Morning Prayers

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We can pray to God any time of the day, and all throughout the day, yet there is something very sweet about giving Jesus the first fruits of our day in morning prayer.

Not only does morning prayer honor God, it sets up our focus and our priorities before we ever "get started". The ordering and scheduling of our time often becomes more secure when it comes from prayer.

We read in Mark that Jesus got up while it was still dark, went to a deserted place and prayed there. (Mark 1:35)

Here is David's morning prayer:

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God:
for unto thee will I pray.
3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord;
in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Psalm 5:1-3 KJV)

A new year is upon us. We should ask ourselves if we are satisfied with the way we spend our mornings. How do we spend our time? Would we like to make any changes to our morning schedule and to our prayer life?

Lord, show me a time in the morning when I can listen to you for the day ahead. May my day and my time glorify You. Amen.

So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NASB

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Galilee Baptist Church!

Our Spiritual Battles

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David sent out Joab in His place for battle (1 Chronicles 20:1) and stayed home instead of going to war (2 Samuel 11:1). He quickly ended up entangled with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2-3).
For a while, David added sin upon sin. 

One lesson we can take away: When we avoid the spiritual battle that is our duty to fight, we may end up in a battle we haven't planned for.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10-13 ESV)

When God calls us to do hard things

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Matthew Henry wrote: “Whatever low or dark valley we are called into at any time, we may be confident, if God goes down with us into it, that he will surely bring us up again. If he goes with us down to death, he will surely bring us up again to glory.” 

Jacob probably did not expect the Lord to call him to Egypt, (Genesis 46:1-4) and we too may find God calling us to do hard things for Him that require difficult or heart wrenching decisions. Even in these times, like Jacob, we can be confident that God is with us even when we must go where we do not want to go. We must be content in all things knowing that if we have Jesus, we have all we need.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Augustine once said, "He who has God has everything; he who has everything but God has nothing."

We must remember: God's blessing isn’t found in what He gives or takes away. His blessing is abiding in His presence. His blessing is Christ.

The Apostle John writes:  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17 ESV)

Remember that the Lord supplies all our needs according to His riches and glory. (Philippians 4:19) and if we have Jesus, we have true riches. Indeed, we have it all.

The LORD shall save me

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As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. (Psalm 55:16)

There are some circumstances that call for much prayer. There are times we have come to the end of what we can do, and to the end of what is humanly possible. Prayer is "all" that is left, but what a gift prayer is!

We shall not trust in the arm of the flesh even if we could! 

Isaiah writes: Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD! (Isaiah 31:1 ESV)

Yes, the Lord is our only helper and it is to Him that we will pray and Him that we will trust. His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

You may not know how He will save you, but know He will do it in the truest and fullest sense.

Count on Him for fresh manna daily, and feed on this. How sweet it is to our taste!