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| DAY 1: Our Native Tongue JANUARY 1, 2010 |
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"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ.
From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love,
as each part does its work."
(Ephesians 4:15-16) |
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| MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)
Before beginning your journey it is recommended that you have with you, in addition to your Bible and this devotional, a journal or notebook to use as a prayer journal (if you print out these emails, a 3-ring binder with notebook paper is a good way to keep the next 40 days organized). Begin this first day of the New Year by recording, in your prayer journal, all the people, ministries, and projects you are burdened to pray for in the coming days and weeks ahead. Record your praises, prayers, and petitions to your loving heavenly Father who is delighted that you are surrendering these next 40 days to seek His face and spend time in His presence. In addition, it is recommended that you have a private place where you can close the door and meet intimately with your heavenly Father each day (it doesn't have to be the same place every day, just somewhere you can spend quiet time in the presence of God without interruption).
Scripture Reading: Luke 11:1-4
The disciples had seen Jesus praying countless times before, but on this particular day, they made a special request of their teacher: "Lord, teach us to pray." Jesus led by example during His ministry years on earth, patterning for his disciples the path they would later walk. He never taught them to preach, but He took this occasion to teach them to what to pray.
Prayer is the native language of the Christian. What one saint called, "the breath of our spiritual life." The disciples desired to learn the language of heaven - the language that Jesus spoke so fluently; it was the priority of His ministry. Jesus knew there was no greater tool they would need to understand how to use, than prayer. It would be the most vital weapon His disciples would need on the spiritual battlefield; the way they would stay connected to Him after He was gone.
Today, we've neglected to use our native tongue as we should, and have found ourselves tongue-tied in a world that is not our home. We've forgotten that we are pilgrims who speak a holy language; a language that has the power to bring health and healing to the weak and weary in the world we've been commissioned to help. We need to be asking, as the early disciples did, "Lord, teach us to pray" and become willing students ready to receive the power we've been missing to change this world for the glory of God.
Lord, I, too, want to learn to pray as you prayed,
and as you continue to pray in heaven, on my behalf.
Loose my tongue to speak the language
that lays hold of your power and
achieves great things for your kingdom.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
[Meditate on today's Scripture reading, focusing on the pattern the Lord has given for prayer. Use your prayer journal to express your gratitude to the Lord for this new year and a renewed desire to learn how to pray as He did. Record your prayers for those you have been burdened for, asking the Lord to release your tongue to pray more earnestly and fervently for them this year].
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AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed..." (Daniel 6:10)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:5-13
A year before the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He gave them the key to prayer during the Sermon on the Mount discourse. He cautioned them against babbling on like the pagans, but, instead, to come to their heavenly Father, yielding to His will, aware that He already knows their needs before they ask. "...for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (v.8).
As the Son of God, Jesus opened the door to the holy of holies and invites us to come in as sons and daughters of God to make our requests of "Our Father in heaven" who already knows what we need. God is our Father; He sees all, hears all, knows all, long before we even know what to ask for. He loves us so much that He knew our greatest need was a restored relationship with Him, so He sent His answer while we were still in sin and had no idea to ask for help. He has in mind the best for us, as any good father would, and even more so, since He's our heavenly Father.
Sadly, the enemy has worked overtime to undermine the work of Christ in bringing us to the Father, by stripping our understanding of the role of the father in the world we live in today. The enemy has successfully torn apart homes and brought confusion and pain to a name that should stand for tenderness, security, patience, and love. Jesus died to restore all of that; He wants us to grasp how great the Father's love is for us and invites us daily to meet with our Father. He desires that we would come as a trusting child to the infinitely loving and compassionate Father who is ready to hear our prayers and help us in our time of need.
Heavenly Father, I am your child
and I confess that at times I act more like a
moody teenager than a trusting child
when it comes to spending time with you.
You want to hold me in your arms and
shower me with love, but I miss out believing
I have more important things to do.
I just want to rest in your embrace today and
know that everything is going to be okay
because you are watching over me.
In Jesus' Name. Amen
[He knows our every need, all He wants from us is to be our everything. Record your prayer to your heavenly Father, following His pattern for prayer, expressing your willingness to surrender like a little child to His will, desiring His work to take precedence over your plans (few words are needed). Pray for those who struggle with understanding the Father-love relationship that they might experience the depth of God's great love for them and receive healing for the pain they've experienced.]
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EVENING MEDITATION - "...and on His law he meditates day and night" (Ps. 1:2)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
The evenings are a time for meditation and reflection. As we look with anticipation towards the New Year before us, we enter it with the baggage, debt, and heartache we carried over from the previous year. The year is new, but the burdens of the past still weigh heavy upon us. Today, we've been reminded that we have a loving heavenly Father who knows our every need and longs to lift the weight of worry off our backs; desiring instead that we would come to Him with childlike dependence and trust, that we might experience the peace that comes from seeking first His kingdom and the confidence that He will supply our every need. He has good things planned for us, and others in our life, if we will only surrender to Him and restore communication with our native language of prayer. He loves us so much and wants nothing more than to shower us with His love this year. Meditate on His promises in these verses. "They are not just idle words for you - they are you life" (Deuteronomy 32:47a).
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding
me in your Word today that you know my every need.
This year I don't want anything to get in the way
of seeking you with all my heart.
With everything you bless me with
help me to be a blessing to others.
Remove the worry that robs my life,
and burden me instead with the needs of others
who need to experience your abundant life.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
[Meditate on the Scriptures and reflect on your day. Record your prayers, petitions and praises in your prayer journal.]
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"God does nothing but in answer to prayer;
and even they who have been converted to God without praying for it themselves, (which is exceeding rare,)
were not without the prayers of others."
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