Thursday prayer & verses (09 04 2009)

Thought for the day

A first grade teacher seated her students in a circle. She asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. One by one, each child got up and announced,

"I'd like to be a nurse like my mother," or "I want to be a banker like my father," or "I want to be a teacher like you, Miss Smith.

"The last child to speak was the most shy and timid little boy in the class. He said, "When I get big, I'm going to be a lion tamer in the circus. I'm going to face those animals with my whip and chair and make them leap through hoops of fire and obey all of my commands."

Seeing the disbelieving looks on the faces of his classmates that he could ever act so boldly or bravely, he was quick to reassure them, "Well, of course, I'll have my mother with me."We are sometimes shy and timid about standing up for Christ in the midst of an immoral society. We keep quiet when we ought to speak up. We cower when we ought to take a stand. Where do we get the inner strength to be bold and brave? Only through the assurance that we have Christ by ourside.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13).With that knowledge, take courage today to do something for God that you'vebeen hesitant to do.

Verses

Revelation 12:11

By the sacrifice of the Lamb and by the witness they bore, they have conquered him; faced with death they did not cling to life.

Mark 1:34

Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Matthew 12:36-37

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Luke 18:1

Then Jesus used this story to teach the followers that they should always pray and never give up:

Proverbs 22:7

The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I contemplate the infinite grace and self restraint You displayed as You were repeatedly assaulted by those who crucified You. As they hurled insults You prayed for them. As they ripped human flesh Your blood flowed for their sin. As they blasphemed Your name, You brought their name before the Father. With each pounding of the nail Your heart pounded with irrepressible love for all who mocked You. You took our sins and made them Your very own as You bore our burdens on Calvary. How marvelous and incomprehensible is Your selfless love for me!