Meditation

04/07/2021

“Saul was looking for Samuel who was a prophet, and also known as the ‘Man of God,’ or they were commonly called ‘seers’ in an area in the district of Zuph. Saul saw some girls and asked them if theseer was in town and they said yes. They told him to hurry into town and they would find him, before he had to go to a high place for sacrifice. Upon arriving in the town they saw the seer coming their way. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.” (1^st Samuel9:12-13)

Samuel was considered a prophet but he also exercised the functions of a priest. God uses His spiritual leaders in ways that suit His purposes and the time in which they serve.

Samuel led sacrificial celebrations ending in a community meal. He led in prayer prior to the sacrificial meal. Prayer before eating is a proper way to express gratitude to God for providing life’s necessary resources. Prayer before meals is not as common as it once was, especially when people eat outside of the home. I suggest, the time to change that is now, for it is never “old fashioned” to prayer for God’s provision of sustenance.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, we as Christians have allowed ourselves to pray to You for providing us with food to eat, clothes, to wear, living and sleeping housing, and to honor our commitment to You for our relationship. Forgive us for our lack of respect towards You, and guide us back onto the pathway that leads us to You. Let us shine the light of Truth, Faith, and Trust in You for all things, no matter where we are, to all that witness us praying a Thanksgiving prayer. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Instead of looking where someone has been—-try looking at how far they’ve come.”

KNOWING GOD:

“They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I ah Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.” (Jeremiah31:9)

, God is Father of all peoples, but He has a special deep, fatherly interest in His people. They are His “first born” whom He created in the Exodus and whom He promised to deliver even from the punishment He imposed.

Participation in God’s saving acts is done both with tears of joy and prayers of gratitude. If you look at the kingship’s of Saul and David, they both began continually in prayer to God for guidance, wisdom, provision of all necessary things of life, but both ended their reigns looking away from God, placing themselves before God. Too often, we see our leaders, taking the same paths, and we will end the same way. Pray four country, our leaders, and for all in authority making decisions that affect all of us.

I AM:

“There was also a Prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asner. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.” (Luke2:36–39)”

Anna’s recognition and thanksgiving grew out of a life of worship, prayer, and fasting. Both Anna and Simeon were in the Temple the day Joseph and Mary came to present Jesus, as prescribed by the Book of the Law.

Both of them recognized Jesus via the Holy Spirit. Simeon had been promised he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ, and he praised God immediately. Anna’s recognition of Jesus and thanksgiving grew out of a life of worship, prayer, and fasting. God calls all to the ministry of daily prayer.

SECOND THOUGHT of the DAY:

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.” (Mark 14:22–23)

The shared Passover concluded with Jesus’ revelations that bread and cup represent His body and blood, symbols of the gift He offered by His willingness to die for all. Connecting His own life and death with the Jewish meal of a sacrificed lamb, Jesus reversed Him as an offered lamb.

The wine in the Lord’s Supper represents the blood of Christ which was poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Christ’s death on the cross was an atoning sacrifice for the sins and established God’s new covenant with His people. This calls for us to fall upon our knees, and pray a thanksgiving prayer for Jesus’ sacrifice for us.