March 29 Devotion - Sharing our Faith

But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

وَإِنَّمَا كَرِّسُوا الْمَسِيحَ رَبّاً فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ. وَكُونُوا دَائِماً مُسْتَعِدِّينَ لأَنْ تُقَدِّمُوا جَوَاباً مُقْنِعاً لِكُلِّ مَنْ يَسْأَلُكُمْ عَنْ سَبَبِ الرَّجَاءِ الَّذِي فِي دَاخِلِكُمْ

Mais sanctifiez dans vos coeurs Christ le Seigneur, étant toujours prêts à vous défendre, avec douceur et respect, devant quiconque vous demande raison de l'espérance qui est en vous,

1 Peter 3:15

We know that God wants all people to be ‘saved’ and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We have a responsibility according to Jesus’ Great Commission (go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you) to share our faith regarding God’s salvation plan through Jesus to everyone we can. So according to the advice given to us by the Apostle Peter whenever we share our faith with others we need to be prepared to give an explanation and we need to do it in a courteous and respectful manner. We need to realize that some people may reject the message and can be offended or feel threatened by it.

Some of us have members of our families that are not believers. We must never give up based on the rejection of the message but leave the work to The Holy Spirit and focus on the joy we will feel when we see anyone and especially those we love birthed into God’s family.

“there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

أقُولُ لَكُمْ، هَكَذا تَفرَحُ السَّماءُ بِخاطِئٍ واحِدٍ يَتُوبُ أكثَرَ مِمّا تَفرَحُ بِتِسعَةٍ وَتِسعِينَ بارّاً لا يَحتاجُونَ إلَى التَّوبَةِ.

 Luke 15:7

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, I pray that You strengthen me so that I can share my faith with those who do not believe in Jesus as their Saviour. Help me to be prepared to answer their questions through the guidance of The Holy Spirit. Teach me Lord to be courteous and respectful in my answers, not letting my emotions be in play but to let The Holy Spirit think for me and speak through me. Abba Father, thank You that You love me and that Your love is unfailing, steadfast, deep, and everlasting. Thank You Father for Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. God I pray to You in the name of Your precious Son; my Redeemer, Lord and Saviour; Jesus Christ. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

March 28 Devotion - Keeping our focus on Jesus

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

ونحو نصف الليل كان بولس وسيلا يصلّيان ويسبحان الله والمسجونون يسمعون

The joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.

فَفَرَحُ الرَّبِّ هُوَ قُوَّتُكُمْ

Acts 16:25

Nehemiah 8:10

The original Hebrew for "joy" in Nehemiah 8:10 is "chedvah," meaning joy or gladness. The root word for joy in this context means to rejoice or to make glad. "Strength" in the same verse is a Hebrew word meaning “a place or means of safety, protection refuge, or stronghold.”

The joy of the Lord is a constant gladness and cause to rejoice. It stems from an inner strengthening from our relationship with Him.

I continue to learn that if I am not extremely careful, my emotions can and will govern my life.

God instructs us to keep our focus on Jesus in order to grow spiritually. When I succeed on doing that, the emotional ups and downs of this life will not shake or change my world.

In “Telling Yourself the Truth”, William Backus writes about joy:

“Joy comes from your relationship to God and His unchanging faithfulness. You don’t need to live in perfect circumstances to be happy. The Bible tells how two men of God, Paul and Silas, were brought before Roman authorities at Philippi and beaten with rods and then thrown into jail … But did Paul and Silas moan and complain, “If it weren’t for the cruelty of the unbelievers, we wouldn’t be wounded and bleeding. We’d be happy!” No.

Paul and Silas had a strong belief that transcended circumstances, events, people, feelings; it even transcended pain. That belief was in the person, power, and presence of Jesus Christ. They believed their suffering wasn’t as important as the message they carried …

They sang so loudly their voices were heard throughout the prison! And not only that, God … opened the prison doors for them. Their happiness came from the belief in Jesus Christ within them and not from circumstances around them.”

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, help me to keep my focus on the person, power, and presence of Jesus Christ in my life instead of the circumstances of my life. I thank You Jesus that You promised that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank you LORD that I have absolutely no doubt that You are in control of every second of my future and that through this assurance I can have an inner sense of peace that transcends all our human understanding. Thank You Father that You delight in showing me again and again that You are the source of my strength, my provision, my protection, and my ultimate joy in life. In the name of Your precious Son Jesus, I pray. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

March 27 Devotion - Part 2- When we encounter challenges

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction

2 Corinthians 1:3

تَبَارَكَ اللهُ، أَبُو رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، أَبُو الْمَرَاحِمِ وَإِلهُ كُلِّ تَعْزِيَةٍ،

When we encounter challenges which make us feel down emotionally we need to pray to The Father so that He covers us with His Divine grace, wisdom and strength so that we handle the situation according to His will in our lives, and to remember His promises.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that when I feel down emotionally I can feel peace within and convert my feelings to joy by concentrating on Your promises, for You have said:

Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength Nehemiah 8:1

The righteous cry and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalms 34:17, Psalms 30:5

The ransomed of the LORD will return and come with joyful shouting and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 51:11

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. Isaiah 43:2

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 1 Peter 4:12-13

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

In the name of The King of kings and Lord of lords, in the holy name of Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, I pray. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

March 26 Devotion - When we encounter challenges

We all face challenges in life at one time or another. Some more severe than others. The severe challenges may impact our faith in God and make us feel emotionally hurt. If today you are facing severe challenges or you ever find yourself in the same boat, or you are just feeling emotionally down, listen to what God is telling you:

                                                                                                                                                            

“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

أَلَمْ آمُرْكَ؟ إِذَنْ تَقَوَّ وَتَشَجَّعْ، لَا تَرْهَبْ ولاَ تَجْزَعْ لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ إِلَهَكَ مَعَكَ حَيْثُمَا تَتَوَجَّهُ».

يَسْتَغِيثُ الأَبْرَارُ، فَيَسْمَعُ لَهُمُ الرَّبُّ وَيُنْقِذُهُمْ مِنْ جَمِيعِ ضِيقَاتِهِمْ. الرَّبُّ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ مُنْكَسِرِي الْقَلْبِ، وَيُخَلِّصُ مُنْسَحِقِي الرُّوحِ.

فَقَالَ لِي: «نِعْمَتِي تَكْفِيكَ، لأَنَّ قُدْرَتِي تُكَمَّلُ فِي الضَّعْفِ!»

إِنَّنَا نَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللهَ يَجْعَلُ جَمِيعَ الأُمُورِ تَعْمَلُ مَعاً لأَجْلِ الْخَيْرِ لِمُحِبِّيهِ، الْمَدْعُوِّينَ بِحَسَبِ قَصْدِهِ.

افْرَحُوا عَلَى الدَّوَامِ؛  صَلُّوا دُونَ انْقِطَاعٍ؛ ارْفَعُوا الشُّكْرَ فِي كُلِّ حَالٍ

وَسَلاَمُ اللهِ، الَّذِي تَعْجِزُ الْعُقُولُ عَنْ إِدْرَاكِهِ، يَحْرُسُ قُلُوبَكُمْ وَأَفْكَارَكُمْ فِي الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, I thank you for knowing every emotion I 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. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein