August 2021 – Salt and Light Ministries

August 30, 2021August 30, 2021

PSALM 22:6-11

SCRIPTURE: But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him.
Let Him deliver him.
Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast.
From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb, you have been my God.
Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.”

(Psalm 22:6-11 NIV)

Like Job before Him, David is scorned and mocked by those who watch him suffer. If the God he serves is so sovereign and powerful, where is this God now? When God doesn’t seem to show up when David needs Him most, does David conclude, as his faithless mockers do, that his trust has been in vain?

Or does he choose instead to affirm the evidence of God’s faithfulness to him over the long haul? David affirms here that God has always been in charge of his life-even before birth, even as a small child. His confidence is renewed:

If anyone can help him now, it can only be God. Who but our Maker has been with us during every moment of our existence, preserving us and planning our lives, even before we knew anything about Him (Psalm 139:15-16)?

Surely the God who has always been intimately present can be trusted to be faithful now and throughout eternity.

STAY BLESSED.
Rev. Dr. Joyce R. Aryee
(Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries)Salt and Light Ministries
P.O.Box AN 15007, Accra North
Contact: 0302 772013,026 8130 615/0243588467
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website : saltandlightministriesgh.org

August 26, 2021

PSALM 22:1

SCRIPTURE: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?.” (Psalm 22 :1 NIV)

Part of the human condition is to encounter moments or seasons when God seems far, far away. We all experience the “dark night of the soul” at some point in our lives, and it is black indeed.
How fortunate we are, however, to have a record of people who have felt exactly the same way, with the added benefit of knowing how their stories turn out. Many times David feels utterly dejected, forsaken by God, and overwhelmed by life. But time after God’s mercy and faithfulness prevail; David’s laments are eventually swallowed up in praise and thanksgiving.

Our ultimate encouragement comes from Jesus Christ Himself whose last Words on earth (other than the final, triumphant cry, “it is finished) are the same words of despair. In bearing our sin, He is crushed and momentarily separated from His Father. But His glorious destiny is sure, as is ours.

Never again will anything or anyone have the power to separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:31-38)

August 26, 2021

PSALM 20:7

SCRIPTURE: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7 NIV)

David leads and engages in many military battles in his lifetime, he is equally well acquainted with the moral battles common to us all. In any altercation with an enemy, be it physical or spiritual, David’s confidence is not in himself or his resources, but in the power and authority of the Lord. When he is a mere boy, facing the giant Goliath, he proclaims that “the battle is the LORD’s” (1 Samuel 17:47) He knows he is no match for the Philistine; he doesn’t boast in his own strength or weaponry. (1Samuel 17:45) Instead, he has absolute confidence in his victorious God. In that early face-off and during the battles throughout his life, David recalls his conviction that only God’s strength and resources can be fully trusted.
When we encounter spiritual battles in our own lives, we can use David’s proclamations of faith to remind ourselves who rules the battleground. Satan may launch all his powers of darkness against us, but God will have the victory. Depend on it!

August 25, 2021

THE PSALMS!

Today’s focus is on, PSALM 18:36

May the Holy Spirit minister deeply into our hearts, the message He has for us today.
Enjoy!

SCRIPTURE: “You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn. (Psalm 18:36 NIV)

Picture making your way along a high, narrow ledge, picking your way over rocks and snags as you try to escape a dangerous enemy who is quickly gaining on you. When the terrain of life becomes rocky, steep, and narrow, the journey can be overwhelming. We are keenly aware of how easy it would be to turn an ankle, stumble and slip to our deaths. David’s praise-filled proclamation of God’s sustaining presence can be an affirmation of faith for us in daily life. Next time we find ourselves precariously perched on a dangerous precipice in a situation or relationship, we can say this verse aloud to the Lord. We can trust our Savior to broaden the path in front of us and keep our feet from slipping.

August 24, 2021August 24, 2021

THE PSALMS!

When words fail us, the book of Psalms can help us express our deepest emotions, whether we face problems or perils. The book of Psalms is not a book of doctrine but rather a guide or hymnal for worship and prayer.

Beloved in the Lord,
For the next two weeks, we will talk about, THE PSALMS!

Today’s focus is on, PSALM 7:8

May the Holy Spirit minister deeply into our hearts, the message He has for us today.
Enjoy!

SCRIPTURE: “Let the LORD judge the people. Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.“ (Psalm 7:8 NIV)

Scripture clearly states that no human being is “good” or has cause to be self-righteous (Romans 3:10-12); only through faith in Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for our sin, are we declared righteous (Romans 3:20-26). David does not claim to be perfect, but he confidently asserts that, to the best of his knowledge, he is following God’s Will and does not deserve to be persecuted by his enemies. He acknowledges that he could have a blind spot (Ps. 7:3-5), but he trusts that the perfect God who sees fully into every person’s mind and heart will honor his sincere desire to be a man of integrity (Ps. 7:9). Our God promises to reward those who earnestly seek him (Heb. 11:6) When we pursue relationship with Him, placing our ultimate faith in His character rather than in our own, we can be sure we will receive both justice and mercy.

August 19, 2021

When You Pray, Ask The Holy Spirit To Use You.

SCRIPTURE: “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.“(Romans 6:13 NIV)

In sin, every part of our bodies is vulnerable. In Christ, every part can be an instrument for service. It is the One to whom we offer our service that makes the difference. Our skills, capabilities, and bodies can serve many purposes, good or bad. Instead of complaining about or judging the world, just say “Holy Spirit, show me what’s wrong and how I can make a difference. Use me” When you make yourself available to God, He will use you for His good.

Source: Culled from Daily Hope with Rick Warren.

August 18, 2021

When You Pray, Look Inward To Jesus Living In You.

SCRIPTURE: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you unless, of course, you failed the test? “(2 Corinthians 13-5 NIV)

We have to examine and test ourselves to see if we are really Christians. Just as we get physical checkups, Apostle Paul urges us to give ourselves spiritual checkups. As Christians, we should look for a growing awareness of Christ’s presence and power in our lives, then we will know if we are true Christians or merely impostors. If we are not actively seeking to grow closer to God, we are drawing farther away from Him. Jesus is in us, and we are unconditionally accepted by God the Father. This gives us freedom and encourages us to face up to our faults. Before we can get better, we have to admit what is bad.

Source: Culled from Daily Hope with Rick Warren.

August 17, 2021August 17, 2021

When you pray, look upward into the face of a loving Father.

SCRIPTURE: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”(Romans 8:16-17 NIV)

We are no longer like “fearful slaves”, instead, we are the Master’s children. What a privilege! Because we are God’s children, we share in great treasure as co-heirs. God has already given us His best gifts: His Son, His Holy Spirit, forgiveness, and eternal life; and He encourages us to ask for whatever we need. The way we see God will influence every area of our lives, including whether or not our prayers are fruitful. If we only make one change to our prayers, start calling God “Father”, we will start to better understand just how much He loves us and how He works for our good.

Source: Culled from Daily Hope with Rick Warren.

August 16, 2021

How To Pray In Five Dimensions!

Today’s focus is on, When you pray, look backward to the cross.

May the Holy Spirit minister deeply into our hearts, the message He has for us today.
Enjoy!

SCRIPTURE: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” ( 1 Peter 18-19 NIV)

It is good to start our prayers with the cross because it helps you have an attitude of gratitude. When you think about Jesus dying for you on the cross, it reminds you how deeply God loves you, how costly sin is, and how completely you are forgiven. Focusing on the cross thus helps us grasp a bit more what the God we worship is like—simultaneously all-powerful and a servant. Jesus who had committed no sin died for us, in doing so underwent the most humiliating, excruciating, painful form of punishment in the world at that time. Knowing we are loved in that way by the God of the universe encourages us. Taking a long look at the cross and Jesus’ suffering there is what leads us to a deeper repentance, deeper hatred of sin, deeper love for God’s Will to be done, and deeper commitment to pray and work for his kingdom to come. The cross helps us see the depth of God’s love and the wisdom of His plan.

Source: Culled from Daily Hope with Rick Warren.

August 12, 2021

Our Mission Determines Our Ministry!

SCRIPTURE: “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36 NIV)

Our ministry is a ministry of mercy because that is the ministry of Jesus. We are not sent on a ministry of condemnation. That was the “ministry” of the Pharisees. Our ministry is determined by our mission. Our mission is to love and follow Jesus; thus, our ministry is to have compassion on people. The disciples could not see their ministry clearly yet because their mission was not exactly the same as Jesus. They had plans for more than just following Jesus. They also had plans for building a part of their Kingdom.
Most Christians think only a few are ready to be harvested for God and live in an atmosphere that seems to indicate that few have any interest in seriously following Jesus. Yet Jesus sees that the problem is not that multitudes do not want to be saved, but that the followers of Jesus do not have the same mission as He does.

Source: Culled from, Growing Through The Storms Of Life, by E. Truman Herring (Vol. one)