Tuesday prayer & verses (20 04 2010)

Thought for the day

Note: The following piece came to me "author unknown." It is not humorous,
but is designed to cause us to reflect. I hope you appreciate the change of
pace.

DYING TO SELF

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and
you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is
happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, that is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your
advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger
rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in all in patient,
loving silence, that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity,
any impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to-face with waste,
folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility -- and endure it as Jesus
endured, that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any
society, any raiment, any interruption by the will of God, that is dying to
self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record
your own good works, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to
be unknown, that is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can
honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God,
while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances, that is
dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature
than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding
no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, that is dying to
self.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever
desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My
sake will find it." (Matthew 16:24-25)

Verses

Revelation 12:11

But they have gained the victory over him because of the blood of the Lamb and of the testimony which they have borne, and because they held their lives cheap and did not shrink even from death.

Exodus 23:25

And give worship to the Lord your God, who will send his blessing on your bread and on your water; and I will take all disease away from among you.

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

John 14:13

Whatever you ask the Father in my name, I will do -- that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

2 Corinthians 9:10

God is the One who gives seed to the man who plants. And he gives bread for food. And God will give you all the seed you need and make it grow. He will make a great harvest from your goodness [giving].

Prayer

Father, I marvel at the trace of Your hand in my life. If I were to speak of the “stones” of deliverance and provision the first and most important “stone” would be the moment You delivered me from darkness and transferred me into the kingdom of Your light. You took the uncertainties of my life and gave me an eternal purpose for living. I am so grateful for the “stone” of salvation that is the starting point for the path of stones where I’ve seen Your hand in my life as I’ve experienced Your deliverance, provision and faithfulness every step along my pilgrim journey. Step by step, Lord, You walk with me on this straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal.