Daily Encouragement Net - A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
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Trouble reading this message? Read online or see archives
 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Friday, June 25, 2010   Listen to this message on your audio player.Today's message is the third in a 3 part series from Romans 12:12: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer." "Faithful In Prayer" "Faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).  Yesterday we stopped by The Village Farm Market, east of Ephrata Pennsylvania for lunch. As I waited for Brooksyne to bring out our made–to-order ham and cheese subs I sat down at one of the picnic tables under the big roof overhang in front of the store. Two younger "Plain" men who sat at the table right next to me appeared to be carpenters. Without saying a word to each other they bowed their heads for a few moments of silent prayer as is their custom prior to a meal. From an early age they were taught by word and example the practice of giving thanks for the food set before them. Of course I have no idea about other aspects of their spiritual life, but was heartened by this simple act of faithfulness and devotion toward God.Prayer is a foundational expression of faith. We speak but cannot see the One to whom we speak. We listen, not with our physical sense of hearing, but rather the spiritual inner heart. Jesus says in John 4, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." The effects of our prayers are often not immediate and at times seem ambiguous, at least from our perspective. Bluntly we may wonder if prayer really does any good.  In Colossians 4:2 Paul offers a similar verse to today's text: "Devote yourselves to prayer." In fact in the Greek it is the very same phrase. The sense of "devote" implies a strong attachment, allegiance, and affection for someone or something; in this case, prayer and the act of praying. It would include one's passion, time, and needed resources. One who is devoted is passionate in his commitment and consistency and will not be disloyal, inconsistent, or indifferent. This character description should give us a mental picture of one who is devoted to prayer."Faithful" is in the present imperative which denotes that we are to continually, habitually follow this command. It is to be one's continual way of life (lifestyle). This Scriptural call is not a suggestion but a command to make it our habitual practice. Remember that whatever God commands of us He also provides the grace and empowerment through His Spirit to carry out. Someone has well said that "Prayer is the breath of the Christian life and almost nothing decays so fast in the fallen human heart as the desire to pray." In other words, nothing is more vital than prayer in Christian existence, and few things are more vulnerable to neglect. We must come back to it again and again and stoke the fire lest, out of neglect, it becomes nothing more than useless cold embers.  Most Christians will confess the difficulty of maintaining a regular and effective prayer life. The reason is not difficult to discern. If Satan can keep us out of touch with God, he will not have to worry about any trouble we might cause for his evil kingdom.Believing friend, when we are prayed up our allurement to sin is far less appealing, our spirit is strengthened, and our communion with God becomes the anchor which holds us steady in the daily stresses and major events of our life. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily Prayer: Father, the clamor for our heart's devotion comes from many sources and often overpowers the beckoning command from Scripture to devote ourselves daily to prayer. As we are faithful in prayer we have power to overcome the enemy and intensify our love and devotion to You. We know that prayer is not optional for the believer, but an ordinance from the Bible. You who created us knows what will sustain us and keep us from falling into the hands of our enemy. Help us to be faithful in prayer so that we will be also be joyful in hope and patient in affliction. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Yesterday Tom, a longtime friend from northern PA, commented on the message "Patient in Affliction" and suggested reading Psalm 66. I note verses 10-12 are especially pertinent to the topic. We enjoy harvest scenes and fully matured plantings are being harvested all through the summer. Presently it's wheat and hay.  I was visiting some men in a factory in the course of our chaplain work yesterday and noticed this scene outside of one of the shipping docks. I suppose this is not a common sight for too many of our readers where they work!  The wheat is cut and then stacked in shocks to dry. It will be gathered and the grain will be removed with a thresher (see photo). I spoke to my friend Elvin, a member of an old order group yesterday, and he told me that the children will help in pitching up the wheat onto the wagons. That would be a great photo!  This farmer had five of his children on the wagon. Notice the little girls with their bonnets!  We had a thunderstorm yesterday afternoon and this farmer managed to get his freshly baled alfalfa into the barn just in time!  We stopped by a friend's house for a visit late yesterday afternoon and Daniel invited me to sit up on his cart. It was a pleasurable sight to watch him riding along on his cart as he was delivering some plants to neighbors. I thought you'd get a sense of how miniature the horse is if I sat on the cart. Some dog breeds are bigger than these horses. Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link to open and play. (In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.) "I Must Tell Jesus" Video Mark Jones and the Cornerstone Church Choir. We are both greatly blessed by this hymn and this particular version. The soloist sings with such earnest expression. A line in this hymn has often spoken to my heart and is so needed today: O how the world to evil allures me, O how my heart is tempted to sin, I must tell Jesus, and He will help me Over the world the vic'-t'ry to win. "I Need Thee Every Hour" Video Selah (Includes an eclectic mix) "Sweet Hour Of Prayer" Video George Beverly Shea Instrumental version "Give Me Jesus" Video Fernando Ortega Includes some very touching video clips from the funeral service for Ruth Bell Graham. It shows you the power of prayer in a woman whose life was fully devoted to God. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
  Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details.2010 YTD financial offerings as of 6/24/10 $6,568.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed or as an email subscription through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is merely the Friday message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!) "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.  Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!Personal Mission Statement "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."  How to become a child of God Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2010 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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