DAY 2 - DAILY PRAYER (FAMILY)

May 26

Abba Father,

We thank You for Your concept of 'family', as first established with Adam and Eve and their offspring.  We also thank You for free will, tempered with an indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Although the first family made choices that were ultimately against Your will, we also see in Your word the complete plans that You wished for the family unit.  Today we celebrate the true calling that You have established for families...to love and to honor one another.  The very fact that the family is meant to be lead by a man and a woman confirms Your plans for oneness!  As a man is to leave his family and be united to his wife, the family is meant to become one unit as well.  

Father, we pray for the unity of families.  That our mortal flesh would not choose to separate what You have planned to be whole and united.  That we would not give into the devil's scheme to despise our family members, or hurt them in any way.  That the Holy Spirit would lead not only the parents in each family unit to follow Your will, but also the children who have been given as blessings.  In this world failing to drugs, abuse, divorce, murder, sexual perversion, adultery, and every plan of the enemy, we pray for strength against our weak flesh.  Guide us in Your word, so that we may live as righteous members of Your eternal family.  Protect the children born into this world from the many dangers that threaten their precious lives.  

Father, may You rend heaven to return to our schools, homes, and places of worship.  May the American family be lead to unite tighter than ever before, and may fathers and mothers lead as Christ would lead.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen!

Wally Ziolo

Founder - 40DAYPRAYER4USA

Lancaster, Ohio USA

DAY 2 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT FAMILY)

May 26

Question: "What does the Bible say about family?"

Answer:The concept of family is extremely important in the Bible, both in a physical sense and in a theological sense. The concept of family was introduced in the very beginning, as we see inGenesis 1:28, "God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" God's plan for creation was for men and women to marry and have children. A man and a woman would form a "one-flesh" union through marriage (Genesis 2:24), and they with their children become a family, the essential building block of human society.

We also see early on that family members were to look after and care for one another. When God asks Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" Cain's response is the flippant "Am I my brother's keeper?" The implication is that, yes, Cain was expected to be Abel's keeper and vice versa. Not only was Cain's murder of his brother an offense against humanity in general, but it was especially egregious because it was the first recorded case of fratricide (murder of one's sibling).

The Bible has a more communal sense of people and family than is generally held in Western cultures today, where citizens are more individualized than people in the Middle East and definitely more so than the people of the ancient near East. When God saved Noah from the flood, it wasn't an individual case salvation, but a salvation for him, his wife, his sons and his sons’ wives. In other words, his family was saved (Genesis 6:18). When God called Abraham out of Haran, He called him and his family (Genesis 12:4-5). The sign of the Abrahamic covenant (circumcision) was to be applied to all males within one's household, whether they were born into the family or are part of the household servant staff (Genesis 17:12-13). In other words, God's covenant with Abraham was familial, not individual.

The importance of family can be seen in the provisions of the Mosaic covenant. For example, two of the Ten Commandments deal with maintaining the cohesiveness of the family. The fifth commandment regarding honoring parents is meant to preserve the authority of parents in family matters, and the seventh commandment prohibiting adultery protects the sanctity of marriage. From these two commandments flow all of the various other stipulations in the Mosaic Law which seek to protect marriage and the family. The health of the family was so important to God that it was codified in the national covenant of Israel.

This is not solely an Old Testament phenomenon. The New Testament makes many of the same commands and prohibitions. Jesus speaks on the sanctity of marriage and against frivolous divorce in Matthew 19. The Apostle Paul talks about what Christian homes should look like when he gives the twin commands of "children, obey your parents" and "parents, don't provoke your children" inEphesians 6:1-4andColossians 3:20-21. Furthermore, we see similar New Testament concepts regarding the importance of family in the process of salvation in the book of Acts when on two separate occasions during Paul's second missionary journey, entire households were baptized at the conversion of one individual (Acts 16:11-15,16:31-33). This is not to condone infant baptism or baptismal regeneration (i.e., that baptism confers salvation), but it is interesting to note that just as the Old Testament sign of the covenant (circumcision) was applied to whole families, so also the New Testament sign of the covenant (baptism) was applied to entire households. We can make an argument that when God saves an individual, His desire (from a moral/revealed-will perspective) is for the family to be saved. Clearly, God's desire isn't just to save isolated individuals, but entire households. In 1 Corinthians 7, the unbelieving spouse is sanctified through the believing spouse, meaning, among other things, that the unbelieving spouse is in a position to be saved through the witness of the believing spouse.

From a covenant perspective, membership in the covenant community is more communal than individualistic. In the case of Lydia and the Philippian jailer, their families/households were baptized and made part of the church community. Since we know that baptism doesn't confer salvation, which is only by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), we can assume that not all were saved, but all were included into the community of believers. Lydia’s and the jailer's salvation didn't break up their families. We know that salvation can be a strain on a family, but God's intent isn't to break up families over the issue of salvation. Lydia and the jailer weren't commanded to come out and be separate from their unbelieving families; rather, the sign of the covenant (baptism) was applied to all members in the household. The families were sanctified (set apart) and called into the community of believers.

Let's now turn our attention to the theological concept of family. During His three-year ministry, Jesus shattered some prevailing notions of what it meant to be part of a family: "While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:46-50). Now we must clear up some misconceptions with this passage. Jesus is not saying that biological family isn't important; He is not dismissing His mother and brothers. What He is doing is making the clear theological point that in the Kingdom of Heaven, the most important family connection is spiritual, not physical. This is a truth made explicitly clear in John's Gospel, when the evangelist says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (John 1:12-13).

The parallels are quite clear. When we are born physically, we’re born into a physical family, but when we are "born again," we are born into a spiritual family. To use Pauline language, we are adopted into God's family (Romans 8:15). When we are adopted into God's spiritual family, the Church, God becomes our Father and Jesus our Brother. This spiritual family is not bound by ethnicity, gender or social standing. As Paul says, "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:26-29).

So what does the Bible say about family? The physical family is the most important building block to human society, and as such, it should be nurtured and protected. But more important than that is the new creation that God is making in Christ, which is comprised of a spiritual family, the Church, made up of all people who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. This is a family drawn "from every nation, tribe, people and language" (Revelation 7:9), and the defining characteristic of this spiritual family is love for one another: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).
Recommended Resources:Logos Bible SoftwareandYour Family God's Way by Wayne Mack.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-family.html#ixzz2ULmJTCca

DAY 1 - DAILY BIBLE VERSE (MARRIAGE) - MAY 25, 2013

May 25

Matthew: Chapter 19:4-6

Jesus: 4 Haven’t you read that in the beginning God created humanity male and female? Don’t you remember what the story of our creation tells us about marriage? 5 “For this reason, a man will leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 6 If a husband and wife are one flesh, how can they divorce? Divorce would be a bloody amputation, would it not? “What God has brought together, let no man separate.”

DAY 1 - DAILY DEVOTION - MAY 25, 2013

May 25

“Demanding & Pursuing A Mate”

Posted on March 1, 2013 by katherine

If you would stop breaking your neck trying to check out every person that goes by, snooping on every social media site, or going to extreme measures to find someone and start pursuing God more, then God will bring the person He has for you.  God sees your hearts desires.  I encourage you to line them up with His Word.  Psalm 37:4, says, Delight yourself in the Lord, not delight yourself in trying to scour every church, singles group, or latest fling..  Get so close to God, that others see His heart in you.  A lover of His Presence is what’s attractive to men & women of God.

In 1 Samuel 8, the people demanded a King- they got a King, but it wasn’t “The One” God really had for them. They insisted on having it their way.  Are you demanding a spouse? Let me remind you, this isn’t Burger King, and you can’t have it your way!  Let God be God!

And, what about when God told Samuel to go to Jesse’s house in Bethlehem because God had chosen one of his sons to be the next king.  When Samuel arrives, they brought all of Jesse’s sons except one son, David, who was way out in the field tending to the sheep.  I have to believe that David was out in the field tending sheep and worshiping God.  I bet that is when he started writing all those Heavenly songs that he played later on his harp.  God didn’t forget David and He won’t forget you. God knows where you are- perhaps you are out in the field working like David, and you feel you have been overlooked.  Why not worship while you wait, like David did?  You are Not Forgotten!

And, I have to say, perhaps, you have been looking on the outward appearance, but God is looking inwardly.  Just as God told Samuel, “don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is for I look at his heart.”  God says, Trust me, I have your best interest at heart, so keep your heart in tune with me while you wait!

Or, maybe, you have been watering the animals like Rebekah- God brought Isaac to her.  I’m sure she was doing her normal every day routine, and God saw her faithfulness.  God didn’t forget her & He’s not going to forget you.  He knows your name & number, and most importantly, He doesn’t need your help!

So, give all this hustling and bustling a rest & relax.  Keep doing what God has called you to do.  God’s got the person for you.  He’s probably waiting for you to stop actively looking & say, “God, you know the person & the plans you have for me & they are good.. I rest in the peace that only you can give and in your timing.  Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary for your glory, and to continue doing what you have called me to do, until you bring my mate.”  Let’s push onward and upward in Him.

We live, move, and have our being because of Him.  So, we can trust Him even more now knowing He’s got us in the palm of His hands!
http://dailyliveworship.com/blog/demanding-pursuing-a-mate/

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DAY 1 - DAILY PRAYER (MARRIAGE)

May 25

Father in Heaven, Who is Love,

We beseech You this day Father on behalf of all of Your children who are either married, engaged, or will someday enter into the holy and binding union as man and wife.  As You created us man and woman, You have designed us to fit together as friends, partners, and eventually as couples in union.  We know that the enemy despises Your plan for a man and woman to be bound together in marriage, as it will ultimately bring the fruit of life forth in Your Holy image.  We thank You for the great examples of unity in marriage that You have shown us in Your word, and in our lives.  That excellent standard of strength, unity, and one mindedness that You created in marriage should be the norm, not the exception in this world.  May those called to marriage learn to live to Your holy standard, and may the Holy Spirit guide each partner in their perfect roles according to Your will.  May the enemy be defeated in every evil intent that he brings against
marriage...unfaithfulness, arguments, boredom, lies, poverty, selfishness, etc.  Protect the union of marriage that You have created, and oppose anyone that may try to tamper with the vows taken in matrimony.  We seek You for guidance and leading in our daily walk with our partners, that everything we do will be pleasing in Your sight.  Bless the sacrament of marriage in a mighty way, and place Your anointing on each couple that has been joined with Your seal of approval.  And we give You thanks for the joy, contentment, and strength provided in the unity of a man and woman...may we continue as a nation in Your vision of marriage, one man and one woman.  In Jesus' Mighty Name.  Amen

Wally Ziolo
Founder - 40DAYPRAYER4USA
Lancaster, Ohio USA

DAY 1 - DAILY QUESTION ABOUT GOD'S WORD (HOW TO MAKE MARRIAGE LAST)

May 25

Question: "Making marriage last - what is the key?"

Answer:The Apostle Paul says that the wife is “bound” to her husband as long as he lives (Romans 7:2). The principle here is that either the husband or wife has to die before the marriage bond is broken. This is God's command, but in our modern society marriage ends in divorce over 51 percent of the time. That means that over half of the couples who make the vow “Till death do us part” break that vow.

What can the married couple do to ensure that their marriage will last? The first and most important issue is one of obedience to God and His Word. This is a principle that should be in force before the marriage. God says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3). For the born-again believer, this means not beginning a close relationship with anyone who is not also a believer. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). If this one principle were followed, it would save a lot of heartache and suffering later in marriages.

Another principle that would protect the longevity of a marriage is that the husband should obey God and love, honor, and protect his wife as he would his own body (Ephesians 5:25-31). The corresponding principle is that the wife should obey God and submit to her own husband “as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). The marriage between a man and a woman is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church. Christ gave Himself for the church and He loves, honors, and protects her as His “bride” (Revelation 19:7-9).

When God brought Eve to Adam in the first marriage, she was made from his “flesh and bone” (Genesis 2:21) and they became “one flesh” (Genesis 2:23-24). Becoming one flesh means more than just a physical union. It means a meeting of the mind and soul to form one unit. This relationship goes far beyond sensual or emotional attraction and into the realm of spiritual “oneness” that can only be found as both partners surrender to God and each other. This relationship is not centered on “me and my” but on “us and our.” This is one of the secrets to a lasting marriage. Making a marriage last until death is something both partners have to make a priority. Solidifying one's vertical relationship with God goes a long way toward ensuring that the horizontal relationship between a husband and wife is a lasting, and therefore God-honoring, one.
Recommended Resources:Logos Bible SoftwareandFit to Be Tied: Making Marriage Last a Lifetime by Bill Hybels.

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