Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

5.25- Is it possible for a hungry human to turn down food? Yes. Matthew 4. 4  Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted [ a ] by the devil. 2  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3  The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ [ b ] ” Yes, humans are not creatures of instinct.  They can say, "No" to food for a certain purpose.  Proverbs 23. When you sit to dine with a ruler,      note well what [ a ] is before you, 2  and put a knife to your throat      if you are given to gluttony. 3  Do not crave his delicacies,      for that food is deceptive.

5.24- Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. Jesus sets up a prayer which reminds us that we want God to be our King, but also that others would come to know God, not only as a Father, but the King of our lives.  The ultimate leader of our lives.  He created us and He knows how our life can work best.   It is not a place to be observed.  It is a heart. It is a heart totally surrendered to God. Matthew 6. 9  “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10  your kingdom come, your will be done,      on earth as it is in heaven. 11  Give us today our daily bread. 12  And forgive us our debts,      as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  And lead us not into temptation, [ a ]      but deliver us from the evil one. [ b ] ’

5.23- We want You name O God to be honored. I believe that Great prayer life comes out of desperation more than out of discipline. Psalm 42. Psalm 42 [ a ] [ b ] For the director of music. A maskil [ c ] of the Sons of Korah. 1  As the deer pants for streams of water,      so my soul pants for you, my God. 2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.      When can I go and meet with God? 3  My tears have been my food      day and night, while people say to me all day long,      “Where is your God?” 4  These things I remember      as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God      under the protection of the Mighty One [ d ] with shouts of joy and praise      among the festive throng. 5  Why, my soul, are you downcast?      Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,...

5.22- Our Father in heaven. Jesus revealed that God is our Father.  If you are a follower of Jesus then you can be comforted in the thought of God as a Father. Matthew 6. 5  “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9  “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10  your kingdom come, your will be done,      on earth as it is in heaven. 11  Give us toda...

5.21- The effect of receiving God's comfort. I feel so sorry for my friends who have lost a spouse after many years of a great marriage. I have been told by those who know that If you have deep grief and pain from a loss, spouse or child you have more than one option. You can do nothing and help no one and get worse or You can get up and use your remaining life on earth to get to know God and help comfort and encourage others. 3000 years ago a wise man said after losing a beloved son But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 Corinthians 1. 3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds thr...

5.20- Lord, At times today I have felt you were standing far away from me and my nation. I see arrogant politicians making laws that let the rich off lightly and imprison the oppressed. I see people proud of their lives instead of broken before you throne of grace. I see television ministers raising funds for their second Private Jet after a “talk with God.” I hear late night comedians blaspheme your name and get more and more prosperous. But the poor, honest, single parent mom holds down two jobs and her car breaks down. Our places of education must teach kids what is right and wrong without mentioning God. What is wrong is not politically correct. What is right is “hate speech”. Those who give money to elect representatives get tax relief. Those who try to vote meet impossible demands at the ballot box. Those of us who pray for you to show up feel you are far away. We are surrounded by people who laugh at us and say, “No one will ever do us harm.” Me...

5.19-Jesus and Scripture  5.19- Jesus and Scripture. Jesus is the king of the Jews and all people.  It was on the sign above the cross.  Jesus causes the rising and falling of many national leaders.  World leaders in the USA are followers of Jesus.  What Jesus thinks about Micah 5 is what I think. Micah 5. 2  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi [ a ] from the east came to Jerusalem 2  and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5  “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6  “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,    ...