“Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” – Mark 14:37-38 NKJV
Father, thank You for pausing me here this morning, leading me to consider these words. As I do, it dawns on me that Jesus just told these with Him that they would fall away and deny Him. If ever they needed to be praying, it was then. He was warning them of what was coming to Him and that one of their number would betray Him. If ever they needed to be praying, it was then.
Father God, You call us to Yourself, giving us assignment in living and serving You. Living for You is bigger than our flesh can accomplish without Your work in us and cannot be done apart from You. The wisdom of this world, our very flesh, and demonic influences stand against us, set to draw us into falsehood and sin. If ever we need to be praying and seeking Your Face, it is now.
Here am I, O God. Teach me to pray fervently, just as Jesus did. In Jesus, amen.
The Literal Bible app defines the use of “this generation”, as used in this verse, to mean “of all the people of a given period.” The question I see in need of understanding is, “What is ‘the given period’ addressed here?”
Now, before I go further, let me clarify here, I am not a Theologian. And I am not an expert on biblical, end-time prophecy. I am a disciple of Christ, seeking Him for understanding. This is my understanding at this point in my spiritual growth; and I am still growing.
As Jesus said, only Father God knows the day or hour of the fullness of times. We are tasked with recognizing the signs and symptoms of the times and epochs in which we live, and to make sure we are found watchful, faithful, and ready when He comes. For us to do that, we must be practicing students of His Word, disciples of Christ, seeking God’s wise council that we may understand truth and walk in it.
Now let’s look at this passage, and I’ll share my understanding of these things. May the heart of the Father lead us to His truth.
““But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”” – Mark 13:24-37
Verse 32 says, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
In this passage, Jesus says that He does not know the timetable for the completion of these things, so that tells me the “generation” spoken of is not necessarily meaning that generation to whom He is speaking, for that would be designating a timeline which He claims no knowledge of. The “generation” spoken of, in my estimation then, would be the people destined to watch and wait for His coming: those people who live from that moment of His speaking, through to the time set by God. Has that time come and gone yet? Look back in Mark 13 to verse 14:
““So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”” – Mark 13:14 (Daniel 11-12)
This would appear to be the last of the signs we are told to watch for by Jesus. Since Jesus speaks of an event He has not seen fulfilled, we know that nothing before His words fit the parameters of this prophetic marker. I have not seen this fulfilled yet, in life, nor have I heard of it in historic account.
Some who say that the ascension of Christ was it fail to read and understand Paul’s warning to those who were being troubled by some who said that the rapture of the saints had already happened, and those left behind at that time missed the boat:
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” – II Thessalonians 2:1-4 NKJV
Paul’s word put to rest the thought of Christ’s ascension being the expected rapture event.
Some say this passage speaks of a spirit of evil that will possess the heart of men. If that’s it, we are certainly there. But the wording here would appear to be referencing a literal person, personifying the deepest levels of evil, who will profess himself to be God incarnate, having come again and being the one for whom we watch. If this is the case, I have not seen this yet.
Thus, I, for one, still watch and wait expectantly. And I continue to pray for lost souls to come to Christ before it is too late.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus, for the days are evil. But please, draw our beloveds in and hold off until the last one who will say, “I do” to You says so. I trust Your patience, knowing that You wish none to perish, but all to come to repentance. For as long as You tarry, Your patience still waits and works to draw the last sheep home.
Make us faithful in the wait, Lord, to fearlessly and shamelessly share Your gospel truth at every opportunity. Jesus is the way, truth and life, the only Name by which we must be saved. Open eyes, ears, hearts, minds, and wills to know truth and surrender to You while there is still time. In Jesus, amen.
Father, I so greatly appreciate being able to look at the many uses and benefits of salt. It greatly increases understanding of what saltiness looks like on Your people. We are called to be salt in the earth and use gracious speech, seasoned with salt. Salt adds flavor and lessens bitterness, soothes the burning sting, lessons heat and puts out fire, preserves, cleanses and purifies, removes stains, provides pest control, tests for rottenness, clarifies view, has a strengthening effect, and more.
Father, may my speech be filled with just the right amount of salt for every occasion. Make my life salty to the glory of Your name and fulfillment of Your purpose in me. In Jesus, amen.
As I ask You, Father, if there’s any I haven’t forgiven, those used to put people intent on evil in authority, those leading us to the evil prevalent in our land today come to heart. I hate the evil, especially that which threatens the very life and wellbeing of our children and grandchildren. But I must forgive those who “do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). I must forgive for my own sake as exemplifies You (Isaiah 43:25).
Here am I, O God. Forgive and cleanse me of this unforgiving spirit. The greatest evil ever done was the killing of the Lord of Glory, yet it was most necessary to the fulfillment of Your purposed plan. You are still working Your plan, O God. Make us faithful to trust You, who will bring good to those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28).
You will make Your servants stand (Romans 14:4). May I be found standing firm in Christ, for it’s in His name and for Your glory that I pray, amen.
“Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”” – Mark 7:31-37
“But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”” – Mark 8:12
I noticed the sigh of Jesus in chapter 7, then this sigh. Was the heart of the people in 7 a desire for a sign as well? Is that why He took the man away from the crowd to heal him? Where else does Jesus sigh?
Doing a search using the Literal Word App, there are only 10 “sighs” found in scripture. These two are the only ones found in the NT. All others are in the old.
“Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God.” — Exodus 2:23
“I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.” — Psalm 6:6
“For my life is spent with sorrow And my years with sighing; My strength has failed because of my iniquity, And my body has wasted away.” — Psalm 31:10
“Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me.” — Psalm 38:9-10
“My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah. You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.” — Psalm 77:1-4
Read this chapter and see how the sigh here comes from viewing the circumstances of life without remembering the faithfulness of God. See how remembering God’s hand working in past situations brings a sigh to one’s failure to see and trust God in the now. Then understand the sigh of Jesus at the inability of the people to trust God’s faithfulness after all the miraculous works He did. Yet they still needed a sign. This leads me to ask, will I trust God though I do not see in the moment the work He is accomplishing?
“You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your presence. For all our days have declined in Your fury; We have finished our years like a sigh. As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. Who understands the power of Your anger And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:8-12
“Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. The new wine mourns, The vine decays, All the merry-hearted sigh. The gaiety of tambourines ceases, The noise of revelers stops, The gaiety of the harp ceases. They do not drink wine with song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The city of chaos is broken down; Every house is shut up so that none may enter. There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All joy turns to gloom. The gaiety of the earth is banished.” — Isaiah 24:6-11
“No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.” — Isaiah 35:9-10
“Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over? So the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.” — Isaiah 51:10-11
“Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. The LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders who were before the temple.” — Ezekiel 9:3-6
Forgive me, Father, when I cause Your heart to sigh because of fear and doubt that grabs me. Empower me to seek Your face and trust in You with whole heart. You are faithful. Make me faithful to trust You more in these days that cause my heart to ((sigh)), appalled at the sin of humankind, a sigh that is deeper than ever before, longing for Your presence in the land of the living. In Jesus, amen.
“Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased [as if exhausted by its own activity]; and they were completely overwhelmed, because they had not understood [the miracle of] the loaves [how it revealed the power and deity of Jesus]; but [in fact] their heart was hardened [being oblivious and indifferent to His amazing works].” – Mark 6:51-52 AMP
They took it for granted. The power and might of the Christ became commonplace to them. It made the evidence of His power go over their heads without note.
To take something for granted: “to believe something to be the truth without even thinking about.” Cambridge Dictionary
“The expression to take for granted means “to accept without question or objection,” and often implies a lack of appreciation or gratitude. (E.g., “Many of us may take for granted the fact that we have access to clean drinking water.”)
“When it comes to people, to take someone for granted means to take advantage of, show no appreciation for, or undervalue them.” – Dictionary.com
Father, forgive me for failure to be amazed and realize Your power and ability to work among us. Nothing is too difficult for You. You can and will accomplish what concerns me. I can trust You. Forgive when I forget that You are God.
You place on my heart a work You desire I do, and I do so willingly, but I too readily slip into trusting my own ability instead of relying on Yours. You don’t need me to accomplish Your purpose in a work You lead me to. It is a privilege and joy to be Your instrument in accomplishing Your purpose. But it is still Your work in and through me. I can do nothing truly good or of eternal purpose apart from You. Father, You are my first, most vital need and necessity. Help me remember Your greatness and give You the glory due Your name.
Forgive me when I forget Who You are, becoming hardened against Your reality and might, failing to trust You to direct me and accomplish Your purpose in me. You are faithful. I trust You. Make Yourself known in, to, and through me. In Jesus, amen.
Any one of us weak fleshed beings are capable of denying the Christ apart from Your work of grace in us, Lord. Draw near to me, Lord, as I draw near to You. Fill me with Your Holy Presence, for apart from You I can do nothing. You are my first, most vital need and necessity. You are the oil in my lamp that keeps me dressed in readiness with lamps alight. Make me faithful and, according to Your faithful Word, empower me to stand despite any fear that comes my way. You are my hope and my help. I bow to You. This I pray in Jesus, amen.
The hardest and most important thing about confessing sin is seeing self rightly and truly, as You see me. I too readily tend to look at myself with rose colored glasses, if I am not careful to honestly and earnestly seek Your opinion or keep ears attuned to You.
I understand the importance of right relationship with You, Father, and the role of sincere repentance in maintaining that connection with You. Empower me to be quick in hearing You and faithful in seeking hard after You. Grant me eyes to see clearly as You see me; ears to hear truly, recognizing Your voice over those that are falsely self approving and deceptive; a mind of comprehensive understanding, in agreement with Your will done Your way; a heart set to seeking You with right desire for You as first and foremost need and necessity; and a spirit vitally united with Your Spirit, bowed down to You in willing obedience.
“This is my desire to honor You. Lord with all my heart I worship You. All I have within me, I give You praise. All that I adore is in You. Lord I give You my heart. I give You my soul, I live for You alone. Every breath that I take, Every moment I’m awake, Lord have Your way in me.” In Jesus, amen.
Thank You, Father, that You desire a loving, open, full, complete, and trusting relationship with us, so much so that You gave Your Son to achieve it. Thank You that as we seek You wholeheartedly, You give us Your Spirit Teacher to make Yourself known to us, disclosing Yourself and Your Word to our understanding. I praise You that, in Christ, You open the chambers of Your secret place, where we can meet heart to heart, a place no one can take from us. There, through Your Living Word, You instruct us in the way in which we must go, and grant us grace sufficient for our successful journey through this life, taking us safely to the fullness of Your Presence.
Thank You that as we earnestly seek You, You grant us understanding of how to walk out our salvation as pleases You, and You undergird us as Your bondservant-child, making us stand to the glory of Your name and the fulfillment of Your purpose. Nothing is to difficult for You. I bow in faith’s trust, and rise in belief’s loving obedience. Glory to Your Name, in Jesus, amen.
Every time we face something in life that appears impossible or tempts us away from faithfully following You; any time we sense Your call to a hard thing we aren’t sure we can do; with every opportunity to doubt or fear, a stone pops up to cause stumbling, making us stop, leading us to sin against You. Father, grant us faith to trust You that, in all You call us to and every opportunity You set before us, You are with us to move those stones or show us the path to removing their hindrance. When we walk with faith that fully trusts You, stones of stumbling get crushed under the Cornerstone of our faith, and we walk free to stand firm on the foundation of our victory in Christ. Increase our trust as we walk securely in The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Make us faithful to trust You more and obey You fully, especially in the hard places. IJA
“For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering.” – Hebrews 2:10 AMPC
Thank You, Lord, for doing life in human experience to the full so You are adequately equipped to encourage, strengthen, and help us in our struggles. Thank You that You understand human flesh and how to overcome, setting the example that helps us know truth so we can walk free indeed. Thank You for being with us and for us. May we be faithful in walking through life with and for You. In Jesus, amen.
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” – Revelations 2:2-6
Father, thank You for this passage that always gives me opportunity for self evaluation. Am I producing a work that honors You as God, laboring in patient endurance out of love for You, as pleases You as my First and Foremost desire? Am I testing the teachers and teaching I sit under by digging into Your word for myself, that I may know truth, giving me a basis for recognizing falsehood? Do I live as one who hates evil? Am I remaining true to You as my First Love?
Here am I, O God. Search me and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts. Grant me eyes to see myself – my heart – as You see me. See if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me to a right heart in walking through life into eternal purposes fulfilled to the glory of Your Name. Grant me right heart attitudes in serving You with whole hearted fervor, practicing patient endurance, to a finish that glorifies Your name and accomplishes Your purpose. May I realize the evil around me and recognize any way in which I inadvertently give myself to those things that displease and dishonor You. Deliver me from evil, and lead me to repentance that reestablishes right standing with You. Make me a light that helps those I love or come in contact with to find You for themselves. This I pray in Jesus’ Name and by His authority, amen.
Father God, You have been encouraging my prayer life all morning, reminding me to ask, seek, and knock with a view toward right and true evaluation of my motives in my requests. To pray with a pure heart dictated by love. To pray with a heart set to love You through obedience. To seek Your face with a whole heart set on things above, not on worldly desires, lusts of my flesh, or demonic wisdom and influence. Praying this way does require an honesty with self and with You that only Your Holy Presence can empower in me. As You give me eyes to see my own heart and know the truth of it, only then can I pray in truth and righteousness, from an honest stance and in full assurance of faith that reveals my trust in You. Here am I, O God. Grant me understanding that will empower me to ask, seek, and knock with a pure heart and clean hands. In Jesus, amen.
Father, thank You that You do care about the smallest details of our lives, and You tell us to seek You for them, as whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we are to do it to the glory of Your Name.
As I pray that, my heart turns to Luke 16:10, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”
Of course You care about the smallest details of our lives, for how we behave in the small speaks volumes about our ability to rightly and truly handle the big. If we won’t seek You, Your will and Your way, in the small things, why should You bless us with and in the big. Thank You for this enlightening and encouraging truth. In Jesus, amen.
As I have studied Your Word, I have come to understand that the thing that caused You to sweat blood drops was knowing that You would, for the first time EVER, experience the turned back of God who could not look on our sins born on Your shoulders on that cross, thus, saving us from eternal damnation. You saved us who know Your sacrificial gift, have received it and are walking out the salvation You provided, from ever having to know God’s turned back. For this, my eternal soul saved in Christ and walked out in love for You, I thankfully praise You. In Christ, amen.
Thank You for the privilege of allowing me to know You as Abba, my loving, life giving, caring Father. Thank You for teaching Your daughter to trust Your love, which disciplines me for my eternal good and Your here and now and everlasting glory. May I be found faithful to turn quickly to Your truth and walk away from sin to the path of Your will done Your way. It is my greatest desire to follow and serve You. Grant me eyes to see, ears to hear, a mind to know, and a believing, understanding heart that gives way to a willing Spirit of obedience. In Jesus, Amen.
“And He said to them, When you pray, say: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come. Your will be done [held holy and revered] on earth as it is in heaven.” – Luke 11:2 AMPC
Thank You, Father God, for loving and receiving me, and for delivering me from my most unjustifiably rebellious and miserable failures, consummate waste and ruined potential. Here am I, O God. Grant me eyes the see and recognize every opportunity You give me to honor and glorify You as Lord of lords and King of kings, my Savior. In Jesus holy and righteous name I pray, amen.
Father, by the power of Your Spirit working in and on me, grant me to walk in Your ways, guarding and keeping my heart so it will be perfect and blameless toward You. May my heart prove to be completely Yours, loyal in all things, fully committed to You. Fill me to overflowing with the power of Your holy presence so that my every thought, desire, word, work, and deed prove my heart to be completely dedicated to You, Your will, and Your way as I walk this pilgrimage to Your eternal Kingdom. Set my mind and heart, and keep them set on the things above where Christ is, seated on the throne of glory, and let Your throne possess me. In Jesus, Amen.
If you have the smallest seed of faith in God, you have enough faith. The size of one’s faith is not the issue. It’s viability, soil, and focus is.
Is your faith living and growing in a way that bears the fruit of it? Is your faith planted in the the soil of a heart tilled, cultivated, fed, and watered by God? Is faith focused on the healing or thing desired, or on the Healer – on the God who can be believed and trusted? Is your desire on the thing you want, or on the One who so greatly desires you that He gave His only begotten Son, so whoever believes in Him with trusting faith may be saved for all eternity with Him who desires it? Is the intent of your heart in your request so you can have your desire and use it on your lust? Or is your desire to please and honor God in accordance with His will, design, and purpose?
Sometimes God leaves us in our place of need because it is the only thing that causes us to seek Him. Sometimes we remain in our point of need because we refuse to leave the sinful things that put us there. Sometimes He leaves us in our need because He has a purpose to be fulfilled in and through us, purposes our need opens opportunities for us to fulfill.
God’s desire is for us to seek Him whole heartedly; and in our seeking, to find Him; and in our finding Him, to KNOW Him – discovering Him faithful and true; and in our knowing Him, to live Him – faithful and true; and in our living Him, to make Him known.
Your faith is not too small. If you truly have faith in the One who is faithful and true, He will feed and water and tend that seed of faith until it is strong and productive of His glory and Crown. Focus on Him whose desire is for you and see the great things He will do in and through you because you have found Him to be your true need and desire. Seek His face more than His hand and you will find both. That is His promise and plan. For those who seek Him wholeheartedly will find Him. We will not be disappointed or put to shame when we seek to please the One in whom we have believed and trusted.
I see a practice among God’s people that stems from the fallacy of pulling a portion of scripture out of context and running with it as the sum of all truth. One such practice dictates the way many fight against evil. People too often take “resist the devil and he must flee,” under their belt and run with it, fighting the devil. But before that we are told, “submit, therefore, to God.”
“Therefore” in scripture tells us we need to look back and see what the “therefore” is there for. Looking back this scripture passage says, “Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:5-7 NASB1995
Submission requires humility that bows in surrender to the work of God’s Spirit in us. God is jealous to see this work accomplished in us. When we enter this level of submission to God in surrendering ourselves to Holy Spirit’s work in us, we automatically resist the devil in that act of submission. Thus we are instructed, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” James 4:8-10 NASB1995
We are lifted to victory in the spiritual battles of life as we draw near in humility to submit to God. As we focus on the death of our flesh through submission to God, we win without ever acknowledging the devil. Our humbled submission automatically resists him who must then flee, not because of us, but because of our proximity to God in the working of God’s Spirit in us.
Father, my daily desire is to know You more, and live You more fully and completely. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live, I live by faith in this Son off God who loved even me and gave Himself up for me. That truth being so, we are not promised ease in this life. Jesus says we will have trouble. But He has overcome the world and, as we yoke with Him to know Him, He will lead us through to live in His victorious peace that passes understanding as we rest our load in union with Him. Help us, Lord, to realize when we have changed yokes or changed position in His yoke. Empower us to enter Your rest and find strength for each challenge that comes to the load we bear in Christ. Thank You that, as we humble ourselves in Christ, we find rest for our souls that quiets the storms this life’s trouble too often brings. In Jesus, Amen.
Father, I choose You. Empower, by Your presence in me, that I may walk in the light of Your way. Grant me to press forward in Your service without fear, keeping eyes focused on the path before me, refusing to look back with longing to days gone by. I cannot see what You have for me in service to You where I am now if I let longing for the past draw my attention away from the now. Empower me to trust that, as long as You give breath to my lungs, You have purpose for me in these days, and keep my focus on Your footfalls leading the way before me. In Jesus I pray, amen.
Father calls his people to love, wholeheartedly, unconditionally, and compassionately. Recently, He inspired by the power of the Spirit in me, an understanding that I was failing to fully love someone because I am failing to recognize any value in them. When I see only the things that frustrate me in them: their faults, flaws, annoying habits, or past sins, making me unable to give focus to the good that is in them, love actions toward them become burdensome.
It is difficult at best to have love for those we fail to value. It is near impossible to truly care for, and fully trust them. So what’s the solution.
One: forgive the past for my own sake, following the example of God in Isaiah 43:25 and John 3:16. It hurts me to hold unforgiveness, keeping me from being able to rightly, truly, and justly give love and care that honors God. So for my sake in protecting self from bitterness, hate, and other unloving, self-destructive attributes, I must choose to forgive and refuse to hold a grudge.
Two: adjust my focus. God tells us how to rightly think so we can walk in peace with God, self, and others.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:8-9 NKJV
Think on — the true:
Is the person the same as when they hurt you or are they different? Do they mean to harm, or are they acting out of their own hurt from days gone by? We are all wounded souls, sin sick and war torn. We all need the healing balm of Christ, the Savior. See the truth of their need and your own. See the truth of the Savior. “What would Jesus do?” is a legitimate truth to discern.
— the noble:
One who is noble possesses or shows qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor. Being truthful in your evaluation of another, do you see any such qualities? We must be watchful for every sign of nobility and focus on those attributes in our love toward others. While we are at it, are we practicing such noble traits toward those around us? Be careful of picking at other people’s splinters while ignoring one’s own logs. Too often the things we see to dislike in others is a reflection of what we hate in ourselves.
— the just
Are we being just in our focus? Often I find people’s behavior toward me is a response to some perceived insult from my words or actions toward them. Tiredness, the concerns of this world, miscommunication, and more can effect our actions and reactions in word and deed toward others without our realizing it. Many other times the response I receive from another has nothing to do with me. Some thing they are troubled with in some unrelated area of their lives may hit me as I inadvertently get in the path of their frustration. Seeking to discern truth in a situation leads to just assessment and the ability to clear the air with a more comprehensive understanding.
— the good — the lovely — the good report — their virtues — anything praiseworthy
All these points for the focus of our thoughts and opinion of those we are called to love are vital to our ability to value them. Meditate on these things; practice these attributes in relationships. Focus on these things worthy of value in one to another will work God’s peace in our relationships and strengthen our love walk.
This is a “food for thought” post. Bare with me for a little ground work:
““Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.” – NLT
“Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. [Heb. 8:1, 2; 10:1.]” – AMPC
“Salvation is God’s grand design for recovering His original plan: God tabernacling with man!” …According to the Word of God, the plan is working!” Jack Hayford
“Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.” – Hebrews 8:1-2 NASB1995
“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NASB1995
“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.” – Hebrews 10:1 NASB1995
We are the tabernacle (temple) of God who desires to DWELL among us. The question is, are we living it? Are we living in such a way that our God is finding SANCTUARY in His Temple? Are we a dwelling place for Him, set up and made ready for His comfort, supply, and security? Does He find a restful sanctuary in us? To aid our thought, let’s get Merriam-Websters help.
Dwell – to remain for a time; to live as a resident; exist in; lie in; to keep the attention directed —used with on or upon; to speak or write insistently —used with on or upon.
Synonym: Abide – to bear patiently : TOLERATE; to endure without yielding : WITHSTAND; to wait for : AWAIT; to accept without objection; to remain stable or fixed in a state; to continue in a place : SOJOURN.
Sanctuary – a consecrated place: such as the ancient Hebrew temple at Jerusalem or its holy of holies; the most sacred part of a religious building (such as the part of a Christian church in which the altar is placed); the room in which general worship services are held. A place of refuge and protection.
Synonym: Refuge – shelter or protection from danger or distress; a place that provides shelter or protection; something to which one has recourse in difficulty.
“The re- in refuge means basically “back” or “backward” rather than “again;” thus, a refugee is someone who is “fleeing backward”. Refuge tends to appear with certain other words: you generally “seek refuge”, “take refuge”, or “find refuge”. Religion may be a refuge from the woes of your life; a beautiful park may be a refuge from the noise of the city; and your bedroom may be a refuge from the madness of your family.” Merriam-Webster dictionary
I would add: A sanctuary is a safe place; a quiet place; a peaceful place; a restful place. A place where dwelling there is desired; a desirable abode – place of abiding. A storehouse that meets my needs. The place I most want to be.
God Himself is our Sanctuary, our Refuge, our Dwelling place, our Secret Place; our Hiding Place; a place where every supply is found for us to prepare for and live out of, so we can go and live Him in the earth, then return to find our refuge and rest, and to restock for the next outing.
As one with Him in Christ, does God find a sanctuary in which to dwell within and through us? Are we a place where He can find quiet, peace, joy, rejoicing, repose, and refreshing? Are we a place where He can rest, hide His treasures, and store His supply for safekeeping and good use? Can He dwell here and work out of us as a secure, well stocked, home base? Are we a peaceful place, rested in Him so He can find His rest in us?
I feel secure in God, knowing He loves me unconditionally. Though He will definitely sweep, mop, and dust me out, He will never leave nor forsake me. Does He find unconditional love and acceptance in me that will never desert Him? Am I at peace in His Presence, accepting of His Who; at peace with His living in, with, and out of me?
I find no fault in Him. He is a comfortable place for me as He keeps Himself Holy. Do I cooperate with Him as He makes Himself comfortable in me, making me Holy as He is Holy? Do I want to be?
As I am with Him and He with me, can others experience this Holy Sanctum with my God and me when they come near? Do they find peace and acceptance, encouragement and inspiration that inspires them to tabernacle with God?
Enjoy this day, this journey, Brothers and Sisters, wholeheartedly trusting “…that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6 NASB1995
Now, let’s construct a Tabernacle Sanctuary for our God, shall we!
Father, I habitually miss the worship meeting. Forgive me this. It’s been hard after being home with Johnny, worshiping with him via TV services, to find a place where I feel I belong. Nothing seems to fit. That coupled with not feeling good or sleeping well makes it hard to leave the TV services.
You showed me that the practice of habitual selflessness must extend to my practices toward You. It seems to me that this denial of self for the purpose of fulfilling Your call to ministry as a worshipper in the meeting together of Your people must extend to You through obedience to this call. Help me deny the tired, the sleeplessness, the “feel bad”, the headache, the lazy-don’t-wanna-do, the social anxiety, to honor and glorify You in the worship meetings. In Jesus, amen.
In YouVersion’s devotional series, Finding Rest (Day 1/5) titled Make Rest Your Friend the author writes:
“By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” – Genesis 2:2-3 NASB1995
““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” – Matthew 11:28-30 NASB1995
“Rest—to relax, pause, breathe, and be at ease.”
“Rest is a gift that we too easily tend to push aside. But life without rest is not sustainable. Rest refreshes our bodies, giving us the energy we need to honor God and to love others. Learning to practice rest is a spiritual discipline that helps you enjoy God’s presence and realign your priorities.
“God Himself modeled rest for us from the very beginning. Immediately after He finished creating the universe—and everything in it—he gave Himself a day to look back on the goodness of all the work that He had just completed.”
This is us, entering into rest from our works in the likeness of God’s example to us. I have practiced this rest for many years. But this morning God showed me something, revealing to me that, this personal practice of resting falls short of the call of God for our deepest, most vital rest. The call of God is. . .
“Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tried Me by testing Me, And saw My works for forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they did not know My ways’; As I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ” …So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
“Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
“…Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” – Hebrews 3:7-11, 19, 4:1-3, 6-11 NASB1995
This is what Father showed me today: our calling is not simply to rest from our works, but to enter into His rest with Him. I’ve always looked at it in this way YouVersion expresses it, as me, trying to rest in likeness to Him. He finished His work list then sat back to enjoy the produce of His hands.
But us entering His rest with Him is deeper and less “me” than that. He rested because He knew His work was finished “from the foundation of time” and it was good. We enter His rest when we join Him there, rested in the fact that God is finished, and always finishes His work, and His work is always revealed to be good. We enter His rest trusting His finished work, though we can’t see it yet, and earnestly anticipating the last word from Him: “and He saw that it was all good.”
Trust Him. Believe Him. Follow Him in obedience out of faith’s trusting belief. The whole while entering His rest with Him knowing He will not fail to finish the good work He started in and through you.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6 NASB1995
Cooperate with God, and be at rest in His finished product.
Thank You, Holy Presence, for being with me and in me. Thank You, Patēr, for granting me to house and know Your Holy Presence. Fill me up and spill me out. Continue to work in me this trust and assurance that powers me in these days. You truly are my first, most vital, and only true need and necessity. Thank You for allowing me to know and experience this truth. In Jesus, amen.
Thank You, Father God, for our anchor in Christ. It has held me steady for many – many years, none more-so than since Johnny went Home to You.
You have long told me that You are my Ishi, my Husband. When Johnny and I struggled in our marriage, as happens to some degree in all marriages, You told me this truth of who You are and held me steady through it all. And when he passed over, You reminded me of Your faithfulness to this role in my life.
In Christ, You, O God, are my steady place. Even now, in these trying days, You hold me securely and strengthen my stance. I stand in awe and pray this great peace for these with me. In Jesus, amen.
Father, despite my own struggles that preoccupy my mind and rob my attention, grant me eyes that clearly see others who are away from Jesus and without hope. Fill me with power to get outside of myself and tend the needs of others as of first priority. Show me how I can reach out to draw them into Your security, family, and the pure hope found only through Christ. Make me faithful as You are faithful. In Jesus, amen.
I don’t groan as in I am ready to die and leave this earth. I groan for the perfect: to put off this body of flesh and put on the glory of The Eternal. But I am not ready to go home yet, Father, You know. My life and work here is incomplete. You are not finished with me yet. There is much more to learn, grow into, and experience. And there is a testimony and service still in me for those You send me to. Here am I, O God. Have Your own way. In Jesus, Amen.
Seeking Holy Habitation, seated at God's feet (Exodus 15:13).
Darlene's Ponderings 