Renew and refresh

Waking up in the wee hours I began talking with the LORD and several dear to me came into my mind along with their present struggles (Proverbs 21:1). All the situations are vastly beyond my gifting and ability to solve so, I am helpless. I asked what I could do and was reminded that when we cry out to JESUS to save us from our sins, we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) a child of GOD (John 1:12). 

Two of the many, many awesome things GOD gives us at that point is 1) a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) that desires to know GOD and 2) the HOLY SPIRIT to teach us (Ephesians 1:13-14, Hebrews 10:15-16).  But then our responsibility kicks in, and we are urged to renew our minds daily (Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:23).

For like a computer what goes in, is what comes out.  You program a computer, and you also program yourself. If you spend your time focusing on the pleasures of this world, that is what you’ll want.  But if you focus on GOD and HIS word something else will begin to happen.  One result is that you begin to hear what GOD is saying to you.

GOD promises to lead us and to answer our prayers.  But let’s not forget to look at the conditions attached to those promises.  Some are detailed in Proverbs 3:5-7 (parenthesis are added comments).

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart (that is trust not just HIS power to perform, but to trust HIM-HIS complete knowledge of consequences, wisdom to do what is best, HIS love and timing and purposes)

and lean not on your own understanding (Although we are limited in understanding, how many times do we feel GOD should do what we think will fix a problem?  But GOD looks at things differently than we do Isaiah 55:8-9. HE looks at the hearts of men 1 Samuel 16:7 while we look on the surface at what is noticeable on the outside.  The LORD also sees ahead at the consequences, for HIS foreknowledge enables HIM to see all things past, present and future).

In ALL your ways (in everything) acknowledge (talk to) HIM and HE will direct your steps (not necessarily your understanding).  Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and depart from evil.

What am I getting at?  Yes, GOD will answer every prayer and direct us in how we should go IF we ask (acknowledge HIM) and depend on the facts that 1) HE has a plan and purpose for every struggle HE allows (2 Corinthians 4:15-17), 2) knows best and 3) that we are willing to do things HIS way (James 1:5-8).  You can know if something is of GOD, if you are willing to do it HIS way (John 7:17). 

So, back to the problems I was concerned over this morning.  I believe the LORD is leading me to pray that the HOLY SPIRIT stir up their hearts (Philippians 2:13, Exodus 36:2, Haggai 1:14) and move (2 Peter 1:21) each of them to cry out to GOD and get in HIS word so HE can show them “HIS good and acceptable and perfect will for them” (Romans 12:2) then they will know what they are to do.

GOD is good, may HIS will be done.

Hugs Sharon

Do you ever wonder what you are going to do?

Back in the early 90’s when I was doing reach for the 10/40 Window prayer group it broke my heart to learn that some parents actually broke an arm or leg of their very own child and then set them out in public so they could beg and get money for the family.

Reading in John 9 today I read about a man who had been born blind and I got to thinking of him and others who had spent their entire lives sitting at the entrance of the temple begging.  After JESUS healed them what did they do?  They didn’t have a trade nor could they continue to sit and beg.

Can’t you just hear JESUS telling them: 

“See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21).

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid.. for the LORD your GOD HE is the ONE who goes with you. HE will not leave you nor forsake you”  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge (talk to GOD about)/ submit to) HIM, and HE will make your paths straight (show you how to proceed).  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3”5-7).

LORD for so many not knowing what lies ahead, as only YOU can urge them to look to YOU and talk over their thoughts … then speak to them in their personal situation. YOU have a plan for each believer for good and say that YOU preset the exact times and places that men should reach out to YOU (Acts 17:26-27) so use this time to bring many to saving faith in JESUS as well as the backsliders back to YOU where they belong. Help them see which way to turn I ask in JESUS name.

If you are willing to do HIS will you shall know if a thought is of GOD or from another source (John 7:17).

Look unto JESUS

Hugs

Sharon

Who says?

There was a time when I was addicted to a TV series. It was just one program a week and I couldn’t miss it, I couldn’t wait until it was time to watch. Then one day the LORD whispered, “Are those your values?” I knew what the LORD was saying, and I was filled with sorrow. I loved that program (my kids laughed at how important it was to me). I had to make a choice. I quit watching it for I didn’t want to grieve the HOLY SPIRIT. Laugh if you will, but it was hard and for a bit I really missed my one program a week. But the LORD has me so busy now I wondered how I ever had time to sit and watch. Count the number of I’s in that paragraph. I had an I problem. For the problem was that my focus was on what I wanted not on what GOD wanted (HIS will). “When he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich” (Luke 18:23) The rich young ruler came confident to JESUS having done all he knew that was right. But he turned and went away from JESUS speechless with sorrow, because he was not willing to accept JESUS’ words. He had no doubt about what JESUS had said or what it meant, and it spun him from excitement to sorrow and he turned and left. Have you ever been there? Has GOD’s Word ever come to you, pointing out an area of your own life, requiring you to yield it to HIM? Maybe HE has pointed out a certain attitude, desire, interest, habit or possibly even a relationship. Like the rich young ruler were you filled with sorrow because you were not willing to leave it for a closer walk with HIM? The LORD will not chase after you, and HE will not plead with you to take the next step closer to HIM. But every time HE meets you at the place where HE has pointed out something and you have not listened, HE will simply repeat HIS words, and you will know, “These are the conditions.” Until you comply HE will tell you no more. “Sell all that you have…” (Luke 18:22). In other words, rid yourself before GOD of everything that you look to for comfort until you are standing before HIM in need, and then give GOD that. That is where the battle is truly fought— in the realm of your will before GOD. It is not easy to lay down your will and say, “THY will be done.” JESUS taught HIS disciples to pray “THY will be done” (Matthew 6:10) and again when HE HIMSLEF struggled (until HE sweat blood) in the garden to lay aside HIS will, in prayer JESUS said “THY will, not MINE be done” (Matthew 26:42). How do we, you and I do that? “… by the mercies of GOD, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is our spiritual worship/ reasonable service (since JESUS died so you and I could be forgiven and reconciled to GOD). Then we refuse to be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (in HIS Word), that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of GOD. (Romans 12:1-2). Will you, will I be like JESUS and say, “I have come to do THY will O LORD” (Hebrews 10:9)? Hugs Sharon L Manning

HE will direct

…you will be told what you must do  Acts 9:6

What you FEEL is not always REAL. What is REAL is not always RIGHT. What feels NATURAL is not always HEALTHY. What is POPULAR is not always BEST. What you THINK is not always TRUE.- Rick Warren

So, what do we do?  Draw near to GOD (with expectation, whisper a prayer) and HE will draw near to you (James 4:8).

Although the following words substantiate Rick Warren’s, they go further as Oswald Chambers speaks out on how GOD speaks to us.

“The LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand…” (Isaiah 8:11). There is no escape when our LORD speaks. HE always comes using HIS authority and taking hold of our understanding. Has the voice of GOD come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you. GOD speaks in the language you know best— not through your ears, but (in your heart and mind and) through your circumstances.

GOD has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. We say, “I know that this is what I should do” — and suddenly the voice of GOD speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance.

Often we show our ignorance of HIM in the very way we decide to serve HIM. We serve JESUS in a spirit that is not HIS Spirit and hurt HIM by our defense of HIM. We push HIS claims in the spirit of the devil; our words sound all right, but the spirit is that of an enemy. “HE…rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of Spirit you are of’ ” (Luke 9:55). The Spirit of our LORD in His followers is described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Have I been persecuting JESUS by an eager determination to serve HIM in my own way?  (Cain brought an offering he thought was best not what GOD had required and GOD did not accept it -Genesis 4:5.  Aaron’s 2 oldest sons brought a  strange unauthorized fire before the LORD and they died before the LORD-Numbers 3:4).

If I feel I have done my duty, yet have hurt HIM in the process, I can be sure that this was not my duty. My way will not be to foster a meek and quiet spirit, only the spirit of self-satisfaction. We presume that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the Spirit of our LORD— “I delight to do YOUR will, O my GOD…” (Psalm 40:8).

The great point in Abraham’s faith in GOD was that he was prepared to do anything for GOD. /Oswald Chambers

“One primary reason why so many of us are still troubled, still making little forward progress is because we haven’t yet come to the end of ourselves. We’re still trying to give orders, and thus interfering with God’s work within us.” AW Tozer #tozer

Are you, am I, ready to move when GOD nudges us ahead, even when we think our way is better?

Hugs

Sharon