December 10 Devotion- The 8 ways God answers prayers

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

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.

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.

Jeremiah 29:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

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

Isaiah 7:11 NKJV

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

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,

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

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

 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.

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.

I invite you to meditate on  the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and inseparable love. Thank You Lord for giving me before I ask and more and better than I ask. Thank You for Your grace, mercy and Your wisdom. Thank You for always choosing the perfect timing to answer my prayers and thank You for teaching me patience by making me wait. Thank You for always doing what is best for me. I ask You to always give me the wisdom to persistently pray asking with abundant hope: “Your will be done”. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

December 9 Devotion - Rejoice Today

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 This is the day the LORD has made;
         We will rejoice and be glad in it.

هذا هو اليوم الذي صنعه الرب. نبتهج ونفرح فيه.

 

Psalm 118:24

Today is a gift. That is why they call it the ‘present’. Rejoice in it.

The Greek word in the Bible for ‘joy’ is ‘chara’. Closely related is the word ‘charis’ which is translated to be ‘grace’.

I explore this to present my point that it is ‘Charis’ that produces ‘Chara’ or in English, it is ‘Grace’ that produces ‘Joy’. Understanding the word of God increases our appreciation of His Grace, and our feeling of Joy.

I always wondered and struggled for years to understand how the Apostle Paul was feeling joy while being held prisoner in a dungy Roman prison cell and how from there he told us to:

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

افْرَحُوا فِي الرَّبِّ دَائِماً، وَأَقُولُ أَيْضاً: افْرَحُوا.

Philippians 4:4

My realization is that The Apostle Paul felt God’s grace so powerfully that it overshadowed all the negative feelings of being chained in a Roman prison to the point that he actually felt joy.

Jesus said:

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

كلمتكم بهذا لكي يثبت فرحي فيكم ويكمل فرحكم

John 15:11

All through the Bible we see evidence of God wanting us to be joyful, irrespective of the situation. Let’s concentrate on God’s grace and the magnitude of His love for us expressed through His grace and that on its own is reason enough for quantum joy.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and inseparable love. Lord, thank You that You gave me today as a present for me to rejoice in. I praise You, I thank You, I glorify You and I rejoice in You. Fill me God totally and envelop me with Your Grace, so that I can feel an inner joy independent of circumstances. Jesus I long for and pray that Your Joy remain in me and that my Joy be full and that I may always have the Fruit of The Spirit, Joy, bubbling within me. Hallelujah. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein                                                                                

December 8 Devotion - May the power of Christ rest upon me

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.

 ⁹ 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

When we are weak, we need the energizing work of the Holy Spirit to sustain us. Isaiah encourages us that God:

“Gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases strength”

يَهِبُ الْمَنْهُوكَ قُوَّةً وَيَمْنَحُ الضَّعِيفَ قُدْرَةً عَظِيمَةً.

Isaiah 40:29

We need to rely fully on God and praise Him in expectation of His support.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and inseparable love. Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in Your grace. Lord, in my weakest moments, assure me that the power of Christ will rest upon me. Your grace is sufficient for me. I believe that when your grace abounds my weakness will be transformed into strength and I will soar like an eagle and I shall run and not be weary. Heavenly Father, let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and I pray in His Holy Name. To Him be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever, Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein