Memorization Monday - Ephesians 2:6-7

Eph 2:1-7 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

God sees us as having died with Christ and being raised with him. Then this passage goes even farther to say that we have been seated with him in heavenly places. Several truths flow from this that we don't have time to go into here, but it means that we have died to sin and we have died to the law through Christ. That puts us on entirely new ground for living a victorious Christian life. In the last part of this passage we see the whole plan of God summarized -- God is going to demonstrate for ages to come the exceeding riches of His grace. God wants everyone to know how good and how gracious he is and our salvation is the best means to demonstrate that.

The Blessing of Godly Parents

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.   Psalm 16:6

The providence of God designates the family out of which we should rise.  This affects both our temporal and eternal good.  If your family feared God, and took care to train you up in the nurture of the Lord, you can reckon this among your chief mercies to spring from such parents.  What a mercy to have parents that prayed for us before they had us, as well as in our infancy when we could not pray for ourselves!  At the throne of grace they poured out their souls so affectionately for you, carrying all your concerns, especially your eternal one before the Lord.  They prayed weeping with their heart-strings breaking for you.  O put a value upon such mercies for they are precious!  To have parents that nipped in the bud the outbreak of your corruptions by their pious and careful discipline.  They carefully instilled the knowledge of God into your souls in your tender years.  As no pain, care, or cost was too much for our bodies to feed and clothe us, so they considered no prayer, counsel, or tears too much for our souls that we might be saved.  They knew that a parting time would come, and strove to make it as easy and comfortable to them possible by leaving us in Christ.  They were not satisfied with mere physical health, but desired that we were in grace.  There was nothing more desirable than to be able to say in the great day, ‘Lord, here I am, and the children which you have given me!’  How many children are drawn headlong to hell by their ungodly parents who teach them to curse and swear as soon as they can speak!  Ah, my friends!  Let me beg you to take special note upon this divine providence to have parents as a pattern of holiness that beat the path to heaven for us by their example.  Let your hearts become thoroughly warmed in the sense of it.

From Voices from the Past, Puritan Devotional Readings, Page 337. From the writings of John Flavel, 17th century.

Memorization Monday - Ephesians 2:4-5

Ephesians 2:1-7 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.


I love this passage of Scripture.  It reminds us that even when we were dead and followed the downward path of sinful, fallen man, God reached down and raised us up from the dead and gave us life. This was totally by the grace of God, unrelated to any merit we may think we have. God sees us as having died with Christ on the cross and were raised with him. According to Romans 6, this is the ground of our victory.

Hymn of the Week - Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God

Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God - by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend

Holy Spirit, living breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Let the presence of the risen Lord,
Come renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see,
Give me passion for Your purity;
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within,
May Your joy be seen in all I do.
Love enough to cover every sin,
In each thought and deed and attitude.
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my strivings into works of grace;
Breath of God show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once again on earth,
Cause Your church to hunger for your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise;
Lead us on the road of sacrifice,
That in unity the face of Christ
May be clear for all the world to see.
- See more at: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/holy-spirit-living-breath-of-god/#sthash.nS3tBaN2.dpuf

 Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see;
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

Holy Spirit, come abide within;
May Your joy be seen in all I do—
Love enough to cover ev'ry sin
In each thought and deed and attitude,
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my striving into works of grace.
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.

Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show your power once again on earth;
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise.
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see.

Hear it here on youtube. 

Holy Spirit, living breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Let the presence of the risen Lord,
Come renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see,
Give me passion for Your purity;
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within,
May Your joy be seen in all I do.
Love enough to cover every sin,
In each thought and deed and attitude.
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my strivings into works of grace;
Breath of God show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once again on earth,
Cause Your church to hunger for your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise;
Lead us on the road of sacrifice,
That in unity the face of Christ
May be clear for all the world to see.
- See more at: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/holy-spirit-living-breath-of-god/#sthash.nS3tBaN2.dpuf

Holy Spirit, living breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Let the presence of the risen Lord,
Come renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see,
Give me passion for Your purity;
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within,
May Your joy be seen in all I do.
Love enough to cover every sin,
In each thought and deed and attitude.
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my strivings into works of grace;
Breath of God show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once again on earth,
Cause Your church to hunger for your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise;
Lead us on the road of sacrifice,
That in unity the face of Christ
May be clear for all the world to see.
- See more at: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/holy-spirit-living-breath-of-god/#sthash.nS3tBaN2.dpuf

Holy Spirit, living breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Let the presence of the risen Lord,
Come renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see,
Give me passion for Your purity;
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within,
May Your joy be seen in all I do.
Love enough to cover every sin,
In each thought and deed and attitude.
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my strivings into works of grace;
Breath of God show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once again on earth,
Cause Your church to hunger for your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise;
Lead us on the road of sacrifice,
That in unity the face of Christ
May be clear for all the world to see.
- See more at: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/holy-spirit-living-breath-of-god/#sthash.nS3tBaN2.dpuf

Even You were as One of Them

“Even you were as one of them.” Obadiah 1:11

Brotherly kindness was due from Edom to Israel in the time of need, but instead, the men of Esau joined ranks with Israel’s enemies. Special stress in the sentence before us is laid on the word you; just as when Caesar cried to Brutus, “and you Brutus;” a bad action may be all the worse because of the person who committed it. When we, who are the chosen favorites of heaven, sin, we sin with an emphasis; ours is a crying offence because we are so especially favored. If an angel should lay his hand upon us when we are doing evil, he does not need to use any other rebuke than the question, “What you? What are you doing here?” Much forgiven, much delivered, much instructed, much enriched, much blessed, shall we dare to put forth our hand unto evil? God forbid!

A few minutes of confession may be beneficial to you this morning. Have you never been as the wicked? At an evening party certain men laughed at uncleanness, and the joke was not altogether offensive to your ear, even you were as one of them. When hard things were spoken concerning the ways of God, you were bashfully silent; and so, to onlookers, you were as one of them. When worldlings were bartering in the market, and driving hard bargains, were you not as one of them? When they were pursuing vanity with the drive of a hunter, were you not as greedy for gain they they were? Could any difference be discerned between you and them? Is there any difference? Here we come to the crux of the issue. Be honest with your own soul and make sure that you are a new creature in Christ Jesus; but when this is sure, walk jealously, lest any should again be able to say, “Even you were as one of them.” You would not desire to share their eternal doom, why then be like them here? Do not come into their secret doings, lest you come into their ruin. Side with the afflicted people of God, and not with the world.

Taken from Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, passage for the morning of July 23.

The Hardest Commandment?

Jesus said the greatest commandment is that we should love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as our self. That commandment is extremely difficult because of the word all. And it is a difficult commandment to be sure. But another commandment seems even more difficult for me, especially at the daily, practical level. What is that commandment? It is this: Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing.

We are so used to complaining about everything. We complain about how slowly the traffic is moving. We complain about how long the winter is lasting. We argue about a referee ruling in basketball. Why do we do this? What I've discovered for myself is that I actually want to be the one in charge. Not just the one in charge of the weather or the traffic light timers, I want to be in charge of the universe. What I do when I complain is desire to be God. Isn't that really what we're doing? So why does God tell us not to complain about anything? It's because this sin is at the root of all sin. It is the sin of desiring to replace God. We are saying we don't agree with the way God is doing his job and we can do it better.

God has proven himself to be loving and faithful. Look at this description from the Scriptures: Psalm 145:8-9 “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.” To complain is to say that God is not good. He is not gracious. His mercy isn't as great as it should be. The list can go on and on.

So what should we do if we find ourselves in a complaining frame of mind? The first thing we need to do is call it what it is – a sin. The second thing we need to do is to confess our sin to God. His promise is that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). The last thing we need to do is to develop a thankful and contented heart. This is not easy. We need to take the time to list either mentally or on paper the things we are thankful for. It's especially helpful to develop thankfulness related to the situation you're complaining about. If you're complaining about traffic on the way to work, you might express thanks for a job, or a car to take you to work, or roads that are paved for you to drive on. Taking the time to be disciplined enough to do this will help you overcome the temptation to complain and argue.

Additional Thoughts on Prayer - Richard Sibbes

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:8

In the things we ask for in prayer, God knows the proper time so the answers are good for us. God gives us his cheque, but he will pay at his pleasure. The time is concealed in hidden to us, though not uncertain to God. Abraham bound Isaac and his hand was lifted up to kill, but deliverance came at the right moment. There are several reasons why the Lord delays to help and hear us. (1.) That our faith and dependence on him might be better tried. We know from experience that though the way is sore and we must be courageous, the outcome is joyful. Though the way is better, the victory will be great. The woman of Canaan had a good cause, but the Lord put her off that he might display her faith to us forever (Matt. 15:28). (2.) Sometimes it is done to humble us. ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ (James 4:6). Until we are nothing in our own eyes, he never comes with comfortable deliverance; or until we come to that pinch in which we cry, ‘Lord, how long?’ as Paul said of himself (Cor. 1:9). The Lord took away his hope of life that he might be humbled and know the only place to find life, help, and comfort in all his extremities. (3.) God puts us off longer to quicken our appetite. We are unwise to think that he intends to put us off forever. God does not want us to give up, but to press him so much the more. This experience once found is very sweet, though it smarts at the beginning. (4.) He delays and puts off our request to enhance the value of the. What comes lightly, goes lightly. We highly prize that which cost us dear. If the things of God did not cost us sighs and tears, we would think them easy to be had. God therefore, to enhance their value, keeps them off that we may know their true price.

Read more at http://creationrevolution.com/2012/11/daily-devotional-for-everyone-who-asks-receives/#bLaZ1LJU5UuCLQw2.99

Some Thoughts on Prayer by Richard Sibbes

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.
 Mathew 7:7

This duty suggests diligence and prayer. Every Christian who seeks to be a true one in deed and not name only must be a man of prayer. Prayer is like an investment in bonds that give a future return for your investment. Prayer is most certain to increase more. There are, however, a great many Christians hold compliments and discouragements and prayer: ‘I have prayed for so long and I am worse; I had better leave off, seeing I am not better for it.’ But there are conditions and limitations that God has revealed to us in his Word that must be considered. The first condition on our part is that we are in the state of faith and repentance. The promises are for those in Christ. Secondly, we must pray according to God’s nature and will. Some things are ill for us, and if God does not hear us in them, Christ will not forfeit his word, but we must forfeit our prayers. You must also have the right motive in prayer (James 4:3). The order of our desires is also important. There will be no speedy answer for temporal things if we are not first seeking the kingdom of God. If your desires are crossed, it is not because he put you off without hearing, but he desires to teach you a better way. He desires to teach you what is most important. We may further note that our prayers should be offered in faith, humility and fervency. Delays teach us to watch and pray with perseverance, waiting in hope until God hears us (Psa. 40:1-2). Waiting causes us to focus upon him. If we are earnest, we will not go away until we speak with him. Faith remains at the door until he comes. All of us fail in this; we do not wait until we obtain. Let us not blame the Saviour whose promise is firm without change. If we would learn to wait, we would hear more from him.

Read more at http://creationrevolution.com/2012/11/daily-devotional-ask-and-it-will-be-given-to-you-2/#K8EQrgwWVL1Vwucc.99

Memorization Monday - Ephesians 2:1-3

Eph 2:1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

These verses are part of a series called "Fighter Verses". The entire list can be accessed here.

Hymn of the Week - Spirit of God, Descend Upon my Heart

 Spirit of God, Descend Upon my Heart, by George Croly

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The kindling of the heaven descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame

What is Our Problem?

Recently I read a discussion about what our basic human failure or sin is. One person thought it had to do with the fact that we're not as loving as we need to be. “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” There definitely needs to be more love. But is that the core, the root of our problem? I don't think so.

I believe the scriptures explain the basis of our problem in Romans 1. Verse 18 tells us that the wrath of God is currently being revealed from heaven. Why? God's wrath is against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Paul goes on to explain that much of God's nature has been revealed to us in the created world. What we have done is to take that truth and suppress it. We push it down and try to ignore it and live as though there is no God and as though we don't know anything about him. We act as though we are independent, not receiving anything from God. As a result we become ungodly, which means not having the character of God in us. And we become unrighteous, which means we do not behave in the right way.

The next part of the problem is explained in verse 21. Because of the suppression of the truth about God, we refuse to give him the glory he is due. Because we don't acknowledge his rightful reign, we refuse to give thanks to him, even though “he gives to all life, breath and all things” (Acts 17:25). So here is the core of the problem. We know God is there, but we ignore him and act like we are self-sufficient. Because of this he gets no credit for all he has done and we effectively deprive him of his glory.

The result of this behavior according to verse 21 is that we become empty in our thinking. We become fools and then go a step further by changing the glory that God has in himself and replace it with the characteristics of corruptible man. We worship and serve the creature rather than the creator.

So here is the crux. We effectively remove God from his place and put ourselves in his place on the throne of our own little world, and we are not up the task.

We need to be aware that God judges this behavior, and according to Romans 1, this judgment has begun. God has begun to give us up to all kinds of unclean and lustful behaviors. In our pride we believe we are making decisions in our own freedom and for our own pleasure, but in reality we are acting out the very judgment God is imposing. God has given us up to a downward spiral of lust and greed.

So, the biggest sin mankind is committing is not loving too little and it's not injustice or a lack of tolerance. The greatest sin is ignoring God, being unthankful and not giving God the glory that is his. All of the other evils flow from this greatest evil.

The Secret of a Successful Christian Life

It seems that often we are looking for the “secret” to some success. There are books entitled, “The Secret to a Happy Marriage,” or “The Secret to a Long Life.” Some Christians look high and low to find the secret to living the Christian life. People waste a lot of time investigating techniques or plans for spiritual growth. The real secret is that there is no secret. The essential ingredients for successful Christian living are few, very old, and well known. Here's the way I would express them using the words of Scripture:

1. Read the Word carefully and often. 1 Timothy 4:13 – Till I come give attention to reading.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.

2. Study the Word diligently. 2 Timothy2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

3. Memorize it and meditate on it. Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

4. Pray often and about everything. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Romans 12:12 ....continuing steadfast in prayer.

5. Worship, pray and fellowship regularly with other Christians. Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

I believe those are the core activities that will strengthen and develop anyone in their walk with Christ. Take a good look at your life and ask yourself if you are engaged regularly, diligently, and consistently in each of these activities. Your answer will give you a clue as to the health of your Christian life.

Biblical Prayer Reminders

I've put together some biblical prayer promises and other reminders to share with our congregation on Wednesday night. I hope it can be of some encouragement to you in your prayer life.

Persistently - Mt 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Agreement - Mt 18:19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Believing - Mk 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

In Jesus' Name - Jn 14:14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (Also John 16:23)

Abide in Christ Jn 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Bearing Fruit - Jn 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Obediently - 1 Jn 3:22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

According to God's will - 1 Jn 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Fervently - Jas 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Earnestly - Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Together, in one accord - Ac 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Together, Continually - Ac 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Together, Continually, Steadfastly - Ac 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Continually, Steadfastly - Ro 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Watchfully, Spiritually - Eph 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Watchfully - 1 Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

Always - Lk 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

1 Th 5:17 pray without ceasing,

Boldly - Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Giving Thanks - Eph 1:16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

...For all things - Eph 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Confessing and Forgiving - Mt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Confessing our sins – 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confessing corporate or national sins – Daniel 9:3-19 (See excerpt below)

Some Examples:

Php 1:9-10 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

Eph 1:17-19 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, ....

Eph 3:16-19 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; ....

Col 1:9-12 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord,....

2 Th 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,

Da 9:3-12 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.... O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day... To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws,

....we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. And now, O Lord our God,...we have sinned, we have done wickedly! “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, .... Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. We do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Memorization Monday - Psalm 100:4-5

Ps 100:4-5 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Memorization Monday -- Psalm 100:1-3

Psalm 100:1-3 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.



We were gone for several weeks and so I missed posting some of the verses. I wasn't efficient enough to get them programmed for automatic posting.

These verses are part of a series called "Fighter Verses". The entire list can be accessed here.