Phillipians 3:14 says I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.
Are we achieving what our purpose should be that of spiritual maturity? Are we becoming more CHRISTlike? Are we allowing CHRIST to have HIS way in our lives?
Maturity can be designed as being perfect,complete,ready or fully developed. God strongly desires that we press on to maturity being sanctified and holy. We as Christians must always be striving to be made into the image of CHRIST. There is a high price to pay for the Christian life and the rate of our progress depends on how quickly we choose to make HIM LORD dying to ourselves in humble submission and obedience to ALL of HIS commands. To demostrate obedience to the will of GOD and begin making great leaps in spiritual maturity we must lose sight of ourselves and our own interests and take up our cross and follow HIM wholly.The question we must ask ourselves is are we taking the road of obedience to GOD by putting our flesh to death. When we die to self in obedience we become spiritually mature. There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity but the rewards are great. We are meant to be a powerful church and only as we walk in obedience leading to holiness and spiritual maturity will GOD allow HIS power to rest upon us. As we die HE rests upon us to a greater degree and when HE rests upon us HIS power becomes evident transforming our world for JESUS CHRIST. It is easy and natural for us to do what we want to do instead of being obedient to GOD but we cannot live our own lives and then expect GODS power to be available to us. We must put flesh to death on a daily basis by making the hard choices that obedience demands. We cannot pick and choose the areas we are going to obey in but we must be submissive and completely obedient to all the things HE commands. Therefore, brethren let us press on to maturity lacking nothing and trnasofrming this world for JESUS CHRIST. LORD, We thank YOU for all the things YOU do in our lives. Sometimes it isnt easy but we thank YOU LORD that as we submit to YOU great things will be done in and through our lives. Help us to grasp what YOU meant when YOU said we must decrease so you can increase. Help us to be obedient to YOUR voice and willing to die so YOUR glory can be revealed. Help us to transform this world for JESUS CHRIST by the way we live. May the world see YOU in the way we live our lives. May there so be so much of YOU evidently displayed that there are no questions that we are YOUR children. Make us holy and consecrated to YOU. We willingly lay down our lives so YOU can do this work in us. We love YOU LORD and thank YOU for all the blessings YOU give us when we are obedient. IN YOUR wonderful NAME we pray. Amen.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
GODS rest
Matthew 11:28-30 in JESUS words says Come to ME all you who labor and are heavey laden and I will give you rest. Take MY yoke upon you and learn from ME for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light.
A seed must completely die before GOD raises it back up. What that means is GOD raises it back up by releasing us into a greater plan and purpose for our lives. The Christian life is a death to self so HE might live through us. HE offers us rest for our souls when we are quiet and still before HIM knowing that HE is GOD. As we rest in HIM HE makes us whole, complete in HIM lacking nothing. HE becomes our strength. All else pales in knowing HIM to HIS surpassing greatness.
We need to lay down our lives in submission as we put our complete trust and confidence in HIM and rest quietly before HIM. In the Bible in 1 Peter it says a meek and quiet spirit is very precious in the sight of GOD.Meekness is about having a submissive sprit to the LORD. To have a meek spirit we have to completely trust GODS plan because insecurity will steal meekness. Meekness invites HIM into our hearts and allows HIM to do HIS work as we place ourselves under submission. It is yielding what we think are our rights and expectations to what GOD says HE wants to do.
It is saying yes LORD I want YOUR will done in my life. It is a work GOD does in our hearts as we obey and trust HIM.It is a continual process of coming back to the foot of the Cross and totally dying to self and being remade into HIS image. HE gives us the strength and ability to lay down at HIS feet. Being able to rest comes because of what HE did on the cross. When we trust in HIM HE gives us peace and joy and restores our soul. We can rest in HIS loving presence drawing strength and comfort from HIM.
In Isaiah it says in quietness and trust is your strength.It is a rest from trying to bear the burden ourself or striving to make something work but allowing GOD free reign of our lives.If we struggle with HIM and groan in agony then we're not accepting HIS will and that is sin. It is a continual dwelling in HIS Presence and accepting the work HE wants to do within us. HE desires for us to dwell here in cpomplete peace as we rest in HIM. We enter into the rest through faith in CHRIST. So I encourage you to come in humble submission and obedience and enter to the rest HE has for you which HE offers out of love. May we bow down at HIS feet in worship and submission. Here is a song I like that talks about how GOD will come and save us even when we are resting in HIM.
Say to those who are fearful hearted
Do not be afraid
The Lord your God will come
And with His mighty arm
When you call on His Name
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
Say to the weary one
Your God will surely come
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
Lift up your eyes to Him
You will arise again
He will come and save you
Say those who are broken hearted
Do not lose your faith
The Lord your God will come
And with His loving hand
When you call on His Name
He will surely come
He is our refuge in the day of trouble
He is our shelter in the time of storm
He is our tower in the day of sorrow
Our fortress in the time of war
A seed must completely die before GOD raises it back up. What that means is GOD raises it back up by releasing us into a greater plan and purpose for our lives. The Christian life is a death to self so HE might live through us. HE offers us rest for our souls when we are quiet and still before HIM knowing that HE is GOD. As we rest in HIM HE makes us whole, complete in HIM lacking nothing. HE becomes our strength. All else pales in knowing HIM to HIS surpassing greatness.
We need to lay down our lives in submission as we put our complete trust and confidence in HIM and rest quietly before HIM. In the Bible in 1 Peter it says a meek and quiet spirit is very precious in the sight of GOD.Meekness is about having a submissive sprit to the LORD. To have a meek spirit we have to completely trust GODS plan because insecurity will steal meekness. Meekness invites HIM into our hearts and allows HIM to do HIS work as we place ourselves under submission. It is yielding what we think are our rights and expectations to what GOD says HE wants to do.
It is saying yes LORD I want YOUR will done in my life. It is a work GOD does in our hearts as we obey and trust HIM.It is a continual process of coming back to the foot of the Cross and totally dying to self and being remade into HIS image. HE gives us the strength and ability to lay down at HIS feet. Being able to rest comes because of what HE did on the cross. When we trust in HIM HE gives us peace and joy and restores our soul. We can rest in HIS loving presence drawing strength and comfort from HIM.
In Isaiah it says in quietness and trust is your strength.It is a rest from trying to bear the burden ourself or striving to make something work but allowing GOD free reign of our lives.If we struggle with HIM and groan in agony then we're not accepting HIS will and that is sin. It is a continual dwelling in HIS Presence and accepting the work HE wants to do within us. HE desires for us to dwell here in cpomplete peace as we rest in HIM. We enter into the rest through faith in CHRIST. So I encourage you to come in humble submission and obedience and enter to the rest HE has for you which HE offers out of love. May we bow down at HIS feet in worship and submission. Here is a song I like that talks about how GOD will come and save us even when we are resting in HIM.
Say to those who are fearful hearted
Do not be afraid
The Lord your God will come
And with His mighty arm
When you call on His Name
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
Say to the weary one
Your God will surely come
He will come and save you
He will come and save you
Lift up your eyes to Him
You will arise again
He will come and save you
Say those who are broken hearted
Do not lose your faith
The Lord your God will come
And with His loving hand
When you call on His Name
He will surely come
He is our refuge in the day of trouble
He is our shelter in the time of storm
He is our tower in the day of sorrow
Our fortress in the time of war
Monday, February 11, 2008
Life Changing Experiences
Romans 12:1-2 says I beseech you, therefore, brethern, by the mercies of GOD, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to GOD which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of GOD.
GOD often teaches us in the trials of life. I am reminded of what GOD spoke to me one time as the words of a book became very bold almost as if to come off the page. The wilderness is a place to which GOD takes HIS people. It is a difficult survival place of solitude, loneliness and testing. There HE works to bring about brokenness and to prepare us for usefulness. We have to go deeper into GOD, possess HIS promises and realize our destiny. It is a place to prepare HIS people. It is a time of testing to know what is in our hearts. It is a life changing opportunity where HE leads us to perfect HIS character in us. The sweetness and quality of gold comes out of the fire. We don't choose seasons of wilderness. GOD does. You find yourself in a new and unwanted place trying to find your footing to get back to normal. Returning to normal isnt the key but being transformed into HIS image. It is GODS preparation for restoration.
It may feel like it doesnt fit, it's not comfortable or not what we signed up for. However this doesn't matter. Our goal as Christians should only be to be more like HIM and to be found pleasing in HIS sight. To be a mirror reflection of CHRISTS image. HIS favor will rest upon us as we willingly submit to HIS plan. He will say I like what that child of MINE is doing and be attracted to us with HIS HOLY SPIRIT being able to rest upon us as we pursue holiness. There aren't any shortcuts my friend. Obeying HIM is agreeing with HIS plan without complaint. We must also remember partial obedience and delayed obedience are not acceptable to GOD. HE is looking for instant, complete, wholehearted and joyous obedience each time HE speaks without exception. These are key factors in having a life changing experience and being transformed into HIS image.
In these life changing situations HIS word becomes rhema to us and HE becomes more real as we experience HIS sufferings. 1 Peter 4: 12- 13 says Beloved do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some sterange thing happened to you but rejoice in the extent that you partake in CHRISTS sufferings that when HIS glory is revealed you may also be glad with exceeding joy. Yes my firend we need to leave thoughts of this world behind as we press toward the mark of the high calling of CHRIST JESUS as we lay up treasures in Heaven. When we have no natural suport to help us get through our trials it is a good thing because then we press into CHRIST in desperation.
LORD, we desire to be holy and to be made into YOUR image. May we be more like YOU. Burn off the dross in our lives. We thank YOU LORD that YOU will never leave us or forsake us but YOU are right there holding us while we are in the furnace of afliction. Thank YOU for YOUR love and care. Hekp us to be obedient without questions or delay because we want to please YOU because we love YOU. Thank YOU for YOUR precious HOLY SPIRIT and YOUR WORD that strengthens us to endure in the time of tribulation. Our heart cries out for more of YOU. We praise YOU JESUS for what YOU are doing in our lives. In the name of JESUS. Amen.
GOD often teaches us in the trials of life. I am reminded of what GOD spoke to me one time as the words of a book became very bold almost as if to come off the page. The wilderness is a place to which GOD takes HIS people. It is a difficult survival place of solitude, loneliness and testing. There HE works to bring about brokenness and to prepare us for usefulness. We have to go deeper into GOD, possess HIS promises and realize our destiny. It is a place to prepare HIS people. It is a time of testing to know what is in our hearts. It is a life changing opportunity where HE leads us to perfect HIS character in us. The sweetness and quality of gold comes out of the fire. We don't choose seasons of wilderness. GOD does. You find yourself in a new and unwanted place trying to find your footing to get back to normal. Returning to normal isnt the key but being transformed into HIS image. It is GODS preparation for restoration.
It may feel like it doesnt fit, it's not comfortable or not what we signed up for. However this doesn't matter. Our goal as Christians should only be to be more like HIM and to be found pleasing in HIS sight. To be a mirror reflection of CHRISTS image. HIS favor will rest upon us as we willingly submit to HIS plan. He will say I like what that child of MINE is doing and be attracted to us with HIS HOLY SPIRIT being able to rest upon us as we pursue holiness. There aren't any shortcuts my friend. Obeying HIM is agreeing with HIS plan without complaint. We must also remember partial obedience and delayed obedience are not acceptable to GOD. HE is looking for instant, complete, wholehearted and joyous obedience each time HE speaks without exception. These are key factors in having a life changing experience and being transformed into HIS image.
In these life changing situations HIS word becomes rhema to us and HE becomes more real as we experience HIS sufferings. 1 Peter 4: 12- 13 says Beloved do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some sterange thing happened to you but rejoice in the extent that you partake in CHRISTS sufferings that when HIS glory is revealed you may also be glad with exceeding joy. Yes my firend we need to leave thoughts of this world behind as we press toward the mark of the high calling of CHRIST JESUS as we lay up treasures in Heaven. When we have no natural suport to help us get through our trials it is a good thing because then we press into CHRIST in desperation.
LORD, we desire to be holy and to be made into YOUR image. May we be more like YOU. Burn off the dross in our lives. We thank YOU LORD that YOU will never leave us or forsake us but YOU are right there holding us while we are in the furnace of afliction. Thank YOU for YOUR love and care. Hekp us to be obedient without questions or delay because we want to please YOU because we love YOU. Thank YOU for YOUR precious HOLY SPIRIT and YOUR WORD that strengthens us to endure in the time of tribulation. Our heart cries out for more of YOU. We praise YOU JESUS for what YOU are doing in our lives. In the name of JESUS. Amen.
HE is the ANCHOR that holds in the midst of the storm
Hebrews 6:19 says This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the presence behind the veil
HE can speak peace to the storms of our life and in an instant they have to cease. However, how much deeper our relationship with HIM grows when we experience these storms and learn to hold on to and develop a trusting relationship with HIM. Often, GOD can do so much more in our lives as HE allows us to go through lifes stormy seas to be able to reach out and encourage other saints of GOD and to be a great motivator to the lost going through similar cuircumstances to place their faith in GOD. If GOD chooses to place us in the fiery furnace our eyes must be stayed upon HIM because our faith in HIM will bring us through. If I can reach one person through this illness who is lost, encourage another saint or bring me behind the veil closer to CHRIST where I long to dwell than it will be worth anything I experience. HE hold us in the palms of HIS hands and there is a purpose for all things.
Yes, we can be anchored to HIM in the storms of life because of HIS great love for us. The storms of doubt, discouragement, despair and defeat may be battering your ship as you experience illness, financial, family problems or myriad other things we experience in life. You may even wonder at times if you are going to make it. My friend I would like to encourage you to hold on to HIS unchanging hand during this period of time as you build your hopes on things eternal. HE promises to never leave or forsake us and He has even proved HIS faithfulness to me many times. HE promises to meet our every need and HE even brings joy in the morning. Our anchors, as believers, are not placed in sand but on the Solid Rock.
The anchor in the days of the early church was a symbol of hope and security for believers. We do this through anchoring our faith to the promises in HIS WORD. An anchor secures you in one place and you learn to have confidence in it that it will stand still. When a storm arises, knowing this, it can then leave you with great hope knowing HE works through these situations for HIS glory, our good and others benefit. Here is a song called The Anchor Holds by Ray Boltz that I would like to share with you. It is found on Youtube if you would like to listen to it.
I have journeyed through
the long dark night
out on the open sea
by faith alone
sight unknown
and yet HIS eyes were watching me
The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
Iin spite of the storm
I've had visions
I've had dreams
I've even held them in my hand
But I never knew
They would slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand
I have been young
But i am older now
And there has been beauty these eyes have seen
But it was in the night
Through the storms of my life
Oh that's where God proved his love to me
HE can speak peace to the storms of our life and in an instant they have to cease. However, how much deeper our relationship with HIM grows when we experience these storms and learn to hold on to and develop a trusting relationship with HIM. Often, GOD can do so much more in our lives as HE allows us to go through lifes stormy seas to be able to reach out and encourage other saints of GOD and to be a great motivator to the lost going through similar cuircumstances to place their faith in GOD. If GOD chooses to place us in the fiery furnace our eyes must be stayed upon HIM because our faith in HIM will bring us through. If I can reach one person through this illness who is lost, encourage another saint or bring me behind the veil closer to CHRIST where I long to dwell than it will be worth anything I experience. HE hold us in the palms of HIS hands and there is a purpose for all things.
Yes, we can be anchored to HIM in the storms of life because of HIS great love for us. The storms of doubt, discouragement, despair and defeat may be battering your ship as you experience illness, financial, family problems or myriad other things we experience in life. You may even wonder at times if you are going to make it. My friend I would like to encourage you to hold on to HIS unchanging hand during this period of time as you build your hopes on things eternal. HE promises to never leave or forsake us and He has even proved HIS faithfulness to me many times. HE promises to meet our every need and HE even brings joy in the morning. Our anchors, as believers, are not placed in sand but on the Solid Rock.
The anchor in the days of the early church was a symbol of hope and security for believers. We do this through anchoring our faith to the promises in HIS WORD. An anchor secures you in one place and you learn to have confidence in it that it will stand still. When a storm arises, knowing this, it can then leave you with great hope knowing HE works through these situations for HIS glory, our good and others benefit. Here is a song called The Anchor Holds by Ray Boltz that I would like to share with you. It is found on Youtube if you would like to listen to it.
I have journeyed through
the long dark night
out on the open sea
by faith alone
sight unknown
and yet HIS eyes were watching me
The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
Iin spite of the storm
I've had visions
I've had dreams
I've even held them in my hand
But I never knew
They would slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand
I have been young
But i am older now
And there has been beauty these eyes have seen
But it was in the night
Through the storms of my life
Oh that's where God proved his love to me
Introduction
I am having trouble finding the strength to write this devotional as the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue return in my life leaving me at 6pm having done hardly anything productive all day. I start this blog knowing that there are many people going through various fiery furnaces in their life who need encouragemnt even as I seek the LORD to encourage me. I have always prayed LORD if YOU will only use this trial in my life to help someone else it will have been worth it so I hope to pass on things the LORD speaks to my heart.I am also an intercessor who loves to pray for others and if you wuld like to share your need I would be very happy to pray for you. HE brings something good out of ALL situations. HE is worthy and I desire to give HIM all the glory! Here is a song titled Mighty GOD by the Martins I would like to leave you with.
Mighty God
Mighty God
Mighty and righteous is Your name oh Lord
You are the mighty God.
Holy God
Holy God
Holy and righteous is Your name oh Lord
You are the holy God.
You are the great everlasting Father
The One who was and is to come
Alpha, Omega, the Lion of Judah
The Great I Am, the Annointed One
Into your presence I bow before you
I lift my voice, I lift my hands
My praise arises into your throne room
I will proclaim you in all the land
Holy and righteous is Your name oh Lord
You are the mighty God.
Amen!
Mighty God
Mighty God
Mighty and righteous is Your name oh Lord
You are the mighty God.
Holy God
Holy God
Holy and righteous is Your name oh Lord
You are the holy God.
You are the great everlasting Father
The One who was and is to come
Alpha, Omega, the Lion of Judah
The Great I Am, the Annointed One
Into your presence I bow before you
I lift my voice, I lift my hands
My praise arises into your throne room
I will proclaim you in all the land
Holy and righteous is Your name oh Lord
You are the mighty God.
Amen!
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