Spirit-led, Spirit-filled

     Being Spirit-led and Spirit-filled means following the way of peace. If you have a tough decision, pray about it. Look for Scripture to support what is right in His eyes. And take notice of peace within. What leaves you the most unsettled and what brings peace?  Jesus promises us His peace when we follow Him.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

     Worldly peace may be thought of as having “no trouble.” Peace with God is inward, not related to circumstances. The peace of Christ surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)  The peace of Christ is available to us at all times, in all circumstances, every day. Pray for His peace and receive this blessing from Scripture:

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Jesus,

Your peace is available no matter where we are or what we are going through today. Give us Your peace right now, this very minutes. It is not peace as the world knows and understands it. It is deep and abiding and forever.

Amen

Spirit-led, Spirit-filled

     Hearing God’s voice may take some practice. We are used to following our own wishes and feelings and listening to the voices surrounding us. Our focus is most often on ourselves; on what is easy and comfortable, tastes good, feels good, and what takes our minds off of our jobs and our worries. Often those answers come from the world around us, not from our heavenly Father.

     Putting God first does not come naturally. The Bible is clear on the battle between the flesh and the Spirit. Here are some verses to ponder today.

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:17

The acts of the flesh are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

     How do we tell if we are being led by the Spirit and not the flesh? Here are some of the characteristics of the fruit the Spirit brings. And remember, God grows the fruit and does the work.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5;22-23

     Walk with the Spirit and live with love, joy and peace. It may sound impossible, but the more you listen for Jesus and get to know Him more intimately, the more your desires will become His.

Jesus,

Overpower us with Your Spirit. Our lives are so short. We want them to count for You and we want to remain in Your peace. The world shouts at us and we fall into the worldly trap. Teach us. Continue to guide us each day.

Amen

Spirit-led, Spirit-filled

     Spirit-led and Spirit-filled. How do we get there? What does that look like? I pray this week we will gain some insight into what God can do through us and within us. How do we relax into the Spirit and allow Him to work? The ways of the world encroach on and invade our lives every single day, every single hour.

     The commercials loudly proclaim the need for a new car, a new brand of beer, a must-see television program, a climatic sporting event, a new dress, a new drug and we listen. If we just get that promotion, that new house, that ring on our finger, the first child, retirement, then…what? Then we will be fulfilled? Happy? Conten t? Peaceful?

     The ways of the world do not satisfy. Even our earthly relationships don’t fulfill our every need. That emptiness, that hole, that anxiety can only be filled with the hope and love of Jesus. Put down the phone and pick up His Word. Turn off the TV and pray. Listen for His leading deep within and relax!  Here are two verses to put your mind at ease this week.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

     Did you notice? It is GOD’s work, not ours. He began His work in us when we accepted him as Lord and Savior. HE will complete it. We are HIS workmanship, not our own. Trust Him with your life. He will do good things through you and in you. We are His.

Father,

Continue Your good work in us. Show us the plans you knew before the beginning of time for us. We are Yours now and forever. Remind us of that today as we search for peace and fulfillment.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Be Prayeful

     Two days ago we looked at the vision of the glorified Christ. Today let’s take a peek into the throne room as John tries to put in human terms what is impossible for us to understand. Try to imagine, the sights sounds, colors and worship.

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.  Revelation 4;2-5

     Whoa! From our human perspective, we can’t possibly take it all in, but one day we will! The angels will be amazing; some with four faces and wheels with eyes and six wings! (See Ezekiel 1) For now, Jesus is our intercessor. He is in the throne room and listens to our prayers. Take in these next words. Before we get to heaven, our prayers do.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest, who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

     In the very throne room of God, the Bible tells us that our prayers are in golden bowls and that they rise as incense before our God. He treasures and keeps our prayers. Never doubt the power in your heart-felt words to the living God.

Jesus,

You are in heaven, in the throne room, taking our prayers and answering our every need. We come faithfully and with confidence to You. You understand our weaknesses and give us nothing but grace and mercy and we are grateful and overwhelmed.

Amen

Be ready!

     Are you ready? If Jesus should come today will you have done what you can for Him? Are you confident in the fact that you are saved through grace? His free gift gives us heaven. Until then, He wants to use our gifts and talents to bring some of heaven to earth.

     Jesus wrote seven letters to the churches in existence at the time of the book of Revelation. He commends some of them and He criticizes some of them. One is lukewarm, one has lost its first love, one has accepted false teaching. The commendations are to the churches that persevere, that have patience, that suffer persecution and hold on tight to their faith.

     Faith pleases God. He promises us a perfect eternity. He is looking forward to us being with Him and He is looking for us to be busy until that day. If He still has you on earth, it is because He has more for you to do. Where do we start?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

     Surrender your life to Him. Place Him first and He will direct your path. What a gift! Be faith-filled and ready to serve and you will be ready to meet Him one day soon. Get ready!

Father,

We turn to You, trusting Your way. Keep us ready to serve in whatever ways You choose. Our own ways lead us into trouble. We lean on You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Be Ready!

     Imagine John trying to describe the angels, the sounds and the colors of the throne room in heaven. God allowed Him a visit right before Christ unrolls the scroll that describes the last 7-year tribulation that will destroy most of the earth and its inhabitants.

     The unimaginable devastation is preceded in John’s vision by a picture of the glorified Christ and the overwhelming majesty of the throne room of heaven. John, who walked with Jesus through His three-year ministry, and was the only disciple to stand at thc cross and witness Christ’s suffering, now sees the result. Jesus, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the First and the Last, is in heaven interceding for us until we arrive forever.

The hair on His head was white like wool, white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and coming out of His mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw Him I fell at my feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand and me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. Revelation 1:14-17

     Praise the glorified Christ. When we enter His presence with praise, He enters our circumstances with power. Let go of your burdens and give it to the One, glorified Christ. He says, “Do not be afraid.”

Jesus,

We can only imagine what it will be like to see You in heaven. Thank you for allowing us access into the throne room of heaven, where you promise to receive our prayers. You were there at the beginning and You will be the One to culminate all things.

Amen

    

Be Ready!

     Our Bible study group has taken on the book of Revelation. Satan would like nothing better than to keep us from studying the fact that he will be utterly defeated by the Word of Christ. Satan has planted seeds of doubt and many churches shy away from the book with the misunderstanding that it is too divisive, too confusing, too frightening or impossible to decipher.

     I highly recommend studying the end of the story, the victorious reign of Christ on the new earth and in the new heaven. In fact, count on a blessing!

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it because the time is near. Revelation 1:3

    World events are bringing us closer to the prophecies of the end times. This is a time to spread the Gospel boldly, to study the Word daily and to look up and watch for Jesus. He has entrusted us to be His children in what is soon to become the darkest time in history. Watch for the signs in the Bible and listen to Jesus:

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28

Jesus,

You have revealed the signs and the events to come. Give us the Holy Spirit’s help in reading the Word and understanding what You have to say to us in these days. As the world comes together under a false peace, we stand up for You, the One and Only Christ.

Amen