Lord, let my mouth be filled with Your praises, proclaiming Your righteousness and faithfulness from a heart that knows your trustworthiness. Let loving kindness and truth, preserve me in a way that causes these attributes to pour forth from me. I pray that You be magnified in my life, words, and deeds. Show Yourself strong as my deliverer. May all that I do and all that I say glorify You. In Jesus, amen.
Jesus willingly drank the cup, knowing it was necessary for the glory of the Father in fulfilling His plan for the good of all He came to save. Likewise, there are times the cup placed before us simply must be drank in willing faith, trusting God’s purpose to work His glory and plan for the good of those He loves and is reaching out to through us.
We may not understand the whys and wherefores at this time, but put the sword into the sheath. Trust God has a purpose in this challenge, As Jesus once told Paul, “It is hard for you to kick [repeatedly] against the goads [offering pointless resistance].” (Acts 26:14, AMP)
It is senseless to fight the purpose of God. Drink the cup, fight the good fight of faith, and trust purpose to be fulfilled.
This is my desire: to walk step by step and breath by breath in Your equipping, adequately prepared to introduce Your life, Your love, and Your power into each situation You bring me to. Thank You that we have not been left on the defensive or called to preserve the status quo, but equipped to let Jesus happen through us.
In Jesus, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” This is my hope and life-song as I walk daily in the assurance that You are continually working to bring me to perfection until the day of Christ. In You I trust. And by Your mercies, I present myself, a living and holy sacrifice to You.
May Your will be accomplished in and through me to the glory of Your name. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”” – Colossians 4:17 NASB1995
This verse was written specifically to Archippus. I’ve not researched him to see if we know anything about him, but we are not told specifics of him or his ministry here. All we see and know is it was important enough for Paul to write this word of encouragement, spurring Archippus on. This good word often catches my heart as from God to me, helping me consider my ways so as to finish the course in the things He has me doing.
Today, I read this encouragement in light of the focus to walk circumspectly, redeeming the time in wisdom, which is in accordance with the will of God (Eph. 5:15-17, NKJV), being filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects (Col. 1:9-12, NASB). The call to fulfill our ministry leads me to ask, in a generalized sense, what Colossians reveals to us as the will of God for us in ministering in His name. Rereading Colossians, here’s some things I found to consider.
“… Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. …We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” (1:23-24, 28-29)
Like Paul, each one of us is called to suffer for the Gospel in fulfilling the afflictions of Christ. We may not all be called to be preachers, teachers, and evangelists; but we are all called to “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15). One way of suffering our flesh as Jesus did comes as we deny fear and any other hindrance that comes to obedience to God in sharing the Gospel message and God’s grace to us.
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (2:7)
We are the hands and feet of God on earth. As we abide in Him and He in us, we are responsible to fulfill the afflictions of Christ as we daily take up our cross in self-denial to walk in the will and way of God. We continue Christ’s work of revealing the truth of the Father in our actions, reactions, and interactions as we deny fleshly impulses so that we may live in Christlikeness. We are not to represent ourselves and our own desires. We represent God, His will and His way.
One thing I have learned in my years of seeking after and serving God is that many people of the world know we are to be Christlike – though they don’t fully understand what that is. If I forget for one moment the Person of Christ that is to flow through me, they remember, and they catch every slip up, majoring on our humanness to the detriment of our godly example. And the Church of Christ gets the reputation of the hypocrisy the world sees.
In our daily living: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (3:16-17)
In the workplace and places of community service or home care: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (3:23-24)
Our walk of faith requires watchfulness for the purpose of maintaining a righteous life testimony. Praying for ourselves and for those of our fellowship is vital. We are called to devote ourselves to prayer, “keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” A specific hint as to how we are to pray is found in Paul’s encouragement to pray “that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ,” that we “may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.” (4:2-4)
Another hint in our praying for one another is seen in the example of Epaphras. There we learn to pray that we “may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.” (4:12-13)
We are to conduct ourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Thus, we pray to be found faithful. (4:5)
Our speech is to be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that we will know how you should respond to each person. Praying for God’s thoughts to direct and dictate our words is a good plan. (4:6)
Grace is God’s merciful love, set to build up in truth and empower in righteousness, not tear down in discord and destroy in corruption. A study of salt reveals a work of love that purifies, protects, preserves, and cleanses. This is the purpose and goal of our speech and a good hint as to how we are to pray.
Like the Jesus who is called Justus, we are to prove to be an encouragement to one another, and especially to those called to preach, teach, and evangelize, as they are on the frontlines, and often harshly judged. (4:11)
With these things in heart, I pray we each will be found faithful to take heed to the ministry which we have received in the Lord, that we may fulfill it. May we take up our cross daily and follow Jesus, The Christ. In Your name, Lord, make it so.
“Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”” – Exodus 33:18-20 NASB1995
God doesn’t promise us a life without trouble. Difficult days will come to all of us: good and evil. When trouble comes, we do well to keep our eyes open for signs of God‘s glory.
In this passage, Moses asks God to show him his glory. God answers with a response that tells us what we see when he reveals his glory. God‘s glory shows up when goodness passes before us. It shines forth as the name of the Lord is proclaimed. And it touches our hearts when graciousness and compassion reaches us.
It is seen in the lives of people who come around to help us in our days of trouble. It is seen in those who face the threat in order to protect us. We are touched by it through those who come to help us in our point of need. And we see it when we walk through the storm and recognize the backside of God‘s glory revealing to us how he has worked in our lives through the storm.
We don’t always recognize God when we’re walking through the hardship, stressed hurting, tired, and in pain. It’s at the end of the storm, when we look back and marvel at how God sent help in just the right moments, through just the right people, and met our need in loving abundance.
Take courage beloved in this current storm. The backside of glory is coming.
Father God, in the opportunities these devastating fires have presented me and each of us, Your children in Christ, empower us to accomplish Your will done Your way for the glory of Your name and the building of Your Kingdom and people. All I have and all I am belongs to You for Your Name’s sake. Make me a faithful steward of all Your good supply.
I want to use my home and resources well as I help these in need, Lord. Help me trust You with my home and the things going on here that make for wear and tear, and stress my patience and peace. Help me to trust Your supply for household things when this unusual strain is relieved. The important thing is to trust You, be Your light that reveals Your trustworthiness and care, and practice the hospitality that accomplishes Your righteousness and makes You known to the hearts of those I seek to help.
I want to love as You love, with patience, kindness, endurance, and graciousness. Help me give my all fearlessly, as You have given. This need will not pass us by in a day, Lord, as the devastation is extensive and area resources are stressed. It will take time to get people back into homes. Grant us endurance with peace of heart and mind, taking every thought that hinders peace and righteousness captive, so love prevails and encouragement flows to help the stressed and distressed find the hope to be had in You alone.
Grant us Your heart, Lord, as we weep with those who weep, and as we seek to help them recognize Your goodness in the midst of these storms all around us and inside us. These opportunities present eternal purpose, Father. Fill our hearts with Your truth as we encourage the grieving and fainthearted. In Jesus and for His glory, amen.
Grief can darken our understanding of the ways of God and the truth of His care for us. This darkness is dangerous for our relationship with God and can pull us out of His will as the dullness of the light in us makes us feel our inability to be light for others. Recognizing the darkness, refusing its rule over life, and trusting God’s light to reveal to us our path to healing is vital in times of grief that brings the veil of shadow to our hearts. I pray God’s light for our need so we can truly be His light in the land of our living.
A devotional done with friends reminds me of the need of long hours at Your feet in some life issues, Lord. My heart stays so overwhelmed by so much in these days that part of me feels prayerless – or at least inadequate in prayer for such unbelievable turmoil, while the other part feels the groaning of Your Spirit that has me constant at Your feet – watchfully waiting. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.
Thank You for Your Word that is the dictator and heart of my prayers in these days. And thank You for the answer received today in one of those major devastations. I love You dearly and long for Your will, to see Your hand in the land of our living, as You have so faithfully done so many times throughout my years of running hard after You. In Jesus, make it so. Amen!
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.””
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NASB1995
You are so faithful, Lord, to lead us and direct our paths as we seek Your opinion. Thank You for sparking my heart today with Deuteronomy 31:6-8, increasing faith in me to make this upcoming trip with my daughter to see my granddaughter and family three days journey away: a daunting distance to me. I am trusting You have a purpose to fulfill in my going, and giving me a word from You to hold to confirms Your will and provision for it. I am so very grateful.
This is exactly what I needed to hear from You. Thank You that You never fail to inspire my faith in You for the things You call me to, and You are faithful to encourage my perseverance on the path You lead to. I do trust You. Now, Lord, entrusting this journey to You, I pray to be Your instrument in loving these, and in shining You into their lives and the lives of others at every opportunity as we go. In Jesus, amen!
“And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”” – Exodus 15:26 NASB1995
You are! You are my first, most vital need and necessity. I can do nothing apart from You of any eternal worth or value. With You working in and through me, nothing shall be impossible, for I can do all things through the strength of Your supply.
You are my hope, my help, my provision, my treasure. Every good and perfect is from You, the Father of Lights, in Whom there is no variation or shifting of shadow. I trust You, looking to You for my every good. Make Yourself known as You show Yourself strong in me.
You are my life. You cleanse and sanctify me in holiness. You heal me by Your Word from a sin nature in my flesh and bring me surely into righteousness and truth through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I bow!
Thank You for saving me and making me whole as You make me wholly Yours. In Jesus name, amen.
“Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”” – John 8:28-29
Your Word is pure joy to my heart, Father. Even when it’s words convict me of sin, I rejoice, for that conviction reveals Your love that wants a pure relationship with me and desires I be holy as You are holy. I desire to know and walk in Your truths, so that I may know and walk with You. Grant me to love Your Word, abiding in that which makes me to know You and Your ways.
I pray to only speak Your true words, Father. Teach me, that I may have truth to speak. Show Yourself strong with and through me. Grant wise discernment of clear paths that I may consistently walk as pleases You at all times and in all things. As Jesus – our example for life – is, so I desire to be. In Jesus, amen.
“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” – Colossians 1:25-29 NASB1995
Thank You, Father, for making a way for us to be clothed again in Your glory, through Christ Jesus our Lord. In Christ, we were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that we might be joined to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Therefore, if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord. Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. This we profess and this we trust as we walk out our salvation in the land of our living; this place of habitation You set us in.
Whether, then, we eat or drink or whatever we do, empower us to do all to the glory of God, that Your glory may rest on and shine through us as Your light to a lost and dead world. Whatever we do in word or deed, may we be faithful to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to You, our Father God. For it is in Jesus we pray, amen.
Romans 7:4; Romans 14:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17
“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.
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.
“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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
– But Am “I” Faithfully Building God a Sanctuary?
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!
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.
“…Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31
As I read this, Lord, I realize that these strengths listed here are not only reward for being faithful to wait on You, trusting Your timing. These are symptoms seen in the life of one who is waiting well. Waiting that truly honors You as God enters Your Rest through a trust in You that knows You are faithful and will not fail, how ever long the wait.
Lord, You have also shown me in my readings today, that to fail to wait well on You is kicking against the goads. It is useless, pointless, vain and perilous resistance of You and Your will in our lives. As I am reminded today, Your timing and way of things is perfect and always works Your glory for our greatest good. Thank You for the privilege of knowing You in the wait. Grant me to be found faithfully waiting for You. In Jesus, amen.
“But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”” – Exodus 3:11-12 NASB1995
When God calls us to a task, especially to a big work that may blow our minds, we often want God to give us a sign that we are hearing Him correctly and that this thing we are experiencing is real – and is truly Him – before we go. But more often than not, God gives the sign after the work is done.
We want proof now. God wants us to work in a faith that trusts Him even while we walk with Him in a fog. He desires a believing faith that trusts He will succeed and glorify Himself in our lives as we go (Romans 1:17; Hebrews 4:2; 10:38-39; 11:1, 6; James 4:22-26; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Revelation 2:19; 14:12).
God says that a prophesy is known to be from Him when it comes to pass (Jeremiah 28:9), for God’s word will not go out from Him without accomplishing the purpose for which it is sent (Isaiah 55:11). He wants us to believe and trust Him for these truths.
God’s word tells us that we know those who are His by their fruit, which is the final stage in a tree or bush revealing its true nature (Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:44). We know God’s hand and see His glory most on the backside of life’s challenges, when He gets us where we are going, and we see the fulfillment of His plan (Exodus 33:18-23).
God is faithful. We can trust Him. The greatest form of trust believes Him true even in the deepest fog of uncertain paths rolling out before us, knowing He is doing great things in and through us that will bring the evidence of the glory of His presence to undeniable life on the earth as in Heaven.
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” – 1 Peter 1:6-9, NASB
One commentary read long ago said the better translation for this passage would end, “I Am your exceedingly great reward.” God is the reward. When we recognize that, we recognize exactly how blessed we are despite circumstance.
Fretting need is ended when God is our greatest desire. And when we have Him fully, we know we have all else we may need.
The flow of my quiet time led me to this thought for today’s journal entry, “To Live Kingdom Life,” starting with the following verse.
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” – Proverbs 24:33-34 ESV
This verse says to my heart that, to live Kingdom Life, I must not put off today’s responsibilities, allowing them to become tomorrow’s hindrances and hold backs, inviting mountains and giants into my future.
The next verse and comment catching my attention reminds me that living Kingdom Life brings God’s Word and promises to life in our days, living heaven on earth.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” – Matthew 16:19 NASB1995
“Whenever you determine to lay claim to the Father’s counsels as opposed to the adversary’s, you’ll find that earth can have what heaven has already decided on!” Jack Hayford
Jesus’ words in John 19:30 – “It is finished!” – couple with another Hayford comment, telling me that, in living Kingdom Life, the destruction of struggle and suffering is dead. In Christ no struggle is pointless, no suffering is without end. Though struggle and suffering are constant in this life, the cross and the empty tomb assure us of an eternity set free from their destructive force. For those who believe Christ’s finished work with trusting faith, there is purpose in our pain, and pain has an end because of Christ. Remembering that fact equips us to walk in this life with the hope and peace of Kingdom Life on our hearts and faces, despite the pain.
Psalm 89 reminds me to walk through each moment and every challenge trusting God’s faithfulness that is established forever. God’s Kingdom is filled with His sustaining faithfulness, because He is encompassed by it. He, who never leaves nor forsakes us spills His faithful watch keep and care all over us. Trusting God’s well established faithfulness brings Kingdom Life to our now days, for He cannot deny Himself in us (2 Timothy 2:11-13).
Farther on in Psalm 89, Father reminds me of a promise given for my son many years ago as he left home after high school to strike out on his own (2 Samuel 7:14-15a). The portion of Psalm 89 (vs. 89:30-33 NASB1995) reminding me of that promise then speaks that promise anew, extending it to my son’s children, helping me rest my care for them in His faithful hands. Living Kingdom Life takes God’s Word to heart and trusts Him for its fulfillment.
God is love (1 John 4). God loves us (John 3:16, (Romans 5:8). He loved us before we ever knew Him or our need of Him. His love for us is what propels His faithful care in our lives. He loves us as we are, but it is true, also, that His love for us desires our best self, the person He planned us to be and says we can be in Christ. So He disciplines us in love, training us in His good will and way to be the spitting image of our Father (Hebrews 12). Living Kingdom Life realizes this parent to child relationship and receives His discipline, walking in it out of a love for Him that desires to be just as He is in all our ways.
Kingdom Life means walking in the Majestic Glory of God’s loving presence and watchful care, determined to be the sort of people we ought to be in holy conduct and godliness. A Kingdom Kid works diligently to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, regarding the patience of our Lord as salvation.
“…You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 1:17, 3:11-18, NASB)
I’m sure there is much more that could be added to the subject of Kingdom Life now. This is what God gave me to focus on today. This is a good start to a deep, abiding life in Christ. Go forward in God’s prosperity, Beloved, to live the Kingdom Life, abundant and full.
As we remember our fallen forces who fought and died to protect our freedoms, there is one fallen I glorify God for today. Jesus, God’s Soldier, sent into the final battle of the ultimate war, fought the good fight of faith and won the war, securing freedom for all who will choose citizenship in His Kingdom. Because of Him, as we honor our fallen, we also celebrate Pentecost Sunday today, when life that sees no death poured breath into those who were the birth of the Church – God’s Kingdom people on earth.
Jesus paid the ultimate price to set all who will believe free from sin’s death – the penalty of eternal separation from God. Because of Jesus’ willing service, freely giving His life, God, through Christ, made a way for the dead to truly live. So today I remember; and I thank my Savior for purchasing my freedom. As I seek to honor those who gave their life to protect the interests of this nation in which I live, breathe, and have my being, I pray to live in such a way that honors my Savior, who made a way for our fallen to rise again to life eternal with Him.
If you have not believed this truth of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection in the battle for your eternal destiny, I pray you choose to believe and receive it today. Jesus took your death, so you can take hold and possess His life. May you be raised up out of death to the new life God has waiting for you.
“(Jesus) Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”
1 John 2:2 NASB1995
““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 NASB1995
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 NASB1995
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB1995
“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:21-25 NASB1995
“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:9-19 NASB1995
Father, thank You for helping me know beyond a shadow of doubt that I am not powerless.
The devil loves making us think we are powerless (helpless, hopeless). But God! Christ living in us, grants us the full measure of Your grace (strength in weakness, the power of God made effective in us). Along with that, Jesus makes us the righteousness of God in Himself, giving us victory to walk in triumph and have full reign over ourselves in life.
Father, thank You. May we each truly grasp hold of this truth, that when we reign over ourselves in Christ’s power and authority, we will know how to live in every circumstance, with full use of all Your good gifts to us, living life abundantly. Thus, we will experience Your abundance, whether in humble means or in prosperity. Like Paul, we will know how to be content in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves. We, too, will be able to “do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Make it so in us as in Jesus, amen.
“Over the years, I’ve become convinced that praise sets up a mantle of protection around the people of God. Praise is an atmosphere through which the Adversary cannot move.”
These are my words, written on my heart. I didn’t write these words. They come from the pen of Jack Hayford. But I could have written them, for this is my truth, too. Is it yours? More from Jack’s pen…
“If you and I really entered into this truth, it would transform our lives. And it’s not simply because praise can insulate or protect us. It’s more than that. It’s because God is worthy, . . . worthy of the best of our praise, the depths of our thanksgiving. As you ask the Lord to teach you more and more about the tireless, ongoing spirit of praise, it will change your circumstances, and it will change you!”
Jack speaks my over-and-over-again experience. Change comes when we quit fretting, fearing, and dreading, look up to Him Who loves us, and turn our hearts to knowing Him, trusting Him, and believing He is able; He is faithful; and He loves to amaze us. At just the right time, when all hearts are where He desires they be, His will comes to pass and we rejoice in awe of His wonder at the glory we walk into.
Darlene's Ponderings 