the truth of your Word….
+ That I may guide those who are lost….
+ That I may warn those who live dangerously….
+ That I may encourage those are downcast….
+ That  I may bring others to Jesus….

Heavenly Father: Thank you for adopting me into your family; give me a reverent and obedient heart, that I may share in the joy of serving you. Through Jesus Christ your Son my Lord. Amen.

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“Shine” – Matt Redman

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Closing: Philippians 2:15

“Live clean, innocent lives as children of God,
shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people”

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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Monday Morning Prayer: 24 Aug 2020 -Psalm 119:89-94, Philippians 2:1-11 ~ empty yourself

Monday Morning Prayer, 24 Aug 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

“You must have the same [humble] attitude that Christ Jesus had”
(Philippians 2:5)

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Scripture: Psalm 119:89-94 (NLT)

Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans. If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life. I am yours; rescue me!

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Goodness Of God – Bethel Music

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Scripture Reading

Philippians 2:1-11 (NLT)

Have the Attitude of Christ

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Reflection:

“He gave up his divine privileges” (emptied himself)

We can imagine that it was possible for the Son of God to become man and pay for the sins of the world without this great humiliation. He might have added the humanity of a 33-year old man to his deity. He might have appeared before man only in His transfigured glory, and taught men what they needed to hear from Him. He might have suffered for the sins of man in a hidden place of the earth far from the eyes of man, or on the dark side of the moon for that matter. Yet He did not; He humbled Himself, and did it for the surpassing greatness of our salvation and His work for us. (David Guzik)

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father: I belong to Christ Jesus; fill me with His Spirit, that my attitude may reflect His attitude –

+ Give me a tender and compassionate heart….
+ Give me a genuine concern for the interests of others….
+ Give me a servant’s heart….
+ Give me an obedient heart….
+ Give me a joy-filled heart….

Heavenly Father: Empty me of my pride of place, position, and privilege; give me the heart of Jesus, that I might live and love as He did – all to Your glory. Amen.

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“”Live Like That”” – Sidewalk Prophets

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Closing: Philippians 2:5-7

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges (emptied himself)….”

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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.