In the
spiritual life, we can actually cherish our human weaknesses, because they keep
us humble. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). He provides
eternal blessings to those willing to give up everything in our life, which we
value more than Him. (Matthew 13:45-46). He helps us to die to the temptations of
our flesh and to walk in His mercy and power.
Self-sufficiency is the enemy of the Cross of Calvary. It
prefers to struggle along, pulling itself up by it bootstraps and muddling
through life in human reasoning and flesh. Once we come to realize our total
impotence and insufficiency, we are able to lay our flesh on the altar of God
and gain His forgiveness, regeneration and authority in exchange.
In this place of total surrender to Christ, we find His
power to allow Him to accomplish all things in and through us (Philippians 2:13, 4:13).
We are crucified with Christ and He abides in us (Galatians 2:20). We enter His rest and live,
move and have our being from this place of serenity and love in Him (Acts 17:28). Our soul
– our thoughts, choices and feelings - enter His rest, and our hope comes only
from Him (Psalm 62:5).
Hoping in the Lord, we are never put to shame (Psalm 25:3; 31:24).
He exalts us and we inherit His Kingdom (Psalm 37:34). We wait on the Lord with
courage and He strengthens our heart (Psalm 27:14). Waiting takes patience and most human beings lack
patience; especially in today’s instant society, where we get everything we
want at the push of a button.
As we envision our self dead in the tomb and then risen
with our glorious Lord, we live each day in the realm of the Holy Spirit.
Nothing of this world holds any value to us any more. We put Christ as our
first priority and we place our total focus on Him (Isaiah 26:3). Living in the power of His
resurrection, we walk in the Spirit each moment of the day.
Prayer:
Father God, waiting on You with patience reaps so many
rewards for us. You avenge our wrongs (Proverbs 20:22). You save us and we rejoice in You and Your
salvation (Isaiah
25:9). You are good to those who hope in You and who seek Your face (Lamentations 3:25).
Teach us to make You the priority of every moment of our day and to seek Your
will for each of them.
Thought for the Day:
God hears the prayers and gives His attention to those who
patiently wait on Him with their whole being. - Psalm 40:1; 130:5
