August 24 Devotion - The Lord Gives Wisdom

 

  

    

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

5 وَإِنْ كَانَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ بِحَاجَةٍ إِلَى الْحِكْمَةِ، فَلْيَطْلُبْ مِنَ اللهِ الَّذِي يُعْطِي الْجَمِيعَ بِسَخَاءٍ وَلاَ يُعَيِّرُ. فَسَيُعْطَى لَهُ.

لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ يَهَبُ الْحِكْمَةَ، وَمِنْ فَمِهِ تَتَدَفَّقُ الْمَعْرِفَةُ وَالْفَهْمُ.

James 1:5, Proverbs 2:6

We can define wisdom as the ability; or result of an ability; to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight. As Proverbs 16:16 puts it, “To get wisdom is better than gold” The ultimate, eternal happiness that all people long for will only be found by those who first “get wisdom.”

 

And the child (Jesus) grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

وَكَانَ الطِّفْلُ يَنْمُو وَيَتَقَوَّى، مُمْتَلِئاً حِكْمَةً، وَكَانَتْ نِعْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ.

Luke 2:40; 52

 

When the Sabbath came, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him?

وَلَمَّا حَلَّ السَّبْتُ، أَخَذَ يُعَلِّمُ فِي الْمَجْمَعِ، فَدُهِشَ كَثِيرُونَ حِينَ سَمِعُوهُ، وَقَالُوا: «مِنْ أَيْنَ لَهُ هذَا؟ وَمَا هذِهِ الْحِكْمَةُ الْمَوْهُوبَةُ لَهُ،

Mark 6:2

 

Jesus told the disciples that when persecution begins to grow..

“I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”

.. indicating that He, as God, is the true source of all wisdom.

سَوْفَ أُعْطِيكُمْ كَلاَماً وَحِكْمَةً لَا يَقْدِرُ جَمِيعُ مُقَاوِمِيكُمْ أَنْ يَرُدُّوهَا أَوْ يُنَاقِضُوهَا.

Luke 21:15

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, please fill me with Your wisdom and help me to think and talk through Your wisdom. I pray that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that every decision I make will be based on Your wisdom. Teach me Your ways O’Lord and help me to walk in Your path always counseling me and course-correcting me whenever I drift. Jesus, I know that You are the light of the world, strengthen me to always follow You. In Jesus’ name I pray to You Father. To Jesus be the power, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

August 18 Devotion - The God of All Comfort

 

    

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

تَبَارَكَ اللهُ، أَبُو رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، أَبُو الْمَرَاحِمِ وَإِلَهُ كُلِّ تَعْزِيَةٍ، ⁴ هُوَ الَّذِي يُشَجِّعُنَا فِي كُلِّ ضِيقَةٍ نَمُرُّ بِها، حَتَّى نَسْتَطِيعَ أَنْ نُشَجِّعَ الَّذِينَ يَمُرُّونَ بِأَيَّةِ ضِيقَةٍ، بِالتَّشْجِيعِ الَّذِي بِهِ يُشَجِّعُنَا اللهُ. ⁵ فَكَمَا تَفِيضُ عَلَيْنَا آلامُ الْمَسِيحِ، يَفِيضُ عَلَيْنَا أَيْضاً التَّشْجِيعُ بِالْمَسِيحِ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

  

We need to always remember especially when we are going through periods of severe pain that our God is The God of all comfort. Jesus understands our heartache, rejection, and pain because He himself went through it. Our Saviour stands as the Great High Priest offering us mercy and grace.  The Holy Spirit, the comforter, who is dwelling within every believer, will remind us of all the promises of God and encourage us and channel the love of Jesus to sustain us.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, teach me to depend on You totally and to call out Your name always in praise and thanksgiving, especially during the difficult, painful, dark, and desperate periods of life. Strengthen me Abba so that I can transfer Your comfort which I receive, to those who are suffering. Jesus, Prince of Peace, I rejoice that You long to comfort and encourage me and I thank You that in the midst of my tribulations, You are my rock. In the mighty name of Jesus; my Lord and Saviour; The King of kings and Lord of lords, i I pray to You Father. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.  

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

August 17 Devotion - The Compass versus the Clock

     

The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light; their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike). 131 I opened my mouth and panted [with anticipation], because I longed for Your commandments.

Psalm 119:130 - 131

Amplified Bible (AMP)

 فَتْحُ كَلاَمِكَ يُنِيرُ، يُعَقِّلُ الْجُهَّالَ. ¹³¹فَغَرْتُ فَمِي وَلَهَثْتُ، لأَنِّي إِلَى وَصَايَاكَ اشْتَقْتُ.

 Do you prioritize your schedule, or do you schedule your priorities?

When you look at your schedule and put priorities to what is outlined for you, you are using time management, and you are using the clock. When you identify what is important in your life or work and make sure you are scheduling your priorities, you are using the compass and are making sure your mission in life is coming to fruition.

Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the obligations of everyday life, and we are so busy doing so many good things that there isn't time for the most important thing, having a personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ through reading God’s word, meditating on it and praying.

                                                                                                                                             

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and Your deep, everlasting, and inseparable love. Lord, I need Your wisdom to help me schedule Your priorities and the most important of which is my personal relationship with You. Lord please help me to surrender to You and to give You my attention, time, mind, will and emotions. Lead me Lord in all my decisions and actions. Let the unfolding of Your words give me light, discernment, and comprehension. 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 continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Jesus may continue to dwell in my heart through faith. God, I praise You, glorify You, and lift You up on high. In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the mighty name of Your only begotten Son Jesus, I pray. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, the authority, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

 

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein