Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)
14 When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

These verses in Ephesians show Pauls affection for God and his love for the Ephesians. He knows God has a plan for their lives. Paul understands God's love for them and how deep that love goes. And he tells them that the love of Christ is so great a person cannot fully understand it. But in trying one will be filled with the fullness of life and the power that comes only from God.

We should take Paul's prayer and commit it to our own lives. First be humble and reverent to almighty God for his plan of salvation, and His greatness as the Creator of everything. Then pray that the Holy Spirit will give you mighty inner strength to face your daily spiritual battles. Next, ask Christ to help you trust in Him that He might become more and more a part of your heart, filling it more each day. Pray that God's love fills you from heart to sole, that it takes root and makes you grow as a Christian reaching out to others in Christ's name. Ask God for understanding to know Him, to know His love, to know the depth of his love for you. Pray for the power of Christ to bring you fullness of life. Don't wait on God, seek him out today in pray.

John 4:28-30 (NIV)
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the
people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be
the Christ?" 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

Jesus had met a Samaritan woman at the well and asked her to draw water for Him
to drink. The woman was surprised because Jews did not associate themselves
with Samaritans. Then Jesus surprised her further by telling her that He could
have given her living water, eternal life, if she had asked. Not understanding,
she asked for the living water because Jesus had told her she would never be
thirsty again. Jesus then told her to go get her husband to which she responded
that she had no husband. He then told her she spoke the truth that the man she
was living with was not her husband and that she had five prior husbands. It
was then that she left her jar, went back to the town and invited people to
come see this man who knew her. On her testimony they made their way towards
Jesus.

There are two important points about the verses above. First Jesus did not have
a problem associating himself with the Samaritan woman although any other Jew
would have had nothing to do with her. Second Jesus knew all of her sins. Not
only was she considered below the social class of the Jews, but she had many
sins against her. Yet Jesus overlooked both her social status and her sins in
order to talk with her. What He looked for was her truthfulness of heart and
eagerness to accept His word. The Samaritan woman believed He was the Christ
and brought out the entire town to meet Him. Jesus always wants to meet us
where we are no matter what our sins are. Jesus wants us to place our trust and
faith in Him just as the Samaritan woman did. Have you placed your trust in
Him? Pray and acknowledge that Jesus knows every sin, every detail of your
life. Nothing is hidden from Him. Pray that Christ will meet with you and
provide forgiveness for those sins because He loves you and understands your
weaknesses. Thank Jesus for His grace and His mercy. Know that His love is
greater than anything we can understand.

Psalm 32:1-11 (NIV)
1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2
Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose
spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my
groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my
strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah 5 Then I knowledged my sin
to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my
transgressions to the LORD "— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah 6
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely
when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding
place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of
deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should
go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the
mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or
they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's
unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the LORD and
be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

First David states how blessed a person is when their sins are forgiven for not
holding back from God what they have done. Yet David goes on to say he is
burdened because he did not confess his sin, but when he finally did God
forgave him. David encourages others to pray while they can, before it's too
late. Then the Lord speaks telling how he will instruct, teach, counsel and
protect. He warns not to be stubborn, but to trust and follow.

If David knew how blessed a person would be for confessing their sins to God,
then why was he holding on to his own sins? Doesn't it seem like it would be
easier to just confess them and let them go than hold on to them? Yet he
struggled over his sins before he finally confessed them to God. But we do that
in our lives. We make all kinds of excuses before we get around to finally
confessing our sin to God. We say it's not that bad, to everyone does it, to
I'll stop tomorrow. WE NEED TO GET REAL WITH OURSELVES. Sin in our lives is
sin. We can't whitewash it and make it anything else. Pray that God would help
you to see the sins in your life. Ask Him to reveal them and see them for what
they are. Pray and confess each sin as God makes it known to you. Experience
God's love and feel the burden lift. Jesus does not want you to carry that sin
alone.

John 11:33-37 (NIV)
33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35Jesus wept. 36Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Lazarus a friend of Jesus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died when Jesus arrived. Jesus saw their grief and was moved by their tears. The next thing he wanted to know was the location of the body. Jesus had something in mind none of them expected. Jesus knew the minds of those around him wondering why He had not kept Lazarus from dying. So Jesus was going to perform a miracle no one had seen, He was going to bring Lazarus back to life. Verse 35 says Jesus wept, He wept in compassion, but he also wept because He was going to take Lazarus from the presence of the Father and the splendor of heaven. Jesus knew that one He too had to face separation from the father and understood what this miracle was costing Lazarus for the sake winning others to God.

There can be a cost to being a Christian. We might realize that we need to give up a certain life style or friends who have influenced us in a negative way in the past. It's not always easy to pay the cost it might even mean sacrificing for the sake of others. Maybe we give up time of ourselves to help the needy. Jesus understood sacrifice and the price that had to be paid. It grieved Him to know what had to be done, but yet He was faithful to follow God's plan. And Jesus was human and had emotions and shed tears just like us. No one understands our fears, our pains, our hurts, our depths of depression better than Christ himself. Pray and share what is on your heart with Jesus. Let Him know the emotions you are feeling and He will weep with you. Pray that His love will embrace you. Ask Him to strengthen you and help you endure each hardship in your life. God loves you. Thank Him that He loves you. Amen.

Luke 22:31-33
31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed
for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back,
strengthen your brothers." 33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you
to prison and to death." 34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the
rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

Just like the conversation Satan had with God about Job, Satan had been
discussing Peter with God. He had asked permission to shake Peter's faith just
like shaking wheat to separate the wheat from the chaff. If all that remains is
the chaff, then it's worthless. But Peter in his bold arrogance as usual said
he was ready to go to prison and face death if necessary, even after Jesus had
told him that he prayed for him that his faith might not fail. What should have
made Peter cautious in his enthusiasm is that Jesus called him Simon, not once,
but twice instead of Peter. Then Jesus told him that he would deny him three
times.

For those of you who are parents, you probably understand what it is like to
speak up proudly about your son or daughter. Or there may have been times where
you have had to speak up on behalf of your children in their defense. Most of
the time your children never hear these conversations take place. They don't
realize what you have even done for them as a parent. We have a perfect Father
in heaven where there are conversations taking place about us, His children.
Satan has probably come before the Father and accused us and asked permission
to put us through tests of faith. Our heavenly Father knowing what is best at
times allows those tests of faith to strengthen us, to build our character, to
shape us and to mold us. We may not always be perfect at the task, but if our
faith remains with God then we have succeeded. Pray that when the time comes
for you test of faith that you will stand firm. Ask Christ to strengthen you
and be with you through every trial. Pray that you may be alert and watchful
for the schemes of Satan and that you may know the temptations when you see
them.

James 5:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him
back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

In these verses we find James, the half brother of Jesus telling Christians
that if anyone turns to sin, someone should attempt to turn them back. And by
turning back the sinner they could possibly save them from death and even save
them from a multitude of other sins.

There is no one who is exempt from wandering away from the truth. Years of
experience or work in the church provides no exclusion from temptation. Based
on everything the bible tells us about the devil just as soon as we deceive
ourselves into thinking we are safe and secure he seeks an opportunity to
destroy us. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, "Therefore, let him who thinks he stands
take heed lest he fall". So if any of us can fall from grace, then we need to
ensure when we see a Christian brother or sister struggling with sin that we do
what we can to help. So often people want to turn their backs immediately, but
the bible tells us that we should first go and confront their sin and try to
lead them out of the sin. We should never leave them wandering alone on a path
to destruction. Therefore pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ that
they may withstand the temptations of sin. For those who have fallen pray that
Christ would turn them from their sin and give them grace and mercy. Pray that
you may help in their restoration. Ask God what you might do to help another
who has fallen.

Isaiah 9:1 (NJKV)
9 Unless the LORD of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have
become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah.

Isaiah is speaking of the vision he had concerning Judah. The Lord reviewed
their sins for they had forsaken the Lord. Their country laid desolate. They
were bruised and wounded. There were a remnant of people left, those who God
had chosen to remain.

Elijah ran away to a cave to escape Jezebel. There he was alone and overwhelmed
with depression. He feared for his life for he knew of the murders of the other
prophets. He told God they have killed all the prophets, torn down the altars,
and now they seek my life. But God answered Elijah and said that He had
reserved seven thousand men who had not bowed their knee to Baal. God keeps a
remnant of those faithful to Him. Romans 11:5 says, "5 Even so then, at this
present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace." Think of
all the people in the world and then think of how many have been saved by the
grace of Jesus Christ. It's only a remnant in comparison to all the people that
exist. There is only a remnant of the world that has been saved by God's grace.
Are you a part of that grace? Did Jesus die for your sins? If so, give thanks
to the Lord Jesus for His sacrificial love that you became a part of the chosen
to be called heirs of God.

John 17:20-26 (The Message)
20 I'm praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me. 21 The goal is for all of them to
become one heart and mind-- Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So
they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that
you, in fact, sent me. 22 The same glory you gave me, I gave them, So they'll
be as unified and together as we are-- 23 I in them and you in me. Then they'll
be mature in this oneness, And give the godless world evidence That you've sent
me and loved them In the same way you've loved me. 24 Father, I want those you
gave me To be with me, right where I am, So they can see my glory, the splendor
you gave me, Having loved me Long before there ever was a world. 25 Righteous
Father, the world has never known you, But I have known you, and these
disciples know That you sent me on this mission. 26 I have made your very being
known to them-- Who you are and what you do-- And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me Might be in them Exactly as I am in them.

These verses are one of the final prayers of Jesus. Jesus had started by
praying for himself, then for the disciples and finally here in these verses
Jesus is praying for all who will believe in Him. The greek word pisteuo,
"which shall believe", is in future tense and indicates the contemplated or
certain occurrence of an event which has not yet occurred. In other words, it's
the future looked at in the present.

Long before you were born, The Savior of the world prayed for those who would
come to believe in Him. If you are a Christian who has placed your faith in
Jesus then you are one of those Jesus prayed for. He asked that believers would
be in one heart and mind with Him and the Father. He asked they might mature,
carrying through to the end and give evidence to the existence of God and of
Himself. He wanted them to know they were loved by the Father just as Jesus
was loved by the Father. And most important He asked that the love of the
Father would fill them through Him who loves them and lives in them. So pray
for those who have not come to know Jesus. Pray they might come to know the
love of the Father and the Son. Thank Jesus for His love, His faithfulness,
and His caring devotion to intercede on our behalf. Remember how He cared to
pray for you so long ago.

2 Corinthians 1:2-4 (NLT)
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you his grace and peace. 3 All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

The apostle Paul is writing to the church of Corinth with Timothy by his side. He reminds them we are children of God, yet not in the same sense as Jesus is the Son of God. We are children, by election, not by nature; by adoption, not by ancestry; by redemption not by right. God extends to us as our father mercy and comfort. And because God comforts us we are able to reach out and comfort others who are in need of comfort.

The Greek word for comfort above is parakleseos. It comes from para , "to the side of," and kaleo , "to call." It means "to call to ones's side." Think of someone coming up along someone to help. They are working side by side with them. They are not there to push or to pull, but to encourage showing that they are willing to work as an equal along side them. They are willing to wrap their arms around them and let them know they love them and give them the support and comfort they need. It is what our Lord and God does for us and it's what He wants us to do for others. God is the God of ALL comfort. He gives us ALL we will ever need to make it through this life. Pray that God will comfort you in times of need. Thank Him for His mercies and ever lasting love. Know that His grace is abundant and sufficient for you.

Ezekiel 33:3-7 (NLT)
3 When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he blows the alarm to warn the
people. 4 Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action--well, it is
their own fault if they die. 5 They heard the warning but wouldn't listen, so
the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could
have saved their lives. 6 But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't
sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their deaths. They
will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman accountable. 7 "Now, son
of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen
to what I say and warn them for me.

God is speaking to Ezekiel and is appointing him as watchman over Israel. As
watchman, God gives him a specific duty to warn others of the enemies
approach. It then becomes the responsibility of the person hearing the warning
to take action. However, if Ezekiel fails in his duty to give the warning he
becomes responsible for the deaths and those people die with their sins.

On March 7, 1928, the St. Francis Reservoir was completely filled for the first
time., Tony Harnischfeger, the damkeeper discovered leaks, but Chief Engineer
William Mulholland was convinced they were relatively minor. On the morning of
March 12, Harnischfeger discovered a new leak and called for Mulholland, his
son Perry, and assistant Harvey van Norman to investigate. Perry thought the
leak looked serious, but Mulholland felt it was a typical concrete dam leak and
declared the dam safe. Three minutes before midnight on March 12, 1928 the St.
Francis Dam catastrophically failed and swept through the Santa Clara Valley
towards the Pacific Ocean. Over 500 people were killed. When the flood was
over, parts of Ventura County lay under 70 feet of mud and debris. Had
Mulholland only WARNED the people in Santa Clara Valley lives could have been
SAVED. There is a point to the story. People die every day without being warned
about the sin in their lives. Romans 6:23 gives us a WARNING, "FOR THE WAGES OF
SIN IS DEATH". But they also miss what the verse tells them and that is "the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". Have you been a
watchman and given the warning to anyone lately? Pray that God would lead you
to share your testimony of faith in Jesus Christ with someone and warn them of
the dangers that are approaching. Pray for strength against the enemy to share
the good news of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 20: 9-11 (NLT)
9Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin"? 10The
LORD despises double standards of every kind. 11Even children are known by the
way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right.

Solomon’s proverbs offer words of wisdom to the reader. The first question is
rhetorical in that it asks can a person cleanse themselves from sin. It becomes
a lamentation of the corruptness of mankind to say they are not pure and free
from sin, because there is no one who can make that statement. Then Proverbs
says the Lord hates double standards. The Greek words refer to unequal weights.
A lighter weight is used for buying and a heavier weight is used for selling
therefore there is a double standard in the way things are handled. And versus
11, parents watching their children can see their conduct from the beginning
and know if it is pure and right.

We are all born with sin and there is no escaping it. Take a bottle away from a
child who is feeding, it does not take long before there is an angry response
demanding the bottle back. Watch as a mother picks up one young child, suddenly
the other child will start to demand the attention of the mother as sibling
jealousy sets in. What happens when one child has a toy the other wants? It’s
not long before the other child it taking it away because of greed. Leave out 1
candy bar for 3 kids, usually a war ensues over the candy bar. Sin is part of
our nature, and if we claim as adults we have no sin then we are thinking in
double standards. For God allows us to see the sin in children. How much
greater is the sin in our adult lives where we have learned to plot and plan
with our flesh. The good news is Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross for all
those sins that who so ever believe in Him should not perish, but have ever
lasting life. A wonderful, everlasting life with Jesus in heaven just for
placing your faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior of your life. If you
haven’t done that pray now that Jesus would save you from sin. If Jesus has
saved you from sin, pray and thank Him for the wonderful gift He has given you
and everyone else you know that has trusted Him.

Acts 8:1-4 (NLT)
1 Saul was one of the official witnesses at the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria. 2(Some godly men came and buried Stephen with loud weeping.) 3Saul was going everywhere to devastate the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into jail. 4But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus.

Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul, witnessed Stephen being stoned to death. It was a beginning of the persecution of the church with Saul leading the way. Saul personally went house to house throwing those in jail who had come to believe in Jesus. But it caused the Good News to spread as believers fled to other areas and Christianity began to grow.

Amazing how a single man so bent on the destruction of the Christian church became one of the greatest contributors to the church. Paul’s words on Christ are well known to many. Many of his words were penned while chained in prison because of his belief in Christ. This man changed from someone ready to destroy the church to someone ready to build and preserve the church. It all happened because Jesus Christ entered his life one day. Do you believe change can take place in your life? It can if you allow Christ to work in your life. Colossians 1:6 says, “This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard and understood the truth about God's great kindness to sinners.” Pray that Christ would change your life and renew it each day. Pray that He would make you into the person you need to be, not a person after your desires, but after His desires.

Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT)
22But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

Here in these verses the apostle lists out the results of what the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the Christian: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Notice some would be blessings for the believer, while other fruits would be used to serve others. When it mentions there is no conflict with the law, it is talking about “all” the Mosaic Law, which would be showing love for God. All of these fruits allow for the love of others through Christ. We have become the executioners, denying our passions and desires, nailing them to the cross with Jesus. If we have accepted Christ into our lives we need to allow the Holy Spirit to work freely, unhampered by sin.
Who desires more for ourselves than our own self? The bible tells us there is a constant battle taking place where our flesh is always against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells inside our bodies, our fallen, imperfect, unsanctified human bodies. Jesus is Lord over our hearts, but still the Holy Spirit battles for mastery over the evil power within our members that is bend on mischief. It is our body, but His temple. He remains to battle for us even though He is under attack. The Holy Spirit is the Author of all the holy works in us. We need to learn to hold back the flesh and allow the Holy Spirit to do its work freely in our lives. Pray that God would give the Holy Spirit freedom in your life. Pray that fleshly desires would be bound and put side. Thank Jesus for His love and kindness.

Genesis 4:3-7 (NLT)
3At harvesttime Cain brought to the LORD a gift of his farm produce, 4while Abel brought several choice lambs from the best of his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his offering, 5but he did not accept Cain and his offering. This made Cain very angry and dejected. 6"Why are you so angry?" the LORD asked him. "Why do you look so dejected? 7You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it."

Cain, the oldest brother, and Able brought forward offerings to God. Able had given careful consideration to what he was giving God and selected the best. God accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. God could see the anger in Cain. God asked him why he felt the way he did and instructed him to respond correctly the next time and he would be accepted. God warned Cain sin was waiting to overtake him and he needed to subdue it. This is the first time sin was directly mentioned in the bible.

We know the result of God’s warning to Cain. Cain did not listen to God and became jealous of Able and killed him. Sin did exactly what God said it would do and Cain was given fair warning. The irony of it all is the consequence Cain received. God told him; no longer will the ground yield abundant crops for you, no matter how hard you work. What Cain was so prideful of was taken away from him in just a short matter of time. We have to be careful that we are not so prideful that we don’t listen to God. When God warns us of sin in our lives we need to take heed. We need to stop and listen. When God gives advice we should follow His word. God is looking out for our best interest, but for some reason we just don’t always want to listen to what he has to say. Pray that you will be more open to listening to God. Ask that His words fill your heart. Pray for His instruction and guidance in your life that you may know Him and His ways.

Proverbs 27 (NLT)
17As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.

The Greek work barzel is used for iron in both references in the verse in proverbs. It could be translated to mean “a tool of iron that sharpens iron”. The idea is something of equal strength is being used to sharpen something of equal strength. When used as a comparison in the second half of the verse we then see that a friend sharpens a friend’s countenance. Or in other words a conversation between friends sharpens up the face.

This proverb teaches we need friends who can help us in our daily life and we also need to be friends to others. Without a good solid friend in our life we can become like a dull piece of metal because there is no one to help keep us sharp in our thoughts. There is no one to challenge us or provoke us to think differently. We can get wrapped up in our own thoughts of the flesh with no one to pull us away. But a friend who cares will sharpen our thoughts against fleshly desires and evils that lurk after us. Pray that God would give you a Godly friend to sharpen you. Pray that you might befriend someone else and guide them in Godly and righteous ways. Pray you might sharpen each other as friends always giving glory to God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Job 42:1-3 (NLT)
1Then Job replied to the LORD: 2"I know that you can do anything and no one can stop you. 3You ask, `Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I. And I was talking about things I did not understand, things far too wonderful for me.
Job had lost everything, his family, his possessions, and his health. His friends felt as though he had a great sin to hide and Job was finally at an end, justifying himself to his friends and God. His patience through his suffering had not given itself to perfect work, but his repentance for his impatience had. Job had seen the folly in his unadvised speaking and here he admits that he talked about things he did not understand and that they were far too wonderful for him. Job submitted to the Lord knowing that the Lord was right.


Job just did not understand God’s plan and in his suffering was starting to question if he knew whether God was going to come through. Job had no reason to justify himself to his friends, because he had done nothing wrong. They were under the belief blessings came with good works and curses came with sin. And their thought was surely all the calamity that had befallen Job was a curse from God and therefore he must have sinned. Had Job only know about God’s conversation with Satan, I’m sure Job’s outlook on life would have been different. Could you image if he could have told his friends, “Hey God’s letting Satan put me through the test, man all I have to do is hang in there. I know God’s not going to let me down after what He said about me.” If we only knew about those conversations that were taking place about us in the heavenly realms. You know maybe God’s been having conversations about you too. Maybe He comments on the way you shared your faith with others, or the way you help those in need or the way you minister to those who are struggling with various issues. Pray you know God’s plan and direction for your life. Ask God to clearly give you direction and focus on the things you need to do. Ask for his guidance in life’s daily struggles. Let his blessings fill your very soul.

Philippians 4:2-5 (NLT)
2And now I want to plead with those two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3And I ask you, my true teammate, to help these women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. And they worked with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. 4Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! 5Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Paul was requesting that 2 women, Eudoia and Syntyche, more than likely deaconesses of the church, were to put aside whatever disagreement they had. It doesn’t say specifically who Paul asked to help, but he wanted intervention. These 2 women had worked hard for the gospel and they were now at risk of destroying the good work they had done. He mentions they had worked with Clement, who more than likely was the Bishop of Rome after the death of Peter and Paul. There are actual writings and documents left behind by Clement. Then Paul goes on to remind them to be full of joy in the Lord and rejoice for what they have. And they should be considerate in the things they are doing.


Christians are new creatures in Christ, but guess what? They still have some of those old fleshly ways left inside. Personalities between people will still come into conflict and if left unchecked feelings become hurt, and anger follows. It’s not so much the conflict that is the sin, but how the conflict is handled. For instance, pride steps in and says the other person insulted me; I am going to stay hurt until they apologize. Or bitterness finds its way into the heart because someone felt excluded. Someone takes an important position before you had a chance, so jealously rears itself. Disappointment harbors resentment because no one recognized you for your hard efforts. What we need to remember is that we ALL belong to the Lord and our work is for Him. It’s about rejoicing over the Good News we are sharing on behalf of the Lord and not what we are obtaining for ourselves. We need to rejoice and be full of joy in the Lord and remember when He returns He will give us credit for being good and faithful servants. Pray that conflicts between God’s people might be avoided. Pray for harmony and peace between God’s servants. Always be ready to serve the Lord and do so being full of joy.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.


Paul says we are given a command not to worry about anything. To do so we are trying to place ourselves as the one in charge and not allowing God to take charge. We are also to turn “all” areas of our life over to God in prayer, not just some. We are to tell Him what we need and thank Him for what He has fulfilled. From God we will experience His peace, which comes as a gift through Jesus. His peace is a part of the relationship we enter into with God. And God’s peace is something beyond what our human mind can understand. As our prayers are lived out through Christ His peace will stand guard like a military force over our hearts and minds protecting us from the sin that wants to enter.


How many of you worry? Maybe you worry because of problems or stresses in your life. Sometimes worry will just take over and trigger arguments, disagreements and other problems. Paul may have been writing these verses because of the problems between two women, Euodia and Syntyche. There is no description of their problem other than it was a disagreement, but obviously it was causing concern and worry, since it was called to Paul’s attention. What was Paul’s solution to the problem: 1) Put aside worries; 2) Pray about everything; 3) Tell God your needs; 4) Thank God for all He has done. George Muller once said, “ One can only expect to obtain answers to prayers which are according to the mind of God; and even then, patience and faith may be exercised for many years, even as mine are exercised, in the matter to which I have referred; and yet am I daily continuing in prayer, and expecting the answer, and so surely expecting the answer, that I have often thanked God that He will surely give it, though now for nineteen years faith and patience have thus been exercised.” George Muller was a man of faith who prayed earnestly without worry. So, why not turn your worries over to God? You know what to pray for; don’t linger in your requests.

Thanks, I knew it and needed to see it again...God's awesome!!!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Ruth 1:19-22 (NLT)
19So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was stirred by their arrival. "Is it really Naomi?" the women asked. 20"Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why should you call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy?" 22So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.


Naomi had originally lived in Bethlehem, but due to a famine she had moved with her husband and two sons to Moab. There her sons had taken Moabite women for wives, but then her husband and sons died leaving her only with her daughter-in-laws. One daughter-in-law, Ruth, remained with Naomi and traveled back with Naomi to Bethlehem where she was greeted by those who knew her. The name Naomi meant “my delight” and Naomi felt no delight in her return, only bitterness. She left with everything and returned with nothing. And in her bitterness felt as though God had forsaken her.


From Naomi’s words it sounded as if God had totally forsaken her. Bitterness can make a person exaggerate their situation and look for nothing but fault and blame. And she was bitter as she admitted. But Naomi missed that she still had life, and that the trials she was facing was just a new beginning. Naomi had opportunity for a fresh start. She had the support of her old friends who were gathering around her, she was home with relatives, and God had provisions there waiting on her. Naomi had Ruth who was a blessing from the Lord. And God would use Ruth in Naomi’s life, because Ruth had come to trust the Lord and follow Him because of Naomi. And Naomi would soon realize the blessings coming forth from the Lord. Eventually Naomi did see God’s work and His plan. And symbolic of the new start in Naomi’s life was the fact they arrived at the beginning of the barley harvest. God was giving Naomi a new start in life even though she couldn’t see it at the time. Maybe it’s time to let God give you a new start. Is there something causing you bitterness in life? God always has a plan for you. If you let go of the bitterness and seek out God He will open that plan up to you. Pray that His will be made known. Ask God to turn any bitterness back to delight and joy.