Posts Tagged ‘righteousness’
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
Prayer, Part I, April 18
Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.
I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
Answer me speedily, O LORD; my spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
Psalm 143:1-7, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we know that King David and others suffered as they sought to fulfill Your expectations. We seldom suffer as we seek to do Your will. Perhaps we are less overt in our efforts and we are spared suffering because we do not engage in the battle. Help us this day to run the risk of being persecuted as a result of our declared love for You.
We do not seek persecution Father, but if it comes as a result of our efforts to serve You, so be it. Strengthen our resolve to be Your person in the midst of a sinful world and allow Your enemies to become as was always intended, Your children.
Give us love and wisdom in our witness. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: darkness, dead, distressed, enemy, faithfulness, judgment, Lord, meditate, muse, persecuted, Prayer, Psalm 143:1-7, righteousness, servant, soul, Spirit, supplications, thirsty
Posted in Christianity, Holy Spirit, Hope, Prayer, faith | 6 Comments »
Saturday, March 30th, 2013
Fidelity, March 30
… if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
2 Peter 2:20-21, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You have taught us that fidelity counts, both in our relationships with others and in our relationship with You. Help us understand how serious a matter this is. Let us make no vow to You or to others that we are not able to keep.
We know, prior to being saved by Your grace, that we were sinners and that You provided, through Jesus, forgiveness of our sins, forgiveness for our infidelity and You provided for our cleansing. Teach us O’God not to return to infidelity. We have experienced failure and we know how it would disappoint You if we were to refute our vows to You and to each other.
You teach us that infidelity is the cardinal sin in a marriage, in the case of those who have committed their souls to You and to each other. You say that to turn away from such a committment is worse than having never made a committment in the first place. You teach us that a vow to each other and to You, once we are enveloped by Your love and the love of our mate, is a most serious matter. Thank you God for forgiving us and giving us another chance in marriages to each other. We prefer obedience even when it is difficult. You are a merciful God!
Empower us to obey and to honor our committemnts, we pray. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, commandment, entangled, fidelity, Holy, Jesus, knowledge, Lord, overcome, righteousness, Savior, turn
Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, Law of God, Perseverance, faith | 38 Comments »
Sunday, January 27th, 2013
Prayer, January 27 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; You have tested my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Psalm 15:1-2; 17:3, www.solascriptura.com Father, here we learn from David that works of righteousness matter. What we say and do is noticed by You. But, You have taught us elsewhere that Your grace, in calling us to Your side, and that Your mercy and our faith in Jesus, makes our works become a reflection of our faith. We know that without works our faith seems powerless and that works alone hardly distinguish us from being like any other good citizen. Help us today to be free of self-imposed guilt. We know that You have lifted our guilt from us and that if we try to continue to bear it, we miss the point of Your sacrifice. You have taught us that it is Satan who is the “accuser”. We also know it is You who stand as our advocate. We are no longer guilty! We, like David, have been tried and we stand before You, forgiven and cleansed. Lead us as we seek to be obedient and righteous, empowered by You. Help us, especially, not to transgress with our mouth. You have taught us that an olive tree should not bear figs and vice versa. Let our words be consistent with our faith. May we glorify You and be an encouragement to others. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen. Bruce Caldwell The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: heart, Holy, Lord, Prayer, Psalm 15:1-2; 17:3, righteousness, tabernacle, tested, transgress, truth
Posted in Christianity, Fidelity, Prayer, Providence of God, faith | 107 Comments »
Thursday, January 17th, 2013
Prayer, January 17
I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.
Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.
Psalm 40:9-11, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we pray that it is true that each of us has proclaimed the good news of righteousness in our families and churches. Help us never restrain our lips when the opportunity to share Your love with others arises. Help us never hide Your righteousness in our heart, but to happily declare our faith.
We do pray for Your tender mercies in our daily walk. Since we never walk alone, help us to ask, constantly that Your direction, Your wisdom and discretion, be ours.
Father, it seems like we have a huge number of decisions to make every day. Teach us that it is Your desire that we place every decision before You, asking for guidance. We know that in the midst of this Satan has been given a license to try and discourage us. You not only permit the test but You provide us with a way out of trouble, if we will but look to You.
Bless us afresh, every moment, we pray. Guide us today; in Jesus’ Holy name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: assembly, good news, heart, mercies, Prayer, proclaimed, righteousness, salvation, tender, truth
Posted in Christianity, Forgiven, Prayer, faith, joy, salvation | 58 Comments »
Monday, December 17th, 2012
Salvation, December 17
Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness.
Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD– your salvation according to Your word.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances.
So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever.
My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.
My eyes fail from searching Your word, saying, “When will You comfort me?”
Psalm 119:40-44, Psalm 119:81-82, www. solascriptura.com
Father, this first verse says “revive me in Your righteousness.” How Father, can we be revived, except to have been alive at one time. Father, we know the answer; we are all made alive in Jesus and Your word is written on the heart of every person. We sometimes withdraw from You, even for prolonged periods, but here we learn that revival awaits.
Help us this day to cast aside the sins of the past and to look to You for the strength to be the kind of person You have asked us to be.
Father, take not the word from our mouths as a result of our reluctance to serve You, but instead, fill our mouths with a witness of Your love, Your forgiveness, Your kindness and gentleness, this day. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: law, Lord, mercies, precepts, righteousness, salvation, soul, trust, truth
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Hope, Perseverance, Prayer | 4 Comments »
Friday, December 14th, 2012
Prayer, November 14
Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness.
Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD—your salvation according to Your word.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.
Psalm 119:40-42, www.solascriptura.com
Father, as we seek to be like Jesus, we find we must know more and more of His words, His instruction and His desire for us. We seek His righteousness that our spirit might be revived by His Spirit. You have taught us that hearts need to be changed for renewal to be real. Lead us away from our instinctive, self serving desires, into a concern for serving You and others.
Then, as we interact today and people see that we love You Jesus, give us answers for those who observe us knowing that we will not always be admired for our faith. Our objective today Father is to seek and to do Your Holy will, in all things.
We pray that You will strengthen those who serve You and place Your hand against Your enemies, those who would harm and destroy all that is good.
Give us a gentle spirit in the midst of chaos, we pray. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Lord, mercies, Prayer, precepts, righteousness, salvation, trust
Posted in Christianity, Prayer, Worship, salvation | 22 Comments »
Thursday, November 29th, 2012
Salvation, November 29
Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness.
Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD– your salvation according to Your word.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances.
So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever.
My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.
My eyes fail from searching Your word, saying, “When will You comfort me?”
Psalm 119:40-44, Psalm 119:81-82 www.solascriptura.com
Father, this first verse says “revive me in Your righteousness.” How Father, can we be revived, except to have been alive at one time. Father, we know the answer; we are all made alive in Jesus and Your word is written on the heart of every person. We sometimes withdraw from You, even for prolonged periods, but here we learn that revival awaits.
Help us this day to cast aside the sins of the past and to look to You for the strength to be the kind of person You have asked us to be. Let us perceive and focus on what can be instead of what was.
Father, take not the word from our mouths as a result of our reluctance to serve You, but instead, fill our mouths with a witness of Your love, Your forgiveness, Your kindness and gentleness, this day. Oh that our eyes failed us from diligently searching Your word. We truly know nothing of eternal value, apart from You. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: law, mercies, ordinances, precepts, Psalms 119: 81-82, Psalms 119:40-44, righteousness, salvation, truth
Posted in Conscience, Hope, salvation | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012
Prayer, Part I, October 3
In You, O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness.
Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me.
For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.
Psalm 31:1-3, www.solascriptura.com
Lord and Father, it is not a small thing to say that we put our trust in You. We do not know what the next moment will bring but we know that You do. Help us never to be ashamed of our “dependence” on You. To whom other than You could we turn? We seek Your righteousness, in each of us, this day.
We know Father that we can not have it both ways, our worthiness, our wisdom, our independent achievements and at the same time Your righteousness. We confess that our lower nature doggedly pursues us. It is Your perfection in us that we seek.
Help us not only lean upon You but to be lifted by You to a heavenly nature here in this earthly place. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: ashamed, ear, fortress, Prayer, righteousness, rock
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Hope, Prayer, Worship | 17 Comments »
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
Joy, September 13
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness…
…I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
…Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Isaiah 61:10, Habakkuk 3:18, Matthew 25:21, www.solascriptura.com
Father, before Jesus was born, Isaiah told us that He clothes us in garments of salvation and that He has covered us with the robe of righteousness. For this fundamental teaching we are grateful. We were yet in our sin when this occurred. We will stand before You in the righteousness of Christ. We rejoice in our Lord.
When we enter into the joy of the Lord, we do so twice, once now and once again for eternity, in heaven. You teach us to have joy now, even in turmoil, not because we enjoy trouble, but because it is temporary and our joy in Your grace prevails before, during and after difficulty.
Help us this day to stand in Your light even when it is dark and to have a sense of joy about Your presence, even when the joy of salvation is not widely celebrated by the world. We trust in You, our sovereign Father. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: garments, God, Isaiah 61:10, Jesus, joy, Lord, Matthew 25:21, rejoice, righteousness, salvatiopn, soul
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Inspirtation, joy, peace | 11 Comments »
Sunday, August 5th, 2012
Law of God, August 5
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Romans 7:4-6, www.solascriptura.com
Father, here the Apostle Paul is telling us how the law, if enforced to the letter, leaves us all guilty. He says that when we were “in the flesh” and were not Spiritually born again, that the law was convicting us and that our flesh was bearing fruit unto death. We know Father that our flesh will perish and that only our spirit, united with Your Spirit will survive.
This marriage, the union of our spirit and Yours, allows us to bear fruit unto life, life eternal. It is Your will that our old nature die and that the fruits of the Holy Spirit, mark us as Yours. Help us commit this list of the fruits of the Spirit, not only to memory, but to a reality, daily; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.(as a mnemonic device, think, love, joy and peace and then say “PKGFGS”, package figs; Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control) What a perfect way to live. Enable us, every day, forever. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: fruits of the Spirit, gentleness, goodness, joy, kindness, love, patience, peace, righteousness, self-control
Posted in Christianity, God's Children, Holy Spirit, Inspirtation, Law of God, joy | 6 Comments »