February 24 Devotion - Keep yourselves in God's love

For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

...But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Romans 7:19, Jude1:20–21

 

فَأَنَا لاَ أَعْمَلُ الصَّلاَحَ الَّذِي أُرِيدُهُ؛ وَإِنَّمَا الشَّرُّ الَّذِي لاَ أُرِيدُهُ فَإِيَّاهُ أُمَارِسُ

وَأَمَّا أَنْتُمْ أَيُّهَا الأَحِبَّاءُ، فَابْنُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ عَلَى إِيمَانِكُمُ الأَقْدَسِ، وَصَلُّوا دَائِماً فِي الرُّوحِ الْقُدُسِ.َاحْفَظُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ فِي مَحَبَّةِ اللهِ، مُنْتَظِرِينَ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ إِذْ يَعُودُ وَيَأْخُذُكُمْ لِتَحْيَوْا مَعَهُ إِلَى الأَبَدِ.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer:

Abba Father, I cannot do it on my own. Father God, please replace my self-effort and my problem-solving techniques with Your power. Help me to learn to walk by faith. Jesus, You are my strength and my shield. You are the One who can fortify my human frailty with Your supernatural grace. I lean on You today and every day. Saviour, saturate my mind with Your Word and fill me with Your Spirit. Thank You Father for Your abundant blessings, Your grace, and Your unfailing, deep, inseparable, and everlasting love for me.  Keep me in Your love and strength as I await Your return Jesus. In Your holy name I pray. To Jesus be the authority, the power, the majesty, and the glory since the beginning of time, now, and forevermore. Amen.

 

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

February 23 Devotion - God is faithful to His promises

 

So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.

لنتمسك باقرار الرجاء راسخا لان الذي وعد هو امين.

Hebrews 10:23 AMP

 

Let’s focus on God’s grace and unconditional love and on His power and ability to control all circumstances.

Let us focus on His always-listening ear and His always-watchful eye.

 

Do you have a device (Google home, Alexa, Siri etc.) at home or on your watch that you feel is always listening to you and responds immediately and sometimes even without you asking!! Imagine how much more attentive is our God.

I believe that when we keep focusing on God, our thoughts about our problems diminish and our hope increases.

  

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your unfailing, deep and everlasting love for me, Your abundant blessings, and for the riches of Your grace in my life. Thank You God that You are trustworthy in all Your promises and faithful to me in all You do. Psalm 145:13 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. 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 concentrate on You, and keep Your commandments. 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 and unto ages of all ages. Amen.

.

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

February 17 Devotion - Conquerors

 

I continue to learn that the greatest lessons and spiritual growth are achieved through what I and the world may consider as defeat or failure. It is at these moments when there is nothing left except God that I realize that God is all I need. That is a great victory in itself, an eternal victory.

It is God who is taking care of the consequences; our job is to trust Him for the outcome and to say with the Apostles Paul and John: 

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

وَلكِنَّنَا، فِي جَمِيعِ هَذِهِ الأُمُورِ، نُحْرِزُ مَا يَفُوقُ الانْتِصَارَ عَلَى يَدِ مَنْ أَحَبَّنَا. ذَلِكَ لأَنَّ الْمَوْلُودَ مِنَ اللهِ يَنْتَصِرُ عَلَى الْعَالَمِ. فَالإِيمَانُ هُوَ الَّذِي يَجْعَلُنَا نَنْتَصِرُ عَلَى الْعَالَمِ. وَمَنْ يَنْتَصِرُ عَلَى الْعَالَمِ إِلاَّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ أَنَّ يَسُوعَ هُوَ ابْنُ اللهِ؟

 

Romans 8:37, 1 John 5:4-5

 

I invite you to join me in my prayer and to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your love that gives me victory. Thank You God that whatever my circumstances, I can overcome the world because I am born again of The Spirit through my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, and my faith that He is The Son of God and that He died for the forgiveness of my sins, that He was resurrected and ascended to The Heavens and is seated at Your right hand Father God. Lord, I pray to You in the name of Your only begotten Son, The King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus The Christ. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, and the authority since the beginning of time, and now, and forevermore. Amen.

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

                                                                                               

 

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