Prayer Devotionals for Week of September 15
Wednesday, September 16
Hal Habecker
Part 1
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren
Romans 8.29
God always moves first. He made the first move long ago, He is moving now, and He will keep moving in the future. He launched the first creation (Genesis 1.1), and He was the first mover in my spiritual recreation (2 Corinthians 5.17). He knew me and He predestined me. Life may slow to a crawl, or we may think we’re even going backwards, but God is always on the move. Remember Romans 8.28. Don’t ever forget it. His purposes will not and cannot fail.
Father in heaven, thank you for making the first move. Thank You that what You are doing in my life is not my work but Your work. I am weak and I fail, but it is Your work in my life for which I am so utterly grateful. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thursday, September 17
Hal Habecker
Part 2
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren
Romans 8.29
Our destiny is certain. His purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. His action to that end will not and cannot fail. We may get discouraged. We may fail, but our failures will never keep Him from completing His work He has begun in us (Philippians 1.6). What an awesome destiny God has appointed for us. I am blown away by His incredible love and purpose for us – being conformed to the image of Jesus, His own dear Son.
Father in heaven, I find it incomprehensible that Your purpose is to make me like Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who am I to deserve this? I am unworthy, but in Your grace You guarantee this promise to me – I find it the most stunning thing in life. I praise You and I bless Your holy name. In Jesus name I thank You, Amen.
Friday, September 18
Hal Habecker
Part 3
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren
Romans 8.29
I find it hard to believe that God wants me to have Jesus as my oldest brother in living in the family of God. Can you believe it? I am now part of the family of God. As Christians, we are each and all together in the family of God with Jesus as our elder brother. We look to Him. We love Him. We follow Him. We are in Him and He sets the pace for us and He works in our lives to be just like Him. It’s really true.
Holy Father, it is Your work that has brought me into Your family with Your holy Son Jesus as my eldest brother. It is because of all You have done that I love following Jesus as His younger brother. I love looking to Him and the example He sets for me – for all of us. I love Him for the way He loves us as His younger brothers and sisters. I also love learning about following Him from all His family that surrounds me. I thank you and I praise Your holy name. In Jesus name, Amen.
Saturday September 19
Bruce Barlow
"Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,..."
Acts 3:19-20
Have you ever said to someone "I am glad to get that off my chest." Many times, that "something" we are glad to get off our chest is a confession of some sort and we are relieved to not be carrying that "burden" around anymore. According to our scripture today, the act of repentance can have that same effect - our sins are "wiped out" and "seasons of refreshing" may come. Jesus has promised to carry our burdens for us - repentance is one way for us to allow Him to do that. Confession is indeed good for the soul.
Lord, help me to always turn to you when I am carrying the burden of unconfessed sin or other issues in my life which I are “too big” for me to handle but not for You. I repent of my sins right now and ask You to carry my burdens and give me a fresh new outlook on life as I walk in Your presence. Amen.
Sunday September 20
Bruce Barlow
”And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell”
Matthew 10:28
C.S. Lewis states “We do not HAVE a soul, we ARE a soul. We HAVE a BODY”. During difficult times like pandemics and natural disasters we will do anything to protect our bodies. We will shelter in place, use social distancing, wear masks or flee approaching hurricanes just to be “safe”. Even though this seems important at the time (and it is), Jesus says we need to give even greater attention to our soul and we don’t have to take any special precautions we only need to take Jesus at His word. This has eternal consequences. In Matthew 10:32 Jesus says anyone who acknowledges Him before men He will acknowledge before His Father in heaven. No masks required! Just take Jesus at His word to protect your most valuable asset – your soul.
Lord, you are indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life. Help us to understand that in really difficult times and trust in your word. Let us not have undue fear of the world which can kill our bodies but let us place our trust in the One who can save our souls. Amen.
Monday September 21
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:4-5
To abide in Christ is a cleaving to Him in love. It is a holding fast to Him in trusting obedience. It is believing the truth of His Word with an unshakable assurance, that His word is true, and His promises are sure. As we face an uncertain future it is to rest in His love is to know with absolute certainty that He alone is life’s sufficiency. It is remaining attached to His mind and motives; resting in His gracious love; having a deep, trusting dependence on Him, in every area of life. Let’s rest in His love and abide in Him, moment by moment and day by day and He will provide the wisdom and strength that we need to face the future.
Is the time you spend with God as deep and rich as you want it to be? What might it feel like to sense His leading and presence throughout your day? How could it change your life if you knew you were truly abiding in Him?
Father I pray that more and more I may abide in You, rest in Your love and trust Your Word – forgetting the things that are past and just looking to Jesus, in Whose name I pray, Amen.