lifelong faith walk

I have been reading about the Israelites coming into the Promised Land in Joshua lately. One thing that has been on my mind is that Caleb isn’t mentioned much. He and Joshua were the only 2 of the 12 spies who believed God. Joshua obviously become the leader, but we aren’t given much information about Caleb. The verses that describe Caleb’s strong faith and confidence in God in Numbers 13 & 14 have really encouraged me and made me desire faith like his.

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’”  Numbers 13:30

“Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, ‘The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’”  Numbers 14:6-9

“No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it (the Promised Land). But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”  Numbers 14:23b-24

When I came to Joshua 14 this morning, I was so excited to finally hear about Caleb again! In previous chapters, the Israelites have been battling and defeating all of the enemies who occupy their land. Now they are dividing up the land among the people. Here is the interaction between Caleb and Joshua:

” 6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’

10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)”     Joshua 14:6-15

Wow! So wonderful! Are you as blown away as I am by Caleb’s unwavering, lifelong faith in the Lord? He boldly goes to Joshua and reminds him of what the Lord promised. He is completely confident that the Lord will give him what He said He would. Forty-five years have gone by. Forty years of wandering and punishment for the unbelief of others and five years of fighting enemies. Forty-five years of walking faithfully with God. Caleb isn’t bitter or weighed down by what has happened. His faith has not decreased. He gives glory to God for keeping him alive. He is still as strong at 85 as he was at 40! He is still raring to go and full of the holy flame of love! He is still 100% confident in the Lord and ready to do battle for Him in order to take hold of what God has promised him. The land he has been promised even has Anakites (very tall people…”giants”) in it. Caleb is not scared or deterred. He knows that with the Lord’s help he will drive them out just like God told him. He is still ready to do whatever it takes to grab hold of what God has for him!

I want this! I want faith that only grows deeper as I walk with God. I want to continue every day to walk out my faith – to believe God with every step. I have heard Him tell me that He is giving me victory over certain things. I don’t know how long it will take, but I want to continue to grow in faith and not doubt the Lord or grow weary. I want to be willing to fight for the life God has for me for as long as I live! I don’t want to give up just because something doesn’t happen immediately. In our world today, we are so used to instant gratification. I get frustrated if my text message doesn’t go through as quickly as I want. I don’t want to be afraid because of the size of the enemy I am facing. The Lord will help me drive out every enemy! Caleb believed and so received his inheritance. The Lord gave him the land on which his feet walked.

God has told me that He is giving me victory in what I am walking with Him through right now. Has He told you that, too? Let’s take our cue from Caleb and continue to move forward in faith, trusting God and believing in His promise. Let us ask for a lifelong faith walk that honors God – for perseverance, strength and courage to keep going all the way to the end. Let us walk in humility and love, serving our Lord with every step. At the right time, we will receive our inheritance!

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”  1 Corinthians 2:8

“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”  Daniel 12:13

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”  Hebrews 11:8-9

“‘But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ’The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.’”  Zechariah 8:11-13

  34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

  37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

   40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’   Matthew 25:34-40

Lord, please give me faith like Caleb! Increase my faith. Let it go deeper, so that every step I take is a step of trust and of believing in you – in who you are and that you are bringing about all that you have promised. Help me to persevere. Grant me confidence and courage. Forgive me for my doubts and fears, my bitterness and impatience. Let me not waver in my convictions or be swayed by the beliefs (or unbelief) of others. Strengthen me. Help me to hold unswervingly to you and to your word. Grow me in you, Lord. Fill me with your Spirit! Let your Word take root and grow and live and produce fruit for you. I give myself fully to you. Help me to love you more and to seek after you wholeheartedly every day of my life. Protect me from everything that tries to distract and discourage me.  It doesn’t matter what conditions I am living in, what situations I am going through. Your love and your word endure forever!! Let me like Abraham go where you say to go and do what you say to do. Make me obedient to your commands. Thank you for your mercy in my life. Thank you for keeping me alive! Everything I have and everything I am is a gift from you. Let my life be for your glory and praise! Keep your flame of love burning brightly. Stoke the fire, Lord. Holy Spirit, come!! I need more of you and your perfect - and perfecting – love. Let it consume me and burn away the chaff. Help me to serve you with my life and to go the way you want me to all the way to the end like Daniel. I know you are doing so much in me and that every step I take with you is accomplishing your purposes. THANK YOU, LORD! Help me to surrender to you in every way even when I don’t understand. I am willing to do whatever it takes! I want to be a blessing to you. You are my greatest Treasure! I love you!! You are good, and everything you are doing is good. Let your perfect will be done in my life and in all the earth. In Jesus’ name – Amen.

2012
02/21
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Abide

The victory comes through death.

Life through abiding in Christ.

His way is hard.

Who can accept it?

To break through, I must let go completely.

Lay down self and pick up Love.

A cross that doesn’t look like I thought it would.

Beauty despised by most.

Suffering shunned and avoided.

Purifying is painful.

Words that work.

Cutting, dividing, consuming, transforming.

This is where I must go – the path of my Lord.

“Do not be afraid.

Come closer.

Abide.“

I hear you, Lord.

Help me to come.

I love you.

Not my will but yours be done.

2012
02/20
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It is time to attack evil.

This is what I wrote in my journal on Thursday after reading Joshua 10:

It is time to ATTACK evil!

God will fight for us.

Every enemy will be totally destroyed.

There will be no survivors!

We are more than conquerors in Christ!! (Romans 8:37)

We were made not just to survive but to thrive and conquer – to overcome the enemy!! (Revelation 12:11)

Joshua chapters 10-12 are full of battles. This is when the Israelites have crossed over the Jordan and are moving into the Promised Land God has given them. They are following God and obeying Him as He leads them through Joshua. Kings that have ruled these lands won’t give up without a fight. They are coming out of the woodwork and joining together to fight against God’s people, and the Israelites instead of just trying to hold their ground or survive these attacks are pursuing, attacking and defeating all of them! They are taking the offensive. It says over and over in these chapters that the Israelites destroyed their enemies completely and left no survivors. God helped them wage war and defeat over 30 kings. He handed all their enemies over to them.

I have personally felt this same thing going on. I have heard God’s call to move forward in faith and follow Him into the Promised Land. As I follow Him, I come upon enemies. These enemies don’t want me (and God who is in me!) to take possession of this land. Many of them have lived in and ruled the land for many generations and they don’t want to give up their territory. I feel God telling me this a time of war – of doing battle against the enemy. I have to remember that I don’t wage war as the world does.

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-5

I feel God tell me that I am to wage war by drawing close to Him and allowing Him to do His good work in me. Obedience is key. I must obey His every command. He has given me clarity on a few things we are “battling” together and has given me a few Scriptures that are relevant. I feel Him telling me to use those – to wield the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17)! I feel Him telling me to commit those to memory – to meditate on them – and that as I do that, He is writing them on the tablet of my heart and teaching me by the power of His Spirit in me. His word, as it is planted deep within me, becomes a living part of me, working to cut out parts that are dead and unfruitful, exposing lies and molding and shaping me more and more into the image of Christ (Heb. 4:12, 2 Cor. 3:18).

I also feel God telling me that prayer is vital. I must pray in faith. I must pray unceasingly and perseveringly. Some of these things will take time. In Joshua 11:18 it says that “Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time.” I must not give up! And, one of the things I must continually ask for is perseverance. I must also ask others to join with me in prayer. When 2 or more pray for something in accordance with God’s will, it will be done! Not it might be done or it will probably be done. It WILL be done. Prayers pave the way for God’s will! Also, the prayers of others carry me through when I am tired or paralyzed in fear. They keep me from going the wrong way. We are to be a house of prayer. The house we are building is a house of love from which prayers are to rise like incense – a pleasing aroma to our Lord.

All of this translates into my personal life right now for sure. God is speaking this to me because this is where I am and what is going on in my life. I don’t want to overstate things, but I feel this is also an important message that may apply to many. For those of us who are Christians, we are moving forward with God to take hold of our inheritance. This is where we all are. We are the Lord’s mighty warriors. He is calling us to fight – to fight not only for ourselves, but for those around us, for our cities, countries and people everywhere. We are His workers, His servants. Our lives lived in and with Him are accomplishing His purposes, building His house and bringing Him glory as they reveal His love and power. As we move forward, we are coming up against all kinds of opposition. I feel it! I feel it more now than I think I ever have in the past. It is not only emotional; it is physical. The force of the enemy against us and against God is increasing and intensifying.

The only thing strong enough to defeat the enemy and all the evil in this world is GOD and His great love. He is Love. We need more of Him – more of His limitless, perfect, healing, powerful love. We have got to give ourselves over completely to Him and beg for more of His Spirit: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty,” Zechariah 4:6. God has already won this. Him in us is the way we will carry out His victory. Our job is to believe. Our work is to draw closer to the Lord, staying totally tucked under His wing and covered by His love. When we stay close to the Lord, we can hear Him whisper His words of encouragement and remind us who He is and what He has promised. This strengthens and encourages us. As we walk with Him, He guides our every step. When we abide totally in Christ and allow Him to live fully through us, we have the courage to go out boldly for Him and fight the enemies that come and to fight and overcome the evil in this world. This is the authority Jesus has given us as His body.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  John 14:12-14

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”  Mark 16:17-18

God is longing to use us in these ways. We are His body, His chosen instruments, His holy vessels. As we give our lives completely to Him, He works in and through us doing all He has planned and bringing about His victory! Pressing in closer and giving over every part of ourselves is imperative! Reminding one another of the truth and staying in God’s word is also extremely important. Just as Caleb and Joshua remembered what the Lord had promised and had faith that they could take the land, so must we. Just as David believed He could defeat the giant, Goliath, because He was a servant of God, we must believe in the name of the Lord – in His love, power and strength in us to defeat every enemy who comes against us.

“45 David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’ ”  1 Samuel 17:45-47

There is no enemy too strong for the Lord or for us when our lives are lived in, with and for Him!

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”  Psalm 20:7-8

“‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant…and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.’”  Haggai 2:21-22, 23

We must remember who we are: servants of the most high God, chosen by Him to do His work.

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple…”  Ezra 5:11

Let’s not stop until the Lord’s house is totally rebuilt, until all His land is taken back and His kingdom and every person in it restored! It is time to attack and defeat evil for good.

2012
02/19
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the house that LOVE built

“God is love.” 1 John 4:8

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”  Psalm 127:1

“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”  Proverbs 14:1

Unless our house is built with and by Love, it is nothing. It is a house built on the sand, with no firm foundation and no strength to stand the storms.

What am I using to build my house? Is all that I am doing done out of love? Where am I laboring in vain? What am I doing out of fear, pride or selfish ambition? What am I doing that works against the Lord’s purpose?

Show me, Lord. Show me the parts of my house not built on Jesus, the Rock who is Love. Tear them down. Take out all motivations other than love! Uproot them. Pour your love down deep into every crevice. Let it set and settle, becoming my foundation in all things. Build me up in your love. Let every room be a dwelling for love and welcoming to all. Let my house be your house. Make me your holy temple. Let my life serve your purpose. Dwell in me. You are perfect Love. Thank you, God. I give you total control. You are my Builder. Build me according to your plan. Let every detail be just as you have ordained.

Help me to build up my family in love. Grant me heavenly wisdom and help me to walk in your way. Reign in me so that your love flows through me and out onto those around me. Help me to build up my husband and my children by pouring out your love. Fill me with patience, kindness and gentleness. Help me to think of their needs ahead of my own. Take out selfishness. Purify me. Keep me from tearing them down or hurting them. Let our family be built on you and by you and grow in you. Help me to nurture my family and encourage them according to your will. I don’t know what I am doing, but my eyes are on you. I take heart, knowing your love covers over my mistakes. Thank you, Jesus! Teach and guide us, Holy Spirit. Build each of us according to your plan. Let our family serve you and bring you glory, honor and praise. Fill us with your love for each other. We are all broken in our own ways. Help us not to hurt one another in our brokenness. Pour out your love, compassion and understanding. Bind us up and bind us to you and to one another with your unbreakable cord of love!

You are so good! What have I ever done to deserve your amazing love? You have given me such joy, a new life and hope for a wonderful future in and with you! Thank you, Lord! Your love overwhelms me! Pull me in closer! The only way to go out in love is to press in to Love. Hold me tight, Lord! Never let me go! Your love is more precious than gold. You are my Treasure. Loving and being loved by you is better than anything I could ever imagine! Give me your eyes to see those around me. Then, I can see that each person is your treasure, your beautiful creation that you love so much. Let every person feel your love today! Let it rain down and refresh weary, lonesome souls. In Jesus’ name – Amen.

2012
02/14
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the gift of LOVE

“7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:7-16

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Follow the way of love…”  1 Cor. 13:13 & 14:1

God is Love. Jesus is God the Son. He is Love in person. He came to save us. His Love saves us and covers our sins. Whoever believes in Jesus receives Him and is filled with His Spirit – with Love. So, what could God want us to do more than love? We have been given Love so that we can love. We can love God back, and we can love each other. As the body of Christ, we become Love in person! We are each vessels carrying this precious, sacred gift. And, we come together to form one body. We are the body of Christ, the body of Love. Let us give ourselves to one another in accordance with God’s will. Let us be worthy of this great calling and not waste it. Let us not be stingy with this great gift we have been given. Let us freely give it to all around us. Love is life to those who receive it! Love heals. Love reconciles. Love covers sins.

“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.”  Proverbs 10:12

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”  1 Peter 4:8

Many people around us are dying in sin. They are hopeless and condemned. They are hurting, and we have the One Thing they need: Jesus. In Jesus, there is life, hope, freedom from sin, healing, joy and peace. All of these things are only found in Him, in Love. On this holiday of celebrating love, let us give the gift of true Love. Let us give Jesus by loving one another, forgiving one another, serving one another. In order to give the gift of Love, we must first receive it. Let us ask for more of the Holy Spirit, so that we are filled to all fullness and have a plentiful supply. Let us go out in love today, giving to all and not withholding what is in our power to give!

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”  Romans 13:8-10

We can never repay the Lord for all He has done for us, but we can continue to “pay” on the debt of love. We can love Him and love one another with the love He has given us. This is fulfilling the law. This is obeying His command.

“9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”  John 15:9-17

Come, Holy Spirit! Fill us with you – with your perfect, everlasting, unconditional love. Let us go out today in love – abiding in you and with you abiding in us. Help us to love. Only love bears fruit that will last. And, we can only love because you first loved us. We want to be your body, Jesus. We want to obey you. We want to love you and love others. You are Love. You are transforming us into your image – into Love. We say yes to you! Thank you for choosing us. Let us not waste this precious gift or keep it to ourselves. Let us share it with all those around us! We want nothing more than to be Love. Let your love permeate every part of us. Saturate us. Cover us. Let your love spill out of us onto everyone we are with. Help us in our fear. Help us not to be afraid to love. Help us to forgive those who have hurt us. Show us places in our hearts where we are wounded and still have unforgiveness. Help us to confess it to you and receive your cleansing. Come into every dark place with your light and love. Help us not to harm each other, not to harbor bitterness, judgment and unforgiveness anymore! Help us to extend love and forgiveness, just as you have done for us. Let us not waste any more time. Oh Lord, this is what is needed!! You are so desperately needed by us all! Come, Jesus! Heal the broken hearts. Bring all to you so that you can pour out your balm of love and put the pieces back together. I have experienced this (and still am)! You bind up broken hearts. You give new hearts. You give your love that never fails. Help all believers to surrender fully to you. Purify our hearts. Fill them with you! Live and love through us. Let us give you, the most precious gift, to all around us. You are Love. You are Life. You are the Way. Let us become the way – a bridge bringing many to you. Let your kingdom come into every heart. In your holy name – Amen.

2012
02/14
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living sacrifices

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

In Christ, there is a mystery that occurs. We offer ourselves as sacrifices, and He not only makes us live, He transforms us into something new. For the new to come, the old must go. The word sacrifice means “the offering of something precious to a diety; loss, deprivation; to offer up or kill as a sacrifice; to accept the loss or destruction of for an end, cause or ideal” (Merriam Webster).

When we offer ourselves to the Lord, we are willing to lose ourselves in order to gain Him, who is everything. We are only willing to do this when we know how precious Jesus is – that there is nothing more valuable than Him and that, in Him, though we die we live. He is true love, everlasting life and peace that passes understanding. We are trading in the pattern of the world for the image of Christ. What we lose doesn’t compare to what we gain! Knowing this makes us fall on our face in worship and offer ourselves to the Lord. This pleases Him. He doesn’t ask us to get ourselves together and come to Him (which is impossible). He asks us to come to Him and give ourselves to Him, so He can put us back together. We come broken, and He makes us whole (Ps. 51:17). We come wounded, and He heals us. We come naked, and He clothes us with His righteousness – with Himself (Ro. 13:14). As we give ourselves fully to Him, He works to renew our minds – to change those patterns (habits) we have had - and to clean and purify our hearts – to erase the lies we have believed and lived by and to write His law on our hearts in their place, so we can live according to His word by the power of His Spirit in us. Then, we will not be deceived anymore but will know what God’s will is and be able by His grace to do it. When we allow Jesus to come into our lives and reign as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit dwells in us and works continually to transform us and free us from sin and the yoke of slavery.

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”  Philippians 3:7-9

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:17-18

“Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”  Luke 9:23-25

If we are afraid to die, we cannot live. I am asking myself these questions: What am I afraid to lose? What have I not yet given over to Jesus? What am I unwilling to sacrifice to Him?

“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

‘Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!’”  John 12:23-28

Lord, I give myself to you. I give you every part of me. I love you so much! I want you to reign over me. I want to die so that I may live…so that YOU may live in and through me! I want your Spirit to work in me and renew and restore me. I want to be fully resurrected in Christ!! I trust you, Lord. Forgive me for my fear. Drive it out with your love! Help me not to say, “Save me,” but to say instead, “GLORIFY YOUR NAME!” This is what I want. I want you to be glorified. My life means nothing if it doesn’t please you and reveal you to others. I want your perfect will. I want to know your will and do it. Live in me. Transform me. Take out the old patterns, and mold me into your image, so you can fill every space. I want to reflect your glory like the moon refects the sun. I want to shine you, the Son, into the darkness of this world. This is why I am here. Let my life serve your purpose and bring you praise!  I want all to see and know you. Let every day of my life work to build your house and further your kingdom. Take me over, Holy Spirit. Help me to give over those parts of me I am afraid to lose or am clinging to. I don’t want them. I WANT YOU, JESUS! Nothing else matters. You are more precious to me than anything. Help me to take up my cross and follow you. Strengthen me with your love. Only as I meditate on you and who you are do I have courage to go forward. The truth of who your are and how you love me gives me steady feet and lights my path. Flood me with the truth. Cover me with your love. You are perfect and good. Let your will be done! In Jesus’ name – Amen.

2012
02/13
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Psalm 25

1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; 2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.

Yes, Lord. I lift up my soul to you. I trust you. You are my God and my King, my Good Shepherd who watches over me. Let me not be put to shame or shame you. Protect me from evil. Let my enemies fall and be defeated. Fight for me! Hide me in you. My hope is in you, and your love never fails! Let the wicked be put to shame.

4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.

Please show me your ways, Lord. Teach me your paths. I long to follow you and walk in your ways. Guide me, Holy Spirit. Counsel me. You are my Everything! You alone are wise and good. You are my Hope and my Salvation. Help me to let go of everything else I have relied on or trusted in besides you. Remember your love and mercy. Have mercy on me, O God! Remember not the sins of my youth. Thank you for forgiving me and making me new in you! You have given me more than I ever could have imagined! You are good! Your love endures forever. Your love is perfect and unfailing!

8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. 13 He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. 14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 15My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

You are perfect, good, faithful and true. You are merciful and gracious. You instruct even me in your ways. O Lord! Thank you. What have I done to deserve your great love and mercy? Nothing. Thank you, Father! Help me to walk humbly with you today and every day. You are teaching me what is right. You are changing my old patterns (the patterns of the world) and helping me to walk in your way, according to your word, which is flawless and brings life and prosperity. Help me to surrender fully to your good work and be changed from the inside-out. Help me to keep your word. Pour out your grace. You know what I need. You are what I need. Please give me more of your Spirit! Please help me to daily confess my sins. Forgive me. Thank you for always extending forgiveness, love and mercy. It is too good to be true, but IT IS! You have done this. It is marvelous! Teach me to fear you – to revere, respect and obey you. Lead me on your path – in the way you have chosen for me. I know it is the best plan. Keep me from following my own ways. Let your will be done in my life! O Lord, draw me close. Confide in me as I confide in you. Let us be so close to one another that our thoughts are the same and our hearts beat as one. Live in me. Love through me. I give myself fully to you. You are my Treasure, more precious than gold. Your love gives me full life, joy, peace and a wonderful future. I ask for my children and those after them to receive this inheritance – to love and follow you with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength. My eyes are on you, Lord. You alone can save.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. 18 Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 19 See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

Please continue to be gracious to me. In the light of your love, I live! Apart from you, I have nothing. Keep me strong and full of courage in these times of hardship and struggle. Free me from the traps set for me. Let these trials serve your purpose. I trust you, Father. Reveal to me what I need to know, and help me to trust you when I don’t know or understand what is happening. Keep me as the apple of your eye. Take away my sins. Purify me. Guard my life. You are my Refuge. Cover me with your feathers. Fill me with your Spirit. My hope is in you!

22 Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Redeem us, Lord, from all our troubles. I especially lift up your chosen ones, the Jews, all over the world. Open their eyes and their hearts to see that you, Jesus, are who they have been waiting for! Come, Lord Jesus! Let your kingdom come into every heart all over the world! Let your good news be shared with every tribe, every nation. Make us, your body, serve you in this. We are yours. In your holy name – Amen.

2012
02/11
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I give it all to you.

“15 But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul. 16 Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. 17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. 18 For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. 19The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness. 20 The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD.”  Isaiah 38:15-20

“65 Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD. 66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. 68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. 69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. 70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”  Psalm 119:65-72 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28 

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Galatians 6:9

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”  John 15:9-17

Lord, I give you this situation, this struggle. I trust you, Lord. I choose to stay on your path no matter what and to walk with you through this to the other side. Use all that is happening for your good. I don’t understand it, but I don’t have to. I rest in you, knowing you understand everything, and you are in control. Let the anguish I feel help me to walk humbly with you all of my days. You give me what I need to live, to really live – to depend on you and surrender to you and obey you. You restore my soul. You give me full life in you! Your love protects me and keeps me from going back into the pit. All praises and glory to you, God! Even in the middle of this, I feel hope. I have faith. You love me so much!! Thank you, Lord! I know you are working in and through this. Let my anguish bear fruit for you. Help me to stand firm in you, Jesus. You are my joy and my peace no matter what is going on around me. I feel it. I feel YOU with me. You give me strength to keep going. Thank you!

Let my afflictions (past, present and future) bring about your will. You bring life from death, joy from pain, beauty from ashes. Do your good work, Lord! Let nothing be wasted. Help me to remain in your love. Make my heart soft toward you and others. Keep me from closing off or hardening my heart. Even in the middle of this, help me to love you and love those around me. Keep my eyes on you. Let me feel everything you want me to feel. I give it all to you. I want to learn. Teach me. Use everything. You are my precious treasure.  I will cling to you. You are all I need! You have rescued me. You continue to bring me into more freedom as you build my life on you. Help me not to shy away from the hard work and the pain. I know they are achieving your purpose. I am willing to do the work, Lord. I want to keep moving forward with you, no matter how I feel or how things look. Help me not to look at what is going on but at your beautiful face. I long to see you, Lord! Let me see you as I walk through today. 

I know you are working to still my hunger and that out of all this, I am storing up wealth for my children (Ps. 17:14). You are teaching me to hunger only for you and that you satisfy me and care for me perfectly. Let me learn this. Let it go down deep and become a truth I live out of! Let me pass this down to my children. Let them see me live it and let it be the foundation they build their lives on. Let them see your faithfulness, mercy and love! Let them see that you are the way, the truth and the life! Let our family be firmly built on you, Jesus! You are my Lord, my King, my Savior. Thank you! I love you! My heart overflows with love and gratitude. It’s not enough for you – for your great love and all you have done. Please give me more of you, so I can praise you more! My hope is in you all day long. In your name – Amen.

2012
02/10
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Lord, have mercy.

I have been thinking all day how important the prayer, “Lord, have mercy” is. God is the only one with power over life and death (Luke 12:5). He is the only one who can save us. And, the wonderful news is that He delights in saving us! That is His desire! He is gracious, loving and merciful to all who call on Him in truth and faith.

 1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

5who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

Psalm 103:1-6, 8-13

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17

“There is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.”  Romans 10:12

I was trying to think if there is ever a time in the Bible where a person believed Jesus could help him and cried out to Him for mercy and did not receive help. I cannot think of one. I read this story today:

“Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.”  Mark 7:24-30

While the woman may not have actually said the words “Lord, have mercy,” that is what she was begging for…She was begging for Jesus to have mercy and save her daughter. Jesus was so moved by her faith in Him and her great love for her daughter that compelled her to continue to boldly ask Him for help even though she wasn’t Jewish. She didn’t give up when he didn’t help her right away; she just kept asking! Jesus granted her request.

Not only can we ask for mercy for ourselves but we can also ask for mercy for others. God is moved by our faith in Him and our love for (and pain over) those we care about who are in need. I think God has shown us what to do all through His Word and that is to cry out to Him for mercy! It is what He is longing to do – to have mercy on all of us, to help us, to save us from our sins and this broken world. This is the whole reason He sent Jesus. Jesus came to save, not to condemn. And, He made a way for us to go boldly to the throne of God and lay ourselves at His feet, begging for mercy.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16 

He wants us not to give up but to keep asking Him, keep seeking Him and keep believing in Him to pour out His mercy.

“Then (Jesus) said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldnesshe will get up and give him as much as he needs.

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  Luke 11:5-13

Lord, have mercy! I am in need of you! We are all in such need of you – in our personal lives, in our marriages, in our families, in all our relationships, in our jobs, in our churches, communities, cities, countries, all over the world. Lord, have mercy on us! We need you. We need more of your Holy Spirit in us! You are the one thing that is needed! Come, Lord Jesus, in your love and mercy. Come quickly. Arise and help us. Come down from heaven. We are faint with longing. We are in desperate need of you. Much of the trouble we are in is a consequence of lives lived apart from you in sin and rebellion. We take responsibility for our sin. We are  sorry, Lord! We see that only in you - living according to your word and allowing your Spirit to live in us - can we truly live and be free. We reject those sinful ways and turn to you! We want to walk in your ways and love and fear you. Please teach and guide us. Heal and forgive us! Revive and restore us, Lord! Protect us from these attacks that constantly come at us from every side. Lord, hide us in you. Save those who are perishing! Refine us. Bring us under your loving authority. Strengthen and train us so we can serve you in faithfulness and persevere to the end. Your law is being broken, Lord. It is time! We need you! Bring your kingdom, your justice and your mercy. Reign over heaven and earth, Lord. We are longing for you!

Jesus, let us, your body, be ministers of mercy. Help us to extend mercy to those around us as you have extended it to us. Fill us to all fullness with you and move us in your will. Make us one in heart and mind. Let us move and act as one, all doing our parts and fulfilling our specific roles. Unify us. Bind us together with your love. We need more of you! You are Life. You are Love. You are Truth. You are Peace. Come, Lord Jesus! I know you are here with us. Thank you! We praise you for your goodness, love and mercy that endure forever. We know and believe you are the Holy One of God. You have defeated the enemy and are coming again to reign over your everlasting kingdom. Hallelujah! We look forward in hope and faith. We ask you to sustain us and help us to make it until that time – to endure patiently. We ask you to calm the storms that rage within us and around us and keep us from drowning when the waves get high. We ask you to give us more faith and courage to persevere. Help us to know and believe that you are able and will always save us. Let your power and love for all people be revealed through us. Preserve us for your name’s sake. Make us faithful and let our lives serve and honor you in every way. Let your perfect will be done. Let none perish but all call on you in faith and truth and be saved! Lord, have mercy! In your holy name – Amen.

2012
02/09
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a prayer for God’s people

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  Ephesians 3:14-21

Lord, I come before you humbly and with great gratitude in my heart. You have given me everything I need through Jesus. You have given me new life. You have given me my identity: I am your daughter, your beloved child. You have brought me into your family, into the family of God (Jn. 1:12-13, 1 Jn. 3:1). It is for my family that I pray now. I lift up my brothers and sisters (and myself) to you. Strengthen us. Jesus, be our Strength (Phil. 4:13). Holy Spirit, be the power at work in each of us. Be in control of our minds (Rom. 8:6). Dwell in our hearts. Reign over them – over us – as King! We believe you are the Holy One of God, the Messiah, our Savior! Increase our faith. Let our roots go down deep into you, Lord. You are love. You are the vine; we are the branches. Let us live and grow in you and bear fruit for you! Let us be firmly established in you. Make every part of our lives built on and surrendered to you. Tear down anything not glorifying and honoring you. Keep us from seeking to do our own will and pursuing our own plans. Let us seek only to do your will! 

Let us fully grasp your love, Jesus! When we do, we will be able to do nothing but worship you and obey you. Please make it so! Let your love be our heart’s desire. We want more of you, Lord! We want to see your face. We long for you with every breath. We want to love you more! Let us lay down striving to have more knowledge, power and security. Let us only crave you, who is Love! In you are all riches, more than we could ever possibly imagine! You are the Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price. Come, Lord Jesus!! Fill each of us with you. Unify us through your Spirit. Bind us together more tightly. Fill every gap, every hole, every space with you. Heal every wound. Forgive us of our sins. Help us to forgive others and love others as you love us. Fill us with your love and compassion for each other. Take out all fear, pride, selfishness, judgment, jealousy, bitterness and unforgiveness. Give us your eyes to see. Let us be your ministers. Pour out your grace in accordance with our need. Help us to cry out in faith, knowing you will help us and sustain us. Carry us through. Give us what we need to persevere and stay on course to the end. Help us to make more room for you in our lives. You are the One Thing that is needed. Let us be your body, Jesus. Be our Head and our Foundation. Move us in your will. We are yours.

I also pray for those who are not yet part of your family – for our estranged brothers and sisters. Bring them back! Bring them into your house, Lord. Make them part of your family, too. I know this is your will. This is why you came: to seek and save the lost. Bring all the fatherless to you, our Holy Father. Help all to know that you love them with an everlasting love and that you are waiting for them with open arms. Help every person to repent and believe the good news! Let us, your children, welcome them with love and mercy just as you welcomed us. Keep us from resentment or judgment. Some of the last will be first. Let us put others’ needs above our own and serve them as you desire us to. Help us to remember that it is your kindness that led us to repentance and to extend that same kindness to others. Help us to remember that we are all sinners saved by you, Jesus. In your holy name – Amen.

2012
02/08
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