Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. What are the things that easily entangle you as a Christian and how can you avoid them?
2. What are some of the consequences of sin? Discuss how they affect the image of the Christian.
Further readings suggested
• Psalm 139:23-24, 44:21
• Hebrews 12:1-2
Prayers
1. Pray the Holy Spirit to search and reveal the hidden things in your heart, and to guide you to repentance.
2. Pray for strength to deal with the revealed things of your heart.
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. Do you desire an intimate relationship with Jesus? What are you doing to make that desire a reality?
2. Compare and contrast your response and attitude to Jesus with that of Zacchaeus?
3. If Jesus came to your home what areas of your life will need changes?
Further readings suggested
• Matthew 6:19-21
• Philippians 2:12b-14
Prayers
1. Pray the Father to fill you with a sincere desire and yearning for intimacy with Him.
2. Pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance in identifying the necessary changes in your life and obedience to follow His guidance.
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. How can you continue to walk in the freedom that Jesus Christ won for you?
2. If believers really die to sin how can we live in it any longer?
3. What practical ways can you live the reality of freedom from sin?
Further readings suggested
• John 17:15-20
• Galatians 5:16-25
• Ephesians 5:26-27
Prayers
1. Pray for grace to walk in newness of life (victory over sin).
2. Pray the Father that the reality of living a life of freedom from sin shall be manifested in your life.
3. Pray the Father that the fruit of the Spirit will be made manifest in your life.
4. Pray the Father to sanctify you wholly - spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. Which of the two characters represents you?
2. Do you tend to consider yourself better than others?
3. Read Phil. 2:3 and practise it.< br>
4. How are you going to practise humility on a daily basis?
Further readings suggested
• Philippians 2:1-6
Prayers
1. Pray the Father to grant you the spirit of humility.
2. Pray for the spirit of obedience, to humbly follow the Spirit's leading.
Hymn for the Day MHB 350
Stanza 1
WITH broken heart and contrite sigh,
A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry;
Thy pardoning grace is rich and free:
O God, be merciful to me!
Stanza 2
I smite upon my troubled breast
With deep and conscious guilt oppressed;
Christ and His cross my only plea:
O God, be merciful to me!
Stanza 3
Far off I stand with tearful eyes,
Nor dare uplift them to the skies;
But Thou dost all my anguish see;
O God, be merciful to me!
Stanza 4
Nor alms nor deeds that I have done,
Can for a single sin atone:
To Calvary alone I flee;
O God, be merciful to me!
Stanza 5
And when, redeemed from sin and hell,
With all the ransomed throng I dwell,
My ruptured song shall ever be:
God, has been merciful to me!
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. In light of today's discussion, how are you encouraged to come to the Lord on repentance?
2. What does it mean to approach God with a broken and contrite heart?
Further readings suggested
• Hebrew 10:22
• Psalm 34:18; 145:17-18
• James 4:6-8
Prayers
1. Pray the Father to open your eyes and heart to the true condition of your soul.
2. Pray the Father to grant you the will to make a decision and to turn back to Him.
3. Pray the Father to wash and purify our thoughts and motives.
4. Praise and thank the Lord for His righteousness and mercies towards you.
Hymn for the Day MHB 350
Stanza 1
WITH broken heart and contrite sigh,
A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry;
Thy pardoning grace is rich and free:
O God, be merciful to me!
Stanza 2
I smite upon my troubled breast
With deep and conscious guilt oppressed;
Christ and His cross my only plea:
O God, be merciful to me!
Stanza 3
Far off I stand with tearful eyes,
Nor dare uplift them to the skies;
But Thou dost all my anguish see;
O God, be merciful to me!
Stanza 4
Nor alms nor deeds that I have done,
Can for a single sin atone:
To Calvary alone I flee;
O God, be merciful to me!
Stanza 5
And when, redeemed from sin and hell,
With all the ransomed throng I dwell,
My ruptured song shall ever be:
God, has been merciful to me!
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. What is your relationship with God? How can you use this fasting period to establish an intimate relationship with God?
2. Search your heart. What one thing do you need to forsake to make your Lent fruitful?
3. What does it mean to 'turn to the Lord or to seek Him with all your heart'? And how can you achieve this?
Further readings suggested
• Isaiah 29:13-15
• Jeremiah 29:11-13
Prayers
1. Pray the Father to guide your heart to be turned to Him or to seek Him.
2. Pray the Lord to reveal any callousness or hardness that is in your heart and to remove it from you.
3. Praise and thank the Lord for His grace, mercies and kindness towards you.
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. Read Isaiah 58:6-9. What type of fasting pleases God?
2. How does God respond to our fasting and prayer when we turn to Him?
3. List at least two things you must do and not do during Lent. Pray the Holy Spirit to help you.
Further readings suggested
• Matthew 6:5-8, 16-18
• 1 Peter 2:1-3
• Hebrew 11:6
• Jeremiah 29:13
Prayers
1. Pray the Lord for the Holy Spirit's guidance to help you show compassion and do acts of kindness.
2. Pray the Lord to guide our hearts to seek him sincerely and diligently.
3. Praise God for His grace, mercies and faithfulness towards you.
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
. Why did the Lord reject the fast of the Israelites
. For your fasting to be accepted by the Lord ask yourself the following questions:
• What are the habits I have that are good and those that are not?
• What are the values or important things I should hold on to and those I should reject?
• What are the attitudes I can develop and those I should abandon?
Further readings suggested
• Matthew 6:1-18
• 1 Samuel 15:22-23
• Galatians 3:11; Jude 20; 2 Cor. 5:7
Prayers
1. Pray the Lord to remove any callousness in our hearts and make our hearts receptive to His directions and promptings.
2. Pray the Lord for grace to be obedient to the leading and the witness or convictions of the Holy Spirit.
3. Pray the Lord for an attitude of humility, submission and living by faith in God through Christ Jesus
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. Examine your eating habit this Lent period. What do you have to change to stay healthy?
2. What physical benefits can you derive from fasting?
3. Apart from food, what other pleasures can you give up?
Further readings suggested
• Hebrews 12:1-3
Prayers
1. Pray that the Lord guide your heart and mind as to what to give up this Lent period
2. Pray for wisdom and understanding in undertaking a fast that pleases God
3. Pray that the Lord will grant the grace to develop a strong spirit and a strong will during this Lenten season
4. Pray the Lord that Jesus Christ will be your focus during this Lenten season
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. During this period of Lent, what is your burden for your country Ghana? How are you encouraged to use prayer and fasting to confront the situation?
2. What example from Nehemiah's prayer could you apply or practice in your own life?
Further readings suggested
• James 4:3
• Rom. 8:26-27
• Eph. 1:17-18a
• Isaiah 62:1-7
• Isaiah 40:29-31
Prayers
1. Pray the Lord to give you the discernment and understanding to identify situations in your life and our nation
2. Pray for grace and strength to stand in or intercede day and night
3. Praise God
LENT DAY 1 - ASH WEDNESDAY Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Theme:REPENTANCE THROUGH FASTING TURNS AWAY GOD'S WRATH.
Scripture readings: Joel 1:13-14; 2:12-14
Questions for Reflection (Thinking it Through)
1. How are you encouraged to come to the Lord in genuine repentance?
2. Prayer and fasting in repentance can restrain God's wrath. How does it apply to You?
Further readings suggested
• 2Samuel 12:1-13 NB. vs 13
• Psalm 51
• Psalm 139:23-24
Prayers
1. Pray the Lord to search your heart and reveal unto you hidden wickedness or iniquity
2. Pray that the Lord will lead you in the way everlasting
3. Pray for grace to live a truely repentant life
4. Pray that God will take away His wrath from you??
THE HAND OF GOD WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE Daily Devotional Wednesday, February 14, 2018 By Bro. Richard Akrofii
Don’t let your hands go weary because of what you see others do or what is going on around you.
“Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.”
??Exodus? ?14:13-14? ?AMPC??
Be Careful With God's Words Daily Devotional | Wednesday, February 7, 2018 By Very Rev. Piesie Shadrack Asiedu-Larbi
Humans seem to have a tendency to embellish or change the things they talk about. We enlarge an experience or just continue to talk in order to have people pay attention to us. Generally, we are not terribly careful about our words. However, when it comes to repeating or working with the words of God, we need to be very careful. We must not add a word or take one away from what God has spoken (Proverbs 30:6). Words that are added or removed can change the tone and meaning of a sentence. God's words are holy.
James wrote that the tongue is very hard to control (James 3:8). It is bad enough when we err with our words or experiences, but when it comes to that which God has spoken, there is no room allowed for error. His words are pure and holy. Anyone who would dare to change them is in danger of being removed from the roll call of the Book of Life (Revelation 22:19). Control your tongue!!! Be wise!!!!??
ITS GOOD TO SET GOALS BUT... Daily Devotional | Tuesday, February 6, 2018 By Richard Akrofi
Setting goals takes desire, but completing them takes determination
““Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:” ??1 Corinthians? ?9:24-26? ?KJVA??
Have a fruitful day and may God help us accomplish our goals
GOD'S WORD IS FOOD FOR THE SOUL KindomNomics | Saturday, February 3, 2018 By kingdomnomics.com
Scripture: Matthew 4:4, NIV
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’ (Matthew 4:4, NIV)
There you have it. If we are going to experience a true spiritual life renewal, we need to know and receive the Word of God, “but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:10, NKJV)
Without God’s Word we are weak, ignorant vessels, losing our way in this complex world system dedicated to keep us from discovering and living the truth.
Why do you think Job said he treasured God’s Word more than his necessary food? Why do you think Jeremiah said he ate God’s Word when he found it? Why do you think David said God’s Word was more valuable to him than thousands of pieces of gold and silver?
David said, “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalm 119:50, NKJV)
Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63, NKJV)
The critical message in these passages of Scripture is, “know and live God’s Word.” We cannot live without it. God’s Word is food for our soul.
Peter tells us, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19, NKJV)
It is through the Word of God that our mind is renewed, enabling us to discern what the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God is for our life.
Today, ask yourself:
Do I understand that I need God’s Word as much as physical food in order to live properly in this world?
