On the Go - October 23, 2008

The evil we wish on others will act like a boomerang.

Live it
R. G. Lee was the pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee for many years. He's been with the Lord for many years now, but his reputation for godly preaching has endured the passing of time. He is perhaps best remembered for a sermon he preached entitled, "Payday Someday." In it he spoke of someone who's done wrong and thinks they can get away without paying for it. Scripture tells us of many people who were not only paid back, but paid back the same way they plotted against someone else. Take Haman for example.

He was appointed by King Xerxes to a high office, but Haman was not interested in serving his king as much as serving himself. When he proudly paraded down the streets of the city, a devout Jew named Mordecai wouldn't bow down to him. From that moment, Haman sought to kill him and along with him, all the other Jews in the kingdom. What Haman didn't know however, was that Queen Esther was a closet Jew and the king owed her relative Mordecai a yet unpaid favor. Still, in arrogance Haman erected extremely tall gallows from which he planned to hang Mordecai, but in the end it was him who was strung from it. So, the next time you think of payday, don't think of caramel and peanuts, but of a proud and vengeful Haman hanging high.

Pray it
Help me think of good things and see the potential in people rather than the bad things they might do. Deliver me from a spirit of hatred toward those who have wronged me and build in me a strong feeling of good will toward them instead of payback.

Resources
Joesph showed us how to obey our boss while serving the Lord, our Big Boss. (2000)
Job displayed character that responded properly to trouble. (2001)
Four steps to invite God to be with you. (2002)
Some people are not able to approach God because they've not been granted access. (2003)
We must anchor our prayer on the bedrock of Scripture. (2004)
Dev otional (2005)
Devotional (2006)
Testing is a fact, so try not to act surprised when it happens. (2007)
Don't question God, as you might not like his response. (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.