April 9 Devotion - WALKING WISELY

 

What one thing would you ask of God if you knew absolutely that it would not be refused? Solomon had such a choice. After David died he became King over Israel and while he was at a place called Gibeon the Lord appeared to him in a dream during the night.

"God said; 'Ask! What shall I give you?”

في جبعون تراءى الرب لسليمان في حلم ليلا . وقال الله اسأل ماذا اعطيك

I Kings 3:5

Solomon prayed for:

"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"  

فاعط عبدك قلبا فهيما لاحكم على شعبك واميّز بين الخير والشر لانه من يقدر ان يحكم على شعبك العظيم هذا

I Kings 3:9

 

Solomon was asking for wisdom to be a good King. The Bible says:

The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

فحسن الكلام في عيني الرب لان سليمان سأل هذا الأمر

I Kings 3:10

The Lord was so pleased with Solomon's request that he said:

"See, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you."

هوذا قد فعلت حسب كلامك . هوذا اعطيتك قلبا حكيما ومميزا حتى انه لم يكن مثلك قبلك ولا يقوم بعدك نظيرك

I Kings 3:12

Solomon became the wisest man that ever lived. But that isn't all. God told him that because he had asked for wisdom instead of long life, riches or the life of his enemies:

"I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days."

وقد اعطيتك ايضا ما لم تسأله غنى وكرامة حتى انه لا يكون رجل مثلك في الملوك كل ايامك .

I Kings 3:13

You may want to ask yourself: what is really in my heart?

It may surprise you in the end that God gives you what you ask for - and maybe even all that you did not ask. Just like Solomon! Solomon's prayer was a great one because his heart was right when he prayed it. Listen to God's promise for those who have such hearts:

"I dwell in the high and holy place; With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

لانه هكذا قال العلي المرتفع ساكن الابد القدوس اسمه. في الموضع المرتفع المقدس اسكن ومع المنسحق والمتواضع الروح لأحيي روح المتواضعين ولأحيي قلب المنسحقين.

Isaiah 57:15

The Apostle Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom:

 ¹⁵ Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, ¹⁶ I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, ¹⁷ asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. ¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

 ¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. ²² God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. ²³ And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. Ephesians 1:15-23

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.

وانما ان كان احد تعوزه حكمة فليطلب من الله الذي يعطي الجميع بسخاء ولا يعيّر فسيعطى له.

James 1:5

 

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

April 8 Devotion - Jesus Sets Boundaries

 

But the news about Him was spreading farther, and large crowds kept gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses. ¹⁶ But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].

عَلَى أَنَّ خَبَرَ يَسُوعَ زَادَ انْتِشَاراً، حَتَّى تَوَافَدَتْ إِلَيْهِ جُمُوعٌ كَثِيرَةٌ لِيَسْتَمِعُوا إِلَيْهِ وَيَنَالُوا الشِّفَاءَ مِنْ أَمْرَاضِهِمْ. 16 أَمَّا هُوَ، فَكَانَ يَنْسَحِبُ إِلَى الأَمَاكِنِ الْخَالِيَةِ حَيْثُ يُصَلِّي.

 Luke 5:15-16

Many people are sensitive-hearted and prone to take on other people’s problems. If they don’t have clear personal boundaries and limits they get weighed down and walked on. Eventually they start having problems with anger, resentment, stress overload, or burn out. They just can’t continue being so helpful and caring all the time and at the expense of their personal needs.

Is it okay to set boundaries in relationships? Is it healthy to set boundaries in relationships? Did Jesus set boundaries in dealing with people? The answer to these three questions is a definite YES.

Many health professionals insist that one of the most vital components to creating a healthy and fulfilling relationship is to set clear and agreed to boundaries in relationships. In simple terms, boundaries are the thing that keeps us separate from the other person. The boundaries are what set the place between where you end and the other person begins.

Jesus had personal needs that he put priority on — sometimes even over the needs of other people — and he did so without feeling guilty. Primarily his personal soul care had to do with separating himself from people to be alone with God.

Jesus said no to inappropriate behaviour:

When the demands on Him from the crowd crossed His needs to be with His Father, He withdrew from the crowds.

Jesus said no to Peter and the disciples who had an inappropriate agenda for Jesus as a political king or military warrior rather than a sacrificial lamb.

But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on things of God, but on things of man.”

فَالْتَفَتَ يَسُوعُ إِلَى بُطْرُسَ وَقَالَ لَهُ: «اغْرُبْ مِنْ أَمَامِي يَا شَيْطَانُ! أَنْتَ عَقَبَةٌ أَمَامِي، لأَنَّكَ تُفَكِّرُ لَا بِأُمُورِ اللهِ، بَلْ بِأُمُورِ النَّاسِ!»

Matthew 16:23

There are many more examples of Jesus setting boundaries in The Bible and we need to learn that it is Christian to set boundaries and protect ourselves and our emotions, and teach others (children, friends, coworkers, loved ones, parents) their boundaries so as to set the place between where you end and the other person begins, leading to healthier win-win relationships.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can learn to set boundaries in my life and in my relationships with others. Help me to be prepared through the guidance of The Holy Spirit to answer all accusations or attempts to make me feel guilty because I am setting healthy boundaries. Teach me to be firm but courteous and respectful in my answers, explaining to others that setting boundaries is a win for them as well and we can live in a win-win relationship with respect. Help me Lord to push back those who have by force pushed on my boundary line during the years; without allowing my emotions to be in play; but to let The Holy Spirit think for me and speak through me. Thank You Father for Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. Father God I pray to You in the name of Your precious Son, my Redeemer, Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Jesus be the glory, the power, the dominion, the majesty, and the blessings before all time and now and forevermore. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

April 6 Devotion - Peace be with you

 

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

وَلَمَّا حَلَّ مَسَاءُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ، وَهُوَ الْيَوْمُ الأَوَّلُ مِنَ الأُسْبُوعِ، كَانَ التَّلاَمِيذُ مُجْتَمِعِينَ فِي بَيْتٍ أَغْلَقُوا أَبْوَابَهُ خَوْفاً مِنَ الْيَهُودِ، وَإِذَا يَسُوعُ يَحْضُرُ وَسْطَهُمْ قَائِلاً: 

«سَلاَمٌ لَكُمْ!»

  وَإِذْ قَالَ هَذَا، أَرَاهُمْ يَدَيْهِ وَجَنْبَهُ، فَفَرِحَ التَّلاَمِيذُ إِذْ أَبْصَرُوا الرَّبَّ.

John 20:19- 20

 

Not until the first day of the week had passed—in the evening—did Christ appear among the disciples as a group to establish their faith in His resurrection. Until then—all through that heartbreaking Sunday—the disciples doubted and were afraid. When it finally dawned upon them that Christ was alive, they "were overjoyed". That was a time of supreme rejoicing!

On this occasion Jesus opened the minds of these beloved men that they might understand the Scriptures.

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ And you are witnesses of these things.”

وَقَالَ لَهُمْ

: «هَكَذَا قَدْ كُتِبَ، وَهَكَذَا كَانَ لاَبُدَّ أَنْ يَتَأَلَّمَ الْمَسِيحُ وَيَقُومَ مِنْ بَيْنِ الأَمْوَاتِ فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّالِثِ،

 ⁴⁷ وَأَنْ يُبَشَّرَ بِاسْمِهِ بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَغُفْرَانِ الْخَطَايَا فِي جَمِيعِ الأُمَمِ انْطِلاَقاً مِنْ أُورُشَلِيمَ.

 ⁴⁸ وَأَنْتُمْ شُهُودٌ عَلَى هَذِهِ الأُمُورِ.

 

Luke 24:46-48

 From now on let us rejoice in the Lord, keeping our eyes on Jesus. The Apostle Paul was able to say rejoice in The Lord always because he focused on Jesus not on all the troubles he had. 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father thank You God for Jesus, His death and resurrection. Teach me Jesus to rejoice in Your peace and to keep my mind, eyes, and thoughts on You. Bless me Lord with the ability to rejoice in You always. 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 always declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Jesus may continue to dwell in my heart through faith. Lord I submit to Your wisdom in all things. 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. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein