Waiting On God   SCRIPTURE: PSALM 62:1-2 (MESSAGE) 62 1-2 God, the one and only—     I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him,     so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet,     breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle:     I’m set for life. WAITING ON GOD I believe one of the main stressors in a home is experienced when a husband or a wife has to wait for their spouse to get ready. However we can take this to another level in our spiritual life. We ask God to answer our prayer today rather than in His time. Do you have a pressing need from which you desperately need deliverance? Are you willing to wait as long as he says? The temptation to take matters into your own hands ends up as a disaster. David was able to be patient because he believed that everything he really needed comes from God. Do you realize that one must plant their feet on the solid rock and praise God for deliverance even before it occurs. Faith will allow us to be set for life. We need to pray for our nation’s leaders to prayerfully make decisions that reflect faith in God. The core beliefs that marked this nation as a Christian nation need to be returned to and be reflected in our laws and statutes. Know that God has heard your prayers and he will answer every prayer. As a parent my children would come and ask, “Daddy can I…” questions. I as a responsible parent would consider if it would benefit my child and then give an answer, yes or no or not now. Your Heavenly Father does the same thing. PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Jesus: We vow to “stay the course” and Lord we need help to restore the core beliefs among your people, namely recognition that God is our help and deliverer. We seek a revival that brings us to our knees asking for forgiveness. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

FRIDAY DEVOTIONAL (04262013) SCRIPTURES:  Matthew 6:5-13 The Message (MSG) Pray with Simplicity 5 “And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? 6 “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. 7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best—     as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty!     Yes. Yes. Yes. DEVOTIONAL:     “KEEP IT SIMPLE”. God doesn’t seek eloquent and impressive prayers. He desires the utterances of your heart. Remember he knows the position of your spiritual life and all of your needs. So talk to Him about any sin in your life. He can reach down to the deepest pit and lift you out of the miry clay that sucks at your soul. God really cares and loves you and He is the answer for any problem you have.

The World Is Not a Stage

FRIDAY DEVOTIONAL 04192013  SCRIPTURES: Matthew 6:1-4 (The Message) The World Is Not a Stage 6 “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. 2-4 “When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.”   RECIPE FOR GOOD WORKS Sixty years ago I was in the Boy Scouts. We were challenged to do one good deed a day. In quest for that merit badge I would each day seek to do a good deed. This was purely a selfish motive on my part. When I received Christ as my Savior there was a shift. I no longer served self as a master but began to see others through the eyes of Jesus.  A Christian that is filled with God will be led to compassion for others. This desire will lead us to do good works. In the scripture for today we find a recipe for good works.   •             Don’t do good works to bring recognition to yourself. •             Don’t do good works only when others can see you. •             Don’t be a play actor performing as a stage performance. •             Don’t think about how good works makes you look to others. •             Your motto will be, “Just do it—Quietly and Unobtrusively”.   Key Statement: “That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.” (verse 4b)   Prayer Thought: “Let others see Jesus in me.”