On a morning shortly before the new year I found myself at a troubled place wanting to hear the Father speak a word to my heart; it was then I was reminded of this scripture in Psalm 5:3; which says: “In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch”. David prayed this prayer with a heavy heart to remove his groaning cry; it was a prayer that could shelter his soul from evil and keep his path straight. My prayer began with just a glimpse of how my life had grieved the heavenly Father by saying, ‘Lord I want to be Your son–a vessel you can use, so remove all my failures–I don’t want to fail you as a son….’ As I continued to follow the word I had heard and watch, I believe the Lord spoke clearly by saying: “Your many devices grieve Me because in them you believe they help you know Me, and nothing could be further from the truth. Worship has become just another song on an endless playlist made common by meaningless repetition, but still you’re moved no closer to my heart to know Me….You grieve Me in that you look to preach to others and your the man I wish to speak to as a son….You can easily see the moral failures of others but will you see yourself?… I made you to be My son, My ambassador.” Interestingly enough the word I heard refreshed my heart namely because I believe it was spoken by a loving Father who had my best interest in mind. I further took great encouragement in His endearing reference to me as “son.” You see, if that word makes you angry, you will likely miss the Love the Heavenly Father has for you as a son. Do you contemplate your life as God’s son? To all sons He would ask: just where is your treasure?; And what has your ear?; Where is the leaning of your heart and to whom do you cry?; And whereby is your life occupied? Today, He calls you son if you hear His voice. In this new Year will you hear His voice, or will you just be content to go thru life understanding your God from a distance, semi-friendly with the knowledge of Him and missing your place as a son?
Tag: prayer
The Witness of My Love
The way you love is a witness about what and who you will follow, and it will surely dictate who you serve. Jesus said, “by this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love for others is the test of true disciples. It is this distinct quality that redeems men and promotes a witness that speaks louder than mere words. This past week, I felt as though the Lord was revealing to me the true marks of His discipleship. His disciple is a follower; he is led by the Spirit of God to become the example of Jesus by loving others through difficult and trying situations. Jesus commands this love by saying, ‘love as I loved you, follow me.’ ‘I loved you when you were far off, even haters of God, so I loved you and say love others like that.’ Second, His disciple is a fisher of men, a rescuer of souls in danger. He looks by the Spirit of God for ways to forgive and so redeem what would otherwise be lost. Third, he is a finisher. It’s not just that he is one who endures all things to the end, but that he, by wisdom, seeks to finish the work of God in the lives of others like a skillful carpenter would carefully adorn the inside of a large house making it possible for others to find life and living there. It is to complete the work that Jesus birthed in others through much prayer by learning to love instead of loving to hate. Jesus is calling you as His disciple to a love relationship thereby saying, ‘why not begin to pray that your closest relationships be marked by My love?’ Why not pray for those places where loving is hard? ‘Come, develop my character of love, because I have loved you through some difficult times so you could be, as My disciple, the witness of My love.’
Two Steps to Right Thinking
Do you find, like the Apostle Paul, two kinds of thinking within your members–both in complete opposition to one another (Rom 7)? What do you do? You must take a position and do something, else live with the consequence of a double mind. Paul, according to Romans 7, looked for one who could deliver him from such confusion and torment. Often, we try and serve both mindsets, however when we choose that option, we put ourselves in the position of getting nothing we ask from God. Make no mistake, you will be enslaved by what you love and the ideas and images that you allow to occupy your heart. Recoginze your sin will leave you rather deceived as a Christian leaving you caught in a double mindset. Purpose to deal with your sin by not giving it a place to lodge. Recognize you will be sanctified by two things at the behest of the Holy Spirit working to conform you to His thinking. It is the word of God and prayer. These two things alone God will use like no other in order to bring the faith that pleases Him and the communication necessary to bring you to His mind. So get your mind right by coming to the word with a purposeful understanding, and take a stand, make a start to right thinking by calling on His Name today!
New Year’s Resolution
The new year is a time of new beginnings and fresh commitments to be honored, but the good news is, it is not just new year, it’s a new day- a time of new beginnings; it is the possibility in Jesus our Savior to start over with Him afresh! Scripture offers us a prescription for success this year against the pitfalls and entrapments of the enemy that will surely be there–adversarial relationships and situations sent expressly to test your faith. How will you respond? I believe the Holy Spirit speaking though Paul in his epistles to the Corinthians, urges us with these reminders to keep our faith on track. Remember these important things: 1)discipline yourself for Godliness (1 Cor. 9:24-27); 2) understand that a prayer life will be vital in removing the obstacles you face (2 Cor. 12:7);and 3) take an active role in the kingdom by realizing it is why you are here to let the Spirit of God work in you to activate the kingdom in others as His witnesses (2 Tim.4:10). –Blessings
GraceLife 