1 Timothy 4:1-16 KJV
[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
We must always watch and pray that we do not depart from true faith in God.
[2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
[3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Am I reading this wrong, or does this say vegans are wrong?
[4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
We don't have to worry about eating unclean foods like in the Old Testament.
[5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
You could say this verse opposite, that if the Word of God and prayer do not sanctify food, it is not good.
[6] If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
[7] But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
[8] For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
[9] This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
[10] For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
[11] These things command and teach.
[12] Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
You are not to young to be a good example.
[13] Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Reading, exhortation and doctrine, those are things pastors and church leaders have to give attendance to.
[14] Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
[15] Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Meditate on these things, and all of Scripture. I honestly do not do that as much as I should, my mind is filled with so many other things. Scripture should be centre and foremost in our minds.
[16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Psalm 44:1-26 KJV
[1] We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
[2] How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
[3] For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
Anything we think we do, we do not do by our own might, it is God who does it.
[4] Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
[5] Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
[6] For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
So true, only God can save you.
[7] But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
[8] In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
We can boast in God all the day long, yet we so often don't. Why is that?
[9] But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
[10] Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
[11] Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
[12] Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
[13] Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
[14] Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
[15] My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
[16] For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
When these things happen, it is for a reason.
[17] All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
[18] Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought Israel turned away and stopped following the Lord many times, and that that is why He let their enemies win against them.
[19] Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
[20] If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
[21] Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
[22] Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
[23] Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
[24] Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
[25] For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
[26] Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.
I have another prayer request. Do you know about Life Chain? It's a peaceful protest against abortion, and thousands of cities in North America take part in it. This year it is on Sept 30 in Canada and Oct 8 in the US. I might have those dates slightly wrong though. It's usually the same day in Canada and the US, the first Sunday of October, but this year it has been moved to September 30 because of Thanksgiving. So please pray for it, and if your church doesn't know about for some reason, see if you can get them involved. There lots of info online, just search up 'Life Chain'.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for everything You have done for us, thank you for Your perfect will. If how our lives went was up to humans, the world would be even worse than it is now. Please let Your will always prevail, please help us to accept You will. Lord please help us all with what we are struggling with in our lives, it may be different for everyone. I know some people are struggling with what to do with their lives., please give them Your wisdom and guide them. Lord please be with Mr. W, Mrs. VV, and others with different health challenges right now. Father please bless Life Chain, please help us show the world that You care about everyone, including unborn children. Please also help us show that we are not like other protesters who start riots and destroy private property, we are peaceful and just want people to stop murdering helpless infants. This I ask in Your precious Son's name, Amen