January 7, 2014: Feels So Good!
Matthew 6:1-18
Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 Take care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven.
2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
5 Also when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
6 But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
7 And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors.
13 And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.
16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already.
17 But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face,
18 So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
First of all, wow. I woke up this morning and God put specific plans in my thoughts. For today. Basically He reminded me of the specific time He wants me to get up every morning. He said (again for the umpteenth time - I looked it up, it's a word) if I rise and meet with Him at this time every morning, I will see prayers answered. What time is God asking you to rise and commune with Him every morning? If you don't know, ask Him. He'll place a time in your thoughts. Then obey. I'm going to be transparent here. I have been trying to consistently rise at this time for years, and I am sporadic. Sometimes I get to bed late for various reasons. I have a lot of great excuses why I am inconsistent with this. But this morning, He let me know once again that the ball is in my court. If I want my prayers answered, I will rise when He has asked me to rise. So, once again, I am saying, "Yes, Lord." Pray for me, ya'll!!!
Three points stand out to me in our scripture reading today.
1. Don't be a flamboyant giver, pray-er and good deed doer.
Just do these things from a pure heart, and you will be rewarded by God. To be honest, people's praise is short lived. One minute they are praising you, and suddenly the tide turns and the very people who were loving you are suddenly trash talking you. If you haven't experienced this yet, you will, I promise.
Humbly pray the Lord's Prayer! It covers pretty much everything!
2. Forgive!!!!! Forgiving is like cleaning the kitchen. It is a never ending task. But it's sooooo rewarding! Seriously, cleaning the kitchen is my favorite chore. I like to stand in front of the sink and reflect on the day. Hey, I have an idea. Every time we clean the kitchen, lets clean out our hearts at the same time. We can have double rewards! Clean kitchen, clean heart!
3. I used to get depressed when I fasted. I seriously had a pity party. I just endured the hours as they slowly went by. And waited for the agony to be over. And as a result, many times I failed to complete the fast. And then I was more depressed! I know this sounds silly, but it's true.
Now, I follow verses 17 and 18. I celebrate fasting! Even though I'm hungry, I rejoice! Because I know my fasting is bringing answers! Fasting is hard. But at the same time, fasting is very exciting and rewarding! God rewards us as we obey His word!
"God, thank You for your word for me today! I receive it! I embrace it! I will forgive! As many times as it takes. The Amplified Bible explains forgiving others' trespasses against us this way: "their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment." Help me to let go completely. Which means not ruminating (going over and over something in my mind, chewing repeatedly slowly) on the wrongs against me. Thank You that I have a choice to forgive. I forgive and let go in Jesus' name and by Your blood. It feels so good!!! AMEN."
Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 Take care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven.
2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
5 Also when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
6 But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
7 And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors.
13 And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.
16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already.
17 But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face,
18 So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.
First of all, wow. I woke up this morning and God put specific plans in my thoughts. For today. Basically He reminded me of the specific time He wants me to get up every morning. He said (again for the umpteenth time - I looked it up, it's a word) if I rise and meet with Him at this time every morning, I will see prayers answered. What time is God asking you to rise and commune with Him every morning? If you don't know, ask Him. He'll place a time in your thoughts. Then obey. I'm going to be transparent here. I have been trying to consistently rise at this time for years, and I am sporadic. Sometimes I get to bed late for various reasons. I have a lot of great excuses why I am inconsistent with this. But this morning, He let me know once again that the ball is in my court. If I want my prayers answered, I will rise when He has asked me to rise. So, once again, I am saying, "Yes, Lord." Pray for me, ya'll!!!
Three points stand out to me in our scripture reading today.
1. Don't be a flamboyant giver, pray-er and good deed doer.
Just do these things from a pure heart, and you will be rewarded by God. To be honest, people's praise is short lived. One minute they are praising you, and suddenly the tide turns and the very people who were loving you are suddenly trash talking you. If you haven't experienced this yet, you will, I promise.
Humbly pray the Lord's Prayer! It covers pretty much everything!
2. Forgive!!!!! Forgiving is like cleaning the kitchen. It is a never ending task. But it's sooooo rewarding! Seriously, cleaning the kitchen is my favorite chore. I like to stand in front of the sink and reflect on the day. Hey, I have an idea. Every time we clean the kitchen, lets clean out our hearts at the same time. We can have double rewards! Clean kitchen, clean heart!
3. I used to get depressed when I fasted. I seriously had a pity party. I just endured the hours as they slowly went by. And waited for the agony to be over. And as a result, many times I failed to complete the fast. And then I was more depressed! I know this sounds silly, but it's true.
Now, I follow verses 17 and 18. I celebrate fasting! Even though I'm hungry, I rejoice! Because I know my fasting is bringing answers! Fasting is hard. But at the same time, fasting is very exciting and rewarding! God rewards us as we obey His word!
"God, thank You for your word for me today! I receive it! I embrace it! I will forgive! As many times as it takes. The Amplified Bible explains forgiving others' trespasses against us this way: "their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment." Help me to let go completely. Which means not ruminating (going over and over something in my mind, chewing repeatedly slowly) on the wrongs against me. Thank You that I have a choice to forgive. I forgive and let go in Jesus' name and by Your blood. It feels so good!!! AMEN."
Good stuff Vicki!
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