Filling the Void Within

God created mankind in order to enjoy our fellowship. He pursues us throughout our entire lifetime, calling us to surrender our will to His Lordship.

His law does not restrict us, but blesses us all the days of our life (Proverbs 16:3; Philippians 4:19; Deuteronomy 30:16). Abiding in the law of the Lord ensures our fulfillment in this life and the next.

We have a personal, cherished relationship with our Daddy God, who knows us intimately (Psalm 139:7-14). Nothing else can ever fill the void designed just for God in our life (1 John 2:15).

Even during persecution or trials, God's presence in our life will walk in us through each negative experience. We can trust in God's faithfulness through tribulation.

We learn about God through His Word, which thankfully, He gave us to guide our life. The Bible also encourages us, inspires us and strengthens us (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

As new believers, our passion for a deeper relationship with God grows daily and continues throughout our lifetime, unless the flames are dampened by the cares of this world.

We prevent this by guarding our spirit, because out of it come the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). We consecrate our every waking moment to the service of our King Jesus.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that we cannot save our self (Ephesians 2:8-9), and that You are our benevolent Father who wants to bless us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3-6).

Help us not to trust in our self-righteousness or holy deeds to earn favor with You, but to realize that our worth comes only from our relationship with You through Christ and by Your Spirit (Romans 12:3-5).

Thought for the Day:

God righteousness assures us of all the benefits of an intimate union with Him. - Romans 3:22

Only God

Seeking more of God is my goal in life. The authentic Born Again Believer does not seek fame, success or riches; we pursue God Himself. We do not even seek His benefits, but only more of Him. We cannot reach this place of focus on our own, but God’s Spirit in us leads us there one day at a time. We never refuse His pursuit of us. We press closer every day.

If we are willing to pay the price, God takes each of us to this intimate place through a different route. He hears the cry of our heart and fulfills our desperate desire for more of His presence in our life. As we fully trust in God, He upholds us with His mighty right hand (Isaiah 41:10). The current trial in our life may take an expensive toll from us, but God heals us and meets our every need (Psalm 147:3).

God is always with us (Psalm 46:7). He is a refuge for the oppressed and our stronghold in times of trouble (Psalm 9:9; 48:3). He answers us when we are in distress and His Holy name protects us (Psalm 20:1). He rescues and saves us (Jeremiah 15:20). We have no reason to fear, because God is on our side. The Lord draws near to the brokenhearted and rescues everyone who is trampled down by this evil world (Psalm 34:18).

The work of the Trinity in our life is more precious to us than gold (John 17:3). As we consider God’s exploits, we realize that He is our Sovereign Lord and we are His people (Ezekiel 34:30). We breathe in God’s presence and dwell in it all day long. He is our life and our light, our hope and our truth (John 8:12; Psalm 62:5; John 14:6). We are part of His Body and we find fulfillment only in the center of His will.

Prayer:

Father God, I am so thankful that You discipline us when we get off the straight and narrow road, to bring us back to the center of You will (Jeremiah 46:28; Psalm 27:1). If we listen carefully to Your precepts and do only that which is right in Your eyes, You will protect us from calamity and heal us (Exodus 15:26). The cry of my heart is to walk in perfect union with Your Spirit. I want to be totally free of all flesh and carnality, so that I can be a vessel of honor for Your glory now and always.

Thought for the Day:

Our soul finds rest in God alone, and our hope comes only from Him.  - Psalm 62:5

Come to My Funeral

 

 

As we habitually die to our self-nature, we continually live in God’s presence, following the leading of His Spirit and walking in His will. Even if we live in the most perverse of circumstances, His life in us sustains us through it all. We focus on the spiritual, eternal aspects, which no one and no circumstance can steal from us. We have His guarantee that the world will pass away, but that if we live according to His will, we live with Him now and forever (1 John 2:17).

How many of us are truly willing to lay down our life every single day? John 13:38) The Good News is that Christ in us enables us to die to sin and to refuse to fulfill the deeds of our flesh, which rise up within us (Romans 8:13). All authority is givento Jesus, and He continually lives within every Born Again Believer (Matthew 28:18). He is our victory, and we live victoriously as we follow the leading of His Spirit moment by moment throughout our day.

Dying to our self is not a very popular concept today (1 Corinthians 15:31). We live for our self, and we wallow in the desires of the flesh. Therefore, to crucify our flesh is a foreign concept to most Christians today. We can expect nothing less from a society that purports the concept of, “If it feels good, do it.” There is every type of degradation and deprivation known to man permeating every facet of our society. It constantly bombards us.

Are you willing to join me at my funeral? We simply need to decide that we are willing to no longer promote our self, and instead to promote Christ and His Kingdom in the earth. His Word and His Spirit reveal to us His will for our life. His Spirit conforms us into His image (Romans 8:29). By His loving care for us, He proves to us that He is worthy of our trust and praise. He calls us to live joyfully, prayerfully and thankfully in ever situation (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Prayer:

Father God, once we separate our self from this world, and live for You, we learn to be content because You are always in us and with us (Philippians 4:12). We willingly lay down our life for You, just as You freely laid down Your life for us. Keep us in the center of Your will. Do not allow us to wander to the left or the right. Teach us to have faith in Your faithfulness and to empty our self of our own abilities and effort, so that we can enter into Your rest (Hebrews 4:10). Show us the works You established for us to accomplish before the foundation of the world, and help us to walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for the Day:

God is in control; and He is working out all things, even the most perverse and negative circumstance, for our ultimate good. – Romans 8:28

The Human Beings - Part One

I love being a Human Being!  Ever since I learned that some tribes of Native American Indians refer to themselves as, "The Human Beings," I have been enthralled with the depth of what it really means to be a Human Being. Recently, while reading in Colossians, I saw a series of things God wants from us as Human Be-ings. 

I.   BE-ING  FRUITFUL

Everything that God requires us to do, leads us to function from a place of rest and peace. So often we try to be Human DO-ings.  We are so caught up in living life that we forget to just BE alive. Our goal as Human Be-ings is to be fully pleasing to the Lord (Ephesians 5:10).  How do we accomplish this goal?  By "being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). The Holy Spirit, the third aspect of God as the Trinity, comes to dwell in us at Salvation, bringing with Him all the fullness of God. His fruit are part of the benefit we receive as Christians (Galatians 5:22-23). 

II.  BE-ING STRENGTHENED

Before we can walk in this fruitfulness that pleases God, we need to be strengthened by God’s Spirit (Colossians 1:11). God works in us, giving us both the desire and the power to work out our own salvation according to His good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13). I can guarantee that if you are not in a trial right now, or if you are not just coming out of one, then you will be going into one in the very near future!!! We cannot reach the mountaintop without first going through the valley. But God promises to strengthen us with peace, patience, and joy no matter what circumstance currently occupies our time.

III. BE-ING THANKFUL

The Bible instructs us to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Colossians 1:12). It exhorts us "not to be anxious about any trial we experience, but in everything, through prayer and with thanksgiving, to present our requests to God (Philippians 4:6). The Bible calls it a cheerful heart.  But have you ever tried to be cheerful without first being grateful? An attitude of GRATITUDE is the key to the Christian walk. God calls us to give thanks in every circumstance regardless of how bad it is.

The next time you are in the pit of despair: count your blessings. Start with the letter "A" of the alphabet.  Think of a word that starts with "A" for which you can be thankful. Then go to "B" and thank God for bananas, or boats, or balloons. Be thankful right through the alphabet until you either fall asleep (a trick which Satan often uses when he thinks we are giving God too much of our attention), or until you reach the letter "Z." (To Be Continued)

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, teach us to rest in you and to wait on Your Spirit’s direction for each new day. Help us to realize that our human effort is just that…effort; yet, when we live the unique plan You prepared for us we succeed in every way. Help us to be grateful to You for what you give us each day and to trust that You will fill our tomorrows with every good and perfect gift as well.

Thought for the Day:

Be the person God created you to be, rather than a copy of someone else.