Each New Day by Corrie ten Boom: 2012-03-11

Monday, March 12, 2012

March 31

Prayer is such an important power. In the concentration camp, seven hundred of us lived in a room built for two hundred people. We were all dirty, nervous, and tense. One day a horrible fight broke out amongst the prisoners. Betsie began to pray aloud. It was as if a storm laid down, until at last all was quiet. Then Betsie said. “Thank You, Father.” A tired old woman was used by the Lord to save the situation for seven hundred fellow prisoners through her prayers.

Here then is my charge. First. supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings should be made on behalf of all men. . .”

1 Timothy 2:1 Phillips

There may be days of darkness and distress

When sin has power to tempt, and care to press

Yet in the darkest day I will not fear,

For ‘midst the shadows You will still be near

Thank You, Lord Jesus.

March 30

Sometimes in my watchmaker’s shop I would be asked to repair a brand-new watch which did not keep time properly. Instead of trying to fix it. I would send it back to the manufacturer. That is what we must do with our faith. If something is wrong with your faith, send it back to Jesus for repair. He can fix it perfectly.

. . .let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. . .

Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV

Lord Jesus, as You gave us our faith, so You can make it whole. Lead us back to You when we need completion.

March 29

The Bible is a weapon. It can be used for offense and defense. When you meet Satan with authority, the authority of the Word, he will depart.

0 Word of God Incarnate

0 Wisdom from on high

0 Truth unchanged. unchanging

0 Light of our dark sky

We praise Thee for the radiance

That from the hallowed pager

A lantern to our footsteps

Shines on from age to age

—William How

He sendeth out his word. . . .

Psalms 147:18 KJV

Lord, We thank You for the weapon that is Your Word. It contains all we need to know to be victorious.

March 28

Feelings come and feelings go

and feelings are deceiving

My warrant is the Word of God

none else is worth believing

—Martin Luther

But the word of the Lord abides for ever. That word is the good news which was Preached to you.

1 Peter 1:25

Lord, help us to rule our feelings and to control them so that they do not control us. We take our orders from Your Word and the Holy Spirit, not from our emotions.

March 27

We must not be too dependent on meetings. You and I are what we are when we are alone. Find your satisfaction in Jesus Christ. Talk with Him, listen to Him, look at Him.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13 KJV

Lord, make me independent of conditions. I thank You that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

March 26

The precious blessing of Easter is that we have a living Saviour! The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed!

And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him.”

Mark 16:6

We yearn to keep the precious blessing of Easter in our hearts throughout the year. Lord Jesus. Will You, through Your Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the knowledge and surety that You live.

March 25

God placed all our sins on Jesus. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, purchasing a place for us in heaven. Faith in Him is the key that opens the door to heaven.

For by grace you have been saved through faith: and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Thank You, Jesus, that we may look unto You, the author and finisher of our faith. Will You make it grow with every passing day?

March 24

Two men died on the same day, one on a hill and one in a valley. He who died on the hill prayed for the men who killed Him, and during His terrible suffering He had compassion for His mother. His name was Jesus. The other man killed himself on the tree that he had chosen. His name was Judas. When you make room for Jesus in your heart. He will give you His love in life and in death.

There are three things that remain—faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 LB

Lord Jesus, thank You that in life and in death I belong to You, Hallelujah!

March 23

When we forgive someone, we must not he surprised when old, angry thoughts return to us. The same is true for our confessed sins. We may be tempted, or even fall back, but we have been delivered from our sins, and the temptation will gradually fade from our lives.

No temptation his overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Holy Spirit, teach us how to receive forgiveness, to forgive others, and to forgive ourselves.

March 22

Avoid gossip and slander. We shall all be judged one day by the standards of Jesus, not man. We have to answer only to God for our actions. Remember, as you point one finger at another person, three fingers of your hand point back at you.

Why, then, criticize your brother’s actions, why try to make him look small? We shall all be judged one day, not by each other‘s standards or even our own, but by the standard of Christ.

Romans 14:10 Phillips

After all, who are you to criticize the servant of somebody else, especially when that Somebody Else is God? It is to his own Master that he gives, or fails to give, satisfactory service. And don’t doubt that satisfaction, for God is well able to transform men into servants who are satisfactory.

Romans 14:4 Phillips

Father, forgive me my criticism.

3 Fingers Pointing Back At You illustration from http://zycos.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/dont-point-that-finger/

March 21

Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. The forgiveness of Jesus not only takes away our sins but it also makes them as if they had never been. That is the way we must forgive. The Holy Spirit makes us able to do it through the love of God which He brings into our hearts.

. . . forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37

Lord, help me to forgive in Your way.

March 20

If we follow Jesus in all things, many times we will be misunderstood. Bitterness may creep into our hearts. But it is not our job to convince our friends. All we must do is deal with our own sins.

Search me, O God. and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalms 139:23-24

When people cause me to feel anger, or to feel wronged, cleanse me from the sins of my emotions, Lord Jesus, show me where I need Your forgiveness.

March 19

This paralyzed woman’s husband bound her typewritten messages together into books which then went from one person to another. She did this work until the day she died. She is now with the Lord. How happy she is! And I am sure that she has heard from many there who have read her literature. “It was you who invited me here.” Do not say you are not healthy or strong enough—you have more than one finger to use for God’s work!

Never lose your sense of urgency, in season or out of season. Prove, correct, and encourage, using the utmost patience in your teaching.

2 Timothy 4:2 Phillips

Lord, we claim Your strength to serve You, no matter what our circumstances are.

March 18

Jesus said, “occupy till I come.” Do you think you have no opportunity to do this! I met a woman in Russia who had multiple sclerosis. Her feet and hands were paralyzed except for one finger. With that one finger she typed out Bible texts and inspirational books.

Put up with your share of hardship as a loyal soldier in Christ’s army.

2 Timothy 2:3 Phillips

What joy that You can use me even when I am weak.

March 17

There is only One who can cleanse us from our sins—He who made us.

In Russia, many people lived in a certain apartment house. The basement of the house was filled with the junk of all the families. Amongst the junk was a beautiful harp, which nobody had been able to fix.

One snowy night, a tramp asked if he could sleep in the building. The people cleared a space for him in the corner of the basement, and he was happy to stay there.

In a little while, the people heard beautiful music coming from the basement. The owner of the harp rushed downstairs and found the tramp playing it. “But how could you repair it? We couldn’t,” he said.

The tramp smiled and replied, “I made this harp years ago, and when you make something, you can also repair it.”

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:3 KJV

Lord, You made me. What joy that You are willing and able to repair me.

March 16

What a respectable sin self-pity is! It can be so logical, convincing you that you are suffering terribly. It brings darkness, despair, even illness.

. . . I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of facing either poverty or plenty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the one Who lives within me.

Philippians 4:11-13 Phillips

Lord, help us to keep our minds on You. Then we accept both poverty and plenty in Your strength.

March 15

The blood of Jesus does not cleanse excuses. It cleanses sins that are confessed. We have to humble ourselves.

...the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:7-8

Father, help us, through Your Holy Spirit, to keep the eyes of our understanding clear, so that we see our sins as severely as they should be seen, but also that we see the ocean of Your love and grace.

March 14

Guilt is a useful experience because it shows where things are wrong. It is dangerous when it is not there at all, just as the absence of pain when someone is ill can be dangerous.

When we belong to Jesus we are not called to carry our guilt ourselves. God has laid on Jesus the sins of the whole world. What you have to do is to tell Him everything, confess your guilt and sin and repent, and then He will cleanse you and throw all your sins into the depths of the sea. Don’t forget there is a sign that reads no fishing allowed. If somebody has suffered through your guilt, then make restitution in the power and wisdom of the Lord.

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Psalms 103:12

Lord, thank You that where You have carried our guilt we have not to carry it ourselves. Help us not to listen to the accuser of the brethren, the devil, anymore. but to Your Holy Spirit. who always points to the finished work on the cross.

March 13

Are you bothered by temptations? Temptation is not a sin. Even Jesus was tempted. The Lord Jesus gives you the strength needed to resist temptation. A tempted child of God is still a child of God. Confess your sins, claim the victory of Jesus as your own, and defeat temptation.

For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Hebrews 2:18

Lord, thank You that when we face temptation You always give us a way to escape.

March 12

“It is all so simple!” Yes, the truth is simple. but very deep. The complications come from ourselves or the devil. Jesus did it, the Bible tells it, I believe it; that settles it.

In the beginning was the word. . . .

John 1:1 KJV

Thank You, Lord, that even a child can understand it.

March 11

“Does God always give us what we ask in prayer?” Sometimes His answer is no. He knows what we do not know. He knows everything and His negative answer is part of His plan for our lives.

My life is but a weaving

between my God and me

I do not choose the colors

He worketh steadily

Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow

and I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper

and I the underside

Not till the loom is silent

and the shuttles cease to fly

Will God unroll the canvas

and explain the reason why

The dark threads are as needful

in the skillful Weaver’s hand

As the threads of gold and silver

in the pattern He has planned

—Benjamin Malachi Franklin

(The Memphis Commercial Appeal Newspaper in 1950)

I know, 0 Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.

Psalms 119:75

Lord, it is hard to accept a negative answer, but keep us humble enough, patient enough, faithful enough to trust. Thank You that You always answer our prayers in Your way with a yes or a no. How Good it is to know that You never make a mistake.

March 10

“I am so busy. How can I find time to pray?” Ask for forgiveness. Ask to be cleansed of the sin of having no time to pray. We must begin and end the day with prayer. It could be that Satan is pushing you into too much work so that you cannot take time to pray.

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.

Acts 6:4

Lord, forgive us that we too often major in minors. Thank You that we may pray.

March 9

“It is so hard to pray!” Yes, even the disciples had to ask the Lord how to pray. If you cannot pray, confess it to the Lord and He will make you able.

. . . one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Luke 11:1

Lord, we realize that when we pray we are at a place of strategic importance. The devil laughs when we are up to our ears in work, but he trembles when we pray. Guide and protect us and bless our prayer life.

March 8

A little girl cried because her very old doll was broken. Her father said. “Bring me your doll.” Then he repaired it. Why did that grown-up man give his time to mend such a worthless, ugly doll! He saw the doll through the eyes of the little one, because he loved his little daughter. So God sees your problems through your eyes because He loves you.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.

Psalms 103:11

Father, what a joy it is to know that we are Your children and live within Your constant care.

March 7

“May I pray about the little problems of my life, or only about the big ones?” One day when I had a bad cold in the concentration camp. Betsie, my sister, prayed for a handkerchief for me. We laughed at the silliness of that prayer, but only a few minutes later a woman came by with a handkerchief for me! We do not know what God considers important. We do know that He answers prayers—even tiny ones.

You do not have, because you do not ask.

James 4:2

Father, You care, and will not be angered when we ask for very small things, for we are Your children.

March 6

Are you experiencing prayer problems? The Holy Spirit will help you. When we are totally inadequate, the Spirit is interceding with God the Father for us.

. . . for we do not know how to pray as we might, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.

Romans 8:26

0 Holy Spirit, what a joy that we may bring our prayer problems to You. You see us, You see the enemy, You see the world around us, and You bring God’s love instead of our confusion into our hearts, Hallelujah!

March 5

When the Lord takes your sins, you never see them again. He casts them into the depths of the sea, forgiven and forgotten. I even believe that He places a sign over them that reads no fishing allowed.

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Psalms 103:12

Lord, we know this because the Bible tells us so. Keep our eyes in the right direction, unto You, by Your Holy Spirit.

March 4

Perfect obedience would be perfect happiness, if only we had perfect confidence in the power we were obeying. A wolf does not bother a sheep that is with the flock, close to the shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1

Keep me in Your flock, Lord, safe and secure in Your protection, knowing I have nothing to fear when I do Your work.

March 3

Our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We must struggle against sin all our lives, but we are assured we will win. We stand on the front line of the battle. A compromise can be dangerous.

We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil.

Ephesians 6:12 Phillips

Lord, thank You that even when we have fought to a standstill, we may still stand our ground.

March 2

Is Jesus your guest only in a little attic room? Then nobody knows He is there. His strength to protect you in the other rooms is lost. Throw open all the doors!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

Matthew 22:37

O Lord Jesus, fill my house, my heart, my life with Your presence.

March 1

So many people are like tightrope walkers. In one hand they have a sack filled with their unjust past, in the other hand a sack filled with the anticipated future. They are balancing between hoD9 and despair. That attitude is Wrong. Have you the Holy Spirit, or has the Holy Spirit you?

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 Phillips

Lord, with our weak hand in Your strong hand, we walk so victoriously.

Each New Day by Corrie ten Boom