That Place Of Closeness

Psalm 27:4-5  One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.       

Believers need the passion David had for the Lord, wanting to be where the Lord is honored and  worshiped. Of course, we have the church, but we also need a desire to find that place of closeness and intimacy with Him.

If there is a genuine desire to be near the Lord, there will be a commitment to prayer and the study of the Word of God. There will be a commitment to public and private worship. Those who want to linger near the Lord will find a way.  When we make a move toward God, He will make a move toward us.

Wait On The Lord

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The secret of strength renewal is to wait on the Lord. Wait, however long it takes. Waiting is  hard, but it emboldens our faith and patience. The prize for waiting is a promise of victory.  

Then it happens. One moment we are weak, the next moment we’re running strong. God has a way of helping us break free from things that bind us. At the end of the wait we mount our wings like Eagles and soar above our problems.  Rejoicing, we step aside and watch the glory of God work in our lives. Praise God

The Spirit Of God

Romans 8:9,14  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. . . . For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 As children of God, the Holy Spirit is a voice inside of us, leading us. He gives us peace or withholds peace---He tells us to go or to stay. He usually speaks through our thoughts. The Holy Spirit is a person, a presence of the Holy Trinity---God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He  connects us with God.

 The voice  of the Holy Spirit is loyal to the Word of God, characterized by its  fruit of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. The Holy Spirit is consistent with the character of Christ---his spirit of love, humility, meekness, service, obedience, submission and forgiveness. Are you seeking Him? Is He nudging you?

What Does Jesus Want?

Sometimes our lot in life becomes strenuous and sweaty---infested with burdens here and there. We need help. We need rest. We need Jesus.  
 
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus wants us to trust Him as our Lord and Savior. He wants to carry us through the pains in this world, to fill us with His Spirit, His  joy, His  love, His hope and His peace. Jesus wants us to consecrate our lives to Him so He can use us for His glory. He wants to carry our anxieties to old age and lead us to rest with Him forever. God is good.

First Love

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

When we leave our first love for Jesus we offend a holy God because we’re not where He wants us to be spiritually. Try to remember that moment when sin rolled away and Jesus moved in, those early days of excitement and joy.

Lack of love for God is a sin. We need to understand that the things we’ve allowed to come between us are idols. It may be our fun, our family or our work. When we repent of our sin and surrender our hearts to  love The Lord, He will fill us with His presence, His wonder and His power.

Goodbye, World, Goodbye

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Many are somewhat antsy about the election, fearing the unknown. Born again believers don’t have to be that way, because we have an unshakable, profound, eternal, and powerful  hope in our Lord.

One day Jesus will whish us up to meet Him in  the clouds. We’ll see the One Who loved us more than His Own life---the One Who arose from the dead so we could live forever---the Friend Who stuck closer than a brother. We’ll be reunited with loved ones who have gone on before us.  Our hope is in the Lord, not elections. Goodbye, World, Goodbye.

Valleys And Trials

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Here’s a reminder: Valleys and trials don’t come to stay---they came to pass. Don’t allow valleys and trials of life to control you. That steals your joy.  The following three secrets will set you free from the power of valleys and trials:

1. Learn to take your burden to the Lord---and leave it there.
2. Commit to living your life according to the will of God and praise Him even if it kills you.
3. Rest in the confidence that one day the valleys will be behind you forever. Hold on my child, joy comes in the morning.