April 8 Devotion - Jesus Prays for All 'Believers' - Part 1

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;

وَلَسْتُ أُصَلِّي مِنْ أَجْلِ هؤُلاَءِ فَقَطْ، بَلْ أَيْضاً مِنْ أَجْلِ الَّذِينَ سَوْفَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِي بِسَبَبِ كَلِمَةِ هؤُلاَءِ،

John 17:20

 

Jesus’ words, "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their word”, should give us real comfort especially during times of adversity.

After praying for his disciples, Jesus prayed for all those who would believe in Him through their word. In a sense, everyone who has become a believer; a follower of Christ; has done so through the apostles' message. So Jesus was praying for all the believers who would ever exist. He was praying for you and me and those He wants us to reach with His message of salvation.

Knowing that Jesus prayed for us should give us confidence as we work for His Kingdom.

 I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Thank You Jesus for praying for me, to our Father. Thank you Jesus for granting me eternal life through The Cross. Jesus please teach me to pray as You taught Your disciples. Father strengthen my faith and give me peace and confidence that Your promises are coming true. Lord, I believe and that it is an awesome thing You are doing for believers throughout the world and especially in all these nations that do not believe in Christ. 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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.’ Ephesians 3:20-21

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

April 4 Devotion - When we feel depressed

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction

2 Corinthians 1:3

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my  heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Psalm 28:7

 

الرَّبُّ قُوَّتِي وَتُرْسِي. عَلَيْهِ اتَّكَلَ قَلْبِي، فَنِلْتُ الْغَوْثَ.

 

When we feel depressed we need to pray to The Father so that He covers us with His Divine grace, wisdom and strength, to handle the situation according to His will in our lives, and to remember His promises.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, thank You that when I feel depressed I always have the choice to concentrate  on Your promises, for You have said:

Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength Nehemiah 8:1

The righteous cry and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles, weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalms 34:17, Psalms 30:5

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. Isaiah 43:2

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

I pray to You Father in Jesus’ name, to whom be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

April 3 Devotion - God is Spirit

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4:24

الله روح. والذين يسجدون له فبالروح والحق ينبغي ان يسجدوا.

God The Father, is Spirit and is therefore omnipresent. He is present everywhere. We should worship Him due to His nature and perfection.  The nature of God is an eternal, immense and infinite Spirit. God is The creator of all spirits.

Worshipping God must spring from the heart, through the influence of the Holy Spirit. I believe we would be considered worshipping God in spirit, when we are guided by The Holy Spirit, and we present our requests to The throne of God. We would be considered worshipping Him in truth, when our worship is guided and regulated by The Word of God.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Lord You are worthy of my worship and praise. I am in awe of Your nature and perfection. Thank You for creating my spirit and adopting me into Your family. LORD, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I may worship You in spirit and in truth.  In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

March 20 Devotion - The Glory of The Lord Rises Upon You

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

قومي استنيري لانه قد جاء نورك ومجد الرب اشرق عليك.

 Lève-toi, sois éclairée, car ta lumière arrive, Et la gloire de l'Éternel se lève sur toi.

Isaiah 60:1

 

God has wonderful things planned for us believers who are followers of Jesus Christ. He will give us blessings that seem impossible to us. Even the dreams we have given up on, God has not given up on, as long as they are aligned with His will and plan for our lives.

 

We have to listen to God with our hearts and not let discouragement hold us back. It is time for us to receive every blessing God has prepared for us and move forward in the destiny He has planned for us. The Glory of The LORD is rising upon us, let us arise and shine today and every day.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Thank You Lord for choosing me to be Your child and for preparing a bright future for me. Thank You that my faith in Jesus Christ and my submission to Him as Lord over my life and my acceptance of His death in my place qualifies me to receive Your abundant blessings over my life. Help me through the Holy Spirit to receive Your blessings with a humble heart and to always honour You and praise Your Holy Name. Thank You for letting Your glory shine upon me today and every day. Lord, give me the patience and the wisdom to wait upon Your timing for each blessing and to move forward in the destiny You have prepared for me. 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

March 19 Devotion - Reshuffle me O'Lord

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

 Proverbs 16:9, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 32:8, Isaiah 30:21, Proverbs 3: 5-6

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Thank You that Your eye is upon me. Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139: 23-24

Lord, reshuffle me and my priorities in life to be aligned with You and Your plan and will for my life. God I know that Your solution for my life is what is best for me, help me to let go of the need to resolve my own problems, and give me the wisdom to follow Your direction, for Yours are plans for my welfare to give me a future and a hope .

Teach me Lord and make my ears and spirit sensitive to Your word behind me telling me “This is the way, walk in it”.

Help me Father to not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present my requests to You. Help me to trust in You Lord with all my heart, and not to lean on my own understanding.

Help me to acknowledge You Lord in all my ways, and make my paths straight. Lord, You are Holy, righteous, and infinite in wisdom. Thank You God that Your mercies never cease. 

In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages.

Jesus loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

March 17 Devotion - Choosing the 'Good' hinders us from receiving the 'Best'

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways.
 9 فَكَمَا ارْتَفَعَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ عَنِ الأَرْضِ، كَذَلِكَ ارْتَفَعَتْ طُرُقِي عَنْ طُرُقِكُمْ، وَأَفْكَارِي عَنْ أَفْكَارِكُمْ.

Isaiah 55:9

We often pray for things that we believe are ‘Good’ for us and/or our loved ones. In His wisdom God has a much broader perspective and gives us only the things that are truly beneficial for our growth as His children; and that are beneficial for the advancement of His kingdom on this earth, and ‘Best’ for us through all eternity.

The way God gives us what is ‘Best’ for us is often very different than what we imagined and the timing may not be what we wanted, but His timing is always the ‘Best’ for us.

Many times, unfortunately, we choose to go ahead without involving God and do what we believe is ‘Good’ for us and we miss out on God’s ‘Best’ for our lives. We do not realize that the ‘Good’ is preventing us from having the ‘Best’. We need to involve God in all what we do and follow His direction knowing that He will always give us what is ‘Best’.

 I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. God help me to pray for what is ‘Best’ from Your perspective for me and those impacted by what I am praying for. Help me to have the discernment and wisdom to know what to pray for. Help me to pray for those attributes that will help me grow in the likeness of Your Son Jesus Christ, and for the advancement of Your kingdom. I trust that you will only give me what is ‘Best’ for me, and that your timing is always the ‘Best’. Lord, give me the patience and the wisdom to wait upon Your timing. 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

March 13 Devotion - We have been redeemed and forgiven. We have been adopted as God's children

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

 

Colossians 1:14, Ephesians 1:5

 

الذي لنا فيه الفداء بدمه غفران الخطايا.
5 اذ سبق فعيّننا للتبني بيسوع المسيح لنفسه حسب مسرة مشيئته

Forgiveness (Gk. aphesis) speaks of a canceled debt. You and I can be forgiven because Christ went to the cross and shed His blood for me and for you. Our debt has been cancelled because Jesus died in our place.

We are forgiven when we accept that He has died in our place, for our sins. Salvation is not something we earn through good deeds or bargain for, in exchange for promising to improve. God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ, whom He loves.

The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture. When we surrender our lives to Christ and accept the fact that He bore our sins in His own body at The Cross, and when we declare Him as our Lord and Saviour, at that moment we are born again through the spirit and become children of God.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You Lord that I am a child of God and I was purchased with the precious blood of Christ. Thank You Lord that You redeemed me and granted me forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of Your grace. Thank you Jesus that You paid for my sins and they have been canceled. You paid a very high price for me, your blood. 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 forgive others and forgive myself. Please help others to forgive me. Strengthen me Lord so that I continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Jesus may continue to dwell in my heart through faith. 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

March 12 Devotion - Be strong and courageous

I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous. ⁷ “Be strong and very courageous.
⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1: 6, 7, 9

Je ne te délaisserai pas et je ne t'abandonnerai pas. ⁶ Prends courage et tiens bon. ⁷ Simplement, prends courage et tiens bon. ⁹ Je t'ai donné cet ordre: Prends courage et tiens bon, ne crains rien et ne te laisse pas effrayer, car moi, l'Eternel ton Dieu, je serai avec toi pour tout ce que tu entreprendras.

لَنْ أتَخَلَّى عَنْكَ وَلَنْ أترُكَكَ.

⁶فَتَقَوَّ وَتَشَجَّعْ،
  ألَمْ آمُرْكَ بِأنْ تَتَقَوَّى وَتَتَشَجَّعَ؟ فَلا تَرتَعِبْ وَلا تَخَفْ لِأنَّ إلَهَكَ مَعَكَ حَيثُما تَذهَبُ. فَقَط تَقَوَّ وَتَشَجَّع

I believe that every promise, order, direction and encouragement that God said in The Bible still holds truth today. God is telling us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. So why do we still live in fear? He told Joshua to be strong and courageous; I believe God is telling me also to be strong and courageous. Why did God repeat it three times and the last time He said have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? God knows our hearts and our frailties and how we doubt. He must have sensed that Joshua like me (and maybe you!) sometimes don’t get it right away. It takes time to travel from the head to the heart, we need to know in our hearts that God will never leave us, the believers and followers of Jesus, nor forsake us. Let us be strong and courageous and not be afraid; nor discouraged, for the LORD our God will be with us wherever we go.

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

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. LORD, I pray that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can obey your command and be strong and courageous. Help me Lord to believe in my heart and to believe that I know that I know that You my God will never leave me nor forsake me. Abba Father, help me to I choose to guard my thoughts and feelings and not be afraid; nor discouraged, for You LORD my  God are always with me wherever I go. Fill me Lord with your love, strength and wisdom. Help me to shift my paradigm to Your paradigm so that I can achieve quantum change. Teach me O’ Lord to meditate on your word.

Help me God to continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Jesus may continue to dwell in my heart through faith. 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

March 11 Devotion - We are God's co-workers and God's workmanship

For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. 6 As God’s partners we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

1 Corinthians 3:9

2 Corinthians 6:1

Ephesians 2:10   

We are to work together with God, in promoting the purposes of His glory, and the salvation of precious souls; and God will make sure that we do not labour in vain. We are employed by God and He will carefully look over us. For we are his workmanship - He has saved us so that we may show forth the virtues of Him who called us from darkness into His marvelous light. Although we cannot be saved by our good works, yet we are saved that we may perform good works, to the glory of God and the benefit of man.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You God that I am Your co-worker and Your workmanship. Thank You God for saving me and creating me anew in Christ Jesus. LORD, I pray that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can work together with You in promoting the purposes of Your glory, and the salvation of precious souls. Help me God to continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Jesus may continue to dwell in my heart through faith, and I may perform good works, to Your glory God and the benefit of mankind. 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

March 10 Devotion - We are the branches of the true vine, a channel of Jesus' life

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 

John 15:1-5

انا الكرمة الحقيقية وابي الكرّام .

2 كل غصن فيّ لا يأتي بثمر ينزعه .وكل ما يأتي بثمر ينقيه ليأتي بثمر اكثر .
3 انتم الآن انقياء لسبب الكلام الذي كلمتكم به .
4 اثبتوا فيّ وانا فيكم .كما ان الغصن لا يقدر ان يأتي بثمر من ذاته ان لم يثبت في الكرمة كذلك انتم ايضا ان لم تثبتوا فيّ .
5 انا الكرمة وانتم الاغصان .الذي يثبت فيّ وانا فيه هذا يأتي بثمر كثير .لانكم بدوني لا تقدرون ان تفعلوا شيئا .

Without Jesus we cannot do anything that is spiritually good. Nothing can be accomplished "without Christ"; without His Spirit, grace, strength, and presence. Were it possible for believers that are truly in Him, to be removed from Him, they could bring forth no spiritual fruits or fruits of good works, any more than a branch separated from the vine can bring forth grapes; so that all the fruitfulness of a believer is to be ascribed to Christ, and His grace, and not to our own free will and power.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You Jesus that I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of Your life. Jesus, I pray that You abide in me, and I in You. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can I, unless I abide in You Jesus. Jesus please strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can bear much fruit; for without You Jesus I can do nothing. I pray in Your Holy Name Jesus. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

March 7 Devotion - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

استطيع كل شيء في المسيح الذي يقويني.

I can do all things that are in accordance to the will of God and that are aligned with God’s plan for my life, through Jesus Christ who gives me strength, ability, patience, tolerance and wisdom.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You Lord that I am a child of God and that I was purchased with the precious blood of Christ. Thank You Lord that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

LORD, strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can carry out Your will for my life and continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Friend. 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

March 6 Devotion - We may approach God with freedom and confidence

..in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Ephesians 3:12

الذي به لنا جراءة وقدوم بايمانه عن ثقة.

Christ is The way of access to God; through His mediation we; who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour; have audience of God. We can come to The Throne of God with boldness, meaning we have been given liberty of speech to The Father, such as children use in addressing a generous father. We can ask of God without fear all our needs and wants. It is on the basis of such scriptures as these that we need to conclude all our prayers in the name, and for the sake, of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You Lord that I am a child of God because I was purchased with the precious blood of Christ through whom I may approach God with freedom and confidence. I can come boldly to the throne of our gracious God where I will receive His mercy, and I will find grace to help me  when I need it most. Hebrews 4:16. Abba Father, 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 Friend. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

February 28 Devotion - We have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

John 15:16

 

ليس انتم اخترتموني بل انا اخترتكم واقمتكم لتذهبوا وتأتوا بثمر ويدوم ثمركم .لكي يعطيكم الآب كل ما طلبتم باسمي .

The relationship of the disciples with Jesus commenced when they had no affection for him; therefore it placed them under more tender and sacred obligations to be entirely devoted to His service. The same applies to us as followers of Jesus, He graciously inclined us by His Holy Spirit to seek Him; and commenced the work of our personal salvation.

Whatever talents and blessings we possess as Christians, we owe to God, and by the most tender and sacred ties we are bound to be His followers. We are chosen to do good, and to spread as far as possible all the spiritual blessings which the gospel confers on mankind. We must consider Jesus Christ as the great Mediator between God and us, proclaim His salvation, and pray in His name.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You Lord for choosing me and appointing me to bear fruit. Thank You Lord that You redeemed me and granted me forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of Your grace. LORD, I pray that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can continue to declare to the world that Jesus Christ is The Saviour of mankind and I may bear fruit and that my fruit may last. I pray in the Holy Name of Jesus my Mediator to You Father. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

February 27 Devotion - We are assured that all things work together for good

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

ونحن نعلم ان كل الاشياء تعمل معا للخير للذين يحبون الله الذين هم مدعوون حسب قصده.

The persons in whose behalf all things work for good are those that love God, have accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord over their lives, and consequently, who live in the spirit of obedience.

All tribulations, or afflictions, or persecutions that may arise, God uses them and converts them to contribute to the general good of the person who loves God, and who is led by faith under the direction and guidance of The Holy Spirit.

 I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You Lord that You make all things, including tribulations and afflictions, to work together for my good. Lord, in my weakest moments, assure me that the power of Christ will rest upon 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 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 trust You, praise You and glorify You, and submit to Your wisdom in all things. In the name of The King of kings and Lord of lords, in the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein