Just Ask

Psalm 2:8 - 'Ask of me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Thy possession.

That's quite the claim on God's part, all we need to is ask and we will get the world! I for one don't really want the world, but it is nice to know that God will grant our desires. Remember that when you pray for GBC today.

Faith Before Theology

GK Chesterton once said

These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own.

GBC embodies that quote in so many ways. It will stand agains the rabid secularism in our society and it we will each need to set aside our own creeds in deference to our brethren at the conference. Pray today that all attendees can fully embrace both of those aspects.

Who Do You Pray About

Psalm 35:28 - And my tongue shall declare Thy righteousness and Thy praise all day long. (NAS)

In this narcissitic age, do you pray about you? Do you pray about other people? Do you plead to God as if He were some cosmic Santa Claus? What was Christ's prayer?

Not my will, but thine oh Lord.

Use prayer today not as an opportunity for you to tell God wht you need to say, but as an opportunity to learn what He wants you to pray about. Pray for GBC in this fashion too.

With Timbrel and Lyre

Psalm 149

1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
2 Let Israel be glad in his maker; let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise His name with dancing; let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.
5 Let the godly ones exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 {Let} the high praises of God {be} in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishment on the peoples;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute on them the judgment written; this is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the LORD!
(NAS)

Lift your heart to God today.

Sin And Confession

From Oswald Chambers

Not being reconciled to the fact of sin— not recognizing it and refusing to deal with it— produces all the disasters in life. You may talk about the lofty virtues of human nature, but there is something in human nature that will mockingly laugh in the face of every principle you have. If you refuse to agree with the fact that there is wickedness and selfishness, something downright hateful and wrong, in human beings, when it attacks your life, instead of reconciling yourself to it, you will compromise with it and say that it is of no use to battle against it.

Ask God that you, and your fellow Christians, and GBC will not compromise with sin.

Focus

Prov 4:25-27 - 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.

God is our path, and prayer is the best way I know to focus on Him. When you pray today, for GBC and the rest of your life, do not think about what you are praying for or about, think about who you are praying to.

For Meetings

FOund this little liturgical prayer for "Church Conventions or Meetings." What could be better for GBC?

Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.