Christian Living
by Mary Lindow
ALL OF US ARE INDIVIDUALLY SOMEHOW BEING LED BY THE FATHER...
...INTO OPERATIONS OF THE HEART.
He is testing us deeply to see if we long for any power from the pull of glory, revelation, or any spiritual insights.
I TRULY SEE HIM TESTING US ALL IN DEEPER REGIONS OF OUR SOULS THAN WE EVER DREAMED EXISTED.
THIS THING HE IS DOING!
It is a precision operation that "lasers" away everything fraudulent, empty, and embellished! He is driving us lovingly to simplicity, loyalty, and Divine purposes. None of which we can achieve or fathom with our talents, educations, skills, or wit!
The Lord longs to show you His favor.
He wants to give you His tender love.
The Lord is a God who is always fair.
Blessed are all those who wait for Him to act.
Isaiah 30:18 (NIRV)
DETERMINED TO PURSUE IN OBEDIENCE
When we are determined to pursue in obedience a true faith in Christ, we will encounter those things of the soul that can so easily get us off of the track that we are attempting to run on in order to collect the crown of victory! The things that so easily overwhelm us are those we tend to be affected by. Usually it is something that we have struggles with or have been exposed to, from habits, age, or upbringing.
THIS IS A MOST IMPORTANT WARNING ABOUT DEALING WITH THOSE "PAINFUL WOUNDS" AND "DEEP LOSSES"!
They will attempt to take from us every motive for moving forward, and gives power and energy to every discouragement. When we are weary and faint in our minds, let us remember that Jesus suffered, to save us from eternal misery.
BY INTENTIONALLY LOOKING TO JESUS,
Our thoughts will be strengthened by holy affections, and keep our self loving desires in a place of intensified focus on the Presence of the Lord. We need to habitually think about Him! What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others?
THERE IS A TENDENCY IN US AS BELIEVERS TO GROW WEARY,
and to collapse under trials and afflictions. This is because we still need to understand the mercy and full power of that thing called "grace." We are not built for a filthy world and the pressures of hellish spewing. We were created for adoration, worship and resting in the Presence of God and then, with Godly strength, to subdue the earth. But Hell is roaring it's ugly breath and venom on the earth, attempting to paralyze the believer, robbing him of Faith, Hope and Love!
Psalm 25:21
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
Because my hope is in you.
WE AS FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD OF GRACE
must come to understand that trials and yes…even accusations from enemies and persecutors may be instruments to inflict sufferings, yet they are Divinely Allowed! Our heavenly Father has His hand in all of this and His wisdom will give a final answer to all of this "sifting of out souls!"
THE OPPOSITE OF BRAVERY IS NOT COWARDICE…
…BUT CONFORMITY. ~Robert Anthony
WE MUST NOT JUST GIVE IN TO A FATALISTIC GLOOM!
That horrid oppressiveness where we feel that no help or hope is coming to free us! God may let others remain alone in their sins, but He WILL correct wrongdoing in his own children. This is what a Father would do to a stubborn or gloomy child, who mopes around in a moodiness accompanied by a big black rain cloud! Perhaps your earthly parents corrected you to indulge their anger, rather than to change your manners. But the Father of our souls never eagerly hurts or brings down His children. It is always for our benefit.
OUR WHOLE LIFE HERE IS A POSITION OF CHILDHOOD,
and we are imperfect when it comes to fully understanding spiritual things.
That is why we must we must yield- and in a real sense, "give in" to this place of loving care and preparation.
GOD'S CORRECTION IS NOT DISAPPROVAL!
When we are willing to let God walk the secret hallways of our soul and humbly allow Him to shine the light of purity and truth on all of our opinions about how things should be done in His Kingdom, this brokenness and self-exposure greatly increases personal purity!
THE CALLOUSNESS AND MEANNESS OF MEN
May we learn to trust that the pain brought on us by the callousness and meanness of men, is actually an instrument the Lord allows to show us that no one can be depended upon fully in this world. He is the Ultimate Source of Hope. This is so important for our weariness and is sent by our wise and gracious Father, for our spiritual good and maturing.
THOSE WHO HAVE NOT WALKED WHERE YOU HAVE WALKED
will have heaps of suggestions and tidbits suggesting as to what you need to do. Imagine dear Jesus, having been stripped of heavenly riches, coming here to earth, and then to be spat upon, beaten laughed at and murdered. The advice of many was to have Him rise up and prove himself right and righteous.
He did.
He suffered in the Garden, wrestling with the trauma he knew that would only get worse. And He then suffered the loss of even the last final physical bit of ownership He had by having even his clothing gambled away by his murderers.
OH YES DEAR CHILD OF GOD! HE DOES KNOW OUR SORROWS-
and pains and He will not flippantly give you an intolerant glance when you need comfort. His Mercy is one that endures with us, forever.
THE CLAMOR AND ROAR OF NOISE THAT MAN MAKES
when he needs to make a point, often exposes his weaknesses as well. All the more reason we need to be certain that we are listening to the calm, sure, still, small Voice of God. He will give us safety and direction in the most terrifying of times and in each business decision, each child's life in your care, and in each destiny point you are facing.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS.
“He who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it.
Because He never lost sight of where He was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God.
He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever.
And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.”
Hebrews 12:2 (The Message)
Copyright © 2009 "
THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com
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