Joey's Journal - August 28, 2006

Dear Father, I thank You for Your protection, provision and guidance in our lives. Lord, may I offer You all my joys, works and sufferings of this day and hope that they are pleasing and acceptable to You. May Your angels continue to watch over Joel while he is at school and to curve his attitude and behavior when his temper flares. May You also watch over my wife and protect her from all anxieties and temptation by the evil one and may she call on You for help. May we always stay focused to Your instructions and obey them wholeheartedly. May You continue to bless our loved ones, church friends and cell group members and colleagues and friends. All these I pray in Jesus’ Holy Name. Amen.

My reading - Psalm 26 - For the Lord, I will take a stand to do what is right

Lord and Father, declare me innocent for I have acted with integrity. I trusted in the Lord without wavering. Put me on trial, Lord and cross examine me; test my motives and affections. Because I am constantly aware of Your unfailing love, and I have lived according to Your truth. Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners, nor condemn me along with murderers. Their hands are dirty with wicked schemes and they constantly take bribes. But Lord, I am not like them; I do what is right; so in Your mercy save me for I have taken this stand and publicly praise You.

My reflection – I ask myself, ‘do I really want the Lord to put me on trial and cross- examine me?’ There is no need for this because the Lord knows and sees all before I even think of what to say or do. The answer to the question really is how will the Lord judge me! As a sinner, I know of the gravity of the offence against God. I have hurt Him dearly with my disobedience to His laws and decrees; my impatience, unforgiving and uncaring behavior to others. As sure as the rising of the sun tomorrow, if I don’t change, I will not see God.

This is the key – to change my sinful self. The Lord Jesus asked His disciples to pick up their crosses and follow Him. I believe Jesus wasn’t asking them to die physically like He did, because He already did this. He has taken our past, present and future sins to the cross with Him. Jesus wants us to ‘die spiritually’. This means changing from our sinful nature and living a godly life so that we can stand pure in God’s presence.

Yes, this is a tall order Jesus presents to us. But if we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have to follow His Ways. Our objective is to live daily more and more like He did. Tough, yes it will be tough and we will struggle just like all His disciples! But, we have a God, who has great love and compassion for us. He will be there to stretch out His Hand to pick us up when we stumble and fall along the way and bring us eventually back to Him. Great is our God!

My prayer - Our Father in heaven, I thank You for keeping me on the right path. Thank You for giving me patience, unselfishness, kindness and mercy to the people I have interacted with. Thank You for Your grace of goodness that my wife was able to meet up with my sister and her family for lunch. Thank You for Your presence while with them. Also, Lord, I know to change from my sinful ways is a tall order but with You in my heart and mind, I know that I will be successful. Stay with me always so I may be worthy of being in Your Presence. All these in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

by : Joey B