Devotional Thoughts - Lent 2013 - Day 9

God is being so faithful to address my concerns through these devotionals.  All that is necessary is that I would yield, listen to what He would say, obey and if not, repent.  Repeatedly.  Continuously.

My feelings had been hurt and I went to sleep desperately trying to “cast my care” upon the Lord.  I didn’t think the offense was intentional, so it seemed easy to forgive (on the surface, anyway).  But still the pain remained.  By morning only a dull ache was left, but it was enough such that I overslept - and when I did awaken, it was a struggle to find the energy or the will to get out of bed. 

Since I was now behind schedule, I had a choice:  forgo the morning devotionals and/or the blogging and continue with my planned morning activities, or cancel my plans and be faithful to still myself in the presence of the LORD, listen and respond to what He would say.  I chose the latter, declaring by my actions that He is my LORD and my God.  Even now I think of a verse I saw yesterday:

Luke 10:42

⁴² But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

The God Calling devotional (www.twolisteners.org) entry for today also seemed to confirm my choice, saying in part:

When you feel the absolute calm has been broken -- away alone with Me until your heart sings, and all is strong and calm.

These are the only times when evil can find an entrance. The forces of the evil surround the city of man-soul, and are keenly alert for one such unguarded spot, through which an arrow can pierce and do havoc.

Remember all that you have to do is to keep calm and happy. God does the rest. No evil force can hinder My Power -- only you yourself have power to do that.

(Thinking of the song, To Worship You I Live by Israel & New Breed – beginning words are:

Away, away from the noise

alone with You

away, away to hear Your voice

and meet with you

nothing else matters

 my one desire is

To worship You I live

 to worship You - I live, I live to worship You …)

 

Song of Solomon 2:10

¹⁰ My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

 

I was further comforted by the Scripture referenced in the Our Daily Bread devotional (www.odb.org):

2 Corinthians 4:7-15 (KJV)

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

⁹ Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

¹⁰ Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

¹¹ For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

¹² So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

¹³ We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

¹⁴ Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

¹⁵ For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

 

… and my journey with Him continues …

My Devotional Thoughts - Lent 2013 - Day 8

For today, the My Utmost for His Highest (www.utmost.org) devotional spoke first to me:

When our purpose is to seek God and to discover His will for us, daydreaming is right and acceptable. But when our inclination is to spend time daydreaming over what we have already been told to do, it is unacceptable and God’s blessing is never on it. God will take the initiative against this kind of daydreaming by prodding us to action. His instructions to us will be along the lines of this: “Don’t sit or stand there, just go!”

Then, there was the Our Daily Bread (www.odb.org) devotional, about getting off track and having to be “rerouted” through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, today I find myself faced with the negative consequences of my own procrastination.  Thinking on the words of Proverbs 3:5-7:

Proverbs 3:5-7

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

 

No doubt being wise in my own eyes and not asking the LORD beforehand, but thinking instead that I already knew how things were going to work may cost me running around like the proverbial “chicken with its head cut off” today.  But the God Calling devotional (www.twolisteners.org) reminds me to ask, so that hopefully I will have learned the lesson, and will at least ask and obey the LORD’s leading in my running!

Psalm 32:8-11

⁸ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

⁹ Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.

¹¹ Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Psalm 37:23-24

²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Psalm 119:132-133

¹³² Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

¹³³ Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Hebrews 4:14-16

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Philippians 4:6-7

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 John 5:14-15

¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

¹⁵ And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

Hearing Meredith Andrews again, “Not for a Moment (After All)” …

Dear LORD, thank You for Your faithfulness to Your WORD, and Your promise never to leave nor forsake me.  I am so grateful for Your great mercy that endures forever, and for the assurance of and confidence in  Your grace to help in time of need.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me to daily crucify my flesh, specifically my pride which causes my procrastination, and which has me thinking I know best about what to do and how to do  such that I don't obey or even think to ask Your way.  Please draw me so close that I hear You - really hear You - with a heart always ready to instantly, joyously obey.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Isaiah 49:13

¹³ Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

 

… and my journey with Him continues …

My Devotional Thoughts - Lent 2013 - Day 7

To wait, to endure, to be obedient - even in the drudgery of everyday life - these seem to make up the interconnected theme of today’s devotionals.

The Our Daily Bread devotional speaks of King Saul’s refusal to wait upon Samuel in 1 Samuel 13:8-14.  The devotional writer, Marvin Williams, says that Saul’s “impatience was the ultimate display of a lack of faith.”  Mr. Williams encourages us to remember that “The Lord will provide His guiding presence as we wait patiently for Him to bring about His will.” 

Similarly the God Calling devotional says, in part:

How many of the world's prayers have gone unanswered because My children who prayed did not endure to the end. They thought it was too late, and that they must act for themselves, that I was not going to act for them. Remember My words: "He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved."

Can you endure to the end? If so, you shall be saved. But endure with courage, with Love and laughter. Oh! My children, is My training too hard?

For you, My children, I will unlock the secret treasures hidden from so many. Not one of your cries is unheard. I am with you indeed to aid you. Go through all I have said to you, and live in every detail as I have enjoined you. As you follow implicitly all I say, success -- spiritual, mental, and physical -- shall be yours. Wait in silence awhile, conscious of My presence, in which you must live to have rest unto your souls, and Power and Joy and Peace.

And the My Utmost for His Highest devotional states:

Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue— a matter of obedience. Then we must act to be obedient and not continue to lie down doing nothing. If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.

Drudgery is one of the finest tests to determine the genuineness of our character. Drudgery is work that is far removed from anything we think of as ideal work. It is the utterly hard, menial, tiresome, and dirty work. And when we experience it, our spirituality is instantly tested and we will know whether or not we are spiritually genuine… The inspiration of God is required if drudgery is to shine with the light of God upon it. In some cases the way a person does a task makes that work sanctified and holy forever. It may be a very common everyday task, but after we have seen it done, it becomes different. When the Lord does something through us, He always transforms it.

Thought about and looked up some Scriptures (KJV) on patience …

James 1:2-4

² My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

³ Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 

Romans 8:24-25

²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

²⁵ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

 

Romans 15:4-6

⁴ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

⁵ Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

⁶ That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Colossians 1:11

¹¹ Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

 

1 Timothy 6:11

¹¹ But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

 

Hebrews 6:11-12

¹¹ And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

¹² That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

James 1:2-4

² My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

³ Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

James 5:7-11

⁷ Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

⁸ Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

⁹ Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

¹⁰ Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

 

2 Peter 1:1-12

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

² Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

³ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

¹⁰ Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

¹¹ For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

¹² Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

 

… and my journey with Him continues …

My Devotional Thoughts - Lent 2013 - Day 6

Woke up with “Song of Hope” by Robbie Seay Band on the turntable of my mind.

My Guideposts devotional pointed me to Psalm 145:13-15.  I read the whole of Psalm 145 (NLT 1996).

Blogged these in http://whateveryjointsupplies.blogspot.com/.  Thought of song “You Are I AM” by MercyMe.

The My Utmost for His Highest devotional (www.utmost.org) speaks to me today about my failures the past few days, and my determination today to at least get this one thing (blogging first) right:

Rise, let us be going —Matthew 26:46

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, “Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore.” If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, “Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing.” In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.

There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing— they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, “Get up, and do the next thing.” If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.

 

Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.

When I read the part that said, “we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them”, I thought of Psalm 145:14 (NLT1996):

14 The LORD helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.

And my God Calling devotional (www.twolisteners.org) was entitled, “Let Me Do It.”  Surely the LORD has done marvelous things for me in His kindness, as He works in me to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:3).

Revelation 15:3 (NKJV)

They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!

 

Hallelujah!  Sing!  The LORD has helped me and lifted me up!  Praise be to God for His wonderful mercy towards me!

Psalm 107:8 (NKJV)

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

 

Thank You so much, Lord God, for Your mercy, Your compassion, Your patience, Your wisdom, Your grace, Your faithfulness, Your provision, Your kindness, Your goodness, Your tenderness, Your help – for the magnitude of Your unfailing love! My heart is filled with gratitude and praise … “Thank You, Lord , Thank You, Lord , Thank You, Lord , I just want to thank You LORD.”

… and my journey with Him continues …

My Devotional Thoughts - Lent 2013 - Day 5

Woke up with this song playing in my head.  I think it’s by Chris Tomlin.  It goes …

Oh wait – I was asleep; that was just a dream!  Now that I am really awake, what was that song I was thinking of in the dream?  Can’t remember!!!  The chorus of “Only Jesus” (Matt Redman) started playing in my head as I was trying to remember, crowding out any other tune.  Oh well …

Getting ready to go to church I was visiting, I thought of Hebrews 12:1-2:

Hebrews 12 (KJV)

 

 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Verse 1 includes the phrase, “let us lay aside every weight.”  I must confess that when thinking about fasting, which comes up when thinking of Lenten observances, my mind naturally seems to go to the possibility of weight loss.  While that is not the primary purpose, it could be a benefit (to me, anyway) as it would allow me to more easily “run” anywhere, especially “the race that is set before us.” And as for the sin …

At the church service I attended this morning, (during which the sermon, incidentally, included a message about having a listening ear,  a responsive heart and accompanying actions when God is speaking to us, 1 Samuel 3:1-10) I clearly heard God speaking to me again about His being everything (as the choir sung the chorus from “Everything” by Tye Tribbett - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3X6qCogleU included with another song near the beginning of the service – “You’re Everything to Me”) and His wanting everything from me so He can be everything for and to me (song near the end of the service, “He Wants It All” by forever Jones - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEcqTu52gZ4 – ohhhh … more conviction watching this video as the singer at the end encourages a responsive singing of, “I give it all today, I give it all today, I give it all”!)

Now I’m having to repent in thinking about the sermon message, because I awakened early this morning and couldn’t go right back to sleep.  I thought of getting up and doing my blog entry, but it was cold and I didn’t want to get out of bed.  So instead I read some Scripture, sang a little and prayed before going back to sleep.  Maybe that’s why when I got to the church there were some things that bothered me a little.  Maybe it was in part because my spirit was not right because I had not done the first things first.  When I read my God Calling devotional (twolisteners.org) after returning from the church, I see I may have been better prepared had I read this part:

Seek this time as a time of communion with Me -- not as a time to ask questions and have them answered. And meet Me in Communion. It is soul-food that I have provided.

Do not expect a perfect Church, but find in a church the means of coming very near to Me. That alone matters, then the much, that is husk, falls away. Hold it of no account. Grasp the truth and find Me -- the true Bread of Life. The lesson of the grain is the lesson of My Church and Me. The real life is all that matters, the outward Church is the husk; but the husk was necessary to present a life-grain to men.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20

Even the Oswald Chambers devotional, My Utmost for His Highest (www.utmost.org), ended with a sentence that lets me know I didn’t choose what was best:

As soon as we arise and obey, we enter a higher plane of life.

LORD, in the Name of Jesus, please forgive me.  Help me please to put off, give up, and renounce all of the weight and sin which is hindering my progress in surrendering all to do Your will.  I’m forever grateful for Your mercy towards me …

… and my journey with Him continues …

My Devotional Thoughts - Lent 2013 - Day 4

Woke up with Meredith Andrews’ “Not For A Moment (After All)” playing in my head (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD0cvWImVjA) .  Looked up some Scriptures about not being forsaken by the LORD:

Deuteronomy 4:31

(For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Deuteronomy 31:8

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Joshua 1:5

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

1 Samuel 12:22

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.

1 Kings 6:13

And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

1 Kings 8:57

The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:

1 Chronicles 28:20

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

Ezra 9:9

For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 9:31

Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

Psalm 9:10

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 37:25

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Psalm 37:28

For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalm 94:14

For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

Psalm 138:8

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Isaiah 41:17

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Isaiah 62:12

And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Jeremiah 51:5

For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.

2 Corinthians 4:9

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Song: I surrender - Hillsong (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcnfT4arZtI)

Song: To Worship You I live – Israel & New Breed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MySg_ldzjDw)

From today’s God Calling devotional (www.twolisteners.org):

Even were I never to speak to you, you would be well rewarded for the setting apart this time, if you only sat still and longed for Me, if you just drew hungering breaths for Me, as you do for the fresh pure air of the open.

Be still, be calm. Wait before Me. Learn of Me, patience, humility, peace. When will you be absolutely unruffled whatever happens? You are slow to learn your lesson. In the rush and work and worry, the very seeking a silence must help.

Lord, I must confess… .  You know my heart as I pour it all out to You.  Thank You for Your understanding, the patient whispering of Your words, calming me with Your perfect peace that passes all understanding as You guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.  I do love You so … thank You for the desire to love You more.

Revelation: 

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The good works are first of all for me – that I would walk in the fullness of the salvation that has been purchased for me at such a dear, precious, terrible cost.  God then, in His goodness, in His mercy, in His sovereignty, in His omnipotence, in His omniscience, in His providence, for His purposes, because of His great love, uses all of these good works which benefit me in the doing, to benefit others in the plans He has for us all, to bring Himself glory as He blesses us.  Wow ...

Philippians 4:6-7 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶ Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

⁷ And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

… and my journey with Him continues …

My Devotional Thoughts - Lent 2013 - 3

I was all over the place today during my time with the LORD … there were threads of a similar theme, though:

Thread 1: I found a quote from a book I read recently, Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus by Mary DeMuth (see also blog from 20 January 2013.)  The quote states:

“Growth happens in the soil of our lives where darkness and quiet and stillness reign.  Could it be that God calls us first to ponder and think through the implications of His actions on our behalf?”

The mention of darkness made me think of Matthew 10:27 from yesterday’s blog entry:

Matthew 10:27 (AMP)

²⁷ What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

But the mention of soil made me think of something written by Francis Chan in his book, Crazy Love, in the chapter entitled “Profile of the Lukewarm” –

 “My caution to you is this: Do not assume you are good soil.”

Hmmm…

Thread 2: Still thinking about the many times I’m hearing songs about God’s being “everything” – for example, Matthew West’s You are Everything (lyrics in part, “Jesus, You Are… You are Everything.”)  Or Lifehouse’s  Everything (lyrics in part, “You’re all I want.  You’re all I need.  You’re Everything. Everything.”)  Or Yolanda Adams' "Yeah" (lyrics in part, "Will you just give up everthing,  follow Me?"  Can I truthfully, joyfully, consistently answer  "Yeah, yeah, yeah"?)

Hmmm ... I'm thinking that for Him to truly be everything in my life, I need to be nothing.

John 3:30 (KJV)
He must increase, but I must decrease.

Thread 3: I went to an Ash Wednesday church service the other day.  Fasting was mentioned as part of the Lenten observance, and the Pastor said something like, “Ask God what is necessary to be given up” during this time.  I don’t remember consciously doing that then, since I thought I already had decided from what I was going to be fasting, what other things  I was going to be doing (like this daily blog).  Near the end of the service, I thought of the hymn ”I Surrender All” while the choir was singing William McDowell’s “I Give Myself Away.”  Since then, in another place, at another time, I heard William McDowell singing these words:

I surrender all to you
Everything I give to you
Withholding nothing.

In Crazy Love, there was a Scripture reference that stood out to me in the chapter entitled “Serving Leftovers to A Holy God”:

Luke 14:33

³³ Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.

 

So now the question is, what does this “giving up everything” look like in my life?

Thread 4: Finally, today’s devotionals:

God Calling (www.twolisteners.org)

Men who will persistently turn the self out of their lives and let Divine Power work through them. ("But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." Job 32:8)

My Utmost for His Highest (www.utmost.org)

“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Chapter 6 of Crazy Love is entitled “When You’re In Love” and begins with this quoted prayer, with which I’ll end this blog entry:

From Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire.  O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

... and my journey with Him continues ...