Archive for Devotional with Hymn

Hungry for a Word

2018-08-06 Devotional with Hymn No comments

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68, NIV)

Loving Father,
Living Truth,
You speak to me—
to me, Lord God.

Is my heart listening?

My life is hungry
for a Word,
for a Song, with harmony,
for a Dance
that will let my body and soul,
my deepest desires and disjointed days,
move together
with joy and ease and music.

Dance with me, Lord;
dance with me.
Sing,
and I will move to the music.
Speak a Word,
One Living Word.
I am listening.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Father, Speak Your Word Again
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Who We Are in You

2018-08-03 Devotional Companion to Revelation, Devotional with Hymn No comments

A prayer response to Revelation 11:1-6,
the two witnesses

Father, we seem so small in this large and hostile world.

But You are Almighty God, and
we are Your presence here.
Make us Your light
in this dark place.
Make us Your truth
amid all this deception.
May we be Your healing touch
where so many are suffering.
May we glow with Your joy
in this world of shadow and sorrow.
Let us shine with the beauty of Your holiness
where all is twisted by evil.
O Lord, help us be
Your generous hand to those in need,
the breath of Your peace to those who fear, and
the good news of grace to all who are crushed by guilt.

As we live in Your Spirit,
we are Your people,
Your witnesses,
Your body,
Your temple,
Your holy bride.

O Father, keep us faithful to
who You are and
who we are in You.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Reconciled in Christ
Recording
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When Temptation Comes

2018-07-30 Devotional with Hymn No comments

God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV)

If you remain in close contact with God, you are more likely to sense when temptation is intruding.

When it comes, go immediately to God. Don’t toy with the desire. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Remain in God’s presence in complete trust, humbly worshiping Him. Tell Him your weaknesses and struggles, and lovingly ask for His help.

The world, the flesh, and the Devil wage so fierce and constant a war that unless we depend on God, we will be dragged down. But in Him we always find the help we need.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Do You Talk to the Lord?
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics
 

by Brother Lawrence and Ken Bible

Soul Food

2018-07-27 Devotional Companion to Revelation, Devotional with Hymn No comments

A prayer response to Revelation 10:8-11,
eating the little book

Father, Your Word is
truth.
Your Word is
reality.
Your Word is Your heart, Father,
Your will,
Your wisdom,
Your light in our darkness.
Your Word is
the blessing You long to pour out on everyone You love.

Your Word is not just
facts to be filed or
knowledge to fill the mind.
Your Word is food,
not just for our bodies,
but for our complete selves.
Your Word is nourishment
to be thoroughly digested
so that Your Spirit can turn it into
action,
service,
beauty,
holiness, and
love.

Your Word is life.
Speak, Father!
Your children are hungry.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Is There Any Word from the Lord?
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics

I Hunger for You

2018-07-23 Devotional with Hymn No comments

Based on Psalm 63 

My God,
my Creator,
my Father,
You are all I hunger for.
In a world full of
broken cisterns and
empty promises,
You are the spring of living water.
You are rich, eternal food for all I am, for
heart and
mind and
spirit.

You are
holiness,
rightness,
life,
joy, and
constant, complete sufficiency.
You are surely, eternally making me
more than I ever dreamed I could be.

O God,
my God,
I long for You!

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Psalm 63
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When God Speaks

2018-07-20 Devotional Companion to Revelation, Devotional with Hymn No comments

A reflection on Revelation 10:1-7,
the vision of the mighty angel

In God, reality is
bigger than we can imagine and
more glorious than we can picture.

His Word is the source of all existence.
All that is
only exists
because He commanded it.
Thus His promises are
more sure than our fiercest convictions,
more solid than anything we perceive with our senses,
more certain than tomorrow’s sunrise.

God Himself is power.
He Himself is wisdom.
He is light and truth and
faithfulness itself.
He is love
complete,
perfect, and
O so beautiful!

So when He speaks,
when the Creator and Lord of all speaks, be
quick to hear and
slow to speak (James 1:19).
His speaking is a great mercy.
His words are life.
Listen…
Listen!
Then throw aside your petty desires and plans and
grab His will with both hands.
Seek it wholeheartedly!
Obey Him
eagerly and
joyfully!

Follow Him
simply,
humbly,
one childlike step at a time.
That is all He ever asks.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: God Is Speaking
Recording
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Every Moment in You

2018-07-16 Devotional with Hymn No comments

Father, You desired it.
You have always desired it.
You planned it.
You prepared it.
You promised it.
And by Your Spirit,
You have patiently nurtured
a hunger for it
in my heart.

So now,
finally,
in belated response to all You have done,
I ask for it,
I pray for it,
as Your needy child:

O Father,
I want to live every moment in You
the way Jesus lived every moment in You
when He was here.

Because He was weak,
because He depended completely on You,
He was strong and sufficient in every situation.
My Father, keep me weak and
keep me strong
in You.

He loved You and
served You and
glorified You
single-mindedly,
with His whole heart.
Father, keep me
single-mindedly,
whole-heartedly Yours,
just like Him.

He was
holy and humble,
bold and gentle,
fearless and loving
in You.
O Father,
my Father,
every moment
keep me in You.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: All in You, Breath by Breath
Recording
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Unshakable Confidence

2018-07-12 Devotional Companion to Revelation, Devotional with Hymn No comments

A reflection on Revelation 6:1 – 11:14

As He faced crucifixion, Jesus shared with His disciples His joyful, unshakable confidence in the Father (John 13 – 16). Here in Revelation 6:1 – 11:14, He portrays the same confidence through a panoramic tapestry of judgment and salvation.

In Revelation 6 He rolls out the judgments of the first six seals. He climaxes the account with the sobering question, “The great day of the wrath of God and the Lamb has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:17, para.).

He answers that question in chapter 7 by giving us two visions of the Church during those dark days. Both the Church on earth (7:1-8) and the Church in heaven (7:9-17) are absolutely secure under the care and protection of Almighty God.

Revelation 8 – 9 resumes God’s awesome judgments, which are growing ever more intense.  He is calling unbelievers to repentance through afflictions that are increasingly severe. But where is the Church in that disintegrating world? Revelation 10:1 – 11:14 gives the answer: the Church is faithfully witnessing to God’s unchanging truth. We are joyfully glorifying Him, even in the darkest times and places.

Thus the broad canvas of Revelation lays out the same truth that Jesus spoke to His disciples as He faced death:

  • Even in the most severe persecution, we are absolutely secure in the Father.
  • Even the deepest sorrow cannot take away our joy and peace in Christ.
  • Eternal gain continues through all earthly loss.
  • “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NASB).

 

Child of God, in life and death, sickness and sorrow, pain and persecution, you have nothing to fear. Not today. Not ever! Thanks be to God!

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Father, in This Suffering
Recording
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Active Faith

2018-07-08 Devotional with Hymn No comments

The righteous will live by faith. (Romans 1:17, NIV)

One of the first benefits of practicing God’s presence is faith. As we nurture a constant, personal relationship with God, faith becomes more alive and active in every area of life. This is particularly true in times of need. As we turn to God immediately with every concern, He provides for us completely: strength in temptation; assurance in uncertainty; wisdom and patience for relationships; forgiveness for our failures. When we know that God is present, we call on Him freely and with confidence, and obtain from Him all that we need.

Listen and sing: Hymn: As I Trust You Recording Printed Music & Lyrics

by Brother Lawrence and Ken Bible

The Foolishness of Unbelief

2018-07-05 Devotional Companion to Revelation, Devotional with Hymn No comments

A prayer response to Revelation 9:13-21,
the sixth trumpet

Father, uproot from my heart and life
all the foolishness of unbelief.

You created me.
You shared Yourself
with me and
through me.
You redeemed me.
When I didn’t know You and had
no inclination toward You whatsoever,
You poured out Your life for me.
Yet I still struggle to trust You completely with needs that are
right now,
in the real world.
When the pain is pressing and I feel no relief,
I still doubt.
When the answer doesn’t come when and how I expect,
I waver.
You know it’s true, Father.

You are the only Source and complete reservoir of all
love,
power, and
wisdom.
All that I see, touch, and know
came from You alone.
Yet it’s still not automatic to trust that
You and all Your promises are
absolutely real and
absolutely certain.

I trust material things and not You?
Money and not You?
Myself and not You?

Father, continue to uproot all this nonsense from my
thinking and
doing.
How many times do You have to prove Yourself to me?
I do believe in You.
I do know, from reason and experience, that You are
completely true,
always responsive, and
unfailingly faithful.
Infuse all I am with that simple faith.

You are the most real thing in all my world.
Help me to live like it.

Listen and sing:
Hymn: Lord, Why Am I Anxious?
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics

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