Thoughts for Life: LIFT UP THE WORD, LIGHT UP THE WORLD

(2 Sam. 22:29-31) "For you are my lamp, O LORD, the Lord shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him."

Kathy Branzell- "Jesus, we profess our faith in You. You are the Light of the world, and in You there is no darkness. For you are our lamp, O LORD, and our God who lights our darkness. (Be The Light of Jesus)

Forgive us for fearing and focusing on the darkness around us instead of being filled with faith and shining like the city on a hill You have called us to be. Forgive us for the times when we have been the absence of light, allowing darkness to dwell in America.

Lead us forward to dispel the the darkness and bring light throughout the Church, Family, Education, Business, Military, Government, Arts, Entertainment and Media.

We are saved by grace through faith, released from the darkness that once held us captive and now free to walk in the newness of life in You. Light dispels darkness and exposes what is hidden and wicked, so we commit to rise and shine!

For by You, Lord, we can take courage to run against the enemy, and by our God we can fight the good fight and keep the faith as living lampstands in our communities and country. We fear no evil for You are with us.

Lord, Your way is perfect, You lead us on paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Your Word is Truth, instructinig and inspiring us to live in the abundant life You gave when You saved us from the death and destruciton of the enemy. Fill us with truth as we read, study and live Your Word.

God, You are a shield for all those who take refuge in You. As we abide in You and Your Word abides in us, we take up our shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and run boldly into the darkness to Lift up the Word and Light Up the World! In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen!"

(A prayer witten for the 73rd Annuial National Day of Prayer, May2, 2024, as the president of NDP Task force.)

#20 Opening the Door to Power by Andrew Murray (A past post)

“Prayer is the greatest means of spiritual power and spiritual victory to you as a Christian. So Satan fears it more than all else you can do. Apart from God Himself and His heavenly beings, prayer is the greatest danger to Satan's purposes, plans and activities.” (Pg. 231 of MIGHTY PREVAILING PRAYER by Wesley L. Duewel)

#61 Quote from Joyce Meyer's book

HOW TO AGE WITHOUT GETTING OLD (pg. x) P.C.F.

“KEYS TO JOY AT ANY AGE:

LIVE SIMPLY.

GIVE GENEROUSLY.

RECEIVE GRACIOUSLY.

STAY GRATEFUL.”

1336-1340 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1336- Ps. 140:7a "O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation."

1337- Ps. 142 :2 "I poured out my complaint before him; I shared before him my trouble."

1338- Jer. 6:16a "Stand ye in the way, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

1339- Job 37:7 "He sealeth up the hand of every man; what all men may know his work.

1340- Is 28:14a "Wherefore hear the word of the LORD."

#62 Hymn- Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

The information about this song, is taken from the book by Robert J. Morgan, THEN SINGS MY SOUL (pg 9)

When Bernard (c. 1090-1153), a sickly youth in Dijon, France, was unable to fulfill military service, he became a monk. He became the most powerful preacher of his era, and remembered as a pious man, a deeply contemplative mystic, the "honey-tongued" doctor." Martin Luther called Bernard "the best monk that ever lived, whom I admire beyound all the rest put together."

Several well-known hymns are attributed to St. Bernard, Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee, was one of them.

Church Notes:

Only the growing pains of maturity produce stability and a humble heart. We need to hold tight to God's Word, and extend it in a manner the world can relate to. God will help us keep our balance in these trendy times, by just talking with Him. He is impressed with words, and wants to hear what's going on. We need to always keep His revealed will in our sight, always in our minds, always in our hearts.

Some encouraging words-

The place of prayer is the place where the decisive victory is obtained. In the church, on the mission field, and for the pastor and his congregation, everything depends on the faithful exercise of the power of prayer. The stronger our faith, the more earnestly we will persevere to the end!

Upcoming posts:

30th- PUTTING ON HUMILITY- Katara Patton

12/7th- PRECIOUS TO GOD- JASMINE GOH

14th- EXPECTING JESUS- Cindy Hess Kasper