The Daily Dose

What about fasting?

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  Matthew 6:16

After teaching His disciples to pray in secret, Jesus told His disciples another practice that is to be done in secret.  Fasting.  Notice, He doesn’t say to them “If you fast?” like it is an option. He says “When you fast” because it is something they did regularly.

So, what is fasting all about?  I want to answer that question by identifying what fasting is not.  Fasting, at least godly fasting is not about a diet or weight loss.  Fasting is not something you do as a ritual or commandment of God.  Fasting especially isn’t something you do to try to get God to answer your prayer request.

Fasting is a time of separating from the things of the world to “tune in” to the things of God.  It doesn’t have to be food, but certainly can be.  It could be things such as social media, tv/movies, news, or gaming. It can be anything that uses the time that you can turn your attention to God instead.  The things you fast aren’t bad things, it’s just a time you purpose in your heart to spend with God in the space you usually spend with those other activities and distractions.  Fasting can also be a time when you decide to reach out to others more or in a different way than you usually don’t take the time to, a time of giving of yourself. 

When fasting foods, it can be for a time of cleansing in your body for more healthy living.  The timing is also flexible.  It can be one day as the Israelites did weekly on the sabbath or three days as Esther did to seek God’s wisdom.  Daniel fasted twenty-one days, he still ate food, he just fasted “pleasant foods.” Lastly, Jesus and Moses fasted forty days. 

Fasting is not a ritual practice; it is a spiritual discipline.  In fasting, your physical body is forced to submit to your spirit and must obey what you tell it to do instead of your sprit giving into the demands of your flesh to be comfortable.  It is not something you do to try to get God to move closer to you or to move on your behalf.  Fasting is for you to move closer to God and to act on His behalf.  It creates a desire in your heart to purge out the unclean to make a space for the pure things of God’s plan.

I know this is not so interesting to some, but it is truly a powerful act of worship.  By putting your flesh in subjection to your spirit, your spirit becomes dominate and more discerning of the things God is speaking to your heart.  Today I would ask that you consider and pray about fasting.  Read about it in the Word and listen to what God has to say about it.  It is not a bad thing, for sure, and it is not obsolete.  The same results can be had today that were given all through the scriptures.  If nothing else, in fasting you show yourself just how serious you are about the things of God, and Jesus promised when done in secret you will see the rewards of it openly.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:14-18

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 

15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 

17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 

18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Harvest time

And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”  Revelation 14:15

 If you know anything about harvest time, you understand that it is an exciting time, but it is also a time for a lot of work.  Depending on how big the harvest is, it can take days and even weeks at times.  In recent years, my husband has taken up gardening.  It is something that he really enjoys.  In the spring, he spends a lot of time planting, nurturing and caring for the new little seedlings that he starts in the house and when they grow up strong enough, then he transplants them into the garden area that has already been prepared for them to take root.  Then all through the summer, he watches over these plants to make sure they are getting enough water and nutrients and also that no pests are feeding on them and damaging the leaves and even the roots.  By the time the harvest comes in and the fruit is fully grown, he knows every detail about each of the plants.  When the vegetation is fully matured, he begins to bring in the produce, there may be just a little bit at first, but after only a few short days, there is abundance.  That’s when the work really begins.  If we don’t keep up with the harvest, the crop will become overgrown and spoiled.

Planting and reaping is such a vivid picture that parallels life and also what happens when people turn their lives over to the Lord Jesus.  Someone plants a seed in the ground of a person’s heart about God’s love and provision of salvation and if that seed is prayed over and nurtured it will grow up until that person decides to receive that gift of salvation the Father in heaven wants every person to know. If the person never makes that decision or if the seeds were never planted, there can be no harvest of that life into God’s kingdom. 

Matthew 9:37-38 – “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  Jesus said that the harvest of the world right now is plentiful, but we need more laborers.  He commanded that we pray to the Lord of the harvest, to send out more laborers into the harvest.  Laborers come in many different ways.  Some are seasoned Christians that have been called to foreign lands to reap that harvest.  Others are called to do the work of the ministry right here in their own neighborhoods.  Some are called to be financial laborers and support the work of ministry and still others are new laborers that are growing up under the training of the seasoned workers.  The point is that we are all called to bring in the harvest of new believers to disciple them up and equip them to go back into the fields to bring more in.  We all have a part to do and a place that we have been designed to fill.  Evidently this is not an automatic thing or Jesus would not have said that we need to pray that the harvesters will get into their place and bring the people in before it is too late and that crop is lost for all eternity.

In today’s reading, it is talking about a different harvest time.  John wrote about One sitting on a cloud with a sharp sickle in His hand and then some angels with sickles also.  At that time, it is the season for the earth to be reaped, but the harvest is to bring in the great winepress of the wrath of God. This is a great battle that results in blood flowing up to the horse’s bridle for 200 miles.  I cannot even comprehend it.

Today I want to encourage you while we are still on this side of that great harvest of the wrath of God to get into your place as a harvester of souls.  Begin to plant and water seeds with God’s Word and your prayers.  We live in the time that was prophesied by the prophet Amos when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested.  This truly is the time when the harvest is plenteous so we need to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers and also pray that you would step into your laboring position.  If you do not know where that is, begin to take the next steps and opportunities that open up in front of you and determine that you will take your place along side all the other harvesters in the world and bring in your section of the field.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 14:14-20

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 

16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 

19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 

20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

You Can’t take it with you

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”  Revelation 14:13

Have you ever heard the old saying: You can’t take it with you? Meaning that when you die and leave this world, you cannot take any material things with you when you go.  Once I heard an older preacher say that they never saw a moving truck following a hurst to the cemetery.  Yet the majority of people spend their entire time here in this world trying to accumulate the best things that will only last for a few short years here on earth.

It’s true, when we leave this world and go on to live in heaven, we cannot not, nor would we ever want to take any physical thing that we have acquired here in the earth with us when we pass.  It just cannot compare to the treasure we will see in heaven.  However, there is something that we can take with us from this life.  That is the good works that we do for other and the souls that we lead to our Savior Jesus.

Today’s reading describes three angels that fly through the heavens proclaiming the everlasting gospel message and also giving warnings to the people on earth to fear God and give Him glory.  These angels are messengers to preach the good news that Jesus is Lord to the people in the world and to warn them that the beasts and systems they are trusting in are going to fall and God’s wrath is coming to those who receive the mark in their hand or head.  This is bad news, but there is still time at that point for the people of the world to turn to God and aways from the deception of the evil leaders.

Then John was told to write a proclamation that those who die in the Lord are blessed and they will rest from the labors and all their hard work will follow them into eternity. These that are suffering the terrible afflictions of the evilness that is possessing the earth are blessed and all their labor to help others in that time will live on with them for all eternity when the finish here in this world.

You and I are blessed too.  Even though we will escape the treachery of those great tribulation days, God’s blessing is on us right here and now.  We have been called to do His good works and glorify our Father here in the world.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 to let our light shine brightly so that the world can see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  His intent was for His disciples to carry on in the good work Jesus started and to continue in it through the generations until the end of the age.  These good works, feeding the pour, healing the sick, sharing the salvation message and following the leading of the Holy Spirit will follow you into eternity.  So you can take something with you when you leave this world, that is all that you have been called to by your heavenly Father.

Today I want to encourage you to do the good works that Jesus did while He was here in this world.  Love the unlovable, Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you.  If anyone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other also.  From him who takes aways your coat, do not withhold your shirt either.  There is no reward for loving those who love you and doing good to those who do good to you.  Even the world does those things, but loving your enemies, doing good, lending and hoping for nothing in return,  that is when your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High because He is kind to the unthankful and evil so be merciful just as your Father is also merciful. In the same way that Jesus said these things in Luke 6, that is the good that will follow us into our eternal destination.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 14:6-13

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people

 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 

10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 

11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

Worship Him

They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.  Revelation 14:3

 I love to sing worship songs. In fact, I look forward to the worship at our weekend services just as much as I do the message from the word of God.  There is just something about lifting my hands and singing praise to God that makes my heart smile.  I’m sure it is something that God put inside me but having that time to turn all my attention to Him and turn off the noise of life puts me in a place of contentment and joy to be ready to receive what the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to my heart in the word of God coming up.  Of course, I don’t always wait until Sunday to praise Him with song.  I have worship music playing in my home and work place all day long most of the time.  It is not unusual for me to stop in the middle of whatever I am doing to lift my hands in worship to my Father in heaven.  He is so wonderful and worthy of all my praise!

Having worship music around me all the time is also something I use to keep myself from being distracted with cares and burdens that life wants me to take on.  Not only that, but music is so powerful that it can change my whole attitude in a matter of seconds.  That is true with the wrong kind of music also, If I do not keep my heart guarded against the wrong rhythms and words, I can easily get sucked in and become stained with the world’s ways, words and deceptions.  Our enemy loves to use a “catchy” tune to get us speaking words that are contrary to God’s word.  In the world we live in today, it has become one of the greatest tools to lure people into agreement with the world culture that we live in.

In today’s reading, we see again the hundred and forty-four thousand that were back in chapter seven.  John sees this group again standing on Mount Zion with a Lamb, the Lamb of God.  John heard a loud voice from heaven like many waters and thunder.  Then he heard music playing harps.  Suddenly, this group of one hundred and forty-four thousand have been redeemed from the earth and singing a new song before the throne of God, before the four living creatures and before the elders at the throne.  These have kept themselves undefiled and are the firstfruits to God and the Lamb and there is no deceit found in them, being without fault before the throne of God.

The passage doesn’t say that it is because of their worship in song that they have kept themselves from being defile when they were in the world, but I know that it did help them.  Worship is one of the sure ways to put your heart in the right place and keep it out of the wrong places.  In heaven, these sang a new song that no other could learn or sing.  It is a special and unique tune that only this group is able to offer to the Lord on His throne.  As they kept themselves in praise and worship in the world, they kept themselves from being spotted by the world’s corruption. 

Today I want to encourage you to praise and worship Him often.  You don’t have to wait until Sunday to lift up your voice in song.  You can praise him in the morning and the evening, even all day long.  Surround yourself in worship music throughout your day and pause once in a while to thank Him for His loving kindness and tender mercies.  I like to put myself on a praise fast meaning I fast all worry, anxious thoughts and unsettled feelings and instead take a time to worship, praise and thank Him for how He is working all things for good in my life when fearful thoughts come.  It helps me to stop those worried thoughts and turn my attention to giving my care over to Him because He cares for me! You can trust Him with your care today too and lift up a song of praise in place of your concerns!

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 14:1-5 

1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 

3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 

4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 

5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Don’t be deceived

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.  Revelation 13:14

I remember once when I was in junior high school hearing a teacher talking about being deceived.  I don’t even remember the context in which he was talking about it, but I do remember a girl in my class whom I thought of as very smart and very grounded in her faith for her age saying, I hope it never happens to me.  I remember thinking, what?  Why would you even say that?  Then I thought. . . “That will never happen to me.”  Exactly, that is what I said in my head and in my heart.  I still remember it and that was over 40 years ago.  It wasn’t long after I graduated from high school before I fell into a great deception.  I had always thought that I knew exactly what I was doing and I should never have gone the direction I went back then or made the decision I made that led me into a deep pit of circumstances.  Though, within the last ten years of my life, the holy Spirit revealed to me that I had been deceived and drawn away by my immature way of thinking.  When I think back about it all now, I see that I truly was deceived into thinking that I was ok even when I was so far from God’s plan for my life.

It reminds me of a warning that Jesus gave to his followers in Matthew chapter 24.  He said  “For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”  He wasn’t talking about in the tribulation times, He was warning then that even in their time many had risen up to collect a following of people who believed they were going to be delivered from the Roman oppression that they were experiencing.  Many had already come and gone before Jesus was even born and many have come and gone since He left this world.

In today’s reading, THE anti-Christ, the devil incarnate comes to power and deceives everyone in the day of his leadership. Even though there are some in the world at that time that do not fall for his devises, they will be forced out of civilization and out of the culture of the day.  They will not be able to participate in the “life” that this world leader creates without receiving His mark on them.  That mark will identify all those who belong to him.  Those with the mark will worship him and the images he builds that represent him.

In the world we live in today, there are deceptions all around us.  Hopefully we, as God’s people are wise enough to not be taken in by the enemies tricks and traps.  Sadly, many people, even though they are Christians, are lured from standing for God and for good by the distractions and fears that this world offers.  Many believers believe more in the enemies power to hurt them, than God’s power to protect.

The solution is to stay close to your heavenly Father, spend time with Him each day and ask Him to keep you in all your ways.  Hide His word in your heart so that you will not live your life against His ways. Acknowledge Him in all your ways so that you are not pulled away by material things and pleasures that the people of the world chases after.  Lastly, surround yourself with friends and a community that will keep you accountable to stay on track in your faith and daily walk with God.

Today I want to encourage you to not let yourself fall into the deceptions of this life.  Be aware of the subtle ways the enemy sets up circumstances to turn your heart away from God’s perfect plan for your life.  Whether it is with things or attitudes of the heart, don’t let Satan’s ways be your ways.  Press into your Father each day so that when this great deception of the Revelation times comes, you won’t be anywhere around to be drawn in or to run away.  You will already be at home with your Father in heaven.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 13:11-18

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 

12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 

13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 

17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

The Beast

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.  Revelation 13:1

 I have always struggled with disturbing images in movies or pictures.  Once I see something, my brain or mind or whatever takes hold of the image and doesn’t let me forget about it.  For that reason, I am very careful about what I look at and the programs that I watch.  Especially right before bedtime.  If I see something that is intense or scary, I will almost certainly dream about it or even worse, not be able to sleep at all.  Over time, it feels like I can hit a delete button in my head, but when I try to do that right after first seeing something, it just doesn’t seem to work.

In today’s reading, the apostle John, now back on earth in his vision, sees quite a disturbing image.  He describes a beast rising up out of the sea that has seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns on those ten horns.  This beast has blasphemous names on its heads.  John describes the beast that he saw like a leopard having feet like a bear, and a mouth like a lion.  He identifies the source of this beast’s power coming from the dragon, which we already established is Satan, and the beast is given great authority in the world.  The next part is even more chilling.  One of the beasts heads had been mortally wounded with a deadly wound, but was healed, which make the entire world marvel and follow the beast.  Not only follow it, but even worship the dragon who gave the beast it’s authority.

Through this entire description, John never expresses any personal feelings.  He doesn’t talk about how the image made him feel like he did when he ate the little book.  He simply related what he saw with no sign of fear or terror in his report.  Certainly, this was an unsettling thing to witness, even if John didn’t feel the threat of it at the time.  He didn’t ask any questions and he wasn’t asked any questions as in other parts of the experience he was writing about.

As I read this passage again, it occurred to me that John’s reaction should be exactly the way we view these passages and every disturbing image that we encounter. When we know who we have become in our salvation in Christ Jesus and we understand that with Him, He will work all things together for our good as we love Him, we don’t need to be afraid, or even phased by treacherous times or current events in the world around us.  John’s account sounds like something that plays out in a horror movie, but even on the daily news in our current surrounding, we hear about wars, famine and pestilence that can cause panic and strike fear in to the hearts of those who don’t have hope beyond the earthly circumstances.  So when you sense that fear, anxiety and distress is trying to plague your thoughts, remember instead Who you belong to and Who is watching out for you.  The One who died the death of separation so that you don’t have to and the One who carried away your griefs, sorrows, transgressions, iniquities, and put peace and healing in their place.  He has not given you a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.  You have no reason to fear any evil because He is with you and comforts you.

Today I want to encourage you while reading through this passage to remember that your Father in heaven is with you and guiding you through all of life’s disturbing and fretful ways.  You don’t have to be anxious or afraid because He is your Shepherd and the One who is looking out for you and providing everything you need during treacherous times.  No matter what you see on television or social media, His overriding truth is your comfort and your peace.  Trust that He has your best interests in His heart and He is leading you step by step through the dark valleys to get you to your green pastures and still waters.  Lastly, remember that your name has been written in the book of life and no beast can take that away. 

If you have never received God’s great gift of salvation and His peace and comfort that comes with it, pray this prayer today and invite the Lord Jesus in to be your Savior and Lord over all.  He will come in and lead you on paths of rightness.

Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 13:1-10

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 

2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 

6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 

7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 

10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Pray in secret

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6

Apparently, in Jesus’s day, the religious leaders liked to get attention by praying loud and long, but Jesus said that is not the right way to pray.  Jesus explained to His disciples to go to a quiet place and pray in secret not out on the streets to show how spiritual you are.  He also told them they don’t need to repeat the same things over and over again or use a lot of words.

Then Jesus gave them a model for praying.  A structure and order of how to have an effective prayer life.  Ironically, today, this prayer is repeated over and over even after Jesus said vain repetition is not the way to pray.

So He breaks praying down into sections in verses 9-13 of Matthew chapter six.  He said, pray in this way or manner:

Start with praise and worship: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name

Pray for God’s will: Your kingdom come. Your will be done in the earth just as it is in heaven.

Pray and belief for God’s provision for today: Give us today and the “bread” we have need of.

Receive and give forgiveness: forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Pray for deliverance from the enemy: do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Seal your prayer up with thanksgiving: Yours is the kingdom and power and glory forever.

Using this format, our praying can look something like this: 

Precious Heavenly Father, Holy and Wonderful is Your name (Psalms 139:14.  Thank you for bringing Your kingdom to this world through empowering us to do your will here today.  Thank you for providing all that we need today to live life abundantly as You have planned (John 10:10).  And for your forgiveness in Christ Jesus our Savior. Strengthen us to extend that forgiveness to those who hurt or offend us (Eph. 4:32).  Keep us far from temptation and deliver us from any traps the enemy tries to catch us in.  Because this is Your world and kingdom, We give You all our power and glory to complete Your work in this world for all eternity!  Amen

Of course, your prayer will not be just like that, but you pray from your heart in the areas Jesus highlighted.  That doesn’t mean those are the only areas you pray about.  We bring all things to our Heavenly Father.

Today I want to encourage you to spend some time praying in your secret place.  Set aside special quiet time to talk to your loving Father.  Take time to listen to the soft words He whispers to your heart.  Then write down those things so you can be praying oven them in the days to come.  Make your time with God the most precious time of each day and He will see you in secret, but your reward will be open for all to see the goodness of God’s love working in your everyday life.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:5-15

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 

9 In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Be good to others

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Matthew 6:3

Have you ever done something good or nice for someone and then nobody even notice or acknowledged it.  Maybe you felt slighted or maybe you let others know, because you wanted to make sure others knew what a good person you are?  If you have, you are not alone.  In fact, most people want to be notice when doing good and most people are willing to let everyone they talk to know just how wonderful they are.  You might even go so far as criticize others for not thanking you or rewarding you because of your good behavior.

Well, in today’s text, Jesus taught His disciples that charitable (good) deeds should be done in secret.  What?  Nobody should know about them?  That’s right.  Jesus said that if you are doing good things just so others will notice you or when others are looking, that is all the reward you will get for those deed.  He will not acknowledge them, and they will have no eternal value.

However, He continues in this teaching by saying, when you help others in secret, just because you care about people, then He will personally reward you openly.  The important part is putting your focus on helping others, not on how good you are. 

The fact is that when you do good things just so other can notice you or compliment you, your works are full of pride and self-serving.  Your goodness has little to do with who you are helping and is all about you stepping in to look like a hero that everyone should admire.

Lastly, maybe you are that someone who is going through a crisis and think “I can’t even think about doing a good deed because of my situation.  I am stuck in a mess, and that is all I have time to focus on right now.”  In reality, turning your focus to help or encourage someone else in their struggle also comes with the reward of giving you a different and new perspective on your own circumstances.  When you purposefully put aside your own concerns, and secretly decide to comfort a friend through their dilemma, your problem will no longer be the main event in your life.  It has to take a back seat to the person you are helping, and now your purpose in life, at least for a little while becomes supporting others in their struggle.

Today I want to encourage you to do good for others.  Watch for opportunities to step out and help people throughout your day.  Not because you want to be the hero and be recognized as a do-gooder, but because you care about people and want to show them how much God loves them by loving them, yourself.  Then keep it a secret.  Pray for those you have helped in private and then watch how your reward and recognition comes directly from heaven.  Your heavenly Father is depending on you to help grow His kingdom, and it can only be done when you focus on others instead of yourself.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:1-4

1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 

4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Go to the place prepared

But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.  Revelation 12:14

Since the beginning of 2024, there have been a number of my friends who have told me that they are feeling like they need to pull back for a time.  They all seem to have the same reason of retreating for a time to separate from the world to have a quiet space with God.  While I do agree that it is important to have that quiet time with God, I also believe it should be a daily thing, not just for a season of hiding. 

There is great danger in retreating from people, especially when you pull back from the body of believers.  It’s like your ear saying, “I need to step away from the body for a time because I need to be build up and encouraged.”  If the ear separates from the body that it belongs to, it becomes a dead piece of flesh that no longer has the life of the entire body in it.  Likewise, if during a time of separation, you retreat from the place that God has prepared for you to be encouraged and refreshed, you will also become just another dead piece of flesh in the world.  We need each other and not only that but God designed our gifts to work with other people’s gifts and we are to come together regularly to that place where we will be pulled in closer to each other and to God.

In today’s reading in Revelation twelve, the women in the sign that John saw in heaven, represents a whole group of people, the Jewish nation.  We pick it up in this chapter in verse 13 where she is given two wings of a great eagle to fly into the wilderness to a place, that back in verse six tell us has been prepared ahead of time for her by God.  This is a time of retreat and hiding for the women, but she doesn’t go off on her own to try to figure out how to survive.  She goes right to the place that God has already prepared for her to be nourished and protected. Verse six of chapter twelve says Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

You have a place that has been prepared for you too.  God has prepared a place for you to retreat to for nourishment and restoration and that place is in the body of believers.  God never designed us to pull away from that body and be isolated from the very place that was prepared for us to grow and flourish in.  We are to come together regularly in weekend service and meet together in groups beyond those service to build one another up and serve others.  The truth is that when we pull back from church and small groups, we are cutting ourselves off from God’s best for our lives.  Hebrews 10:38 says: Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”  When we draw back from those God has called us to, there is no longer pleasure in Him for us.

Today I want to encourage you to, yes!  Spend quiet time with God each day. Retreat from the activities of the day to press in and hear what the Spirit of God wants to speak to your heart.  Retreat and refresh by spending time in His holy Word and in prayer and make that precious time each day a priority in your life.  But don’t pull back from the body you have been called to.  We need each other and when we come together with other believers, we gain new life and energy that is created by the love and encouragement we give each other.  If you are currently in a place that does not produce the life that He has for you, press in close to Him to make sure you are in the place that has been prepared for your nourishment and protection.  Don’t let the hurts of the past pull you away from the very people that God has prepared for you to worship and serve along side.  Instead, let that be your place of cleansing and wash away all the bitterness and fear that are the source of you running away in the first place.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 12:13-17

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 

14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 

15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 

16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 

17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Be an overcomer

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11

As I read the next portion of Revelation twelve, I initially thought this was when Lucifer tried to exalt himself to be like God in the beginning.  However, after looking a little more closely, I realize now that it is a future event.  We know that even after Lucifer was cast out of heaven, he still had access to it.  Job 1:6 says that Satan talked with God in heaven about Job.  In other passages it says that he stands before God accusing the brethren. So, the apostle John is watching at the time of this writing, a future war that will take place in heaven at the beginning of the last three and a half years of the world as we know it today.  At this point, there is no longer a place found for Satan and his demonic forces in heaven.  John heard the announcement that Satan, the accuser of the brethren has been cast down to the earth, for good.

The next verse in this passage is where I want to focus my attention today.  It says that the people of the world overcome the accuser by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.  Satan, now releasing all he has got on the people of the world because he knows his time is about up and yet the very thing that will overcome him in that day is the same thing that we overcome him with today.  The shed blood of Jesus and the Word of God in our testimony of salvation. 

In the world we live in right now we can see the effects of demonic oppression on the earth and we can even feel the pressure of the curse of sin.  The good news is that we do not have to be crushed by that pressure.  We can overcome with the blood of the Lamb and the word of God in our salvation story.  As we push back on the pressures of life reminding ourselves that we are cleansed unto salvation in the blood of Jesus and the devil has no authority to touch us, we can also remind him of the promises that God has given to every child of God in His holy scriptures.  We speak God’s word to not only reinforce our faith in our own heart, but also to let those around us know that our hope is in the Lord of hosts.

We have promises like: He has made me more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me (Romans 8:37). Greater is He that is in me than anything in the world (1John 4:4).  My faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).  I give thanks to God because He always gives me the victory through Christ Jesus my Lord (1 Corinthians 15:57).  The Lord is my strength and strong tower (Proverbs 18:10).  The list goes on and on.

So today, I want to encourage you to stand against the pressures of life that try to weigh you down and the enemy that tries to take you out of the race.  Strengthen your faith by speaking out loud the promises that God has given you in His word. According to Romans 10:17, your faith grows my hearing and hearing the word of God, so proclaim it out loud each day to resist the devil and it is guaranteed that he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 12:7-12

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 

8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 

9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”