Friday, September 24, 2010 — IDOK Devotion

To review Praying for These, please click here.

All the answers are in the BOOK.

Long years ago when I was a high school student from time to time a teacher would give us an Open Book test.  The questions were before us and the book was at our disposal to find the answers.  Who wouldn’t make 100% on such a test?  Plenty!And why is that? Here’s my supposition – unfamiliarity with the text.  As you know such tests are timed, so if you do not come up with the right answers in the allotted time, you fail. If prior to the test, we had not so much as opened the book, finding  all the answers in the allotted time was just about impossible. On the other hand, having read the chapters, having worked the study questions yielded a really good test score.

Life is an Open Book Test. And our Bible is the TEXT BOOK. In it is EVERY answer to EVERY question we have. So why don’t we know the answers? Why don’t we pass our tests when they are presented?

Unfamiliarity with the TEXT.  Simple, isn’t it?

May I give you a practical example? Good. I found the answer this morning to America’s illegal alien question in Books, Colossians and Deuteronomy.

Colossians 3: 25 NASB For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

Deuteronomy 10:19 NASB So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

Couple and balance the spirit of these verses, practice them and the problem is solved.

In fact coupling, balancing and practicing the spirit of these verses will solve many problems; such as questions in child rearing, relationships with adult family members, friends.  Can you think of others?

ABBA, it is  in the merits of our Savior and LORD, our Elder Brother and Truest Friend, JESUS, that we come into Your Presence this day. Oh how AWESOME it is that You have invited us and You receive us. I am so mindful of that this morning; thank You.  Thank You for this privilege. And thank You that every answer to every question is found in the pages of Your Word.  Light a fire in each of us to consume and abide in Your Word so that we may know the answers and that we may not sin against You.

I petition You now for mercy and help for our IDOK Troops.  They are far from home and that being so dangers without and within are upon each one of them.  HOLY SPIRIT, I covet that You will hoover over or rise up within as individually appropriate to protect and woo them to love and worship.  And I ask You to look with favor upon every name written on our Praying for These list.  Some people in particular come to mind Joann Givhan and Ed, both in the midst of cancer treatment; what a hard thing, yet I know You are being faithful to them and not a pain or hurt goes unnoticed and in each one You are there, so I pray Your Presence will be known deeply and appreciated.  And there are others Jackson, of course, and Melinda and Todd and Steve and J Lloyd and others – Elaine – each one, as we do not go to the physician and tell him what is within his training to know, even more we bring these to You, our Great Physician, and ask You to heal them.

And what is this day 4 of 40 praying for America; praying for RIGHT to prevail in November; praying for we the people to repent, humble ourselves and turn from our wicked and evil ways so You can heal this Nation.  Praying for Your Bride to arise, praying HOLY SPIRIT for You to come in power to make us miserable in our sins, so miserable that we loath them and repent, turning to You for mercy and healing and strength to live in holiness and honor. I am so impressed that sin is only pleasant for a season and then it bites like a adder.  LORD, save us. And I pray for hope to revive in each of us.  I pray for Your Joy to be our strength. Amen and amen.

Holy hugs, kt

Thursday, September 23, 2010 — IDOK Devotion

We have been asked to pray for Todd Williams. He is married with one child, in his mid-30s, was involved in a car wreck and has suffered vertebrae injury – surgery today, Wednesday. He is a friend of a friend of my beloved’s.

To review Praying For These list, please click here.

I think for today, Thursday, it will just be a ‘check in’ day, because mostly today I have been ‘checked-out’.  Actually, I am having far far too many of those days lately and most likely you have noticed.

Genesis 39: (The Message) ^19-23 When his master heard his wife’s story, telling him, “These are the things your slave did to me,” he was furious. Joseph’s master took him and threw him into the jail where the king’s prisoners were locked up. But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners—he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best.

God made sure it worked out for the best.  That’s our word for today  — all who are born again into CHRIST JESUS have this promise from Him — God is going to make sure it all works out for the best.  Go with that today.

ABBA, I come now in the name of JESUS my Savior, resting and relying upon Your goodness, Your love and mercy toward me and all Your children wherever we are found.  We pray now for Todd Williams asking that his surgery be a success; that is body heal and, LORD, we are not privy to Todd’s spiritual health.  We do not know if he is in death or life, so our first prayer is that You will tend his spiritual needs that if re-birth is needed that You will set him up to hear the Gospel again with Your anointing upon his heart to believe the Message and say yes this time.  If he is our brother already we rejoice in this and trust You that all this will work out for the best for him and his wife and child.

We continue to pray for Jackson, Melinda said the doctors are working with him and he is developing and we appreciate this, LORD.  It is our desire that he be made whole.  It is our desire that Melinda recover more and more too and get more and more abilities back. We pray for Steve and Ashley for strength and wisdom to raise Jackson with dignity and honor and for Your glory.  And our Praying for These people, each one — so much need there, LORD, cancers of all sorts, both medically and spiritually –  we are a needy people and we confess You are our hope and in You we do trust.  We don’t always see it right away but You do always make sure it works out for us.  Thank You. And our IDOK Troops they are always before us; always wanting them to be safe and always wanting them to honor You in the jobs they perform. And I am mindful that this is day 3 of 40 praying for America; praying for repentance; praying for the November elections.  And, ABBA, I unashamedly pray for people to get out and vote for people that will adhere to America’s Constitution as it was written under Your Leadership.  I pray You will have mercy and position us to again receive this Country back for Your Glory and the betterment of the whole world. I pray for Israel, always for peace and protection for them; and for the Body of the LORD JESUS, repentance for us too.  I am still thinking about what Lisa said.  I really want to be one of those lionesses that awakens.  Today’s doings would not give evidence to that but I accept Your forgiveness and even in this moment believe You will yet do it in me and not just me but every willing man and woman who reads here and beyond.  Thank You, HOLY SPIRIT, please minster this lesson as You will in JESUS NAME.  Amen and amen.

Holy hugs, kt

Wednesday, September 22, 2010 — IDOK Devotion

To review the names of those on our Praying For These list, please click here.

As I sit to write, Tuesday afternoon arrived about an hour and half ago, and Walmart (for groceries) is calling insistently at the back door of my mind.  But Daniel is before me, chapter 10 to be exact.  Please allow me to share with you.

10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

I’d say Daniel was startled by the angel’s appearance.  Would you agree?

11 He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.

I love this!  Man of high esteem — since we are in CHRIST JESUS and the Father sees us through Him, is it such a stretch for us to believe that when we make petition to our DADDY that He looks upon us as men and women of high esteem?  And does not this verse defuse for us that old myth that God cannot be understood? Albeit, He is too HUGE for us to comprehend Him in His vastness but can we not get our minds around the very fact that HE wants us to understand – to know Him much, much more intimately than we do at this moment?  And you know what I absolutely love and respect about Daniel?  He was trembling, shaking in his sandals we could say, but God through the angel said stand up and he did!  Even though he was trembling, scared like you and I probably have never been, yet he stood up. Will we, learn and be encouraged by this to stand even though our legs feel like rubber? I surely hope so — you and me!

12 Then he said to me,”Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.

So! Have you set your heart on understanding something? Have you humbled yourself before Him?  Then you can KNOW based upon this very Word that HE heard you the FIRST time you prayed.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

14 “Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.”

I am not suggesting that we look for a demon behind every bush, but we are foolish and blind indeed if we do not recognize and believe there is a REAL enemy out there and he is as evil as God is good. He’s power is ZERO in match to ABBA, but that does not mean he is not successful in many of his attempts.  We just need to make it our business to not help him along by closing our eyes to his schemes — mainly that lie he tells us that we cannot understand God and God doesn’t care or He would have answered our prayer already.  The very prayer he is fighting so hard against, I might add.

All that being said, the word to us remains: Do not be afraid, O _______, woman (man) of high esteem.

Oooh!  I like this! Don’t you?

Sweet words, ABBA, and abundant in power. Holy Spirit, turn the light on in each of our hearts so we will see and believe. Thank You for each one who comes to this page and I ask You to confirm Your Word with power.  I ask You to perform Your Word and transform lives for JESUS’ Name sake.

Comfort and protect our IDOK Troops I pray.  Visit afresh each person represented by their name on our Praying for These list. And as day 2 of 40 I ask You, ABBA, to turn the hearts of people, motivate them to pray and vote, to take seriously our responsibility as citizens to be involved in justice and truth and to elect people committed to truth and right.  I pray, HOLY SPIRIT, that You will awaken the Bride of Christ; that we will stand to our feet, lower our heads in prayer, allow You to fill us and release Your power into our worlds to right wrongs and rescue the lost.  Thank You for the platforms You have built and those who are now speaking like Lisa Bevere.  Protect her and her family from the evil one.  And, ABBA, raise up more to stand, pray and speak in JESUS NAME and for His glory alone. Amen and amen.

Holy hugs, kt

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 — IDOK Devotion

To review the names of Praying for These, please click here.

Charles Inwood, a Methodist preacher from the late 1800s and early 1900s said, among other things, this:

“When God is going to do a wonderful thing, He begins with a difficulty.  When He is going to do a very wonderful thing, He being with an impossibility”

So should you be expecting an impossibility to unfold?

From Power Promises and Prayers compiled by Christian Book Distributors, I read these words and now offer them to you:

“All of us face adversity, discouragement, or disappointment.  When we do, God stands ready to protect us. Psalm 147 promises believers that He heals the brokenhearted and binds their wounds (v. 3). When we are troubled, we must call upon God, and then, in His own time and according to His own plan. He will heal us.”

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

⁵Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.
⁶ The LORD supports the afflicted; He brings down the wicked to the ground.

¹¹The LORD favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness.

Dear Heavenly Father, when I am troubled, You heal me. When I am afraid, You protect me. When I am discouraged, You lift me up. You are my unending source of strength, Lord; let me turn to You when I am weak.  In times of adversity, let me trust Your plan and Your will for my life. And whatever my circumstances, Lord, let me always give the thanks and the glory to You.

To that I add: Amen, ABBA, make it so in each of us.  Comfort and protect our IDOK Troops we pray; comfort, heal, give strength to our friends and family as their names are listed; heal and save America; revive Your Church and bring peace and protection to the Nation of Israel in the Blessed and Holy Name of JESUS.  Amen and amen.

Holy hugs, kt