The power of joining together in Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Joint Prayer

There are times when it is more appropriate to pray alone, but it is also good to pray with one another when we pray for common causes, or in intercession for one of our brethren. Scripture tells us that we are to pray in secret, that Jesus would separate himself from the others to pray, and that prophets spoke alone with God, but there are other times when the disciples came together in joint prayer, and the Israelites came together before God in prayer. Praying together can be uplifting to us personally as we reinforce one another in our commitment, cause, and devotion, but it also increases the power of our petition, and the acceptance of God’s answer.

Being One, and sweeping the floors of our faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , One in Christ

Today’s world is defined by words like independence, freedom, rights, being my own man, doing it my way, and so many other thoughts, words, and phrases that, although seemingly good in one sense, tend to divide us, and push us away from one another when applied wrongly to our faith. When it comes to our faithfulness in Christ, these words can often separate us in ways that are very different from the desire of togetherness that Jesus envisioned for us. We were meant to love one another, be one in Christ, one with God, and of one Church, but our worldly definitions of these words encourage wedges to be driven between each of Christ’s ideas of oneness. Are we truly one as Jesus espoused, and wants us to be?

The Suffering, and Offering of Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Prayer Offering

When we are asked to pray for something, or someone, do we do so right away? Do we stop whatever we are doing at that moment to offer those prayers? Is our answer to this question “Sometimes, it depends on what I am doing at that moment.”? Well we would be more responsive in prayer if we would simply realize one fact… prayer is an offering, and more than that it is a sacrifice. All manner of prayer requires that we sacrifice… even in praise!

Writing, and Living Out, Our Spiritual Bucket Lists

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Spiritual Goals And Desires

It is quite popular these days to create a bucket list of all the things you want to do before you die, or in other words, before you kick the bucket, but have you heard of anyone who made a spiritual bucket list? When I think of this, the thief who accepted Jesus as his savior while slowly dying on Calvary next to Him comes to mind. He didn’t have much time to experience the many milestones of spiritual life, but he did achieve a few of the big ones when he announced that he believed in God, demonstrated his faith in the fact that Jesus was His Son, and received a dinner invitation to dine in Paradise with the Messiah Himself. I have always thought that he made a slow start, but finished well.

Praying first for the Lost, and Dying, among us

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Praying For The Lost

Do we subconsciously limit our prayers to fellow believers, and our church, then occasionally branch out to include others like our countrymen, and those of the world? We might not do this consciously, but if we actually account for our time spent in prayer it would most likely surprise us. We take a prayer list from church and diligently work our way through it, and fervently pray for those who are closest to us, but in doing this are we leaving out the sick, wounded, and the dying, who are the lost souls in a world of sin?

Prayers on the corner, or from the heart?

Richard Forbes
Breaking Bread , Christian , Daily Devotional , Prayers From The Heart , Prayer

When we pray we should simply say what we mean, and mean what we say. Unlike a writer who might get paid according to the number of words he writes, or their timeliness, God gives us no additional credit for the number of words we pray each day, nor for the number of minutes spent in prayer. Gods wants to hear what we have to say, and for us to say it sincerely, and directly. There is no benefit to chanting, or repeating ourselves; when it comes to prayer, a one minute prayer from the heart carries with it more strength than a one hour prayer recited because we have read, or been told, that we should spend more time praying. Sitting silently listening to, or for, God carries much more weight if we do so from our heart.

Wearing the Seal of God, and being Jesus in the World

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , In Jesus Name

As Christians we speak with the authority of Christ, and not with any power of our own. We do nothing except through Jesus who is in us, and we in Him. Does this sound familiar? Well, it should because Jesus tells us the very same thing about His relationship with God, and the authority He has received from Him. Jesus took on the authority of God, and we assume the authority and power of Christ, but neither of these can be accomplished without absolute love… the Seal of God.

Joining in Prayer with Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Joint Prayer

When the opportunity arises for us to deliver the Word of God, or witness to others regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ, are we bold enough to speak out, and obey our commission as we should? Are there times when the Spirit is moving us that we resist the call to speak because of our fear of rejection, or perhaps for our own personal safety? Well, there will be such times, and we can overcome them by praying as one with our fellow believers for God’s strength, courage, and guidance. By joining together in prayer, we gain great confidence in what we are to do and say at such moments. In our joint prayer, and singularity of faith, there is incredible strength, and resolve, and we are joined in this by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Himself as he prays in intercession to God on our behalf.

Being perfected, perfect, and becoming Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Perfect in Jesus

It is our great desire to pick up our cross and follow Jesus, but to what end are we following Him? Should our goal be to reach Heaven, to obtain eternal life, or to be taught how to live a better life? No, although these are all excellent and expected goals, and we are meant to reach them, the answer is no, our ultimate aspiration should be to become Christ, to join with all the other parts that are His body, His being, and to become who He is. Do we feel like we are advancing towards that ultimate moment when we will see our reflection, and it will be indistinguishable from our Lord Jesus Christ? Will we have been made perfect… perfect in love, perfect in obedience, and perfect in every way as He is?

Our Bubble of Holiness within a fallen World

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Good News for the World

Before we come to know, believe, and have faith in Jesus Christ we are part and parcel of the fallen world, but once we answer the call of God, who draws us to Himself through His Son Jesus, then we change, and our world changes. We find ourselves set apart from the fallen world that we once knew; it is as if we are caught up, and floating through it surrounded by a clear bubble of faith, able to see it, but insulated from it in a miraculous way. Oh how we long for the day when the fallen world we have left behind will be changed, and our bubble of holy righteousness will engulf it entirely… when the whole earth will be filled with His glory. Is this our prayer, for a glorious and redeemed world? Do we pray the final words of Revelation? “Come Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.” Amen

God is with us in our Joy… and Pain

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Empathy

What has the Lord done for you recently? Was it marvelous? Powerful? Did He save your life, or the life of someone you love? How about your soul… was it lost until He sent Jesus to redeem it? Salvation, what an amazing feat that was… God’s right hand, and holy arm, working together to redeem us, to purchase us for Himself. Well what if He walked you into the valley of the shadow of death, and brought you face to face with it while your last breath lingered on your lips… would your final exhale be a new song, or prayer to Him? Our answer should be ”YES!” Let’s talk about why.

Power and Peace are a World Away

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Fear Not

In this age of discord, division, pandemic, and rampant sin in the earth, it is only human that a person dwelling in this place would be afraid, feel out of control, and believe themselves to be at the mercy of these circumstances, but as believers, Christians see the truth, and say “Fear not, and take heart!”. As Christians we are not to consider ourselves ruled by the happenings of this world, but are patient citizens of Heaven who await lovingly, with control over our fears, for the day when we will return to our Father’s Kingdom. If we live our earthly lives in fear, or by believing it has something to offer us, then we have been deceived, for all real love and power rests with our Father… not here in this fallen world.

The Power of Scripture is in the Living

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Witness , Living Scripture

How do we witness regarding the living Christ? We can quote scripture, and this is good because it was written for this purpose, but we should also fold those same scriptural lessons, and stories, into our everyday lives, making them a part of our life, because this is the essence of having a relationship with God, and Jesus Christ. This is how we convey the nature of a living God; by what is witnessed in our lives. Our belief is not in a lifeless spiritual medicine, but is a whole, living, God who works within us to transform us, and redeem our us through His Son. This is the testimony of our lives with Christ, and it brings our relationship with Jesus to life for others to see. The power of scripture is in our living it out.

Defending our Faith and Hope in Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Defending our Faith

Even in countries that are predominately Christian we are called to defend Jesus Christ, and our faith in Him. When we talk about the act of defending it can be accomplished in many ways like witnessing about our belief, telling of the miraculous nature of Christ, defending in argument the presence of God, and thus establishing the Sonship of Christ, revealing that He has redeemed us, defending His righteousness, and making convincing argument that He is perfect and free of sin while speaking of His love, suffering, and sacrifice for us. The challenging questions are these… are we ready to defend Him, and do we take every opportunity to do so?

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