God's preparation for your willingness to let go!

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

https://youtu.be/ay6YT4mOL0M?si=vEw2_HAIbvTgyanU

    Time with Abba (Psalm 7:1-9, Genesis 23:1-24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Proverbs 3:1-6)

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

    

    Today's main passage:

    Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.       Genesis 23:1-2

    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.    

    My Listening

    The topic I received today from Jesus is: God's preparation for your willingness to let go!

Abraham passed his test of not withholding his son showing to God that he  had a total obedience to Him. 

Right after Abraham passed the test, his wife died in the beginning of the next chapter.  What kind of test it could be to Abraham losing his wife that the Bible records a whole chapter of mourning! 

What I received today is that God used the test of Abraham not withholding his son to prepare for his willingness to let go of his beloved wife!  

I have seen quite a number of Christians lost their faith and became atheists or worship other gods after their wive, children or loved ones died. They were angry at God, some for many years for God taking away their most beloved person.  

In our life time we are going to have lots of tests challenging us whether Jesus really is our Savior and Lord of life. We need to build up that intimate relationship with Jesus so that we can enter into His preparation not losing our faith in all circumstances!

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help me to be prepared that I can lose anything or anyone but I can't lose you. You are my Savior, my Lord and my King. Teach me and lead me in your path to have a daily intimate relationship with you and to be in total obedience to you. 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. 

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

   

 F   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