Tozer: God's words

Sunday, May 12, 2024
    Commemoration of Aiden Wilson Tozer, Spiritual Writer, 1963
Meditation:
    But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
    —2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV)
Quotation:
    God did not write a book and send it by messenger to be read at a distance by unaided minds. He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years.
    ... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), The Pursuit of God [1948], Christian Publications, 1982, p. 71 (see the book)
    See also 2 Tim. 3:14-17; Ps. 19:7; 71:17; 119:105; Matt. 26:54-56; Luke 24:27,45; Acts 10:43; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-27; Heb. 4:12; 2 Pet. 1:20-21
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your Spirit testifies to the truth of Your word. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Backhouse & Jansen: why He wants prayer

Saturday, May 11, 2024
Meditation:
    About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
    —Acts 10:9-10 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Though you may think yourselves ever so dull, and incapable of sublime attainments, yet by prayer the possession and enjoyment of God is easily obtained; for He is more desirous to give Himself to us than we can be to receive Him.
    ... François Fénelon (1651-1715), Mme. Guyon (1648-1717), William Backhouse (1779/80-1844) & James Jansen (1784-1821), A Guide to True Peace [1813], Pendle Hill by Harper & Brothers, 1946, p. 15 (see the book)
    See also Acts 10:9-10; Matt. 18:12-14; Luke 1:46-48; Acts 13:32; Rom. 12:12; 14:17-18; 15:13; Jude 1:24-25
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, open my arms, so that I might receive Your gifts. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Watson: the hidden ones

Friday, May 10, 2024
Meditation:
    For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
    —Colossians 3:3 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The saints of God are called hidden ones. Why so? not only because they are hid in God’s decree, and hid in Christ’s wounds, but oftentimes God hides them in a time of danger and calamity: they are hidden ones. He reserved to himself seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal. The prophet knew not where there was one, but God knew there were seven thousand.
    ... Thomas Watson (c.1620-1686), preached Aug. 19, 1662, in Farewell Sermons of Some of the Most Eminent of the Nonconformist Ministers, London: Gale and Fenner, 1816, p. 211 (see the book)
    See also Col. 3:3; 1 Kings 19:14,18; Ps. 83:3; Isa. 3:10-11; John 14:27; 2 Cor. 3:3-4; Phil. 4:7; 1 Pet. 3:4; Heb. 4:16
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I am safe with You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Luther: the intercessor

Thursday, May 9, 2024
    Ascension
Meditation:
    Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
    —Romans 8:34 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Christ, our High-priest, is ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father, where, without ceasing, he makes intercession for us, where St. Paul, with very excellent, glorious words, pictures Christ to us; as in his death, he is a sacrifice offered up for sins; in his resurrection, a conqueror; in his ascension, a king; in making mediation and intercession, a high-priest.
    ... Martin Luther (1483-1546), Table-Talk [1566], CXC (see the book)
    See also Rom. 8:34; Ps. 110:1; Matt. 26:64; Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69; Rom. 8:26; Heb. 1:3; 8:1-2; 12:2
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have the ear of God for our sakes. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Willard: the self-esteem trap

Wednesday, May 8, 2024
    Feast of Juliana of Norwich, Mystic, Teacher, c.1417
    Commemoration of Dallas Willard, Teacher, Spiritual Writer, 2013
Meditation:
    So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
    —Ephesians 4:17-18 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The initial move toward Christlikeness cannot be toward self-esteem, because of the confusion about what self-esteem means, and because, realistically, I’m not okay and you’re not okay. We’re all in serious trouble.
    ... Dallas Willard (1935-2013), The Renovation of the Heart, Colorado Springs, Colo.: Navpress, 2002, p. 49 (see the book)
    See also Eph. 4:17-18; John 3:18-19; Rom. 3:10-12; Gal. 3:10; Eph. 2:1-5; 1 John 3:14
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I am lost without Your salvation. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Smith: hand over the keys

Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Meditation:
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
    who daily bears our burdens.
    —Psalm 68:19 (NIV)
Quotation:
    In laying off your burdens, therefore, the first one you must get rid of is yourself. You must hand yourself and all your inward experience, your temptations, your temperament, your frames and feelings, all over into the care and keeping of your God, and leave them there. He made you and therefore He understands you and knows how to manage you, and you must trust Him to do it.
    ... Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911), Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life, London: F. E. Longley, 1876, p. 32 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 68:19; Joel 2:21; Matt. 6:25,27,31-34; 16:24; Luke 9:23; 12:25-26,29; Rom. 12:10; 2 Tim. 2:21; 1 Pet. 2:24
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I place all my cares with You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Baillie: to the Trinity

Monday, May 6, 2024
Meditation:
    “But what about you?” [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say I am?”
    Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
    —Matthew 16:15-16 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Dear Lord, if at this evening hour I think only of myself and my own condition and my own day’s record of service, then I can find no peace before I go to sleep, but only bitterness of spirit and miserable despair. Therefore, O Father, let me think rather of Thee and rejoice that Thy love is great enough to blot out all my sins. And, O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, let me think of Thee, and lean upon Thy heavenly righteousness, taking no pleasure in what I am before Thee but only in what Thou art for me and in my stead. And, O Holy Spirit, do Thou think within me, and so move within my mind and will that as the days go by I may be more and more conformed to the righteousness of Jesus Christ my Lord; to Whom be glory forever. Amen.
    ... John Baillie (1886-1960) & Donald M. Baillie (1887-1954), A Diary of Private Prayer, New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1939, p. 111 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 16:15-16; 1 Cor. 2:9-11; 2 Cor. 13:14; Phil. 4:6-8; Eph. 3:16-19; 1 Thess. 5:21; Tit. 3:4-7
Quiet time reflection:
    Father, increase my likeness to Your Son, by Your Spirit. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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