February 13 Devotion - Our Heavenly Father's Heart

 

My Precious Child,

I know everything about you. You were made in My image. In Me you live and move and have your being. It is My desire to lavish My love on you. I am the complete expression of love. You are My child and I am your Father. I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. I love you with an everlasting love. I desire to establish you with all My heart. Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart. I am your greatest encourager. I am the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. I have carried you close to my heart. I love you even as I love My Son Jesus. Nothing will ever separate you from My love. I have always been Father and will always be Father.

Will you be my child?

Love,

Your Heavenly Father

_____________________________________________

Sources:

 

I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

You were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

It is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

I am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

You are my child and I am your father. I John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Mathew 7:11

I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 3:13

I desire to establish you with all my heart. Jeremiah 32:41

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:13-14

I have carried you close to my heart.  Isaiah 40:1 

I love you even as I love my son Jesus.  John 17:23

Nothing will ever separate you from my love. Romans 8:38-39

I have always been Father and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

February 12 Devotion - God's Angels

 

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

مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ يُخَيِّمُ حَوْلَ خَائِفِيهِ، وَيُنَجِّيهِمْ.

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].

 

فَإِنَّهُ يُوصِي مَلائِكَتَهُ بِكَ لِكَيْ يَحْفَظُوكَ فِي جَمِيعِ طُرُقِكَ.

 

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.

 

يا مَلائِكَةَ اللهِ، بارِكُوهُ!

بارِكُوهُ أيُّها المُحارِبُونَ الأقوِياءُ

الَّذِينَ يُطِيعُونَ أوامِرَهُ،

السّامِعُونَ كَلامَهُ.

21 بارِكُوا اللهَ يا كُلَّ جُيُوشِ السَّماءِ

وَخُدّامَهُ المُنَفِّذِينَ مَشِيئَتَهُ!

 

Psalm 103:20-21 (Amplified Bible)

‘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.’

 

إِيَّاكُمْ أَنْ تَحْتَقِرُوا أَحَداً مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ الصِّغَارِ! فَإِنِّي أَقُولُ لَكُمْ: إِنَّ مَلائِكَتَهُمْ فِي السَّمَاءِ يُشَاهِدُونَ كُلَّ حِينٍ وَجْهَ أَبِي الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ.

 

Matthew 18:10

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 Lord for Your angels and the role they play in serving, praising and worshipping You. Lord, I ask that Your angels guide me, protect me and help me bring people to Christ. God I praise You, glorify You and lift You up on high. Thank You Lord for Your deep, unfailing, and everlasting love for me, Your abundant blessings, and for the riches of Your grace in my life. In the mighty name of Jesus; my Lord and Saviour; 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

February 5 Devotion - FEAR

 

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

فِي يَوْمِ خَوْفِي أَتَّكِلُ عَلَيْكَ

Psalm 56:3

 

 

Fear seemed to be one of the first abnormal symptoms that man experienced following the fall from perfect union and fellowship with God:

But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"   He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid”

 

فَنَادَى اللهُ الرَّجُلَ وَقَالَ لَهُ: أيْنَ أنْتَ؟

فَقَالَ: سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَكَ فِي الحَدِيقَةِ، فَخِفْتُ.

Genesis 3:9–10

 

Since then, every heart has known the panic and trembling that fear brings. Fear of failure. Fear of today. Fear of the future.

David, who knew the depth of fear as few people ever have, came to this conclusion as he was seized by the Philistines:

 

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You

 

فِي يَوْمِ خَوْفِي أَتَّكِلُ عَلَيْكَ.

 

Psalms 56:3-4

 

David did not deny his fear. He did not rationalize it or try to overcome it on his own. He admitted his fear and then affirmed his trust in the Lord.

 We should identify the source of our fear. Bring it before God. Then confidently assert His ability to handle our fears and His willingness to replace our fears with His courage and peace.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, Thank You for Your abundant blessings. Lord, I confess—I am fearful. Please replace my fears with Your courage and peace. Whenever I am afraid God, help me to put my trust in You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

February 3 Devotion - Answers to Prayers

 

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

إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ الْحَارَّةَ الَّتِي يَرْفَعُهَا الْبَارُّ لَهَا فَعَّالِيَّةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ.

 

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.

اِسْأَلُوا، تُعْطَوْا. اُطْلُبُوا، تَجِدُوا. اِقْرَعُوا، يُفْتَحْ لَكُمْ.

 

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.

 

لأَنِّي عَرَفْتُ مَا رَسَمْتُهُ لَكُمْ. إِنَّهَا خُطَطُ سَلاَمٍ لَا شَرٍّ لأَمْنَحَكُمْ مُسْتَقْبَلاً وَرَجَاءً.

 

Jeremiah 29:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

 

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

«اطْلُبْ عَلاَمَةً مِنَ الرَّبِّ إِلَهِكَ، سَوَاءٌ فِي عُمْقِ الْهَاوِيَةِ أَوْ فِي ارْتِفَاعِ أَعْلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ»

Isaiah 7:11 NKJV

 

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

 

لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ أَوَانٌ، وَلِكُلِّ أَمْرٍ تَحْتَ السَّمَاءِ زَمَانٌ.

 

 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

 

وَالْقَادِرُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ، وَفْقاً لِلْقُدْرَةِ الْعَامِلَةِ فِينَا، مَا يَفُوقُ بِلاَ حَصْرٍ كُلَّ مَا نَطْلُبُ أَوْ نَتَصَوَّرُ،

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

 

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

خَيْرٌ لِلْمَرْءِ أَنْ يَنْتَظِرَ بِصَمْتٍ خَلاَصَ الرَّبِّ.

 

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.

 

فَقَالَ لِي: «نِعْمَتِي تَكْفِيكَ، لأَنَّ قُدْرَتِي تُكَمَّلُ فِي الضَّعْفِ!» فَأَنَا أَرْضَى بِأَنْ أَفْتَخِرَ مَسْرُوراً بِالضَّعَفَاتِ الَّتِي فِيَّ، لِكَيْ تُخَيِّمَ عَلَيَّ قُدْرَةُ الْمَسِيحِ.

 

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.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

February 2 Devotion- Praying For Others

 

The best gift anyone can give to another person(s) is to pray for him/her/them.

Praying for another person not only helps that person find God in the midst of trouble, but also helps us recognize the blessings that God gives us daily.

Intercession is praying for someone else's needs and trusting God to act, even if it's not in the manner or timing we seek.

Jesus prayed for us to The Father, and the apostle Paul prayed for others to Jesus and God. I include their powerful prayers as today’s prayer for us:

 

“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me, and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

‘I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.’

 

أُصَلِّي مِنْ أَجْلِ الَّذِينَ سَوْفَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِي بِسَبَبِ كَلِمَةِ هؤُلاَء

 ²¹ لِيَكُونَ الْجَمِيعُ وَاحِداً؛ أَيُّهَا الآبُ، كَمَا أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ فِيَّ وَأَنَا فِيكَ، لِيَكُونُوا هُمْ أَيْضاً وَاحِداً فِينَا، لِكَيْ يُؤْمِنَ الْعَالَمُ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ أَرْسَلْتَنِي.

 

لِكَيْ يَمْنَحَكُمْ، وَفْقاً لِغِنَى مَجْدِهِ، أَنْ يُمِدَّ الرُّوحُ الكِيَانَ الدَّاخِلِيَّ فِي كُلٍّ مِنْكُمْ بِالْقُوَّةِ الْمُؤَيِّدَةِ،

 ¹⁷ لِيَسْكُنَ الْمَسِيحُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ بِالإِيمَانِ؛ حَتَّى إِذَا تَأَصَّلْتُمْ وَتَأَسَّسْتُمْ فِي الْمَحَبَّةِ،

 ¹⁸ تَصِيرُونَ قَادِرِينَ تَمَاماً أَنْ تُدْرِكُوا، مَعَ الْقِدِّيسِينَ جَمِيعاً، مَا هُوَ الْعَرْضُ وَالطُّولُ وَالْعُلْوُ وَالْعُمْقُ،

 ¹⁹ وَتَعْرِفُوا مَحَبَّةَ الْمَسِيحِ الَّتِي تَفُوقُ الْمَعْرِفَةَ، فَتَمْتَلِئُوا حَتَّى تَبْلُغُوا مِلْءَ اللهِ كُلَّهُ. وَلْيَهْدِ اللهُ قُلُوبَكُمْ إِلَى مَا لَدَى اللهِ مِنَ الْمَحَبَّةِ وَلَدَى الْمَسِيحِ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ!

John 17:20-21

Ephesians 3:16-19

2 Thessalonians 3:5

 

 

Jesus Loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

 

 

 

January 29 Devotion - The Divinity of Silence

 He who guards his mouth and his tongue guards himself from troubles.

                                                  

مَنْ يَصُونُ فَمَهُ وَلِسَانَهُ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ يَحْفَظُ نَفْسَهُ مِنَ الْمَتَاعِبِ.

 

                                                Proverbs 21:23

 

Here are 20 situations where the Bible recommends that we be silent:

 

 

1. Be silent In the heat of anger - (Proverbs 14:17)

 

2. Be silent When you don't have all the facts - (Proverbs 18:13)

 

3. Be silent When you haven't verified the story -(Deuteronomy 17:6)

 

4. Be silent If your words will offend a weaker person - (1 Corinthians 8:11)

 

5. Be silent When it is time to listen - (Proverbs 13:1)

 

6. Be silent When you are tempted to make light of holy things - (Ecclesiastics 5:2)

 

7. Be silent When you are tempted to joke about sin - (Proverbs 14:9)

 

8. Be silent If you would be ashamed of your words later - (Proverbs 8:8)

 

9. Be silent If your words would convey the wrong impression - (Proverbs 17:27)

 

10. Be silent If the issue is none of your business - (Proverbs 14:10)

 

11. Be silent When you are tempted to tell an outright lie - (Proverbs 4:24)

 

12. Be silent If your words will damage someone else's reputation - (Proverbs16:27)

 

13. Be silent If your words will damage a friendship- (Proverbs 16:28)

 

14. Be silent When you are feeling critical - (James 3:9)

 

15. Be silent If you can't say it without screaming it - (Proverbs 25:28)

 

16. Be silent If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family - (1 Peter 2:21-23)

 

17. Be silent If you may have to eat your words later - (Proverbs 18:21)

 

18. Be silent If you have already said it more than one time - (Proverbs 19:13)

 

19. Be silent When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person - (Proverbs 24:24)

 

20. Be silent When you are supposed to be working instead - (Proverbs 14:23)

 

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, please teach me the divinity of silence and help me to stay silent when silence is the best response. Give me wisdom and discernment Lord to follow Your directions and guidance. Lord help me to seek and depend on The Holy Spirit; which You have placed within me; in all circumstances. Teach me Lord and help me to surrender to the direction of The Holy Spirit. Abba Father, thank You for loving me with a deep, unfailing, and everlasting love, thank You for Your abundant blessings and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. 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. Jude 1:24-25

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein