Do you remember 'WHY' you are doing this?

As we move into the 3rd week of Lent, it is important for us to keep asking ourselves: "Why am I observing this season of prayer and fasting?" In order to try and give us some deeper insight, I am including a few quotes to remind us of the 'why.'

• “During Lent, we are called to embrace the struggles that make us stronger.” — Jonathan Edwards 
• “Lent is a time for discipline, for confession, for honesty, not because God is mean or fault-finding or finger pointing but because he wants us to know the joy of being cleaned out, ready for all the good things he now has in store.” — N.T. Wright
• “Lent affords us the opportunity to search the depths of our sin and experience the heights of God’s love.” — Chuck Colson

Thought: Do you still have your 'why' for this Lenten season?

Daniel 9:3 - So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting...

Living in Grace

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Which way are you facing?

"Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple." - Jonah 2:4

There are some religions that encourage people to face East when they pray as it has some connection with the new dawn. The Jewish faith chooses to face towards Jerusalem, and we see that this has been practiced for thousands of years. Daniel was one of the Old Testament prophets who prayed in this way.

In Daniel 6:10 it says, “when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to this upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

As followers of Jesus, we believe that God is omnipresent, so we don't need to face a certain direction when we pray. However, it can sometimes help us to 'spiritually 'gaze in a direction, as it may give us more focus. 

The only thing we need to be sure of is that we 'turn our eyes towards Christ.' 

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace.”
– Helen Howarth Lemmel

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Walking with a friend in the dark

Helen Keller observed that “walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.”

Being a friend to someone who is experiencing suffering is a hard thing to do, but very necessary. I am grateful that we are able to turn to Christ as he walks with us in our times of testing and pain.

Daniel 3:24-25 - "Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Thought: Do you need to walk alongside someone at the moment? 

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And then there were Four!

It is quite common for us to feel as if we are alone in the battles we fight. We may have friends and family standing alongside us, but we can still feel a little desperate. It is at times like this that we should remember that God stands with us. He is the fourth person in the fiery furnace. He is our protector and redeemer.

"Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” - Daniel 3:19-25

Reflection: Take stock of how God has been with you through some of your toughest times.

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Words to inspire

I really enjoy it when I come across a verse that truly speaks into our situation. This verse from Daniel 10:19 has offer me much solace and comfort this week. As I read through it again and again, I am given fresh insight into great words of hope:

“Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” 
When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

These are the words that are uplifting for me:

1. Don't be afraid

2. We are greatly esteemed (loved)

3. Peace is a gift for us

4. We can be strong, despite all that's happening around us

5. God strengthens us

If you want to listen to the podcast Bible study I did on this passage you are welcome to click this link. Enjoy. 

Have a blessed day

Living in Grace

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Great mercy

Daniel 9:18 - We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.

Daniel reminds us of the mercy of God in this particular verse. I have been quite saddened to see how many Christians like to dwell on the vengeance and anger of God. I know that there will come a time when God has to wrap things up and judgement will come, but I believe the world also needs to be reminded of his mercy at this point in time. 

"My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I'm sick or in good health, whether I'm in a state of grace or disgrace. He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am." - Brennan Manning

And it is because of God’s great mercy that I know I can approach the throne of Grace.

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Remembering dust

I am thankful to Rev. Ralph Thornley for his devotion this morning.

Daniel 9:3 - Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.  

The word Lent does not appear in the Bible and neither does the word Bible. However, repentance with ash goes all the way back into the Old Testament. The text above refers to Daniel’s great confession when he heard that Jerusalem was to be trodden down. Sackcloth was normally a coarse cloth made of goats hair, it was very rough and uncomfortable and the people indicating their mourning and repentance would sprinkle ash upon themselves and lay prostrate on the ground. This was a very private thing, a sign of total humility and absolute dependence upon the grace of God. Repentance was something taken very seriously and should still be so today. 

David says in Psalm 66:18 “If I had cherished sin in my heart the Lord would not have listened.” 

The earliest record of ash and sackcloth being normal Christian practice dates back to the 8^th century and was eventually abolished by the reformation between the 15^th and 16^th centuries. Perhaps something was lost when the practice was removed. Apart from a sign of mourning and repentance it reminded people that they were only in this world for a season. A remnant of that ancient practice is to be found at the Ash Wednesday service. People are invited forward to have ash placed on the forehead with these words “Remember man/woman that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return.” It is a reminder to us of our total dependence on God. It is also a time to look seriously into one’s own heart and lay before God things that you wished were not there. 

That is what Lent is all about – a time of reflection and repentance.

 

Prayer: Most Gracious Lord help me as I echo the  words of your servant David. Create within me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen

God on the sidelines?

"God, don’t just watch from the sidelines.
    Come on! Run to my side!
My accusers—make them lose face.
    Those out to get me—make them look
Like idiots, while I stretch out, reaching for you,
    and daily add praise to praise." - Psalm 71:12-14 (Message)

Sometimes we feel that God is an uninterested by-stander in our daily lives - that God could intervene, but doesn't actually get involved in things. Is that how you feel at times? 

David seems to believe otherwise, that is why he asks God to run to his side. He holds onto the belief that God will come to his rescue and help him out of  his trouble. 

Daniel 6:16 -  “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

I have yet to figure out how and why God acts in our daily lives, but I do believe that GOD DOES CARE and that He will not watch from the sidelines when we are in distress.

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God is Able

"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault." - Jude 1:24

God is ... ABLE to do more than we could ever dream of or even imagine. God is miraculous, generous, powerful and yet gracious. In this season of Advent, let us not forget that the God we worship is Able to confound all human logic.

Daniel 3:17 - If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.

Romans 4:21 -  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.

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Stir up some courage

"...he will stir up his strength and courage." - Daniel 11:25

When we face tough situations in life we need the Spirit of God to stir up our strength and courage. Perhaps our courage lies dormant, next to our other emotions like fear, worry and joy - we just need the hand of God to stir up those emotions so that our strength and courage can rise to the surface.

"You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honour." -Aristotle

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Prayer and Fasting

There are a number of incidents in the Bible where the Disciples got together to pray and fast. Each time they did this God seemed to answer their prayers with clarity and authority. It is not some kind of magic formula, but it is certainly documented that God moved in a BIG way after a time of prayer and fasting.

We are calling a day of Prayer and Fasting on Thursday 30th January and if you are willing please join us praying for the following things:

1. Unity amongst Christians in our communities (especially in Circuit 801)
2. To be Transformed by God's love and grace
3. To be strengthened in our service and witness to the world around us
4. For God to help the broken and to restore those who have lost hope
5. Those people struggling with Depression

It would be wonderful for you to join us in this day of prayer and fasting.

Daniel 9:3 - "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes."

Living in Grace
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