Day: April 4, 2019

April 5, 2019

Psalm 126 The Message (MSG)

Today is the twenty-seventh 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.  God is always able to bring something good out of something difficult.  As believers pray and seek the heart of God, we know we are seeking the heart of the Healer.   How big is your God?   God restores and heals spiritual drought, wounded emotions, infirm physical bodies, fractured relationships, etc.; anything that can be injured God desires to restore and make whole once again. Restoration flows from God’s goodness; a goodness that is evident to believers, as well as non-believers. Grace and favor is a part of every believer’s spiritual garments. When God miraculously works in restorative and healing ways, people who were previously burdened and downcast are suddenly filled with great joy and hope. It is evident that something “suddenly” changed.  We sow our disappointments and look for God to use it for our good; as we yield to God’s plan for our lives he has promised to bring an abundant harvest of his goodness to the forefront of our lives. When our hearts are focused on the Kingdom, we guide others to experience the Healer during times of difficulty, too. Are you quick to pray with others and help them connect with the Healer?

In our passage today, the psalmist remembers God’s past healing work with faith and hope as he prays for God to heal Israel, again.  God brought restoration in the past when he brought his people back from the exodus and exile.  Biblical history demonstrates God’s desire to restore Israel time and time again.  He desires to restore every one of his children. It may seem hard to understand, but God wants great things for you and you must be whole to receive them!  Be healed in Jesus’ name!

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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April 4, 2019

Isaiah 43:1-7 The Message (MSG)

Today is the twenty-sixth 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.  When you and I pray, we should maintain an awareness of God’s great love for us. Despite our failures to love God the way he deserves, he has chosen to respond with love and mercy. God is our faithful God who extends forgiveness and grace.  Our lives are precious to him.  When you pray, do you realize you are sharing time with Someone who sees you as precious; Someone who would pay any price to be with you and take care of you?

In our passage today, Israel has spent five decades under Babylonian captivity; God allowed Babylon to overtake Israel because they were unfaithful to him. Isaiah kept trying to call them back into a posture of repentance, but they did not listen.  Therefore, Israel tasted exile and it was painful. During that time, they did a great deal of soul-searching and praying about their relationship with Yahweh.  They may have been wondering if Yahweh would be faithful to them in the future; after all, they rejected him, right?  Israel’s problem is our problem, too.  We forget God is perfect Love; we think about our human capacity for love and judge God accordingly.  Because Israel belongs to the Lord, God will be faithful.  You and I can count on God’s faithfulness to us. God is for us not against us. That does not mean the way will always be easy.  In fact, sometimes our paths lead to hard places.  But, God has promised to be with us.  As we pray and seek God, let us never forget he is faithful and we were created for his glory.  He is going to see us through.  Praise our Faithful God!

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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