Not be lacking in zeal, rather, keep their spiritual fervour serving the Lord
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer
Share with God’s people who are in need
Prayer for yourself:
In God’s great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
Last night I joined some friends from high-school to watch the Superbowl. My big “take-away” of the night had nothing to do with the spectacular football game, or the beautiful women and men, or how great Madonna looks at 53. No, the thought that remained in my mind after being bombarded with millions (billions?) of dollars of images and messages, was how one of my male friends has been transformed by love.
He had been married for less than a year, many years ago, and the long wait of not finding love since then had worn him down to an insecure, unconfident man. Last night I saw a new man! He was generous, happy, strong and confident, because for the past few months he has been loved and accepted by a great woman.
Love transforms. One of the definitions of “transform” is “to cause a (cell) to undergo genetic transformation.” The perfect Love of God changes us deeply and completely. He changes our identity - from slave girl to Cinderella, or from Clark Kent to Superman.
Before we enter into a great romance (and it IS coming), let’s be transformed by the incredible love of God. Allow Him do a makeover of your thinking - the way you think about yourself, and other people. Pray that the men who are called to Kingdom marriages will receive the transforming Love of God, and return to their God given strength and confidence because they know they are sons of the King.
Not be conformed to the pattern of this world, rather be transformed by the renewing of their mind
Be able to test and approve what God’s will is for them
Know and use their gifts in proportion to their faith
Prayer for yourself:
God chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. (James 1:17-18)
James 1:17-18
Amplified Bible (AMP)
17Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].
18And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons & daughters] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself].
Not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings
Have hearts strengthened by grace
Continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise
Obey their leaders and submit to authority
Now may the God of peace—
equip you [them] with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
Prayer for yourself:
Sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. (Hebrews 10:19-25)
Be thankful and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe
Prayer for yourself:
Our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope.
"12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." (Hebrews 12:12 NLT)
Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles
Run with perseverance the race marked out for them
Fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of their faith & not lose heart
Produce a harvest of righteousness and peace
Prayer for yourself:
Sisters loved by the Lord, from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
At the beginning of this year, I envisioned myself stepping out of an old, heavy coat, and stepping into the new year of 2012. Hebrews 12 reminds us to do that very thing - to leave the past in the past, and take off anything that is slowing us down. One of my favorite images comes from Psalm 30:11 (thank you Lisa!)
"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing! You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with JOY!"
You are all daughters of the light and daughters of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness…. God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are alive or dead, we may live together with Him.
Psalm 103 is familiar to me - I can sing it, say it, but this morning it was fresh and new!
"BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!" "Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's [strong, overcoming, soaring]!" (Psalm 103:1,5 Amplified)
"O my soul, bless God, don't forget a single blessing!
"He forgives your sins - every one.
"He heals your diseases - every one.
He redeems you from hell - saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy - a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness - beauty eternal.
He renews your youth - you're always young in His presence. " (Psalm 103:2-5 The Message)
Draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith
Hold unswervingly to the hope professed in the gospels
Consider how they may spur one another on towards love and good deeds
Persevere so that they will receive what God has promised
Prayer for yourself:
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
Hebrews 10:35-39 needs to be emphasized as it is such an encouragement to me. We know Jesus is coming, but pray, declare out loud, and believe these verses for the man God is preparing for you, and bringing to you.
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence which has great reward. For you have need of endurance*, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
‘For yet a little while, And HE who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’”
I like The Message:
“It wont be long now, he’s on the way! He’ll show up most any minute!”
We all need endurance for this journey, and in the waiting. Pray for strength and endurance for the men and for yourself.
* Endurance - Greek hupomone, Strong's #5281: Constancy, perseverance, continuance, bearing up, steadfastness, holding out, patient endurance. The word combines hupo, "under," and mone, "to remain." It describes the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat.
AMEN!
And some added enthusiasm for the rest of your week. Remember, you can do anything! and ALL things are possible with God. This young Jessica has been in my head for days, so here she is:
