June 6 Devotion - Seek God First

Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”

احمدوا الرب ادعوا باسمه. عرفوا بين الامم باعماله. قُلْتُ لِلرَّبِّ: «أَنْتَ سَيِّدِي. خَيْرِي لاَ شَيْءَ غَيْرُكَ».

 

Psalm 105:1, Psalm 16:2

When we set our hearts toward the Lord, our faith is strengthened, and we develop the habit of talking to Him throughout the day. Unfortunately, we try to resolve problems on our own or discuss them with friends and/or relatives instead of immediately turning to God. Imagine calling a believer and instead of offering you empathy, sympathy and support, he/she says, “I appreciate you calling me, and would love to help you, however, have you talked first to God about it? Have you prayed?”

 ^“When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

أَمَّا أَنْتَ، فَعِنْدَمَا تُصَلِّي، فَادْخُلْ غُرْفَتَكَ، وَأَغْلِقِ الْبَابَ عَلَيْكَ، وَصَلِّ إِلَى أَبِيكَ الَّذِي فِي الْخَفَاءِ. وَأَبُوكَ الَّذِي يَرَى فِي الْخَفَاءِ، هُوَ يُكَافِئُكَ.

Mathew 6: 6

At all times and especially as soon as we encounter any kind of problem/challenge let us immediately turn to God and request: Abba Father, guide me in my feelings, thoughts, actions, and words.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, I call upon Your name, guide me in my feelings, thoughts, actions, and words. Teach me to always seek Your wisdom, guidance and support. Help me to always first ask The Holy Spirit who dwells in me to take over. O my soul, say to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” Father, create opportunities for me to make Your deeds and blessings known among people. Thank You LORD for Your unfailing, inseparable, deep and everlasting love for me, Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. God I praise You, revere You, worship You, I stand in awe of You, and glorify Your Holy Name. I proclaim to the world that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. 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

June 5 Devotion - Come to Me

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. Be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things.
    توكل على الرب بكل قلبك وعلى فهمك لا تعتمد. في كل طرقك اعرفه وهو يقوم سبلك

لأَنْ تَمْتَلِئُوا مِنْ تَمَامِ مَعْرِفَةِ مَشِيئَةِ اللهِ فِي كُلِّ حِكْمَةٍ وَإِدْرَاكٍ رُوحِيٍّ،

Proverbs 3:5-6, Colossians 1:9 AMP

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Help me Lord to trust in You with all my heart and always lean on You and not on my own abilities or understanding. I acknowledge You God as the gracious, merciful and sovereign creator and master of the universe. I thank You Lord that You are directing my paths to always follow Your Son Jesus Christ. Abba Father fill me with spiritual wisdom and help me to understand Your purposes in all things and specifically what I am going through now. Jesus, I put all my worries and problems at the feet of Your cross. I know that You will give me peace and joy, and fill my heart with Your love, because You died for the forgiveness of my sins and to redeem me and declare me righteous in the eyes of the LORD. God I pray to You in the name of Your precious Son; my Redeemer and Saviour; the Lord of my life, Jesus Christ. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion before all time and now and forevermore. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

June 4 Devotion - Closed and Open Doors

“These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He who has the key [to the house] of David, He who opens and no one will [be able to] shut, and He who shuts and no one opens

هَكَذا يَقُولُ القُدُّوسُ الحَقُّ الَّذِي مَعَهُ مِفتاحُ داوُدَ، الَّذِي إنْ فَتَحَ باباً لا أحَدَ يَستَطِيعُ أنْ يُغلِقَهُ، وَإنْ أغلَقَ باباً لا أحَدَ يَستَطِيعُ أنْ يَفتَحَهُ:

Revelation 3:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)

What should we do when a door that we were sure God opened, God now closes? We sometimes console ourselves by the Christian cliché ‘When God closes a door He opens a window’. Google revealed to my dismay that this cliché is not found in the Bible. We then find ourselves back into a season of waiting……waiting for God to reopen that door or for another door to open.

I believe that for me (and maybe for you too) I would benefit during this waiting period to seek answers to the following questions:

1. What do I need to learn more about God during this season of waiting?

2. What do I need to learn about myself in general and specifically in front of this newly closed door?

3. What does God need to root out in my heart and in my spirit to prepare me for the event if/when God reopens that door or another door?

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, You know my dreams and desires because You put them in me. 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 sit and wait and obediently trust in Your ways. Reveal to me Lord Your greater purpose in my life and Your greater Kingdom purpose.  Help me Jesus to abide in You and to sit with You Jesus in prayer. God please use my season of waiting to take me to a new level of faith, trust, love, grace, mercy, joy and root out all pride and desire to be in control and whatever it is that You see needs to be done in me. Abba Father, thank You that Your deep steadfast love for me endures forever. Thank You Father for Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. Lord I praise You, revere You, worship You, I stand in awe of You, I lift You up on high, and glorify Your Holy Name. God I pray to You in the name of Your precious Son; my Redeemer and Saviour; the Lord of my life, Jesus Christ. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion before all time and now and forevermore. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

June 1 Devotion - The Peace of God

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

بِسَلاَمَةٍ أَضْطَجعُ بَلْ أَيْضًا أَنَامُ، لأَنَّكَ أَنْتَ يَا رَبُّ مُنْفَرِدًا فِي طُمَأْنِينَةٍ تُسَكِّنُنِي.

Psalm 4:8

Trying circumstances often are the biggest inhibitors of experiencing the peace of God. The situation is in God’s hands. He is in control despite appearances. He is able to bring about a solution, whenever and however He chooses.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your deep and everlasting love of me, Your abundant blessings to me, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. Thank You Lord that in You I can dwell in safety. 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 carry out Your instructions ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’ 1 Peter 5:7 and cast my burdens on You in prayer, to tell You what bothers me and robs my joy and peace, and to have a strong faith that You heard and will answer. I want to experience Your heavenly peace and sleep in Your safety. Heavenly Father, whenever the pressures mount, help me to remember that You have taken all my cares upon Yourself. I cast my anxiety and burdens on You, knowing that everything is in Your care. In the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus The Christ, the only begotten Son of God, I pray. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein