Skip to content

Day 365 - 31 December 2021 reflections

Day 365, 31 December 2021



1)





2) Our Daily Bread for 31 December 2021

https://odb.org/CA/2021/12/31/one-day-closer-to-christmas

entitled One Day Closer to Christmas



Philippians 3:15-21



15 (1Co 2:6; Gal 5:10) Therefore let those of us who are mature be thus

minded. And if you think differently in any way,

God will reveal even this to you.

16 (Gal 6:16) Nevertheless, according to what we have already attained,

let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

17 (1Co 4:16; 1Pe 5:3) Brothers, become fellow imitators with me

and observe those who walk according to our example.

18 (Gal 6:12) For many are walking in such a way that they are the enemies

of the cross of Christ. I have told you of them often and tell you again,

even weeping.

19 (Ro 16:18; 2Pe 2:3) Their destination is destruction, their god

is their appetite, their glory is in their shame, their minds

are set on earthly things.

20 (Eph 2:19; 1Co 1:7; Ac 1:11) But our citizenship is in heaven, from

where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 (Col 3:4) who will transform our body of humiliation,

so that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working

of His power even to subdue all things to Himself.





15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal

even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same

rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as

ye have us for an ensample.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even

weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly,

and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look

for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like

unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby

he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.



"I can't believe Christmas is over," my dejected daughter said.



I know how she feels: The aftermath of Christmas can feel dreary.

Presents have been opened. The tree and lights must come down.

Listless January-and, for many, the need to shed holiday pounds-awaits.

Christmas-and the breathless anticipation that comes with it-suddenly

feels eons away.



A few years ago, as we were putting Christmas stuff away, I realised:

no matter what the calendar says, we're always one day closer

to the next Christmas. It’s become something I say frequently.



But far more important than our temporal celebration of Christmas

is the spiritual reality behind it: the salvation Jesus brought into

our world and our hope for His return. Scripture talks repeatedly

about watching, waiting, and longing for Christ's second coming.

I love what Paul says in Philippians 3:15-21. He contrasts the world's

way of living-with "mind[s] set on earthly things" (v. 19)

-with a lifestyle shaped by hope in Jesus' return:

"Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there,

the Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 20).



The reality that our "citizenship is in heaven" changes everything,

including what we hope for and how we live. That hope is fortified

by the knowledge that with every passing day, we're indeed one day

closer to Jesus' return.



By: Adam Holz



Sign in to track your progress!

Reflect & Pray



What are some of the things you hope for in this world?

How do you think your hope in Jesus influences

and affects the earthly things you long and hope for?



Father, thank You for the hope that I have in Jesus

and in His return. When lesser hopes compete

for my heart's affection and attention, help me to lift my eyes to You



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 6 Humility and Exaltation



1 Peter 5:6-7



6 (Jas 4:10; Mt 23:12) Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,

that He may exalt you in due time.

7 (Ps 55:22; 37:5) Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.



6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.



"I was so humble I was given an award for humility," the pastor quipped.

"They gave me a humility plaque - but they had to take it back when I hung it

on my office wall."

Humility is rare among 20th Century Christians. Our pride takes two

seemingly contradictory forms: Self-exaltation and self-denial. But both

focus on self, not on God.

Francois Fenelon, 17th century French archbishop, From his

"Letters of Spiritual Counsel" wrote:

"He who so completely forget himself that he never thinks of self ... is

truly humble. If we had the light to discern it, we should see clearly that

when we think we are humbling ourselves we are exalting ourselves;

when we think we are annihilating ourselves we are seeking out own life."

True humility, as Fenelon implies, means recognising who we are in the light

of who God is. Excess of self-importance and low self-esteem are both

self-centered perspectives; true humility is God-centered.

When we humble ourselves, we become intensely aware of God and less

aware of ourselves. We can focus on his face and get our eyes off our own

image. We can stop worrying about how others perceive us. Such humbling

is difficult - as one 70-year-old saint joked, "It ain't the heat that gets

you, it's the humility." But when we submit to him and fell the weight of the

"Mighty hand of God" upon us, we can forget ourselves, abandon

ourselves to his presence, and cast our cares upon him.



Application



a) What form does my pride usually take - self-exaltation or self-degradation?



b) Why must I humble myself in order for the Lord to lift me up?



c) How can today's verse encourage me when times are tough?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



2 Chr 26:5



5 (2 Ch 24:2; Da 1:17) And he sought after God in the days of Zechariah,

the one who instructed him in the fear of the Lord. And in the days

that he sought after the Lord, God caused him to succeed.



5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah,

who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long

as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



God's Gift of Salvation



Ps 40:1-3,9-11



PSALMS 40



1 I waited patiently for the Lord,

and He turned to me, and heard my cry.

2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

out of the miry clay,

and set my feet on a rock,

and established my steps.

3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He has put a new song in my mouth,

even praise to our God;

many will see it, and fear,

and will trust in the Lord.



...



9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I have proclaimed righteousness

in the great congregation;

I have not held back my lips,

O Lord, You know.

10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) I have not hidden Your righteousness

within my heart;

I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;

I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth

from the great congregation.

11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Do not withhold Your compassion from me, O Lord;

may Your lovingkindness and Your truth always guard me.



To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;

And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even

praise unto our God:

Many shall see it, and fear,

And shall trust in the LORD.

...

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation:

Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;

I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation:

I have not concealed thy lovingkindness,

And thy truth from the great congregation.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD:

Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.





Remember God's promises when You pray





The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



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, for ever. Amen.



6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)



The Northern Territories of Canada



Yukon



Yukon Total population (2015) 36500 Muslim (est) 69



In Whitehorse the Muslim population grew from 2 families

in 2001 to more than 60 people in 2014. Originally meeting in a church,

they now meet for prayer service in a former office space.



Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,

and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.



Northwest Territories (NWT)



NWT population (2015) 43600 Muslim (est) 473



The Muslim community of Yellowknife has grown from 275 to 330 in the past year.

To replace their inadequate facility, they are planning a C$2 to C$2.5 million

Islamic Centre.



Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to

spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.



Nunavut (NU)



NU total population (2015) 36600 Muslim (est) 86



The Islamic Centre of Iqaluit now claim about 100 Muslims and have surpassed

80 % of their funding goal to building the first mosque in this territory.

Their stated goal is "To spread the message of Islam

in the far Northern reaches of Canada."



Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach

their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.



Adding further



30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020



Under the Keep Praying page



When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month

and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days

of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that

usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,

of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be

decorated and festivals will be held.

For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the

distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of

Islam.

You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",

which means Blessed Eid!"

Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you

know, and Muslims around the world:

- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions

in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about

unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such

movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three

decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim

relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.



Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,

"What does this mean?"

13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."



Peter's Speech at Pentecost



14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice

and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,

let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,

since it is the third hour of the day.

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,

'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.'



- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective

discipleship movements among Muslim people.



- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for

Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.



Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a

hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under

a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the

house."



Ideas for prayer



- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you

- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving

Christ among Muslim people -



Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."

- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims

throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!



My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further

call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity



(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada







Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray to Him to be listed in The Lamb's book of Life.



Pray to the Lord

"Father, thank You for the hope that I have in Jesus

and in His return. When lesser hopes compete

for my heart's affection and attention, help me to lift my eyes to You"



Pray to the Lord and pray to the Lord to stay humble in Him.



Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him always



Pray to the Lord and pray to declare my lovingkindness and

faithfulness for He is Salvation.



Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,

and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.



Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to

spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.



Pray that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care

to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true

integrity and compassion



Pray for country to be filled by the Holy Spirit!



Pray for the encouragement and strength of women who

worship the Lord in secret in Bahrain.



Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.

and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness



Remember eternity starts now -

Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.