On the Go - October 15, 2008

Betrayal wasn't necessary in order for Jesus to be crucified, but it serves to confirm this generation is no better than that one.

Live it
Nothing is so disheartening as someone you call a friend saying something demeaning about you to someone else. But it will happen a million times today and to people of all ages. Children will come home from school crying because their best friend snubbed them and some adults will do the same in the privacy of their bedroom. Some will seek reprisal for those who shared private things with other people by sharing private things about them to someone else. And the computer social networks employed by youth and adults alike only serve to do it faster, more efficiently and globally.

Perhaps you've heard the old hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus?" One stanza says if we have a problem, we should take it to the Lord in prayer. Have you considered that the only person who can be trusted totally is the Lord? Everyone of us is born a failure to serve a wicked sin nature that has no conscience. Only through Christ can we be released from the chains of sin. But even then, it raises its ugly head now and then to remind us it's still there. It's not gone, but just subdued through the power of the Holy Spirit. Will we be loyal to our friends or act like Judas and let our inner frustrations get out long enough to hurt the ones we love?

Pray it
There is nothing so sweet as the fruit of spending time with You. For most of my life I thought prayer was "Having a Little Talk with Jesus," when in fact it's a deep time of listening and absorbing the Word while allowing the Holy Spirit to search my heart for anything that's come between us. You know my desire for more time with You, so I ask again today for that very thing.

Resources
Naaman: When God says seven, six won't do! (2000)
Are you a witness of what God has done in your life? (2002)
Has the Great Physician examined your heart and found you terminally stupid? (2003)
It's amazing that the God of love cares about terrorists who worship a god of hate. (2004)
Dev otional (2005)
When we've been with God, people in need can usually tell. (2006)
When we depend on God, He directs people to depend on our prayers (2007)
God never stops working in us, even when we least expect it. (2008)

How to Pray for...
My husband or wife.
Bless my spouse today with your richest blessing in Christ Jesus.

My children.
Protect my kids today, but do what's necessary to train them to make decisions based on your Word.

Their school.
Give our kids a heart for God that is unapologetic.

Their teachers.
Bless godly teachers richly as they serve you and not man.

My children's friends.
Protect my kids from the bad influence of other kids.

My friends.
Help me be a true and loyal friend today.

My work.
Bless my family and other families through my business.

My city.
Teach our leaders the "right" way to act.

Governmental leaders.
Slow the growth of evil in government and strengthen your people.

My country.
God bless our country if she blesses and honors your Name.

My President.
Give him a tender heart of compassion for those he serves.

My church.
Make our church a place where Jesus is praised, worship is predominant and open to your leading.

My pastor.
Bless those who shepherd rightly; keep the "rancher" mentality away from your flock.

My church leadership.
Magnify the work of our church workers to reach your objective.

Sister churches.
Make all our sister churches as one body doing one work.

Persecuted churches.
Make a way to escape for our brothers in persecution, if you can be glorified that way.

Missionaries.
Provide richly their emotional, spiritual, emotional and physical needs.

The sick..
Heal those suffering with illness in your time and in your way.

The lost.
Win them through the witness of your children.

Those in despair.
Show those in despair the peace of trusting in Your Name.

Those in the hospital.
Protect them from neglect and/or abuse.

Those grieving.
Draw the fatherless to a reliance on you - our heavenly Father.

Widows.
Help us care for those widows who feel alone.

Orphans.
Help your people care for those orphans who feel alone.

Myself.
Use me to do your work and receive my gratitude- a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that praise your Name.

Prayertower Devotionals are the original creation of James R. Green:
Just Thinkin'... (2000-2003)
Read the Bible Thru in 365 Days (2004)
Pray Thru the Word in 365 Days (2005)
One-minute Devotionals (2006 to present).

Scripture provided by God's Word Translation (c)1995 - God's Word to the Nations. All Rights Reserved.