As for Me and My House – Day 3

DAY 3: HIS KINGDOM IS UNSHAKEABLE

Hebrews 12:28 

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. 

Since 9/11, we’ve learned that even things we used to think of as unshakeable, like New York City’s Twin Towers, can be not only shaken but also destroyed. But we will receive God’s kingdom that can never be shaken. In this assurance, we can rejoice and be thankful. We worship Him with reverence, a deep respect and awe. We are overwhelmed at who God is. Therefore, we worship, bow down, praise Him and thank Him. He who cannot be shaken is absolutely worthy to be praised.

QUESTIONS What picture comes to mind when you think of an unshakeable kingdom? How do you show reverence and awe to our great God? Take time to do that right now.

PRAYER Lord, I am overwhelmed by Your great grace, which allows me to be in your unshakeable kingdom that has no end. Let me worship and give thanks to You all my days. I want to put my trust in You, no matter what is happening around me. 

ACTION In recent times, it seems the whole world has been shaken. Meditate now on the fact that, no matter what, our God never changes and His kingdom still stands. Let God speak to your spirit as you watch and listen to Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” or another worship song that deeply moves you right now.

As for Me and My House – Day 2

DAY 2: GRATITUDE BRINGS PEACE TO OUR SOULS

Philippians 4:4-7 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Rejoice. Don’t be anxious. Pray about everything with thanksgiving. Petition. Present your requests to God. This process will yield peace which we cannot understand. 

Some of us have a naturally gentle spirit. But all of us need the Spirit of God to help us rejoice and make His gentleness evident to all. 

Paul tells us in every situation we are to pray and “petition” or ask God meekly, humbly, and earnestly for a specific, significant need. We are to do this with thanksgiving. It should be something you cannot get or accomplish for yourself or for others without God’s help. So you ask Him to make it happen. 

QUESTIONS What causes you to lose your peace? Are you giving thanks in everything? How can you do this right now, even if you don’t feel like it?

PRAYER I rejoice in You, Lord, and I want to sense and experience Your peace that passes all understanding. I submit my request to You with thanksgiving right now, knowing I don’t have to be anxious. I receive Your peace.

ACTION Choose now to rejoice in whatever situation you find yourself. Pray and appeal to (petition) God now with thanksgiving and see what happens.

As for Me and My House – Day 1

 INTRODUCTION

Joshua 24:15
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

As the Living Streams Church family fasts and prays together in the next 21 days, we want to focus on consecration—being set apart—being in the world but not of the world. 

What is consecration? Consecration is giving yourself to God, becoming His living sacrifice. As Romans 12:1 says: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Before consecration, our life is lived in pursuit of our own desires and goals; but the consecrated life is lived in pursuit of and obedience to God’s will. Our goal during this fasting season is to humble ourselves and move closer to total submission to our Father.

We hope you will enjoy this daily devotional, and that it will help enrich your “alone time” with the Lord each day during this fasting season:

Week 1

GRATITUDE

As for me and my house, we will give thanks.

DAY 1: GOD’S WILL FOR YOU

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Pray continually, give thanks always in all circumstances—why? Because this is His will for you. 

Admittedly, giving thanks is challenging when life is difficult or we don’t feel well or world events go opposite of the way we want them to go. Yet we’re to “give thanks always.” Will you do it? Will you rejoice? Will you pray continually? Will you give thanks in the worst of times, as well as in the best? 

This is His will for us, so let’s do this!

QUESTIONS What can you be thankful for and rejoice about in your physical world today? In your emotional world? In your relational world? What has to change for you to do this?

PRAYER As I contemplate my circumstances, God, I choose to rejoice and pray. I choose to do Your will. I choose to praise and thank You for every blessing I have, rather than complain about how I feel or what is going on around me. 

ACTION Write down ten things you can decide to be thankful for, even though they are not the circumstances you would choose for your life. Then tell God, “I will rejoice in You. I will praise You right now, not because I feel like it, but because it is Your will for me.”