Genesis 2; Matthew 2; Ezra 2; Acts 2

He created heavens and earth, breathed life into man, provided food. (He cares for man, creating animals and a helper just right for him.) The Lord warned man:

¹⁵ The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. ¹⁶ But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— ¹⁷ except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Genesis 2:15-17, NLT, emphasis added.)

Wise men traveled to worship Jesus and met with Herod on the way. They are warned in dreams to take a different route home. Joseph is warned too.

¹² When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. ¹³ After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:12-13, NLT, emphasis added.)

A sound from heaven like the roar of a mighty windstorm filled a space and equipped the believers with new ability. It is the Holy Spirit.

⁴ And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. (Acts 2:4, NLT, emphasis added.)

God reaches to communicate with us–and this is relationship: the reaching back.

⁶³ The governor told them not to eat the priests’ share of food from the sacrifices until a priest could consult the Lord about the matter by using the Urim and Thummim—the sacred lots. (Ezra 2:63, NLT, emphasis added.)

Lord, your word shows me glimpses of your heart and what you value. You care for your creation and dazzle with variety and beauty, you provide great provision. You equip those you call. You desire relationship, inviting me in your word to engage with you and seek you. You promise you are near to those who call on you. You give me hints of a kingdom I can’t see, reaching supernaturally into dreams, by signs and wonders here in places I can see. Help me to hear. Help me to see. Help me to know you better.

Courtney (66books365)

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Lev. 18; Ps. 22; Eccles. 1; 1 Tim. 3

Psalm 22

My idea on prayer has been changing greatly lately.  I’ve been reading a book that has revolutionized my thinking about how we pray.

My initial reaction to David’s prayer in Psalm 22 is “How can David say these things to God?” “How can he be so honest about his despair?”  I would have never prayed like that; I always felt that I needed to come to God and say all the things that I thought He wanted to hear.  David comes directly to God expressing his honest feelings with complete faith in God.

God wants me to come to Him in relationship.  He wants me to share myself honestly with Him.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”

Jesus prays this same prayer from the cross (Matthew 27:46).  Jesus and David demonstrate honest communication with God.  It’s OK for me to tell Him how I feel.  How freeing!

The Psalmist also demonstrates that even in his despair he remembers, knows and trusts in a Sovereign God;

“You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.  Our fathers trusted You; they trusted and You delivered them.  They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted in You and were not ashamed.”

Father, help me to direct my prayers to You honestly always remembering that You are sovereign and faithful.

Kathleen (guest on 66 books)