Prayer: Father, sometimes it feels like we have things backwards and upside down. Our world is all about controlling and You are all about setting free. We are about war and killing, You are about giving life. Help me to ponder on the advantages of joining You in Your kingdom. Amen.
Reading: Psalms 141 key: 1-4
1 A psalm of David.
Adonai, I call to You—come quickly to me!
Hear my voice when I call to You.
2 May my prayer be set before You like incense.
May the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a guard, Adonai, over my mouth.
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Let not my heart turn to any evil thing,
to practice deeds of wickedness
with men that work iniquity,
nor let me eat of their delicacies.
Attention: Did you know that calling 911 was not as simple as dialing the national emergency number? We used to have to dial (not press) a separate ten-digit number for police-fire- or emergency. However, on February 16, 1968, the first 911 call was made in Haleyville, Alabama. A simple three-digit number can be called to access any of the emergency services. Canada followed suit in 1972, converting to a 911 emergency number.
Do you know that prayer is the direct line communication to the Sovereign of the universe and prayer became international when we Greeks were included in Adonai’s kingdom. Do you think of the gospel in international terms. The Great Commission commands us to make disciples of “all nations.”
I know that I promote early morning time with God. This approach works best for me. However, in reading today’s psalm, the words “evening sacrifice,” caught my attention. Do you know when a Hebrew day began and ended? In the creation account found in Genesis 1 each day reads, “So there was evening and there was morning—one day.” God established the day as going from sunset to sunset. Even the Hebrew calendar names the seasons and months differently. We Greeks have created our calendar and named the days and weeks after pagan non-deities. Adonai in His Word tells us one thing and the world tends to take it hostage, act like they created the concept, repackage it, and promote it as something new.
Have you ever heard someone call the globe, Mother earth? Is there a movement which promotes a cultic worship of the earth and nature? What did Adonai tell Adam to do with the earth (Genesis 1:28)? What have we done? What have we allowed to be done? What is our role in managing His kingdom? Who does the world belong to? Who are the four persons who are recorded to have participated in Genesis 1? Is that fourth person still roaming the earth?
Whether it is morning or evening, make your petitions to the Sovereign One. He is available 24/7. He never sleeps or slumbers. He is not bound by our frailties, nor is He bound by time. He controls time. He controls what we cannot control. Everything is at His command.
Action: I am not limited to morning or evening. I will establish my daily lifestyle with Adonai at either time because He is always available to hear my prayer and give me instruction.
Yield: I surrender my heart to Adonai.
Engage: When I do life with Him, both to call and listen.
Relationship: When I pray, listen, and do what He tells me to do.
Prayer: Father, my life becomes appreciably easier when my heart is aligned with You. I praise You and set my prayer before You, I lift my hands and heart toward You. Amen.
Memory Verse: Ephesians 5:8-10
8 For once you were darkness, but now in union with the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Music Video: Be Alright – Evan Craft, Danny Gokey, Redimi2
Cody Carnes – Run To The Father (lyrics)
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”