Night Etching: Spiritual Bath

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thouroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight; That You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. -Psalm 51: 1-4


Nothing can make the body, that has worked and/or played very hard all day from sunrise to sundown, feel more relaxed, invigorating, and clean than a good hot shower or bath right before bedtime. This is also true of our spirit after a hard day of temptations, dealing with others, and trying to glorify our Lord and Savior. But instead of a literal bath or shower that cleanses the body, a Christian can cleanse their spirit by asking God for mercy for all the shortcomings that may have happened in the day: short-tempered with some people, bad thoughts, etc,. Once a Christian goes over their whole day and asks God's forgiveness and are truly repentant, he feels as clean as one who takes a bath or shower before bedtime.
Can you think of some things that happened that you may ask for forgiveness from God?

Mid-Day Thought: Better in His Presence

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. -Psalm 84:10

Have you ever wonder why a person on drugs throws away their physical health, marital and family relations, jobs and careers, and all their monetary wealth and possessions? They give all that up just to feel that few moments of ectasy the drug gives. The problem drug addicts finds is the drug doesn't give the same effect it once did.

For Christians, to be in our Lord's prescence is the best feeling. For us, though being in His prescence doesn't cost us everything, but restores and keeps everything healthy and strong. Being in His presence is better than a thousand moments of anything; and serving Him in any capacity is better than any career found on earth. May He keeps us close and always keep our path brighly lit. Amen

Morning Inception: Pray for Protection for the Day

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. -Ephesians 6:10-18

1) Know who you are truly battling
2) Know how they fight and what they are fighting for
3) Know who you are not battling
4) Know your objective in this battle
     a) Gird your waist with Truth
          -Allow the truth to stay tall in everything done today
     b) put on the breastplate of righteousness
          -With the truth as your foundation, fight for what is right
     c) shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace
          -handle matters with sincerity and the care of all involved
     d) take up the shield of faith
          -with truth and righteousness at your side, have faith in what you are doing
     e) put on the helmet of salvation
          -realize no matter what happens to your body, your Spirit is cared for
     f) take up the sword of the Spirit (Word of God)
          -God's Word brings truth out and gets to the heart of any matter; use it wisely
     g) prayers and supplication in the Spirit
          -pray for God's wisdom and guidance and to supply all your needs
     h) being watchful to this end with perseverance
          -never loose heart in your battle, but strife until the end
     i) prayers for the saints
          -pray for those who are battling in the same spirit