“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24 NIV).
Jesus stopped by a well and spoke to a Samaritan woman. The Jews believed that Samaritans were unclean, so they avoided Samaria. Jesus went to this place to show these people that they were precious to the Father just as the Jews were. He also went there to show his disciples that the Samaritans were people who the Lord loved also. He asked the Samaritan woman for a drink. This puzzled her because no Jew would drink after a Samaritan. Then he proceeded to ask her to go get her husband. She said she had no husband and he told her that he knew that she had had 5 husbands and the one she was living with now wasn’t her husband. She was amazed that he knew that. She called him a prophet and said she knew the Messiah was coming. Jesus told her that he was the Messiah. He than told her that the Samaritans must worship God in spirit and in truth. That was when she ran and told everyone to come and meet the man who told her everything she did. It is because of this that many in her town believed in Jesus.
Jesus knows you inside and out, just as he knew all about the Samaritan woman’s life. He knows what you think in your heart that nobody else knows. You may think that you have secrets, but you don’t because Jesus knows everything about you, just as he knew everything about this Samaritan woman. Here is the wonderful part: even when you have sinned, Jesus is there to say that He loves you and will forgive you if you confess. He told this woman that he was able to give her living water that would well up to eternal life. (John 4:13) If you are a Christian eternal life is awaiting you also.
He also told her that instead of worshiping God on a mountain or in Jerusalem that true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Truth is important to God. The Lord will not abide lies because Satan is the Father of Lies. Jesus spoke of Satan as being a liar: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NIV). Jesus always spoke the truth and those who love Him must worship the Lord in spirit and truth. It is important for you to be truthful in your relationship with the Lord and with others.
Dear Lord,
Help us to be truthful to you and to others knowing that you cannot abide lies. The world tells us lies that are tempting to believe. Help us to follow your word as a guide and be in a constant relationship with you so that we won’t be tempted to follow ways that aren’t pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Taming Your Tongue by Ann Elaine Broughton
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless" (James 1:26 NIV).
James wrote about the tongue and how hard it is to tame. "....but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness" (James 3:8-9 NIV). James does not mince words. When was the last time you were a victim of words spoken in haste that hurt you in some way? As Christians we must think before we speak because those who are outside of the Lord will condemn us if we say hurtful things about others. Filtering our thoughts through the Holy Spirit will help us speak words that will build others up instead of bringing them down. “…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV).
If you are ever tempted to say anything about anyone behind his/her back that would hurt his/her feelings, stop and say to yourself, “If this person was sitting next to me, would I be saying this?” This includes what you write to others on email and texting. Words are powerful. They can end careers, bring tears to eyes, and destroy lives. They can also change lives for the better, give hope, encouragement, and praise.
What kind of words have you been speaking lately? It is time to reflect on this. People judge you by your words. Are you careful in your speech? Have you said words about others that would make them sad if they heard them? It is time for you to pray and ask God to help you to control your speech so that the words you speak are ones of encouragement, peace, and love. Be an encourager this week in your speech and think before you say something that might hurt others.
Dear Lord,
I ask you to help me to pray before I speak so that I won’t hurt other people’s feelings in any way. I know that my words should be like those of Christ; full of grace, truth, peace, and love. Help me to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Let my words bring joy to those around me, instead of sadness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
James wrote about the tongue and how hard it is to tame. "....but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness" (James 3:8-9 NIV). James does not mince words. When was the last time you were a victim of words spoken in haste that hurt you in some way? As Christians we must think before we speak because those who are outside of the Lord will condemn us if we say hurtful things about others. Filtering our thoughts through the Holy Spirit will help us speak words that will build others up instead of bringing them down. “…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV).
If you are ever tempted to say anything about anyone behind his/her back that would hurt his/her feelings, stop and say to yourself, “If this person was sitting next to me, would I be saying this?” This includes what you write to others on email and texting. Words are powerful. They can end careers, bring tears to eyes, and destroy lives. They can also change lives for the better, give hope, encouragement, and praise.
What kind of words have you been speaking lately? It is time to reflect on this. People judge you by your words. Are you careful in your speech? Have you said words about others that would make them sad if they heard them? It is time for you to pray and ask God to help you to control your speech so that the words you speak are ones of encouragement, peace, and love. Be an encourager this week in your speech and think before you say something that might hurt others.
Dear Lord,
I ask you to help me to pray before I speak so that I won’t hurt other people’s feelings in any way. I know that my words should be like those of Christ; full of grace, truth, peace, and love. Help me to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Let my words bring joy to those around me, instead of sadness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Monday, October 12, 2009
Prayer Conquers Stress by Ann Elaine Broughton
“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray”(Matthew 14:23 NIV).
Are you stressed? Is there something happening in your life that is stressing you and you feel that you don’t have any control over it? What are you doing about it?
I will tell you what Jesus did when he was stressed. The above verse refers to a time in Jesus’ ministry when he was stressed tremendously. He had been to his hometown teaching and nobody believed in him and there were few miracles performed there due to their lack of faith. (Matthew 13:53-58) That had to have hurt him tremendously. The people he had grown up with didn’t believe in him.
Shortly after that he was told that John the Baptist had been killed. When Jesus heard about this he went off to a solitary place in a boat. But when he landed a large crowd enveloped him wanting to be healed. A crowd of 5,000 sick and needy people pressed in on him. After healing many it was evening and they needed to be fed. So Jesus prayed over 5 loaves of bread and two fish and the crowd was fed, with 12 basketfuls left over. He had to have been exhausted after such a day.“Immediately, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Matthew 13:22,23 NIV).
When Jesus was stressed he went to a quiet spot to pray to his Father. When you feel stressed you need to take some quiet time alone with God. It is there at the Lord’s feet that you can find the peace you need in order to face any obstacle that life throws at you. Think about it. Before Jesus faced the cross, he went to the garden to pray and cry out to his Father in Heaven. It is through that prayer that he gained the strength to face what he knew would be torturous pain and agony. That strength is available to you also.
Paul mentions the power that can help you in his letter to Ephesians:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph.3:16 NIV). The strength you need is just a prayer away. Call on the Lord and He will give you peace. Nothing is too hard for God.
Dear Lord,
My life is constantly being bombarded with issues that cause stress. Help me to trust you with my stresses knowing that you will give me the peace I so desperately need. Help me to take time each day to spend in quiet solitude praying to you just as Jesus did.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Are you stressed? Is there something happening in your life that is stressing you and you feel that you don’t have any control over it? What are you doing about it?
I will tell you what Jesus did when he was stressed. The above verse refers to a time in Jesus’ ministry when he was stressed tremendously. He had been to his hometown teaching and nobody believed in him and there were few miracles performed there due to their lack of faith. (Matthew 13:53-58) That had to have hurt him tremendously. The people he had grown up with didn’t believe in him.
Shortly after that he was told that John the Baptist had been killed. When Jesus heard about this he went off to a solitary place in a boat. But when he landed a large crowd enveloped him wanting to be healed. A crowd of 5,000 sick and needy people pressed in on him. After healing many it was evening and they needed to be fed. So Jesus prayed over 5 loaves of bread and two fish and the crowd was fed, with 12 basketfuls left over. He had to have been exhausted after such a day.“Immediately, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Matthew 13:22,23 NIV).
When Jesus was stressed he went to a quiet spot to pray to his Father. When you feel stressed you need to take some quiet time alone with God. It is there at the Lord’s feet that you can find the peace you need in order to face any obstacle that life throws at you. Think about it. Before Jesus faced the cross, he went to the garden to pray and cry out to his Father in Heaven. It is through that prayer that he gained the strength to face what he knew would be torturous pain and agony. That strength is available to you also.
Paul mentions the power that can help you in his letter to Ephesians:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph.3:16 NIV). The strength you need is just a prayer away. Call on the Lord and He will give you peace. Nothing is too hard for God.
Dear Lord,
My life is constantly being bombarded with issues that cause stress. Help me to trust you with my stresses knowing that you will give me the peace I so desperately need. Help me to take time each day to spend in quiet solitude praying to you just as Jesus did.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Sunday, October 4, 2009
A Worthy Calling by Ann Elaine Broughton
“….we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith” (1 Thes. 1:11 NIV).
"God, I pray thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus" this quote was from a journal entry Jim Elliot wrote in college.* Jim Elliot was a missionary in Ecuador in the ‘50’s. He and his friends were trying to make contact with a very violent tribe called the Auca. During this time, Jim and his wife had many struggles in their mission field. He had a fever for a whole month, their first home was a thatched hut full of cockroaches, and there was rain from December to April which caused the new buildings to be washed away. In spite of these setbacks, Jim kept working for the Lord and in the end sacrificed his life as a martyr so that the Auca Indians may know God’s peace instead of the hatred and murder that their tribe had been trapped in. God had not forsaken them at their death, or their cause. When they died the Auca Indians saw angels above the treetops and heard music. It is because of this that the missionaries’ wives were able to bring Christ and His saving grace to a very violent tribe.
God has called each one of you in a special way, and you must be worthy of that calling. Your motto should be like Jim’s; you should feel the burning of His will searing your soul to do whatever He has called you to do. According to the above verse His power is available to you to fulfill every good purpose you have. You are not asked to do this on you own. God is calling you to do something big for him where you are. You must be strong and brave and step out with complete faith to do it. You are called, now you must be the one to make a difference in someone’s life.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for calling me to serve you. I know with your power to help me, I can do all things. There are those who need me to show them about your love and grace. Help me not to be afraid of the unknown, but to trust that you will work in people’s hearts so that they will hear my words of truth and will be set free from sin.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
*The quote is taken from Jim Elliot's journal which was found in the following book : Kathleen White, Jim Elliot, Men of Faith Series. Bethany House Publishers 1990.
"God, I pray thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus" this quote was from a journal entry Jim Elliot wrote in college.* Jim Elliot was a missionary in Ecuador in the ‘50’s. He and his friends were trying to make contact with a very violent tribe called the Auca. During this time, Jim and his wife had many struggles in their mission field. He had a fever for a whole month, their first home was a thatched hut full of cockroaches, and there was rain from December to April which caused the new buildings to be washed away. In spite of these setbacks, Jim kept working for the Lord and in the end sacrificed his life as a martyr so that the Auca Indians may know God’s peace instead of the hatred and murder that their tribe had been trapped in. God had not forsaken them at their death, or their cause. When they died the Auca Indians saw angels above the treetops and heard music. It is because of this that the missionaries’ wives were able to bring Christ and His saving grace to a very violent tribe.
God has called each one of you in a special way, and you must be worthy of that calling. Your motto should be like Jim’s; you should feel the burning of His will searing your soul to do whatever He has called you to do. According to the above verse His power is available to you to fulfill every good purpose you have. You are not asked to do this on you own. God is calling you to do something big for him where you are. You must be strong and brave and step out with complete faith to do it. You are called, now you must be the one to make a difference in someone’s life.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for calling me to serve you. I know with your power to help me, I can do all things. There are those who need me to show them about your love and grace. Help me not to be afraid of the unknown, but to trust that you will work in people’s hearts so that they will hear my words of truth and will be set free from sin.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
*The quote is taken from Jim Elliot's journal which was found in the following book : Kathleen White, Jim Elliot, Men of Faith Series. Bethany House Publishers 1990.
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