Morning Reflection – April 25 2012

Steve • April 25, 2012

Here at a Jesus Moment we want to encourage you to be thankful and blessed. I have been thinking about this verse from Isaiah:

Isaiah 30:15-18
15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
16 You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
17 A thousand will flee
at the threat of one;
at the threat of five
you will all flee away,
till you are left
like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
like a banner on a hill.”
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

Real life is found in trusting in the Lord and spending time with Him, but we so often choose to get out their in our own strength, thinking that if we can just go fast enough we can work things out. The faster we try and run in our own strength (or on a horse), the faster the struggles in life become. We have to stop and trust in Him. Then we can experience His rest and the life He has for us.

We are including for you below our Disciple’s Heart Primer that you can use as a devotional each day to help you get your heart primed to follow Jesus.

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Get Focused - What's going on today? (Read the verses from Hebrews 10:19-25 and then enter your thoughts, ideas, concerns in the box below)...

Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Get Thankful - List at least five things you are thankful for! (Read the verses from Philippians 4:4-8 then enter your thankful5 in the box below)...

Philippians 4:4-8 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Take a moment to prepare to share your thankful5 with others. Highlight (select) and copy your thankful5 text from the box above and allow it to stay in your clipboard while you finish the rest of the Disciple's Heart Primer. Once you have finished the primer we will remind you to paste your thankful5 into the appropriate spot. If you do it now, you will lose all of the notes that you have already typed into the primer.

Get Connected - Time to pray! (Read the verses from Matthew 6:9-13 and then pray and journal your prayer focus, requests, impressions, etc. in the box below)...

Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

Get Dressed - Put on the full armor of God! (Read the verses from Ephesians 6:12-18 and then enter what ever current spiritual / relational / emotional battles you are facing in the box below)...

Ephesians 6:12-18 (NIV)
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Get Encouraging - Who can you encourage today? (Read the verses from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a and then list some people to encourage, bless, and pray for today)...

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

Git r Done - Live as a Disciple today by trying to do the Next Right Thing!

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Don't forget to share your thankful5 with others. If you copied it into your clipboard earlier, it will still be available to paste into the thankful5 comment area. click here to add your thankful5 now!. (The Jesus Moment website will open again in a new window to make it easier for you to find the thankful5 comment box) Paste your thankful5 into the comment box there, add your name and email address, and your thankful5 will be posted to encourage others.

Take a few more minutes and read the Daily Bible Reading for the day. It will bless and encourage you throughout the day.

“May the Lord bless and keep you; may His face shine upon you; may He be gracious to you and give you peace”.