Nehemiah 9:28
...People will find life if only they obey....
O my Father, You have laid out for us all the details that lay out the principles by which we will find life and health, if only we just humble ourselves to obey. In our foolish pride we turn from Your ways and go our own way, which leads to death: sickness, weakness, illness; physically, emotionally, relationally, and especially spiritually.
Teach me Your ways, for You are my Lord, my Guide and my Teacher. Strengthen me in Your Spirit to both will and to do of only Your good pleasure. Open my mind to understand and comprehend Your ways; but even what I don't understand (because Your ways are so far above my ways!), help me to obey, trusting You to work out the details. I am so weak in myself, Father; strengthen me in Your strength, to always stand and walk confidently, continually going forward toward You, and achieving good success in Your plans for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, March 6, 2017
Sunday, March 5, 2017
In His Eyes
Exodus 15:26
Then God said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, Who heals you."
Here I am focusing on, "do what is right in His eyes." We are to formulate our days and value our own lives by God, what He says about us, what we are to do, how we are to think; not any other human being. When we consider our worth by another person, that is called co-dependence, which is dysfunctional. We each stand before our Master, not before one another. We are not to put another human being above us as the determiner of our worth--that's God's place.
I don't know how many times I've read in the Bible that we are to "be careful," "listen carefully." "pay attention." To really listen to what God says takes a concerted effort. I can't just read carelessly and expect to absorb God's ways by osmosis, I have to narrow my focus onto what God is actually saying to me. I need to remember what I read and think about it as I go about my day. I need to sit down and really ponder what it means, and how I am to incorporate it into my thinking and my attitudes. I need to constantly muse on how all the principles fit together into a comprehensive program that affects all of my life.
This is what all the laws, rules, commandments, regulations and decrees were to teach the Hebrews. This whole Law was to direct God's people into living their lives God's way. Then God would bless them with great worldly prosperity and healthy relationships with one another. And they would enjoy exceptional physical health, also.
Today we can read all these pages and discern the basic principles that underlie the laws. Jesus fulfilled all the letter of these laws; now He has written these principles on our hearts, to understand why He had the Israelis do the things they were to do. So we are to "obey" at a much deeper level: we can align our thinking and attitudes with the ideas behind the statutes, and not just consider our actions. Actions are the final result of what we have already thought about, considered and decided.
People look at the outward, what we do. But God looks into our hearts and souls, to see our inward motivations and reasons for why we do what we do, and He is the One to Whom we will give account.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Then God said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, Who heals you."
Here I am focusing on, "do what is right in His eyes." We are to formulate our days and value our own lives by God, what He says about us, what we are to do, how we are to think; not any other human being. When we consider our worth by another person, that is called co-dependence, which is dysfunctional. We each stand before our Master, not before one another. We are not to put another human being above us as the determiner of our worth--that's God's place.
I don't know how many times I've read in the Bible that we are to "be careful," "listen carefully." "pay attention." To really listen to what God says takes a concerted effort. I can't just read carelessly and expect to absorb God's ways by osmosis, I have to narrow my focus onto what God is actually saying to me. I need to remember what I read and think about it as I go about my day. I need to sit down and really ponder what it means, and how I am to incorporate it into my thinking and my attitudes. I need to constantly muse on how all the principles fit together into a comprehensive program that affects all of my life.
This is what all the laws, rules, commandments, regulations and decrees were to teach the Hebrews. This whole Law was to direct God's people into living their lives God's way. Then God would bless them with great worldly prosperity and healthy relationships with one another. And they would enjoy exceptional physical health, also.
Today we can read all these pages and discern the basic principles that underlie the laws. Jesus fulfilled all the letter of these laws; now He has written these principles on our hearts, to understand why He had the Israelis do the things they were to do. So we are to "obey" at a much deeper level: we can align our thinking and attitudes with the ideas behind the statutes, and not just consider our actions. Actions are the final result of what we have already thought about, considered and decided.
People look at the outward, what we do. But God looks into our hearts and souls, to see our inward motivations and reasons for why we do what we do, and He is the One to Whom we will give account.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Indifference, Luke-Warm
Revelation 3:19
I am the One Who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference.
This is one of the admonitions we are to heed as God's church today. And this is not the only place we see this in the Bible.
Hebrews 12:5-6 tells us: And have you forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son."
The writer of Hebrews is quoting Proverbs 3:11-12, that says, My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Even in the earliest scroll ever recorded in the Bible, the Book of Job, Elihu tells us, But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, He tells them what they have done--that they have sinned arrogantly. He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. If they obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. But if they will not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge (Job 36:8-12).
So we see that the whole Word, from the first to the last records, admonish us, as His church, His sons and daughters, to listen to His rebuke and correction when we err; to pay attention to what we are learning of God's ways to apply them to our thinking processes and attitudes and our daily lives and in our interactions with one another, and not be indifferent or luke-warm about any of these things.
And to consider our own hearts whenever we encounter opposition or trials or troubles or temptations or persecutions, to see these sorrows as our dear Father's teaching us to change something that we are holding on to; to let go of that grudge, or to pay that bill, or to forgive that one that hurt or harmed us, or change our entertainment to something more wholesome, or whatever we are allowing into our lives that we are indifferent to, that is not conducive to our spiritual maturing in growing closer to our Lord.
Jesus is coming soon, and I want to be ready to meet Him face-to-face, having nothing in my mind or heart that I would be ashamed to share with Him. And I want the same for all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I am the One Who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference.
This is one of the admonitions we are to heed as God's church today. And this is not the only place we see this in the Bible.
Hebrews 12:5-6 tells us: And have you forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son."
The writer of Hebrews is quoting Proverbs 3:11-12, that says, My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Even in the earliest scroll ever recorded in the Bible, the Book of Job, Elihu tells us, But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, He tells them what they have done--that they have sinned arrogantly. He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. If they obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. But if they will not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge (Job 36:8-12).
So we see that the whole Word, from the first to the last records, admonish us, as His church, His sons and daughters, to listen to His rebuke and correction when we err; to pay attention to what we are learning of God's ways to apply them to our thinking processes and attitudes and our daily lives and in our interactions with one another, and not be indifferent or luke-warm about any of these things.
And to consider our own hearts whenever we encounter opposition or trials or troubles or temptations or persecutions, to see these sorrows as our dear Father's teaching us to change something that we are holding on to; to let go of that grudge, or to pay that bill, or to forgive that one that hurt or harmed us, or change our entertainment to something more wholesome, or whatever we are allowing into our lives that we are indifferent to, that is not conducive to our spiritual maturing in growing closer to our Lord.
Jesus is coming soon, and I want to be ready to meet Him face-to-face, having nothing in my mind or heart that I would be ashamed to share with Him. And I want the same for all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, March 3, 2017
We Need To Listen
Revelation 3:22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
As God's church, we need to listen to what His Spirit says to these churches, because God has told us what to watch out for and be on guard against, to stay true to our Lord and His ways.
O my Father, I come to You, willing and desirous to hear and learn. Please give me an accurate understanding of what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Please help me to sort out all the things I have previously heard about these chapters, and discard whatever is not accurate according to Your Truth. Teach me what the Spirit is saying to me, that I may apply these Truths to my own daily life and my prayer life with You. Teach me how to pray: for myself, my family and their families, my church, Your church in America, Your church in the rest of the world, Your precious ones who are being persecuted and martyred, and Your Plan of the Ages that You are executing even now, today. Lord Abba Daddy Father and King Christ Jesus, continue to proceed with Your great Plan to bring everything to its culmination, its finish.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
As God's church, we need to listen to what His Spirit says to these churches, because God has told us what to watch out for and be on guard against, to stay true to our Lord and His ways.
O my Father, I come to You, willing and desirous to hear and learn. Please give me an accurate understanding of what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Please help me to sort out all the things I have previously heard about these chapters, and discard whatever is not accurate according to Your Truth. Teach me what the Spirit is saying to me, that I may apply these Truths to my own daily life and my prayer life with You. Teach me how to pray: for myself, my family and their families, my church, Your church in America, Your church in the rest of the world, Your precious ones who are being persecuted and martyred, and Your Plan of the Ages that You are executing even now, today. Lord Abba Daddy Father and King Christ Jesus, continue to proceed with Your great Plan to bring everything to its culmination, its finish.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Not Attached
I Corinthians 7:31
Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.
O my Father, please allow me to divest myself of this property, so I can end my attachment to it. I feel fettered to this place, and I long to be free of it.
I also pray that You would show me how to put to use all You have taught me about relationships since You took my husband home to be with You. Would you have me advise and counsel other couples in their attitudes and views of each other to help them in their relationships, or have You been preparing another partner for me, and me for him?
If You have, then I ask that You would bring his path to cross mine. You know that I would appreciate having another hero, one who would be my life-partner as well as a prayer-partner, a travel-partner, and a missionary and ministry partner. Someone who loves You with his whole heart and knows You well through Your Spirit and an extensive familiarity with Your Word. That we can serve You together until our King returns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.
O my Father, please allow me to divest myself of this property, so I can end my attachment to it. I feel fettered to this place, and I long to be free of it.
I also pray that You would show me how to put to use all You have taught me about relationships since You took my husband home to be with You. Would you have me advise and counsel other couples in their attitudes and views of each other to help them in their relationships, or have You been preparing another partner for me, and me for him?
If You have, then I ask that You would bring his path to cross mine. You know that I would appreciate having another hero, one who would be my life-partner as well as a prayer-partner, a travel-partner, and a missionary and ministry partner. Someone who loves You with his whole heart and knows You well through Your Spirit and an extensive familiarity with Your Word. That we can serve You together until our King returns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
God Is Just
Ezra 9:15
O Lord, God of Israel, You are just. We come before You in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in Your presence.
O my Father, You are just and righteous in Your judgments. You are just in condemning all our sins; the large, obvious ones as well as the tiny little thoughts we entertain privately in our own minds. They are all evil and detestable in Your sight, and deserve condemnation.
But You have also been so gracious to us in Your great mercy. In Your great wisdom You have devised an ingenious plan, so that You can be just, and also the justifier of us who have rebelled and fallen, and turned to You. If I say You are clever, my words seem so trite, so totally inadequate to express my heart's sentiments. Your majesty shows and displays Your love, Your wisdom, Your righteousness, Your beauty, Your strength, Your enormity. Mere words cannot express all You are, for You are so far beyond our paltry understanding and comprehension.
Forgive us, Father, in Your great mercy, and strengthen us in our weaknesses to resist our enemy and our own flesh. Continue to show us how to live our lives in alignment with Your ways; to think Your thoughts, not ours, to do Your works, not ours, to go where You would have us go, and speak only the words You put into our mouths. Then we will be successful in Your eyes, and You will receive all the honor, all the glory, for all You have done.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
O Lord, God of Israel, You are just. We come before You in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in Your presence.
O my Father, You are just and righteous in Your judgments. You are just in condemning all our sins; the large, obvious ones as well as the tiny little thoughts we entertain privately in our own minds. They are all evil and detestable in Your sight, and deserve condemnation.
But You have also been so gracious to us in Your great mercy. In Your great wisdom You have devised an ingenious plan, so that You can be just, and also the justifier of us who have rebelled and fallen, and turned to You. If I say You are clever, my words seem so trite, so totally inadequate to express my heart's sentiments. Your majesty shows and displays Your love, Your wisdom, Your righteousness, Your beauty, Your strength, Your enormity. Mere words cannot express all You are, for You are so far beyond our paltry understanding and comprehension.
Forgive us, Father, in Your great mercy, and strengthen us in our weaknesses to resist our enemy and our own flesh. Continue to show us how to live our lives in alignment with Your ways; to think Your thoughts, not ours, to do Your works, not ours, to go where You would have us go, and speak only the words You put into our mouths. Then we will be successful in Your eyes, and You will receive all the honor, all the glory, for all You have done.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Every Hidden Motive
Proverbs 20:27
The Lord's light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
O my Father, let Your light penetrate my soul and spirit, expose to me, reveal to me my own hidden motives. I talk myself into thinking that what I'm doing is good and godly, and on the surface it appears to be. But Your light penetrates the inner recesses of my psyche and exposes my hidden motives of pride and self-promotion. And they are ugly.
Forgive me, Father, and cleanse me, clean out those nasty wounds, those detestable parasites wounding my soul. Heal me and anoint me with Your oil of gladness, as Your joy is my strength; and continue to prepare me to be a beautiful bride, fit and suitable and fully prepared to be my Lord's bride.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Lord's light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
O my Father, let Your light penetrate my soul and spirit, expose to me, reveal to me my own hidden motives. I talk myself into thinking that what I'm doing is good and godly, and on the surface it appears to be. But Your light penetrates the inner recesses of my psyche and exposes my hidden motives of pride and self-promotion. And they are ugly.
Forgive me, Father, and cleanse me, clean out those nasty wounds, those detestable parasites wounding my soul. Heal me and anoint me with Your oil of gladness, as Your joy is my strength; and continue to prepare me to be a beautiful bride, fit and suitable and fully prepared to be my Lord's bride.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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