Anyone who has ever run a marathon knows that it is a grueling race. You don't wake in the morning and say, "Oh the Boston Marathon is today, I think I'll run it." No, in order to run a marathon one must train and prepare physically and mentally for the race. Endurance is required and must be developed in order to successfully finish a marathon . The marathoner commits to rigorous training, changing habits, diets and routines to prepare for race day. Life is sometimes described as a race in the Bible. ...let us run with patience the race that is set before us...(Heb 12:1b). I have fought a good fight, I finished my course - IITim4:7; Ye did run well...(Gal 5:7a). Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain -I Cor 9:24. This race of life is not a sprint but rather a grueling marathon.The race is not to the swift (Ec 9:11). Hebrews 10:36 makes it clear: For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise. ' The word patience in that verse means hopeful endurance. Just like the marathon runner prepares for the race and commits to rigorous training to develop the necessary endurance, we have be spiritually prepared for the race of life if we are going to finish well. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible - I Cor 9:24-25. Our training involves spending consistent time in the Word, praying, worshipping God with other believers, and being instructed in the Word of God. Our daily diets must change, feeding on the word day and night. These practices strengthen our spiritual muscles. In addition to our plan, God has a training plan called tribulation and testing that we must go through so that endurance can be developed in our lives. Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience, experience, and experience hope. God allows trouble to come into our lives so that we learn how to depend upon Him and persevere through difficulty. We endure hardship, experiencing the faithfulness of God, and His strengthening power; while He develops character and endurance in us. James 1:2-4: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience, but let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire wanting nothing. Every time we are faced with irritations, difficult bosses and people, God does not want us to run away from the situation; instead, we are to let patience finish her workout because these tests are developing our ability to endure, so that we can finish our course. Life requires perseverance because there are some rough stretches on our course... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33b). Now thanks be unto to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ (II Cor 2:14a)! Time to train! preparing for the race, Diane P.S. Examine your training routine. Are you practicing reading His word? Do you need to incorporate more time praying? How about worship? Does your diet need to change? Do you find yourself feeding on social media and entertainment more than the word? As we pursue the blessed life, we find ourselves on the hillside of Capernaum at the feet of Jesus. The blessed life Jesus is about to describe, in Matthew chapter 5, is one that is filled with joy, hope and spiritual abundance that surpasses the human experience and is more associated with divine experience. He begins the conversation in Matthew 5:3 with the first Beatitude: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous-with life joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! (AMP)
The meaning of the greek word used for poor in this verse actually means a beggar on the street. Jesus is not saying we have to be financially broke to be spiritually blessed, but rather we have to recognize that our spiritual condition is much like the physical condition of the beggar on the street. Spiritually we are bankrupt apart from Jesus. Picture the homeless person on the street, depleted, without any means or resources to change his or her situation. The homeless are destitute, desperate, and completely dependent upon someone else to have mercy on them for their sustenance, and frankly their survival. The spiritually abundant life begins when we humble ourselves before God, and we relinquish our confidence in and reliance upon ourselves. The abundant life that seems to evade us, requires the acknowledgement that we are spiritually bankrupt and totally in need of and dependent upon the Lord's mercy and grace daily. It is in our daily desperation and dependence that we see the power and presence of the Lord Jesus manifested in our lives. Our daily struggle is this: being self reliant versus totally dependent upon the Lord. I know we like our social media posts to make it seem like we have it all the together, but until we come to Jesus, daily desperate and dependent, we are not going to experience the abundant life that He came to give us: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10b). The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18 perfectly depicts self confidence and self reliance versus the the desperate and totally dependent. And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying,God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted (Luke 18:9-14) I can't help but think if we could ever stop being sooo impressed with ourselves, we might see the power of God truly operating in our lives. daily trying to acknowledge my dependence and desperation, Diane p.s. truth be told, spiritually I am like the homeless person totally depleted, destitute and dependent upon the Lord's mercy and grace to sustain me. There are days when my I am dragging my shopping cart to the throne of grace with 3 wheels instead of 4. p.p.s. I sing a "ole skool" prayer meeting song often in the shower to remind daily of my desperation. I need thee O I need thee. Every hour I need thee. O bless me now my Savior I come to Thee. If you ever been to one of those prayer meetings you know we sang this song slow and almost moaning because we understood our need. Are you ready for our treasure hunt? Today we open our treasure chest of grace, eyeing , appreciating, and experiencing the divine enablement we call simply living grace. This is the enablement required just to live. For in Him we live, and move and have our being - Acts 17:28. We are completely dependent upon the Lord and His simply living grace to live. He is the creator and sustainer of all life. In Him was life (and the power to bestow life), and the life was the Light of men - John 1:4 AMP. For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,...all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist - Col 1:16a-17. When we live our lives with the awareness and appreciation for this simply living grace, we realize that we are completely dependent upon Him for everything. Too often we only acknowledge God when we get in trouble or for the big stuff in life. Truthfully, we can't do anything without Him: for without me ye can do nothing - John 15:5c. There is not only freedom in completely depending upon the Lord, there are provisions. Complete reliance upon Him instead of self ensures that He will provide daily direction for our lives: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths - Pro 3:5-6. Let's thank the Lord for simply living grace and breathe a sigh of relief because we don't have to rely upon ourselves; instead we can lift up our eyes to the hills from whence cometh our help. Our help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth - Ps 121:1-2. Our help and the grace to simply live comes from Him. feeling less pressure and appreciating my simply living grace, Diane p.s. Start each day acknowledging that you can't do anything without Him and express sincere appreciation (that's gratitude ) for His simply living grace. So how are you? I am still crying out, crawling to the throne and checking my thinking daily. I am also learning to access and the enjoy the amazing grace that is available to us. Grace is the unmerited favor of God that is demonstrated to us as through His love and care. Grace is also divine enablement which is imparted to us so that we can victoriously navigate through life. Divine enablement is not only a privilege, it is necessary for this journey. The good news is that we serve the God of all grace - I Pet 5:10a andJesus is full of grace and truth - John 1:14. And of His fullness have we received, and grace for grace - John 1:16. In other words, God is the source of all grace. We never run out of grace, when one type of grace ends another begins. Unfortunately, more often than not, we are not aware or we forget that this divine enablement is available to us; consequently, our journey becomes difficult to navigate because we are attempting to get through life in our own strength. We tend to limit our reference to grace to our salvation. Without a doubt there is saving grace: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God - Eph 2:8. Saving grace is the essential and prerequisite grace required to gain access to all the other types of grace. Thank God for saving grace! The Bible is filled with examples of the grace that is available to us: But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory - Phil 4:19. The amplified version says God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need. During the next few posts we will discover the amazing treasure chest of grace that is available to us. In addition to saving grace, our treasury includes :
I don't about you but I need all the divine enablement I can get! on a treasure hunt, Diane p.s. thank God this week for His grace. Worship Him (stand in awe of Him) because He is the God of all grace. Ask Him to help you to stop relying on your own strength and to start looking to Him for divine enablement in everything, the big things and the small things. Wow it's been way too long since I last checked in with you. Forgive me. Like you, I struggle to stay focused, and to not get distracted and derailed by the enemy or self. But I remain confident. Remember that was my word for 2018, because He who hath begun a good work in us shall continue to perform it until the day of Jesus Christ - Phil 1:6. Let's continue to have confidence when we pray not just because the Lord hears us: I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live - Ps 116:1-2; let's also have confidence because the Holy Spirit helps us. Ever feel like you don't know how to pray or what to say to God? Frustrating right? During these times we must keep talking to God, letting Him know we don't know how to pray. The Lord knew we would have times like this. Times when we just can't find the words to pray while we wait for Him to come through: we groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body- Rom 8:23. We can continue to pray with confidence even we can't find the words. Why? Because the Holy Spirit groans with us, feeling the burdens of our weaknesses and sufferings. In His groaning He prays that we would be led to the will of God. Even when we don't know what to say or when we pray for things outside of God's will, the Holy Spirit feels our pains and overrides our prayers with prayers according to the will of God on our behalf. The man in the image is called a Sherpa. In China these Sherpas met us to carry our bags up the mountain because our loads were too heavy of a burden for us to carry. So too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us in weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the (Holy) Spirit (what His intent is), because the Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will - Rom 8:26-27 AMP. During those times when all we can do is moan, we can remain confident because the Holy Spirit is translating our moans and groans into the will of God; therefore, we can know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose - Rom 8:28. Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God who is our salvation - Ps 68: 19. so glad I have help, DIane p.s. spend some time this week thanking God for the Holy Spirit. Whenever you are confused about how to pray or frustrated when you pray, know that the Holy Spirit has grabbed your load, wrapped it in God's will, and carried it before God on your behalf. As we put our full trust and belief in the power, trustworthiness and reliability of the Lord Jesus Christ, we gain confidence for the journey. Not only are we are confident because He who hath begun a good work in us shall continue to perform until the day of Jesus Christ ( Phil 1:6), we can also have confidence when we pray: And this is the confidence that we have in Him,that if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And we if we know that He heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him (I John 5:14-15). We can pray with confidence because the Lord hears us, the Holy Spirit helps us, our High Priest intercedes for us, and our hearts our kept by His peace. Today let's begin praying with confidence knowing that the Lord hears us.. Have there been times when you prayed wondering if God is even listening? Ever been tempted to stop praying because you don't feel any better, or because nothing seems to change? It is easy to doubt and to become discouraged, but don't ever stop praying, keep talking to Him because He hears us. Every time we cry out to God we can cry out with confidence and assurance because He sees our affliction and hears our cries. In my distress (when seemingly closed in) I called upon the Lord and cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple (heavenly dwelling place), and my cry came before Him, into His (very) ears - Ps 18:6 AMP. I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry - Ps 40:1 AMP. I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live - Ps 116:1-2. When we cry out to God He inclines (bends) His ear toward us. Picture God the Father in heaven pulling His ear forward so that He can give our cries His undivided attention. I am sure that is why David wrote: I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out out of all his troubles - Ps 34:4,6. We pray with confidence because the Lord hears us. Our cries go into His ears, so we must keep praying. praying with confidence, Diane p.s. this week when you pray envision the Lord leaning forward and bending His ear as your cries go into His ears. My emphasis word for 2018 is Confidence. Confidence means the full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing. As we continue our journey this year let us fully put our trust in and believe in the power and trustworthiness of the Lord. So this year, I am encouraged and excited because my confidence is in the Lord. We should have confidence in 2018 because being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ - Phil1:6. Maybe you started this year looking back with regret because another year has come and gone and you are still not where you thought you would be at this point in your life. Or perhaps after a month into the new year, a year that started with such promise, you find yourself falling into the same habits you promised to change. Well, ...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, let us press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus - Phil 3:13b-14. This is our year of confidence. So when we get down on ourselves. Or we look around and feel stuck, discouraged or frustrated at our lack of progress, let's ask ourselves: why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God - Ps42:5. Remember that we are God's masterpiece still being created by our Divine Creator. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me... Ps 138:8. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them - Eph 2:10. We are instructed to put no confidence in the flesh - Phil 3:3. Instead of confidence in self, our confidence is the Lord. He has a begun a good work in us and He will continue to do that work in us. When we can't He will. Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts will be established -Pro 16:3. putting my confidence in the Lord, Diane This journey is certainly not for the faint at heart; therefore, we have to call upon the Name of Jesus not just daily, but throughout the day. I don't know about you, but I wear His Name out. It's a good thing the Lord is not like us because I know He would be like "you again, really?". We call on His Name because He pays attention to our cry (Ps 116:2), because there is provision in His Name, for our help is in the Name of the Lord ( Ps 124:8), and because there is protection in the Name of the Lord; The Name of the Lord is a strong tower ( Pr 18:10). I am so glad we have the privilege of calling on the Name of Jesus. There is fourth reason to call upon the Name of Jesus. Calling upon His Name invokes His presence. He shows up and becomes our very present help in trouble (Ps 46:1b). We want Him to show up because when he shows He shows up with all that He is and becomes: our Refuge (Ps 46:1,11), our Redeemer, our Rock, our Fortress , our Sustainer, our Strength (Ps:46:1, Ps 19:14), our Fortress and our Deliverer (Ps: 144:2). I call on the name of Jesus because I need Him to show up. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower - Ps 18:2. The prophet Jeremiah invoked the presence of the Lord when he called upon His Name. Waters flowed over mine head; then I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: Thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life - Lam 3:53-58. You managed my affairs and You protected my person and my rights. You have rescued and redeemed my life - Amplified Bible. Jeremiah thought his life was over, then he called upon the Name of the Lord. When we are low, down in the dungeon, we can call on the Name of Jesus. Not only is He the lifter up of our heads, He is also our Rescuer, Rock, Redeemer, Strength and Deliverer, so say the Name! Wearing His Name Out, Diane p.s. when you are in the dungeon call on His Name and keep calling until He shows up! #SaytheName, #WearitOut Have you been calling upon the Name of Jesus daily? We can call on His Name with confidence because we know that He pays attention to our cry (Ps 116:2) and because there is provision in His Name, for our help is in the Name of the Lord (Ps 124:8). The third reason we can confidently call on the name of Jesus is because there is protection in the Name of Jesus. The name of the Lord is a strong tower that the righteous runneth into it, and is safe - Prov 18:10. His Name provides the protection of a strong, impenetrable tower.The kind of protection a military fortress provides. When we find ourselves in the midst of trouble we can call on the name of Jesus, run to the name (wholeheartedly put our trust in it) and find safety. The Psalmist in Ps 34 declares:This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them - Ps 34:6-7. Sometimes it feels like trouble is chasing us. For when were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears - II Cor 7:5. We are chased by troubling external circumstances, relational conflict, as well as our own internal fears, failures frustrations. grief and temptations. No matter what external or internal trouble is chasing us, when we call on the Name of Jesus, He provides an elevator to the top of the tower, and we are able to look down from the top at the fears, foes, and frustrations that were chasing after us and say, " you can't get to me up here". So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him - Is 59:19. The name of the Lord is strong tower that righteous runneth into it, and is safe. What is chasing you? Call on the Name of Jesus! from the top of tower, Diane p.s. #saytheName Hopefully by now you have developed the habit of calling on the name of Jesus. We discovered the last time we connected that the first reason we should call upon the Name of Jesus is because He pays attention to our cry: He inclines His ear toward us (Ps 116:2). The second reason we should get into the habit of calling upon His Name is because there is provision in the Name of Jesus. Our help is in the Name of Lord who made heaven and earth - Ps 124:8. But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through His Name - John 20:31. Provision for eternal life and for the abundant life is in the Name of Jesus. I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly - John 10:10. Abraham learned that there was provision in the Name of the Lord when God commanded him to take his son Isaac, his promised seed, to Mt. Moriah, to sacrifice him. And Abraham rose up early...and went unto the place which God had told him. And Isaac spake unto to Abraham his father, and said, My father:..Behold the fire and wood but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering - (Gen 22:3,7-8). Just as Abraham lifted his hand to slay Isaac, the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven telling him not to slay his son. Abraham looked and saw a ram caught in the bush and he took the ram, offering him for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh.The name Jehovah-Jireh means the Lord who provides. Literally the name is the Lord who sees or the Lord who will see to it. He is the Lord who sees our need and will see to it providing what is needed to meet our need, We call upon the Name of Jesus because He is Jehovah-Jireh the Lord who provides, the Lord who will see to it that our need is met. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus - Phil 4:19. I hope you are encouraged to call upon the Name of Jesus with confidence. Not only does He pay attention to your cry, He hears you; but He sees your need and He will provide. Do you have a need? Call on the Name of Jesus! still calling on the Name, Diane p.s. Practice saying His Name out loud when you are faced with a situation! |
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