October 31 Devotion - Apart from Jesus we can do nothing

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Psalms127:1

إِنْ لَمْ يَبْنِ الرَّبُّ الْبَيْتَ، فَبَاطِلاً يَتْعَبُ الْبَنَّاؤُونَ. وَإِنْ لَمْ يَحْرُسِ الرَّبُّ الْمَدِينَةَ فَبَاطِلاً يَسْهَرُ الْحَارِسُ.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

apart from me you can do nothing”

John 15:5

أَنَا الْكَرْمَةُ وَأَنْتُمُ الأَغْصَانُ. مَنْ يَثْبُتُ فِيَّ وَأَنَا فِيهِ، فَذَاكَ يُنْتِجُ ثَمَراً كَثِيراً. فَإِنَّكُمْ بِمَعْزِلٍ عَنِّي لاَ تَقْدِرُونَ أَنْ تَفْعَلُوا شَيْئاً.

God runs everything in our lives. God has planned every day of the life of each one of us before He created the world. If we preach to non-believers, unless God is there touching their hearts we are working in vain. The same applies to building anything or working on any project or defending our position we need God to bless our work to achieve the desired results.

Jesus tells us that He is the vine; we are the branches.  Without an attachment to Him, we would be unable to do anything, including living and breathing.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and deep inseparable love for me. God I acknowledge that You are operating ALL according to the counsel of Your own will.  Ephesians 1:11 Help me Lord to acknowledge You in all my ways so that You direct my paths. Proverbs 3:6 Lord even if I let my heart to plan my way, but I trust that You Lord direct my steps. Proverbs 16:9 Jesus I acknowledge that I can do nothing without You please remain in me and help me to remain in You at all times. Lord I am blessed that You promised that You will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go; and You will guide me with Your eye. Psalm 32:8  In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

October 30 Devotion - Peace and confidence

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ بِهَذَا كُلِّهِ لِيَكُونَ لَكُمْ فِيَّ سَلاَمٌ. فَإِنَّكُمْ فِي الْعَالَمِ سَتُقَاسُونَ الضِّيقَ. وَلكِنْ تَشَجَّعُوا، فَأَنَا قَدِ انْتَصَرْتُ عَلَى الْعَالَمِ

John 16:33 Amplified Bible (AMP)

In contrast to our assumption that peace means the absence of conflict, Jesus promises that His peace becomes apparent in the very middle of trouble and conflict. Troubles remind us to ask for Jesus' peace. God's answer will not usually mean that the problem will be over, but that we should have the confidence that Christ's peace will see us through it. Let us focus on His always-listening ear and His always-watchful eye, for He Who promised is reliable and faithful to His word.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, in times of trouble remind me to ask in prayer for Jesus’ peace and give me the faith and confidence that His peace will see me through it. Lord, I choose to see Your loving arms wrapped around me lifting me up to safety, provision, and peace. I thank You that You are a reliable and trustworthy God and You promised that You will never leave me nor forsake me, and I know that You are faithful. I choose today to concentrate on You, to hold fast my confession that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour and in His mighty name I pray. 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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.’ Ephesians 3:20-21

 

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

October 27 Devotion - Parakletos - The Holy Spirit

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

 وَأَنَا أَطْلُبُ مِنَ الآبِ فَيُعْطِيكُمْ مُعَزِّيًا آخَرَ لِيَمْكُثَ مَعَكُمْ إِلَى الأَبَد

 John 14:16

In the original Greek the word used to describe the Holy Spirit is the word Parakletos, or “Comforter.” It suggests the giving of aid much like a legal counselor or advocate would do.

The sense in which Parakletos is used means “to come alongside another while giving strength and encouraging support.” The Holy Spirit is God’s personal representative here on earth. He is the third person of the Trinity.

Jesus knew the void within the hearts of His disciples would be great after He returned to the Father. Therefore, God in His greatness and compassion sent the Holy Spirit to comfort the followers of Christ, and He is still with us today. He is our Guide to all truth and our personal Advocate and Comforter before the throne of God.

This is our peace and strength—knowing that whatever we face, God faces it with us through the Holy Spirit.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for loving me with a deep and everlasting love, thank You for Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life.  Through the Holy Spirit that indwells me as a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ; my Lord and Saviour; fill me with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Grant me Lord the Spirit of Wisdom to aspire the things that are eternal, enlighten my mind to Your divine teachings and fill my heart with Your divine presence. God I praise You, glorify You and lift You up on high. In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever, Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

October 26 Devotion - Never Give Up

For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!

فَإِنِّي أَحْسِبُ أَنَّ آلاَمَ الزَّمَانِ الْحَاضِرِ لاَ تُقَاسُ بِالْمَجْدِ الْعَتِيدِ أَنْ يُسْتَعْلَنَ فِينَا.

Romans 8:18

Under extreme pressure we may face challenges to our faith which may impact our view of God. This can lead to unwise thinking and actions.

To help us in these very challenging times we need to:

1. Remember God’s help in the past and concentrate on His everlasting love.

2. Tell our problems how big our God is, versus telling God how big our problems are

3. Remember God’s promise to either bring us through our challenges or give us His all-sufficient grace to endure them.

4. Remember that God said “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. Hebrews 13:5

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You God that You are present in the time of a storm and Your presence surrounds me. Thank You God for all Your help throughout my life and for Your all sufficient grace to go through my storms. LORD, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I know that I know that I know that You will never leave me nor forsake me. God I praise You, revere You, worship You, I stand in awe of You, I lift You up on high, and glorify Your Holy Name. To Him who is able to keep me from stumbling and to present me before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein