August 1 Devotion - A time to act and a time to wait

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”

لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ أَوَانٌ، وَلِكُلِّ أَمْرٍ تَحْتَ السَّمَاءِ زَمَانٌ.

"فَعَلَيَّ أَنْ أَعْمَلَ أَعْمَالَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَنِي مَادَامَ الْوَقْتُ نَهَاراً. فَسَيَأْتِي اللَّيْلُ، وَلاَ أَحَدَ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ فِيهِ."

Ecclesiastes 3:1              John 09:4

As Solomon said: for everything there is a season. How do we know if God wants us to wait upon Him, as in Isaiah 40:31:  But those who wait on the LORD

or

God wants us to act as Jesus commented in John 09:4 and as God told Joshua in Joshua 7:  “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?”

A way of answering that question could be that we should act if we have fulfilled the following:

·     We have prayed and asked for God’s guidance

·     We have searched God’s word for guidance

·     We have submitted to Jesus’ Lordship

·     We have seeked Godly counsel

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Guide me God to seek Your desire and plan for my life and strengthen me to submit to Your guidance for my life. Give me wisdom and teach me God to wait when necessary and to act when necessary. Help me to fully follow your plan with confidence, faith, and courage, for You O’Lord are the only one who knows the future and the only one who knows what is best for me and anyone I impact. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Jesus loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

July 31 Devotion- Be Compassionate

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Philippians 2:4

Matthew 7:5

Jesus teaches us to be kind to one another and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. We need to be compassionate one to another in order to experience the benefit of God’s compassion toward us. While we should be concerned for believers’ interests we are not to interfere in their business.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, teach me, strengthen and guide me, to care about others as much as I care about myself. Help me to esteem others and look upon and be concerned for their interests. Give me wisdom to give them advice and humility to not insist that they follow my advice or be offended if they do not follow it. Lord, give me insight and self-awareness to be able to see my own defects and grant me kindness to make allowances for their defects. Lord strip me from any pride that may be hindering me from carrying out your commandments.

In Jesus’ name I pray. To Him be the power, the glory and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

July 30 Devotion - Be Happy

Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Proverbs 16:20

Psalm 16:11

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Today I choose to make it a time to be happy, to be in God’s presence and therefore be full of joy, and stay at His right hand and find pleasures forevermore.  

You may say this is not sound doctrine, and I reply: Be happy and rejoice for this is the day The LORD has made.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:   

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Heavenly Father, please continue to teach me to trust in You so that I can be transformed to be Christlike, to feel Your joy, to be happy, to live Your good and pleasing will for my life, a life full of pleasures forevermore. Lord, fill my heart with laughter and my tongue with songs of joy in appreciation of your blessings bringing all my thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. I pray in Jesus’ mighty name, to Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Jesus loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henei

July 29 Devotion - Getting Pruned

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:2

We tend to resist the process of being pruned because it is usually painful. In agricultural terms the result of pruning a fruit tree is a more plentiful crop. Pruning out our habits that are not pleasing to God is a process that God applies to believers because His grace and love for us causes Him to sanctify us. We need to trust God that His pruning process will cause us to bear more fruit for His Kingdom.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You God that You continue to prune me and cleanse me and set me apart unto Yourself for Your purpose and Your will. Abba, thank You that You sanctified me when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I realize that sanctification is an ongoing process while I am on earth, please continue to sanctify me to make me a clean vessel properly prepared for Your good works and the advancement of Your Kingdom. Help me Lord to respond in faith and obedience to Your pruning and guidance in my life so that I may bear more fruit. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. To Him be the power, the glory and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

July 26 Devotion - In times of weakness

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

فقال لي تكفيك نعمتي لان قوتي في الضعف تكمل.فبكل سرور افتخر بالحري في ضعفاتي لكي تحل علي قوة المسيح.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Our prayers are not always answered in the form in which we desire; however they are answered in the assurance of grace sufficient to support us. Grace signifies the good-will of God towards us, and that is enough to enlighten, strengthen and comfort us in all our afflictions and/or distresses.

Some of the reasons why our prayers are not answered in the way we requested may be:

(1)                The grace that will be received if the calamity is not removed will be of greater value to the individual than would be the direct answer to his/her prayer.

(2)     It might not be for the good of the individual who prays that the exact thing should be granted.

(3)     God has often some better thing in store for us than would be the immediate answer to our prayer

(4)     It would not be well for us, probably, should our request be answered exactly as requested.

When we feel that we are weak in ourselves, we need to go to Christ, and enjoy His supplies of Divine strength and grace.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, please teach me to respond prayerfully in times of weakness. Show me the purpose of what I am facing, and shower me with Your Divine grace, wisdom and strength, to handle the situation according to Your will for my life. I pray to You Father in Jesus’ name, to whom be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Jesus loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

July 25 Devotion - "Abba, Father"

¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

إِذْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمْ تَنَالُوا رُوحَ عُبُودِيَّةٍ يُعِيدُكُمْ إِلَى الْخَوْفِ، بَلْ نِلْتُمْ رُوحَ بُنُوَّةٍ بِهِ نَصْرُخُ: «أَبَا! أَبَانَا!»

Romans 8:15

The will and intention of an adoptive family is to love the adoptee and make the child a complete member of their family.

It is in this sense that God adopts each one of us when we become ‘born again’ by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. The desire of our ‘Abba’ is to demonstrate His love for the world by enlarging His family.

“Abba’ is in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, I praise You and glorify You. Thank You God that You have spiritually adopted me as Your child through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. Help me to gain my greatest sense of control through knowing that Your hand of providence guides my life. Give me Lord, this unwavering confidence that there is never a time, a trial, or a temptation when I am outside Your presence.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “In quietness and trust is your strength”. Grant me this quietness and trust Lord.

God please set my feet upon a rock, establish my steps and grant me victory over the most unreasonable situation. Be my strength Father in all that I am facing and grant me true victory. I pray in Jesus’ mighty name, to Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Jesus loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

July 17 Devotion - The truth will set you free

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

 تعرفون الحق

                                                                                                             والحقويحرركم

 

John 8:32 يوحنا

Growing up I received a lot of positive and negative remarks from friends, family, teachers etc. Unfortunately I believed what people were saying about me. Unfortunately many of us believe we are what people think and say we are. The truth lies in who God says we are. So how does God see us?

 

“I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 6:18

God sees us as His children because we have accepted the saving grace given to us as a gift through the atoning work of Jesus at The Cross, and because we follow Jesus as Lord over our lives. Through God’s eyes we are mightily and wonderfully made. Let us rejoice about ‘The Truth’ about us without fearing that it is pride or self-righteousness. Give power to how God sees you and not to how people see you.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank you Father for Your truth that sets me free from the ingrained negative words I believed about myself. Help me Lord to see myself as You see me and to release the power that those negative descriptions and labels have over me. Help me to forgive all those that spoke negative remarks over me.

Abba Father, please produce wholeness out of my brokenness; build strength out of my weakness and help me to see myself as Your child whom You wonderfully and mightily made. In Jesus’ name I pray. To Him be the power, the glory and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus Loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

July 16 Devotion - Cast all your anxiety on Him

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

وَاطْرَحُوا عَلَيْهِ ثِقْلَ هُمُومِكُمْ كُلِّهَا، لأَنَّهُ هُوَ يَعْتَنِي بِكُمْ.

1 Peter 5:7

God is sovereign; we can cast all our anxiety on Him. He created everything and has absolute control over every aspect of His creation. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever present. He knows absolutely everything about our situation and He cares for us. God loves all believers in His Son Jesus Christ; as Lord and Saviour; with an unconditional, unfathomable, immeasurable love.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank you Father for Your  omniscience—You know all my needs, for  Your omnipotence—You are able to help in all circumstances, for Your  omnipresence—You are involved in all aspects and details of my life. Help me God to totally depend on You, cast my worries and anxiety on You and enjoy Your peace. My heavenly Father, please produce wholeness out of my brokenness; build strength out of my weakness; heal my emotional and physical sickness; and bring reconciliation and love to all my relationships. In Jesus’ name I pray. To Him be the power, the glory and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus Loves you

In Him,
Wagdi Henein

July 15 Devotion - To live is Christ

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations”

Matthew 28:18-19

 

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour then you have a responsibility given to you by Jesus himself. The responsibility is to generate an opportunity for people to know about ‘The Good News’ about Jesus’ readiness and ability to forgive sin and grant eternal life.

So what did the Apostle Paul mean when he said:

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  

Philippians 1:21

 While the second phrase ‘to die is gain’ helps us focus on the joy of being with Jesus in paradise, the first part of the phrase ‘to live is Christ’ is essential and should be at the core of every Christian’s life. Every day we should be growing in the knowledge of Christ and advancing to become Christ-like. We need to proclaim the gospel of Christ, the great commission should be central to our lives.

To live is Christ means that every believer should give up anything that prevents him/her from having Christ.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, teach me and help me so that  everything I try to be, everything I am, and everything I look forward to being points to Christ. Jesus I want that my thoughts and actions bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name I pray. To Him be the power, the glory and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

July 10 Devotion - When we feel down emotionally

I searched the Bible for God’s relief and support for the times when I feel sad, depressed, blue, worried or run out of motivation to help me continue. I found God telling me:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9  The Lord is near to you because you have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:17-20 “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9   All things will work together for good for you because you love God, Romans 8:28  Make sure to rejoice always, pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, I thank you for knowing every emotion we go through and for having an answer and support for me today. Strengthen me Lord to be of good courage. Thank You Lord that during my period of weakness Your strength is made perfect. Help me Lord to pray continuously. I rejoice in the assurance that You are with me God wherever I am, that all things will work together for good for me, and that I will rejoice because Your peace God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus; in whose Holy Name I pray. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

July 9 Devotion - By God's Grace not by my works

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

 «الْحَقَّ الْحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكَ: لاَ أَحَدَ يُمْكِنُهُ أَنْ يَرَى مَلَكُوتَ اللهِ إِلاَّ إِذَا وُلِدَ مِنْ جَدِيدٍ».

John 3:3

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

بالنعمة مخلّصون بالايمان وذلك ليس منكم.هو عطية الله.

9 ليس من اعمال كي لا يفتخر احد

Your role

1. Something to admit:

That you have sinned in the sight of God. (we all have)

2. Something to believe:

That Jesus Christ died on the cross bearing all the guilt and penalty of your sin.

3. Something to do:

Accept Jesus Christ to be Lord over your life, your Saviour to cleanse you, your friend to guide and be with you.
Revelation 3:20. Jesus is speaking, `Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him...
Jesus Christ waits outside the door of your life. He will not force his way in. He wants to be asked in. The handle of the door is on the inside; only you can open the door.

 

 I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, In Your great mercy You have not given me the penalty I deserve. By Your grace You have given me what I do not deserve; repentance and faith in Jesus The Saviour and Lord and a new birth into a living hope. I am born again to a new life as God’s child. Praise be to You. Thank you for making it clear to me that only those who receive Jesus—not merely know about Him— but rely on Him for salvation, submitting to Him as Master, and loving Him as the supreme treasure—become God’s children. For by grace I have been saved through faith, and that not of myself; it is Your gift God, it is not by my good works, lest I should boast. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

July 8 Devotion - God's Angels

⁷ The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers.

Psalm 34:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

Psalm 91:11 (AMP)

Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word.

Psalm 103:20-21 (Amplified Bible)

http://youtu.be/r82fyOb8F5w

‘Beware that you do not despise or feel scornful toward or think little of one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always are in the presence of and look upon the face of My Father Who is in heaven.’

Matthew 18:10

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:38 New King James Version (NKJV)

God created the angels, and nowhere in the Bible does it state that angels are created in the image and likeness of God, as humans are. Genesis 1:26. The greatest thing we can learn from the holy angels is their instant, unquestioning obedience to God’s commands.

 

Here are some activities the Bible ascribes to angels:

               They praise God (Psalm 148:1-2; Isaiah 6:3).

They worship God (Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:8-13).

They rejoice in what God does (Job 38:6-7).

They serve God (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 22:9).

They appear before God (Job 1:6; 2:1).

They are instruments of God's judgments (Revelation 7:1; 8:2).

They bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10).

They aid in winning people to Christ (Acts 8:26; 10:3).

They observe Christian order, work, and suffering (1 Corinthians 4:9; 11:10; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12).

They encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23-24).

For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, ²⁴ saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

They care for the righteous at the time of death (Luke 16:22).

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Thank You Lord for Your angels and the role they play in serving, praising and worshipping You. Thank You that You use them to communicate with us and guide us and protect us. Lord, I ask that Your angels help me bring people to Christ, to guide me and protect me. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and wisdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jesus Loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

July 5 Devotion- The 8 ways God answers needs and prayers

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 (Amplified Bible)

 

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7 (Amplified Bible)

 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

"Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above."

Isaiah 7:11 NKJV

 

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

 

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

 

It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

 Lamentations 3:26 

 

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

I believe God answers our prayers and needs in 8 different ways. He may decide:

1. I will give you before you ask

2. Yes. Prayer request granted

3. Yes, but you will have to wait

4. Yes, but not as expected

5. Yes, and here is more

6. Be specific in your request

7. Wait. I have something better for you

8. No, that is not good for you “My grace is sufficient for you”

God loves us and whatever answer He chooses it is for our best. We need to trust The Lord and not lean on our own understanding, for His ways are extremely different and better than ours. Sometimes going through tribulation teaches us prayer and patience; patience can help us acquire experience which can lead to the increase of hope. Hope then increases our expectation, which in turn increases our confidence in the Lord.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Thank You Lord for giving me before I ask and more and better than I ask. Thank You for Your grace, mercy and Your wisdom. Thank You for always choosing the perfect timing to answer my prayers and thank You for teaching me patience by making me wait. Thank You for always doing what is best for me. I ask You to always give me the wisdom to persistently pray asking with abundant hope: “Your will be done”. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jesus Loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein