Showing posts with label Honesty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Honesty. Show all posts

Friday, November 23, 2007

The Pretender

Read Genesis 27:19-33

Reflection of Tommy:

Like Jacob, we too sometimes pretend who we are not in order to gain approval from others. On the surface, we seem to be 'holy' and right- having it all together, but in the inside we are a broken soul with fear, insecurity, doubt and persistently falling into sin.

We should stop lying to others and also ourselves by pretending, but to confess honestly to God and be truly repented from them. We need to take a first and firm step to seek God and His righteousness.

Through the work of the Spirit in us, God can change us from within to be a genuine person who He intends us to be.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me to take a firm stand in being a faithful follower of Christ; not just through words but also in action. Help me to see things in Your way and give me a willing and humble heart to change and be more like Christ each day. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Being Natural

Read Psalm 54

Reflection of Tommy:

If we read today’s Psalm by David, we’ll see how we should approach God more naturally and spontaneously instead of following through an almost forced and ‘scripted’ way and sequence in our prayers. With honesty and true humility, we should come to God without fear to express our true feelings and needs; transitioning them towards praise and thanksgiving.

Dear Father, thank You for being my true and faithful Help, Sustainer (v4) and Deliverer (v7) in all that I have to go through in my life (sorrow; ruthless men –v3; slanderer –v5). I give You praise and all glory and honor to Your Name, O Lord, all the days of my life. Teach me to trust Your power and hold on as You will give me the strength to keep from falling (Isa. 40:31). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

God, Answer Me!

Psalm 6

1O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

3 My soul is in anguish.
How long, O LORD, how long?

4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.

5 No one remembers you when he is dead.
Who praises you from the grave [b] ?

6 I am worn out from groaning;
all night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.

7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
they will turn back in sudden disgrace.


Reflection of Bee:

Whenever we want to go forward spiritually and serve God more, the devil will never leave us alone. He would tried to attacked us through people. It seems very effective when we forget about spiritual warfare. I experienced that yesterday and was feeling angry over some wrongful accusations. However, as I reflected on them, the Lord showed me that the enemy wanted to discourage me from bring people to Christ.

Knowing it is a spiritual battle somehow helps me turn to God instead of using my own strength to fight. Soon my anger for that person who wronged me turned into prayer for her instead. Yes, God will hear my prayers and not leave me alone.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me that I need to be on guard against the spiritual enemy. Greater is You who is in me than he that is in the world. You have given me victory. Praise You!
In Your name I thank You. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

The most ineffective prayer is when we pray by scratching only the surface of things or being awfully general. We need to know that God is always there listening and talking to us when we pray to Him. It is never a one-way “monolog” form of communication.

We can learn from David, who pours out his heart in tears to God in prayer. Likewise, we can be totally honest and direct when we pray to God. Honesty is important for effective prayer because it helps us to begin praying in details with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We will also be able to discern and listen to what God wanted to say or reveal to us.

Dear Father, thank You that I can approach You through prayers 24/7. Thank You for giving me the peace when I can rest all my worries into Your hands. Thank You that I can always trust You, Almighty God, that I don’t have to be victim of any circumstances or be weighed down by the guilt of sin. Lord, draw me closer to You each day, helping me to turn my attention from myself to You and Your mercy. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.