Tag: believing in the scriptures

Let Us All Give Thanks To God For Our Foundation of Hope! Colossians 1:3-8

Colossians 1:3-8 Amplified Bible

3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray always for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] [a]love which you have for all the saints (God’s people); 5 because of the [confident] hope [of experiencing that] which is reserved and waiting for you in heaven. You previously heard of this hope in the message of truth, the gospel [regarding salvation] 6 which has come to you. Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it]. 7 You learned it from [our representative] Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf 8 and he also has told us of your love [well-grounded and nurtured] in the [Holy] Spirit.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

The Root Of Our Hope Is Our Savior Jesus

It’s wonderful when someone comes into the kingdom of God.

That person receives God’s gift of grace through faith in Jesus, and they begin a new life of walking with the Holy Spirit.

The new believer realizes that the full measure of their “sacred cow” plans for their old life of selfish pursuits offers them nothing that will ever satisfy them.

By their new hope in Christ Jesus, they have turned their back on the darkness and are enjoying the light of the world, Savior Jesus – Praise God for his love!

Paul is filled with thanks to hear that the people of Colossae have come to faith in Christ Jesus and are showing their love for all God’s people.

He even says, “We always thank God . . . when we pray for you . . .”

They have become wonderful examples of living by faith in Jesus.

They believe and trust, they love, and they hope in what God has already stored up in heaven for them.

Drawing all this together, today we can echo with great assurance with Paul that the new faith of the Colossian believers is decisively rooted in Jesus Christ.

Friends, my prayer is you will have faith in Christ Jesus; my hope for you is that in Jesus’ name you are loving others, giving yourself up for them, and growing in hope in all that God has promised and is storing up for you and me in heaven.

Stay rooted in Christ, stay united in His hope anticipating the reality of our own resurrection, the reality of God’s coming kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

The Hope of Resurrection Brings Us All Together

What is the basis for Christian unity?

What is the basis for being able to correct another believers doctrine?

What is the foundation of love and faith in the Christian life?

Paul answers these questions in the beginning of his letter to the church at Colossae.

In the beginning of Colossians, Paul teaches that the basis of Christian faith and love is hope.

We can view hope as elemental to the gospel message, proclaimed to all who believe.

This foundation of hope in the gospel unites us with other believers, for all believers share the same foundation of the message of Christ.

From those foundations proceed faith and love, essential to the character of believers.

Faith And Love As Reasons For Giving Our Thanks

Paul thanks God for the faith and love evident in the church at Colossae.

The believers at Colossae were believers in Christ Jesus, found in Him and known by Him.

Their faith set them on the side of light.

For, Christians have been rescued from darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of the Son, Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:13-14).

The Incomparable Christ

13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].

Faith is what made these believers dwell in a new understanding about life, truth, what matters on this earth, and what matters for times to come.

And Paul even heard about the faith of the Colossians, so completely notable was their expression of it.

Paul also heard about the love that believers had for the saints.

The believers had love for their fellow believers, and this was an outworking of the eternal truths of the gospel.

Their love is further identified in the letter as being “in the Spirit” (Colossians 1:8), the mark of its veracity.

Paul notes the rich and beautiful Christian love of the Colossian church:

Colossians 2:1-3 Amplified Bible

You Are Built Up in Christ

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at [a]Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face.  2 [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] [b]love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the [c]mystery of God, that is, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God].

Paul will ultimately write to the church at Colossae about heresy creeping in, and with that in mind, he writes he desires the body of Christ to be encouraged together with hearts unified in love.

This is Paul’s desired way for the church to have reception of truth and correction of error: to write to a church about these matters who is knit together in the love of Christ.

Then, they would be able to further share in the genuine message of Christ, separate truth from error, and have the full experience of Christ leading and guiding in truth amidst His very own body at Colossae.

No wonder Paul thanks God for the love he sees in the saints at Colossae: it gave him genuine confidence about the message of correction he would be sharing.

That love in the context of faith was made possible by the foundation of hope in Christ and Christ alone present in the church.

The Hope of the Gospel in Us

Hope as a Foundation

Paul credits hope as the foundation for the believers’ virtues. Hope is the basis for Christian faith and love.

Hope is the basic element of the faith — that we have a future with Christ through the truth of the gospel.

And hope is the basis for Christian love — that we have a future with One who unites all believers.

Faith springs from the message of hope. Love flows through the message of hope because the message is what unites the church, one to another.

Hope from the Gospel

Hope comes from the gospel, the word of truth.

The hope of the gospel is restored union and communion with Jesus Christ, the God who made us. 

Colossians 1:27 says that Jesus Christ in us is the hope of glory.

Surely this is the center of Paul’s message in the opening words of his letter.

Hope is the basis for faith and love — and the basis for this hope is that we have restored relationship with Jesus Christ.

This relationship means we have a future of even closer communion with Jesus when we are one day with Him in glory.

Hope Passed On

The word of truth is learned through the teaching of another.

The gospel is passed from person to person through teaching.

Hope becomes passed through the fellowship and instruction of other believers.

Not only had Paul and this church not met face-to-face, so it was with many believers spread throughout the world.

The gospel — the hope of Christ — spreading is an encouraging point of union between Paul and the church a Colossae.

Their shared hope is spread by Jesus Christ who would surely build His church (Matthew 16:18).

Hope is the foundation from which virtues spring and is testified to in the gospel of Christ.

The Blessed Unity of Believers’ Shared Foundation of Hope

Because Paul and his fellow believers at Colossae had a strong foundation of hope — with evidence he could hear about — he is solidified in his union with them through Christ.

Paul’s Connection with the Church at Colossae

Paul uses this expression of prayer-filled thanks to establish his unity with the church at Colossae.

He would be writing to warn against heresy creeping into the church.

But at this juncture, He is establishing truths about the faith, love, and hope that are basic to the Christian message.

He heard about this church’s faith through Epaphras, not being a church that he planted.

But he had thanksgiving-filled unity with this church nonetheless because of the message of the gospel.

Paul’s Connection with All Churches

With thanks, Paul indicates that the message of the gospel was spreading throughout the world — and not only through Paul’s ministry.

What joy that these Christians could receive a message of warning through Paul based on Christian gospel unity — and not based upon personal connection.

Many could, and indeed would, be wary to receive correction from someone not personally known, but Paul would deliver this message faithfully and with great hope that it would prayerfully be received well by those he had never even met.

Through the unity of the gospel and on the basis of broad Christian unity through Jesus Christ, Paul would be proceeding with his message of correction.

Suggested Points of Meditation and Application

As we consider Paul’s opening comments of the letter to the Colossians, we can note hope as the central theme, and basis for his commitment and unity with the church members.

This commitment and unity comes from a heart that shares the indwelling of Christ Jesus through the ministry of the Holy Spirit with fellow believers.

As you take these teachings to heart, pray over the following application points:

1. Strengthen your understanding with conviction in the hope that you have

2. Ensure that you are loving others in the church because of the hope that you share from the hope to be found only in resurrection of our Savior Christ Jesus.

3. Know that your hope means your faith is in a different world, for a different life to come. John 17:6-12 Amplified.

6 “I have manifested Your name [and revealed Your very self, Your real self] to the people whom You have given Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept and obeyed Your word. 7 Now [at last] they know [with confident assurance] that all You have given Me is from You [it is really and truly Yours]. 8 For the words which You gave Me I have given them; and they received and accepted them and truly understood [with confident assurance] that I came from You [from Your presence], and they believed [without any doubt] that You sent Me. 9 I pray for them; I do not pray for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You; 10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and [all things that are] Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 I am no longer in the world; yet they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are. 12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and protected them, and not one of them was lost except [a]the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

4. Trust a shared foundation of hope with other believers provides a foundation for doctrinal correction—should you ever be placed in the position of giving or receiving such correction

5. Be ever more thankful to God than to humanity for the unity of the gospel being spread throughout the world.

Resurrection of Hope

It’s not the experience of hope but the object of hope that is stored up for us in heaven–and that gives rise to faith and love, says the apostle Paul.

Colossians 1:27, Paul talks about “the hope of glory,” meaning the final unveiling of our salvation, when “righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Psalm 85:10). 

This grand source of hope does not mean we ignore this present life.

Instead, this hope encourages love.

In a sermon on this text, author John Piper says,

“Only one thing satisfies the heart whose treasure is in heaven: doing the works of heaven. And heaven is a world of love.”

He adds, “It’s not the cords of heaven that bind the hands of love. It is the love of money and leisure and comfort that do that, and the power to sever those cords is Christian hope.”

To live in the utter certainty, centrality of the hope of His coming glory, frees us all from greed and bitterness, despair and laziness, from impatience and envy.

Being fully captivated by this future Paul says we’ve heard about in the gospel empowers, inspires, moves us forward against the tsunami’s of culture, to give us grace to live in faith and in love to become examples of God’s new creation.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

In your kingdom, Lord,
there are no favourites,
all are equal,
all carry the image
of the one who made all things,
and all are welcome in your home.
You forgive those who in humility
make the journey to repentance,
even those who now reject you.
Such love, Such faith, Such hope,
beyond our imagining.
Such love, Such faith, Such hope,
that could die for us.
Such love, Such faith, Such hope,
sown into hearts,
that we might display its beauty
through hopeful lives and hope-filled words.
Thank you Lord!

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Could Jeremiah 29:11 Have A Far, Far Deeper Meaning, Truth for Us Today? Jeremiah 29:8-14

Jeremiah 29:8-14 The Message

8-9 Yes. Believe it or not, this is the Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God: “Don’t let all those so-called preachers and know-it-alls who are all over the place there take you in with their lies. Don’t pay any attention to the fantasies they keep coming up with to please you. They’re a bunch of liars preaching lies—and claiming I sent them! I never sent them, believe me.” God’s Decree!

10-11 This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

12 “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.

13-14 “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.

“Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree.

“I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you”—God’s Decree—“bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

How rare is the Word of God today?

How rare is the genuine understanding of the Word of God today?

How rare is the genuine truth of the Word of God sought after today?

How rare is the person who seeks after the genuine truth of God’s Word?

How rare is the person who actually, diligently, genuinely, seeks to apply the wisdom and the genuine truth of the Word of God to their lives?

How rare is the person who actually, diligently, genuinely applies the genuine truth of the Word of God to their lives?

How rare is the person who then actually, diligently, genuinely, seeks with all of their heart, souls, minds and strength, to diligently, genuinely teach all others? (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Do we genuinely want to know, love, experience God through His Word alone?

Do we really and genuinely want to surprise ourselves by seeking His Kingdom?

The True Deeper Meaning of Jeremiah 29:11 Might Surprise You

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most well-known and quoted verses in the Bible.

It’s promise is held dearly by Christians all over the world.

But despite it’s popularity the meaning of Jeremiah 29:11 is often misused and misapplied.

It’s one of the most misquoted verses in the entire Bible. 

While many Christians have this verse memorized and hanging on their walls, the context in which it’s written is often ignored.

The Bible passage of Jeremiah 29:11 is a popular verse that we, as Christians, cling to in times of trials and hardships.

Whenever problems occur in our earthly lives, we always find safe refuge in the Word of God and one of those verses is Jeremiah 29:11.

Because of this,

it is essential to understand the historical as well as the literary context of the verse to give us a deeper understanding as to why Jeremiah wrote it.

When we ignore the context in which the Bible is written we can quite literally make it say anything we want. 

What We Commonly Get Wrong About Jeremiah 29:11 Meaning

Jeremiah 29:11 is everywhere.

From coffee mugs to graduation speeches this verse is plastered everywhere.

Yet despite the popularity the meaning of Jeremiah 29:11 is often misapplied. 

Most commonly the meaning of Jeremiah 29:11 is applied as a personal promise.

That God has a wonderful and perfect plan for ME.

Many take this verse and apply it specifically to them, that God has their life perfectly mapped out, and that they only have to walk in obedience to God. 

Others take this verse a step further claiming this verse is a continuous promise of health and wealth.

Since we are children of the King we would, could, should only hope to expect the best from God.

With this view, anything less than that view, pain and suffering are interpreted as a sign of disobedience, being disciplined by our God for our true lack of faith. 

The main problem with these interpretations of Jeremiah 29:11 is that they are very ME centered.

It’s all about what God can and is going to do for ME.

And that’s not the meaning of Jeremiah 29:11.

Or the Bible for that matter. 

Where do we begin to more deeply, genuinely acknowledge, the grace of God?

When do we acknowledge the genuine authority, sovereignty, power, of God’s exclusive to God truth behind Psalm 46:10-11?

Psalm 46:10-11 The Message

8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
    breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything.”

11     Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

See all of the marvels of God and God alone!

The alleged marvels of humanity are not even mentioned by the Psalmist!

The sovereignty of God and God alone is where everything remains the same.

Psalm 46:10-11 Amplified Bible

10 
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.

So, accounting for it being about God alone, what does Jeremiah 29:11 mean?

Let’s dive into the context and find out. 

The Meaning Of Jeremiah 29:11 In Context Historically

Context matters. In fact, I would say context is king.

When we are reading the Bible we cannot ignore the context in which what we are reading is written in. 

That means we should do three things when reading the Bible: 

  1. Look at the surrounding verses
  2. Consider the original audience 
  3. Look at the larger narrative of the Bible

What is the history behind his words and what is the reasoning?

What is its literal meaning and how can we apply it to our daily lives, not just during tribulations, but rather, as followers of Jesus Christ and children of God?

To help us understand the meaning of Jeremiah 29:11 we will focus primarily on the first two in the list above.

Let me just say this, the common ways this passage is interpreted does not fit the Biblical narrative – the Bible teaches selflessness not a ME centered faith. 

When you rewind a little bit from Jeremiah 29:11 what you see is God talking to the nation of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah.

What Does ‘For I Know the Plans I Have for You’ Mean in Jeremiah 29:11 

Based on the historical context of the verse and the major events that happened in the past, we can understand why Jeremiah said the words in Jeremiah 29:11.

His primary goal was to speak to God’s people amidst hardships and suffering.

The people on the long march into Babylonian captivity needed to know there was some kind of hope they could latch themselves onto to face down reality.

The people were ready to grasp onto any smidgen of reality that would reveal for them that somewhere in this national tragedy befalling them, there is hope.

The unfolding breadth, unrelenting scope of trauma in every which direction of recent events of Babylonian siege, and plunder and war, of this disaster abound.

No one was immune from the impossible to measure effects of its devastation.

National identity was being systematically, violently stripped away from them.

Even their beloved Temple, where God was always to be found – was destroyed.

The Temple where God resided, was desecrated beyond repair – God was gone.

No God in residence…the spiritual trauma behind that thought – unfathomable.

Can anyone of us identify with this feeling?

Their lifeline to God and His divine protection – violently, visibly, severed.

Can anyone of us identify with this feeling?

No lifeline to God was equated with having no Hope of seeing Hope ever again.

Can anyone of us identify ourselves with this feeling?

The people of God were asking for an immediate rescue from the suffering that they were experiencing, and the counter-cultural, against the grain, prophet Jeremiah had a huge responsibility to tell them the truth about God’s promise.

He was also tasked to rebuke a very huge and ultra convincing lie that the false prophet Hananiah had widely circulated, which was not a very easy task to do.

This verse was his message, inspired by God’s guidance, to tell the people that God’s response is not an immediate answer, rather, God has a plan to prosper His people amidst hardships, God has a promise for the future of His people.

The needed caveat to these words – being after seventy years of exile is done.

The duration of the exile would continue until God had designed it to be over.

There would be no avoiding it or getting away from its experience or its effects.

The exile was a done deal.

Praying would not end it before its anointed and appointed time.

The exile was going to have to be fully, inescapably, endured. (Psalm 137)

Considering the coming tragedy of that march to Babylon, and what the people already had to endure and bear witness to (Psalm 137:8-9), it was a bitter time!

If we reflect on the words of Jeremiah, we can see the wisdom that God gave him during those trying times.

He starts with a clear, direct message, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,”

These words can be interpreted as a direct message and an assurance that God knows their plans.

And then, the verse continues with a more profound explanation of God’s plan, “‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

These words give more detail of His plan — to inspire His people to continue on, to persevere through the very harshest of seasons, times and circumstances.

The Historical Context of ‘For I Know the Plans I Have for You’ in Jeremiah 29:11

In its context, Jeremiah is speaking to his fellow people as they were forced to exile from their home in Jerusalem to Babylon and, now, under enemy rule.

There was too much turmoil in terms of emotional and physical stress among the believers of God during this time.

To add to this, there was also a false prophet named Hananiah who gave false hope to the Jews regarding the prophecy of God.

According to Hananiah, God promises to relieve the Jews of their suffering after two years and would come back to their home.

This was a false prophecy that Jeremiah heard and rebuked. We can read this verse further in Jeremiah 28:15-17;

Jeremiah 28:15-17 Amplified Bible

15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am about to send you away from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have spoken  and have counseled rebellion against the Lord.’”

17 So Hananiah the [false] prophet died [two months later], the same year, in the seventh month.

Imagine Jeremiah having to tell the Jews that instead of two years, they would live in Babylon for 70 years and endure it as it is written in Jeremiah 29:4-10,

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.”

Jeremiah was tasked to deliver a message that God’s people would have to live, build houses, marry, pray for peace, and prosper in a city that was not theirs.

It was an arduous, difficult task, and Jeremiah had to give the people an inspirational message and thus the words in Jeremiah 29:11 were written.

What Deeper Meaning Would, What Could, What Should, ‘For I Know the Plans I Have for You’ Genuinely Mean for Us Today?

Indeed, Jeremiah 29:11 is a great reminder amidst the longevity of suffering, God alone has a boundless God sized plan for us to prosper and hope for our future.

We should not give up. We may be experiencing different situations such as the severe health or a financial crisis or a family relationship on the brink of being torn apart, the verse tells us that these things are in passing and God has a plan.

Just as what happened in the past with the Jews in Babylon, we may experience “lets grasp for human straws” hopeful words of false prophets like Hananiah.

The much beloved verse also reminds us not to believe in human things that are too good to be true and instead, trust God alone, His Grace, His processes alone.

For it is only in trusting His process we can all be assured of hope for the future.

Lastly, this much cherished verse also reminds us that if we seek God in our hearts, we will never be weary even if we experience suffering in our lives.

Let God alone transform our mindsets of unrelenting suffering to unrelenting joy in the Lord and the Lord alone who is our strength. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

More Bible Verses about Hope

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.  ~ Isaiah 40:31

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. ~ Romans 8:24-25

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ~ 1 Peter 1:3

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ~ Romans 15:4

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ~ Romans 15:13

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ~ Romans 12:12

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ~ Hebrews 11:1

2 Timothy 3:14-17 Amplified Bible

14 But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned  them,  15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus [surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness]. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the [a]man of God may be complete  and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Seek out the deeper meanings, immeasurable truths of the Word of God.

The entirety of our lives is a Tapestry weaved by the Grace of God by God.

In Christ Jesus, our Savior, in Him alone our hope is found (Acts 4:8-12)

Give God 100% of the Glory – saving or hoarding none of it for yourselves.

Give God 100% of the Praise – saving or hoarding none of it for yourselves.

Give God 100% of the Honor – saving or hoarding none of it for yourselves.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Majesty, worship His majesty
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise,
Majesty, kingdom authority
Flow from His throne, unto His own
His Anthem raise
Majesty, worship His majesty

Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise,
Majesty, kingdom authority
Flow from His throne, unto His own
His Anthem raise

So exalt, lift up on high, the name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King
Majesty, worship His majesty

Jesus who died, now glorified
King of all kings

Copyright: 

1981 New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

https://translate.google.com/

Tune My Ears, God! I Will Choose to Listen and Believe the Voice of Truth. John 10:1-5

John 10:1-5 Amplified Bible

Parable of the Good Shepherd

10 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from some other place [on the stone wall], that one is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep [the protector and provider]. 3 The [a]doorkeeper opens [the gate] for this man, and the sheep hear his voice and pay attention to it. And [knowing that they listen] he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [to pasture]. 4 When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call. 5 They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

Whose Voice Are We Following?

Internet, iPad, iPod—the “I”s certainly have it today!

At home and at work we call on Siri, we talk into our phones, we sit or stand or lie down in our living rooms or dining rooms, of kitchens or even bathrooms.

We will talk into our television remotes and search for a particular favorite channel or programming station, for whatever it is they call entertainment.

We call out to some voice identified only as Siri and ask her or tell her to call up some random search parameter – a recipe, or a song or list of vacation spots or whatever happens to land into our wandering randomized thought processes.

And in an instant a disconnected computer voice from our phones or Alexa chimes in with “okay, this is what I found…!” and we are on our way to read whatever information was “found” in less time it took to type this sentence.

At the beach, in the department store, on the college campus, everywhere people have “earbuds” wireless listening devices planted deep in their ears.

While both technology and music are gifts of God, I hope we also take time to listen to the springtime chatter of robins or to the hoot cry of a Barn Owl.

What we hear and what and who we listen to makes a difference in our lives.

What information we hear, and who we hear it from, will end up profoundly influencing our thought processes and will inevitably guide our actions, into how we respond to a particular life altering, life transforming circumstance.

How we make decisions, how we judge what is morally and ethically right and wrong, how we interpret whether what we see and hear is truth or a deception.

People will tell us anything to sell their products and increase their profits and their bank accounts, to sell us a bill of goods which ultimately has little value.

Do you read or listen to, or hear the lyrics of the songs your children listen to?

Do you take any quality time with your children to discuss their song choices?

Together, do you come to a place where you can share your thoughts with them, they can share their thoughts with you – come unto an “acceptable boundary?”

Do you know what they are hearing and how it impacts what both of you have both come to be known as “morally and ethically right versus wrong” truth?

Jesus is the good shepherd.

Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)

He laid down his life for us on the Good Friday cross.

If we are to follow Jesus and avoid impostors, we must recognize his voice clearly and quickly in every situation we encounter.

To do that, we ought to be considering counseling others away from technology and spending more time studying, hearing, listening, to his Word in the Bible.

Spending quality devotional time with the children (whatever their ages are).

Talking about current events, their impacts on what is understood to be true.

There are words spoken through whatever social media medium which are worded with the intent of moving their version of truth into our forefronts.

“Words of someone else’s truth” specifically spoken, specifically manipulated, of what someone else desperately wants us to unequivocally believe as gospel.

Differentiating between the voice of someone else’s truth and God’s truth?

What possible difference could it make, what possible influence could it have to one life knowing what the difference is between the world’s truth and God’s?

Love Letter to my Ears, “Whose Truth Guides Us?”

John 10:1-5 The Message

He Calls His Sheep by Name

10 1-5 “Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.”

When I became a new Christian, hearing and knowing God’s voice and differentiating from the world were the things I struggled the most with.

How could I know whether I was hearing from God when I didn’t know His voice?

How could I be sure the Lord was speaking to me while reading Scripture, listening to a sermon, or going to Sunday school or a Bible study lesson?

I was so afraid of missing God’s instructions, warning, and encouragement that I often found myself paralyzed by raging questions of faith, my truth and doubt.

Sorting through what I had “known and believed” was truth and what the Word of God, the often complicated “Parable” teachings of Jesus and Paul was tough.

Unraveling and un-weaving of the mess I made of my own interpretation of the word truth along the long, winding and hardened concourse of my life – was a complex time of hardcore self introspection, challenging my life against God’s.

As I began studying the Bible, I learned how God’s voice matched the Scriptures.

Thus, if I wanted to know what God had to say on a particular topic, I had to devote considerable time to studying, to know what the Bible said on that topic.

If I heard a voice and was unsure whether or not that voice was the Lord’s, the Bible through Holy Spirit, would work with me to confirm whether it was Him.

I have learned the hard and soft way God’s voice will never contradict the Bible.

If the voice you’re hearing is encouraging you to take Scripture out of context to make it fit your situation, the voice is not of God and the truth is not of God too.

We can grow, we can mature to learn and discern God’s voice by studying the Holy Scriptures, praying, and asking and pleading with our Savior to teach us.

God invites us (not forces us) to ask and answer the question on all our minds:

In this time when our available resources are stretched nigh to invisibility;

Isaiah 55:1-5 The Message

Buy Without Money

55 1-5 “Hey there! All who are thirsty,
    come to the water!
Are you penniless?
    Come anyway—buy and eat!
Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.
    Buy without money—everything’s free!
Why do you spend your money on junk food,
    your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?
Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,
    fill yourself with only the finest.
Pay attention, come close now,
    listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.
I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you,
    the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.
I set him up as a witness to the nations,
    made him a prince and leader of the nations,
And now I’m doing it to you:
    You’ll summon nations you’ve never heard of,
and nations who’ve never heard of you
    will come running to you
Because of me, your God,
    because The Holy of Israel has honored you.”

Jesus, the good shepherd, says, “Listen, listen to me … that you may live.”

Those who have ears, let them truthfully hear and let them truthfully live!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Precious Holy Spirit, I come to you today asking for guidance. I feel lost and overwhelmed, and I need your help in finding my way. Please open my eyes and heart to the direction you want me to take. Help me to make wise decisions that will lead me closer to your path for my life. Give me the strength and courage to persevere when times are difficult. Lead me with your truth and love, so that I may live a life that brings glory to your name. Thank you for your guidance and protection. Amen.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Studying, Meditating, Pondering Upon Ways We Can Hear from God Regularly. Habakkuk 2:1-4

Habakkuk 2:1-4 Amplified Bible

God Answers the Prophet

2 I will stand at my guard post
And station myself on the tower;
And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me,
And what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved.
2 
Then the Lord answered me and said,
“Write the vision
And engrave it plainly on [clay] tablets
So that the one who reads it will run.
3 
“For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time
It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail.
Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it,
Because it will certainly come; it will not delay.

4 
“Look at the proud one,
His soul is not right within him,
But the righteous will live by his faith [in the true God].

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

God is constantly speaking to people.

But too often, they miss out on hearing God’s messages because they seek His guidance only occasionally – usually when they are going through a crisis or they are about to be facing a major life decision – family, health, finance, career.

Then, with a dire need to hear from God, people will become confused and then become sad, and frustrated when they do not clearly hear what they should do.

They start to wonder when and how to hear from God and why they are not.

It does not have to be that way.

God wants everyone to hear His messages clearly, and it’s possible to do so.

The key is to forget about formulas and gimmicks for hearing from God, and to focus instead on developing the kind of relationship with God will empower you and me to hear God speaking regularly.

The closer you get to God, the more you can enjoy ongoing conversations with Him, both listening and hearing from Him, and the more God will use those conversations to transform you into the person He wants me, you to become.

Simple Keys to Hearing God’s Voice

There are a few simple keys that can be found in Habakkuk 2:1-2, which unlocks the treasure of hearing God’s voice.

Using these simple keys together allows the hearer of God’s voice on a daily basis.

Being intentional about hearing God’s voice is a critical step.

In Habakkuk 2:2, Habakkuk knew the sound of God speaking to him.

Elijah also described this as a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12-13).

Do you know that we can listen to God in an inner audible voice?

God does speak that way to us at times.

However, we find that God’s voice usually comes as spontaneous thoughts or flowing thoughts.

Have you ever experienced driving down the road, and had a thought come to you to pray for a certain person or situation?

Don’t you think it’s God’s voice telling you to pray?

It’s not really an audible voice most of the time.

Instead, it’s a spontaneous thought.

It’s God who is already giving us a prophetic discernment to pray for this person.

Usually, humans are able and capable to experience, Holy Spirit-level communication as spontaneous thoughts, impressions, and visions, and Scripture communicates in many ways.

For example, one definition of ‘paga’, a Hebrew word for intercession, is “a chance encounter or an accidental intersecting.”

When God gives us a burden for specific people, He does it through ‘paga’, a chance-encounter thought “accidentally” coming into our minds.

The inexperienced prophet might consider it a chance encounter, spontaneous or owing thoughts.

Even Satan can plant deception in our minds through spontaneous thoughts.

Paul tells us to take captive of those thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Have you encountered evil thoughts coming to you in the middle of prayer and worship times?

There are different things going on in our minds.

Humans are usually responsible for analytical thoughts.

Spontaneous good thoughts come from the Holy Spirit, and spontaneous evil thoughts come from evil spirits.

God’s thoughts line up with Scripture and His different names and roles: Comforter, Counselor, Teacher, Giver of Life, Healer, and Deliverer.

God’s thoughts edify, exhort, and comfort you.

They are pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, good fruits, and are unwavering (James 3:17).

On the other hand, Satan’s thoughts line up with his different names as well: Accuser, adversary, thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan’s thoughts condemn, bring despair, rejection, fear, doubt, unbelief, and misery all together. Satan’s thoughts also bring jealousy and selfish ambition (James. 3:14-15).

Studying, Pondering, Meditating, Ways to Regularly Hear from God

1. Recognize that God created you for a very personal relationship.

By design, the way we hear best from God is in the context of a friendship with Him.

God intends for us to figure out His will freely and intelligently as you engage in regular conversations with Him.

God’s will is to be personally present with you and speaking with you moment by moment as you go through life.

Then we’ll grow to understand Him more and become more like His Son, Jesus.

2. Consider your motives for wanting to hear from God.

Honestly reflect on why you want to hear from God.

Is it because we are truly open to whatever God has to say and committed to putting His guidance into action and fulfilling His purposes, even when doing so is so fully, completely and utterly enveloping, overwhelming, challenging?

Or is it for a selfish reason, such as wanting to feel righteous or comforted?

Confess and repent of any wrong motives.

Ask God to give you an openness to hear and respond faithfully to what He wants to tell you.

3. Make your goal more than just hearing God.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

While it’s important to hear from God, that shouldn’t be your ultimate goal.

Instead, make your main goal to become a spiritually mature person in a close relationship with God.

That’s the only way we’ll clearly and correctly hear what God has to say to us.

4. Know that you’re important to God, but be humble.

Have the confidence that God is willing to speak to you just as powerfully as He did to the ancient people in the Bible, because He values you, me, just as much.

However, do not let pride creep into your soul, because you must be humble in order to faithfully receive and respond to the messages God has for you and me.

5. Don’t try to force God to tell you something.

No matter how much you want to hear from God about something or how hard you may try to convince Him to speak to you.

We will only hear from God when He chooses to communicate with us.

Focus on developing a respectful relationship with God and wait for His timing to deliver messages to you.

Also, if God chooses not to give you specific guidance about something you’ve prayed about, what you’re considering is within the Bible’s moral principles,

we can confidently go ahead and make our own decision about what to do and still be within God’s will.

6. Recognize that God communicates in many forms.

God may choose any one of many different ways to communicate to you, me, according to what’s best at particular times and in particular circumstances.

You may sometimes hear God’s message in dramatic ways, such as through angels, visions, or miraculous events.

But more often, we will hear God speaking through our thoughts, and He will use ordinary practices such as reading and studying the Bible, praying quietly, learning from circumstances, or seeking counsel from other Christians to reach out to us as you think about them.

God will also use dramatic, even miraculous means to get our attention when necessary, but His goal is for you and me to be so closely connected to Him that you and I will pay attention whenever He speaks to us.

Usually, God speaks through what people have described as a “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12-13) to encourage those He loves to choose to keep walking closely with Him through life.

7. Renew your mind.

Since God often speaks to you through your mind and wants you to develop what the Bible calls the “mind of Christ” (the ability to make decisions as Jesus would), it’s crucial for you to follow the Bible’s urging in Romans 12:2:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

As we invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mind every day, He will cleanse it from such dirt and clutter as false beliefs and attitudes, unhealthy feelings, and misguided plans.

Then the Holy Spirit will minister to us, intercede, work to replace all of that spiritual mess with true thoughts that more genuinely reflect God’s purposes.

8. Invite the living Word to help you when you read scripture.

The Word of God is a living, creative force – Jesus Himself – and He is actively at work when you read God’s written word – the Bible – prayerfully.

Hebrews 4:12 Amplified Bible

12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

As we read the Bible, as we study the Bible, we ask Jesus to make the Bible’s words come alive for us and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, become conduits through which He sends His thoughts, faith, and love into your soul.

1 Timothy 4:12-14 Amplified Bible

12 Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example  and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.  13 Until I come, devote yourself to public reading [of Scripture], to preaching and to teaching [the sound doctrine of God’s word]. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the [a]elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination].

Then discipline yourself to focus on what He sends you and strive and work to orient yourself towards a pattern of faith so it will begin to transform your life.

9. Recognize God’s voice above all others.

By experience, you can learn to recognize God’s voice when He speaks, and to confidently respond to what He says.

When thoughts recur, pray about them to discern if they may be coming from God.

Keep in mind that God will never send you and me any message that contradicts the Bible’s principles.

Also, God’s voice carries the weight of authority within it, and expresses a spirit of compassion, peace, confidence, joy, assurance, reasonableness and goodwill.

If you think or believe that God may speaking to you, ask Him to confirm so as we study and meditate on the Bible, as we are alert to the circumstances we’ll encounter, or as we experience the Holy Spirit’s impressions in our mindsets.

10. Set aside time regularly to listen for God’s messages.

2 Timothy 2:14-15 Amplified Bible

An Unashamed Workman

14 Remind the people of these facts, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good, and [upsets and undermines and] ruins [the faith of] those who listen. 15 Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.

Make a plan to discipline your mind and your heart and soul, make a habit of intentionally and expectantly listening for whatever God may want to tell you.

It’s more important to become a person who listens regularly to God than it is to constantly ask God to give you guidance.

Set aside sometime today to begin listening for God’s voice and hearing his promises and plans for you.

Perhaps even keep a journal to remember the things he brings to life in you.

You open your Bible, but quickly become distracted.

You want to dig deeper, but you don’t know where to begin.

Frustrated, you close the book.

It’s not that you don’t love God—in fact, you long for more intimacy with God.

Maybe God is calling you to deeper waters . . .

Imagine yourself purposely, randomly, opening to a passage of God’s Word and by spending time, its becoming so engaging that you actually lose track of time.

Imagine yourself digging deep, and deeper still into God’s Word and seeing it, and hearing it come alive in amazing ways you had never experienced before.

Imagine starting each day—not with a tiny nugget of truth you hope will get you through—but through hearing a fresh encounter with our living Savior.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in us the fire of Your love.  Send forth Your Spirit and we shall be created.  And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy Your consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Alleluia, Amen.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Hearing God’s Voice? 1 Samuel 3:1-10

1 Samuel 3:1-10 English Standard Version

The Lord Calls Samuel

3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

Hearing the voice of God is something that everyone, Christian or not, wants to experience.

Although we all want to hear God, actually doing it, for most of us, is sort of a mysterious process.

We often don’t know how to hear God consistently, if at all.

Yet hearing and understanding what God is saying is critical for our spiritual development.

As we look at people in the Bible who heard from God, Samuel was one of the best.

The story of Samuel is found in 1 Samuel 3:1-10.

Samuel, who was just a boy, was living and serving the priest in the temple.

We are told that, “the word of the LORD was rare in those days” (v.1 ESV).

Not many people were hearing the voice of God.

Yet this rare young man was about to experience something people in the land of Israel had not seen nor had heard for quite some time; Samuel was about to clearly and succinctly hear his name called from the LORD three times.

As we look at this story about Samuel, we can discern there are six steps which can take some of the mystery out of clearly, succinctly hearing the voice of God:

1. Position Yourself Close to God

Samuel set his bed up in the temple, “where the ark of God was” (v.3 ESV).

Samuel had never heard God speak before.

Samuel did not know what to expect, but what he did know was that if he hung around the temple, God would eventually show up.

Through Bible Study, personal devotions, times of fellowship, and regular church attendance, are we now putting ourselves in a place where God is?

2. Find a Place of Regular Service to God

In v.1 it says, “Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli” (ESV).

If we want to hear the voice of God, we have to be doing the things of God.

If we’re not serving, don’t wonder why we are not hearing the voice of God.

3. Listen for God’s voice

Eli was “lying down in his usual place” (v.2 NIV), too set in his own ways, too set, too accepting in the past lack, the rarity of revelation, too preoccupied with his own, son’s interests, his own physical and spiritual limitations to hear God.

When God began speaking, he was not used to listening.

He too easily accepted the unchangeable; the precious rarity of God’s voice.

Status Quo was the Status Quo …

Who before him had taught and mentored him on how to listen for God?

Many times to hear what God is saying we have to slow down and take time to get close to God.

We have to put aside our interests and lean in to hear what God is saying.

How close was Eli to God?

How accepting was Eli that even at his current season and stage and condition of life, he could still get closer to God – “teaching an old soul new ‘God’ truths?

How accepting are we ourselves, in our current seasons, stages and conditions of life, that we too can still get closer to God – “teaching us new ‘God’ truths?

4. When God Calls, Respond Eagerly

When we hear our parents calling to us, we look to respond eagerly.

When we hear our spouses calling to us, we look to respond eagerly.

When we hear our children calling to us, we look to respond eagerly.

When Samuel first heard his name called, even in the middle of the night he got out of his bed, rushed to Eli’s bedside to inquire of Eli: “why have you called?”

This repeated itself three times until Eli finally realized it was truly God calling.

When Samuel heard, recognized the voice of the Lord he was immediately up and moving (v.4) and declaring – “Speak Lord, for Your Servant is Listening!”

If we want to hear the voice of God, we need to be not just ready to put ourselves into action eager to do what He tells us – we need to be obedient enough to do it!

James 1:17-22 English Standard Version

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[a]  18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

5. When God Speaks, Obey Him

Starting in this passage and throughout the rest of his life, Samuel consistently obeyed the Lord.

No matter what God told him, Samuel did it.

From that point on, “the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19 ESV).

For us, probably the quickest way to turn off God’s voice is to disobey him.

6. Read and Study the Word of God

After God spoke to him in this passage, the Bible tells us,

“The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word” (1 Samuel 3:21 NIV).

If you want to hear from God, you have to know what the Bible says.

God is speaking.

God wonders to what extent we are genuinely listening.

God wonders to what extent we are genuinely hearing Him.

He wants to give you wisdom to lead your family, at your job, in your church, and in every area of life.

The questions we have to be asking ourselves is not whether God is speaking, but whether or not we are hearing Him, and whether or not we are listening?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Savior Jesus, Giver of boundless peace and wisdom, I so easily get distracted when I’m trying to focus and hear your Holy Spirit. Help me to quiet my mind in the middle of my busy life. Help me to pause and to make space to listen to the most important voice of all. Empower me to be a good listener to the gentle whispers of your Spirit. Help me follow the example of Jesus, who would slip away in the evening or the early morning to be alone with you. Teach me to listen, to hear and to abide in you. Amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Spiritual Perception:”The Word of the Lord Was All Too Rare in Those Days.” 1 Samuel 3:1-10

1 Samuel 3:1-10 Amplified Bible

The Prophetic Call to Samuel

3 Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the Lord [a]under the supervision of Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread.

2 Yet it happened at that time, as Eli was lying down in his own place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well). 3 and the [oil] lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, 4 that the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call you; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know [or personally experience] the  Lord, and the word of the Lord the third time. And he stood and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli understood that it was the Lord [who was] calling the boy. 9 So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall be that if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 Then the Lord came and stood and called as at the previous times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

The Word of the Lord was TOO Rare in Those Days …

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I wish God talked to us the way He spoke to His people in the Old Testament”?

Many times, Scripture describes God speaking to His people through a voice or an angel or through a dream. He even writes on a wall in one account (Daniel 5).

So it’s natural to want to hear God’s voice or see a big sign that will help you feel confident in God’s direction.

We all experience confusing circumstances.

Sometimes you may just want God to send you a text message to tell you what to do.

Maybe you feel far from God and want Him to reach out to reassure you He’s still there.

Maybe you’ve heard people say the God of the Bible is personal, but you have never interacted with God before and wonder how to begin.

He is the same God today that He was in the time of the Old Testament.

He still speaks to us today.

He made it possible for each of us to have a personal relationship with Him, which involves talking together every day.

He communicates with us. 

1 Samuel 3:1 English Standard Version

The Lord Calls Samuel

3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

The Word of the Lord was “rare” in those most ancient days.

In the period of time between the words of the Prophet of Malachi to the New Testament Gospel Narratives and Apostolic writings of Paul and Peter, James, Jude and John, Hebrews, some 400 years had passed without a Word from God.

How frequently do we recall Jesus using the words: “He who has ears let them hear?” [Matthew 11:15, 13:9, 15, 16, 43, Mark 4:9, 23, 7:33, 35, 8:18, Luke 8:8, 9:44, 14:35]

I also recall this verse from Luke 1:44 when Elizabeth uttered the words to her cousin Mary: “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” and we preach it: “how miraculous was that?”

It begs the question, how rare is the Word of the Lord in contemporary times?

Could it be that one too many of us have just never learned how to recognize His voice, have we gotten confused or have we forgotten how we heard in the past?

The young Samuel was confused and unsure of who he was hearing calling him.

He “clearly” heard a voice and thought it was his mentor, Eli, calling for him.

He kept going to Eli’s room until even the aged, tired, and confused, and nearly blind Eli finally realized that the voice was God trying to get Samuel’s attention.

Hearing and listening for God, hearing and listening to God, is an important life skill for us to remember to give our full attention to for our God is never silent.

We live in a divisive noisy, politically correct “woke” culture that often speaks in ways which are considerably devastating and utterly contrary to God’s voice.

It can be difficult to hear God if we are more in tune with the voice of this world.

As we listen for God, we will be more in tune with his leading in our lives.

Listening, Samuel “Heard!”

1 Samuel 3:9-10 New American Standard Bible

9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 Then the Lord came and stood, and called as at the other times: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Hannah had named her son Samuel, which means “heard by God.”

When he was weaned, she brought him to Shiloh to present him to Eli the priest for uniquely specialized training as a spiritual leader of God’s people Israel.

God called on Samuel to listen to and bring the word of the Lord to his people.

God wanted Samuel to dedicate his life to this service.

Samuel became a prophet, and he led Israel in that role for sixty years as Israel moved from a loosely organized group of clans to a peaceful monarchy ruled by King David, an ancestor of Jesus Christ.

We live under the peaceful reign of the voice of one true, good, just King today.

“Peace on earth,” the angels sang to shepherds watching their flocks on the night that King Jesus was born (Luke 2:14).

Our Advent and Lenten peace is found in the birth of this child, who grew up to establish, by dying, the kingdom of peace over all on whom God’s favor rests.

Do you know this voice of peace?

Do you hear this voice of peace?

Are you listening for this voice of peace?

Are we paying any meaningful attention to this voice of peace?

Are we giving any meaningful thought towards this voice of peace?

Ask Jesus to rule in your heart and life, and He will welcome you into his kingdom of peace.

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can rest in true peace because we know he is our King and in control of all that happens in the world and our lives.

This is a peace not “as the world gives” (John 14:27); it is God’s peace, “which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

Eli mentored Samuel by teaching him how to daily worship God, and how to respond to God’s voice: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”—in other words, “I am ready to hear what you have to say, and I am ready to obey!”

How Rare is the Word of God in These Days?

God speaks to us in many ways.

He speaks through creation, giving testimony to his faithfulness and creativity. [Psalm 19]

He speaks through his Word, where we come to understand his salvation and purpose for us.

He speaks through wise mentors in our lives.

He speaks through life situations, opening and closing doors.

God speaks by his Holy Spirit, equipping us with gifts and passions to use for service in his kingdom.

Are we listening?

Are we listening?

Do we even care if there is a voice of God speaking to us today?

Why should we care if there is a voice of God speaking to us today?

How are we listening, hearing, experiencing God’s leading in your life?

Are you and I numbed to hearing, listening attentively for God’s voice?

So in a world full of noise and distraction, should we care if God speaks?

Does it matter one iota whether or not God speaks to us if we take one long, view of the world versus God, to say: “how miraculous would that truly be?”

Do we actually desire, want or need “God’s miraculous voice” speaking to us?

So in a world full of noise and distraction, how does God actually speak to us?

So with many questions, how ought we to “miraculously” respond back to God?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 19 The Message

19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.

6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Seeking, Growing Intimacy in Your Relationships. Deuteronomy 4:29-31

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 Amplified Bible

29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and tribulation and all these things come on you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful and compassionate God; He will not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

“I can’t stand Sundays!”

The woman holding her newborn son shouted deep into the church angrily.

She rose from her pew and shared that on Sundays she often felt so lonely and empty because many of her friends were busy with families and ball games.

She was a single woman, new to the church saying she was not a member there.

She is unhappy about her situation and asked the congregation for prayer.

The congregation surrounded her, her young child and laid hands upon them.

Together, they prayed for a good fifteen minutes.

Following the service, she sat down, met privately with the Pastor and his wife.

She said she was separated, divorce papers had been filed with the courthouse.

The father of the child was caught being unfaithful.

she confessed that she felt her sense of intimacy had been badly betrayed.

She had tried dating in the past several weeks but didn’t find the “right” man.

She also went to a few ­churches but felt they weren’t “loving” enough either.

In their response to the woman,

the Pastor and his wife suggested perhaps she shouldn’t focus mainly on searching for the right man, or seeking even the right “loving” congregation.

The Bible teaches that everyone’s main concern should be about seeking the first love of the Lord first – cultivating and growing in their intimacy with God.

That’s the first step on our journey to a loving and secure peace and happiness.

In our passage from Deuteronomy for today we hear a call to earnestly seek the Lord with all of your heart and all of your soul.

This prophetic word was originally spoken to God’s people who would come to repeatedly betray the love of the Lord and be scattered in exile many years later.

The call is followed by a promise that those who are earnest in their search will find the Lord.

Please note that the act of earnestly seeking the intimate love of God is more than just taking a few or several first steps or a phase in our spiritual growth.

Rather, it is a lifelong quest.

The continued search for God, leading to the deepening experience of his love, is the foundation of securing our inner peace in the only One who never betrays.

Growing Intimacy in Your Relationships.

Psalm 63:1-3 Amplified Bible

The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.

A Psalm of David; when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

63 O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You;
My [a]soul [my life, my very self] thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 
So I have gazed upon You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.

Intimacy is something that each of our souls deeply desires.

Intimacy is defined as close familiarity or friendship; closeness.

Intimacy in marriage includes physical acts of intimacy, but we yearn for intimacy in every close relationship we have in our lives.

Our longing for closeness is a part of our created design.

In Psalm 63 it is articulated this way,

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”

We long to be and remain close to God our Creator! [Psalm 139, Romans 8:35-39]

We long to be close to God, our Great Shepherd! [Psalm 23]

We long to be close to our Savior, the Resurrected Jesus! [John 21:15-17]

We were created by God for relationships.

Yet, we all know how difficult it is to create safe spaces for true intimacy in our lives.

Humans are imperfect, and we so easily hurt each other.

Hurt, disappointment, insecurity, and grief lead to walls going up in our hearts.

Only God is made of perfect love that we can trust with our whole hearts.

Nonetheless, we need each other and can’t give up on the work of tearing down the walls and trying again to build safe, long-lasting, and close relationships.  

Intimacy requires a commitment to forgiveness. 

Intimacy requires a radical commitment to forgiveness.

Please note that forgiveness does not mean you are called to remain present in an abusive or unhealthy relationship.

Forgiveness is a daily requirement to remain close to other very flawed humans.

Guess what, you need to be forgiven that much too because you bring just as much selfishness and brokenness to your home each day too!

It is so easy to see the ways one’s spouse lacks empathy, love, and kindness, but while we are worried about pointing out their failures, the question needs to be asked of ourselves: exactly what size plank am I missing that is in my own eye?

I have to lay down my right to be right if I want to feel close to this person who is my spouse, my life-long soulmate and embrace a life of radical forgiveness.

Unity is the foundation to an intimate relationship. 

1 Corinthians 1:4-10 Amplified Bible

4 I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 so that in everything you were [exceedingly] enriched in Him, in all speech [empowered by the spiritual gifts] and in all knowledge [with insight into the faith]. 6 In this way our testimony about Christ was confirmed  and established in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift [which comes from the Holy Spirit], as you eagerly wait [with confident trust] for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ [when He returns]. 8 And He will also confirm you to the end [keeping you strong and free of any accusation, so that you will be] blameless and beyond reproach in the day [of the return] of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisions or factions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith].

1 Corinthians 1:10 instructs, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

God communicates with us that we are to relate with, interact with our brothers and sisters in Christ with a whole and earnest heart and soul which seeks unity.

He likens us to a body, each of us different in our skills, gifts, and uses but we all work together towards one mission which is to keep the body alive!

We do not have to see eye-to-eye on every issue in our relationships to live in unity, but we do have to be humble enough not to let divisions grow among us.  

Intimacy with God and each other is built when we earnestly seek to spend much quality time together. 

Psalm 24:5-7 Amplified Bible

5 
He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 
This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need,
Who seek Your face, even [as did] Jacob. Selah.

7 
Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in.

Psalm 27 Amplified Bible

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life—
Whom shall I dread?
2 
When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 
Though an army encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
Even in this I am confident.

4 
One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,
To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.
5 
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 
And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me.
8 
When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You,
“Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”
9 
Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor [a]leave me,
O God of my salvation!
10 
Although my father and my mother have abandoned me,
Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].

11 
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies [who lie in wait].
12 
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have come against me;
They breathe out violence.
13 
I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 
Wait for and confidently expect the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.

Building intimacy requires time spent sharing the same space with open ears and having an open heart ready to connect.

One tip for time together is to commit to making some of this time screen-free time – time for family bible study, family devotions, family prayer sessions.

When we seriously want to really hear our spouse, friends, family members, or children’s hearts, we have to deliberately, intentionally, remove distractions such as our phones, video game boxes, our televisions, so we can fully engage.

We grow closer to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and in our personal relationships as, when we are intentional about being present with each other when we interact.  

Intersecting Faith and Life.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 Amplified Bible

17 
Though the fig tree does not blossom
And there is no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive fails
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock is cut off from the fold
And there are no cattle in the stalls,
18 
Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord;
I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation!
19 
The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army];
He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet
And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my [a]high places [of challenge and responsibility].

For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.

What connections, relationships do you feel covenanted and called upon by God to be a bit more considered and intentional about cultivating more intimacy in?

What is one way you can push yourself to be more present and available in this relationship in the coming weeks, as we move closer to celebrating our Easter?

Are there things that you need to release to the Lord and forgive before moving forward?

Carve out some family time, time with friends, write out a prayer of forgiveness and share them, allow God to start healing the broken relationships in your life.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,  

Let us Pray,

139 1-6 God, investigate my life;
    get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
    even from a distant sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
    before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
    then up ahead and you’re there, too—
    your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
    I can’t take it all in!

7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
    to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
    If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
    God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
    any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, guide us and lead us, shepherd us to you in faith, obedience, and love. Guide us each day, teach us to be fully committed to you.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Becoming Like Christ: Steps Towards Spiritual Freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Amplified Bible

12 Since we have such a [glorious] hope and confident expectation, we speak with great courage, 13 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelite’s would not gaze at the end of the glory which was fading away. 14 But [in fact] their minds were hardened [for they had lost the ability to understand]; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only] in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

Becoming Like Christ

2 Corinthians 3:15-18 Amplified Bible

15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart;  16 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. 18 And we all, with unveiled face,  continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

If the Holy Spirit’s work in us is like the work of a master gardener, what is the Spirit growing in us?

The Spirit wants to reproduce Jesus’ character in us.

Our reading from 2 Corinthians today states that we “are being transformed into [Jesus’] image with ever-increasing glory.”

In other words, the Holy Spirit’s aim is to make us more and more like Jesus.

The Holy Spirit’s work is to nudge us, prod us, move us, transform us and shape us to think and act and be more like our Savior Jesus, for us to better mirror Jesus in our character, to increasingly help us love like Jesus in our daily life.

Of course, it’s not an overnight rush job.

The Spirit doesn’t guarantee delivery in full by 8:00 a.m. the next day—or even within a few days, months, years or decades.

This isn’t the work of a courier driver.

This is the work of the Master Gardener, the One with a master’s vision of the finished garden, the One who daily, gradually toils and works in our lives until the desired spiritual fruit eventually sprouts, blossoms, unto the glory of God.

There are times when the Holy Spirit’s work in us will be immediate, dramatic, and maybe even spectacular.

But usually the Spirit’s work in us is slow, subtle and gentle.

That’s the Holy Spirit’s trademark.

We are made in God’s image, in the image of God we are created, (Genesis 1:26-27) but that sacred image became spoiled and polluted in us because of sin.

So now God is slowly remaking that image in us—to be like our Savior Jesus!

Steps Towards Spiritual Freedom

Have we truly noticed that most of our unrest comes from ourselves?

We get stuck ruminating on the things we can’t change or control.

Un-forgiveness stops us from moving toward healing in our relationships.

Pervasive negativity prevents us from enjoying the moment.

Exhaustion keeps us functioning as only a shadow version of ourselves.

Repeated excuses keep us trying the same things over and over again that are no longer capable of working, are burning bridges and stop us from changing.

Fear, guilt and shame stop us cold from accepting God’s free gift of grace. 

Our unhappiness lives in our souls and finding peace starts as a process of Holy Spirit-led self-discovery.

How many of us will spend our lives turning a blind eye to our own hangups?

In our own stubborn blindness, we refuse to consider that maybe the rhythm of frustration we are up against might be something we have the power to change.

It’s so much easier to render our judgments, and then blame our surroundings.

To point out the sliver in our neighbor’s eye, all while avoiding our own planks. (Matthew 7:1-5)

We so often live stuck in a giant sheet of bubble wrap we wrapped around us.

Thank God He is patient with us! 

Thank God that God knows exactly what to do with bubble wrap – POP IT!

How, then, do we allow ourselves to be “popped by God” to get us past our blindness and grab onto the gracious freedom that God promises each of us?

1. Freedom comes when we abandon pride. 

The path towards freedom begins with a surrendering of the pride we each hold that claims we have what we need to fix ourselves all on our own.

This pride tells us to be ashamed, embarrassed, fearful and humiliated when we don’t live up to our own internal standards.

It relies on rules and religion rather than grace and a relationship with Jesus.

Step one towards freedom and making peace with the people God created us to be is to abandon our pride.

The Bible teaches that pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18), and the humble find wisdom (Proverbs 11:2). 

2. God’s wisdom teaches us how to change. 

Wisdom helps us change.

Only through God’s miraculous truth can we see the way past the same thought processes which keep us trapped, wrapped, in our own fears, shame, bitterness. 

James 1:5 prompts us to ask God for wisdom when we don’t have it.

He gives it freely when we have a humble heart.

When we read and study God’s Word, spend time in his church, seek Him and His Kingdom through prayer, we discover what godly wisdom looks like.

Proverbs 1:7 instructs us that wisdom is found in the context of community.

We have to be willing to accept advice and instruction when we are stuck and looking for a new way forward. 

Proverbs 3:7 tells us that wisdom turns away from evil.

If our own set patterns get us stuck in sin over and over, then God’s wisdom, and our Savior’s Cross, His Resurrection power moves us away from that evil temptation that keeps repeatedly keeps maliciously tugging at our souls.  

3. Freedom points us towards others.

Interestingly God gives us the internal power through the Holy Spirit to find spiritual freedom, not so we can just enjoy ourselves better.

Even though a free you is a happier you and is a you that you can be confident in and enjoy.

The purpose of this Christ-purchased freedom is that we can serve others.

Isaiah 61:1 tells us God’s spirit in our lives gives us the ability to bring good news to the poor, assist the brokenhearted, and set free those imprisoned in this world!

We are set free, so we can help others find that same freedom.

When we find ourselves stuck, wrapped in our own frustrations or even upset with others in our lives because their sin nature is making our lives harder, we are invited to draw on God’s spirit to see new ways to love and to serve others.  

4. God’s spirit sets us free. 

2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

There is a mysterious element to spiritual freedom.

Freedom is an indescribable moment or journey that can take time where Heaven meets us here on Earth.

Areas I’ve sought freedom in has been anxiety over diabetes management.

For me, this freedom journey has taken years, but God has been my faithful teacher and sustainer through step forward and backward, each up and down.

Other times our freedom is like a dam breaking all at once.

The old life is washed away in an instant, and a new one is ready to begin.

Why does God work one way in my life and a different way in yours?

That is part of the mystery of the Spirit.

God is connectional and relational and not a rule-based God, which is why each of us has a singularly unique and diverse and vastly different spiritual journey.

One thing the Bible does tell us is that if we want to find freedom in our lives, we have to seek His Kingdom through His Holy Spirit.  

Matthew 6:33 Amplified Bible

33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus came to Earth, so we could not only escape death and join his family, but so we could experience freedom in our lives here on Earth.

I am so thankful that God has not left me as I was.

He is always renewing my mind and spirit.

May you, by God’s grace, take steps toward spiritual growth and freedom today.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Jesus, my Savior, I have been listening to too many lies for far too long. I have been tricked one too many times by the enemy and I am frustrated. I need to be free from these lies. Jesus, I know that You are true and that the truth will set me free. Jesus, help me to rejoice in the truth. I need to believe the truth. I pray that it really would set me free. Help me with my unbelief, Jesus. Holy Spirit, You know my heart, and know that I need help believing. Thank You, Jesus, that You offer truth to Your children. Thank You for Your patience with me. In Your glorious name, I pray.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

https://translate.google.com/

Spiritual Transformation: A Hope Filled Spiritual Mindset. 1 Peter 1:13-16

1 Peter 1:13-16 The Message

A Future in God

13-16 So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

Transformation of Any Kind Takes Effort

We often prize the wonders of ability.

We prize more highly the wonders of those abilities who exceed our own and are even more highly prized are those whose abilities go far beyond everyone else’s.

But if we don’t put our abilities to work, we won’t accomplish much.

If we want change, we have to be willing to work for it.

If we don’t put in enough effort, we won’t bring about any positive change.

Authors who have written a stack of books will tell you that the secret ingredient was the effort it took to get up earlier each day to write.

Great inventors will relate the measures and degrees of “maximum” effort and commitment and dedication it took to bring an idea unto its finished product.

Sports figures will tell you to practice, practice, practice.

The Christian life is 100 percent God’s work.

The resurrection of Christ runs through our veins.

But the Christian life is also 100 percent human effort.

Apostle Peter here urges us to first prepare our minds for action.

The Greek expression here literally means to pull up one’s robe and get ready for action.

Then Peter instructs us to persevere all the way to the end through self-control.

We have to continue to be obedient to our Savior through responsible effort.

The Christian life is definitely going to be hard work from beginning to end.

The pull of the world is unquestionably significant, and will never go away.

Greater is He who is in us than who is in the world, but the pull of the world sometimes seems to be too insurmountable and our balance of thought shifts.

Keeping up and Letting down our biblical guards becomes a great struggle.

Spiritual Transformation is quite the balance act between the Word of God and word of man, and takes all our mental power, our willpower, our muscle power.

But thankfully our balance is the very Cross of our Savior and is a gift of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Amplified Bible

The Wisdom of God

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. 19 For it is written and forever remains written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers],
And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”

20 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 21 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the [a]foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior]. 22 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy, 23  but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25  [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].

Three Keys to a Hope-Filled Spiritual Mindset.

1 Peter 1:13 English Standard Version

Called to Be Holy

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[a] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The words in 1 Peter resound with the sound of hope.

This verse provides a three-step plan for living hope-filled lives.

Peter walks with us through the definition of hope, its nature, and how to be determined in hope.

As a follower of Christ, we live future-minded.

We govern our present choices and actions by training our minds in three areas knowing we will see Jesus face to face someday.

First, we cultivate a disciplined mind.

Outlook influences outcome, and attitude determines action.

I have to keep a source of sugar nearby because my diabetes is in constant need of close and frequent personal monitoring, regular, steady, medical attention.

Sometimes walking through this life is a little like picking up dirt and debris along the way, and soon hope gets lost in the mess.

Centering the thoughts of our minds on the message and wisdom of the Cross, and the promised return of our Savior Jesus helps us to maintain our hope.

Second, we develop a sober mind.

This means to have a steady, calm, and controlled mind by guarding what we think about or expose ourselves to.

It’s listening and obeying God’s Word through the disappointments and discouragements we face.

When we have a sober mind, we stay aware of our range of thoughts, and when hopelessness creeps in, we remind ourselves of God’s faithful, steadfast nature.

Our hope is present and future-minded, so we can strengthen it when we meditate on God’s Word and worship him, which keeps our minds steady.

Third, we pursue an optimistic mind.

“High Energy Positive” comes easily for some people.

It’s like they ooze glitter, and they sparkle.

We can look at that type of person and wonder if they understand pain exists.

As a positive person, let me assure you: I am aware of pain.

Pain has stolen my breath and turned my world dark.

But I’m also aware that God’s heart is abundantly good and trustworthy.

When our hope seems lost, and our outlook is gloomy, look up.

Find something good to focus on.

Maybe it’s the sunrise or the sound of birds singing, the greening of the trees in the coming promise of a new Spring season or your perhaps your child’s smile.

When you see it, hold onto it, lock onto it, “Fort Knox” it, and thank God for it.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

A “God” disciplined, sober, and optimistic mind creates a hope-filled spiritual mindset that allows you to experience the hope of God in the day-to-day grind of life.

We have the blessed assurance of seeing Jesus face to face in the second coming, we can see evidence of him in all our today’s as we all fix your minds upon him.

Look up at the Cross of our Savior instead of down “at your grave site” when hope just leaks from your heart, and let God bring you through to fresh hope.

When Jesus came the first time, he came to reveal God (John 1:18).

As wonderful, powerful, and gracious as he was in his earthly ministry, he did not fully reveal all who he is.

Our hope is tied to his return.

When He comes this time, He won’t come to reveal God, but to reveal himself — the conquering Lord, the Rider on the white horse.

Every knee will bow.

We will get to see him as he really and fully is — Emmanuel in power and grace, triumphant in every way.

When we set our hope on Jesus’ grace when he returns, we can be confidently ready for active service to our king today.

We can live in His hope, under his leadership with obedience and praise today.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

O Almighty God, You know exactly how much I long for the day when I get to see My Savior Jesus face to face coming with the angels in power. Until that time, fasten my heart and my thoughts in living hope to the glory Jesus will share with me on that day, and please empower me to live as one who knows that victory is mine in Jesus.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

https://translate.google.com/

What Happens When We Think Precious Thoughts about Jesus? Romans 12:1-3

Romans 12:1-3 Amplified Bible

Dedicated Service

12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2  And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

3 For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Amen.

One of the most precious things a person can be given by God is a heavenly mindset, a mindset formed by the cross, a mindset that sees earthly reality in view of Scriptural truths. 

Romans 12:2 teaches: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

During seasons of Lent, when we encounter the living Christ through Scripture, and Prayer, Devotions, Sermons and Service, our minds need to be opened to being changed and transformed as when we first come to know Savior Christ.

The more and harder we seek after Him, the greater the transformation we see, we will gradually come to experience within the thoughts of our minds.

We need begin an unplanned approach, with the goal of coming to the end of ourselves, then steadily ask for a bit more of God’s Spirit to come and change us, to conform us to spiritual realities rather than the principles of the world.

Here are some suggested ways we can prayerfully expect to see, feel our minds being subtly, utterly, transformed into greater and greater union with Christ.

What Matters Is What Will Last into Eternity

The things of this earth will be seen as finite, temporary and transient.

There is surely goodness to enjoy on this earth.

But what matters is the spiritual work of God in us, and that spiritual work we participate in mission and ministry and acts of aid and service with others.

His Suffering for Us becomes Our Most Precious Thought

The reality that God came in flesh to suffer on the cross for our sins becomes precious beyond comparison.

We revere this truth and treat it as holy.

Our Savior has become so precious to us we can hardly bear the thought of Him hanging on the tree for us.

We treasure His sacrifice deeply.

His Work in This World Is Our Priority

Jesus has given the church a mission: to make disciples of Jesus around the world.

His work of doing that, at home and abroad, takes deep roots in our hearts.

He loves His gospel, and we love His gospel.

We want to do our part to see His gospel shared and to see it shine around the world — no matter where we live and what our daily calling.

The Person and Character of Jesus Is Our Loveliest Treasure

Jesus is held up as our priceless treasure.

When we come to know Him better, to take in His character, to learn about His truth and His ways in the Scriptures, to behold His grace in our lives, we realize that we are all treated impeccably by the perfect One of all time and all eternity.

Jesus becomes our richest prize, our first and only singular aim and goal.

God’s Goodness Is Never in Question

We balk at the idea of God’s goodness being in question, when He is the One who bore with all of our failures, all of our rebellion, all of our sinfulness and still — in His immeasurable kindness — offered salvation to the world.

What kind of God is this?

We cannot and will not come to entertain the thought of Him not being always considered the good God He is, was, and forever will be.

The Salvation That God Offers Is Unfathomably Good

Evil is having its day.

The world and worldly values around us threaten to pull us in on all sides.

By contrast, the things of the Lord and of the Scriptures are pure and holy and righteous.

We come to love the righteousness that has been revealed to us.

Salvation into the things and ways of the Lord is an unfathomable reality — one that we will never fully grasp for all of eternity.

We will glorify, praise God always for the greatest gift He has ever given to us.

Sin becomes Utterly Undesirable

When we are thinking and focusing precious thoughts about Jesus, the sinful ways of our hearts and natures fall completely out of favor with us.

In fact, our ways of rebellion, the sin which has seeped into our pockets as we walk through the world, the fallen ideas that have passed through our ears, all come to be undesirable to us.

God shows them to us for what they are, and we want to abandon evil ways — whatever they are — and not allow them to take root within us.

God hates sin, and so do we; that becomes our true heart’s desire.

There Is Accountability before God for Everything That We Do

Because we know that God hates sin, we take seriously that we will stand before God for all that we think, say, and do in His world.

All of our wrongdoing will be covered by His grace.

But He wants relationships of truth with us.

So, we will stand before Him for our doings, whether good or bad.

I want there to be so much goodness, so little badness when I stand before Jesus.

The greatest words that I so want to hear are “well done, good and faithful servant.”

We take seriously everything we do when we are thinking precious thoughts of a Savior who died to remove our sins from us.

All of Life Is Lived by the Rule of Grace

Grace is the rule by which we live our lives.

Jesus loves His gospel of grace.

He loves that He offers us forgiveness as far as the east is from the west.

He loves that He has won a people to Himself.

When we come before Him with our sins, He welcomes us and washes us with his blood.

And He does that by His incredible grace that we can never exhaust.

It is truly amazing grace.

Each one of us is a small picture of His gospel, when He looks at us who believe.

We don’t fear sin because there is no punishment.

Rather, we live by His cleansing grace, and honor it highly just as He does.

To Fear the Lord Is Easy because God Is Great in Our Eyes

When we are thinking precious thoughts about the goodness and greatness of Jesus, we do not question whether or not God is to be feared.

He is the great One.

We possess a holy disposition before the great God of our souls.

Our hearts bow because God is very high.

Our hearts yearn for His glorification.

Our minds know that He is exalted and His thoughts and ways are not ours.

We stand apart from Him and know that He is to be magnified.

The Lordship of Christ Is Longed for So That We Can Reflect Jesus

Jesus is the Lord — and we are so grateful that He is.

We long for Him to lead and guide us in the ways of truth.

We long to follow Scriptural patterns of goodness.

We fully long to walk the straight and narrow path that brings holiness and righteousness to our days.

In short, we yearn for Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives.

We don’t want to lead but want to submit to His control.

The Care and Comfort of Jesus Exceeds Our Desires

When we think highly of Jesus, we value our relationship with Him very highly.

We draw near to Him, and He draws near to us.

So, when we reach out to Him for help and comfort, His care for us exceeds our desires.

We feel enveloped by His comfort and love.

The fact that the holy God of the universe would pour His love into our hearts is beautiful beyond description.

We thank Him greatly and welcome all that He gives and brings to us, as He is the vine and we are the branches.

We Have Contentment Based on Our Relationship with Jesus

Because the things of this earth matter less and less to us, we are transformed into a spirit of contentment.

We know that there is nothing we can gain that is of any value but Jesus Christ Himself.

We know that it is good to know God.

So, we can let possessions and values of this earth go.

We Are Willing to Be Called into Service of God, However He Wills

When Jesus is our highest prize, we wait upon Him to see if He might call us into His service.

We are honored so highly if He allows us to serve Him in any way.

And we leave open the possibility that He might call any one of us at any time to take His gospel to a lost world.

Turn the Fullness of Your Thoughts Upon Jesus

Romans 12:1-3 The Message

Place Your Life Before God

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

My friends, let us practice thinking more precious thoughts about Savior Jesus.

Let us practice becoming ever more separate from this world, and practice being ever more, upper-most clinging to the Way, Truth, Life of our Savior.

Let us care about spiritual realities more than earthy realities.

Let us become more and more transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Let us make a greater effort, practice of daily approving of what is good and great according to the Lord, and seek Him — draw near to Him — so that He and His gospel, His Resurrection, alone might be so very highest in our sights.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Father, teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your Holy Spirit lead me on level ground. I see your faithfulness and goodness in what you have done for me throughout my life. I think about these things, and I thirst for you. Let me hear of your unfailing love every morning and every night, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Keep me on firm footing for the glory of your name. Shift, transform, my thoughts away from the world and unto you alone.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

https://translate.google.com/