On the Go - November 24, 2008

Mercy is only of use when someone feels they need it.

Live it
A young man was like most growing up. The older he got, the more his shell hardened while he listened less and less to his parents. Someone said his parents were rich, but they didn't live like it. On his sixteenth birthday, his Dad gave him a new Bible and said, "Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." The young man listened but didn't care and never cracked the Bible as it just accumulated dust beside his bed.

When the young man was old enough to drive and make his own decisions regarding what to do with his time, he moved away from home and into a bad environment with the wrong crowd. The rest of his life was marked by bad decisions and consequences. He seldom called his parents or cared what they said. He lived many long, hard and miserable years, but for some reason, remembered what his father had told him as a youth. He was now old, in poverty and near death, but he searched through boxes and found his old Bible. He opened it up to the middle, put on his reading glasses and read his dad's encouragment from Proverbs 3:5-6. Stuck between the pages he found an faded old note from his father to his banker. Opening it with shaking hands, he read through his tears, "Please give my son whatever he needs from my fortune."

Pray it
Were it not for mercy, I'd be dead in my sins and sentenced to die. But You saw value in me and gave your only Son so I wouldn't have to. Forgive me for sometime treating your treasure as something of no value. Please, help me redeem my days and serve you humbly, what I should have been going all along.

Resources
Can you prove God did what you know He did? (2000)
Asking questions is the first step in resolution of any problem. (2003)
We don't have to look for Jehovah Shammah. (2004)
Thanks, thirst and trust, the three fundamental attributes of a Christian. (2005)
Devotional (2006)
The most effective prayer is doing it from God's perspective. (2007)
Don't seek justice when mercy is available. (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.