Compassionate Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Compassion and Prayer

This morning we study "Compassionate Prayer" as it was taught in Matthew 9:36. I thought to myself that this was a very appropriate topic, since this is Missions Month at many churches. Beyond delivering the gospel, there are situations at home, and around the world, where we can physically provide aid to others, or pray for them through a situation; but there are quite a few others that are beyond our ability to resolve, and we must depend on a miracle, and entering into "Compassionate Prayer", is our only course of action.

Prayer, Faith, and Their Symbiotic Relationship

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Faith and Prayer

I was reading and contemplating the words of Pastor E. M. Bounds this morning, and as I read his devotional message regarding the close relationship between faith and prayer, I drifted into thought on the subject. I thought about all the times my faith had been strengthened as I prayed and slipped into deep conversation with Him as His Spirit gave me remembrance of His Word. I contemplated the scripture that He revealed to me on those occasions, I recalled how my faith was bolstered as I had prayed in it, and how my prayers fed on my faith, and my faith was nourished by my prayers. Asking in prayer prompts us to seek, and seeking prompts us all the more in our asking.

Prayer; a Call for Help and a Shofar of Praise

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Paying in the Storm

I was reading and studying Psalm 107 this morning. It reminded me of the state of the world today. I have written on this subject before... Men not recognizing the miracles and mercies of God for what they are. We, as a people, failing to praise Him for His loving kindness, especially in the face of incredible devastation. Let’s look today at how we should praise God in all things, and without end. In this psalm the psalmist begins with a call to prayer by saying... “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Then he goes on to give examples of God's provisions that occur every day and are worthy of our praising Him. Do we do this? Do we praise him in the storms?

Obedience, Righteousness, and Grace

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Grace and Prayer

This morning I have been studying John 14 and reading a devotional that was based on John 14:14. I have always loved this verse and that Jesus says he will do anything for us... After all, who wouldn’t love a verse that promises us everything? And, all we have to do is keep his commandments… Whoops, wait a minute! How can we, with all our human frailty, be expected to do that? Is He asking the impossible of us? At first blush it appears that He is, but as Paul Harvey used to say… "Now for the rest of the story."

Holy Prayers

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Praying Holy

I was reading the thoughts of Pastor E.M. Bounds on praying Holy Prayers this morning, and he made the point that Holy Prayers are not just said, but come from men and women who are whole heartedly devoted to God; entirely separated from sin, and fully separated or consecrated to God. The bible verse we will use as we contemplate this today is Revelation 8:4. Let’s read it together…

"The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand."

Revelation 8:4 ESV

Await the Fullness of Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional

Today is the last day of September and this morning's devotion speaks of the fullness and boldness of prayer. This year is passing by quickly, and we are looking forward expectantly as we wait for Christmas to arrive. We wait on many things of faith during the year, just as the disciples of old did, but let’s focus today on how Jesus told his disciples to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came. They were expected to sit tight, to wait, just as we are expected to wait until we receive those things of prayer that we are anticipating. Our opening scripture today will be Luke 24:49.

Living in the Valley, and Praying from the Mountain

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Mountains and Valleys

While working on a lesson about “The Wings of Eagles and Valleys”, the Holy Spirit spoke to me regarding something unexpected. Scripture began to reveal to me that throughout time people have typically lived in valleys, but seldom atop mountains. It came to me that they would go to the mountain to meet with God as they sought out a quiet, private, and undisturbed, place to meet Him in prayer. I was captured by this concept because most sermons speak of valleys as hard places that are full of trials... but as I studied I found that they are so much more than that. Valleys are where we live. Valleys are where the lakes exist and rivers flow slowly to the sea as they carry and deposit the nutrients and silt washed from the mountains to fields of grain and grapes.

Prayer and Understanding Our Part in It

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Action in Prayer

How do we speak of Jesus and avoid speaking of prayer? With just a cursory glimpse into the life of Christ we understand the importance of prayer to Him. And how it fit into His relationship with God. One thing that impresses me about the prayers of Jesus is that they aren't prayers of inactivity. The relationship that He has with the Father isn't one in which He prays and then does nothing. In something as simple as feeding the hungry crowd with fishes and loaves, He prayed, but then He actively trusted in God, broke bread, and gave the food to the hungry...

Coach Wooden and Protection against Sin

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, In God’s Presence

Protection against sinning; wouldn't we all like an invincible suit of armor, or some impenetrable costume like a super hero wears that could protect us from sin? Well this morning we find that such a covering is real, and it is available to each of us. The Word of God provides us with the defense we need against sin. It even goes a step further and gives us instructions on how to mend ourselves in the event we are injured when caught without the advantage of our protection, or too immature in our faith to protect ourselves. God's word is power and it is invincible but we must clothe ourselves in it.

Prayer, the Word, and coming to Believe

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Coming to God

My personal devotional reading this morning was centered on prayer and the church, and was written by Pastor E.M. Bounds. He wrote "just as prayer generates a love for scriptures and causes people to begin to read the Bible, so does prayer also cause men and women to visit the house of God to hear scriptures explained." So often we think that believers are drawn to praying after having attended church, but that isn’t necessarily true. We are drawn to God, and prayer, in many ways by the Lord Himself, and our hearts are softened to Him as we come to know Him through His Son Jesus Christ… after having heard the gospel of Jesus by any number of ways.

Do We Know The Word of God?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Word of God

This morning we will contemplate having a thirst and love for the Bible; the written Word of God. Some approach the Holy Bible as if it were like any other piece of literature, but it is far more than that; it is the inspired Word of God and has been influencing man, and his secular literature, from the moment it was first spoken, written, and lived. We have seen evidence of this in man’s poetry, prose, and speech from the moment Adam was formed and it became focal to his thought, and life. But “The Word of God” is much more than this. Do we find ourselves referring to God’s written Word, God, and Jesus Christ, interchangeably as “The Word of God?”

Experiencing the Spiritual and Physical in our Lives

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Dichotomy of Man

Experiencing religion, and the dichotomy of man, will be our topic of study today. We will explore who we are, and those moments of religious experience that are so important and life changing for us. Moments like our new birth in Christ, baptism, communion, Christening, marriage, foot washing, receiving the Holy Spirit, and all the other experiences of faith that form our lives, as well as our faith, and worship.

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