If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Zephaniah tells of the transgressions of God's people; he talks about being filthy and polluted by not obeying, trusting, receiving correction and drawing near to God.
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God. Zephaniah 3:1-2
So I just want to share a word of encouragement to listen to and obey God.
King Solomon understood the imperative of obedience:
"Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life." Proverbs 4:13
If you believe in the promises of God, then you should also know that there are certain things that we must do to receive those promises. We can’t walk in mess; filthiness and pollution and expect to collect on those promises. One thing we have to do is learn how to put our pride and stubbornness aside and be able and willing to accept correction and instruction from God. When God gives us instruction, be it straight from God, His word or from an oracle of God, we have to accept it and obey it. To obey God and what ever sacrifice it may require on our part is far better than any sacrifice we manufacture in our mind supposedly for Christ's sake.
The bible gives us so many accounts of men who followed God’s instructions and were blessed by it or saw a victorious outcome!
In Joshua 3, God promises to magnify Joshua before the people. The Israelites were camped in Jordan, waiting to cross over the Jordan River. It was there, God spoke to Joshua and gave him an important instruction:
“And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan." Joshua 3:8
If you read the account though, you’ll see that the promise was given to Joshua before the instruction:
And the LORD said unto Joshua, "This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee." Joshua 3:7
Just think if Joshua had not heeded the instruction of God and decided to do it his own way!
Often times the instruction may not sound logical, or goes against the way we feel it ought to be done, but we sacrifice our flesh and our will to God and we obey.
Another account is found when Isaac was told by God to stay in the land where he was instead of leaving it because of the famine and hardship.
And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; Genesis 26:2-3
Isaac obeyed the instruction of God against his human logic and the word tells us that he waxed great, made progress, and grew until he became very great. He prospered so much that the Philistines were envious of him.
And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. Genesis 26:13-14
God’s ways are different from man’s ways -
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
- and that’s why it’s important to listen and follow His instructions and counsel in order to receive His blessings. We should never try to reason out God’s instructions in our head. We already know His wisdom is greater than man’s wisdom. We know this because the bible tells us
"…the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:25
That’s something to think about!
My prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, we come to You this day with thanksgiving in our hearts; rejoicing that this day is the day that You have made and we do rejoice in it! We thank You Lord for waking us this morning with the proper use of our body, for having a desire to seek You early this day.
Lord, I will forever give you praise, honor and celebrate Your name. You are the God of the past, present and future, You are my God. Whatever you do, rather I understand it or not, You have my total trust. You are honor, dominion and power - You are my God. Oh God, You are the only wise God. I love You, I magnify You, I lift Your name where ever I go. I thank You for loving us, for keeping us, for being the only wise God; the one true living God. I magnify Your name, I worship You adore You and I give You praise. You are the one who knows my beginnings, my middle and my end! Lord, You are my God.
Lord we thank You for Your goodness; everything You do is good! We thank You for providing our needs; for food, clothing and shelter.
But most of all, Lord, we thank You for salvation. We thank You Father for Your son, Jesus, who obeyed Your will and gave His life for us so that we may have eternal life with You also. We understand the price that was paid; the sacrifice that was made and it’s with grateful hearts that we say thank You, thank You, thank You.
We thank You Father for Your loving kindness, Lord, for Your long suffering, for Your mercy, Lord we say thank You. We don’t take Your grace for granted Lord; we are appreciative that You didn't cut us off in our sins but You paved the way for us to have an encounter with You! In Your tender mercy, You reached down and rescued us from the sinking sands of sin and degradation. You filled us with Your Holy Spirit and caused us to walk in right-standing with You.
And Lord if we slip, You said that if we come to You in godly sorrow and true repentance that You’d be faithful to forgive us. We thank You for that.
We thank You heavenly father for a steadfast desire to serve You despite whatever obstacles come up against us - knowing that You say in Your word to arm ourselves for suffering even as our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ suffered.
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1 Peter 4:1
And while in our suffering and our going through, teach us, Lord, to take comfort in knowing that You will never leave us nor forsake us.
In Your word, Lord, You tell us that the battle is not ours, that it belongs to You. So when we feel overwhelmed with the cares of this world, help us Lord to stand, when we've done all that we can possibly do, help us to stand with our faith rooted and grounded in You.
We thank You Lord God for the power of the resurrection, power in the name of Jesus and power in Your Holy Spirit. Even now, Father, in the precious name of Jesus and in accordance to Your will, we pray that Your healing virtue flow to every person in need of healing. Lord we know that there is power in the blood, Lord God it’s healing power in the blood that Jesus shed and Lord we are calling on You now as Jehovah Rapha to send healing and deliverance to the many sick among us. Lord, in faith we thank You now, we give You praise in advance because we know that You’re able! Praise Your holy name.
Lord we pray for a touch from You, to strengthen us, to build us up in You, to mold us, to propel us to where You need us to be.
Lord we pray for our government and our leaders that they will operate in godly ways with integrity and faith in You that will allow them to stand up and be a voice for righteousness. Lord we pray for our church leaders, our bishops and pastors, elders, ministers, teachers, prophets, evangelists; that we stay as clay in Your hands – pliable to Your will and Your way; humble before You, obedient to Your instructions, oracles to You Lord as we lead Your body in the way that You want us to go. And even for the body of Christ, Lord, I pray that You wake us up, keep us refreshed in Your spirit, steadfast, Lord God, immovable, always abounding in Your work. Break up the spirit of slothfulness, inconsistency, wavering, and unaccountability and replace it with a spirit of readiness, faithfulness, consistency and accountability. Father, stir up the gifts in us; not for our glory but for the building up of Your body so that we can evangelize the lost, the unbelievers, those that need You now more than ever.
We want to be recipients of Your manifested promises. Help us Lord to heed Your word and be obedient to it. Help us to receive Your instruction and Your correction. Help us Lord God to walk in Your ways and be pleasing in your sight. Lord, I pray that You help us to make good decisions based on faith in You and the knowledge and power of Your word. You said in Your word Lord to trust You with all of our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding. In all of our ways, we are to acknowledge You and you will direct our path.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Help us Lord to lean on You and to heed your word. When we trust in You, Lord, we don’t have to be worried or be concerned about the cares of this world because we have a hope and that hope is in You Lord.
As we go about our day today, Lord I pray that we be ever mindful of You; that the fruit of Your spirit be evident to all, that we be a blessing to someone along the way and that Your will be done in our life.
Lord we thank You for this opportunity to unite together in prayer once again. We thank You for all You've done and for all that You’re doing. In Jesus’ name, amen
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Proverbs 9:9
God bless you all
Elder C. L. Henry
Prayer
09/03/16
07/18/20
God’s ways are different from man’s ways -
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
- and that’s why it’s important to listen and follow His instructions and counsel in order to receive His blessings. We should never try to reason out God’s instructions in our head. We already know His wisdom is greater than man’s wisdom. We know this because the bible tells us
"…the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:25
That’s something to think about!
My prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, we come to You this day with thanksgiving in our hearts; rejoicing that this day is the day that You have made and we do rejoice in it! We thank You Lord for waking us this morning with the proper use of our body, for having a desire to seek You early this day.
Lord, I will forever give you praise, honor and celebrate Your name. You are the God of the past, present and future, You are my God. Whatever you do, rather I understand it or not, You have my total trust. You are honor, dominion and power - You are my God. Oh God, You are the only wise God. I love You, I magnify You, I lift Your name where ever I go. I thank You for loving us, for keeping us, for being the only wise God; the one true living God. I magnify Your name, I worship You adore You and I give You praise. You are the one who knows my beginnings, my middle and my end! Lord, You are my God.
Lord we thank You for Your goodness; everything You do is good! We thank You for providing our needs; for food, clothing and shelter.
But most of all, Lord, we thank You for salvation. We thank You Father for Your son, Jesus, who obeyed Your will and gave His life for us so that we may have eternal life with You also. We understand the price that was paid; the sacrifice that was made and it’s with grateful hearts that we say thank You, thank You, thank You.
We thank You Father for Your loving kindness, Lord, for Your long suffering, for Your mercy, Lord we say thank You. We don’t take Your grace for granted Lord; we are appreciative that You didn't cut us off in our sins but You paved the way for us to have an encounter with You! In Your tender mercy, You reached down and rescued us from the sinking sands of sin and degradation. You filled us with Your Holy Spirit and caused us to walk in right-standing with You.
And Lord if we slip, You said that if we come to You in godly sorrow and true repentance that You’d be faithful to forgive us. We thank You for that.
We thank You heavenly father for a steadfast desire to serve You despite whatever obstacles come up against us - knowing that You say in Your word to arm ourselves for suffering even as our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ suffered.
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1 Peter 4:1
And while in our suffering and our going through, teach us, Lord, to take comfort in knowing that You will never leave us nor forsake us.
In Your word, Lord, You tell us that the battle is not ours, that it belongs to You. So when we feel overwhelmed with the cares of this world, help us Lord to stand, when we've done all that we can possibly do, help us to stand with our faith rooted and grounded in You.
We thank You Lord God for the power of the resurrection, power in the name of Jesus and power in Your Holy Spirit. Even now, Father, in the precious name of Jesus and in accordance to Your will, we pray that Your healing virtue flow to every person in need of healing. Lord we know that there is power in the blood, Lord God it’s healing power in the blood that Jesus shed and Lord we are calling on You now as Jehovah Rapha to send healing and deliverance to the many sick among us. Lord, in faith we thank You now, we give You praise in advance because we know that You’re able! Praise Your holy name.
Lord we pray for a touch from You, to strengthen us, to build us up in You, to mold us, to propel us to where You need us to be.
Lord we pray for our government and our leaders that they will operate in godly ways with integrity and faith in You that will allow them to stand up and be a voice for righteousness. Lord we pray for our church leaders, our bishops and pastors, elders, ministers, teachers, prophets, evangelists; that we stay as clay in Your hands – pliable to Your will and Your way; humble before You, obedient to Your instructions, oracles to You Lord as we lead Your body in the way that You want us to go. And even for the body of Christ, Lord, I pray that You wake us up, keep us refreshed in Your spirit, steadfast, Lord God, immovable, always abounding in Your work. Break up the spirit of slothfulness, inconsistency, wavering, and unaccountability and replace it with a spirit of readiness, faithfulness, consistency and accountability. Father, stir up the gifts in us; not for our glory but for the building up of Your body so that we can evangelize the lost, the unbelievers, those that need You now more than ever.
We want to be recipients of Your manifested promises. Help us Lord to heed Your word and be obedient to it. Help us to receive Your instruction and Your correction. Help us Lord God to walk in Your ways and be pleasing in your sight. Lord, I pray that You help us to make good decisions based on faith in You and the knowledge and power of Your word. You said in Your word Lord to trust You with all of our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding. In all of our ways, we are to acknowledge You and you will direct our path.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Help us Lord to lean on You and to heed your word. When we trust in You, Lord, we don’t have to be worried or be concerned about the cares of this world because we have a hope and that hope is in You Lord.
As we go about our day today, Lord I pray that we be ever mindful of You; that the fruit of Your spirit be evident to all, that we be a blessing to someone along the way and that Your will be done in our life.
Lord we thank You for this opportunity to unite together in prayer once again. We thank You for all You've done and for all that You’re doing. In Jesus’ name, amen
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Proverbs 9:9
God bless you all
Elder C. L. Henry
Prayer
09/03/16
07/18/20
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