To Him be the glory

Earlier this week a friend shared this prayer from the scriptures with me. It is such an encouraging prayer, I felt to share it this morning. I pray that it will be an encouragement to you too.

For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. 

May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! 

May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breath and length and height and depth [of it];

[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry our His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]- to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). 

Ephesians 3:14-21 AMP

Digging deep and building a strong foundation

For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words [in order to heed their teaching] and does them, I will show you what he is like:

He is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it, because it had been securely built or founded on a rock. Luke 6:47-48 AMP

As we read this scripture, let's ask ourselves some questions. 

1. Am I regularly spending quality time with God, and not just bombarding him my prayer shopping list?

2. Am I listening to His words, or do I gloss over them and not really pay attention?

3. Am I diligently following His teachings in every area of my life?

Now we know we are not perfect. We will not succeed at doing putting God in His rightful place in our lives, every moment of every day. We sometimes choose, may be out of disobedience, or frustration, or disappointment or ignorance or even laziness and apathy to follow our own path and our own wisdom. Most times when we take our own path, the outcome is not the best outcome that God had planned for us.

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. Luke 9:23-24 The Message

We need to relinquish the driver's seat and start digging. And that digging is not just little chips at the surface to overturn the weeds in our life, rather it is digging out spade-fills of dirt, of the stuff that we have clogged up our lives with. As we dig that out, and dig down deep, we make more room for God and the good work He wants to do in our lives. 

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth [the material for] a vessel for the silversmith [to work up]. Proverbs 25:4 AMP

That work of shaping us to be that house standing on the Rock. The house that could not shake or move when the torrent comes.

​FOR GOD alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.

He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved.

Psalm 62:1-2 AMP

Furthermore, it is not all about what God wants to do in each of us, but also what He wants to do through us. 

So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.

For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness]. 

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 AMP

Question for today, how would you answer those three questions I posed above? There is always room for improvement for each of us. Let's ask God today to help us to do whatever it takes to allow Him to dig deeper into our lives and build a foundation that is so strong it can withstand any torrent that comes our way. And let's ask Him to help us be the best ambassadors for Christ that we can possibly be, in Jesus Name. Our world needs to see and hear about Jesus love.

Him

But so much the more the news spread abroad concerning Him, and great crowds kept coming together to hear [Him] and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. But He Himself withdrew [in retirement] to the wilderness (desert) and prayed. One of those days, as He was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting by, who had come from every village and town of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was [present] with Him to heal them.

Luke 5:15-17 AMP

Today I feel that God is challenging me to share this scripture about the healing power of the Lord. For me to write about God's grace and mercy is so much easier. I know in my heart, and can see all around me that we tangibly experience His grace every day. 

For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favour upon favour and gift [heaped] upon gift. John 1:16 AMP

However, healing is another matter. For me, some days I have plenty of faith to believe for complete healing for our daughter, and on other days that faith appears to be nowhere to be seen. Those 'other days' are normally the days when our daughter is in physical pain, or the anxiety is overwhelming her. Those are the days when the physical and emotional healing seems a world away from what in staring us in the face. Those are the days when I need to read scriptures that testify of Jesus' power to heal. 

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energising, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 AMP

The scriptures and testimonies of Jesus' power to heal speak to my spirit. They expose the fear that can start to overtake my mind. They expose the need for me to take my eyes of the circumstance and re-align myself with God's truth. As I read God's word and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to me I am able to come to a place where I can fully believe and act on Hebrews 4:16.

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favour to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. Hebrews 4:16 AMP

And here we are, back at the throne of grace! A place I have come very familiar with over the past 4.5 years. I am back looking at Jesus, remembering Who He is and what He has done, giving us access to our Heavenly Father, the peace of reconciliation.

Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the face that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favour) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.  Hebrews 5:1-2 AMP

So I will continue to pray for healing for our daughter, knowing that Jesus has the power to heal. But my number one prayer for her, as for all our children, is that they will know they are children of God. That they will know they that through Jesus they can have the peace of reconciliation with their Heavenly Father, their creator. That they will know that God's favour is on their lives, no matter what circumstance they face.

Question for today, are you struggling to believe for something to change in your life because the circumstances aren't as you want them to be? Maybe, just maybe, there needs to be shift in the 'what' you are wanting. A shift to wanting more of the 'Who' in your life. 

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patience and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 AMP

The kingdom of God

[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:16-23 AMP

What does 'kingdom of God' mean to you? Where are you getting your understanding of the 'kingdom of God' from? Is it from God's Word, or is it from the world's view of God? In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus challenges us to listen and be careful about what we are listening to.

If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you - and more [besides] will be given to you who hear. Mark 4:23-24 AMP

Here is the truth we need to be listening to. The truth about who we are, the choice we have been given, and grace allowing us to be part of the kingdom of God. Peter spoke of the opportunity we have been given through God's grace.

After there had been a long debate, Peter got up and said to them Brethren, you know that quite a while ago God made a choice or selection from among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the Gospel [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] and believe (credit and place their confidence in it). And God, Who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us; And He made no difference between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith (by a strong and welcome conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God). Acts 15:7-9 AMP

Through God's grace we have been given the opportunity to hear the Gospel. We have been given the opportunity to chose to believe in Jesus Christ. We have the opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit. We have the opportunity to come back into relationship with God. The God Who is acquainted with and understands the heart. 

Questions for today, what does being in right standing with God mean to you?  Do you really believe that God is acquainted with and understands your heart? Do you really believe that you have access to Him and His kingdom? If you are struggling with some of these questions why not take time right now to ask God to help you understand more about His love, grace and mercy for you.

Then will the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears [to hear] be listening, and let him consider and perceive and understand by hearing. Matthew 13:43 AMP

Source of life

The singers as well as the players on instruments shall say, All my springs (my sources of life and joy) are in you [city of our God]. Psalm 87:7 AMP

Let's just repeat that last phrase, All my springs (sources of life and joy) are in you, [city of our God]. 

There are so many people, things, organisations that we think we can get our source of life and joy from. But in my experience of living on this earth for a mere 44 years, all of these people, things and organisations, can and will at some point fall short in providing life and joy. There is only one source that is completely trustworthy and always available.

Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist]. 1 Corinthians 8:6 AMP

Life, comes and goes so quickly. We have a responsibility to live our lives wisely and for the purposes that God planned to us. It can be difficult to stay focussed when the trials come, but that in itself is what the trial is all about, sticking with God, no matter what. Continuing to choosing to believe that God is with us, has not left us, and will bring life from the circumstance. Life in abundance, to the full, until it overflows. 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10 AMP

God continually reminded me of this truth at the weekend, as most rooms where we stayed on the Camp Quality camp at The Tops Conference centre at Stanwell Park had a poster proclaiming John 10:10. What a tangible reminder of Who God is, our source of life.

Question for today, are you feeling drained and out of energy to do life? Why not take time right now to confess your feelings to God, to acknowledge Him as your source, and ask Him to show you the next step to take in the precious life He has gifted you. He is the source of all renewal.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

Isaiah 40:28-31 AMP

Running into the name of the Lord

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong. Proverbs 18:10 AMP

For me, this week has been a week of continually running into the name of the Lord. I can't think of any other place to run to that gives the peace and hope that Jesus gives, and gives so freely. Jesus, that is where our focus needs to be. When the negative thought comes, when the hope fades, Jesus is the name that needs to be on our lips.

​THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

Hebrews 12:1-3 AMP

Running this race can be hard and it can be long. For me, there really isn't any point in asking why? The only questions I find helpful are 'what good is God bringing out of this?' And 'where can I see God in the midst of this?' As soon as I start to seek the answers to these questions, hope and joy grow as I see evidence of God's love for us, and see His love working in us and through us. 

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith andtried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Seeing the answers to those questions, reinvigorates me as I get a glimpse of God's heart for his people. There is no choice, the pity party has to end right then and there.

So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees,

And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured.

Hebrews 12:12-13 AMP

With my perspective realigned with God's perspective, I can begin again to run with purpose and direction.

Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. 1 Corinthians 9:26 AMP

My heart is reminded that the name of the Lord is my strong tower. He will sustain us, and He will continue to bring good from these circumstances.

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). Psalm 55:22 AMP

Questions for today, in the difficult times where or who do you run to? I pray that the scriptures I have shared today will encourage you to run more often into the name of the Lord. He will sustain you.

A place of refuge

In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:26 AMP

As this new day is yet to dawn I have been searching God's word for wisdom, His wisdom for this day and the decisions that will need to be made. How comforting to read this scripture and know that in seeking Him and worshiping Him with an awe that only He deserves, strong confidence comes. 

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 AMP

Having an attitude of reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord, yearning in your heart to hear what He has to say, what His direction is for you, (because it is the best guidance you can ever receive), enables us to move to that place of strong confidence. 

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; Yes if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. Proverbs 2:1-5 AMP

When we search for godly Wisdom, not only will we find knowledge of our omniscient God, but as Proverbs 14:26 says, His children will always have a place of refuge. So when we are seeking wisdom, and while we are waiting for His direction, we don't need to be fearful or concerned, because as His children, we always have a place of refuge.

The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation). And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God's Word and the right of their necessity].  Psalm 9:9-10 AMP

The Lord is our refuge, always. He does not forsake those who seek Him. Let's be those who choose to seek Him, His wisdom about everything in our lives, and find refuge in Him.

Question for today, is there something going on in your life that you need God's wisdom for ? Why not take time right now to ask Him, with reverent and worshipful fear, for wisdom, for direction and guidance? Wait expectantly for the answer and remember He is always the best place of refuge when you need it.

Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 62:8 AMP