February 16 Devotion - Renewed Strength and Endurance

 

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Those who wait on 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.

 

نَحْنُ أَيْضاً، أَنْ نَرْكُضَ بِاجْتِهَادٍ فِي السِّبَاقِ الْمُمْتَدِّ أَمَامَنَا،

 ² مُتَطَلِّعِينَ دَائِماً إِلَى يَسُوعَ: رَائِدِ إِيمَانِنَا وَمُكَمِّلِهِ

 

                                                Hebrews 12:1-2, Isaiah 40:31  

 

 

The scripture tells us that when we run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and have

hope in the Lord, our strength will be renewed. When we become weary and tired of coping with global tribulations and find that the cares of the world are overcoming us, we need to shift back our focus and put our hope in the Lord. In His time we shall be renewed and mount up with wings like eagles. By focusing on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, we will have endurance to go from grace to more grace.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, strengthen me O’Lord to keep my eyes focused on Jesus and to allow Him to work in my life, giving me the endurance required to achieve Your will in my life. Father God I want to soar like an eagle and to never weary doing Your work  God I want to learn to wait upon You and I want to experience Your peace and joy as I await. Thank You Lord for your abundant blessings in my life and for Your grace upon my life. Now to Him who is able to carry out His purpose and do infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Ephesians 3:20-21 (AMP). Amen.

 

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

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