November 30 Devotion - Glory in Tribulations

 

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

وليس ذلك فقط بل نفتخر ايضا في الضيقات عالمين ان الضيق ينشئ صبرا

4 والصبر تزكية والتزكية رجاء

ونحن نعلم ان كل الاشياء تعمل معا للخير للذين يحبون الله الذين هم مدعوون حسب قصده.

 

Romans 5:3-4

Romans 8:28

 

1.  

Are you experiencing tribulations? Are you worried? Are you depending only on another human being to help you?

 

2.  

Are you experiencing tribulations? Do You love God? Do you trust God? Do you have His purpose in your heart? Are you depending on Him?

If you are in the ‘B’ category: Good news……….. Everything will work out for your good.

If you are in the ‘A ’category:  work on choosing ‘B’.

Listen to what God says: 

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

الاحتماء بالرب خير من التوكل على انسان

توكل على الرب بكل قلبك وعلى فهمك لا تعتمد.  في كل طرقك اعرفه وهو يقوم سبلك. وسلام الله الذي يفوق كل عقل يحفظ قلوبكم وافكاركم في المسيح يسوع

 Psalm 118:8, Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:7

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, help me to always have an attitude of gratitude. Lord please increase my love for You, my trust in You, and my dependence on You. Guide me to always acknowledge Your love for me and Your grace in my life. Convert any tribulations in my life to an increased hope through an increase in my perseverance level, and an improvement and strength in my character. I rejoice in the fact that all things will work for good in my life. I also rejoice that You are directing my path and that through Jesus; my Lord and Saviour; my heart and mind are guarded. To Jesus be the glory, the power, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

November 28 Devotion - The Storms of Life

 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

لا تهتموا بشيء بل في كل شيء بالصلاة والدعاء مع الشكر لتعلم طلباتكم لدى الله.

وسلام الله الذي يفوق كل عقل يحفظ قلوبكم وافكاركم في المسيح يسوع

 

Philippians 4:6-7

Anxiety distracts the mind from communion with God. ‘Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow…but empties today of its strength’ (Charles Spurgeon)

The word nothing means it excludes any reason. No reason is exempt, and we are not allowed to worry about anything. This means that we are to pray about everything. Through thankful prayer we can declare to God our anxious thoughts and have faith that He will fill our hearts and mind with His peace when we leave our anxieties at The Cross.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Lord, You know exactly where I am emotionally and mentally, and I know as per Jesus’ promise You will comfort me. Help me to practice growing still before You Lord. I dwell on Your goodness knowing You never fail me. Father God, I believe that sometimes You do allow the pressures of life to build so that I can learn how to deal with them from a position of faith and not fear. Thank You for not condemning me for my feelings, and for providing wisdom for all I face. Strengthen me so as not to feel anxious and to be always thankful so that Your peace which surpasses all comprehension, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion before all time and now and forevermore. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

November 27 Devotion - Overflowing with Thankfulness

 

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonderful acts to the children of men! ⁴ For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; ⁵ for it is sanctified [set apart, dedicated to God] by means of the word of God and prayer. Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

⁸فَلْيَحْمَدُوا الرَّبَّ عَلَى رَحْمَتِهِ وَعَجَائِبِهِ لِبَنِي آدَمَ. ⁴لأَنَّ كُلَّ خَلِيقَةِ اللهِ جَيِّدَةٌ، وَلاَ يُرْفَضُ شَيْءٌ إِذَا أُخِذَ مَعَ الشُّكْرِ، ⁵لأَنَّهُ يُقَدَّسُ بِكَلِمَةِ اللهِ وَالصَّلاَةِ.

²⁰شَاكِرِينَ كُلَّ حِينٍ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فِي اسْمِ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، ِللهِ وَالآبِ.

Psalm 107:8 (AMP), 1Timothy 4:4-5 (AMP), Ephesians 5:20

 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

 

فَمِثْلَمَا قَبِلْتُمُ الْمَسِيحَ يَسُوعَ الرَّبَّ، فَفِيهِ اسْلُكُوا 7 وَأَنْتُمْ مُتَأَصِّلُونَ وَمَبْنِيُّونَ فِيهِ وَرَاسِخُونَ فِي الإِيمَانِ الْمُوَافِقِ لِمَا تَعَلَّمْتُمْ وَفَائِضُونَ بِالشُّكْرِ.

 

Colossians 2:6-7

 

Some of us today are experiencing bright circumstances, and some of us are facing bleak circumstance. Let us remember that everything that God has created is good and is to be received with gratitude giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Giving thanks in all things (no exceptions) is only possible when we understand that every situation is used by our loving Father to further our dependence on Him and make us more like His Son Jesus. God is determined to conform us to the image of Christ through the inevitable afflictions that accompany life. Having, cultivating, and maintaining a grateful heart that continues to pulsate with thanksgiving, even in trials, presents a big challenge to me and maybe to you too. Thanking God in the trials is difficult, however I believe that when we do, His purposes and presence will illuminate our path and carry us through any trial. Remember we are taught to be always overflowing with thankfulness not just thankful.

 

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. Lord, help me to always see Your hand in my life and to be grateful for Your wisdom. Lord, please give me a grateful heart that continues to pulsate with thanksgiving, even in trials. Lord, I ask that through my gratitude during trials that Your purpose and presence will illuminate my path and carry me through. Thank You God that You are determined to conform me to the image of Christ through any tribulations in my life. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence. Psalm 140:13 I give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever: Psalm 136:3 In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. To Jesus be the power, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

                                                            

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

November 21 Devotion - You are the apple of God's eye

 

For thus says the LORD of hosts:… “For he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.”

فَإِنَّ الرَّبَّ الْقَدِيرَ يَقُولُ ...'لأَنَّ مَنْ يَمَسُّكُمْ يَمَسُّ حَدَقَةَ عَيْنِهِ.'

Zechariah 2:8

God loves us so very much.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

لأَنَّهُ هكَذَا أَحَبَّ اللهُ الْعَالَمَ حَتَّى بَذَلَ ابْنَهُ الْوَحِيدَ، لِكَيْ لَا يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ، بَلْ تَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ.

 

John 3:16

 

And now the eyes of the Father are forever focused on us because of Christ’s atoning death on The Cross for us.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You Lord for loving me so much that You consider that whoever touches me touches the apple of Your eye. Lord, forgive me if at times I feel that You have forgotten me. Increase my faith so as to know, believe, and trust that You never forget me. I am privileged and thankful that as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ; Your only begotten Son; I am so precious to You. Father, thank You for loving me with a deep and everlasting love, thank You for Your abundant blessings and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. Father God, I praise You, revere You, bless You, worship You, I stand in awe of You, I lift You up on high, and glorify Your Holy Name. God, I pray to You in the name of Your precious Son; my Redeemer and Saviour; the Lord of my life, Jesus Christ. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion before all time and now and forevermore. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

November 20 Devotion - I am Strong in The Lord

 

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy

 

أنْ تَتَقَوَّوْا بِكُلِّ قُوَّةٍ نَابِعَةٍ مِنْ قُوَّتِهِ المَجِيدَةِ، فَتَصَبِرُوا وَتَتَحَمَّلُوا المَشَقَّاتِ بِفَرَحٍ.

 

Colossians 1:11

 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 

أسْتَطِيعُ أنْ أُواجِهَ كُلَّ الظُّرُوفِ بِالمَسِيحِ الَّذِي يُقَوِّينِي.

 

Philippians 4:13

 

I will make them strong in the Lord, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the Lord.

 

وَأُشَدِّدُهُمْ بِالرَّبِّ فَيَسْلُكُونَ بِمُقْتَضَى اسْمِهِ، يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ.

Zechariah 10:12

 

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

 

يَهِبُ الْمَنْهُوكَ قُوَّةً وَيَمْنَحُ الضَّعِيفَ قُدْرَةً عَظِيمَةً. 30 إِنَّ الشَّبِيبَةَ يَنَالُهَا الإِعْيَاءُ وَالإِرْهَاقُ، وَالْفِتْيَانُ يَتَعَثَّرُونَ أَشَدَّ تَعَثُّرٍ، 31 أَمَّا الرَّاجُونَ الرَّبَّ فَإِنَّهُمْ يُجَدِّدُونَ قُوَّتَهُمْ، وَيُحَلِّقُونَ بِأَجْنِحَةِ النُّسُورِ. يَرْكُضُونَ وَلا يُعْيُونَ. يَمْشُونَ وَلا يَتْعَبُونَ.

Isaiah 40:29-31

 

As believers we need to ask God to strengthen us through The Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is the supernatural tool God has given to equip and enable us believers. The power of the Holy Spirit is to do the work God calls us to accomplish.

God has given us a spirit of power, not of timidity

فَالرُّوحُ الَّذِي أعطَانَا إيَّاهُ اللهُ لَا يَبْعَثُ فِينَا الجُبْنَ، بَلْ يَمُدُّنَا بِالقُوَّةِ وَالمَحَبَّةِ وَضَبطِ النَّفْسِ.

2 Timothy 1:7

 

Serving others, loving our enemies, building up one another in the faith, sharing Christ, and exercising our spiritual gifts are possible only through the Holy Spirit’s power. We need The Holy Spirit’s support and power to live the Christian life, to be loving, kind, gentle, patient, joyous, self–controlled, and peaceful.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, Adonai, please guide me and strengthen me to change my ways so as to rely totally on Your wisdom and counsel through The Holy Spirit; whom You sent to me in the name of Jesus. LORD, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith for all endurance and patience with joy. I shall wait for You Lord to renew my strength to mount up with wings like eagles; to run and not be weary or faint and to do all things that are according to Your will through Christ’s strength. Thank You Father for Your abundant blessings and deep inseparable love. 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. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and I pray in His precious name. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the authority, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion before all time, now, and forevermore. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

November 8 Devotion - Laugh and Rejoice

 

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh. He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart! ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

الساكن في السموات يضحك

عندما يملأ فاك ضحكا وشفتيك هتافا.

افرحوا بالرب وابتهجوا يا ايها الصدّيقون واهتفوا يا جميع المستقيمي القلوب

افرحوا في الرب كل حين واقول ايضا افرحوا

 

Psalm 2:4, Job 8:21, Psalm 32:11, Philippians 4:4

 

Since God created laughter and joy and He himself laughs, this should be something we should do a lot of. Since Christians who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour have the biggest reason to rejoice, we should all be smiling. Being pious does not mean we need to be so strict that we almost frown.

God has a reason to tell us that He will fill our mouths with laughter because He loves us and He created laughter to strengthen our immune system, boost our energy, diminish pain, and protect us from the damaging effects of stress.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You that You have a great sense of humour and thank You for creating laughter. Maximize my sense of humour and uplift my approach to life so that I enjoy life more. Fill my mouth with laughter Lord and my lips with rejoicing in Your love. Thank You Father for Your deep and everlasting love for me, Your abundant blessings, and for the riches of Your grace in my life. Help me to start living eternity with You from now. Give me a spirit that always shouts with joy and always rejoices. I proclaim to the world that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the Holy Name of Your only begotten Son Jesus, I pray to You Father. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

November 7 Devotion - From Start to Completion

 

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

واثقا بهذا عينه ان الذي ابتدأ فيكم عملا صالحا يكمل الى يوم يسوع المسيح.

Philippians 1:6

I have learned that:

• God is more interested in changing me than He is in changing my circumstances.
• If I choose to be upset because things are not happening my way, or I choose to be discouraged because things are not happening according to my preferred timing; then I may suffer the consequence of just staying where I am and not advancing.
• If I want to see God open new doors, I have to be the best I can be right where I am and allow God to work in me.
• I need to have faith that God will complete what He started in me.

 

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 I can realize that when I encounter difficulties while following Your plan, it means I still need more change from within. Jesus, I know that You understand and care for me and there isn’t any situation in my life that is beyond Your concern, and tender care. Reveal to me Lord what You want to change in me and strengthen me to align myself with Your plan. Lord, I trust that You will never abandon me in a time of trial or suffering and You will complete everything that You started in my life, and I know that all things will work together in my life for my good. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and I pray in His holy name. 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

November 6 Devotion - “The Word” by Pastor Isaac Wimberley

 

Please watch the following video: https://youtu.be/CRraHsDSRVk

 

You see my brain has not yet reached a point
Where it could form a thought
That could adequately describe the greatness of my God

And my lungs have not yet developed the ability
To release a breath with enough agility
To breathe out the greatness of His love

And my voice, my voice is so inhibited
Restrained by human limits
That it’s hard to even send a praise up

If there are words for Him then I don’t have them

My God

His grace is remarkable
Mercies are innumerable
Strength is impenetrable

He is honorable, accountable, and favorable
Unsearchable yet knowable
Indefinable yet approachable
Indescribable yet personal

He is beyond comprehension
Further than imagination
Constant through generations
King of every nation

But
If there are words for Him then I don’t have them

You see my words are few
And to try and capture the one TRUE God
Using my vocabulary will never do

But I use my words as an expression
An expression of worship to a Savior
A Savior who is both worthy and deserving of my praise

So I use words

My heart extols the Lord
Blesses His name forever
He has won my heart, captured my mind
And has bound them both together

He has defeated me in my rebellion
Conquered me in my sin
He has welcomed me into His presence
Completely invited me in

He has made Himself the object of my sight
Flooding me with mercies in the morning
Drowning me with grace in the night

But
If there are words for Him then I don’t have them

But what I do have…Is Good News
For my God knew that man-made words would never do
For words are just tools that we use
To point to the Truth
So He sent his son Jesus Christ as THE WORD
Living proof

He is the image of the invisible God
The firstborn of all creation
For by Him all things were created
Giving nothingness formation

And by His word He sustains, in the power of His name
For He is before all things and over all things He reigns
HOLY IS HIS NAME!!

Praise Him for His life
The way He persevered in strife
The humble Son of God becoming the perfect sacrifice

Praise Him for His death
That He willingly stood in our place
That He lovingly endured the grave
That He battled our enemy
And on the third day rose in victory

Praise Him because He rose!!
Hallelujah, He rose!!
He is everything that was promised

Praise Him as the risen King
Lift your voice and sing
For one day He will return for us, and we will finally be
United with our Savior for eternity

So it’s not just words that I proclaim
For my words point to the WORD
And the WORD has a name
Hope has a name
Joy has a name
Peace has a name
Love has a name
And that name is Jesus Christ
Praise His name FOREVER!

“The Word” by Pastor Isaac Wimberley

 

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and inseparable love. LORD, I pray that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit, so that I keep my focus on the person, power, and presence of Jesus Christ in my life instead of the circumstances of my life. In Your Holy name Jesus I pray. 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