8 January - Ps. 1:1-3
~ How the Lord blesses
When the Lord blesses, He does so distinctly. As a tree planted by streams of water is amply supplied at all times, so is the man whom God blesses (Ps. 1:3). This means that he is blessed always and in everything (Ps. 1:3). The Scripture confirms that this is how the Lord blesses those who obey him (Deut. 28:1 -14). God applies no limit or measure to the blessings of His beloved children (see Deut. 28:1 -14). On the contrary, His blessings for them are limitless or measureless (Ps. 1:3; Deut 28:1 -14;
Rom 8:32) The Lord's blessing are the only blessings worth seeking (Prov. 10:22). Anyone who does not belong to Him through Christ (see Jn. 1:12 -13) and is not living for Him is a stranger to His bountiful blessings.
PRAYER:
1. Father, please make me wholly yours
2. Father, please let your bountiful blessings be my portion always
9 January - Deut. 23:21-23 ~ God requires us to fulfill our vows
The Lord requires us to fulfill our vows to Him (Eccl. 5:4 -5; Num. 30:1 -2; Deut. 23:21). The Lord considers it as sin if we make a vow to Him and fail to fulfill it (Deut 23:21). To God, it is better not to vow than to vow and not fulfill it (Eccl. 5:5). We do not sin if we do not vow (Deut. 23:22). But we sin if we vow and fail to fulfill it (Deut. 23:21). As God keeps His word so does He require us to keep our own (Num. 30:1 -2; Deut. 23:21 -23; Eccl. 5:4 -5). This is one sin of which guilt is so rampant and common. We must fulfill our vows to avoid sin and displeasing God.
PRAYER:
1. Father, please forgive me of vows I made and did not fulfill
2. Father, please enable me to fulfill all my vows
10 January -
Gen. 1:26-29 ~ God made man made in His image
Man is different from other creatures of God. God made him in His own image (Gen. 1:26 -27). This does not mean that man is like God in being. What it means is
that he is like God in terms of the latter's communicable attributes.
This image was lost at the fall of man (Gen. 3), and is being restored through Christ (2 Cor. 5:17 -21). It is through Christ alone that man can regain his true status before God. Without Christ man remains eternally in his lost and corrupt status (Gen. 3). Only
in Christ can man's corruption be removed (2 Cor. 5:17 -21). We live like beasts when
we do not live in God's image. Anyone who really longs to regain his
status before God is invited to be reconciled to Him through Christ (2 Cor. 5:17 -21).
PRAYER:
1. Father, please enable me to be like you as you intended
2. Father, please take away everything that hinders me from being like
you
11 January - Obad. 15-16
~ The day of the Lord
Prophet Obadiah announces the coming of the day of the Lord for Edom and all other nations (Obad. 15 -16). The phrase the day of the Lord is used consistently
throughout the Scripture to refer to God's judgment (see Jer. 46:10;
Ezek. 30:1 ff; Acts. 17:31). The phrase is synonymous with God's judgment or
vengeance. Therefore, when the Scripture speaks of the day of the Lord, it is referring to
God's judgment or vengeance. For Edom, and the nations referred to
in Obadiah's prophecy, it meant the Lord's judgment or vengeance was
going to come upon them (Obad. 15 -16). The day of the lord is a real and most certain event(Acts 17:31). It has come to pass in numerous and various instances and cases for individuals and nations. It will certainly come to pass once and for all for all mankind (Acts 17:31). The right thing to do is to be ready for it. One is ready for it by turning from sin to God through Christ (see Acts 3: 19 -20).
PRAYER:
1. Father, please enable me to be ready for your day whenever it comes.
2. Father, please overcome for me whatever it is that can make me not to be ready for your day
12 January - 1 Kgs. 4:29
~ God gives wisdom
The one who gave wisdom to Solomon is God (1 Kgs. 4:29). Wisdom belongs to Him alone (Job 12:13; Dan. 2:20).He alone is the fountain of wisdom. We all need wisdom to live a successful and effective life and accomplish our life purpose, regardless of our respective vocations. There is no one who does not need wisdom to live and accomplish his life purpose. There is indeed no aspect of living that can succeed without wisdom. But only God can give real wisdom. Therefore, if anyone needs wisdom He will have to ask Him (Jam. 1:5). He is the only source of true wisdom. He gives generously to anyone who asks of Him in faith (Jam. 1:5). It is futile to look for wisdom anywhere apart from God (Jam. 1:5). Anyone who looks for wisdom outside of God looks in vain (Jam. 1:5).
PRAYER:
1. Father, please give me wisdom as you promised
2. Father, please enable me to make you alone my fountain of wisdom
13 January - Ps. 130:3-4
~ There is forgiveness in God
The sole problem between God and man is that of sin. And sin is a universal phenomenon (Rom. 3:23 -24). No human being is without sin (Rom. 3:23 -24). But as there is sin, so there is forgiveness (Ps. 130:4). The Lord is indeed a forgiving God (Ps. 86:5; Dan. 9:9; Neh. 9:17 -18). If He were not forgiving, all mankind would have been most miserable (see Ps. 130:3). But as the psalmist affirms, in God there is forgiveness (Ps. 130:4). His forgiveness is available to all mankind through Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38 -39; Jn. 3:16; Acts 4:12). There is no sin for which there is no forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Jesus will never drive away anyone away who seeks
God's forgiveness through Him (Jn. 6:37). To forgive, all God requires
is to turn from sin completely and accept the cleansing and pardon available in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38 -39; Acts 3:19 -20).
PRAYER:
1. Father, please forgive all my sins through Jesus Christ
2. Father, please enable me to turn away from every sin
14 January
- Ps. 3:4 ~ What to do with our problems
As seen in this passage, the psalmist took his problem to the Lord (Ps. 3:4). He did not take it to any other (Ps. 3:4). He knew that the help of man is worthless (Ps. 108:12). He knew that only the Lord could solve his problem (Ps. 108:13). This is wholly true. The Lord alone gives victory (Ps. 44:6 -7). As the sovereign one (Acts. 4:24), nothing is impossible with Him (Lk. 1:37). It is therefore futile to take our problems to another (Ps. 108:12). No one else can help us with our problems except the Lord (Ps. 121:1 -8; Ps. 50:14 -15). Like the psalmist, we must take our problems to the Lord alone.
PRAYER:
1. Father, please enable me to bring all my problems to you
2. Father, please attend to all my problems for me
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