I can not contain this great joy. I do not understand what God is doing with me through this second chapter of Luke but like Anna in verse 37, I can not depart. 

I am filled with joy that I hope to share with those who are seeking. In trying to explain this passion, this joy, yesterday with a co-worker I can see in this chapter so many things I am trying to say.

The more I seek to be who He created the more I find joy. 

Like the angel to the shepherds, I have great news for all people. This joy found in God is like no other. I can not contain it and I must share it. His light is caressing and His joy is full. 

Can you share what brings you joy to those who seek? Are you struggling to find joy? I will be glad to share what He has given me. 

Today’s Prayer: God of joy, I praise You and thank You.  Help me to share with those who seek salvation. Help me to share Your joy. LORD, continue to strengthen my spirit and fill me with Your wisdom so I become who You intended. I want to fulfill Your promise faithfully. Amen 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life

As I descended my basement stairs this morning I anticipated what God would speak to me this morning. I have been feeling it was probably time to move on from my fixation on Simeon. 

Did I get the point of why God drew me to the story of Simeon? What is the one thing I thought to myself and the next thought was that God wants us to know we are the one. 

We may be the only one who lifts a friend in prayer today. We may say or write something that touches the one person who needs it. We may be the one person called to serve God’s purpose of refreshing or reviving someone with His Spirit today. 

This was Simeon’s one thing and he showed up. He came, in the Spirit into the temple. The Spirit made him know it was up to him that day to be there and he was faithful. I truly believe you and I are no different. I pray our hearts, souls and minds are in love with God and His Spirit clearly calls us. 

Different callings, different purposes but we are the one. God created us in the womb for His purpose and without ceasing we are being prepared. We are also being used to prepare, to encourage, to confirm, and to help. It is up to us; no one else. 

What do you know you must do today? You may be the only one. 

Today’s Prayer: All glory belongs to You Father God. Thank You for Your Word and for the life and actions of Simeon. I pray we also clearly understand Your Spirit that is upon us. That we realize the importance and responsibility You have given us. Help me to be faithful to the one thing You want from me today. Thank You for Your daily bread of life and opportunity. Make me faithful. Amen 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life

The Spirit guides us to refresh others. Like a fresh cool breeze, God’s Spirit will use us. We are His faithful messengers. 

What is our message? The love, grace, hope and joy we have been given by God. We can offer what we have been given to refresh and revive souls.

We can give others what they need. We have been given the food and water for the hungry and thirsty. 

I pray to be God’s faithful messenger today. Can you think of someone right now you can refresh? God will use you to revive their soul with everlasting refreshment. 

Today’s Prayer: Almighty God, thank You for refreshing my soul. Help me to be faithful to carry Your message to those You intend for me to refresh. Impress upon my spirit Your Spirit. Use me to refresh and revive the souls of others. What You have fed me I now offer as refreshment to others. In Your Spirit I trust. Amen. 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life

Isn’t it great to know that God watches over our souls? As I read Proverbs 24:12 this morning and felt the line “Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it?” 

I apologize for my inconsistency of writing this blog the past couple of months due to a combination of an overly demanding work load and time for rest I am comforted to know our hearts are always watched over by Him. Further than that, not only watched over but pierced. 

Simeon told Mary that this life of her son would also pierce her very soul. Curious as to what this meant, I read some commentaries and the Jamieson-Faussett commentary seemed to speak it best. Not only would the death of Jesus pain her heart but  “dreadful alternations of faith and unbelief, of hope and fear regarding Him, which she (we) would have to pass through. 

As the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon, He is upon us. Overseeing and piercing He is with us today and what a relief and source of strength this is no matter what we face. 

What is your soul pierced with today? 

Today’s Prayer: Father God, thank You for watching over our souls. Thank You for piercing our souls with the life and presence of Jesus. No matter where we travel or where we are You are there. Watch me LORD, pierce me LORD and use my heart as You desire. Amen 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life

Stop right there! For those of you contrary to name it and claim it, that is NOT where the Spirit is leading. For those self improvement affirmationist that is not where the Spirit is taking us. 

The power of the Spirit and the wonder found there is marvelous and amazing. Forgive me for breaking my 200 word limit today but I have to tell you how the Spirit is working and still creating wonder through Simeon. 

This is a Saturday morning and I have been called to work every 2 hours throughout the night and am awaiting another call at any minute. As I knelt before my God this morning and called on Him to give me the eyes I needed  to fulfill my duties I was amazed by the peace I felt knowing the Spirit would give me the eyes and boldness I needed. Also I felt a little regret that I forgot that peace and reliance some yesterday. 

As I turned back to Luke 2 to follow my brother Simeon’s path I traveled to Luke 2:33. Here it tells of Joseph and Mary’s marveling at what Simeon shared. Not because the Spirit and angels hadn’t already shared the promise of Jesus to them but that this stranger was also meeting them in this place with the same message. 

Yes, the Spirit had been upon Simeon. Yes, the Spirit had revealed to him that He would see the Savior. But more than that, the Spirit had revealed to him through his righteousness and his devoutness the very future of who this 41 day old infant would be. How he would touch the hearts of the Gentiles and Jews alike. 

The Spirit equipped Simeon with everything he would need. The Spirit is still equipping you and me with everything we need. As we seek the LORD our God, the Spirit fills us with wonder and makes us wonderful to others. As we share what the Spirit fills us with we can marvel at how He confirms and provides us with the Good News. 

Yes, I am made wonderful; full of wonder. I too marvel and am amazed at the love and provision of the Spirit and pray you are as well. The Spirit does make us wonderful. I pray we share what the Spirit says to each of us and then stand or fall down before God with amazement at the wonder He fills His children with. 

Yes, through the Spirit you and I are wonderfully made. In Him we are wonderful.  Can you thank God today for making you wonderful? 

Today’s prayer: Father God thank You for Your Holy Spirit and for Your wonder. I love You and praise You for giving me what I need. I praise You and thank You for equipping me to be Yours. Please call all of our hearts to You and may we wonder in the amazement of Your power, Your majesty and Your provision. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life

Was Simeon in the Spirit for just this moment or had it been years? 

We are not told when the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would see the Messiah but can you imagine? How expectantly would you round each corner? How longingly and deeply would you look into the eyes of those you meet? How richly would you listen to the speech of others to catch a glimpse of the promised ONE? How closely would you listen to God?

I can only relate to this level of expectation as when I kneel before God and try to imagine what Jesus expected to hear when He prayed to the Father. Cleared of all other thoughts and clutter to be still and listen expectantly. It is here that my spiritual senses are heightened and I am expectant of God’s message to me in whatever form it takes. 

It is here I want to live. It is here where I want to be expectant of God and His Spirit. It is here I want to peer into the souls of everyone I meet. I want to live here. 

Have you felt this expectation of the Spirit? 

Today’s Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. What power, what assurance we have there. Thank You for this gift. Help me LORD God to live and walk with You. Only You know our human capacity to live there but I ask You to have me stay in the Spirit and have the Spirit stay in me. I desire to walk with You God in all things and in all ways. Keep me close. Amen. 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life

Right here, right now you and I are where God wants us. Like Simeon, I have no doubt that the Spirit has moved me here. Like Mary and Joseph I also know that trying to observe the customs of the law has also taken me where I am supposed to be. 

Even in my running away, in my rebellion God had me run to just the right place. Vocationally, God still has provided the right place for the right moment. 

Today, if He moves me I know I will be moving towards the right place. God will use His Spirit, His law, His servants and His supernatural power to move us where we are to be. Wherever we are on that path we are in the right place. I trust the Spirit will continually be moving. Moving us to go and pray with our Heavenly Father to seek His will, moving us to right relationships that serve His purposes, moving us to do the right things. 

Why are you in this very place today? 

Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and caring for me. Thank You for Your assurance and your provision. Thank You for having me here. Open my eyes to those things and people around me that You want me to share Your love with. Help me to do the right things and to devoutly follow You. Amen. 

Tom Raines  

Christian Affirmations 4 Life

Do you think Simeon knew? Yes, I know the Holy Spirit had revealed to him he would see the Messiah. But, do you think Simeon knew that his faithfulness would put his name in the Holy Scriptures?  Do you think Simeon understood he would help millions upon millions of people over thousands of years help confirm that this really was the Messiah? 

What if he had hit the snooze button or found something else to do that day? If he was head of the royal Sanhedrin as some propose then surely he had an important meeting to attend. The 41^st day after Jesus’ birth only came once. I am sure Mary and Joseph were only at the temple for only a few short minutes or hours that day. Where was Simeon? He was there. 

Do you and I know? Do we realize what our faithfulness can do for others? God’s plan was Simeon and Simeon showed up. According to the Great Commission you and I are the plan as well. I do believe each of us have a unique and special calling, like Simeon; are we preparing ourselves for that hour? 

Today’s Prayer: Yahweh, thank You for Your Spirit. Reveal Yourself and Your plan for me. Speak clearly LORD. Continue to prepare my heart, my soul and my mind for what You have already planned for me to give the world for You. Please give me full nourishment of Your daily bread that will prepare me for that day, for that hour You intend for me to serve Your purpose. Amen. 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life

Simeon trusted the promise and the direction of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would see the comforter before he died and on this specific day He led him to see the Christ. 

Why Simeon? Why you? Why me? We do not know a lot about Simeon, but we do know the confirmation that his story gave to Joseph and Mary and to us. God and His Spirit prepared Simeon’s heart for just this very day this very hour. 

Luke 2:33 states: “And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.” ESV Do we forget Jesus’ earthly parents were human and needed confirmation too? Just 41 days after Jesus’ birth here is confirmation of promises they had been given. 

Are we called to confirm? Are we called to give hope and joy? I love Matthew Henry’s commentary on this verse. The same Spirit that gave Simeon hope also gave him joy. He will do the same for you and me. He will guide us to where we are to be. Let’s trust His lead, show up on time, and live the joy. 

How has the Spirit been guiding you? Do you trust Him? 

Today’s Prayer: Father God, I praise You and thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Increase my understanding and grant me clarity in my communication with Him. Please give me discernment of His commands. Help me to be faithful to the callings and responsibilities I do have. Give me the courage and boldness to make sure I show up at my specific time by trusting in Your Spirit. Amen 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life

Some scholars say the words describing Simeon here in the original texts were: one who worships God well. 

When you meet God, don’t you want Him to recall the worship you offered Him on earth? Simeon was just or righteous which Scofileld’s commentary says he was “right with God”.  We know it when we are right with God don’t we?

I read this morning that devout was being in the right “frame of spirit”. Matthew Henry’s commentary says we will be judged by the “thoughts of our hearts” concerning Christ. This is a heart thing isn’t it?! 

What frame of spirit are you in? What are the thoughts of your heart? 

Worshiping God with all of our heart is worshiping well, isn’t it? Have you experienced that state of spirit where you know you are right with God? Yes, we know it and let’s stay there today and keep the thoughts of our hearts on Him. 

Today’s Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Spirit that guides us and draws us near to You. I worship You with all my heart. Thank You for filling my heart with such joy and hope. Please help me to keep the thoughts of my heart pure and worshiping You well. Amen. 

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life