Team Code Rabah

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY 11TH AUGUST 2022

PST CHRIS

LISTEN TO WHAT YOU’RE SINGING

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him (John 4:23).

When people don’t understand the Scriptures, it shows in the songs they sing. Through the years, God’s people have sung many unscriptural songs that affected their emotions but hadn’t any true and lasting spiritual impact.

One of such songs is the hymn, “Fill my cup, Lord.” Many sing it with delight, yet they fail to ask themselves what they really mean when they ask the Lord to “fill their cup.” With what do they want Him to fill it? Another line of the song says, “Come and quench this thirsting of my soul….”

If you have Christ, you’ll never thirst again. Jesus said to the woman at the well, _*“…whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”*_ (John 4:14). Those are the words of Jesus. So, how can you still be thirsty?

Then they sing, “Bread of Heaven, feed me ‘til I want no more….” How could that be? In John 6:35, Jesus declared, _*“...I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”*_ This makes it crystal clear that if you have Jesus, you’ll never hunger and thirst again.

People still sing such hymns because they don’t know. Psalm 82:5 says, _*“They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness….”*_ Don’t just sing a song because it sounds nice; listen to the words; be sure they’re consistent with the provisions of the Gospel of Christ.

The Lord Jesus is coming for a Church without spot, without wrinkle, without blemish or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27). And He says we should be no more children, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14); but we should rather grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). So, when you sing in worship, let it be with the knowledge and understanding of the truth of God’s Word.

PRAYER

Dear Father, I thank you for filling me with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, to know and worship you in spirit and in truth. Your Word is the basis for my relationship with you; therefore, I’ll be diligent to make sure my songs of praise are consistent with your Word always, for your Word is truth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Colossians 1:9
For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

1 Chronicles 16:8-12
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. 9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. 10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Psalm 66:1-4 NIV
Shout for joy to God, all the earth! 2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. 3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. 4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name."

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Romans 12:17-13:1-14 & Psalms 89

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Philippians 1:23-30 & Isaiah 62

*RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

*PRAYING IN LINE WITH HIS DESIRE*

Tuesday, August 9th .
Pastor Chris

_*And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us (1 John 5:14 AMPC).*_

Sometimes people pray, “Father, let your will be done,” without realizing the import of this statement. It isn’t one to be made casually. You don’t just say, “Thy will be done”; you have to know what that will is. When Jesus prayed and said the same words, He knew exactly what the Father’s will was and He mentioned it.

There’s a difference between a will and a desire. The fact that something is God’s will at a particular point in time doesn’t mean it may be His desire. I’ll give you an example from the Bible. In Isaiah 38, the Bible tells a story about King Hezekiah who was sick. The Prophet Isaiah was sent to him by God to tell him to set his house in order because he was going to die. At that moment, God stated His clear will for King Hezekiah’s life.

After receiving this message from the prophet, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God, weeping. The Bible says, _*“Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, go, and say to Hezekiah, thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years”*_ (Isaiah 38:4-5). Praise God!

When Hezekiah was told he was going to die, if he had replied, “Thy will be done O Lord,” he would have died. But he knew that wasn’t God’s desire for him. He knew God created him for His praise. So, in his prayer, he said to the Lord, “…the dead cannot celebrate you. Only the living can praise you as I do this day” (Isaiah 38:18-19).

When you’re praying about the will of God on a matter, find out how consistent that thing is with His character. Only then will you know how best to pray about it. For instance, in the Old Testament, God led the children of Israel in several battles and fought wars on their behalf, yet the Bible tells us He’s a God of peace. He’s more known as the God of peace than any other name in the Bible. This shows us His desire; what He really wants is peace, not war. This kind of understanding will help you pray always in line with His desires as revealed in His Word.

*PRAYER*

*Dear Father, I’m inspired by the truth of your Word, your love and your eternal kindness which communicates your desire for us to prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper. Even now, I’m strengthened in my confidence to pray, knowing that it’s your delight to hear and answer my prayers. My joy is full today, confident of your love and power at work in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.*

*FURTHER STUDY:* *||* *1 Peter 3:12* For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil. *||*

*||* *Romans 8:26-27* Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. *||*

*||* *Luke 22:41-44* And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. *||*

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan=>* Romans 11:25-36 & Psalms 82-84

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan=>* Philippians 1:9-14 & Isaiah 60.