Following the Spirtis prompting

 S -  Acts  17:16     (NASB)

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. 

O - Trusting in God's spirit in you is a key character trait of Christians who want to be in God's will.   Paul who was a missionary did not have a playbook rather often went where the spirit led Him and spoke what the Spirit of Jesus had revealed to Him on that road to Damascus.  

A - The application for me is to seek to wait on the spirt of God to provoke me with regard to some unrighteousness around me.    I am to act of the spirit of God and be His hands and feet wherever the spirit moves me to be.

P - Lord I pray for the gift of discernment so that I might be open to spirit in me prompting me where to go and do.   I pray that I could quite my inner thoughts and hear your still small voice within me and would obediently follow your prompting.  I pray all this in Jesus name, amen.

The Gospel for the whole world

 S - Act 15:7-11  (NASB)

Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that [d]in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

O -  The Gospel is simple and is for everyone, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son."    It is God's grace that saves and it is from God's chosen people Israel from whom salvation comes, in that Jesus came from Israel.  But the reconciliation of God with all of mankind not just those of the Jewish faith is God's plan for the entire world.   Today I think at times we Christians can create a tribe similar to Israel and place burdens on those that are not Christian by adding to the Gospel requirements to be known as a Christian.    But all who fall short are welcomed into a reconciled relationship God if they only accept the sacrifice Jesus made for them, this is the free gift from God which requires not actions other than to believe and receive. 

A - The application for me is to make sure I am not becoming a tribe of Christians but rather be a follower of Christ.   At work and at home my testimony should be how I follow Christ in my daily life and not simple membership in a local Christian church.   It is my life outside the church that will testify the Gospel to those who don't yet know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your message, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for all those that don't yet know Jesus in and around me.  I pray that you would use me as a witness to who you are and the love you have for everyone.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Walking in the gift of prophesy

 S - Act 2:17-18  (NASB)

‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all [q]mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.

O - God has a plan for us,  to pour forth His spirit on mankind so that they will no longer speak from their thoughts but rather echo the spirit that is within them.   They will speak of visions and dreams they will have of their future and thus will prophesy of things to come that they may be ready for the last days.  

A -  The application for me is to understand God's promise through the prophet Joel, that we will pour out His Spirit onto us so that we may prophesy.   Part of what I believe is God has intended me to have and learn to walk in this gift, for the service of Church,  and not for my own gains.   I must simply ask for His spirit to be upon me and allow His voice to instruct me in the plans He has for our future.  

P -  Dear heavenly Father thank you for your spirit and your message to me.  I pray Lord you teach me how to walk in the gift of prophesy and that you reveal to me your plans for the future of my family, my ministry, and your people.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Come humbly before the Lord

 S- Luke  18:131-14 (NASB)

 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be [f]merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

O -  Being humble of spirit is a key component of coming to God, not showing your righteousness but rather exalting God and not yourself.  If you come humble God will exalt you and answer your prayer because of your posture to Him.

A -  The application for me is to come humble to the Lord and present my request to restore my marriage, and show me how I am to love Abby.   I need to come humble, and seek the Lords ways and not my own.   Allow Him to show me how to love Abby, like he does.

P - Dear heavenly Father, I come to you humbly seeking your help,  I can't do this on my own.  I desire to love your daughter Abby how you do, so that she might blossom and flourish, rather than wither and die.   I pray lord you soften my heart and give me the words to lift up Abby.  I pray all this in Jesus name,  Amen.

Praise the Lord for my wife

 Prov 31: 29-31 (NASB)

“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who [s]fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the [t]product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

O - My wife is one of the noble daughters of God.   She fears the Lord and hears His voice and obeys.    I need to understand who God made Abby to be and appreciate and respect God's creation that He has gifted to me to be my wife.

A - The application for me is to acknowledge the Lord in all His ways, and specifically in His creation of my wife to be my companion and help mate.  I need to not treat her as the enemy or someone who is a barrier to my success but rather a partner with whom I gain the wisdom and heart of the Lord.  

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the gift you have given me in Abby.  Help me Lord to love her like you love her.  Help me to remember my first love and restore our relationship to where it once was.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.