Showing posts with label word of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label word of God. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Day 11 - Intense Treatment - Living Water produces Fruit in dead areas

 Living Water, 

Thank you for the Living Water that you pour into my life.  Thank you that you have redeemed me, called me by name and I am yours.  When I pass through the rivers' waters or walk through fire I will not be overwhelmed because you, the Lord my God, the Holy One, my Savior, are with me.  Thank you for spiritual shepherds in my life that have guided me along the River of Life - gently but steadily moving me from places of living in your shallow water, to places of deeper communion with you.  Thank you for the beautiful and abundant fruit your Living Water has caused to grow up in my life.  Thank you that in places that seemed too dead to bring forth fruit, your Living Water has replaced the dead with life.  Thank you that your life-giving Spirit causes me to produce fruit in more and more abundance as I drink the Life of your Word.  Take me ever-deeper into your presence.  Increase the measure of your River of Life within me.  May the fruit you produce within me be abundant, healing, and life-giving.  In the living name of Jesus I pray, Amen! 


1  Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

    I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

    and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3 NRSV)


The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.

As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits[a] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah,[b] where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. 11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”  (Ezekiel 47:1-12 NIV)


1-2 Now he brought me back to the entrance to the Temple. I saw water pouring out from under the Temple porch to the east (the Temple faced east). The water poured from the south side of the Temple, south of the altar. He then took me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the gate complex on the east. The water was gushing from under the south front of the Temple.

3-5 He walked to the east with a measuring tape and measured off fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water waist-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river over my head, water to swim in, water no one could possibly walk through.

6-7 He said, “Son of man, have you had a good look?”

Then he took me back to the riverbank. While sitting on the bank, I noticed a lot of trees on both sides of the river.

8-10 He told me, “This water flows east, descends to the Arabah and then into the sea, the sea of stagnant waters. When it empties into those waters, the sea will become fresh. Wherever the river flows, life will flourish—great schools of fish—because the river is turning the salt sea into fresh water. Where the river flows, life abounds. Fishermen will stand shoulder to shoulder along the shore from En Gedi all the way north to En-eglaim, casting their nets. The sea will teem with fish of all kinds, like the fish of the Great Mediterranean.

11 “The swamps and marshes won’t become fresh. They’ll stay salty.

12 “But the river itself, on both banks, will grow fruit trees of all kinds. Their leaves won’t wither, the fruit won’t fail. Every month they’ll bear fresh fruit because the river from the Sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”  (Ezekiel 47:1-12 MSG)


Idea from:  https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=25704 

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Word of God, Speak

Sometimes we go through seasons in life when our prayer or Bible reading/study seems to be less energetic, less intense, maybe even of less interest. Every so often, I think, it is helpful to "be still" before the Lord and just listen to what He has to say to us. Lately, I have found several scripture verses resonating with me. So, my prayer this week is that God's Word would speak to each of us. [all scriptures are from The Message by Eugene Peterson]

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak*


Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (from Eph. 5)


God is strong, and he wants you strong....Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued...Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. (Eph. 6)


So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. (Php. 1)


Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. (Php. 2)


Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! (Php. 4)


[Fill] your minds and [meditate] on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. (Php. 4)


God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. (1 Thes. 1)


Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves. (Php. 4)


Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ. (Eph. 6)


I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say*

So, speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.

Amen.



*by Bart Millard & Pete Kipley; (c) 2002 Simpleville Music, Songs from the Indigo Room, Wordspring Music

Monday, November 2, 2009

Prayer for a friend

Dear Friend,

Your husband asked me to write a letter of encouragement to you as you attend a special women's retreat at your church this weekend. I think I will pray over you and let the Word of God work within your heart and mine.



"Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water!
Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat!
Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.
Buy without money—everything's free!

Why do you spend your money on junk food,
your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?
Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,
fill yourself with only the finest.

Pay attention, come close now,
listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.

Seek God while he's here to be found,
pray to him while he's close at hand.
Let the wicked abandon their way of life
and the evil their way of thinking.
Let them come back to God, who is merciful,
come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.

"I don't think the way you think.
The way you work isn't the way I work."
God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

"So you'll go out in joy,
you'll be led into a whole and complete life. (From Isa. 55 MSG)


Spirit of the Living, Loving God, as my friend enters into this weekend I pray first that she will be at peace with leaving the rest of her world behind for this short period of time. Help her to entrust her family into your care and to fully submit herself to your Spirit and grace.

I pray for her mind this weekend to not be cluttered by the cares of this world, but to be focused on your Voice, your Will, your Way.

I pray for her body this weekend that if she's struggling against any germ or allergy, you would heal her from that and return her to full health. I pray against any contaminates that would come against her and distract her from her focus this weekend.

I pray for her emotions this weekend, that where she needs healing you would be her Balm of Gilead. Where she needs comfort you would be her Comforter and turn her mourning into dancing. Where she needs peace, that you would calm the storm. Where she needs joy, may you fill her so full that her joy is overflowing.

I pray for her spirit this weekend. If there are specific questions she's asking, Lord hear her and answer her. If there are specific things you want to say to her this weekend, give her spiritual ears to know you, hear you, and respond. If there is a time and a way in which she can just relax into your arms of love and crawl up into her Abba Father's lap, Lord meet her there and hold her lovingly. May she go out with joy and be led forward in a whole and complete life.

I pray that your will would be done and your Kingdom come through this weekend. May you be honored and glorified in this time.

Amen.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Fix

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9 NLT)

Last week a friend and I were having a conversation that, in part, was about the struggles, worries, and fears we were each dealing with. At the end of the conversation we came back to this verse. Usually, I focus on that list of things to think about: things that are true, noble, authentic, excellent, lovely, etc. But when I reread the verse I was caught by the "FIX" at the beginning of the NLT. FIX your thoughts. Don't let them get distracted or led astray. FIX your thoughts on that which is of God. Then you (I/we) won't have to fight evil's barbs; when we are focused on God it's easy to discern what is not of God.


A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.


Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (Deut. 11:18 NIV)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... (Heb. 12:2 NIV)

But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD;
in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death. (Ps. 141:8 NIV)


And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him. ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," by Martin Luther)


Creator of the Universe, Fixer of our Salvation, Spirit of Life, we praise you for who you are. You are Light, Abundant Life, Peace, Joy, and Wisdom. You are far more than we can understand, yet we know we are precious and beloved children of yours. Thank you for offering us the gift of your grace in Jesus Christ and the Abundant Life lived through the Spirit's power. Thank you for the tools we need to fight the fears, worries, and struggles of this life and to fight against your enemy. Give us wisdom, give us courage, give us strength for the facing of this hour and these trials. Help us to FIX our thoughts and our actions on that which is honorable to you. Help our minds be filled with things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious; the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse; things honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable; things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Fix our eyes on Jesus and your Word in our souls. Make us more like Jesus as he works us into his most excellent harmonies. In the strong name of Christ we pray. Amen.


I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Philippians 4:8-9 MSG)