Morning Prayer: 14 October – Acts 26:16 ~ an overpowering personal relationship

30 Days with Oswald Chambers: “My Utmost for His Highest”

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

Opening sentence

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.

Listen for the voice of the Lord and enter into His peace.
__________

Acts 26:16 NLT

Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future.
__________

“My Utmost for His Highest” – 30 Day Reading Plan

Day 10: God’s Overpowering Purpose

The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).

When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision” — not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
_____

Prayer: O Lord, bind me to Yourself with great bonds of adoring love; encircle me around with Your Providence for Your purposes; enlarge me until I am more and more capable of being of use to You. Energize me with Your Spirit to fulfill Your purposes for me today. Amen.
__________

“Overcome (Psalm 18)” – James Block

__________

Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

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

Morning Prayer: 13 October – 2 Corinthians 3:18 ~ reflecting His glory

30 Days with Oswald Chambers: “My Utmost for His Highest”

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

Opening sentence

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.

Listen for the voice of the Lord and enter into His peace.
__________

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord — who is the Spirit — makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
__________

“My Utmost for His Highest” – 30 Day Reading Plan

Day 9: Transformed By Beholding

The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it—something good, but not what is best.

The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .”
_____

Prayer: O Lord, hold me in Your presence so that I can behold Your glory and see myself as I truly am. Be made wisdom and discernment and understanding to me today. May I see something of You in me, and may I reflect something of Your glory to others. Amen.
__________

“When I Look Into Your Holiness”

__________

Canticle

Blessing

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

Morning Prayer: 12 October – Isaiah 45:22-25 ~ look to God

30 Days with Oswald Chambers: “My Utmost for His Highest”

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

Opening sentence

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.

Listen for the voice of the Lord and enter into His peace.
__________

Isaiah 45:22-25 NLT

Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.

I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”

The people will declare, “The Lord is the source of all my righteousness and strength.” And all who were angry with him will come to him and be ashamed. In the Lord all the generations of Israel will be justified, and in him they will boast.
__________

“My Utmost for His Highest” – 30 Day Reading Plan

Day 8: Am I Looking To God?

Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me . . ..”

Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation — it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.

Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.
_____

Prayer: Lord, unto You do I look up. How I know that “in me dwells no good thing”; and how marvelous is Your grace that I now find in my heart no motive save for Your glory. Thank you for Your mercy to me – may I be bowed in Your presence and eager to follow You to Kingdom come.
__________

“God I Look to You” – Jenn Johnson

__________

Canticle

Blessing

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

Sunday, 11 October: Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30 ~ the wisdom to follow Jesus

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Opening Sentence and Prayer:

Remember God’s goodness and ask for God’s wisdom as we continue to our journey towards the Kingdom.
_____

God of wisdom, whose word probes the motives of our hearts, with You all things are possible. Let worldly possessions not keep us from Jesus, who looks on us with love. Free us to leave all things and follow Him, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
__________

Hymn: “Immortal Invisible God Only Wise; Great are You Lord”

__________

A Reading from the Apocrypha: Wisdom 7:7-11 (NRSVACE)
[A reflection on the gift of wisdom, presented as the greatest gift anyone could receive.]

I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.

I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her. I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases.

All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.
__________

A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 90:12-17 (NLT)

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.

And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!
__________

“Psalm 90” – James Block (Selah Vol.1)

__________

A Reading from the Letters: Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)
[God’s word is powerful, it cuts through us and exposes what is wrong]

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
__________

A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 10:17-30 (NLT)
[The rich young seeks a simple way of entering heaven, since money is no problem to him. Jesus tells him money itself is a problem, but then reassures that God can save all, whatever their wealth.]

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

Christ and the Rich Young Ruler 1888, Heinrich Hofmann BYU, Museum of Art — Christ and the Rich Young Ruler
1888, Heinrich Hofmann
BYU, Museum of Art

Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property — along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
__________

“Word of God Speak” by Mercyme

__________

Intercessions:

The Lord is merciful to all who serve Him, therefore we can ask for help and guidance, and present our needs.

+ For church leaders who deliberate on behalf of God’s people – that the Holy Spirit may guide them…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all believers – that they may have God’s gifts of wisdom and sound judgement…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have left everything to follow Christ – that their promised reward may keep them going in difficult times…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have been blessed with wealth – that they may faithfully serve God through their cheerful and generous giving…. Lord, hear us.
+ For refugees and migrants – that wealthy nations may exercise wisdom and sound judgement in support of those who are truly needy…. Lord, hear us.
+ For believing young people – that following Christ at an early age may shape their life choices and decisions…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have died, especially those martyred because of their Christian faith – that the light of God’s glory may shine on them…. Lord, hear us.

Lord, Your favor shines out upon us, You give success to the work of our hands: help us according to our needs, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________

Hymn: “With God, All Things Are Possible” – by Christine Coleman

__________

Benediction:

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev. 1:5b-6)

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

Morning Prayer: 10 October – Jeremiah 2:2 ~ remember your eagerness

30 Days with Oswald Chambers: “My Utmost for His Highest”

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

Opening sentence

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.

Listen for the voice of the Lord and enter into His peace.
__________

Jeremiah 2:2 NLT

“Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says:

“I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness….”
__________

“My Utmost for His Highest” – 30 Day Reading Plan

Day 7: Recall What God Remembers

Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way?

A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet — “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?

God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?

As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
_____

Prayer: Lord, how I long for You to bring me face to face with Yourself! My soul thirsts for You, for the touch of Your grace, the breathing of Your Spirit. Help me to see myself in the mirror of Your mercy and grace. Restore in me the vitality of first-love; and give me a willing heart and eager spirit to follow You wherever You lead. In Jesus’ name, amen.
__________

“How He loves us” – Kim Walker

__________

Canticle

Blessing

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

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: