Day 22 of My 6th Bible Study Journey

Day 22, 22 Jan 2026

1)Genesis 30, Genesis 31

GENESIS 30
1 When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children, she became jealous 
of her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I will die."
2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, 
" Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? "
3 Then she said, "Here is my maid Bilhah. Have relations with her so that she
 may bear a child on my knees, so that I may also have children through her."
4 So she gave him Bilhah her maidservant as a wife, and Jacob had relations 
with her. 5 Bilhah conceived and gave Jacob a son. 6 Rachel said, "God has
 vindicated me, and He has also heard my voice and has given me a son." 
Therefore she called his name Dan.
7 Bilhah, Rachel's maid, conceived again and gave Jacob a second son. 
8 Then Rachel said, "With great wrestling have I wrestled with my sister,
 and I have prevailed." So she called his name Naphtali.
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, 
she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 
10 Zilpah, Leah's maid, gave Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, 
"How fortunate!" So she called his name Gad.
12 Zilpah, Leah's maid, gave Jacob a second son. 
13 Then Leah said, "Happy am I, for women will call me happy." 
So she called his name Asher.
14 At the time of the wheat harvest, Reuben went and found mandrakes
 in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, 
"Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."
15 Leah said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband?
 Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?"
So Rachel said, "All right, he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your 
son's mandrakes."
16 When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him
and said, "You must sleep with me, because I have paid for you 
with my son's mandrakes." 
And he slept with her that night.
17 God listened to Leah, and she conceived and gave Jacob a fifth son. 
18 Leah said, "God has given me my reward because I have given my maid to 
my husband." So she called his name Issachar.
19 Leah conceived again and gave Jacob a sixth son. 
20 Leah said, "God has given me a good gift. 
Now my husband will dwell with me, because I have given him six sons."
So she called his name Zebulun.
21 Afterwards she gave birth to a daughter and called her name Dinah.
22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 
23 She conceived and gave birth to a son and said, "God has taken away my 
reproach." 
24 And she called his name Joseph, saying, "The Lord will add to me another 
son."

[1] And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her
sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
[2] And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's
stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
[3] And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear
upon my knees that I may also have children by her.
[4] And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto
her.
[5] And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
[6] And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and
hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
[7] And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
[8] And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister,
and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
[9] When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and
gave her Jacob to wife.
[10] And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.
[11] And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
[12] And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.
[13] And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and
she called his name Asher.
[14] And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in
the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah,
Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.
[15] And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my
husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel
said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
[16] And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to
meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee
with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
[17] And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the
fifth son.
[18] And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my
maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
[19] And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.
[20] And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my
husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his
name Zebulun.
[21] And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
[22] And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her
womb.
[23] And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my
reproach:
[24] And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me
another son.

Jacob's Agreement With Laban

25 When Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, 
"Send me away, so that I may go to my own place, to my country. 
26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you, 
and let me go. For you know the service that I have given you."
27 Laban said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. 
For I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me 
on account of you." 28 He said, "Name me your wages, and I will give it."
29 Jacob said to him, "You know how I have served you, and how your livestock
have fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came, 
and it is now increased to a multitude. The Lord has blessed you since I came,
 and now when may I also provide for my own house?"
31 Laban said, "What may I give you?"
And Jacob said, "You may not give me anything, but if you will do 
this one thing for me, I will continue to feed and keep your flock. 
32 I will pass through all your flock today, 
removing from it all the speckled and spotted sheep,
 and every brown sheep from among the lambs, 
and the spotted and speckled among the goats. 
These shall be my wages. 
33 So my integrity will answer for me in time to come. 
When you come to examine my wages,
 every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, 
and brown among the sheep that are with me will be considered stolen."
34 Laban said, "Agreed. Let it be according to your word." 
35 He removed that day the male goats that were striped 
and spotted and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, 
every one that had some white in it, 
and all the brown ones among the sheep,
 and gave them into the care of his sons. 
36 He put three days' journey between himself and Jacob, 
and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
37 Then Jacob took rods of fresh-cut poplar, almond, and plane trees, 
and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white which was in the rods. 
38 He set the rods which he had peeled before the flocks in the troughs, 
that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink, so that they 
would mate when they came to drink. 39 The flocks mated before the rods
and gave birth to young that were striped, speckled, and spotted. 
40 Jacob separated the lambs and made the flocks face toward the striped 
and all the brown in the flock of Laban. He put his own flocks by themselves
 and did not put them with Laban's sheep. 
41 Whenever the stronger sheep 
mated, Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the sheep in the troughs, 
so that they might mate among the rods. 
42 But when the livestock 
were feeble, he did not put them in. So the weaker were Laban's 
and the stronger Jacob's. 
43 The man became exceedingly prosperous
and had many sheep and female servants and male servants 
and camels and donkeys.

[25] And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto
Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
[26] Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let
me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
[27] And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine
eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me
for thy sake.
[28] And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
[29] And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy
cattle was with me.
[30] For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now
increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming:
and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
[31] And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not
give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and
keep thy flock:
[32] I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the
speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and
the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
[33] So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall
come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted
among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen
with me.
[34] And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
[35] And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted,
and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had
some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the
hand of his sons.
[36] And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed
the rest of Laban's flocks.
[37] And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut
tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was
in the rods.
[38] And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the
gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they
should conceive when they came to drink.
[39] And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle
ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
[40] And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks
toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put
his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.
[41] And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that
Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they
might conceive among the rods.
[42] But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler
were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.
[43] And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and
maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

GENESIS 31

Jacob Flees From Laban

1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away
all that was our father's, and he has gotten all his wealth from what was our 
father's." 
2 Jacob saw the look of Laban and saw he was not congenial toward
him as before.
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers, 
to your family, and I will be with you."
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field where his flock was, 
5 and said to them, "I see your father's demeanor, that it is not congenial 
toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 
6 You know that with all my strength I have served your father. 
7 Your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not
allow him to hurt me. 
8 If he said, 'The speckled will be your wages,' then all the flock 
produced speckled. If he said, 'The striped will be your pay,'
 then all the flock produced striped. 
9 In this way God has taken away your father's flock and given them to me.
10 "When the livestock conceived, I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream
 that the male goats mating with the flock were striped, speckled, 
and spotted. 
11 The angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, 'Jacob.' And I said, 
'Here I am.' 
12 He said, 'Now lift up your eyes 
and see all the male goats which mate with the flock are striped,
 speckled, and spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has done to you. 
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, where you 
vowed a vow to Me. Now arise, and get out of this land, 
and return to the land of your family.' "
14 Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there any portion or inheritance 
left for us in our father's house? 
15 Are we not seen by him as foreigners?
For he has sold us and has completely spent our money also. 
16 For all the riches which God has taken from our father are ours
 and our children's. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do it."
17 Then Jacob rose up and set his sons and his wives on camels. 
18 Then he carried away all his livestock and all his goods which he had 
obtained, his acquired livestock which he had gotten in Paddan Aram, in order
 to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19 When Laban went to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols 
that were her father's. 
20 Jacob also deceived Laban the Syrian by not telling him that 
he was fleeing.
21 So Jacob fled with all that he had, and he rose up and passed 
over the river and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.

[1] And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away
all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten
all this glory.
[2] And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not
toward him as before.
[3] And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and
to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
[4] And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
[5] And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not
toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
[6] And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
[7] And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but
God suffered him not to hurt me.
[8] If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle
bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then
bare all the cattle ringstraked.
[9] Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
[10] And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I
lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped
upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
[11] And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I
said, Here am I.
[12] And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap
upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all
that Laban doeth unto thee.
[13] I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where
thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and
return unto the land of thy kindred.
[14] And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any
portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
[15] Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath
quite devoured also our money.
[16] For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours,
and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
[17] Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
[18] And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had
gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, for to
go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
[19] And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images
that were her father's.
[20] And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him
not that he fled.
[21] So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the
river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.

Laban Pursues Jacob

22 Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 
23 He took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days until he caught
up with him in the mountains of Gilead. 
24 But God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night 
and said to him, "Take care that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad."
25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain,
and Laban with his kinsmen pitched in the mountains of Gilead. 
26 Laban said  to Jacob, "What have you done that you have stolen away without 
my knowing and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? 
27 Why did you flee away secretly and sneak away from me and not tell me? I 
would have sent you away with joy and with songs, with the tambourine and 
harp. 
28 And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? 
You have acted foolishly in so doing. 
29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God
of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Take care that you not speak 
to Jacob either good or bad.' 
30 Now you surely have gone away because 
you longed desperately after your father's house, 
yet why have you stolen my gods?"
31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid, 
for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 
32 But anyone with whom you find your gods, let him not live.
 In the presence of our kinsmen, point out what I have that is yours 
and take it." For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
33 So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent 
and into the two female servants' tents, but he did not find them. 
Then he went out of Leah's tent and entered into Rachel's tent. 
34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel's
saddle and sat on them. Laban searched the entire tent, 
but could not find them.
35 She said to her father, "Let not my lord be displeased that I cannot rise 
before you, for the manner of women is on me." So he searched, but he did
not find the household idols.
36 Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. And Jacob asked Laban, 
"What is my offense? What is my sin that you have so hotly pursued after me?
37 You have searched all my things, and yet what have you found of all 
your household things? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen,
 so that they may judge between us both.
38 "This twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats
 have not miscarried their young, and the male goats of your flock
I have not eaten. 
39 That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you. 
I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand whether it was stolen 
by day or stolen by night. 
40 It was like this with me: In the day the heat
consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 
41 I have been twenty years in your house. I served you fourteen years
 for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have changed 
my wages ten times. 
42 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham 
and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely you would have sent me
 away empty now. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands 
and rebuked you last night."

[22] And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
[23] And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days'
journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
[24] And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto
him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
[25] Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount:
and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
[26] And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen
away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with
the sword?
[27] Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and
didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with
songs, with tabret, and with harp?
[28] And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast
now done foolishly in so doing.
[29] It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your
father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not
to Jacob either good or bad.
[30] And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst
after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
[31] And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said,
Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
[32] With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our
brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob
knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
[33] And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the
two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's
tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
[34] Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture,
and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
[35] And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot
rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched,
but found not the images.
[36] And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said
to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly
pursued after me?
[37] Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all
thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that
they may judge betwixt us both.
[38] This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats
have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
[39] That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss
of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by
night.
[40] Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night;
and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
[41] Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen
years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast
changed my wages ten times.
[42] Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac,
had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen
mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

Laban's Covenant With Jacob

43 Laban answered and said to Jacob, "These daughters are my daughters, 
and these children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, 
and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to my daughters
or to their children whom they have borne? 
44 Now therefore come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be 
as a witness between you and me."
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up for a pillar. 
46 Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather stones." So they took stones 
and made a pile, and they ate there on the pile. 
47 And Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.
48 Laban said, "This pile is a witness between me and you this day." 
Therefore its name was called Galeed, 
49 and Mizpah, for he said, 
"May the Lord watch between you and me, when we are apart from one another.
50 If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take other wives 
beside my daughters, although no one else is with us, remember that God 
is witness between you and me."
51 Then Laban said to Jacob, "See this pile and see this pillar which 
I have thrown between you and me. 
52 This heap is a witness, 
and this pillar is a witness, so that I will not cross over this pile 
to you and so that you will not pass over this pile and this pillar 
to me for harm. 
53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, 
and the God of their father, judge between us."
Then Jacob vowed by the Fear of his father Isaac. 
54 Then Jacob offered 
a sacrifice on the mountain and called his kinsmen to eat bread. 
And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain.
55 Early in the morning Laban rose up, kissed his grandchildren 
and his daughters, and blessed them. Then Laban departed 
and returned to his place.

[43] And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my
daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my
cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto
these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
[44] Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it
be for a witness between me and thee.
[45] And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
[46] And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones,
and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
[47] And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
[48] And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day.
Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
[49] And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we
are absent one from another.
[50] If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives
beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and
thee.
[51] And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar,
which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
[52] This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass
over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this
pillar unto me, for harm.
[53] The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father,
judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
[54] Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to
eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
[55] And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his
daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his
place. 

2) Our Daily Bread for 22 January 2026 titled 
<A href="https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category
/a-longing-fulfilled">A Longing Fulfilled</a> by Sheridan Voysey

Revelation 21:1-4

The New Heaven and the New Earth

1 (Isa 66:22; 2Pe 3:13) Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth."(Isa 65:17.)
For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no
more sea.
2 (Heb 11:10; Rev 3:12) I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned
for her husband.
3 (2Co 6:16; Rev 7:15) And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying,
"Look! The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.
They shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them
and be their God.
4 (Isa 25:8; 35:10; 1Co 15:26) 'God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
There shall be no more death.'(Isa 25:8.) Neither shall there be any more
sorrow nor crying nor pain, for the former things have passed away."

[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle
of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his
people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
[4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away.

Blaise Pascal famously said there's an "infinite abyss" inside us that only an
infinite God can fill. "You have made us for yourself, O Lord," Augustine 
prayed, "and our heart is restless until it rests in you." As David put it, 
like thirsty people in the desert, 
our whole being "longs" for God (Psalm 63:1).

Surprisingly, however, it isn't only humans that experience longing. God does 
too. While the infinite God of the universe needs nothing outside Himself to 
be fulfilled, the Bible says He "longs" to have us back when we 
stray (James 4:4-5), and repeatedly says He wants a people to call 
His own (Exodus 6:7; Hebrews 8:10).

For thousands of years this longing has fueled God's missionary endeavors: 
sending prophets to win back His straying people and ultimately sending His 
Son to find His lost sheep (Isaiah 30:18; Luke 19:10). The good news is that 
in the end, this longing will be fulfilled. "They will be his people, 
and God Himself will be with them and be their God,"
and God and human beings will dwell together (Revelation 21:2-3).

Humans long for God, and no substitute will satisfy. God longs for humans, 
and no substitute will do. So no wonder there’s rejoicing in heaven when one 
sinner repents (Luke 15:7). When we run to God's open arms, 
everyone is fulfilled.

Reflect & Pray

How do you feel about God "longing" for you? 
How can this encourage you when you need to repent for doing wrong?

Heavenly Father, thank You for passionately longing for me to know You.

3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association

Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools

Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 5 - God Loved, So He Gave

John 3:16-17

16 (Ro 5:8; 1Jn 4:9-10; Jn 1:18) "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17 (1Jn 4:14; Lk 19:10) For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved."

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.

Often called "the gospel in a nutshell", John 3:16 is so familiar,
even the unchurched, that it has all but lost its impact for us.
WE cite it by rote, as if it had no more meaning than a SSN (SIN),
and think that we understand the truth because we know the words.
Why did God send Jesus, his only Son, into the world to die?
Because he loved the people he created. God had no reason,
humanly speaking, to love mankind. Throughout history, from
the Garden of Eden forward, people had deliberately turned
against God and tried his patience. Even the nation God chose
for himself, Israel rebelled against the Lord and turned to other gods.
And we, as individuals, have rebelled against him too. WE have tried
to control our own lives; we have denied his reality; or
acknowledged his existence and then systematically ignored him.
We have become our own gods.
Yet Christ, in love, took upon himself the rejection, the humiliation,
the pain we were responsible for. We deserved to be condemned to die,
but he died for us instead. "God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world," John 3:17 says, "but that the world
through Him might be saved."
Often, even after we have committed our lives to Christ, we mistakenly
suppose that God's primary purpose is to condemn us - to catch us in sin
and punish us. But God says that his purpose is to love us and to save us
from sin and ourselves. He loved, and so he gave; he still loves us,
and he still continues to give.

Application

a) What sin in my life put Jesus on the cross?

b) How do I know that my sins has been forgiven?

c) How can these verses help me when I face condemnation and guilt? 

4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland

Genesis 30:43

The man became exceedingly prosperous and had many sheep
and female servants and male servants and camels and donkeys.

And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle,
and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:

When you are anxious

Phil 4:4-7

4 (Php 3:1; Ro 12:12 Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again I will say, rejoice!
5 (Jas 5:8-9) Let everyone come to know your gentleness.
The Lord is at hand.
6 (Eph 6:18; Mt 6:25-33) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything,
by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known
to God.
7 (Jn 14:27; Col 3:15; Isa 26:3) And the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Remember God's promises when You pray

The Lord's prayer 

Matthew 6:9-13


9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 
11 Give us this day our daily bread. 
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)

2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493

British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver 
and surrounding areas.  There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000  and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.

Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant 
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc. 
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice.  Let us agree in that

- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective 
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.

Adding further

30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020 

Under the Keep Praying page

When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid  celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that 
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.

For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.

You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"

Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you 
know, and Muslims around the world:

- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 :  17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; 
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants 
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. 
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below: 
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.  20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]

Footnotes
	Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15  : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under 
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the 
house."

Ideas for prayer

- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people - 
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims 
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days! 

My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .

7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada

http://www.ehc.ca

22 Day of the Month

a) Pray for the Province of Quebec

I) Pray for the leaders of Quebec,
that God's Spirit would influence
then to act justly,
serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards. ( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.

III) Pray that the Lord would use
the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus

b) Pray that the influence of the Holy Spirit would dissolve
every argument and pretension exalted against the knowledge
of God.

(

2 Cor 10: 3 - 5

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strongholds, 
5 casting down imaginations and every
high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every
thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 
4(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God 
to the pulling down of strong holds;) 
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself 
against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought 
to the obedience of Christ; 

)

Pray to the Lord and Pray to seek the Lord's wisdom even in Time of threat.

Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, thank You for passionately longing 
for me to know You."

Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Love of Jesus. 

Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Blessings.

Pray to the Lord and pray know in the Lord always.

Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective 
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.

Pray that the influence of the Holy Spirit would dissolve
every argument and pretension exalted against the knowledge
of God.

Despite extreme restrictions, ask the Lord to open doors 
for Gospel worship and proclamation in Eritrea.

Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God

-- 
Member - Liberal International This is [email protected] Ici [email protected]
Yahweh, King & country!Never Satan President Republic!Beware AntiChrist rising!
Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism ;
Birthdate 29 Jan 1969 Redhill surrey England