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Editors note: This is part of the devotional I had with the Lord this morning of July 25, 05 that I wanted to share with you all! If the questions or statements can be used as Bible study guides or discussion questions feel free to use them.

Quiet Times (Psalm 55, Proverbs 25, and Mark 6:30)

“But I will call upon the Lord to save me---and he will. I will pray morning, noon, and night, pleading aloud with God; and he will hear and answer.” (Psalm 55:16-17, TLB)

“Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.” (Psalm 55:22, TLB)

“Don’t visit your neighbor too often, or you will outwear your welcome.” (Proverbs 25:17, TLB)

"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught." (Mark 6:30, NIV)

Observation:
I asked myself what the apostles did.

The apostles gathered around Jesus.
The apostles reported to Jesus all they had done.
The apostles reported to Jesus all they taught.

Interpretation:

I asked myself the significance of knowing the apostles gathered around Jesus.

The apostles had been on a tour of six different towns, two going to each town as Jesus called them, sent them, and gave them authority to cast out demons and heal people. Now they are back and meet with Jesus. It was not any meeting though for they came back to Jesus with a purpose to let Jesus know two things: All they had done and all they taught.

They were called, sent, and given authority to go on a mission trip and they returned to report the events that transpired.

I asked myself the significance of reporting to Jesus all they had done and taught?

Whatever mission trip they were on, they all converged at a central location to gather around Jesus to give Jesus a status report. This is significant because after the mission trip was over, they did not forget about the mission trip nor did they keep to themselves what they had done and taught. Instead, they shared everything with Jesus who had called them, sent them, and given them authority over demons and authority to heal people. In essence, they spent time in prayer sharing everything with Jesus.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. I realized the importance of status reports when we are called and sent on a mission trip as the Lord gives us authority to do His work. He accomplishes it by raising laborers to accomplish His mission of reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I learned, sharing about all that has been done or taught does not constitute boasting or being prideful but letting supporters and prayer partners know how the Lord has been using us for His honor and glory. It also lets our supporters and prayer partners know that their support of the mission trip has not been in vain and lets them know their prayers have been answered and are being answered.

My mistake had been not sending status reports to supporters and prayer partners as I should have. Since they do not know how the Lord was using me to make a difference on campus, how could they have effectively supported me and prayed for me! This would have been possible through prayer letters. Maybe if I had done that as I should have, I may have still been with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship doing mission work on campus through IVCF. One day if I feel called to go back to IVCF, He will make a way.

Right now, I strongly feel the Lord wants me to continue to publish www.pittsburghstandard.com for His honor and glory and continue to reach out to students with the love of Christ through other means. The daily devotionals I have and share with hundreds of students give you a status report of what the Lord has been teaching me and what I have been learning from Him. I do hope they help you!

I need your prayers and the Lord has been providing the financial support. I have been blessed with a wonderful job that I love.

Recently, on July 20, 2005 a group of students went on a mission trip to India. I am excited to know that they are keeping us updated on how the Lord Jesus has been using them in India for His honor and glory. You can read their report at http://internationalquest.org. Please keep them in your prayer!

I ask you now dear friend, what is your mission.

Dear friend, the apostles knew what their mission was and came back to Jesus and gave Jesus a status report. If you are called, sent, and given authority by the Lord to do mission work, He will let you know what that mission is. Not all are called to do direct mission work in other countries or at home by being missionaries but everyone is called to have a mission wherever they are at whether it is in a career, academia, or relationships.

If your mission is to accomplish something in your career field, do the best you can there sharing Jesus with those around you and report the results to Jesus as you gather around Jesus and spend time in prayer. If you have a hard time talking to Jesus then write down your prayer to Jesus. If it is in academia or relationships, the same principles apply. Share what the Lord has been doing in your life and what the Lord has given you a mission in. For when we seek the Lord, He will give each of us a mission for His honor and glory. It may not be directly being a missionary to a certain part of the world but right where you are at.

At one point my mission became counseling broken hearts with the love of Christ! I have done that and reported all that has happened without naming names for confidential purposes. I would talk to Jesus about the situations too where I would name names to Jesus personally. It is still a mission of mine the Lord has not taken away but is now accomplished through other means too!

Usually, supporters and prayer partners get letters or status report from missionaries spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in different parts of the world or even on campuses but it does not have to be limited to that when we give a status report to the Lord about our lives.

Friend, Jesus wants to know what you are doing with the mission He has given you. If you do not know your mission, ask the Lord and He will reveal it to you as you spend time with Him in prayer, in His Word, and through the fellowship of believers. Mostly, I have seen the Lord speak to me through His Word as I have spent time in prayer whether the answer has come through circumstances, signs, or dreams. Let His Word guide you and lead you whatever you feel your mission is.

“But I will call upon the Lord to save me---and he will. I will pray morning, noon, and night, pleading aloud with God; and he will hear and answer.” (Psalm 55:16-17, TLB)

“Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.” (Psalm 55:22, TLB)

Talk to the Lord about your life during the morning, noon, and night, pleading aloud with God and He will hear and answer. He wants to carry your burdens. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.

Prayer is Wonderful, Prayer is Powerful
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Prayer is wonderful; prayer is powerful
Prayer is wonderful; prayer is powerful
More of prayer in my life

In the morning time;
I will pray to you my Jesus
In the noon time;
I will pray to you my Jesus
In the night time;
I will pray to you my Jesus
For you hear and answer!

Prayer is wonderful; prayer is powerful
Prayer is wonderful; prayer is powerful
More of prayer in my life.
Amen!

Friend, also know your loved ones and those praying for you love to know what is happening in your life and how they can help you. Let them help you and receive their help. Share with them what you feel the Lord wants you to share with them and ask them to keep you in prayer. More than anything, it is prayer to the Lord that sustains us and keeps us going.

With this in mind, please keep me in prayer so I can continue with the mission of counseling broken hearts with the love of Christ through all the experiences the Lord has let me go through and continue to experience. More than anything please pray that I will continue to do the Lord’s will and not what I want in any area of my life but what my Lord wants for me whether it is in career, academia, relationships, etc. Please pray for those you come in contact with too! Thank you so much!

May you know the Lord who calls you, sends you and give you authority will equip, enable, and empower you as you accomplish His mission for your life! Amen!

“Messiah Is Saving Souls Indeed Offering Nurture!” (M.I.S.S.I.O.N)/”What is your mission?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for being our Redeemer, for calling us, sending us, and giving us authority to accomplish the mission you have for us. I want to thank you Lord for what your apostles were able to accomplish and report back to you. They shared with you all that happened. Help us to do the same in our lives no matter what is happening. Let us share with you our excitement and our disappointments. I thank you Jesus for being there to listen to us. You Oh Lord want us to seek you in the morning, noon, and night at all times laying our requests before you, for you want our burdens to carry them. Thank you so much Jesus for that, for it means a lot. Help us to be open to share with others what you have called us to do in your timing. Help us not to be lone-ranger Christians but be involved in a community of believers wherever you send us to for there is a reason you do not want us to forsake the fellowship of believers. I thank you Jesus for sending missionaries across the world to give people the Good News of your saving Gospel. Thank you Lord for the report I have been able to read about how you are using student missionaries to reach souls with your love Oh Lord in India especially close to where I am from. Thank you for the reports that come from all over about your work being accomplished! We trust in you and thank you for everything. Thank you for your love and affection. Help us to be diligent in sharing prayer letters with others and most of all sharing everything with you! Thank you so much Jesus for everything! Thank you for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. Thank you for sending your Spirit till the work is done here on earth. We entrust our lives to you Jesus, God’s own Son, Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, and Holy One. Jesus, my Redeemer and Name above all names, you are the hope for sinners. Thank you so much Jesus! We acknowledge you as our Lord and Personal Savior depending on you for help! Thank you for your help and that you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord. I am so sorry for my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong things I have done and messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now and in the years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what only you can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You alone love me unconditionally for who I am. I thank you Jesus. I accept you Jesus into my heart. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart. Thanks for forgiving me of all my sins. Thanks for giving me a new identity in you. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my heart that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I give myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you Jesus through the days, we can do things together. Thanks for being my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

(You can start your Christian adventure by reading the Gospel of John)

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

P.S.. If you need someone to talk to, pray with, or have a Bible study, you can email me at reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com and we can set up a time that is convenient for you! You can also call me at 412-720-4579

NEXT DEVOTIONAL:
Where do you find R.E.S.T? (July 26,05)