Tag: #prayforothers

Why Is the Bible So Different From Any Other Book?

Today’s Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

Bible Text for Today’s Meditation and Application:

Psalm 119:130 King James Version (KJV)

130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

My Reflections on the Word of God Today:

I remember hearing the testimony of a Chinese man’s response to being exposed to the Bible; he asked, “Why is this book so different from any book I have ever read?”

Have you found that to be true in your life? The Bible is not like the textbooks we read in school. We learn by reading books, we gain information, insight and we grow intellectually. 

However, the Bible is different; when we read the Bible, it changes our lives. I remember many years ago listening to the testimony of a pastor at The Gideons International Convention who gave his statement of how the Bible transformed his life.

He read our focal passage for today, and that single verse changed his life. Some of his fellow soldiers who were Navigators invited him to join them in studying and memorizing the Word of God.

What a testimony of the power of the Word of God, and the God of the Word that resulted in the transformation in the life of this soldier; from a simple man to a preacher of the Gospel of Christ.

That my friends do not happen when you read science, mathematics, physics, literature, accounting, engineering or any other textbook. The book that changes lives is the Word of God; the Bible.

Isaiah 55:11 King James Version (KJV)

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Proverbs 3:27 King James Version (KJV)

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Prayer Offered to Our Father in Heaven:

Father God, we are so grateful that we have the Bible in a language we can read and understand.

Father, we pray that everyone would have the privilege of having the Bible in their native language. Father, we know that nothing is too difficult for You to perform.

Father, we pray that we would be used to share the Word of God so that others will have their eyes opened, and lives changed by the reading of the Bible. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Who Do You Turn to When You Have Problems?

Text:

Psalm 54:1-2 (ESV)

1 O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might.

2  O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

Observation:

In this Psalm David took the problems he was having with his enemies to God in prayer.

Was that a good plan? Let’s see what God says about His creation. This is God’s view of His created beings.

Genesis 1:26-28 (ESV)

26  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

28  And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

This is what God said about the creation of the first man and woman, “And God blessed them”.

We need to see people through the eyes of God. I remember Judas, who I just read about in the gospel of Mark; he betrayed Jesus. If we have problems with people, and we all do, we need to take our problems to their Maker in prayer.

There is nothing beyond the reach of prayer, when we have faith in God, and take all of our cares to Him in prayer.

Notice two important things about prayer that David mentions in Psalm 54. First, he says that God hears my prayer.

Psalm 54:2 (ESV)

2  O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

Then he says God is my helper.

Psalm 54:4 (ESV)

4  Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

The secret to effective prayer is to pray, watch, and wait. Then, when God answers your prayers,  be sure to give Him the praise.;

Psalm 54:6 (ESV)

6  With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.

Prayer:

Father God, it is such a privilege to be able to live in Your presence, and to be able to take everything to You in prayer.

Father, we approach You in faith, and with a heart filled with thanksgiving, and gratitude for You are a great and good Father.

Father, hear the prayers of Your people, as we each cry out to you for the needs of others, and our needs. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV) 
10   Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/