MIDNIGHT PRAYER TROOPS

Daily Devotional “Unceasing Prayer, ‘Praying Without Ceasing'”

Daily Devotional “Unceasing Prayer, ‘Praying Without Ceasing'”
Be different!
March 25, 2023

Unceasing prayer/praying without ceasing

“Pray at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians. 6:18).

Spiritual victory is directly related to the quality of your prayer life.

Prayer is communication with God, and like all communication, it can be developed to maximum efficiency or allowed to languish.

Which you choose will determine the quality of your spiritual life.

Ironically, the freedom of worship we enjoy in our society and our high standard of living make it easy to become complacent about prayer and presume on God’s grace.

Consequently, many who say they trust in God actually live as if they don’t need Him at all.

Such neglect is sinful and leads to spiritual disaster.

Jesus taught that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).

“Faint” speaks of giving in to evil or becoming weary or cowardly.

Paul added that we should pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and petition, and “be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians. 6:18).

First Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.”

That doesn’t mean to do nothing but pray. It simply means living in a constant state of God-consciousness.

If you see a beautiful sunrise or a bouquet of flowers, your first response is to thank God for the beauty of His creation.

If you see someone in distress, you intercede on his or her behalf. You see every experience of life in relation to God.

God wants you to be diligent and faithful in prayer.

With that goal in mind we will devote to a study of prayer from two texts: Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:1-19, and the disciples’ prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.

Both are models of majestic, effective prayer.

As we study those passages together, be aware of your own pattern of prayer.

Examine it carefully for strengths and weaknesses. Be prepared to make any necessary changes.

•Thank God for the privilege of communing with Him in prayer.
•Ask Him to reveal any areas in your praying that need to be strengthened.

Read Daniel 9:1-19.

•What prompted Daniel’s prayer?
•What was Daniel’s attitude toward God? Toward himself and his people?
•What did Daniel request?

Daily Devotional “Unceasing Prayer, ‘Praying Without Ceasing'” | Daily Devotional “Unceasing Prayer, ‘Praying Without Ceasing'” | Daily Devotional “Unceasing Prayer, ‘Praying Without Ceasing'”

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Important prayer tips to Note to begin any prayer

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Daily Devotional “Acknowledging The Ultimate Source Of Everything”

Daily Devotional “Acknowledging The Ultimate Source Of Everything”
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March 24, 2023

“Joyously giving thanks to the Father” (Colossians. 1:11-12).

Joyous thanksgiving acknowledges God as the giver of every good gift.

The inseparable link between joy and thanksgiving was a common theme for Paul.

In Philippians 4:4-6 he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! . . . Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

He told the Thessalonians to “rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians. 5:16- 18).

As often as Paul expressed thanks and encouraged others to express theirs, he was careful never to attribute to men the thanks due to God alone.

For example in Romans 1:8 he says, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.”

He thanked God, not the Roman believers, because he knew that faith is a gift from God.

That doesn’t mean you can’t thank others for the kindnesses they show, but in doing so you must understand that they are instruments of God’s grace.

Thanking Him shows humility and acknowledges His rightful place as the Sovereign Lord and the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).

Those who reject His lordship and refuse to give Him thanks incur His wrath (Romans. 1:21).

Only those who love Christ can truly give thanks because He is the channel through which thanks is expressed to the Father.

As Paul says in Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Hebrews 13:15 adds, “Through [Christ] then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”

As one who is privileged to know the God of all grace, be generous in your praise and thanksgiving today.

See everything as a gift from His hand for your joy and edification.

Recite Psalm 136 as a prayer of praise to God.

From Psalm 136 list the things that prompted the psalmist’s thanksgiving.
How can that psalm serve as a model for your own praise?

Daily Devotional “Acknowledging The Ultimate Source Of Everything” | Daily Devotional “Acknowledging The Ultimate Source Of Everything” | Daily Devotional “Acknowledging The Ultimate Source Of Everything”

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Important prayer tips to Note to begin any prayer

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Daily Devotional “Preaching Mercy”

Daily Devotional “Preaching Mercy”
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March 23, 2023

“‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy’” (Matthew 5:7).

The most obvious way we can show mercy is through physical acts.

Jesus specifically commands us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, and offer any other practical help to those who need it.

When we serve others in need, we demonstrate a heart of mercy.

The way of mercy did not begin in the New Testament.

The Old Testament law taught, “You shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks” (Deuteronomy. 15:7–8).

Mercy is also to be shown in our attitudes. Mercy does not hold a grudge, harbor resentment, capitalize on another’s failure or weakness, or publicize another’s sin.

Mercy is also to be shown spiritually. First, it is shown through pity.

The sensitive Christian will grieve more for lost souls than for lost bodies.

Second, we are to show spiritual mercy by confrontation.

Paul says that, as Christ’s servants, we should gently correct “those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy. 2:25).

Third, we are to show spiritual mercy by praying. The sacrifice of prayer for those without God is an act of mercy.

Finally, we are to show mercy by proclaiming the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the most merciful thing we can do.

Ask Yourself

How has your life been transformed by being the blessed recipient of these various acts and expressions of mercy?

What might occur in the lives of your children, your spouse, your parents, your friends—anyone to whom you begin to show consistent compassion?

Daily Devotional “Preaching Mercy” | Daily Devotional “Preaching Mercy” | Daily Devotional “Preaching Mercy”

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Important prayer tips to Note to begin any prayer

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Daily Devotional “God, The Source Of Mercy”

Daily Devotional “God, The Source Of Mercy“
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March 22, 2023

“‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy’” (Matthew 5:7).

Pure mercy is a gift of God that comes with the new birth.

People can be merciful only when they have experienced God’s mercy.

God has both absolute and relative attributes. His absolute attributes—such as love, truth, and holiness—have characterized Him from all eternity.

But His relative attributes—like mercy, justice, and grace—were not manifested until man, whom He created in His own image, sinned and became separated from his Creator.

Apart from sin and evil, mercy, justice, and grace have no meaning.

When man fell, God extended His love to His fallen creatures in mercy.

Only when they receive His mercy can they reflect His mercy.

Thus God is the source of mercy. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness [mercy] toward those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:11).

It is because we have the resource of God’s mercy that Jesus commanded, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

We cannot have the blessing apart from the Blesser. We cannot even meet the condition apart from the One who set the condition.

We are blessed by God when we are merciful to others, and we are able to be merciful to others because we have already received salvation’s mercy.

Furthermore, when we share the mercy we have received, we will receive even more mercy.

Ask Yourself

When we talk about Christ’s character being formed in us, we understand the concept in theory.

But what are some of the telltale signs that He is actually working His will through us in our interactions with others?

How do you know when it’s Him, not you—when it’s the Spirit of God bearing fruit in your life?

Daily Devotional “God, The Source Of Mercy” | Daily Devotional “God, The Source Of Mercy” | Daily Devotional “God, The Source Of Mercy”

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Important prayer tips to Note to begin any prayer

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Daily Devotional “Mercy And Justice”

Daily Devotional “Mercy And Justice”
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March 21, 2023

“‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy’” (Matthew 5:7).

The relationship of mercy and justice is a confusing one because on the surface they seem the exact opposite.

Justice gives exactly what is deserved; mercy gives less punishment and more help than is deserved.

So the great question is: How can God be both just and merciful at the same time? The truth is God does not show mercy without punishing sin.

For Him to offer mercy without punishment would negate His justice.

Mercy that ignores sin is false mercy and is all too common today. Some think it is unloving and unkind to hold people responsible for their sins.

That is what is known as cheap grace—which is neither merciful nor just, nor does it offer punishment or pardon for sin.

Because it overlooks sin, it leaves sin untouched and unforgiven. The one who relies on this sort of mercy is left in his sin.

The good news of the gospel, however, is that Christ paid the penalty for all sins so that God might be merciful to all sinners.

On the cross Jesus satisfied God’s justice. And when a person trusts in His sacrifice, God opens the floodgates of His mercy. God did not gloss over sin and compromise justice.

The good news is that in the shedding of Christ’s blood, He satisfied His justice, forgave sin, fulfilled righteousness, and made His mercy available. There is never an excuse for sin, but there is always a remedy.

Ask Yourself

What is true of God’s mercy should be true of ours. Rather than simply letting people get away with abuse, mistreatment, or destructive habits, we must realize that for mercy to truly be merciful, it must lead others toward health and holiness. Mercy is tougher than we think. How then might it look in practice?

Daily Devotional “Mercy And Justice” | Daily Devotional “Mercy And Justice” | Daily Devotional “Mercy And Justice”

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“Mercy, Compared To Forgiveness, Love And Grace”

“Mercy, Compared To Forgiveness, Love And Grace”
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March 19, 2023

“‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy’” (Matthew 5:7).

To understand the significance of mercy, let’s compare it to three amazing attributes of God.

First, mercy has much in common with forgiveness, although it is distinct from it.

God’s forgiveness of our sins flows from His mercy.

But mercy is greater than forgiveness, because God is merciful to us even when we do not sin, just as we can be merciful to those who have never done anything against us.

God’s mercy does not just forgive our transgressions but reaches to all our weaknesses and needs.

Just as forgiveness flows out of mercy, mercy flows out of love: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians. 2:4–5).

Love is greater than mercy—it can manifest itself even when there is no wrong to forgive or need to meet.

Finally, mercy is also related to grace, which flows out of love.

Grace and mercy have the closest possible relationship, yet they are different.

Mercy deals with the consequences of sin, while grace deals with sin itself.

Mercy offers relief from punishment; grace offers pardon for the crime.

Just look at what the Good Samaritan did. When he found a Jewish traveler who had been robbed and beaten, he held no animosity toward him.

Love motivated him to show the man mercy when he bound up his wounds.

And when he took him to an inn and cared for him, he showed grace.

Such is the expression of mercy working with forgiveness, love, and grace.

Ask Yourself

Is there someone to whom you need to show God’s mercy, expressed through your love, your grace, your forgiveness?

Think of how you can turn your merciful intentions into practical action.

Daily Devotional “Mercy, Compared To Forgiveness, Love And Grace” | Daily Devotional “Mercy, Compared To Forgiveness, Love And Grace” | Daily Devotional “Mercy, Compared To Forgiveness, Love And Grace”

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Daily Devotional “Satisfying Your Spiritual Hunger”

Daily Devotional “Satisfying Your Spiritual Hunger”
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March 18, 2023

“‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied’” (Matthew 5:6).

The all-important result for any believer hungering and thirsting after righteousness is to “be satisfied.”

The verb translated “satisfied” frequently refers to the feeding of animals until they want no more.

In a parallel to this, Jesus declares that people who hunger and thirst for righteousness will gain complete satisfaction.

This satisfaction comes from God. Our part is to seek; His is to satisfy us.

Paradoxically, Christians continually seek God’s righteousness, always wanting more and never getting their fill in this life.

Yet the Lord still satisfies them. Again, we can make the analogy to food.

We can eat our fill of our favorite dishes, yet our taste for those foods remains.

The satisfaction we derive only makes us want more. Believers who crave God’s righteousness will find it so satisfying that they will always want more.

Psalms speaks repeatedly about God’s satisfying our spiritual hunger.

The most well-known psalm opens, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” and later says, “You prepare a table before me … my cup overflows” (23:1, 5).

A later psalm assures us that God “has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good” (Psalm. 107:9; cf. 34:10).

Jesus on another occasion told the crowds, many of whom were among the five thousand fed, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35).

Our spiritual hunger will always be satisfied (cf. John 4:14).

Ask Yourself

It may not happen all at once, but Jesus will always reward your hunger for righteousness with the deep satisfaction reserved for the humbly obedient. How has He satisfied you in the past?

Think of a time when you and He celebrated what sanctification was accomplishing in you.

Daily Devotional “Satisfying Your Spiritual Hunger” | Daily Devotional “Satisfying Your Spiritual Hunger” | Daily Devotional “Satisfying Your Spiritual Hunger”

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Daily Devotional “Seeking A Closeness To God”

Daily Devotional “Seeking A Closeness To God”
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March 17, 2023

“Draw near to God” (James 4:8).

The sincerely humble will want a closer relationship with God.

The expression “draw near” was originally associated with the priesthood in Israel.

Under the regulations of the Old Covenant, the priests represented the people before God.

Prior to coming near God’s presence, the priest had to be washed physically and be ceremonially clean.

That meant he had to bathe, wear the proper garments, and offer sacrifices that made his own heart right with God.

Then he could draw near to God on the people’s behalf.

Eventually the Hebrew word for drawing near meant anyone who approached the presence of God in worship and prayer.

The term became synonymous even of those whose hearts were far from God when they “worshiped” Him.

For example, Isaiah 29:13 says, “This people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.”

But the sincere believer, one who has truly humbled himself before God, knows that God wants worshipers to draw near with true and pure hearts: “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews. 10:22).

This applies the language of the Old Testament ceremonial system to us and says that as the priests prepared themselves to be near God, we also should prepare ourselves spiritually to worship Him.

So far this month we have seen that the humble person will come to God for salvation, submit to Him as Lord, and take a stand against the Devil.

But the truly humble person will see that his relationship to God is inherently more than those actions.

If you claim to be one of the humble, one who has a saving relationship to the Father through the Son, be sure you can also agree with the psalmist Asaph: “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works” (Psalm. 73:28).

Thank God for His grace and mercy in salvation that make it possible for us to have a close relationship with Him.

Read Hebrews 4.

•What sort of rest is the writer referring to?
•How does it compare to the rest that the people of Israel sought during Joshua’s time?

Daily Devotional “Seeking A Closeness To God” | Daily Devotional “Seeking A Closeness To God” | Daily Devotional “Seeking A Closeness To God”

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Daily Devotional “Standing Against The Devil”

Daily Devotional “Standing Against The Devil”
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March 16, 2023

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7b).

Anyone who possesses scriptural humility will take an uncompromising stand against Satan.

The successful diplomat or politician is quite adept at the art of compromise and finding the middle ground on various issues.

But such skill is a hindrance when it comes to determining your position before God.

If you humbly, by faith and repentance, submit yourself to God’s authority, you will immediately find yourself the enemy of Satan.

You are either in God’s kingdom and under His lordship, or you are in Satan’s kingdom and under his lordship.

It is impossible to have one foot in each kingdom and to be serving both kingdoms’ rulers.

To “resist the devil” gives us insight into what it means to be an enemy of Satan.

“Resist” means “to take a stand against” the person of Satan and his entire system, which includes everything he does and represents.

Such resistance is the complete opposite of the position you had before you submitted to God.

Ephesians 2:1-2 reminds us of what that position was: “You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan].”

At that time, you had no power to resist the Devil and no desire to serve God, because you were slaves to Satan and his system (Hebrews. 2:14-15).

But all of that can and will change if you humbly switch your allegiance from Satan’s kingdom to God’s kingdom. (Tell Satan the Truth)

In today’s verse the apostle James is promising you that as a part of that changed loyalty, you will automatically be in a position to take a stand against Satan.

The minute you forsake Satan’s mastery he will flee from you.

Many Christians wrongly assume that Satan is much more powerful than he really is.

But if you understand James’s promise you will know you have abundant spiritual resources to handle Satan’s empty threats.

Being humble before God doesn’t mean being weak before Satan. God enables you to stand firm and resist.

Thank God for the wealth of spiritual resources He provides for you to stand against the Devil.

Read Ephesians 6:10-18.

•Make a list of the spiritual weapons God has given us.
•Pick one of these, and do some additional reading and study to improve your application of it.

Daily Devotional “Standing Against The Devil” | Daily Devotional “Standing Against The Devil” | Daily Devotional “Standing Against The Devil”

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Daily Devotional “Coming Under God’s Authority”

Daily Devotional “Coming Under God’s Authority”
Be different!
March 15, 2023

“Submit therefore to God” (James 4:7a).

The truly humble will submit to God’s authority.

Most people understand the basic requirements of military service.

The first thing anyone experiences when he enlists is his rank within the chain of command under the commanding officer.

Implicit in such lining up under the leadership of a superior is that the soldier, sailor, airman, or marine will obediently carry out all he is commanded to do.

However, the military is not the only context in which the concept of submission applies.

James 4:7 uses the term “submit” in the far more important arena of our relationship to God.

We are to submit to Him and come under the sovereign authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the basic requirement for anyone who would be humble before God.

Since Scripture often uses military terms to describe our service to God (Philippians. 2:25; 2 Timothy. 2:3), it is appropriate to see ourselves as enlisting in God’s army, willingly obeying His commands, and following His leadership.

This kind of humble, willing submission to God’s authority is what Jesus meant when He told the disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

This concept of submission simply means doing God’s will from the heart, no matter what the cost.

The story of the rich young ruler provides a good measuring rod of our submissiveness to God.

After the young man professed obedience to God’s law, Jesus tested him further by commanding him to “go and sell all you possess, and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21).

At that point the young man was not willing to obey Jesus. Instead, “his face fell, and he went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property” (v. 22).

How would you have reacted? Would you have willingly obeyed Jesus’ command, or would you have allowed your pride to keep you from submitting to Him?

If you have humbly lined up under God’s authority, the proper response is not difficult.

Ask the Lord to remind you throughout this day of your need to submit all you do to His authority.

Read the Acts 9:1-22 account of the apostle Paul’s conversion to Christ.

•What do you notice about his obedience and humility?
•What is noteworthy about Ananias’ behavior?

Daily Devotional “Coming Under God’s Authority” | Daily Devotional “Coming Under God’s Authority” | Daily Devotional “Coming Under God’s Authority”

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