Day: April 1, 2019

April 1, 2019

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 The Message (MSG)

Today is the twenty-third day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God.  In order to connect in God’s best for us, we need to look at life in a whole new way. God is all about healing and restoring his children in right relationship with himself; this desire of our Father motivates everything he puts into place.  Through the Prophet Isaiah, God promised to bring reconciliation, “The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins,” says the LORD (59:20).  God fulfilled his Word and demonstrated his love for us by sending Jesus as the Messiah to be our new life Giver.  When we connect to Christ we are re-created in the image of our new Master; we are a new creation.   Believers are members of a new creation order.  Our sins are erased and we are brought into right relationship with God.  Now, we are invited to join Christ in his ministry of reconciliation.  You and I have a ministry to fulfill; we are the Messiah’s ambassadors to reveal to the world the restoration God has put into place.  Our hearts should be overflowing with gratitude for what God has done in our behalf.  What do you talk about each day with the people around you?  It would be nice if we spent more time talking about Messiah and the new creation he made available than all the garbage going in the old creation.  Are you telling people every day about Christ the Redeemer?

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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March 30, 2019

Luke 15:1-7 Good News Translation (GNT)

Today is the twenty-second day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. Today, we are reflecting upon Jesus our Good Shepherd and his heart for increasing the Kingdom.  The Lord is always tending to us and leading us into righteous living and spiritual vitality; he is our personal Savior and we love him. As we respond to his love we spiritually grow and develop.  He is always with us, so when the enemy of our souls attacks, the Good Shepherd gently gathers us into his arms, restores, and heals us.  We have all that we need as we follow our Shepherd (Ps 23:1).  Every believer has a story of how God has been the Good Shepherd who has loved us when we needed it most; provided for us when the world would have left us behind. If we are honest, we will admit our lives would be in shambles apart from Christ; he holds our lives together in his love. We know every heart needs the Good Shepherd, but how concerned are we for those who are still lost and don’t know him? If we are truly concerned, our lives will reflect Christ’s passion for outreach. Honestly, are we praying and asking the Shepherd for opportunities to help him in his quest for the lost?  

The Lord cares about every human being.  He cares about those who know him and those who have yet to meet him. Our passage today reminds us that Christ is no respecter of persons, what he does for one he will do for all.  He rescues us from evil and surrounds us with grace; he calls us by name and treats us with dignity.  Others need to experience the Shepherd. 

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

Read more