Elements that will always remain

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8

Have you a favourite family dish that you remember that special person making for you? I loved my Mum’s lasagna cooked in the wood burner oven and I also loved my Nanna’s spaghetti bolognaise. She just knew what herbs and spices set the dish off. Those family times around the table are irreplaceable. People talk about cooking and there being love in the sauce. If love really is noticeable even in our cooking, how much does the love of Jesus shine from our lives in the everyday. Because we know how loved we are, we can be free to love well. What is so important that it will never be outdated, left behind or obsolete? Love is forever and will be relevant forever. Hope, faith and love are elements that will always remain (1 Corinthians 13:13).  God fills us with the courage to have faith, to keep hoping and have love always.

Heavenly Father, thanks for your loving kindness that you have shown us by sending Jesus and your love that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

New creations

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

In Christ, we are new creations. How you view yourself, makes the difference between living ordinary or supernaturally. When you know your value in Jesus, that also helps us in the way we explain our “God life” to our children and how we help them to know their worth in the Lord. God has put our past in the past and we can step forward in our new life in Christ. Whenever you feel the pull of the pressure of your past on your present, bring the light of Scripture to every moment. The Lord wants us to break free from chains, by the Spirit of God.

Lord Jesus, thanks for your value of us. Help who you are shape how I live and to be able to help people on the way as well.

Surrender

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

The heaviness Jesus felt on that day, only God knows. What was required of Him took him all the surrender He could give. Gethsemane means the olive press. Jesus was there in the garden, being immeasurably pressed, praying that if possible, God could take the cup of suffering from Him. Yet He surrendered to the will of God. Thank God for Jesus. The drops of blood he sweated in deep emotion is what He went through for you and me. How blessed and hallowed is our Lord Jesus. We will be eternally grateful for all God has done to save us.

Lord Jesus, you prepared your heart for giving your life for us. Thanks for being my saviour and Lord. Help me surrender to you my all as you have exampled.

Life eternally

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Oh how much the Lord loves the world. He showed His love by sending His only son. God made us for eternity. He doesn’t want anyone to not believe in Him. When we are standing for those are yet to know Jesus, we are caring for those the Lord loves. God searches for sheep that are alone. He wants everyone to be a part of His kingdom forever. “Today is the day of salvation,” 2 Corinthians 6:2. Sometimes we can pray for souls, there can be seasons of prayer for souls. That is not the last resort. That’s where God’s power is release and potentially changes generations. Sometimes we can bring along people to Jesus, like Andrew introduced Simon Peter to Jesus (John 1:41-42). Sometimes we can tell people the gospel with words or with no words.

Heavenly Father, thanks for sending Jesus to earth, who gave His life for us. We ask you for souls Lord. We pray for opportunities for people to meet you, in Jesus’ name.

Taking the high road

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Forgiveness keeps our spirits light. If we can release people to the Lord and bless them, we are taking the high road. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 Remembering the big picture helps us understand how we can prayerfully respond instead of react. Big picture thinking causes us to be immovable in different circumstances and find our peace in Jesus. What do we do when forgiveness is hard? You may be surprised when you pray and bless people, your heart changes towards them. God can help us see them in a new way, the way God sees lives.

Lord Jesus, thanks for your love. Just as you have forgiven me, help me to extend your grace and mercy to people around me. Today, I bless and pray, knowing my need of your grace, is met with my sins being removed from me as far as east is to west (Psalms 103:12).

Everyday is the opportunity

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! Psalms 119:11

On our knees is where God does some of His best work. Everyday we have the opportunity to allow the Lord to search us.

“Search me, God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23,24 Tucking away the Word in your heart, gives the Holy Spirit the room in your life to bring that Word back to you, helping you and guiding you in the everlasting way. God is a jealous God. He wants our whole heart. He doesn’t just leave us empty, as we pour our lives to Him, the Holy Spirit fills us, refines us and is preparing us daily.

Heavenly Father, I bring my soul, will and everything to you. Purify me, work in my soul, motives and actions. Fill me with your Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name.

Grace of the Lord

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

When you are available to the grace of God, you become like a conduit of the blessing of the Lord to go past us to people around us. Being more reliant on Jesus, than what you are able to do for Him, is key to where God does great work using us. You’re saying, “Lord, I can’t depend on my own strength and ability, I need you Jesus.” Life application of shining Jesus is bringing all the glory to the Lord. Being the Lord’s is accepting that your weaknesses are reason to press in to Jesus and there praising His name. I’m not enough without the grace of God. Thank the Lord for another day to live for Him.

Heavenly Father, thanks for being the light that shines in our lives. Praise you that even in weakness, we are surprised by your grace causing your light to shine.

Closer

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

During Easter, as we reflect on all He has done for us, we can be drawn closer into His love, reality and redemption. You are fully known and loved by the Lord. Our Heavenly Father loved us so much, He sent Jesus, His perfect son, to die for us, for the saving of our souls. Praise God for His saving grace. We can now freely enter His presence with boldness, having an expectation of revelation of more of Jesus. The Lord loves when we seek Him and has much to tell us. We are blessed to live filled with the Holy Spirit. God has promised that He will pour His Spirit out on all people, seeing visions and dreaming dreams that will cause us wonder and in awe of Jesus.

Lord Jesus, I am so excited about you, who you are, what you’ve done and what you will do. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, as I seek you Lord.

Family values

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

You and I have been created uniquely and by design. God made each one of us special. Being made in His image, we reflect His glory. What you have in Christ is pure, precious and worthy of praising God. Each one of us has world views, and when we look into the Word of God, we can glean much help with how to see the world around us. Family values are so important in the formation and foundation of our culture. When you build on the basis of scripture, you build solid relationships.

Heavenly Father, thanks for your wonderful creation. Praise you for making us in your image.

Real love

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6

Real love finds happiness in what is true. When you base your life on the Word, you find yourself wanting to walk the Lord’s paths. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5 Our best life is living for Jesus. Each day we are surrounded by the love and mercy and He helps us through every obstacle. Knowing the Lord is to have peace in the midst of whatever comes your way.

Thanks Lord Jesus, my heart yearns to know your ways and your paths. Help me to walk in the way everlasting.

Learning from Jesus

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Ps Sidara Udalagama at church on Sunday was talking about how Jesus is gentle and lowly. He is approachable, so humble and His heart is open to you. In Him, your soul will find rest. He beckons us to come to Him. In His closeness, there is healing and the releasing of our burdens. What is keeping you down today? We are able to hand our burdens over to Jesus. The answer is in Him. Such a wonderful Lord we have. That He wants us to come to Him with our weariness and burdens and He takes that upon Him. When you give up trying and begin to open up to Jesus, you find an oasis of His presence, wisdom and grace. In what ways could you come to Jesus today? The gospel has the power to change our lives and how are we responding? We never graduate from needing the gospel. -Ps Sidara Udalagama

Heavenly Father, your presence brings such peace and healing. I bring you every weight and burden and all that makes me weary. I want your yoke and to learn of you Lord Jesus.

Expect God

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

The power of the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives doing more than we could ask for or even imagine. Expect God to move. Expect that as you go to pray for someone, God is bringing about miracles sometimes instantly, sometimes in time. We give everything to Him, our praise and worship, our very lives are His. As you think of all God has done, remembering the cross and resurrection, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, you will find yourself in praise. “When I think of the wisdom and scope of his plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth— that out of his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you the mighty inner strengthening of his Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 3:15,16

Lord Jesus, I am overcome with love and gratitude for all you have done. Praise you God for sending Jesus. Fill me with your Holy Spirit today. Help me expect you to move Lord.

Making room for the Holy Spirit

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Leaning on the Lord, making room for the Holy Spirit to move in your life, waiting on God is the place of renewal in Jesus. Today, place your hope in the Lord. He will give you the energy to fulfil His will each day. We are called not just to be good starters, the goal is to be good at finishing as well. Getting those moments when you’re connecting with the Lord, is where you will gain the vitality for running our race, or walking the distance. Gratefulness for the faithfulness of the Lord that we hope in. His grace is so needed for all He has called us for.

Lord Jesus, you make living for you effortless as an eagle soars. I delight in you Heavenly Father.

Blessed peacemakers

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

Rampart is a defensive wall or a city that is walled. That place you have in Jesus is protected from the attacks of the enemy of our souls. He shields us in hard times, so they don’t affect us as would usually. When we are walking forward in the Lord, we need to know the Lord is our protector. The safety of a young bird under the wings of a mother bird is the word picture of the comfort and peace and innocence of life in Christ. You and I are kept by the Lord. We are able to pray for our loved ones that God’s closeness and protection as they trust in Jesus. Our prayers are for peace in the Middle East and around the world. We can be peacemakers in prayer. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9

Dear Jesus, thanks for your love, comfort and protection. Help me step forward, knowing your intimacy and protection in the everyday. Believing for loved ones to know you Jesus, being close to you and protected. We pray for peace in war affected areas. Help our leaders to have wisdom and understanding.

Love for Jesus

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” Psalm 91:7

That relationship you have with Jesus, means you have God’s undivided attention. Talking with my daughter this morning about God, she asked, “how many times can you say Lord in a sentence?!” We were laughing together. So true and yet when you’re passionate about God, you can’t help mention Him so much lol. Acknowledging Jesus as you dedicate each day to Him is true worship. He wants to be a part of everything you about and do. The Lord cares about us collectively and as individuals. Our love for Him is noticed by Him and He has promised to rescue and protect us.

Lord Jesus, far from religion, you bring believing to real life today. Help me remember you in everything, amen.

World of grace

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

You are on the cusp of all the Holy Spirit has for you, as you practice devotion to Him. There is a whole world of grace in the will of God for us. As we live rejoicing, praying as a lifestyle and thanking the Lord in the ups and downs of life, we are walking in the will of God. Place your happiness in Jesus, our rejoicing in Him is eternal. Singing and dancing is a way we can rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to Jesus. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord” Ephesians 5:19 How wonderful as we encourage each other in the Lord. You are going to be encouraged as you build up your fellow believers.

Heavenly Father, thanks that we can be in your will, rejoicing, praying and praising you Jesus.

Praises

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Praise is fitting for Jesus. The Lord has made his home with us. How wonderful. We are his chosen people. As a community of believers, we carry the presence of God, wherever we go. “However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9. We are called to praising the Lord, every day of our lives. Declaring the works of God, is a good sacrifice to Jesus and blesses His heart.

Lord Jesus, thanks for dwelling among us, bringing peace to our souls. Praise you for your abiding presence.

Help in the Lord

I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? Psalms 121:1

There is one who we look to for guidance and help. God has the wisdom you need all for the asking. He loves when we come to Him and seek Him at every opportunity. God is reliable. We are blessed to have the technology of digital maps. As you enter in the destination wanted, the maps narrate your journey to your destination and is very useful. However sometimes the map doesn’t send you in the correct direction and you need to look at the map yourself to find your way to where you are going. Jesus will never send you in the wrong direction. You can always trust the Word of God. As we look to Him everyday, he will lead us and help us. “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5

Thanks Lord Jesus that I can always trust your Word. I commit all to you Lord.

Looking after you

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Have needs? Bring them to Jesus. God cares about you and the Bible says He will supply every need. When you ask the Lord for your needs, you are able to thank Him in advance, knowing that He will meet every need. That doesn’t mean we get what we may want all the time. Yet, before too late, God will always provide what you need. That’s why you can always be generous to the Lord and people, knowing God is looking after us. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 Many other translations say, “and all these things will be added to you.” God wants to bless us as we seek Him as our priority.

Father God, thanks for being so consistent in meeting all my needs. Help me live passionately for you Lord Jesus.

Believing

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3

Is easy to stay where you have always been, in the familiar. When we adventure in the unknown, or unfamiliar territory, there will often be kick back from your subconscious, that wants to keep you in the same way. If we are to be pioneering, we need to break out of our comfort zone and create new and fresh pathways in our everyday life. What can you do differently from what you usually do in mixing up your ordinary. Trusting Jesus is not knowing and just believing. God knows how to keep you secure in Christ on your journey. “For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]” 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Lord Jesus, help me live up to your promises and make new pathways in the everyday.