Tag: Ask

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Every Time!

 NOVEMBER 8

MATTHEW 7:17_Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit…

Now, the perfect combination:

Grapes and thorns don’t combine.

Neither figs and thistles.

But good trees and good fruit combine every time!

God’s creation design:

Good produces good. Be a good gardener and plant this principle into your heart.

What your eyes allow in stays in—the heart—the mind. With time, the images take root and grow. Depending upon how much you tend and nurture, what your eyes have taken in will bear fruit.

If you’ve taken in evil, the fruit resembles thorns. Thorns can pierce the people in your life. Some people may even avoid being too close to you for fear of the pain.

The fruit that resembles thistles can appear attractive, but the briars pierce those who try to be close to you. This leads to a hot mess: you cannot make genuine relationships—your life has grown up with thorns and weeds.

This also applies to what you allow your ears to hear, your hands to touch, and where your feet go.

In your quest to become perfect, you can ask, seek, and knock for righteousness. Let the Holy Spirit guide in these areas, and let good produce good.        

PRAYER

Only God, I want to produce good fruit for Your kingdom. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                                                                                  

Christ is the good tree—In Him I produce good fruit!

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He Teaches with Questions

OCTOBER 13

MATTHEW 7:10_a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Why all this talk about discipline? What does it have to do with Jesus’ teaching on asking between a father and children? In order for a child to feel free to ask anything of a father, the relationship has to be right.  In order for the relationship to be right, it must be founded on love. 

Jesus teaches this child/father relationship, and He teaches with questions. A statement can be passed over, but questions require answers. Answers require think time.

Would a father give his child a serpent if the child asked for fish? You can’t just ignore a question—you are expected to give an answer. Notice, Jesus asks in a way to cause you to answer the obvious—of course not! No father would deprive his child of basic needs; nevertheless give his child something harmful!

I Timothy 5:8 (KJV), “But if any [father] provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” 

II Corinthians 12:14 (KJV), “Behold, the third time I [Paul] am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.”

PRAYER

Great I AM, Please bless my parents, or my authorities, with Your love. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                                                                                              

Christ loves families – He helps me love mine!

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Nothing …

OCTOBER 8

MATTHEW 7:9_Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask…

You cannot control the circumstances of your birth. You cannot choose the family into which you are born, neither your race, your country or culture, physical features, nor your time in history.

You may, or may not, be born into a religion. When you reach an age of understanding—religion is something you can choose.

Because this entire devotional blog is based on the Sermon on the Mount, the direct words of Jesus, it is my hope you find the answers to life in Christianity.  Christianity embraces all people as God’s children.  Regardless of the circumstances of your birth, your family, your race, country, culture, or physical features, God wants you as His child.

Jesus says in John 10:29-30 (KJV), “My Father, which gave them [Christians] [to] me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.” Well, there you go! Out of His own mouth Jesus makes it clear that none is greater than your Heavenly Father.

Nothing in life no matter how devastating it may seem to you, can take you from Jesus.

PRAYER

All Powerful God, Praise You that nothing can pluck me out of Your hand. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.                                             

Christ says nothing can take me from God—I choose Him!

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Pray for the Fathers

OCTOBER 7

MATTHEW 7:9_Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask…

To become a parent rates very high in the blessing category.

Psalm 127:3-5 (KJV), “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” 

According to this verse, children are one way God rewards His people. Arrows in the hand of a mighty man are powerful. If hunting is the goal, then the bow is no good without the arrows. The arrows are everything to achieving the purpose of the hunt. Fathers should realize the reward God gives them in children. They should feel strength and might in fatherhood. They should feel happy. 

I wish these verses were true in the life of every child born. However, since they are not, I pray for Malachi 4:6 (KJV) to become a reality: “And he [Elijah the prophet] shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers …”

As much as is possible in my tiny space in the world, I want to contribute to this becoming reality.

Pray for the fathers in your circle of life.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Help me feel the specialness that is mine as Your child. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ teaches children are a reward—I am one!

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He Does It All!

OCTOBER 6

MATTHEW 7:9_Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask…

One of the great mysteries of the spiritual life is the Trinity. The Triune God who functions as three-in-one. 

The Bible teaches God can function as: the Eternal Father, the Jehovah-Jireh provider, the I AM. The Bible teaches this same God can function as: the Son, Creator of all that exists, Christ, the Messiah who saves for eternity all who believe. The Bible also teaches this same God can function as: the indwelling Holy Spirit who comforts, teaches, and guides. No wonder He is all-powerful—He does it all! 

Jesus calls God, Father. So do I. Jesus taught to pray to God as: My Father, which art in Heaven. As a Jesus follower, you are a child of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3 (KJV), “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” Be comfortable in God. He loved you before you loved Him. 

God wanted King David to know how to call upon Him. Psalm 89:27 (KJV), “He [King David] shall cry unto me [God], Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.”

God is all those things to me.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I stand in awe of You and worship You as my Father. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ teaches me God is my Father—I am His child!