Fast food

Matthew 6:16... "When ye fast..." Some things are only broken through by fasting and prayer.  Even in warfare (Mark 9:29) there are times when spiritual growth depends on a denied flesh.  If all seems wrong, His presence has wisdom and revelation in Him.  Since we are in a place that seems to require His presence and His power because ours DOESNT work, then we have to seek THAT from Him.   Jesus loves His own!  You must tell yourself that you're not giving the devil any more authority to torment you.   Forgive where you haven't forgiven, love where you've refused to love and wait upon the Lord.

Getting motive?

17And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day. 19And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. 20As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
DEUTERONOMY 8:17-20

5Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day. 6For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee. 7If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: 8But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, [in that] which he wanteth. 9Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.(thought: Heb. word)
n1 wicked: Heb. Belial
10Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
DEUTERONOMY 15:5-10

Don't be selfish in giving

Don't give to receive

Don't greave after you give

Release the things of this world and the selfishness it entails.

Purify your motive of giving, ready, glorifying God and exemplifying God's nature in this earth

The Heir Presumptive

Pray

Loving Father, as I breathe the very air that sustains me, I am reminded of Your love that has given me new life.

Read

1 KINGS 1:1-27

^[1] Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. ^[2] Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. ^[3] So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. ^[4] And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not. ^[5] Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. ^[6] And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. ^[7] And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. ^[8] But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. ^[9] And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants: ^[10] But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. ^[11] Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? ^[12] Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. ^[13] Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? ^[14] Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words. ^[15] And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. ^[16] And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou? ^[17] And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. ^[18] And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not: ^[19] And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called. ^[20] And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. ^[21]Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. ^[22] And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. ^[23] And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. ^[24] And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? ^[25] For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah. ^[26] But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called. ^[27] Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him? 

Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version, Public Domain

Meditate

Consider: "In the midst of the incredible mess these kings are making of God's purposes, God continues to work his purposes, and uses them in the work--doesn't discard them or detour around them. They are part of his sovereign rule" (Eugene Peterson). A cause for heart-felt thankfulness!

Think Further:

There are a lot of situations in the world at the moment where it seems impossible to work out what the right course of action could be or to distinguish between the goodies and the baddies. Which of several fallible leaders should we support? When should we be proactive and when should we just wait and see? How long should we allow an unacceptable situation to continue? The writer of Kings is very well aware of this kind of dilemma. It is a challenge for readers to identify the different layers of interest lying behind the apparently straightforward account of events.

Without actually using the word "incompetent," we are shown clearly that David was no longer fit to rule, but he had made no attempt to appoint a successor. He had never been a good father, and the spoiled prince Adonijah, the eldest of David's remaining sons, could not be blamed for presuming that he should be the next ruler. His fault, if any, was in acting presumptuously--trying to manipulate the nation into accepting his leadership. Nathan and Bathsheba then conspire together to ensure that it will be Solomon rather than Adonijah who will take over from David. It is not clear whether David's promise to Bathsheba was a reality or an invention--David would not be able to remember either way, and his statement in verse 30 may simply reflect an idea planted in his mind. It is interesting that Nathan told Bathsheba what to say, but made no reference to that promise himself. It is also interesting that there is no mention anywhere in this section of seeking God's way forward. Apparently neither Adonijah nor Solomon had been appointed or anointed by Yahweh. At this stage we are presented simply with a story of political intrigue, with two parties trying to ensure that the situation works out to their own advantage.

Apply

Have you ever resorted to the kind of manipulation described in today's passage? How did it make you feel? Read 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 and reflect on the implications.

Pray

Lord, give me wisdom to know whom I should support and courage to offer such support without ever resorting to manipulation or deceit.

Ephesians 2 - Alive and Redeemed! How?

1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
n1 desires: Gr. wills
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; )
n1 by…: or, by whose grace
6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
n1 ordained: or, prepared

Loose lips sink ships...

Good morning!  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man´s religion [is] vain.  James 1:26 --  There is no "try", only "do" or "do not".