Good morning.
Our Thought for the Day comes from the Book of Matthew 6:8-18.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Today I sat down and wrote out a prayer list for me for the coming year. I only listed 21 items for prayer. That does not seem like many but the list I wrote is in the form of categories. Each item on the list will be expanded at the time of prayer as the Lord leads me in my prayer time.
Not on that list is a commitment to spend some time fasting. I plan to spend some time fasting and praying in the coming year.
Fasting is not an easy thing for me to do. Simply because there are so many distractions that come my way every day.
But this I know when I fast at the end of the fast God has a special blessing in store for me. I know because I have been blessed many times by God at the end of a fast.
There are many reasons to fast. Most are of a personal nature such as seeking wisdom. Personal struggles that come into a person’s life. Seeking God’s will in the Church and among the Congregation. Hope for our Nation and our Leaders.
I hope you will consider a time of prayer and fasting in the coming year. Your life can be changed by doing so.
Our SOAP Scriptures for today are from the Book of Revelation Chapter 5-9. I hope you will read the first four before you read 5-9.
May God bless you as you read His Words and His Promise to you.
Pastor Richard.
Text. 503-819-8663
Email. richard.burson@outlook.com