Watching Daily At Wisdom's Gates

 “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ” Ephesians 6:18 ESV I've heard people say that the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God) is the only offensive weapon in the Christian's armoury. I prefer the person's description of prayer as the aerial bombardment of spiritual warfare. I don't think this verse is just tagged on at the end of the armour of God as a cute post script. We're not just to pray 'shopping lists'. God isn't a divine vending machine. We're to pray in the Spirit. We can take anything to God in prayer: our shopping lists, our needs, our wants, our burdens, our dreams etc. His shoulders are big enough to bear whatever's bugging us. In one sense prayer comes natural to God's children, talking to him as our heavenly Father. In another sense we can forget that we're not autonomous and that we rely on hi...

 “ Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ” James 1:12 ESV At first glance, this verse might seem heavy with its talk of trial and test. Note however that it says we are blessed if we overcome. It even goes as far as to say 'when' he has stood the test, not even just 'if'.  God doesn't set us up for failure. When he gives us tests, he sets us up for success. The devil tempts us to stumble but God won't let his people terminally fall into the lake of fire. I love the description of God's people here. We love him. How could we not, when he has loved us, and given himself for us? We deserve God's condemnation for our rebellion against him. Instead, if we trust in him, he gives us the crown of life. We will lay it before him in grateful thanksgiving.  'Dear Lord God, we're so grateful for the life we enjoy in you. Please help...

 “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV There was a lot that could make Israel afraid. Assyria were threatening them. Babylon would eventually take over and take the people into captivity. Yet God commanded his people not to be afraid. He didn't promise to make everything easier. He did promise to strengthen his people however. If God is for us, who can be against us? Nothing can separate us from his love. In Christ we are more than conquerors. The Lord's righteous right hand bears a scar that he bore for us as he was crucified on our behalf. If the Father didn't spare the Son for us, we can be assured that he'll look after us. We will make it safely home to glory, in Jesus' name! 'Lord our God, we're so grateful that in the midst of all the adversities of life, that you are for us. Please help us to trust you, now and foreverm...

 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ” Philippians 2:3 ESV The Bible doesn't just badly tell us to do something without giving us an example. The Lord Jesus Christ is our ultimate example. He did nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. In humility, even Christ counted us as more significant than himself. He was willing to die for us, mortal sinners though we are. 'Tis mystery all! T'Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine'. Of course, Jesus isn't just our example. He died so that we can be forgiven our our selfish ambition, our conceit and our pride. By his death on our behalf we took can be dead to all the negativity. Because Jesus rose again from the dead, we too can rise to newness of life. We can be defined by humility and otherishness. We don't have to be self absorbed any more. 'Dear Lord, please he...

 “ The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1 ESV Creation only tells us so much. We still need the revelation of God's word. Nevertheless, the universe showcases God's glory. We don't need a religion to tell us that God is great. We only need to look up at the night sky free from light pollution to see that. Creation gets us so far, but we need God's word for the Good News of salvation through Christ crucified. God is our glorious Creator whom we have rebelled against. We deserve his condemnation. Thankfully, he sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. By Christ's crucifixion, we can be forgiveness. By his resurrection, we can enjoy newness of life. He gives the gift of his Holy Spirit to all who trust in him. 'Creator God, we worship you for your glory. We praise you for Jesus, in whom we enjoy salvation. For your honour we pray, amen'.

 “ Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3 ESV Solomon isn't guaranteeing success here. He's just reminding us that everything that's establish is D.V. - Deo Volente or God willing. In other words, unless God blesses our work, it's not going to succeed. So why do some Christian businesses fail? Why do many unbelieving businesses thrive? This verse is a general rule rather than a guarantee. Job was a successful farmer who God allowed to lose everything. He didn't lose his faith though. Plus, God restored his wealth to him. We're not guaranteed the restoration of wealth if we lose it. We are however guaranteed an eternity in glory if we trust in God. By our faith in Christ's death we can plan eternal life. 'God, we commit our lives to you. Please establish us for eternity. In Christ's name we pray, amen'.

 “But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ” Ruth 1:16 ESV Ruth had no earthly reason to follow Naomi back to Israel. Ruth was a Moabite, from an enemy people. It's not like Naomi seems to have given much reason to follow the God of Israel either. Naomi's husband and sons (one of whom was married to Ruth) had died in Moab. It seemed like God had cursed them. It seemed like Naomi had nothing to offer Ruth. Yet in the midst of all that, Ruth made one of the most powerful declarations of faith in all of Scripture. She clearly loved Naomi deeply. She was even willing to pin her hopes to Naomi's God. By Naomi's own assessment, God had dealt bitterly with her. Yet Ruth was willing to put her hope in him. It's as though Ruth had more faith than Naomi, but thankfully God was gracious to both. 'God, be our God. May your pe...

 “ The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,” Psalm 24:1 ESV God is sovereign. He's in control. He has dominion over all. This is a reassuring truth because God is good. He can and does even bring good out of bad. The supreme example is the murder of his Son on our behalf. Because the Lord is King, we can be reassured that all will be well in the end. We may be going through severe turmoil in this life. Yet we can trust in Jesus to bring us through it. This life isn't all there is. There's an eternity to come. We are to live for eternity, not just to seek instant gratification in the present. 'Lord, we rejoice that you are King. We trust in Christ crucified and ask you to bring us safely through to glory. In Jesus' name, amen'.

  “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. ” Hebrews 6:10 ESV This is such a comforting and timely verse for me right now. In the context, the writer to the Hebrews seems to be suggesting they could lose their salvation. Yet in the context of this verse and others, we can be encouraged that God won't give up on us. Taken in isolation, this verse might seem to teach salvation by our works. In context, if we're hateful, God sees that. If we're loving in response to God's love, God sees that too. If we're unrepentantly hateful, God will judge us as we deserve. If we're falteringly loving towards our fellow saints, God will judge us to be being transformed into the likeness of our crucified Lord and Saviour. Let us persevere in doing good. The Hebrew Christians were persecuted and tempted to go back to Judaism. Judaism was more acceptable to the Roman overlords than Chris...