“Immanuel!” (Matthew 1:23) The name that carries heaven’s assurance that no one who knows and trusts Jesus will ever be without His presence. Jesus is the end of all that is good; the height of all that is life; the depth of all that can be spoken.
It is because of God that I am in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30), who has become for me wisdom from God — Jesus is my righteousness, my holiness, and my redemption. Jesus is my Kinsman Redeemer and I owe Him my life.
A Life of holiness requires us to be able to ask for His promises. Stand on the promise, then; press on and plead the promise – respectfully but continually. Pray not with hope it will be done but with the knowledge it is already done in the spirit realm, and that God will bring it to fruition in the physical realm. Our God is that good!
The spirit realm is more real than the physical realm. And that’s God’s domain.
Many of us are addicted to something. My sister is addicted to worrying. If she doesn’t have something to worry about today, she feels like there is no reason for her to be breathing today. I know a woman who constantly fears: she is afraid her house will burn down while she’s sleeping, or her children will get into a serious accident, or her dog will mess up the carpet while she’s gone. I personally am addicted to judging others: the way they drive, the way they handle their children, the way they speak at meetings – as if I do any better and any of these things. Worry, fear, anger, judgment, mockery, to say nothing of drugs or alcohol or gambling – there are so many things in this world that we can be addicted to. The point is – you and I are not made for this world! So we don’t have to be addicted to anything. The Lord Jesus came to save us from such things, and to give us a better life to live than what the world says we are supposed to want and have and strive to attain. The verses included here are meant to help us reach above our addictions and trust in Jesus to save us from our personal sins. To give us encouragement to strive for the life Our Father wants for us.
Lead me beside peaceful waters, Lord. Please keep my soul quiet and listening to You.
Heavenly Father, I battle the addiction to _____ in my life. I believe You are more powerful than any addiction, and I believe You are able to deliver me. You have revealed Your truth to me through Your Word (John 17:17), and I believe Your promise which tells me that I shall know the truth, and the truth will set me free (John 8:32). I also believe that since Christ Jesus sets me free I am free indeed (John 8:36). Therefore I seek Your deliverance and I express faith in You that You will bring it to pass in my life. So I pray.
Father, I realize my addiction is a sin, and I confess it to You now. Thank You for Your promise that assures me that when I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me my sins, and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) by simply asking You. I gratefully receive Your forgiveness and cleansing now as I repent of my sinful addiction. Gracious God, I will stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ Jesus has set me free, and I ask for Your Spirit to help me stand firm and to never again be entangled with the yoke of bondage that addiction brings (Galatians 5:1).
Father, I praise You that the law of the Spirit of life has made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). I surrender my life to You entirely, completely, wholly, because You have freed me from my sin. From now on, I wish to be Your servant, O Almighty God, and I want so to enjoy Your fruit in my life unto holiness, and I know I have already received everlasting life (Romans 6:22). Thank You, Father, for giving me continuing power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. I now know that nothing shall by any means hurt me (Luke 10:19). I also know no weapon formed against me shall prosper, because this is my heritage as Your servant (Isaiah 54:17). Thank You, for complete and total deliverance and freedom from the addiction that used to come between me and You.
Father, I believe You Word. You have not forgotten one word of Your promise; You are a covenant keeping God (1 Kings 8:56). It is You who will bring me out from under the yoke of bondage and free me from being a slave to _____ (Deuteronomy 26:8). Father, I ask You to keep me dedicated to this vow to stay free in You. I thank You that You are able to keep that which I commit unto You (2 Timothy 1:12).
I will be strong and of good courage and do the work; I will not fear nor be discouraged, for You, my God, are with me. You won’t leave me or forsake me until all the work is finished (1 Chronicles 28:20). Apart from You I can do nothing (John 15:5). But with You – we can do all things!
I am confident of this: God began a good work in me and will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). God raised me from the dead along with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). I need neither to fear nor worry; I simply need to concentrate on being completely devoted to Jesus in my heart (1 Peter 3:14-15).
I bless You, O Lord. All that is within me blesses You and Your holy name. I will not forget all Your benefits to me. You have forgiven me all my iniquities, and healed all my sicknesses. You have redeemed my life from destruction, and You have crowned me with love and compassion, and tender mercies. You are my satisfaction, O gracious and generous Father (Psalm 103:1-5)!
God’s love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdict oceanic. Yet in His largeness nothing gets lost, not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquisite Your love, O God; how eager we are to run under Your wings, to eat our fill at the banquet You spread as You fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You’re a fountain of cascading light, and You open our eyes to light. (Psalm 36:5-9 The Message)
To You, O my Lord, I lift up my soul; in You, O my God, I trust. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemy triumph over me (Psalm 25:1-2). Guard my life and rescue me, O Lord my God. Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because all my hope is in You alone (Psalm 25:20-21).
Under stormy conditions, that is when we shine God’s love the best.
Lord God, You assure me that though a mother could maybe forget her child, You will absolutely never forget me. You have engraved my name on the palms of Your hands (Isaiah 49:15-16). How precious concerning me are Your thoughts, O God my Father! How vast the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17) The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him. He also will hear their cry and save them (Psalm 145:18-19).
So I will be still and know You are God. You, O Lord Almighty, are with me; You, O God of Jacob, are my Fortress (Psalm 46:10-11). I will hide in the shelter of Your wings until this disaster has passed (Psalm 57:1). Do not be far from me, O Lord my God, for trouble is near and there is no one else to help (Psalm 22:11). I will strive to keep my ways pleasing to You, my Lord, for then You make even my enemies to be at peace with me (Proverbs 16:7).
Lord Jesus, You have given to me Your peace, Your own peace You have bequeathed to me. It is not the peace that the world gives. I will not let my heart be troubled neither will I let it be afraid (John 14:27). Your peace will keep my thoughts and my heart quiet and at rest as I trust in You. So I refuse to be agitated, and I will not permit myself to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled. Instead of worrying, I will pray. I will let petitions and praises shape my worries into prayers letting You, Lord God, know my concerns, and then not forgetting to thank You for the answers. (Philippians 4:6-7).
I will not be afraid or discouraged… for the Lord is with me (2 Chronicles 20:17). I will notbe afraid but I will remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord! (Nehemiah 4:14). Because God is with me, I will be strong and very courageous. I will not be terrified, nor will I be discouraged, for the Lord my God will be with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:7, 9). He has promised.
I do not let my heart be troubled. I trust in God, I trust also in my Lord Jesus (John 14:1). God has put a hedge around me and my family, and my house, and everything I have and all I have inherited through His kindnesses. God blesses the work of my hands because I keep His commandments (Job 1:10). I refuse to worry about anything. God is on my side. God is in me now. Who can be against me and win? (Romans 8:31)
I let the peace of Christ Jesus rule in my heart, since as a member of His body I was called to peace. And I am thankful and praiseful. I refuse to worry about anything. (Colossians 3:15). The peace that surpasses all understanding keeps my heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
I am convinced nothing can separate me from God’s love: death can’t, life can’t; angels nor demons can’t; fears for the day nor worries about tomorrow, nor even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away from me. Whether I am high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate me from the love of God that is revealed through Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39)
I am confident of this: He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus’ return (Philippians 1:6). For God the Father raised me from the dead along with Christ Jesus, and I am seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms — all because I believe in and am one with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). I need neither to fear men’s treats nor worry about them; I simply need to concentrate on being completely devoted to Christ in my heart (1 Peter 3:14-15 Phillips).
You, dearest God, keep me in perfect peace, for my mind is steadfast, trusting in You (Isaiah 26:3). I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). Lord God, help me to remember You when I go to bed (Psalm 63:6). Please occupy my thoughts through the watches of the night, because when my mind is on You I don’t worry about other things.
I will be strong and of good courage and do the work; I will not fear nor be discouraged, for You, my God, are with me. You won’t leave me or forsake me until all the work is finished (1 Chronicles 28:20). Apart from You I can do nothing (John 15:5). But with You – we can do all things!
Father, when all other things have passed away, three things will remain: faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Help me prioritize my day by the things that will always remain. And, dear Lord God, please help me not to allow the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, or the desires for other things to come in and choke Your Word, making it unfruitful in my life (Mark 4:19).
Father, I thank You that I have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of Your dearly loved Son (Colossians 1:13). I commit to live free from worry, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). I humble myself under Your mighty hand that in due time You may exalt me. I cast the whole of my cares – all my anxieties _____, all my worries _____, all my concerns _____ – on You, since You care for me affectionately and care about me watchfully. (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Don’t let worry block your light.
Heavenly Father, Your Word says to rejoice always (Philippians 4:4), and not to be anxious about anything. But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to present any requests to You. Then Your peace, which transcends all my understanding, will guard my heart and mind – as long as I keep them both fixed on Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
Your Word assures me that You, O Lord, are good, a refuge in times of trouble, and You care for those who trust in You (Nahum 1:7). You also invite me to cast all my worries on You (Psalm 55:22). I know You will not forsake me (Isaiah 42:16). I will trust in You, O Lord; I will thankfully say, “You are my God; my times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:14-15).
Father, I cast down my bad imaginations and every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of You. Please teach me to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5). Thank You for guarding me and promising to keep me in perfect peace. Please teach me how to keep my mind stayed on You; I commit myself to You, my Lord; I lean on You, and I hope confidently in You (Isaiah 26:3).
I willingly lay aside the sin of worry that so easily entangles me (Hebrews 12:1). Instead, things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, if they be of good report or have any good virtue, or are praiseworthy, I will think on these things (Philippians 4:8). I strongly force myself to not let my heart be troubled (John 14:1). I abide in Your Word, and Your words abide in me. Therefore I will not forget what manner of person I am. I look unto Your perfect law of liberty and continue to do so, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the Word and thus I will be blessed in my doing (James 1:22-25). I thank You, Father, that You are able to keep that which I commit unto You (2 Timothy 1:12).
Father God, forgive me for worrying; I know I don’t have to bear my burdens alone. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for inviting me to come unto You, and for Your wonderful promise of rest (Matthew 11:28). Please teach me, Lord Jesus, and help me to take up Your yolk and to learn from You; for You are gentle and humble in heart, and I can find rest for my soul in You (Matthew 11:29). I gratefully receive Your peaceful rest as I lay down my burdens and worries at your throne.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You, O Lord, preserve my life. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes; with Your right hand You save me (Psalm 138:7). You, O Lord, are my shepherd; I have everything I need. You let me rest in green meadows; You lead me beside peaceful streams. You renew my strength. You guide me along right paths, so You can bring honor to Your name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil; my cup overflows with blessings. Please allow Your goodness and unfailing love to pursue me all the days of my life, and I will gladly live in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:1-6).
Lord God, Your Word assures me that nothing shall be able to separate me from Your love, which is in Christ Jesus, my Redeemer (Romans 8:38-39). You have promised to supply all my needs (Philippians 4:19), and I know You know all my needs even before I tell them to You (Matthew 6:8). Father, Your perfect love casts out all my fears and worries (1 John 4:18). In fact, You have commanded me not to worry, because it is Your good pleasure to give me Your kingdom (Luke 12:32). The great and precious promises of Your Word thrill me, O gracious Father (2 Peter 1:4). I praise You for taking all my worries.
Lord God, I have the assurance of Your Word that You, the Great God of All Grace, who called me to Your eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after I have suffered a little while, will Yourself restore me and make me strong, firm and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10). You, O Lord, love me with an everlasting love; You have drawn me with loving-kindness. You will build me up again, and I will be rebuilt. I will take up my tambourine and go out to dance with the joyful ones (Jeremiah 31:3-4).
Lord, I do not understand why You have allowed this trouble to assail me. It was after I began to follow You in obedience that this trouble was manifested in my life. I have exhausted all my possibilities for changing my situation and circumstances, and have found that I am powerless to change anything. I believe in You; help me overcome my unbelief (Mark 9:24). Not all things are possible with man, but I know all things are possible with You (Mark 10:27). I humble myself under Your mighty hand, knowing You will lift me up (1 Peter 5:6).
Trust God; He has promised to direct you out of or around your troubles.
Thank You, Father, for this trial of my faith which I recognize to be more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:7). Through prayer I know I am able to rise out of my discouragement. Therefore in everything – including these troubling circumstances – by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, I will let my requests be made unto You (Philippians 4:6).
Father God, You tell me: Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged (1 Chronicles 22:13). You say to me: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). And so, I rejoice! And I pray You will strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being (Ephesians 3:16).
Father, I seek Your peace and encouragement, because I know Your peace surpasses all understanding, and it will keep my heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians4:7). So, though I walk in the midst of trouble and discouragement, I know You will revive me, Lord. I humbly ask for You to stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemy [the devil, for all troubles can be traced back to him], and I know Your right hand will save me (Psalm 138:7).
Through Your grace I refuse to cast away the confidence You have imparted to me (Hebrews 10:35). I know You will continue Your workmanship in my life until Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6). In place of my discouragement, as I pray, I will be strong and take heart, because I continue to hope in You (Psalm 31:24). You have told me that Your thoughts and plans are for my welfare and peace (Jeremiah 29:11). Therefore, I will keep my mind stayed on You (Isaiah 26:3), then I can stop allowing myself to be agitated and disturbed and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled (John 14:27).
I have a great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, Your Son, and I hold firmly to the faith I profess in Him. He was tempted in every way, just as I am; yet, was without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15). Because of Jesus, and what Jesus had done for me, I approach Your throne of grace with confidence so I may receive mercy and find grace to help in my time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Father, what You have promised I will go and possess (Judges 11:24), in the name of Jesus. I will take hold of the eternal life to which I have been called when I made my good confession; to get back into the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). With the guidance of Your Spirit, I will throw off any sin that easily entangles, and will run with endurance the race You mark out for me (Hebrews 12:1). I am more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me (Romans 8:37).
Please teach me Your ways, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path [though I know it won’t be an easy one]. I will wait upon You; I will be strong and take heart, and I will wait on You (Psalm 27:11, 14). I will proudly say, O God, You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I will trust (Psalm 91:2). I rejoice in the encouragement Your Word brings to me, O Heavenly Father.
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for feeling dissatisfied. I repent of my boredom and dissatisfaction as I once again realize those who seek You shall not want for any good thing (Psalm 34:10). O God, You are my God. Early I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, and my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land. I long to see Your power and Your glory. Your loving-kindness is better than life to me. Therefore my lips will bless You and praise You. I will bless You as long as I live. I will lift up my hands in Your name. As I do so I know my soul will be satisfied as if with marrow and fatness, and my mouth will praise You with joyful lips (Psalm 63:1-5). As Jesus pointed out, the harvest is indeed plentiful (Matthew 9:37). Please enable me to eat in plenty and to be satisfied. I praise Your name, O Lord. Thank You for dealing so wondrously with me (Joel 2:26).
Oh, what a life worth living – to be filled with the fruits of the Spirit!
Dearest God, thank You for Your power which has given me all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). You teach me that godliness is profitable and valuable in every way, for it holds promise for my present life and the life which is to come (1 Timothy 4:8). Father, I repent for the many times when I have acted inappropriately by failing to exercise virtue in my situations; by unkind words, hatred, discord, jealousy or envy, fits of rage, selfish ambition… (Galatians 5:20-21). Lord Jesus, You came to save us from our sins. Please save me from these. And I ask You to forgive me and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thank You!
Now I take delight, gracious God, in Your exceedingly great and precious promises whereby You have made me a partaker of Your divine nature, through which You enable me to escape the corruption due the world (2 Peter 1:4). In all diligence, Father, I will exercise faith in Your promises so I may grow in virtue, knowledge and self-control. In this way, I know You will help me to develop greater patience and exercise godliness in all areas of my life (2 Peter 1:5-7).
Lord Jesus, You said that You have chosen me and ordained me so I would go and bring forth fruit, and that my fruit would remain (John 15:16). The apostle Paul urges us to be filled with the fruit of righteousness (Philippians 1:11). Therefore I commit myself to bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Father, send Your Spirit to help me renounce and turn from the fruit of the flesh, because I am Christ’s I am to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts (Galatians 5:22-24).
I know a seed cannot bear fruit unless it first falls into the ground and dies (John 12:24). I confess that I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live; yet not I but Christ lives in me. And the life I now life in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20). Father, I so want to be good ground, to hear Your Word and understand it, and let it bear fruit in my life – up to a hundred fold (Matthew 13:23).
Father, I thank You for filling me with the knowledge of Your Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that I may walk worthy of You, Lord God, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of You (Colossians 1:9-10). Gracious God, may I be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth fruit in its season; that my leaf will not wither, and whatever I do will prosper (Psalm 1:3).
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3); my God; my Father!
In the day of trouble, let us seek Him in His dwelling place.
Blessed am I because I trust in You, O Lord; my confidence is in You. I am like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes. My leaves will be green and I will not be anxious, even in the year of drought, nor will I cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8). All because You love me!
I did not receive a spirit that makes me a slave to fear, but received the Spirit of son-ship. And by that Spirit I cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with my spirit that I am a child of God (Romans 8:15-16). Therefore, since I am of a kingdom that nothing can destroy, I will serve God with thankfulness and holy fear and awe, for my God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28).
I have no fear of the One who loves me perfectly. His perfect love for me eliminates all dread. If I were to fear, it would show I am not fully convinced He really loves me. There is no fear in love; His perfect love drives out all fear (1 John 4:18). And when I love others, His love within me grows ever stronger (1 John 4:12).
Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus, acknowledging You as my refuge and high tower. You are a refuge and a stronghold in these times of trouble (Psalm 9:9). In the day of trouble You keep me safe in Your dwelling; You hide me in the shelter of Your tabernacle and set me high upon a rock (Psalm 27:5). Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident (Psalm 27:3). Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me (Psalm 27:7).
When I cry for help, O Lord, hear and deliver me out of my troubles. You are close to the brokenhearted and You save those who are crushed in spirit — crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent. Lord, many are the evils that confront me, but You deliver the righteous from them all (Psalm 34:17-19). Thank You so much for making me righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21).
My help comes from You, O loving Lord. You are my all-powerful Father who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2). I am glad as I rejoice in Your mercy. I know You are aware of the troubles I face (Psalm 31:7), and because You are, I am able to come boldly before Your throne of grace, realizing I will receive Your mercy and grace to help me in my time of need (Hebrews 4:16). I cast all my cares upon You because I know You care for me (1 Peter 5:7). I know no weapon formed against me will ever prosper, for this is my heritage as Your servant, O Lord (Isaiah 54:17).
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, I know You will revive me, O Lord. I believe You will stretch forth Your right hand and save me from my troubles (Psalm 138:7). Father, I believe Your promise that all things work together for good to those who love You. Thank You for calling me according to Your purposes (Romans 8:28). I bless You, Father, for I know You are the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Please comfort me in this time of trouble and tribulation. Help me to comfort others in the same way (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Thank You so very much, my gracious and loving Father. Thank You for being merciful and gracious to me, O my God. I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until storms are passed (Psalm 57:1). At Your tabernacle I will sacrifice with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to Your name, O Lord my God (Psalm 27:6).
Here we find seven parables of the kingdom meant for the crowd, not just for Jesus’ disciples. A parable is a figure of speech in which a moral or spiritual truth is illustrated by an analogy drawn from everyday experiences. It takes from one familiar aspect of life whose truth can be applied to another aspect. They present truths about the kingdom in this present day. Parables make a single point vs. an allegory where every detail has a symbolic meaning.
Finding the light in Matthew – the old and the new.
They are called “mysteries” because they were not revealed in the O.T., and they are revealed by Christ Jesus only to those who are properly related to the kingdom. “Mystery” is used because Jesus presents the direction the kingdom is going to take in the interval between the rejection of the King and when He, the King, comes to set up His kingdom. This segment of history was never revealed in O.T. times.
The nature of the parable is to involve the listener in the story so they discern the meaning for themselves (2 Samuel 12:1-7). Jesus explained these two parables probably to give His disciples encouragement when their teachings were not listened to, and to know that the harvest would still be great if they but persevered.
The first is a parable about the soils. Note the soils over the sower: the sower doesn’t’ change. The soil cannot till itself, but can allow itself to be changed. The soil that has no room for root depicts those who fall away the moment that belonging to God costs them something. But note, that even the good soil still needs watering and tilling and weeding and rotating. We all have to pay some price, just so we can allow God to change the soil we turn out to be. We don’t get to choose the seed, only the soil we can be. The good-soil people meditate on God’s Word until it brings understanding, showing them their shortcomings and weaknesses. So they cultivate the good fruit that shows they are growing (Luke 8:15).
The parable of the tares shows us that evil mixes into the good even in our churches. Jesus doesn’t want us to prematurely uproot all the weeds we see, lest we damage the tender roots of good seed. This tells me to not try to rid my mind of bad thoughts before I can act on good thoughts. I should step out and act on the good as soon as I can, and leave the bad to Jesus and His angles. Over time the weeds will get choked out, and we will bear more fruit.
The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast in the dough tells me the gospel starts from a small amount and builds — I may not even know how, but it builds. The Spirit is already at work in the world. The unseen power of God will work and can be trusted to produce a crop. I just have to do my part to water and till.
The hidden treasure and the pearl of great value shows the discipline I must submit to, but the supreme value of the find! The hidden treasure is like those who stumble on kingdom knowledge by accident. The pearl is like those who actually seek something of value and find the kingdom in their searching. No price is too great to pay. The net of tremendous catch informs me that no matter how it is found, only those worthy of the Great Catch are those who are gathered into the kingdom. Also of note is that I cannot separate good from bad while I preach and teach. God will do that part later.
We all live with demands for patience and zeal. We are tempted to rush in and pull up evil by the roots wherever we see it, but this may destroy fragile goodness trying to grow. Not only that, but we miss the plank if we go after specks (Matthew 7:3). Let us be lenient with ourselves and those around us.
Jesus’ final words of Matthew 13 state: “Every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” The Amplified Bible adds the phrase “the fresh as well as the familiar”. This statement has always plagued me; my understanding cannot grasp it.
Matthew Henry’s commentary states it displays a good householder with fruits of last year’s growth and this year’s gathering, abundance and variety, for the entertainment of his friends. I tend to like that explanation. But J. Vernon McGee says this is a personal verse, especially for those of us who teach and preach the Word of God. “But it is my business to bring forth old things; but I do hope to bring forth a few new things also.” This is my stumbling block. Do I trust myself in bringing forth new things? If I can bring forth “fresh” things along with the familiar, I consider myself lucky indeed.
The chief thing in prayer is the assurance that prayer will be heard and answered. The law of the Kingdom: he who asks, receives… Therefore, we must confidently expect answer to prayer. The Lord wants us to count on it that asking, seeking, knocking cannot be in vain. That Jesus thought it needful in so many forms to repeat this truth (Matthew 6:11-13; 7:7-8; 9:38; 18:19; 21:22) is a lesson of deep import! (Andrew Murray)
The vital connection between prayer and the promises: A promise should always be the basis of all our prayers, since the promises are our warrant for asking and our security for receiving what we ask for. We have no authority to ask beyond what God has promised.
Let us train ourselves to speak God’s Word. The Word tells us to be imitators of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:1). We are to imitate God as a child does his father. If a child imitates his father, he will walk like his father, talk like his father, and pattern his every move after his father. We should do no less after our Father God. (Charles Capps)
“Our Heavenly Father, faithful to His Word.” Therefore to know the Father is to know His Word. Let us trust Jesus. If we take His words in simplicity and trust Him by His Spirit to make them within us life and power, they will so enter into our inner being as life and power. He will teach us in due time how to understand them fully; meanwhile, let us begin by implicitly believing them. (Andrew Murray)
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I can ask or even imagine, according to His power that is at work within me, I give glory and honor and praise forever. AMEN. (Ephesians 3:20).
A daily confession to renew your thought life: I take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5). I am not conformed to this world, but am transformed by the renewing of my mind so that I may know the will of God (Romans 12:2). I lay aside the old self and I put on the new self which is being renewed in the likeness of God (Ephesians 4:22-24). I trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me (Psalm 138:8). I will accomplish what God has called me to do today. I fix my eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). I won’t be hijacked by lesser things but I will lay aside every encumbrance and sin that entangles, and I will run with endurance the race Christ Jesus has marked out for me (Hebrews 12:1).
Jesus is the Lord of my life. God is not weak toward me, but mighty in me (2 Corinthians 13:3). He is pushing me past any oppression or barrier that tries to hold me back. I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). And God has blessed me with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3), being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of my God (Colossians 1:10).
God has made available spiritual weapons to every believer – like the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, and the Word of God. The Lord has given us the authority of His Word – and in the Name of Jesus, things must change!
O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in times of distress (Isaiah 33:2).
Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not all of what prayer can do (Charles Spurgeon).
As we are led by the Spirit, things will become clear.
God wants us to see that ordinary people – you and me – can accomplish extraordinary things through prayer.
Jesus taught us to see God as “Father.” Jesus wants us to quiet down and really think about who we are addressing – the One who is above all, knows all, can see all; who wants us as His children, coming to Him and asking Him and depending on Him. “Our Father in heaven” not some remote, indifferent Sovereign, but a Father who taught earthly fathers how to love and care and listen and help their children.
There is no acceptable prayer until we can say “I will arise and go unto my Father” (Luke 15:18). This childlike spirit soon perceives the grandeur of the “Father in heaven.” The child lisping “Abba, Father” grows into the cherub crying “Holy, holy, holy!”
It is in a personal relationship to the loving God that prayer depends. It is in the knowledge of God’s “fatherliness” that the power of prayer will be found. Consecration to God, and His Will, gives liberty in prayer for temporal things, once the whole earthly life is given to the Father’s loving care.
The Father is longing to give the Spirit to us, if we will but ask in the childlike dependence on what He tells us. We need to ask for His special gifts and operations as we require them. As well as for Him to take entire possession of us, for His unceasing guidance. I must say in faith: I have what I ask, the fullness of the Spirit is mine! For what we have received and taken and now hold as ours, let us give thanks and continue steadfast in believing prayer that the blessing may breakthrough and fill our being. If there is one thing on earth we can be sure of, it is that the Father desires to have us filled with His Spirit, it is that He delights to give us His Spirit (Andrew Murray).
O Lord, to be honest, I am overwhelmed. I really wonder if I will ever be able to pray like Elijah (James 5:17-18). But, Lord, I truly want to learn. Please teach me how to pray fervently. Teach me the effective prayer of a righteous man that avails much (James 5:16). I’m going to ask and ask until it is mine (Luke 11:5-8). I know it is Your will. Thank You, therefore for hearing this prayer (1 John 5:14) that I ask in the name of Your Son, my Lord Jesus.
Your Word says the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). You also tell me that we are controlled by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in us (Romans 8:9). Your Word tells me to pray in the Spirit on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18), and to build myself up in my faith (Jude 20). My spirit is the candle of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27), and my spirit in me testifies that I am a child of God (Romans 8:16), born of the Spirit of God (John 3:5), filled with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18), and led by the Spirit of God (Isaiah 48:17).
Therefore, I will listen to my heart as I look to my spirit inside me. I am trusting the Holy Spirit to give direction to my spirit and illuminate my mind. As His love is perfected in me (1 John 4:12), I will have my anointing from the Holy One (1 John 2:20).
What a blessing it is to realize the same Spirit that raised my Lord Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in me (Romans 8:11). Because Your Spirit dwells within me, Lord God, I am able to be led by Him (Romans 8:14). Thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit, God Father. May I bring You a smile today as I learn to live by Your Spirit.
God's Word on That 