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Listen while you read: "The Banner Of The Cross"1 (Lyrics) |
John 15:7 – If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (NASB)
We read stories about people who prayed for rain, but who forgot to bring their umbrellas in anticipation of the blessing.
When we abide in Christ, we pray and symbolically carry our umbrellas to prepare for the overwhelming gifts that He promises. We pray, and wait with expectation. What joy to expect blessing from God at any moment and to be ready to receive it! We are to be like little children who expect miracles every day.
When we submit our lives to God and live with Him involved in every daily activity or thought, we walk in His presence — we abide. We set aside our right to live in any way that is contrary to God's way. If we find ourselves drifting, we can pray to find a godly mentor who can help us return into obedience to the Good Shepherd. When out of fellowship, we can pray to come back home — God will provide a church with sound biblical teaching. In the meantime, we can read our Bible and listen to Christian music on the radio. When we abide in Him, His words will abide in us as we joyfully trust in His promises. As an act of faith, let's have our umbrellas ready for the blessings to pour down.
We can learn to stay spiritually strong as we continually abide in Christ, reading His Word, praying regularly, and thinking about Him through every activity of our life. Singing songs of praise to our wonderful Lord is another way to be in His presence at all times. When we fly the banner of Christ over our heart, we reside under God's favour and protection, and obey His Word.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray that You will teach us to live our lives in Your presence. We stand on the precious name of Jesus as we pray, "Thy will be done." With umbrella up, or upside down, we are ready to receive the downpour of Your blessings. Amen.
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Thanks!
Thanks for the encouragement, Karen.
Thank you, Karen, for blessing us with this devotional. Blessings.
Dear Karen,
Thank you for another great devotional.
Blessings to you for your writings.
(B.C.)
Good morning Karen,
Thank you for your good words this morning. A good reminder that we should always be ready.
Blessings.
Hi Karen,
I just read the daily devotion scripted by you and I thought it was great! Well written.
Thanks for the inspiration. I am going to get my umbrella out and pray for the chance to travel to California.
(Ontario, Canada)
Dear Karen: “Thank You” for this great Devotional!! It’s a great reminder that we all need, to not only Pray for the Blessings etc., but to live expecting to receive what we have Prayed for.
Please keep writing as God leads. God Bless you and keep you!
(N.B. Canada)
Yours are delicious words, Karen, full of heavenly rain for a thirsty land. I do love the reminder to ‘open’ our umbrellas, even to those of us who prefer rain hats (take them off our heads and let the blessed drops calm our hot heads…).
Dear Sister Karen,
Thank you for your love of the Lord and His Word. Your writings always encourage and build others up.
I’m very grateful for all of the ways the Lord showers us daily with blessings!
Dear Karen,
Thank you for your reminders to have my umbrella ready for God’s Blessings to pour down.
Keep writing.
Hello Karen,
Thank you for “Open Your Umbrella”.
May God bless you abundantly as you continue to write for Him!