By repenting of our sinful
lifestyle, we are made children of God. We are set free from the law of sin and
death by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans
8:2). We exchange our old nature for a
new nature in Christ, which is created to be like God in true righteousness and
holiness (Ephesians 4:24). God
disciplines us for our good, in order that we can share in His holiness (Hebrews
12:10). We know that when Christ does appear, we will be
exactly like Him, because we shall see Him in all of His glory (1 John
3:2).
Growing in our union with
Christ starts each new day in a time of aloneness with God. Night owls do this
before they go to bed, and morning doves pray when they wake up. We keep God
company twenty-four hours a day! We enter a realm of oneness with His Spirit
and pray according to His will. We thank Him for His daily provision of our
needs and appreciate Him for who He is. Then we share our apprehensions and
questions with Him. We feel His presence in our spirit; and sit quietly,
listening for His still, small voice in answer to our prayers (Philippians
4:6; 1 Kings 19:11-13).
Once we make our requests known to God, we release all anxiety.
Discarding all doubt and fear, the peace of God, which transcends human
reasoning, protects our soul and spirit in Christ (Philippians
4:6-7). As we live in a place of
communion with God during every waking moment, we have so much assurance of His
love for us that we are able to rejoice regardless of the circumstance
surrounding us (Romans 8:28). Giving
God thanks for everything that happens to us - the good, the bad and the ugly,
we know this is His will and He always works all things out for our ultimate
good (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17; Romans 8:28).
Carrying on throughout the
rest of our day, we continue to pray without ceasing (1
Thessalonians 5:18). There is a penchant
in humanity to take things to the extreme, however. Many in our society will
make desperate attempts to gain more intimacy with God to the point of
neglecting their duties to family and society. They will cloister their self
from life and spend their time in their prayer closet, reading God’s Word and
listening to sermons. In an attempt at holiness, they desert all aspiration to
give or to receive with anyone other than God.
Yet, in doing this they
prevent God from using them to reach the lost and dying world around us. A
balance of devotion and obedience is what God calls for from His Saints, until
the day that He returns to claim His Bride for His own. Then He will take us
home to be with Him for eternity. Our position in Christ allows us to see life
from God’s perspective and to choose our words and actions according to the
will of God. In this way, we are always moving toward perfection, which is the
prize of the high calling of God (Matthew 5:48; Philippians 3:14).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You were God, yet you spent hours communing with our Father while you lived on this earth (Luke 6:12). You taught the disciples how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13) using the formula of:
1.) Praising Your majesty
2.) Anticipating of Your
coming Kingdom3.) Requesting our needs to be met
4.) Repenting of our sins
5.) Forgiving those who sin against us.
Thought for the Day:
The Lord draws near to
everyone who comes to Him with sincerity and integrity in the
motives of their heart. - Psalm 145:18