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11-17-2008, 09:32 AM
Dear Heavenly Father, I am grateful that I can always come to You and confess my sins, and You will never turn me away, but will always extend mercy to me and deliver me from evil. Father, may I always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings, and obey You when You tell me to do something. I never want any hardness in my heart toward the things of God. May I always stand before You with a reverential fear, knowing that You are all powerful and all wise. Lord, I declare, I will have no fear of what man can do to me, because my faith and trust are in You. I am grateful I can call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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November 17
Dear Lord Jesus, You expressed Your feelings about man's natural tendencies in Your teachings to Your disciples, and for us, known as the Beatitudes. As we read these over we need to look at how our world tends to interpret them. ... You gave Your minister, J. B. Phillips special insight. He believes that You saw "self-love" as man's arch-enemy -- self-esteem turned inward and carried to excess -- preoccupied with "what's in it for me!" He believes that most people are living by their own "beatitudes" today, such as:
(1) "Happy are the pushers: for they get on in the world.
(2) "Happy are the hard-boiled: for they never let life hurt them.
(3) "Happy are they who complain: for they get their own way in the end.
(4) "Happy are the blase: for they never worry over their sins.
(5) "Happy are the slave-drivers: for they get results.
(6) "Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world: for they know their way around.
(7) "Happy are the trouble-makers: for people have to take notice of them."*
Help me, Lord, to seriously consider these seven erroneous beliefs. Is this the accepted trend in today's society? Is this the way I am living my life? Open my eyes to see me as You must see me.
In Your holy name I pray.
Amen.
* (From "YOUR GOD IS TOO SMALL," by J. B. Phillips)
© 2001 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted
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To Live Is Christ
Philippians 1:20-26
Dear Father,
Fill us with courage so that Christ will be honored in our bodies, whether by life or by death.
For us to live is Christ, to die is gain!
Grant that our manner of life may be worthy of the Good News of Christ.
Help us to stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Good News, not frightened in anything by our opponents.
Grant that we may not only believe in Christ, but that we shall also be willing to suffer for him if necessary, engaged in the same conflict as was Jesus, the apostles, the martyrs, and all of your church until this very day.
In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.
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November 17
Dear Lord Jesus, You expressed Your feelings about man's natural tendencies in Your teachings to Your disciples, and for us, known as the Beatitudes. As we read these over we need to look at how our world tends to interpret them. ... You gave Your minister, J. B. Phillips special insight. He believes that You saw "self-love" as man's arch-enemy -- self-esteem turned inward and carried to excess -- preoccupied with "what's in it for me!" He believes that most people are living by their own "beatitudes" today, such as:
(1) "Happy are the pushers: for they get on in the world.
(2) "Happy are the hard-boiled: for they never let life hurt them.
(3) "Happy are they who complain: for they get their own way in the end.
(4) "Happy are the blase: for they never worry over their sins.
(5) "Happy are the slave-drivers: for they get results.
(6) "Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world: for they know their way around.
(7) "Happy are the trouble-makers: for people have to take notice of them."*
Help me, Lord, to seriously consider these seven erroneous beliefs. Is this the accepted trend in today's society? Is this the way I am living my life? Open my eyes to see me as You must see me.
In Your holy name I pray.
Amen.
* (From "YOUR GOD IS TOO SMALL," by J. B. Phillips)
© 2001 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted
-----
To Live Is Christ
Philippians 1:20-26
Dear Father,
Fill us with courage so that Christ will be honored in our bodies, whether by life or by death.
For us to live is Christ, to die is gain!
Grant that our manner of life may be worthy of the Good News of Christ.
Help us to stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Good News, not frightened in anything by our opponents.
Grant that we may not only believe in Christ, but that we shall also be willing to suffer for him if necessary, engaged in the same conflict as was Jesus, the apostles, the martyrs, and all of your church until this very day.
In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.