The Lord is near to all who call on him - Prayer of Jabez!

 

 

Bishop Silas conducting Vancouver Oratorio Society, VOS Chamber and Schola Cantorum singing Parry's I was Glad:

https://youtu.be/Qr4RThsdEjY?si=wh3sT_i3QE8kTgX6

Bishop Silas conducting Schola Cantorum Emmanuel and Vancouver Oratorio Chamber Choir singing Palestrina's O Beata Trinitas:

https://youtu.be/O4wiyr8oa_Y?si=l_cp4aRfVMRzaL6b

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an-pwjdTTcE

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

      Please click this link to worship with us - 

      

       Be with You: City Harvest Church, Singapore

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epkh71WTUFs&list=RDEpkh71WTUFs&start_radio=1

      10,000 Reasons

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3K3roEF36k

      

     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 read 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."

Today's Time with Abba: Psalm 145:14-21,1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17; Acts 25:1-27; Proverbs 18:19

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

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

Key passages:  

The Lord upholds all who fall

    and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.

The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.

                                                     Psalm 145:14-21

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

                                                      1 Chronicles 4:9-10

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

The topic I received today from Jesus is: The Lord is near to all who call on him - Prayer of Jabez!

      Psalm 145:14-21 gives us a very important promise from God. But, this promise has a condition! We can see this condition is "who call on him".

What does it mean by "who call on him"? The answer is the first part of this verse - "the Lord is near to all who ..."

Oh! Calling on God actually is when we try our best to be close to God to be in an intimate relationship with him. That's what calling on Him really means! It is the "distance" of God and you but not how long and the frequency of your prayers are!

You know, sometimes you want to be a good friend with someone but he or she might not like to be so close to you. What can you do?

Well, God is not like that! Never like that! If you draw close to Him each day then the promise of Psalm 145:14-21 will surely happen. It happens to me and my family!

Today's 1 Chronicles 4:10 is the famous "Prayer of Jabez" and is a good example of what I just said. Jabez mother named him "Jabez" is because he gave his mother lots of pain when he was born. So, the meaning of Jabez is "I gave birth to him in pain."

 Starting from Jabez birth he was living in a kind of curse by his mother and his family members living a painful and rejected life! But, he called on God and God answered his prayer! God turned his life right side up! Because God is with him, his territory being extended and not in pain any more! He was more noble than all his brothers! Wow! God is good!

Yes, call on God, draw close to God and He will draw close to you, this is His promise to you today!

     Dear Lord Jesus,  

     Help us  to draw close to you each day that we can receive your promise. In Jesus Name we 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. 

       

       Please click this link to Old Testament Psalm 145 blog: 

       https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2021/07/day-145-2021-in-your-kingdom-my-king-i.html

       

     

       Please click this link to today's Old Testament 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17 blog and video:

https://timewithabbaprayinglisteningenglish.blogspot.com/2025/07/prayer-of-jabez.html

       Please click this link to today's Old Testament Proverbs 18 blog:  

       https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2021/07/day-168-2021-watch-your-mouth-please-go.html

   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

     

     

       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

 

 

Connecting Workshop 2025(Session 2)

Bishop Silas Ng on Three Streams

 https://youtu.be/xiSOSFF9Iw0?si=puDWFD9Cx01ADm-o