How sweet it is to be loved by You

Over the Christmas break God taught me so many things and I was so excited to be able to come back in this semester with my knees bent, eyes lifted, and hands open. Each day is sweeter and sweeter. Yes, there have been moments of struggle but I know and feel God pulling me in closer and closer to Himself. Through the trials too I know He is there and those can be a great time of intimacy with my God if my eyes are lifted to Him. The temptations sang this line about a woman, if only they knew true unfailing love they they could really sing out, "How sweet it is to be loved by You!"

Playing the Holy Spirit

I realized that there are times when I try to play "Holy Spirit". By that I mean I try to do the convicting. I'm not premeditating to play Holy Spirit but I was challenged twice today by two different people with my words. Sometimes I talk trying to convict people and while yes there are times when speaking up is necessary but what of prayer? Do I truly believe that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful (Js 5:16)? There are times when I need to stop talking and pray. The Word tells us to be in continual prayer (1 Thes. 5:17). Again there are times when I need to speak, I'm not saying I will never speak out again but I need to remember the Holy Spirit is the one that does the convicting and show that I believe that through my actions and therefore remain quiet at times but may I never remain quiet in prayer. My dear friend continually encourages and challenges me with this statement, "live prayerfully."

Oh Lord may this be true of me that I would live prayerfully, that my life would be mark by prayer to give You the glory. That others would see You not just me being passionate for I am only passionate for You and because of You.

A New Battle Zone

About a month ago it was brought to me the idea of sleep being a battle zone. The friends who brought this to me didn't use that language but they did say that that is when they pray fervently (not saying they don't other times as well) for that is when thoughts are "out of our control." Some say that you can control your dreams, those people haven't heard mine. But maybe this is true but if so I must put my dreams on chauffeur? As I heard them talk about that I have remember different times in my life where this has been true. It is a battle front that we forget about so often. Oh but how true are the words of a hymn, "Thou my best thought by day or by night, Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light." Praises be! Even on that battle front He is still our light! Take up His power for this frontier as well brothers and sisters.

Oh, rid us of our flesh Lord

References from Let the Nations be Glad by John Piper

As believers in America we are fighting against the flow of culture in so many ways but especially in absolute truth. So many individuals including those who believe in God “have a hard time telling others their way is wrong.” (A friend of mine said this) To a certain extent we (generalization) have become empathetic and scared to tell the truth for we do not want to ruin whatever relationship we have or maybe just our pride. There is an Arabic proverb that says, “The greatest crime in the desert is finding water and telling no one.” As believers we have the water while the rest are in the desert and we keep it from them yet claim to love our neighbor?

“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Romans 10:13-15) “So far then, the main point of verses 14-16 would be that even though God has taken steps to provide the prerequisites for calling on the Lord, nevertheless most have not obeyed.” (144) Why do we hold on to such things that grieve our Father, such as pride and safety, instead of believing His promises (Heb. 13:5b, Matthew 28:20b, Ro. 8:28, etc.) and obey Him?

This is not a task that starts the day we step onto foreign territory or when we are on a mission trip but it started the day we said, “Lord take me life.” “The gospel of the blood of Christ crucified for sinners and risen in victory must be preached to all the nations so that they can believe and be saved.” (152 – bolding is mine)