May 16 - Prayer - Questions/Comments -

May 16

Heavenly Father, how I love the symbolism You give us from the Old Testament to show us what Jesus has done and wants to do in our lives and our hearts. The physical circumcision that the People of Israel showed as a physical sign they belonged to You and were separate, set apart from the rest of the world was a one time event, with continuing renewal of commitment to You, where the spiritual circumcision we are asked to endure is one that we allow You to perform daily in our lives, to make us better servants for You. Help me be a willing servant of whatever You ask me to do. Sometimes that is scary to say "whatever You ask", but over time I have learned it is better to be in sync with You in the worst place in the world, than a wonderful physical walk with no relationship with You. I know when I am all in for You I can make such a difference in the way people view You and I want to make a difference. Not just once or even a few times. I want to make a daily difference and help people love You more and know You more. I want to love You more and know You more.

Please, Father, help me be the servant You want me to be. Help me be a willing, loving and enthusiastic disciple who represents You well.

In Jesus' name.

Amen!

The act of circumcision was of extreme significance in God’s eyes. Why was this act so necessary for Abraham’s descendants as well as others in the household and the sojourners in the nation?

Present-day Christians are not required to undergo physical circumcision. However, God expects both male and female believers to undergo spiritual circumcision. In Romans 2:29, Paul called this “circumcision…of the heart, by the Spirit”. How can we as believers undergo a spiritual circumcision? Pray and ask God to reveal areas in your life that may need a spiritual circumcision.

Genesis 17:15-27

15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.