March 24 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.”

 

So, what Nehemiah 8:10 is telling us is feel joyful because you feel safe and protected in God’s 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 You Father God. To Jesus be the glory, the majesty, the power, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,                                                                                            

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

March 23 Devotion - God is the rock and strength of my heart

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.

إِنَّ جَسَدِي وَقَلْبِي يَفْنَيَانِ، أَمَّا اللهُ فَهُوَ صَخْرَةُ قَلْبِي وَنَصِيبِي إِلَى الدَّهْرِ

Psalm 73:26

A lesson I believe we can all learn is that if we are looking to the love or appreciation of another person to solve our problem(s) then this could be an indication to us that the problem lies within us and is not one that the other’s love or appreciation can solve.

There could be something deep within us that needs healing. Until that “something” is identified, addressed, and healed we will not be in a healthy position either to receive love fully or to give love generously.

 

We need to come to God and express our feelings. We need to ask Him to reveal the real nature of the problem(s) and to heal us of its root cause through the Holy Spirit.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, my flesh, and my heart are failing, and I need You to strengthen me through Your Spirit in my inner being so that I can identify the problems within me and their root causes and ask Your Holy Spirit to heal me. God You are the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever. Lord you are the only true healer, restore me and make me whole so that I can love and be loved fully. Thank You Father God for Your abundant blessings and Your deep, inseparable love for me. In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the holy name of Jesus I pray. To Jesus be the glory, the majesty, the power, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

March 18 Devotion - While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" 17And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْكَتَبَةُ وَالْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ يَسُوعَ يَأْكُلُ مَعَ الْجُبَاةِ وَالْخَاطِئِينَ، قَالُوا لِتَلاَمِيذِهِ: «لِمَاذَا يَأْكُلُ مَعَ الْجُبَاةِ وَالْخَاطِئِينَ؟»

¹⁷ فَسَمِعَ يَسُوعُ، وَأَجَابَ:

«لَيْسَ الأَصِحَّاءُ هُمُ الْمُحْتَاجُونَ إِلَى

 الطَّبِيبِ، بَلِ الْمَرْضَى. مَا جِئْتُ لأَدْعُوَ أَبْرَاراً بَلْ خَاطِئِينَ! »

Mark 2:16-17

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

 وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ أَثْبَتَ لَنَا مَحَبَّتَهُ، إِذْ وَنَحْنُ مَازِلْنَا خَاطِئِينَ مَاتَ الْمَسِيحُ عِوَضاً عَنَّا.

Romans 5:8

With God, through Christ, there is mercy to pardon the greatest sins, and grace to change the greatest sinners, and make them holy. Jesus came to help us sinners, and while we were still sinners, He died for us.

 

Living the Christian life is impossible on our own. Trying to live the Christian life by our own efforts is like a ship on dry land…just doesn’t work very well. For the ship to get anywhere, it needs to be resting on the water. And to enjoy the Christian life, we need to learn how to rest in God. The Apostle Paul knew this:

 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 إِنِّي أَسْتَطِيعُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، فِي الْمَسِيحِ الَّذِي يُقَوِّينِي.

Philippians 4:13

Some people believe they must be good first before coming to Christ and they must be ready not to sin once they come to Christ. Jesus is telling us He came for us sinners and while we were still sinners, He died for us. We can only live the Christian life through Jesus strengthening us. We have been given someone to enable us to live the Christian life – the The Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of Christ – come to live in the body of every believer who has accepted Jesus as his/her Saviour and Lord over their life. Do not wait to be perfect to invite Jesus into your heart, it is through Jesus that you can be perfected.

  

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, through Your Word and the guidance of The Holy Spirit help me to learn from Jesus and to take the yoke Jesus offers, Jesus, come to me like You came to Your disciples walking on the water through the storm and redeem and strengthen me spiritually, emotionally, and physically and give me rest. 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. Jesus, I trust and pray in Your holy name. To Jesus be the power, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

March 17 Devotion - Becoming Christ-like

…since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus… For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power

 

من اجل ذلك نحن ايضا منذ يوم سمعنا لم نزل مصلّين وطالبين لاجلكم ان تمتلئوا من معرفة مشيئته في كل حكمة وفهم روحي

10 لتسلكوا كما يحق للرب في كل رضى مثمرين في كل عمل صالح ونامين في معرفة الله

11 متقوين بكل قوة بحسب قدرة مجده

Colossians 1:9-11

 

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your unfailing, inseparable, deep and everlasting love for me and Your abundant blessings in my life. Abba, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can discern Your will for my life and be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Strengthen me through Your Holy Spirit Lord, so that that I may walk in such a way that is fully pleasing to You and is fruitful in every good work. Lord, I desire and need to increase in Your knowledge. Help me Father to pray for others and to be Christ-like, fully pleasing You and being fruitful toward others through Your glorious strength. In the holy name of Jesus, I pray to You Abba Father. To Jesus be the glory, the power, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

March 13 Devotion - Sing to The LORD a new song

 

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. ² Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. ³ Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. ⁴ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise.

رَنِّمُوا للهِ تَرنِيمَةً جَدِيدَةً.
غَنُّوا للهِ يا كُلَّ أهلِ الأرْضِ.
² غَنُّوا للهِ، بارِكُوا اسْمَهُ.
حَدِّثُوا بِخَلاصِهِ يَوماً بَعدَ يَومٍ.
³ أخبِرُوا بِمَجدِهِ بَينَ الشُّعُوبِ.
أخبِرُوا كُلَّ النّاسِ بِعَجائِبِهِ.
⁴ لأنَّ اللهَ عَظِيمٌ وَمُستَحِقٌّ لِلتَّسبِيحِ!

Psalm 96:1-4

 

It was a custom that poets/psalmists wrote a new song whenever God had a large new blessing for the people. We see in this song/hymn that we are called to praise and bless (affectionately praise) God and give Him glory. Three times we are here called to sing unto the Lord; sing to the Father, to the Son, to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning. This new song is a new New-Testament song, a song of praise for the new covenant and the precious privileges of that covenant.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, I sing a new song, a song of Your New Covenant, a song of my salvation through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Lord whenever I feel low or focus on anything other than Jesus help me to refocus on Christ by singing this new song, to sing to You LORD, to proclaim Your glory and Your wonderful news of The Gospel of Jesus Christ and my redemption, forgiveness, justification, reconciliation, sanctification, and glorification. Never let me forget that I am a loved and adored child of God. I declare Your glory Lord among the nations, and Your marvelous deeds among all peoples for You are great and worthy of all praise. In the holy name of Jesus my Lord and Saviour, I pray. To Jesus be the glory, the power, the dominion, the majesty, and the blessings forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

March 12 Devotion - An infinite treasure

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

أَمَّا أَنَا فَقَدْ أَتَيْتُ لِتَكُونَ لَهُمْ حَيَاةٌ، بَلْ مِلْءُ الْحَيَاةِ!

 

John 10:10

Many of us believers do not understand the vast riches we already possess in Jesus Christ. He promised us that we shall not merely have a simple bare existence, but we shall have all those superadded things to grant us a blessed and happy life through His infinite treasure.

 

The apostle Peter explained how God gives us these astounding resources: 

Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

لِيَكُنْ لَكُمُ الْمَزِيدُ مِنَ النِّعْمَةِ وَالسَّلاَمِ بِفَضْلِ مَعْرِفَةِ اللهِ وَيَسُوعَ رَبِّنَا!

 ³ إِنَّ اللهَ، بِقُدْرَتِهِ الإِلَهِيَّةِ، قَدْ زَوَّدَنَا بِكُلِّ مَا نَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْحَيَا ةِ الرُّوحِيَّةِ الْمُتَّصِفَةِ بِالتَّقْوَى. ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ عَرَّفَنَا بِالْمَسِيحِ الَّذِي دَعَانَا إِلَى مَجْدِهِ وَفَضِيلَتِهِ

 

2 Peter 1:2–3AMP

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Lord, I embrace the fullness of Your grace today. I choose to live the abundant life You have planned for me through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour and in whose name I pray. Glory and power be unto Jesus forever and ever. Amen.

 

Jesus Loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

March 6 Devotion - Self - Esteem

So He said to them, “You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts [your thoughts, your desires, your secrets]; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.

فَقَالَ لَهُمْ:

«إِنَّكُمْ تُبَرِّرُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ أَمَامَ النَّاسِ، وَلكِنَّ اللهَ يَعْرِفُ قُلُوبَكُمْ.

 فَمَا يَعْتَبِرُهُ النَّاسُ رَفِيعَ الْقَدْرِ، هُوَ رِجْسٌ عِنْدَ اللهِ.

Luke 16:15

 

Self-esteem is defined as confidence in one's own worth or abilities, self-respect.

 

While believers should have high self- esteem, the source of their self-esteem is crucial. I find myself conforming to the world by drawing my self-worth based on how the world and people measure me.

 

What is the source of your self-esteem? Is it your social setting? Your professional setting? Your culture setting? Your financial setting? Or do you get your self-esteem from pleasing God?

 

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

 

فَقَالَ الرَّبُّ لِصَمُوئِيلَ: «لاَ تُلْقِ بَالاً إِلَى وَسَامَتِهِ وَطُولِ قَامَتِهِ إِذ لَيْسَ هَذَا مَنِ اخْتَرْتُهُ، فَنَظْرَةُ الرَّبِّ تَخْتَلِفُ عَنْ نَظْرَةِ الإِنْسَانِ، لأَنَّ الإِنْسَانَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى الْمَظْهَرِ الْخَارِجِيِّ وَأَمَّا الرَّبُّ فَإِنَّهُ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى الْقَلْبِ».

 

1 Samuel 16:7

 

When I get my self-esteem from pleasing God, I get my confidence by trusting God.                         

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

LORD, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can surrender to You and let You transform me into a new person by changing the way I think and make me stop copying the behaviour and customs of this world. Romans 12:2. Lord increase my self-esteem in proportion to the extent that I please You and increase my trust in You. 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. Father God, I pray to You iin the name of Your only begotten 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.

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

March 4 Devotion - When I Feel Troubled Console me Lord

 

O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you.

Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

 

يَارَبُّ ارْحَمْنَا. إِيَّاكَ انْتَظَرْنَا، كُنْ عَضُدَنَا فِي الصَّبَاحِ، وَخَلاَصَنَا فِي أَثْنَاءِ الْمِحْنَةِ.

 

Isaiah 33:2

 

 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”

 

"لاَ تَضْطَرِبْ قُلُوبُكُمْ. أَنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللهِ، فَآمِنُوا بِي أَيْضاً".

John 14:1

 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand and Your right hand will save me.

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

 

وَلَوْ سَلَكْتُ فِي وَسَطِ الضِّيقِ فَإِنَّكَ تُحْيِينِي وَيَمِينُكَ تُخَلِّصُنِي.

وَعْدُكَ يُنْعِشُنِي إِذْ هُوَ تَعْزِيَتِي فِي ضِيقِي.

عِنْدَ كَثْرَةِ هُمُومِي فِي دَاخِلِي تَبْتَهِجُ نَفْسِي بِتَعْزِيَاتِكَ.

 

Psalm 138:7, Psalm 119:50, Psalm 94:19

 

Comfort me Lord through The Holy Spirit and Your words….

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, console me O’Lord and let not my heart be troubled. Let my trust in You overcome any burden. I depend on Your right hand to save me and Your promises to comfort me in my confusion, sadness, and suffering. I long to feel your consolation and joy and I confidently await your mercies. Father God, 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 mighty holy name I pray to You Father God. To Jesus be the power, the majesty, the glory, and the authority forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein