Monday Morning Scripture (Wk5/2022) – Philippians 1:1-11

Thanksgiving

1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed),

To all the saints (God’s people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God in every remembrance of you,

4 always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you,

5 [thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now.

6 I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].

7 It is right for me to feel this way about you, because [you have me in your heart as] I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news [regarding salvation], all of you share in [His matchless] grace with me.

8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus [whose great love fills me].

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight,

10 so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin];

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized].

Philippians 1:1-11 (AMP)

Sunday Morning Scripture (Wk3/2022) – Psalm 16

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death.

A [1]Mikhtam of David [probably intended to record memorable thoughts].

1 Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have placed my trust and found refuge.

2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”

3 As for the saints (Godly people) who are in the land, they are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows [pain and suffering] of those who have chosen another god will be multiplied [because of their idolatry]; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need]; You support my lot.

6 The [boundary] lines [of the land] have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; indeed, my heart (mind) instructs me in the night.

8 I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my innermost self] rejoices; my body too will dwell [confidently] in safety,

10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:1-11 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16:1 Meaning uncertain; perhaps a poem.

Friday Morning Scripture (Wk3/2022) – 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

1 Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart rejoices and triumphs in the Lord; my horn (strength) is lifted up in the Lord, my mouth has opened wide [to speak boldly] against my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 “There is no one holy like the Lord, there is no one besides You, there is no Rock like our God.

3 “Do not go on boasting so very proudly, do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed (examined).

4 “The bows of the mighty are [1]broken, but those who have stumbled equip themselves with strength.

5 “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry cease [to hunger]. Even the barren [woman] gives birth to seven, but she who has many children withers away.

6 “The Lord puts to death and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol (the grave) and raises up [from the grave].

7 “The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He lifts up.

8 “He raises up the poor from the dust, He lifts up the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor and glory; for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He set the land on them.

9 “He guards the feet of His godly (faithful) ones, but the wicked ones are silenced and perish in darkness; for a man shall not prevail by might.

10 “The adversaries of the Lord will be broken to pieces; He will thunder against them in the heavens, The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His [2]king, and will exalt the horn (strength) of His anointed.”

11 Elkanah [and his wife Hannah] returned to Ramah to his house. But the child [Samuel] served the Lord [3]under the guidance of Eli the priest.

1 Samuel 2:1-11 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 2:4 Or filled with terror.
  2. 1 Samuel 2:10 This would first apply to Saul, whom Samuel would anoint as king of Israel (10:1), and then to David (16:13) and other earthly kings. Ultimately it can be applied to Christ, who will rule over Israel and the world.
  3. 1 Samuel 2:11 Lit in the presence of.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Peace Be Still

The Lord says, “Hear me say peace be to the storms of your life and watch the wind and waves of anxiety and watch them subside. Where everything has been unsettled or confusion has been swirling around you, there is peace! Where you have felt out of control and you have feared even for your very life, there is peace!”

Just like Jesus had full authority on the lake of Galilee to stand up and rebuke the weather that even the winds and sea obeyed him, so do you. Speak and release your voice and declare “peace be!” to that which seeks to overwhelm you and watch as the wind and waves subside.

Activation:

In your spirit stand up and begin to release your voice and declare peace into the difficult situations in your life or any place where you have felt anxiety or fear or turmoil internally. Declare “peace be!” to these situations and to your anxiety and fears.
Wait on God to receive his peace from heaven; see what it looks like or feels like and let him show you what peace looks as it is released into those impossible situations.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Mark 4:34-41 (NIV)

#lionbites