This is the day the LORD has made!
PSALM 118:22-24
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Do not be afraid. Humble yourself and pray.
Daniel 9:3, 17-19, 23
3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
23 As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision:
Daniel 10:12
12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
Then the nations will know that I am the LORD
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.”
Five conditions of prevailing prayer
Five conditions of prevailing prayer :
1. Entire dependence upon the merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only ground of any claim for blessing. (John 14:13,14; 15:16, etc.)
2. Separation from all known sin. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us, for it would be sanctioning sin. (Psalm 66:18)
3. Faith in God’s word of promise as confirmed by His oath. Not to believe Him is to make Him both a liar and a perjurer. (Hebrews 11:6; Hebrews 6:13-20)
4. Asking in accordance with His will. Our motives must be godly: we must not seek any gift of God to consume it upon our own lusts. (1 John 5:13; James 4:3)
5. Importunity in supplication. There must be waiting on God and waiting for God, as the husbandman has long patience to wait for the harvest. (James 5:7; Luke 18:1-10)
“When fear grips your heart, it’s an invitation to trust God again”
I have been reading the Word this morning that God would speak to me and drive away the fear that is gripping me this morning. It is so encouraging to read through the messages of scripture, personal notes and stories of hope that have been posted in “Matthew’s Messages.” It is precious to me to hear from so many friends that are near us today or that we have known through our lives or that we have yet to meet. My heart responds to each of your messages and I wish there was time for me to respond to you personally. Thank you for your prayers and for sharing words of encouragement with us! We rejoice when we hear how God is using this to bless others. Thank you for sharing those blessings with us.
Jewels for me today:
Psalm 139:23,24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Zephaniah 3:17
“The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
A Note from the Butterfields
We thank God for hearing your prayers. We are witnessing His power daily as He provides. Last night was no exception.
Matthew was crying—no, screaming—in pain when we arrived at church tonight and continued to cry while Keith and PopPop took him home. After about 15 minutes he settled down, got up, picked up a light saber and started playing. He was fine the rest of the evening. Thank you for your prayers.
A little later it was time to give Matthew his shot and three medicines. The shot went OK but the taking of the medicines was amazing. He has never sat still and willingly taken all these drugs. He took them all without arguing, complaining, fighting or kicking. We’re still not sure if it was really Matthew.
Thank you for all the notes, prayers, gifts, meals, snacks, hugs, cards and love.