Repent

From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17 AMP

Repent - not a word we hear too often today. Jesus used it frequently.

Now after John was arrested and put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God, And saying, The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled (completed), and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent (have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to) the good news (the Gospel). Mark 1:14-15 AMP

Repent - have a change of mind which issues in:
- regret for past sins
- change of conduct for the better

What does it take to repent? On our part it takes a humble heart. A heart that acknowledges we do things wrong every day. We don't have all the answers. A heart that genuinely wants to change for the better. A heart that wants to live only for God's ways.

And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 AMP

God wants us to repent, to turn to His way of living. Here is something to think about ....

You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into radical life-change. Romans 2:3-4 The Message

We are not perfect. God is. God calls us to repent and change our ways - continually. It is not a once off happening.

So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. 
Revelation 3:3a AMP

The Message Bible puts it this way, 

Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heart with your ears - grasp it again and turn back to God. Revelation 3:3a The Message

God knows how difficult it is for us to change. He doesn't expect us to change by ourselves, in our own strength. He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us change. We just have to listen and obey.

Question for today, how does repentance fit into your daily relationship with God? 

I know for me it needs to be a much more frequent action than it is currently. So my prayer today is ...

Heavenly Father, Thank you for Jesus, and that through Him we have access to You. I repent of being prideful and not always being obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. God please help me to better accept your will for my inner self. In Jesus Name, Amen.

So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19 AMP

Save me

Help me, oh help me, GOD, my God, save me through your wonderful love; 
Then they'll know that your hand is in this, that you, GOD, have been at work.
Psalm 109:26-27 The Message

How many times have you cried out, "Help me, oh help me, GOD, my God?" 

It is one of my most common cries! When a child is crying and I feel like I just don't have any compassion left, my cry is "Help me Jesus, give me what I need to do this."  Or when I am faced with a situation, and I have absolutely no idea what to do, "Help me Jesus, show me what to do next."

The New Living Translation puts it this way,

Help me, O LORD my God!
Save me because of your unfailing love.
Let them see that this is your doing, 
that you yourself have done it, LORD.
Psalm 109:26-27 NLT

"Save me" is probably not such a common cry, maybe because for most of us it infers the need to be protected from physical danger. And thankfully for a lot of us, that type of danger is not a daily occurrence. 

God has a much bigger definition of 'save'. John 3:16-17 tells us that God so loved us that He sent His son so that we could be saved.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."
John 3:16-17 NLT

Let's have a look at this fuller definition of the word 'save'. This information was given to me by a friend, it is an extract from 'Bridge for Peace Foundation for Healing' by Annette Eckart.

The word 'save' is the Greek word 'sozo (sode-zo)': save, heal, cure, preserve, keep safe and sound. Rescue from danger and destruction, deliver, save from physical death by healing and from spiritual death by forgiving sin and its effect; to give new life, cause to have a new heart, protect, do well, make whole and prosper.

God wants to 'save' every aspect of our lives. He wants to heal us, cure us, preserve us and keep us safe and sound. He wants us to live.

So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep. ..... I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture. John 10:7, 9 AMP

And He saves us because He loves us. His love is wonderful and unfailing. 

Help me, LORD my God; save me according to your unfailing love. Let them know that it is your hand, that you, LORD, have done it. Psalm 109:26-27 NIV

Furthermore in the process of 'saving' us, other people see the work of His hand. So let's align ourselves with God and allow His saving power to permeate through every aspect of our lives, not just for our own sakes, but for those who are watching and are yet to be saved.

And he brought them out [of the dungeon] and said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved?
And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well. Acts 1:30-31 AMP

My heart is fixed

O GOD, my heart is fixed (steadfast, in the confidence of faith); I will sing, yes, I will sing praises, even with my glory [all the faculties and powers of one created in  Your image]! Psalm 108:1 AMP

Every day things happen. Things that are designed to distract us and take us off course. Things that are meant to shift our focus from where God wants it to be - on Him. 

A simple example from our lives, in the last two weeks leading up to a Healing meeting at our church, we have had bikes stolen, a 'faulty' hotwater system, and the air conditioning in my car suddenly stop. These things were all meant to a create an environment of chaos, confusion and frustration. They were to serve as a distraction to shift our focus from Jesus, The Healer. We had to make a choice to keep our focus fixed on Jesus, not on these distractions (two of which God has since turned into blessings for us). It has been an interesting couple of weeks!

And it has reminded me of the importance of having our heart and eyes fixed on the right things.

Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25 AMP

Or as The Message Bible says,

Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Proverbs 4:25 The Message

We always have a choice of what we fix our heart to. Let's declare our choice out loud, replacing all the he, his, I with our name. For example, 

Wendy shall not be afraid of evil tidings; Wendy's heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord. 

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 AMP

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! Psalm 91:1-2 AMP

In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit. Ephesians 2:22 AMP

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody. Psalm 57:7 AMP

And if you need to, declare it again, and again until faith rises in your heart and you know, that you know, that you know your heart is fixed on God. Because He is for you and He has a plan for you, a purpose for you in this world that He created. Let's ask Him to help us to keep ourselves get aligned with His purposes, and not get distracted.

That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, I couldn't stop thanking God for you - every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more that thank. I ask - ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him - endless energy, boundless strength! Ephesians 1:15-19 The Message

Our choices

But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert. Psalms 106:13-14 AMP

This scripture provides plenty of food for thought. It can be easy to read it and think, 'Oh yes, that is what the Israelites did'. But what about us? ...

But they hastily forgot His works

How often do we find ourselves in trouble, in need of God's help, He answers us and then we promptly go onto the next thing we need help with. We continue to get anxious and worry about things in our lives, rather than remembering what God has done for us in the past and how we has bought us through trials and tribulations. We need to take time to remember.

[Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds that He has done, His miracles and wonders, the judgements and sentences which He pronounced [upon His enemies in Egypt]. Psalms 105:5 AMP

The next thing to consider ...

They did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness

Waiting. Not something that this generation is particularly good at. I remember a preacher saying years ago, 'Who stands in front of the microwave wanting it to cook faster?' An interesting question - how would we have coped if all our cooking and boiling of water (not just camping holidays) - had to be done on an open fire? I think we would have coped because we would have had no other options. And perhaps that is why we are not good at waiting for God's plans to unfold, because we think we have other options, that we can enact. Not wise thinking on our behalf.

For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. Hebrews 10:36 AMP

And then they (we) ...

tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert.

It can be easy to forget that God is God and we are His creation. He is the One who decides what will happen when and to whom. Not us. There is a line in the Lord's prayer that helps us remember it is all about God's will,

Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 10:9-10 AMP

Jesus reminded us of this too when He prayed.

And going a little further, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire. Matthew 26:39 AMP

And again Jesus prayed.

Again a second time He went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I drink it, Your will be done. Matthew 26:42 AMP

His will, not ours. Submission. Again not a popular word in our world today - but something we need to learn to do well if Jesus really is our Lord.

Finally let's read this same passage from The Message Bible

But it wasn't long before they forgot the whole thing, wouldn't wait to be told what to do. They only cared about pleasing themselves in that desert, provoked God with their insistent demands. Psalm 106:13-14 The Message

And then looked what happened ...

He gave them exactly what they asked for - but along with it they got an empty heart. Psalm 106:15 The Message

Today we have a choice, to remember what God has done, to wait for Him, and to submit to His will. Let's choose God today, and every day.

Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! Who can put into words and tell the mighty deeds of the Lord? Or who can show forth all the praise [that is due Him]? Psalm 106:1-2 AMP

Knowing Christ

Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognising and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One). Philippians 3:8 AMP

This year I will be 45. And 20 of those years I have known Christ Jesus as my Lord. For me, it has been 20 years of, as this scripture says, progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him. In fact, these last five years feel as though they have been a complete re-learning of who Jesus is and building a level of intimacy that I mistakenly thought I had before. A level of intimacy that is so sweet, that I am only starting to understand the intensity of God's love for us. A level of intimacy that is continually challenging the priorities in my life.

Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ - God's righteousness. Philippians 3:8-9 The Message

By God's grace there will be at least another 45 years of life to come - all of it with Jesus as my Master. I am expectant for all that God is going to do in those 45 years, and including an increasing level of intimacy every day, as He becomes more and more a priority in my life. I am not as naive as I once was, I know there will be plenty of 'trust building' moments and seasons to come, but now I have seen what comes out of those seasons, and it is good. And let's not forget, we are not in those seasons alone.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:26-28 The Message

Question for today, when you reflect back over your life and your Jesus journey, can you see times of intense learning and how God gently and graciously guided you through those times? Let's give thanks to Him that our relationship is not stagnant, but rather that it is continually growing. Let's give thanks for all He will do with us and through us in the future.

Everything comes from him;

Everything comes through him;

Everything ends up in him.

Always glory! Always praise!

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Romans 11:36 The Message

Incline your ear

Hide not Your face from me in the day when I am in distress! Incline Your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily. Psalm 102:2 AMP

So often when we are in desperate need of God's help, we cry out to Him, "Please listen to me God. Where are you? Can you hear me?" The Message Bible puts it this way,

GOD, listen! Listen to my prayer, 

listen to the pain in my cries.

Don't turn your back on me just when I need you so desperately.

Pay attention! This is a cry for help!

And hurry - this can't wait!

Psalm 102:1-2 The Message

Sometimes we have an inner knowing that God is listening ...

I call to you, God, because I'm sure of an answer.

Psalm 17:6a The Message

.....But we just can't or haven't heard the answer. And maybe that is because we aren't listening to God. Maybe we are like the people of Judah....

For these twenty-three years - from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, even to this day - the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you persistently early and late, but you have not listened and obeyed. Although the Lord persistently sent you all the prophets, His servants, yet you have not listened and obeyed or [even] inclined your ear to hear. Jeremiah 25:3-4 AMP

So where is it that we are inclining our ear? Are we inclining our ear towards God?

Incline you ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David. Isaiah 55:3 AMP

Are we making a decision to submit and consent to God's will? To discern His will through all the 'noise' in our lives? Are we listening out for Godly wisdom, rather than 'worldly' wisdom?

My son, be attentive to my Wisdom [godly Wisdom learned by actual and costly experience], and incline your ear to my understanding [of what is becoming and prudent for you], that you may exercise proper discrimination and discretion and your lips may guard and keep knowledge and the wise answer [to temptation]. Proverbs 5:1-2 AMP

While we need to consider what we are listening to, God's Word tells us that He is definitely listening to us, all the time.

Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Jeremiah 29:12 AMP

So the question for today, who are we choosing to listen to? Are we inclining our ear to Him? God is inclining His ear to us - right now. Let's choose to be an active listener.

I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3 AMP

Be thankful and say so to Him

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands! 
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing! 

Know (perceive, recognise, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise!

Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!

For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. 
Psalm 100 AMP

I love this Psalm for many reasons, including that it helps us to keep in perspective who God is, and who we are.

Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD.
He made us; we didn't make him.
We're his people, his well-tended sheep.
Psalm 100:3 The Message

This morning though, God spoke to me specifically about the 'being thankful' verse.

Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.
Psalm 100:4 The Message

Sometimes we don't want to be thankful. We want to complain. We want to remind God of how difficult things can be. We want to remind Him of what we haven't got, or what we have 'missed out' on. But that isn't what God wants. He wants us to 'Be thankful and say so to Him.'

Here is a little example from my life of what happens when we stop complaining and start being thankful ...... 

My husband (for all those married reading this blog, I am sure you can relate to this in some way), likes things to be secure - locked. I am not quite so security conscious, especially with internal gates and doors. I would find things locked and get annoyed because it would slow down 'my schedule' - I would have to go and find the keys, unlock the gate, door etc, and then put the keys away, taking up 'my valuable' time. 

One day, when I was muttering under my breath about how annoying this was, the Holy Spirit prompted me with a completely different perspective - that of thanking God for giving me a husband who wants to protect his family and our property. This revelation helped me to appreciate my husband in a whole new way. Now when I find a locked gate or door, I take a few moments to say, "Thank Lord for giving me a husband who is so security conscious and wants to protect us."  The power of being thankful.

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP

Sometimes we have to thank God in faith for things we know are possible with God, but we have not yet seen. 

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Hebrews 11:1 AMP

The Message Bible puts it this way,

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. Hebrews 11:1 The Message

Thanking for the unseen - it is a decision. 

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4:6 AMP

But watch what God will do in  you and through you when you make that decision to 'Be thankful and say so to Him.'

And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of it's salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with it's earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 AMP

Question for today, is there something in your life that is continually annoying you or causing you anxiety? Why not have some quiet time and ask God to show you what you can be thankful for? If there is something in your life that is yet to come, unseen, ask Him for the courage to believe that all things are possible with God, and to be able to thank Him while you wait.

Jesus glanced around at them and said, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God. Mark 10:27 AMP