Don't Worry

This week’s Bible Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 'Never stop praying (Pray without ceasing)!' - We should never give up on this vital aspect – prayer. - We are encouraged to pray without ceasing. - We may need to be patient and wait for the answers. - Take your worries and concerns and make them a matter of prayer. PRAYER: Lord, I take this moment to present to You my cares and concerns. Instead of worrying, help me to pray about everything and thank you for what You are going to do in my situation. Amen.

Thankful Hearts

This week’s Bible verse: Colossians 4: 2-6 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. - The definition and application for devote here = to be strong - So we are to be strong in prayer, keep our minds alert and our hearts thankful - Not only for ourselves but especially for when we get the opportunity to talk to others Prayer: Lord help me to be strong

Living to Please God

This week’s Bible Verse: Proverbs 16:7 'When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.' - Endeavouring to please God is a good thing. - As we please Him He makes a way for us. - As we live a life that pleases Him, He gives us favour. - When we have His favour any situation can change. PRAYER: Lord, may my ways be pleasing in Your sight. May I live a life that brings You praise and honour. Amen.

Follow Me

This week’s Bible Verse: John 10:27 'My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me' - God wants to come and lead and guide you in this new day. - As His sheep, we can know and hear His voice. - He knows you and He knows what you are going through. - Follow Him as He leads you to the green pastures He has prepared for you. PRAYER: Speak Lord, this child of Yours is listening John Bailie

The Final Say

This week’s Bible Verse: Proverbs 16:9 'We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.' - God has the final say in all matters. - We can plan and decide, but He sets the course. - The best way is to plan according to His leading and guidance. - Give Him your dreams and plans and see what He will do. PRAYER: Lord, You are the One who determines my steps. May I step in sync with Your will so that my life can be effective and fruitful. Amen.

Growing

This week’s Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:7 'Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight.' - Often what we see with our eyes can distress and disturb us. - But our focus needs to be in a different place. - Our focus needs to be on ‘God, our Rock’. - This will build our faith and not rob us of faith. PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for sometimes allowing my life to be guided by what I can see when I know I should be living my life focusing on my faith in You. I choose to shift my focus so that my faith can grow. Amen.

God's Path

This week’s Bible reading: Galatians 4: 8- 11 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have laboured over you in vain. - It is easy for us to return to our old life when we take God for granted - We often do the same with our loved ones and finances - In this sense it is OUR choices that determine our way forward - It is clear that Paul was concerned about the path the Galatians were taking - It is also clear that Paul is urging the Galatians to chose God’s path Prayer: Lord God please show me your path so that my choices will be informed by You. I don’t want to take anything in my life for granted. Amen.

God's approval

This week’s Bible Verse: James 2:25 'The same is true of the prostitute Rahab who welcomed the spies and sent them away on another road. She received God's approval because of what she did.' - God has a purpose and plan with each one of us. - We may have made mistakes, but He still has a plan for us. - As we embrace Him, He will reveal His plan to us. - He wants to honour you for what you have done. PRAYER: Lord, thank you for Your purposes and plans for my life. I rejoice in knowing that even though I have made mistakes, You still have a plan for my life. Amen.

Life

This week’s Bible Verse: Job 33:4 'For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.' - The Lord is the source of life that you long for. - In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. - He is the giver of all life. - Let Him come right now and fill you with new life and hope. PRAYER: Lord, come sweet Spirit of God and fill me with new life and hope as I place my future in Your hands. Amen. John Bailie

Rescue & Protection

This week’s Bible Verse: Psalm 91:14 'Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.' - When we give God first place in our lives, there are many benefits. - Here, God Himself speaks and makes a promise to you and me. - The promise is one guaranteeing rescue and protection. - So let us love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength. PRAYER: Lord, I declare my love for You, oh Lord. You are the one true, living God. You are the desire and the longing of my heart and soul. Amen. John Bailie

Overcoming

This week’s Bible Verse: Isaiah 54:17 'No weapon that is formed against you will prosper. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,’ declares the LORD.' - Sometimes we can come under a tremendous attack. - Things can seem to be going wrong on every side. - God is your protection against any weapon formed against you. - He is your vindicator and He will cause you to overcome. PRAYER: Lord, You know the things that I am facing at this point in my life. I pray that You will cause every weapon that is formed against me to fail. Amen.

Peace

This week’s Bible Verse: Colossians 3:15 'And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.' - The state of our hearts affects our daily lives. - We have to guard our hearts in the course of life. - A secret is to allow our hearts to be guided by His peace. - Let His peace in your heart be like an umpire that settles things. PRAYER: Lord, sometimes my heart is in turmoil when I think of all the things I am facing. But today, I choose, to let my heart be guided by Your peace in each situation and on each day. Amen.

Blessed to be a blessing

This week’s Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:8 'God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.' - It’s God’s character and desire to bless and provide for you. - He wants to bless you in all things and at all times. - His purpose is to ensure that you have all you need. - As a result you can be a blessing to those around you PRAYER: Lord, I receive Your blessing and favour on my life. Provide for me in this new week and cause me to be a blessing to those around me. Amen. Have a good one JB

Dream - Hope - Ask

This week’s Bible Verse: Ephesians 3:20 'Now to Him Who is able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams!' - God has so many wonderful things in store for us. - How can He do more than our dreams, if we never dream? - How can He do more than we hope for, if we have no hope? - How can He do more than we ask, if we never ask? PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for giving up on those dreams, hopes and prayers that I have not yet seen answers to. I choose to ask, dream, hope and pray while knowing and believing that You have great things in store for me. Amen

Shelter

This week’s Bible Verse: Psalm 140:13 'Surely the righteous will praise Your name, and the upright will live in Your presence.' - God’s plan is that you and I should live in His presence. - He is a shelter that cannot be compared to any other. - His name has the power to save and deliver. - Call on His name and stay within His shadow. PRAYER: Lord, I praise Your name today and I choose to live within the ‘shadow of your wings’. You are my God and I will praise You. Amen.

Watching Over Us

This week’s Bible Verse: Genesis 28:15 'I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.' - God remains our faithful God. - He is with you and He is watching over you. - He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you. - It is His intention to fulfil every promise that He has given you PRAYER: Lord, thank you for this great reassurance. You are One who is the great restorer and I trust You with my life and my future. Amen.

Call Out

This week’s Bible Verse: Psalm 145:18 'The LORD remains near to all who call out to Him, to everyone who calls out to Him sincerely.' - It is our right and privilege to call on God. - He is close to all who call on Him sincerely. - I am so glad that we can do this. - At any time you and I can call on Him and ask for His help. PRAYER: Lord, I call on You today and I ask You to help me in those areas in which I am struggling. Thank you that regardless of what may be going on around me, You are close to me. Amen.

A New Day

This week’s Bible Verse: Isaiah 58:11 'The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.' - It’s a new day and it’s a day in which God wants to guide you. - He is continually ready to lead and guide each one of is. - He knows your needs and He knows how to meet them. - He wants to come and restore your strength each day. PRAYER: Lord, You are my guide. I choose to follow You. Guide me today and in the weeks that lie ahead so that I will walk in Your perfect will for my life. Amen. John Bailie

Strength

This week’s Bible verse: Psalm 84:5 'Blessed are those who find strength in you. Their hearts are on the road [that leads to you].' - Do you need strength today? - The Lord wants to be your strength. - Find your strength in HIM and not in other things. - Let Him come and empower and enable you right now. PRAYER: Lord, I receive Your strength into my life and body today. I will not try to do things in my own strength, but I take hold of the strength You offer me. Amen.

Peace

This week’s Bible reading: Romans 8:5-7 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. - Most of us want to live a life of peace - Paul says we constantly at ‘war’ with ourselves - We live in the world but are encouraged to live by the Spirit - If we want to live in peace, all we need to do is to submit to the will of God Prayer: Lord I submit to Your will and receive the peace Your Word promises. Amen.

Secret and Hidden Wisdom

This week’s Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 2: 6-7 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. - Christian maturity has to do with growth of the individual - Individual growth happens over time - Time holds the secret and hidden wisdom of God - Therefore, we need to take time to grow into the things of God Prayer: Lord please grant me the patience and fortitude to grow into Your everlasting wisdom. May it feed my everyday living and interaction with others. Amen.

More than Conquerors

This week’s Bible Verse: Proverbs 2:7-8 'He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones' - The Lord has victory in store for you. - He wants you to be an over-comer and to be more than a conqueror. - He will lead you and guide you. - As His faithful child you can rest assured you have a faithful Father. PRAYER: Lord, I commit this new week and the new month that lies ahead into your hands. Lead me and guide me and protect me I pray. Amen

Wait on the Lord

This week’s Bible verse: Hebrews 6:13-15 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. - No one can make promises like God - His promises are sworn by Himself - His promises therefore are deep and rich with the purpose of growing us - All we need to do is be patient and wait on Him Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your promises. Please help me to be patient as I wait on You. Amen

Going It Alone

This week’s Bible verse: : Isaiah 17:10 'You have forgotten God your Saviour; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress.' - Sometimes we think we can just do it alone. - We think we have enough strength within ourselves to handle things. - But soon we discover that we are destitute without God. - The Bible tells us that we should ‘remember our creator’! PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for thinking that I can do everything by myself. I need You Lord in my life. You are my God, my Saviour, my Rock and my Fortress. Amen.

Touch Someone's Life

This week’s Bible Verse: Matthew 25:40 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.' - How we deal with others is important to God. - People around you need your help and encouragement. - God wants to use your life to touch the lives of others. - Let your life be an instrument of blessing! PRAYER: Lord, may my life be more than just about me and my issues. May my life be an instrument in Your hand to touch and bless the lives of others. Amen.

Search for God

This week’s Bible Verse: Proverbs 11:27 'If you search for good, you will find favour; but if you search for evil, it will find you!' - Ultimately we will find what we search for. - If you search for more of God, you will find Him. - If you hunger and thirst for more of Him, He will come to you. - Therefore let us stay away from evil and pursue that which is good. PRAYER: Lord, help me to be able to make the right choices. I choose You Lord, above all else. Deliver me from evil and stir within my heart a longing and a desire for more of You. Amen.

Live Right

This week’s Bible Verse: Psalm 97:11 'Light shines on the Godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.' - When we endeavour to live right, we will walk in His blessing. - His light can shine on our lives. - When our hearts are right, we can enjoy the joy He has for us. - So arise out of darkness and into His marvellous light. PRAYER: Lord, help me to be able to live my live in such a way that it is pleasing to You. May I know what it means to walk in Your light and may I know that the joy that comes from You is my daily strength. Amen.

Do it For The Glory of God

This week’s Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:31 'So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.' - You and I can live our lives in such a way that it brings God glory. - It can change the way we live when we realize this. - Let’s be determined to live in this way. - Bringing glory to God should be the goal of all our actions. PRAYER: Lord, may my life bring You glory and honour. I submit to You my actions, my choices and my attitudes and I ask that these areas of my life will bring You honour and glory. Amen.

This week’s Bible Verse: Psalm 18:39 'You have armed me with strength for the battle.' - Sometimes it can feel like we don’t have the strength for what we are facing. - But God wants you to know that He has and will strengthen you. - Whatever the battles may be, He will enable you. - Receive His strength and enabling power right now. PRAYER: Lord, I receive Your strength and enabling power right now. You, oh Lord, know the battles that I am facing and I know that You will arm and strengthen me and cause me to walk in victory. Amen.

Confidence

This week’s Bible reading: Romans 11: 28-29 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. - This is an awesome truth and one that bring us further understanding of God. - He has chosen the nation of Israel as his own and he remains true to that choice even after their rejection of Jesus. - Once decided, God does not change his mind. - This is a comforting thought - God does not waver and change his mind like man does. - You can be confident before Him because he is not subject to whims and moods. - God never withdraws his calls or gifts - His grace is more than enough for us no matter how we have failed.