21 Days Fast - Deeper - Day 4

Day 4 on Purpose Driven Life.


The Bible calls your earthly body a "tent," but refers to your future body as a "house." The Bible says, "When this tent we live in - our body here on earth - is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever."


Start having eternity in mind. We are made to last forever.


2nd August - at HIS feet Devotional.


"My yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:30

This can be a comforting verse. It can also be a diagnostic tool.

Are we resisting His guidance and living with the consequences of rebellion? Then we will be overwhelmed with our own independence.
Whenever we obsess about problems, we deny Scripture's command to cast our anxiety upon the Lord (Philippians 4:6, 1 Peter 5:7). Whenever we dread the impending future, we are not exercising faith in the sovereign Lord of our circumstances. Or, more pointedly in the context of this verse, whenever we try to live up to His holiness in the strength of our sinful flesh, trying to achieve our own righteousness, we dent the life-giving Spirit and full identity in Him that He offers us.

Trying to do too much, whether in the chores of life or the righteousness of the law, is actually a form of PRIDE!
It's a subtle form; it seems to be dutiful and humble, but it actually stakes a claim that we are sufficient in ourselves to accomplish God's purposes.


Deeper - email devotion


Romans 15:18-19:
 "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done – by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God."

1. “What Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said” – be confident in sharing the gospel message of Christ in a real and relevant way, just keep it simple and use your testimony as an example of God’s goodness.

 2. “And done” – Paul did not just share a message with them but showed them Christ in the way he lived. Let’s live in a way that stands out to others, that makes them question what’s different about us and that points them to Christ.

 3. “By the power of signs and wonders” – lets desire to be used by God in miraculous ways so that people can see the power and reality of God at work. Take opportunities to ask people who don’t know God if you can pray for their situation. Believe to see God’s miraculous power at work.

 4. “Through the power of the Spirit of God” – Relax! It is not your responsibility to save people, just take the opportunities God presents you with and trust in the Holy Spirit. Prioritise spending time with those that don’t know God as Paul did.


Rick Warren's daily devotion (Day 21)


I want you to look for a way you can play your part to share the good news to others this week. Be creative! The point is to reach out in love to people who don't know the Lord.

For you it might be as simple as inviting a friend to church. Whatever it is, I promise you, God will bless you for it!


HIS Word


Interesting read

Acts 8:16-17

Today's New International Version (TNIV)

¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized into^[a] the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:31

Today's New International Version (TNIV)

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

From chapter 1 till 9....all i can read are His greatness....such an amazing God that my faith is put in =)

21 Days Fast - Deeper - Day 3

Day 3 on Purpose Driven Life.


What drives your life?
Many people are driven by guilt.
Many people are driven by resentment and anger.
Many people are driven by fear.
Many people are driven by materialism.
Many people are driven by the need for approval.

We need a PURPOSE-FOCUSED life!

Benefits of purpose-driven living:
Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life.
Knowing your purpose simplifies your life.
Knowing your purpose focuses your life.
Knowing your purpose motivates your life.
Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity.

One day you will stand before God, and He will do an audit of your life, a final exam, before you enter eternity.
First, "What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?" God won't ask about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him? 
Second, "What did you do with what I gave you?" What did you do with your life - all the gifts, talents, opportunities, energy, relationships, and resources God gave you? Did you spend them on yourself, or did you use them for the purpose God made you for?




1st August - at HIS feet Devotional.


In Word
When Jesus tells us to take His yoke - the piece that binds and guides a beast of burden - upon us, He is not telling us to leave a state of freedom for His captivity. We're already captive. We already have a yoke on us - our own. We are already slaves to our sense of independence and self-management - and it is a horribly burdensome yoke. No, when He offers us His yoke, He is offering us a way out of this self-effort we've insisted on for years. He is offering us life-giving direction and purpose. He is generously giving us His own life.

In Deed
Dependence on Jesus is a prerequisite for obedience. We cannot reverse the order without being crushed beneath the obligations of life and our attempts at sellf righteousness. We must be taught dependence first.


Deeper - email devotion



Romans 14:5-7: "For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."


My life is in His hands and whatever happens in life is under His control. That means that even when stuff is happening that looks out of control, it’s all about perspective. What that really means is that it is all about faith. If I have faith in God I will trust Him in my life. It does not mean that stuff doesn’t happen. It’s just that in Christ, we can choose how we look at things. Tough times, health issues, family struggles or anything else can defeat us if we let them but if we look at life from the right angle, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. That changes things!


Rick Warren's daily devotion (Day 20)


Help the helpless....

"I'm watching to see if you are a blessing to other people. If you are, I will bless you." - Says the Lord.

Psalm 41 : 1 - 2
       "God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless. He helps them out of their own troubles. He protects them and keeps them alive; he publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies."


HIS Word

Acts 5:40-41

King James Version (KJV)

⁴⁰ And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
⁴¹ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Fear not public humiliation when you are doing God's work. Instead, rejoice in the fact that you are worthy to suffer shame for His name.

21 Days Fast - Deeper - Day 2

Day 2 on Purpose Driven Life.


But there is a God who made you for a reason, and you life has profound meaning! We discover that meaning and purpose only when we make God the reference point of our lives.


Hillsong United - One Way


As the song plays....as the lyrics go...
"
One way, Jesus
You're the only one that I could live for

"

These lines hold truth to the fact that we should only live for His will and purpose for us.

July 31 - at HIS feet Devotional.


In Word
Life can be a huge burden.
Religion, too, can be a huge burden. It places demands on us that are clearly higher than our ability to accomplish. It places ideals before us that our earthbound souls long to embrace but cannot ever really reach.

He only told us to come to Him with everything, and He would fill us with Himself. What He has demanded of us, He Himself will fulfill.

In Deed
We get caught up in the folly of self-effort. We think our provision is up to us, so we struggle. We think out righteousness is up to us, so we strain. We think our spirituality is a work of human willpower, so we press on even harder. All the while, Jesus says to us: "Come to Me." He will give us rest.
Faith and complete dependence on Jesus are to precede obedience. When we strive for obedience first, we are overwhelmed with our inabilities. 
Take His woke and let Him lead.



Deeper - email devotion


(Job 6:14-17)
When friends or family go through traumatic circumstances, they are acutely traumatised and can act in a number of ways.
When such things happen, it is so important that we do not judge or condemn, but express our love and support repeatedly.  It does not help to tell them it is their own fault, or to criticise and lecture.  If they have done wrong they probably are already acutely aware, and may be blaming themselves anyway.  We need to reiterate God's love for them and be there to help in a practical manner as we are able.


Rick Warren's daily devotion (Day 19)


Meditation means seriously thinking about something.

Psalm 1:1-3

New International Version (NIV)

¹ Blessed is the one 
    who does not walk in step with the wicked 
or stand in the way that sinners take 
    or sit in the company of mockers, 
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, 
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, 
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

HIS Word

Acts 4:24-31

New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.

²⁷ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

21 Days Fast - Deeper - Day 1

Fasting on carbohydrate food. no rice, no bread, no biscuits, no waffle, no noodles, no potato, no flour.

The plan is to do 5 readings and then spend some time in prayer.

1st Reading - Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life.
2nd Reading - The one year at HIS feet Devotional.
3rd Reading - The 21 days Deeper email devotion.
4th Reading - Rick Warren's daily devotion.
5th Reading - HIS word.



Day 1 on Purpose Driven Life.


Just on 26 of July, I made this comment:
"oh my...even my best friend got himself a partner already...reality check...what am i doing with my life...lol"
followed by
"there are so many things i want to accomplish...there are only so many things that i can accomplish...but there is only one thing i need to accomplish....but am i even trying to accomplish that one thing.."

Today, reading the seemingly common text (i always start and stop and restart), I should have familiarized these words by now. Anyway, it immediately made an impact on my self-proclaimed mature thinking....

"Many people try to use God for their own self-actualization, but that is a reversal of nature and is doomed to failure. You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for his purposes, not your using him for your own purpose."

All these while, I have been thinking from the wrong source, for the wrong focuses.


July 30 - at HIS feet Devotional.


I find myself often trying to distance myself from God's work through apathy, sin, or a plan to "retire." The temptation here is to think that God is done with us. But the truth is, if we're alive, He isn't done with us yet.

For those who have long been Christians, we can easily become discouraged when we try to measure our present with our past. We also find that we commit sins that we once, early in our discipleship, thought we were done with. Our discouragement about the present, especially when it doesn't measure up to our fond memories, may lead us to wonder: "What have I lost that I once had? Have I become unfruitful for God? Has His blessing left me?"

In deed. The answer, of course, is that God is still at work in us. Our job is to be alert! to cultivate the gifts He has given us, and to persevere in the good works He has prepared for us in advance (Ephesians 2:10). Unless He has already taken us to heaven, He has not found our deeds complete.




Deeper - email devotion


Fix Your Attention on God
The only way they can be empowered to live out their faith is to fix their attention on God.  When they do this God starts to work from the inside, they are able to recognise His will and are empowered by grace to obey!


Rick Warren's daily devotion (Day 18)


"God, I'm checking in with you. Anything you want to do in my life today, anything you want to tell me." Just sit there and be quiet. Read the Bible a little bit, talk about whatever is worrying you, unload your burdens, and listen for God's direction.



HIS Word

Acts 2:25-28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken.
²⁶ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope,
²⁷ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay. 
²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’