the Journey
the Journey
March 30
Holiness or Hardness Toward God?
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, OSWALD CHAMBERS
He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor . . .
—Isaiah 59:16
"The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial—that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray. But Isaiah implied in this verse that God is amazed at such thoughts about prayer.
Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5 ). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, "But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this"? This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.
Are we worshiping God in a way that will raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship with God, or have we become hard and dogmatic?
Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work-work that demands all your energy, but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the gospel has its share of pitfalls, but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever. "
(my thoughts for this devotional)
I understand what Oswald means when he says "get the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying. "Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus". Phillipians 2:5 Our great battle is that we have to get our hearts in such a place where we are able to receive HIs thoughts and His mind.
It is often exchanging what I am first inclined to pray , worshipping, thanking and praising the Lord, then receiving from the Lord instead His direction of intercession. It is the Spirit who knows all things and searches all things, even the deep things of God.
An intercessor has a mind and heart that is fixed and surrendered as a vessel, willing to allow the Holy Spirit divine connection to pray fervently through us, not as we will, but as the Lord will's. His desire is for mercy to be poured out and to abound in our hearts and in the circumstances and situations that we are in, even the ones where we find it difficult to pray for His mercy, His Spirit enables us and pours upon us the richness and the vast peace that mercy brings. O H Lord to the merciful the Lord Himself is merciful.
He desires us to trust Him implicity with our lives and the lives of those we love. He watches over us with tenderness and a watchful eye. Though we may even be misunderstood, with God's grace and watchful eye, we are able to see more clearly and pray effectually because it becomes not about us, even in our darkest moments. IThat is exchanged for a heart that insteads becomes one with the Lord and prays according to His Will. It really is amazing and how free we become, free from care and concern over our self and asserting our rights, defending ourselves. We leave this aside as we come instead to know How loved we are and how highly He loves us all. We can trust Him to be our defender and our provider and even our sustainer. When we feel abandoned and alone, if we abide in Him and abide in His Truth, we find that God's peace and supernatural presence keep us, and directs us. We are One with Him. He will never forsake us or leave us the psalmist says.
We can be anchored and steadfast in Him, even when we feel inclined to delve into self pity and condemnation. The truth is we are not condemned nor are we forsaken. We have peace with God because of faith in Christ.
That brings rest and gratefulness, knowing that we are kept in His hand, and nothing can pluck us out of it.
Today I heard that a neighbor (who had moved a way a couple years ago) died last week. I read her obituary.
I have a great joy in my heart knowing she is present with the Lord. She was a rare person who during many trials shadowed during her time on earth, she remained a loving and kind and considerate person. I know this is because she grabbed ahold of her faith through the many trials and held on. She told me that even when she fell down, and failed the Lord, {as she so often felt she did}, she asked the Lord many times, pick me up, dust me off, and keep me going. Those were her exact words. Today she is just such an inspiration to me. Isn't it wonderful to know the Lord is aware of our failures and our weaknesses? That even in our deepest failures and despairs, we can be reminded of the Lord' s love and care and unfailing love. He is longsuffering and merciful towards us and likewise by His grace we too can demonstrate and give those who are hurt by life's hardships and trials, words of a hope and a mercy that may just be what they are in need of at that moment.
March 30
Holiness or Hardness Toward God?
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, OSWALD CHAMBERS
He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor . . .
—Isaiah 59:16
"The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial—that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray. But Isaiah implied in this verse that God is amazed at such thoughts about prayer.
Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5 ). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, "But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this"? This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.
Are we worshiping God in a way that will raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship with God, or have we become hard and dogmatic?
Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work-work that demands all your energy, but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the gospel has its share of pitfalls, but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever. "
(my thoughts for this devotional)
I understand what Oswald means when he says "get the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying. "Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus". Phillipians 2:5 Our great battle is that we have to get our hearts in such a place where we are able to receive HIs thoughts and His mind.
It is often exchanging what I am first inclined to pray , worshipping, thanking and praising the Lord, then receiving from the Lord instead His direction of intercession. It is the Spirit who knows all things and searches all things, even the deep things of God.
An intercessor has a mind and heart that is fixed and surrendered as a vessel, willing to allow the Holy Spirit divine connection to pray fervently through us, not as we will, but as the Lord will's. His desire is for mercy to be poured out and to abound in our hearts and in the circumstances and situations that we are in, even the ones where we find it difficult to pray for His mercy, His Spirit enables us and pours upon us the richness and the vast peace that mercy brings. O H Lord to the merciful the Lord Himself is merciful.
He desires us to trust Him implicity with our lives and the lives of those we love. He watches over us with tenderness and a watchful eye. Though we may even be misunderstood, with God's grace and watchful eye, we are able to see more clearly and pray effectually because it becomes not about us, even in our darkest moments. IThat is exchanged for a heart that insteads becomes one with the Lord and prays according to His Will. It really is amazing and how free we become, free from care and concern over our self and asserting our rights, defending ourselves. We leave this aside as we come instead to know How loved we are and how highly He loves us all. We can trust Him to be our defender and our provider and even our sustainer. When we feel abandoned and alone, if we abide in Him and abide in His Truth, we find that God's peace and supernatural presence keep us, and directs us. We are One with Him. He will never forsake us or leave us the psalmist says.
We can be anchored and steadfast in Him, even when we feel inclined to delve into self pity and condemnation. The truth is we are not condemned nor are we forsaken. We have peace with God because of faith in Christ.
That brings rest and gratefulness, knowing that we are kept in His hand, and nothing can pluck us out of it.
Today I heard that a neighbor (who had moved a way a couple years ago) died last week. I read her obituary.
I have a great joy in my heart knowing she is present with the Lord. She was a rare person who during many trials shadowed during her time on earth, she remained a loving and kind and considerate person. I know this is because she grabbed ahold of her faith through the many trials and held on. She told me that even when she fell down, and failed the Lord, {as she so often felt she did}, she asked the Lord many times, pick me up, dust me off, and keep me going. Those were her exact words. Today she is just such an inspiration to me. Isn't it wonderful to know the Lord is aware of our failures and our weaknesses? That even in our deepest failures and despairs, we can be reminded of the Lord' s love and care and unfailing love. He is longsuffering and merciful towards us and likewise by His grace we too can demonstrate and give those who are hurt by life's hardships and trials, words of a hope and a mercy that may just be what they are in need of at that moment.
posted by Ruth at 8:01 AM
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