A change of heart!

 Please click this link for the video version of today's blog :

 https://youtu.be/K2h00DJqflw?si=_D98pMXk_q1SfJL8 

Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father."   Genesis 44:33-34

The topic I received today from Jesus is:  A change of heart!

What I received from Jesus today is how Judah changed his heart:

Here are some of Judah's sins:

1. Winner of a family struggle - Reuben was the eldest son and Judah was the fourth under the same mother Leah. Starting from Genesis 37:26, Judah took over Reuben's place as No. 1 among the brothers. I counted how Reuben from Chapter 37 to 44 only appeared 4 times but Judah appeared 14 times. The whole chapter of 38 recorded how much Judah's family suffered.

2. The one (Judah) represented all ten brothers in selling Joseph. He showed hatred to Joseph and showed how he did not care about the pain of his father.

Judah's change of heart:

1. He pleaded for his younger brother Benjamin. In fact he should have the same kind of jealousy and hatred to Benjamin but he learned a lesson through his own sin.

2. He felt the pain of his father as shown in the whole chapter 44 so that he vividly saw and experienced how much he had been hurt.

3. Genesis 44: 33- 34, as shown above, clearly shows the total change of heart from selling his brother to pleading to sacrifice himself to save his brother, from not caring how much his father would be hurt to trying all his best not to let his father to have misery.

Jesus draws me to the message of Malachi 4:5-6:

" I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." 

I have seen too many curses in families and church families.

Let's make a decision now to break the "family curse" by asking our Lord Jesus Christ to cut the curse in our family and our church! 

This is the time for you to ask our Lord Jesus Christ to help you to make a change of heart.

      Dear Lord Jesus,

       In your mighty name, the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I cut the curse of separations in our family and our church.  Help me to see all those things that I need to change so that I can bring reconciliation to many broken relationships. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Reflect on these questions:     

1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?

      

    2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus, to be holy - that is to do what Jesus wants you to do and not to do what Jesus wants you not to do?

    

    Family Corner:

   Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 

    

    Time with Abba (Psalm 14:1-7, Genesis 44:1-45:28; Matthew 14:13-36; Proverbs 4:11-13)

    Please click this link for today's Time with Abba one year Bible four passages: http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

     Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him.    

   For the Chinese version of this daily blog and video, please click this link (中文版請按此連結):

    https://timewithabbaprayinglisteningchinese.blogspot.com

     

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link:http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

     If you would like to follow my "Subject shifting Devotion Method" from the "Time with Abba, Praising Singing", you are welcome to follow the direction below and then go back to the top of this blog to read today's key passage and my listening and sharing:

        Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

      2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

     Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3.   Sing a song to praise the Lord

      

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method) 

https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

 My first blog "Devotion on Fire"  was written in English only  (July 17, 2009年7月17日至November 22, 2012年11月22日). Each day one chapter of Bible, from New Testament and then Old Testament. Completed in four months and three years:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/blessings-from-rev-dr-john-stott.html

My second blog "Discipler 123"  was written in both Chinese and English (March 6,2011to December 31, 2016 ):

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2011/02/day-1-choose-light-away-from-darkness.html

and "Time with Abba" blog and video (January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024): 

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2017/01/1-2017.html