† Braveheart

† Braveheart

2 Chron. 20:15-17

He said, "Attention everyone! - all of you from out of town, all you from Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat and hear what the Lord is saying to you:

DON’T BE AFRAID; DON’T PAY ANY MIND TO THIS HOOLIGAN CROWD. THIS IS GOD’S WAR, NOT YOURS.

TOMORROW YOU’LL GO AFTER THEM; see, they're already on their way up the slopes of Ziz;

YOU’LL MEET THEM at the end of the ravine near the wilderness of Jeruel.

YOU WON’T HAVE TO LIFT A HAND IN THIS BATTLE; JUST STAND FIRM, Judah and Jerusalem, AND WATCH GOD’S SAVING WORK FOR YOU TAKE PLACE.

DON’T BE AFRAID; DON’T WAIVER.

MARCH OUT BOLDLY TOMORROW – GOD IS WITH YOU!

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Pray the Word:

Lord, this has been a time You’ve taken to instill in us a steady commitment to You and Your Word. It’s been a time for us to truthfully ask ourselves, “HOW BRAVE IS MY HEART?”  Our conclusion is that our hearts can only be brave if we know that what we’re fighting for is worth giving our lives for .  .  .  and that we have a Leader we can follow into the battle being assured that, in the end of the conflict,  we will be the conquerors who shout VICTORY!

Now is not the time

Now is not the time

Heb. 10:35

CAST NOT AWAY THEREFORE YOUR CONFIDENCE, [as a discouraged soldier, who in a moment of panic, throws away his shield, indicating he gives up and surrenders his freedom to the enemy]

WHICH HAS GREAT RECOMPENSE OF REWARD. [if we act boldly and maintain a steadfast loyalty to God and to His cause, we will be greatly compensated!]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, after coming this far by faith, NOW IS NOT THE TIME to throw away our confidence as if it were something worthless and dispensable. There will be a day when You will review Your troops as we come back from the battle  .  .  and as You come down our ranks, looking at every one of us who did not cut and run, but endured our trials and maintained a steadfast loyalty to You − You will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” The ultimate compensation! 

The ‘IF’ TEST

The ‘IF’ TEST

2 Tim. 2:11-13

It is a faithful saying: [credible and deserving your intense consideration]

IF we died with Him, [left our old life at the Cross]

we will also live with Him; [promised new beginnings now and in the future eternal life]

IF we endure, [don’t give up or give in when our faith is challenged]

we will also reign with Him. [promised eternal rewards]

IF we deny Him, [continually and habitually refuse to acknowledge Him as shown by what we say and how we live]

He will also deny us; [refuse to acknowledge us]

IF we are faithless, [do not endure to the end and ultimately deny Him]

He will remain faithful, [will continue to be true to His Word, His promises and His righteous character]

for He cannot deny Himself. [will not prove Himself to be a liar]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, you know our hearts and that our desire is to follow You. We desperately want to pass the ‘IF’ TEST.  In our weak moments, when the reality of our faith in You is challenged – we ask for Your mercy, grace and strength that we don’t fail or fumble or stumble. We trust that You will be faithful to Your promise, and You will see us through.

Only one place to find it . . .

Only one place to find it . . .

2 Tim. 2:1

You, therefore, MY SON,

BE STRONG [find your inward strength and security]

IN THE GRACE [the God-given power that comes from experiencing God’s unconditional love to us]

THAT IS ONLY FOUND IN CHRIST JESUS. [and in that grace which is in Christ Jesus -and not in that which is in ourselves - should we place our dependence]
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Pray the Word:

Lord, we’ve found that there’s ONLY ONE PLACE TO FIND GRACE in our time of need → that strength and security we need to enable us to bear reproaches, afflictions, infirmities and, at times,  persecution in fulfilling our life purpose  .  .  . and, yes, that grace that keeps us through every corruption, temptation, and snare Satan can throw at us → the ONLY PLACE WE FOUND GRACE WAS IN CHRIST JESUS! ♫♫Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace has brought me safe this far – and grace will lead me home.♫♫

Success without suffering . . ?

Success without suffering  .  . ?

2 Tim. 1: 11-12a

FOR THIS GOSPEL [that we are ridiculously loved by God]

I WAS APPOINTED [not by any person but by a divine call from God]

[to be] A PREACHER [in the public eye to show clearly what the good news of this Gospel really is]

[and to be] AN APOSTLE [pioneering and laying new foundations]

[and to be] A TEACHER, [dedicating myself to pouring into others]

AND FOR THAT REASON I SUFFER AS I DO. [because he wasn’t content to talk or think like everybody else - he was persecuted; and because he was different, he ran up against opposition, misunderstanding, ostracism and sometimes violent persecution]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we pray that we, too, may be willing to stand, willing to be tested, willing to endure, willing to resist the temptation to give up our appointment from You  .  .  .  understanding that there is NO SUCCESS WITHOUT SUFFERING. Help our hearts to believe that the resources that were available to Paul that caused him to succeed in his calling (even though he suffered) are available to us, and they are still sufficient for the task before us.

Having panic attacks

Having panic attacks

2 Tim. 1:2

To Timothy, my dearly beloved son:

[Paul is writing to a younger man who even though he had a spiritual heritage from parents and grandparents who lived out their faith before him, and he himself was a strong, determined person - still had personal weaknesses that tended him TO PANIC and sometimes be overwhelmed with fear or anxiety]

GRACE, [what God gives us that we do not deserve - the forgiveness of sins and the lifting of the guilt of life]

MERCY, [what God withholds that we do deserve – that keeps us from getting all that could come]

and PEACE, [that inner sense of well-being when realizing that, no matter how dark it may look, there will be a way through the trial]

from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! [knowing that inner calm can only come from the Divine]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we needed this strong reminder that WE AREN’T SUFFICIENT WITHIN OURSELVES TO AVOID PANICKING when we’re in the middle of a trial - our inner calm will only come from Your divine GRACE, MERCY and PEACE that solidifies our trust that You are in charge; that our circumstances are of Your permitting; that You are going to see us through; and it will come out to blessings. 

How do you know what you KNOW?

How do you know what you KNOW?

Ps.46:10a

BE STILL [contemplate in silence with a quiet and uninterrupted mind]

AND KNOW [personally experience and understand ]

THAT I AM GOD.

♥UNCHANGEABLE in His nature, purposes, promises, and covenant

♥ALL-POWERFUL to be able to help and deliver in all extremities

♥ALL-KNOWING to understand and distinguish every individual’s situations and troubles, and how and where to hide us until the storm is over

♥ALL-WISE doing all things after the direction of His own will, making all things work together for our good and His glory

♥FAITHFUL to His word and promises, not letting us be adversely affected by troubles of this life.

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Pray the Word:

Lord, this knowledge of our personal experience of Your relentless tenderness and love to us did not come from someone’s interpretation of the Bible, or from another’s study of the scripture texts, or from any great spiritual writer - but from SITTING STILL IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR LIVING WORD and earnestly insisting that You help us to understand with our head and heart Your written Word where we come to personally experience and understand You  .  .  that’s HOW WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW! 

When GRACE calls out

When GRACE calls out

Eph. 2:8-9

For BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [saving is all His idea, and all His work  .  .  all we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish!]

NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. [we don't play the major role - If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing!]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, GRACE is like a wave of light that breaks into our darkness, dispelling the negative perception we have of ourselves with the mystery and wonder that we really are ACCEPTED BY YOU THROUGH CHRIST  .  .  .  we can’t (and don’t have to) DO anything more, SEEK for something more, PERFORM more diligently, or INTEND anything else – Christ is enough!

†   †   †   †

At the cross, at the cross,

Where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away.

It was there, by faith,

I received my sight,

And, now, I am happy all the day

Finding the GUY with the water pot

Finding the GUY with the water pot

Lk. 22:10

Christ’s specific instructions to His disciples for them to make preparation for the celebration of the final Passover.

He said, "Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. You will meet a MAN CARRYING A WATER POT. FOLLOW HIM to the house he enters.

[It was not a question of looking for one man out of many carrying a water pot—this man would stick out above all others, in that he alone would be carrying one — carrying water in public was humiliating to a man, as it was a woman’s job!]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we’re going to be more observant of the instructions You give to us - in that we may not have listened careful enough to You and have been looking for the obvious → a ‘woman’ carrying a water pot .  .  .  and we missed our ‘GUY’ CARRYING A WATER POT that we were to follow. Let our ears be keener to the spiritual discernment we need to face each day and each situation.

He made the first move

He made the first move

1 John 4:19

WE LOVE HIM, [we can freely give our love to God with no anxiety or apprehension that we’re going to be hurt]

BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US. [because God was the first to step forward and prove His pure affection to us in that He gave up the Supreme of heaven for us - His only begotten Son - to die for our sins]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, You proved Your pure affection of love to us and it has captivated our very souls and has melted our hearts because YOU MADE THE FIRST MOVE to establish and demonstrate the sincerity of Your intentions to us and You haven’t ever changed Your position  –  we know that we can trust this love to not be taken away. This is why we can give ourselves to You and commit to You our undying love!

Nothing’s left to chance

Nothing’s left to chance

Is 40:26

Lift up your eyes on high, [just look to the heavens above and see what’s visible to the eye]

and behold Who hath created these things, [think about the Creator of them!]

that bringeth out their host by number: [as a general leads his army on the battlefield, organizes them, summons them up, and accounts for all of his soldiers]

He calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, [knows each one in all its distinguishing, peculiar and individual attributes]

for that He is strong in power; NOT ONE FAILETH. [because of the power of the Strong One; no strength or power of even the mightiest angel or man, can stop the hosts of heaven in their course, or hinder their appointed duty, or cause them to cease to exist]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, as we consider the order of the earth we live on and look at just the part of the universe we can see -  it’s obvious that You LEFT NOTHING TO CHANCE  ..  do not LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE  ..   and will never LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE. We’re in good Hands!

Baffles the mind, doesn’t it?

Baffles the mind, doesn't it?

Job 26:7

He it is Who spreads out the northern skies over emptiness

and HANGS THE EARTH UPON NOTHING.

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Pray the Word:

Lord, these words BAFFLES THE MIND when we consider that the earth weighs 6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons and is rolling at the fantastic speed of more than 1,000 miles per hour around an invisible axis, held in place by unseen bands of gravitation. More radically, it BAFFLES THE MIND to know that You, the Master Planner of the universe, also created us by distinct and precision design and we, too, are held together by the power of Your Hand. We have nothing to fear  .  .   we are Yours!

Everything matters

Everything matters

Rom. 8:26-28 (The Message Bible)

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 our wordless sighs, our aching groans.

He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant [expecting] 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.

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Pray the Word:

Lord, at times our life can seem pretty disjointed and our mind goes numb, our hearts vacant, our nerves frayed and we go limp from the stress and strain of it all, waiting for what’s next. Then  -  in those moments of desperation, beyond any rational explanation, we have felt  a Holy Hand clutching ours and we just know that everything that happens in our lives has place, meaning and value. That nothing, good or bad, wasted or can frustrate the final fulfillment of our lives - for YOU USE EVERYTHING FOR OUR GOOD AND YOUR GLORY. EVERYTHING MATTERS!

Marvelous mystery

Marvelous mystery

Col. 1:27

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY among the Gentiles; [the crowning wonder that Gentiles (those who were not born a Jew) were included in God’s redemptive grace though Christ]

[THIS MYSTERY] .  .  which is CHRIST IN YOU, [that we not only recognize God as omnipresent, as the Creator of all things, in whom all live, move, and have their being -  but that God has revealed Himself to us, in a way of special grace, that His Spirit inhabits believers and communes with them]

the Hope of glory. [CHRIST IN US is the ground and foundation of our hope for this life and eternity]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, when we comprehend that it isn't our own hard work or devotion to You, or the power of our own spirituality, but, instead, the personal experience and presence of You, the Lord God Almighty, through CHRIST IN US - leading and guiding us through this life and into the next life  .  .  .  we stand in awestruck honor at such a MARVELOUS MYSTERY that has restored us and set us free to live life to our fullest.

Close enough to hear the heart beat

Close enough to hear the heart beat

Jn. 13:23

Now there was LEANING ON JESUS BOSOM [CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR HIS HEART BEAT] one of his disciples,

whom Jesus loved. [how John viewed his relationship with Jesus – he knew that he was loved]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we want to stay CLOSE ENOUGH TO YOU TO HEAR YOUR HEART BEAT – confident that as we come to know Your deepest and most personal thoughts and intentions toward us, we’ll be able to trust You more!

From now on, you know

From now on, you know

Jn. 14:7

IF YOU HAD KNOWN ME [had allowed your conclusion about Me to be based on your personal experience of My love and compassion and not entirely from your religious knowledge],

you would also have known My Father. [because I am here to represent Him to you]

FROM NOW ON, [after My death and resurrection]

YOU KNOW HIM [your conclusion regarding Me will bring clarity to the great love God has for you]

AND HAVE SEEN HIM. [because God imitated His character, feelings, thoughts, and intentions through Jesus Christ]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, it’s easier for us to grasp the idea that on the deity side Jesus was like You, but can we really grasp the concept that on the human side You are like Jesus?  .  .  .  Now that takes the stiffness out of our understanding how much You love and care for us. FROM NOW ON, WE KNOW!

THAT SLEEPY INNER PHARISEE

THAT SLEEPY INNER PHARISEE

Gal. 2:21

I do not frustrate the grace of God: [attempting to manipulate God's gracious gift to love and forgive by trying to earn it by means of external deeds or actions  .  .  and defeat its very purpose]

for if righteousness come by the law, [the acquittal of our guilt and the giving of favor from God comes by performance]

then Christ is dead in vain. [the Messiah gave His life for no reason]

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Pray the Word:

Lord,  .  .  . [sigh] about the time we think we have arrived at the point where can accept that we don’t have to qualify ourselves for You to love us and extend Your favor toward us - THAT SLEEPY INNER PHARISEE awakes and lets us know that he’s alive and well, saying in our ear, “YOU NEED TO DO MORE [pray MORE, read your Bible MORE, go to church MORE, fast MORE, impose MORE restrictions on your life] and this will provoke God’s love and obligate Him to favor you because you earned it.”  .  .  .  God, set us free from this impossible burden of trying to work for Your love and favor! Let us trust Your gift of grace. 

Worn out!

Worn out!

Matt. 11:28

Come unto Me, [stop walking away from Me .  .  .  and come close to Me where I can wrap My arms around you]

ALL YOU THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN, [you who are working hard at trying to perform flawlessly, literally and spiritually, so as to have approval from yourself, others and God - but are WORN OUT from your sense of personal failure and inadequacy that is stripping you bare of your self-worth]

and I WILL GIVE YOU REST. [provide a place where you are loved unconditionally, forgiven, protected, and safe!]
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Pray the Word:

Lord, without intending it, we seem to project onto You (and others) how we feel about ourselves ► that we feel safe only when we’re seen as noble, generous and loving, free of scars, fears, and tears - perfect! ◄  We are WORN OUT from this process and don’t have much to show for the effort except mild depression and wild anxiety. L We turn away from our works and run into Your arms where we’re assured to be loved unconditionally, forgiven, protected, and safe! 

What’s next, Dad?

What’s next, Dad?

Rom. 8:15-16

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; [this rebirth of life you have received from God is not an oppressed life filled with apprehension]

but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, [given a life that’s adventurously expectant with all  the family privileges]

whereby, WE CRY, ABBA, FATHER. [so we shout out with wild expectations like a child, “What’s next, Dad?”]

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: [we know who our Daddy is and we know we are His child]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, ___  or perhaps we should start with     .   .  “Dad, I just needed to talk to You today. First of all, let me say that I’m sorry for seeing You as only a divine being existing above and apart from this world simply acting as Creator and Judge, and, not embracing You as MY DAD, even after You adopted me into Your family. May I stay away from the previous distant titles of ‘Thee’ and ‘Thou’ and we’ll just talk together being, real, vulnerable, and genuinely affectionate because we love each other .  .   I’m Your child and You’re MY DAD.

Whew! I almost blew it . .

Whew! I almost blew it  .  .

2 Tim. 4:7

I HAVE FOUGHT a good fight, [struggled against my opponent for authority and preeminence with high quality and stamina]

I HAVE FINISHED my course, [completed with skill, dignity and professionalism the direction my life took me]

I HAVE KEPT the faith: [through the length and intensity of the fight I guarded my belief in, devotion to, and trust in God like a precious treasure]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we can almost hear Paul saying, “WHEW! I ALMOST BLEW IT, the race was so difficult at times and it would’ve been easier to wander off course or fall by the wayside, but, I fought hard and finished strong with my faith intact. I won!” And so say we  .  .  .

Step By Step

STEP BY STEP

He does not lead me year by year
Nor even day by day.
But step by step my path unfolds;
My Lord directs my way. 

Tomorrow's plans I do not know
I only know this minute;  But He will say,
"This is the way,  By faith now walk ye in it." 

And I am glad that it is so,
Today's enough to bear;
And when tomorrow comes,
His grace  Shall far exceed its care.

What need to worry then, or fret?
The God who gave His Son
Holds all my moments in His hand
And gives them, one by one.

Running Loose

Running Loose

Ps. 17:3

You have proved my heart; [tested me with fire from the inside out]

You have visited me in the night; [when no one else is around]

You have tried me, [to see if I am guilty]

and have found nothing; [saw no flaws where my great Substitute by grace has me covered with the beauty of the Blood]

I am purposed that MY MOUTH SHALL NOT TRANSGRESS. [resolved that my WORDS WILL NOT RUN LOOSE in my dark times to complain against God or criticize others after realizing God’s great grace to me]

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Pray the Word:

Lord, we want to be confident enough in Your love to us that we can ask You to test our heart-motives even when we’re going through the dark and unsettling times in our life. It’s during these times when our frustration and aggravation runs high, that we have a tendency to RUN LOOSE WITH OUR MOUTH, complaining against You or criticizing others – really messing up this thing called ‘grace’. Today  .  .  we choose to reign in our words and make You proud!

Subpoena to testify

Subpoena to testify

Rev. 12:11

And they overcame him [foiled Satan’s attempt to destroy them]

by the blood of the Lamb, [the ‘truth’ that salvation is through none other than Jesus Christ]

AND by the WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY; [on account of the proof that they believed in, held firmly and would live and die for this ‘truth’ because of what they had personally experienced]

and they loved not their lives unto the death. [to live and speak this ‘truth’ was more important than their physical comfort].

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Pray the Word:

Lord, as Your witnesses in this world, we’ve been given a SUBPOENA TO TESTIFY to the ‘truth’ that salvation is through no other than Jesus Christ – based on the WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY of what we’ve personally experienced and seen. Knowing that our testimony  marks Satan for failure and, ultimately, for destruction, we willingly ‘take the stand’ as an expert witness and GIVE OUR TESTIMONY!