Topic: The Day I Couldn’t Pray — Thursday September 28, 2017.

Read: Romans 8:22–26, Bible in a Year: Isaiah 5–6; Ephesians 1

The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26

In November 2015, I learned I needed open-heart surgery. Surprised and a little shaken, I was naturally drawn to think about the possibility of death. Were there relationships I needed to mend? Were there financial matters I needed to attend to for my family? Was there work that could be done ahead of time? And what about work that couldn’t wait; who should I hand that off to? It was a time to both act and pray.

Except I couldn’t do either.

My body was so weary and my mind so fatigued that even the simplest of tasks seemed beyond my strength. Perhaps most surprising, when I tried to pray, my thoughts would drift to the discomfort, or the shallow breathing caused by the damaged heart made me fall asleep. It was frustrating. I couldn’t work and I couldn’t even ask God to let me live so I could spend more time with my family!

The inability to pray troubled me most. But as with all other human needs, the Creator knew this was happening to me. I would eventually recall He made two preparations for such occurrences: the prayer of the Spirit for us when we can’t pray (Rom. 8:26), and the prayer of others on our behalf (James 5:16; Gal. 6:2).

What a comfort it was to know that the Holy Spirit was even then raising my concerns before the Father. What a gift also to hear from friends and family as they prayed for me. Then came another surprise: As my friends and family asked me what to pray for, it became clear that my answers to them were also being heard by God as prayers. What a gift it is in a time of uncertainty to be reminded God hears our heart even when we think we can’t call out to Him.

God never leaves the voices of His children unheard.

Insight:

Anyone who has traveled to a foreign country can understand the value of a good translator. Someone who is familiar with our language and that of the country we are visiting knows how to choose just the right words to communicate clearly.

Have you ever been in a situation so perplexing you didn’t know the right words to use when you prayed? Because of our limited perspective and the distraction of our sinful inclinations we can sometimes struggle with prayer. Yet God the Holy Spirit is our intercessor. He groans with our concerns as He Himself makes our prayers conform to the will of God. It’s a comfort that the Holy Spirit knows our own limitations and weaknesses and translates our requests to God in conformity with His will.

In what ways does understanding the intercession of the Holy Spirit comfort you when you find it hard to pray? Dennis Fisher

This message was written By Randy Kilgore [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Doer of The Word [Thursday, 28 September, 2017]

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. James 1:23‭-‬24 ‬

It is well settled that the hearing of the word is vital to us. For by it that our faith is built (Romans 10:17). It is by the Word that our minds get transformed (Romans 12:2). However, the Word could remain head knowledge to us if we don’t do it or act upon it. It’s like someone transfers a million dollars into your account. If you don’t go to the bank and access it, it will be as good as you not having it at all.

Doing the Word is very vital for every believer. The Word of God reveals the nature of God to us, Whose nature we are. After knowing the nature of God, which is our very own nature, through the study of the Word, we must then live the life that the Word has shown to us, and that is doing and acting as the Word says. Through continuous practice of the Word of God, we begin to look more and more like God, because we manifest His characters that we’ve seen and know through the Word.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18). For if any be a hearer (or reader) of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:23‭-‬25). By studying and continuing in the Word of God, we are changed. James says when we do the Word, we’ll be blessed in our deeds. Do the Word you’ve learnt and you’ll indeed be blessed in your deeds.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You for Your Word that changes me. Help me to continually do Your Word, that I may manifest You more, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

By Esun Tekeme

Topic: Heed This Invitation — Thursday 28, September 2017.

Memorise: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. – John 7:37

Read: John 7:37-39 (KJV)

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Bible in One Year: Esther 4-7, Ezekiel 48:8-20, Hymn: Sing Hymn 14 – Take My Life

MESSAGE:

“How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?” – Deuteronomy 32:30

Although praying corporately is good, it should never be regarded as a substitute to a vibrant personal prayer life. Some people quote the above scripture to justify remaining at the level of corporate prayers, and as a result they consider efforts towards personal prayers to be a waste. It is not a wasted effort! God wants to relate with us individually and develop a personal relationship with us, just as much as He wants to relate with us as a group. For this reason, in Isaiah 51:2, He said this to us:

“Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 29 September 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Delayed Provision

Even when we are in a group meeting, God still wants to maintain a personal link with each of us. God is a personal God. When two brothers came to give an offering to God, the Lord related with them individually (Genesis 4:3-10). How often do you spend time alone with God?

Moreover, there are great benefits that come from staying alone with God. If we look at the example of the widow of the prophet in 2 Kings 4:1-7, we can see some of the benefits of individual prayers. When she was asked to shut the door on herself, several things happened to her, one of which is that she went in empty but came out full. She took several empty vessels with her into the room, and all the vessels were filled up. Even today, as you personally separate yourself to access the Throne of Grace, your empty vessels will be made full. In today’s Bible reading, while attending the feast of the Jews, the Lord made a call. Although it was made publicly, it was a personal call. He said anyone who was thirsty could come to Him and be filled. If you can cultivate your personal relationship with God by creating regular time to be in His presence, you will always be filled, even when you enter His presence empty. Today, the Lord is sending you an invitation to come into His presence and He will fill you up. Your emptiness can be completely swallowed up as you spend personal time with Him. Are you ready to have your emptiness filled? How hungry are you? It is your level of hunger and thirst for Him that will determine how filled you will get, So, how hungry or thirsty are you today?

Action Point: Identify things that are working against your ability to spend time alone with God and prayerfully deal with them.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic — He Korean Widow: Worry Provokes Stagnation [Wednesday, September 27, 2017]

(Romans 8:12-21; Joshua 1:8).

Welcome to today’s devotional! There was a Korean widow who was supported majorly by her two sons. The elder son sold umbrellas while the younger son sold sunglasses. The old woman worried every single day because when it was sunny, the older son had a bad market. If it rained, the younger son couldn’t sell sunglasses. So, no matter the weather, she worried! Then one day, an old man visited them and saw this woman looking so pale and skinny. He was forced to ask what the matter was. “Oh old man, I am just worried and I worry all the time. No matter the weather, one of my sons is always broke and that affects me badly.” The old man smiled and said: “Oh no, my friend: resist worrying because you are blessed. No matter the weather, you always win because one of your sons will always sell. There are many who do not have such blesses opportunities.” With that, the woman lifted her hands and began to dance because she suddenly discovered that truly, no matter what happens, there is always something to be thankful to for!

God wants to remind a user of today’s devotional that Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible! It says all things will work together for your good – if you are really serving God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It does not make sense to say your present, bad situation will lead to good, but you must believe God foolishly! Yes, since God’s Word cannot be broken, you must continue to believe that by the time your trials and your testimonies (all things) are put together, your life will be a step forward and a plus.

Keep worry and anxiety out of your life by force. If you are emotionally disturbed and can’t read, then let someone just read the word of God to you while you listen. Have an easy going attitude! Don’t allow continuous stress! Something good is coming out of anything bad around your life and ministry. “There shall be rain and a river in that wilderness,” saith the Lord unto you! Amen and amen.

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Prayer Points: Take Song 2: Stand up for Jesus……..

1. Thank God for today’s Word and pray as you are led!

2. Declare that all things will always work out for your good.

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Publisher/Writer Of ODM And

Rev (Mrs) Flora E. Kwakpovwe (Fek)
Co-Publisher/Writer Of ODM.

Topic: Your Assignment Is Your Steward [Wednesday September 27, 2017]

God measures you and your performance rating by your assignment.

Your duty is the measuring stick of your performance.

God does not rate you by somebody else’s duty. This is why it doesn’t make sense to compete with anyone or use someone as standard to determine your performance.

Be assignment focus and vision driven.

Stick to your duty while you may be inspired and encouraged by others in the race by others in the race but never measure yourself by their results because you are differently assigned.

Topic: Learn to Wait [Wednesday September 27, 2017]

The LORD your God is in your midst, a Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. — Zephaniah 3:17 (AMP)

People often ask me, “How can I know for sure whether I’m hearing from God or just making things up?”

I believe the answer is to learn to wait. With big decisions, we often feel the need to hurry. We must do something and do it right now! But godly wisdom tells us to wait until we have a clear picture of what we are to do and when we are to do it.

We all need to develop the capacity to take a step back and view every situation from God’s perspective. Only then can we make decisions the way He wants us to.

Strength is found in waiting. When you wait upon the Lord, you can sense in your spirit what the Lord actually wants you to do…not what you think He wants you to do.

When you are faced with any difficult decision, it is wise to wait until you have a clear answer before taking a step you may regret. It might feel uncomfortable and you may want to hurry, but don’t allow that pressure to take precedence over the wisdom and knowledge of God.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I don’t want to get so caught up in the heat of the moment that I make a decision I regret. Remind me to daily wait on You. It might be difficult, but receiving Your wisdom and knowledge is worth it.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries

Topic: The Great Provider [Wednesday 27, September 2017]

Memorise: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19

Read: Mark 6:35-42

35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

42 And they did all eat, and were filled.

Bible In One Year: Zephaniah 1-3. Hymn: Sing Hymn 6 – What A Friend We Have In Jesus

MESSAGE:

God is the provider and supplier of the needs of all creation, but He gives special attention to His own people.

Our God is a gracious Father, He does not only provide the needs of His Children, He also protects their interest. He crowns His children with glory, and a Consuming Fire, burns anyone that messes around with their royalty and honor. Three of God’s children, crowned by God with glory, found themselves in such a situation one day. They were bound up by hefty men and thrown into a burning fiery furnace. At the end, the hefty men were roasted by the fire, while God, the Consuming Fire was with His Children inside the furnace to protect them and His glory was upon them. They eventually walked majestically out of the furnace into promotion and increased glory (Daniel 3:1-30). This season, any plan to touch God’s glory on your life shall be destroyed. Every fire the enemy kindles against you and your family shall devour that enemy in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, you are the Great Provider, please meet all my needs in Jesus’ Name.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: A Prudent Wife — Wednesday September 27, 2017.

Text: Proverbs 19:10-20

Key Verse: “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD” (Proverbs 19:14).

As a wife and mother in a small 18th century English parish, Susanna Wesley herself received little recognition for how she managed her household, raised and educated more than a dozen children and coped with an idealistic and occasionally difficult clergyman-husband. Yet, from her personal influence and loving home, came a son who would experience spiritual awakening and have a worldwide ministry.

Indeed, it might be said that the movement called Methodism had its foundations in the home of Susanna Wesley. Solomon spoke so many useful proverbs under the influence of the Spirit of wisdom he received from the Lord. From the text today, many sayings are presented in form of comparisons and contrasts. Anger and wrath of the king is compared to a roaring rampaging lion, while his favour is as dew upon the grass. After speaking about the calamity of foolish sons and the problems of having a contentious wife, he revealed that the source of a prudent wife is God.

We may get houses and riches through inheritance from our fathers, but a wife with good understanding and wisdom comes from God. It is true that advancement in technology has made transportation and communication faster and easier. With the creation of the Internet, it has become easier to search for and get information about anything within seconds. That life is now on the easy and fast lane proved by the reality of numerous dating sites where young people are encouraged to hook up with their life partners; we also have match-making radio/TV programmes that help arrange marriages.

The question is, can prudent wives that fear God emerge from such a venture? Our young men and women should understand that God is still our Matchmaker and that He still leads His own to make the right choice of a marriage partner.

Thought for the day: Do not be anxious; God still leads.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Peter 1-5

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Topic: Hypocrisy Is An Attitude – Wednesday September 27, 2017.

Matthew 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Text: Matthew 23:12

He who thinks that he will be exalted by acting as a servant, pretending to be humble so that he will receive the promise of God’s Word, is sadly mistaken. Hypocrisy is an attitude or motive.

There are two main types of hypocrisy: 1) People don’t practice what they preach. 2) People’s motives are wrong even though their actions are right.

The second type of hypocrisy is why Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees.

It is more subtle than the first type and is very prevalent today in religion. They were seeking self-glory instead of seeking to glorify God.

Their priorities are wrong, and their focus is on outward displays instead of on the inner condition of their heart. Furthermore, they always persecute the true worshipers of God.

Universally, people dislike blatant hypocrisy; although this subtle type of hypocrisy has been encouraged and even promoted by religion. Religion teaches tithing and giving for selfish motives while 1 Corinthians 13:3 and 2 Corinthians 9:7, make it clear that giving will profit us nothing unless we have the proper motive. The same thing happens when people try to achieve holiness by performing many other religious acts. It is not always the acts that are wrong, but the motives behind the acts. These wrong motives can also make you a hypocrite.

Anyone who rejects salvation because he doesn’t like religious hypocrites, should remember that if he doesn’t receive Jesus as his Lord, then he will spend eternity with these hypocrites in Hell.

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).