Today’s Tasting: A parable is flanked between these two profound verses. The parable starts with, “Always pray and not lose heart” (18:1 ESV) and ends with “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (18:8 ESV).
Living humbled is addressed in another parable when one man declared to God, “I thank you that I am not like other people” (18:11) to conclude with, “You will be humbled” (18:14).
Receive the kingdom of God with child-like faith (see verses 15-17).
We can’t buy into the kingdom of God (see verses 18-30). Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (18:27 ESV).
Jesus foretold His death, but “They did not grasp what was said” (18:34 ESV).
Jesus heals a blind man when he asked, “Lord, let me recover my sight” (18:41 ESV).
Today’s Nourishment: The Holy Spirit enlarged the following words to me, “Always pray and not lose heart.” How do we keep an attitude of prayer?
Pray without ceasing: (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
“Pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 MSG).
Praying is not to become mechanical or rote, but the privilege of intimacy with our Heavenly Father, the Source and Giver of all—God.
Devout Jews pray hourly. Messianic Jews renewed this prayer heritage to glorify Jesus as they pray without ceasing and share this way of prayer with all believers:
6:00 AM: “Blessing the Creator:” The first prayer of the morning emphasizes God, Creator of all—the universe and everything and everyone in it. God is Creator and He delights in imparting His creativity to those who diligently seek it.
This is how I pray in the mornings: I praise You, Lord for Your creativity—flowers, birds, green grass, beautiful horizons, snow capped mountains, streams of water, waves of salt water and seashells, waterfalls cascading the earth’s side, colors of creation, rainbows arranged in arrays of colors, heights of beauty, depths of mystery, rolling foothills, and peaks of mountains, multiple creative uses of colors—colors of water. Instead of monotones of gray, You created an array of colors for our eyes to behold and enjoy.
Lord, I ask that You to impart creative communication skills, experiences, ideas, solutions, and surprises for me today, in order to grow in Christ personally and to grow your kingdom. I Praise You Lord, for Your creation and for the “new creation” that I am in You—Christ in me! Praise Your Holy Name.
List your creative abilities, enjoyments, and desires: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Adonai, God! You made heaven and earth by your great power and outstretched arm; nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17 Complete Jewish Bible).
“The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter” (Psalm 89:11; 74:16 ESV).
“You created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created” (see Revelation 4:11).
7:00 AM: “Blessing of Great Love” God as Father, Teacher, and God of pure love. (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)
Fill our hearts with pure divine unconditional love—the love that married You, God, to Israel as they received the Torah, the love that cut the covenant between You, Father and Son, and the love that seals Your covenant by Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus. Abba Papa, Daddy God. Thank you for an intimate relationship with you, my Heavenly Father.
8:00 AM: The Shema: “One God…I set my love on you…now go and love as I have loved you” (see ). Lord, Christ in me, Holy Spirit, show me how to love others today (see 1 John 1:5-7 ESV).
9:00 AM: The Third hour of the day, the Holy Spirit came rushing into the lives of believers who waited on Him at the Feast of Shavuot—Pentecost (see Acts 2). He enters when we wait on Him. Holy Spirit, fill me…9:00 AM, the first sacrifice of the day—now, they were offering themselves as the first sacrifice (see Romans 12:1-2): I offer myself to you today. Live in and through me. Fill me with your love, power, fruit, and strength.
10:00 AM: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
11:00 AM: Pray for leaders: “Pray that those in authority over us to come to know God and obey Him” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
12:00 PM: The sixth hour of the day may become a time of rest and communion with God. Peter went up on a housetop to pray at about the sixth hour (Acts 10:9-16). When you fast, occasionally or frequently, dedicate this time to prayer, expecting to hear your Heavenly Father.
1:00 PM: Healing occurred at the seventh hour (1:00 PM) when Jesus healed publicly. Believe for healing in your life also and the lives of others. Pray specifics.
2:00 PM: Pray against the spirit of anti-Semitism and against persecutions of Jews and Christians.
3:00 PM: The ninth hour of the day is an hour of victory and miracles! While a traditional Jewish hour of prayer, Peter and John stepped into the temple at “the hour of prayer,” the ninth hour, and prayed for a crippled man. Jesus died on the cross “about the ninth hour and bought our salvation. Pray for victory, miracles, healing, and salvation.
4:00 PM: The tenth hour is a great hour to pray for the Jews to come to Messiah.
5:00 PM: The eleventh hour: The last laborers ere called into the vineyard (see Matthew 20). Pray for those whom God is calling in this eleventh hour to receive Jesus Christ.
6:00 PM: Pray for the hungry, homeless, and hurting and bless God for the food you receive as you celebrate your day around the dinner table with family.
7:00 PM: The Prayer of Sanctification exalts God. Praise God: exalted, sanctified, blessed, praised, glorified, extolled, honored, elevated, and lauded. Praise and worship the Lord—He is worthy!
8:00 PM: Pray for focus, direction, and intent with spiritual passion to know God and hear from Him.
9:00 PM: The third hour of the night, brave men rescued the Apostle Paul from a plot to kill him (see Acts 23:23). God is our defense as He gives His angels charge over us (Psalm 91). Praise and thank our Father for his angels who guard and protect us. Pray for His angels among our military, borders, and relationships with Israel.
10:00 PM: An evening blessing to thank and praise God for His everlasting love for His people and for the life-sustaining power of His Word. We love God because He first loved us.
11:00 PM: “Cause us to lie down” is a prayer for the enemy to be rebuked. Loose the grace and peace of His shalom (peace) over us.
12:00 AM: Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God at midnight and God set them free from prison (Acts 16:25). Bridegrooms claimed their brides at midnight (Matthew 25:6). “At midnight I will give thanks” (Psalm 119: 62).
1:00 AM: “Cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches, pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord (Lamentations 2:19).
You may print this prayer and develop an attitude of prayer throughout the day. Share how you live in an attitude of prayer.
Tomorrow’s Delight: Matthew 19; Mark 10
Carolyn Marlowe, CCLC
Gigi to six adorable grandchildren
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