Monthly Archives: September 2011

Where Can I Go to Find Safety?

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“It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”  Psalm 118:8

In the days we are living, there is troubling news on every side.  There are wars and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes in various places. Everywhere you turn, you hear of devastation. Many are like the man who called our office today from another country asking: Where do I go where it is safe? I couldn’t tell him whether or not he should leave his country, but I could tell him to take refuge in the Lord and He would lead him to safety.

In Ps 91:2, the psalmist David says the “Place of Refuge” or safety is the secret place where you go to spend time with God.  In the secret place, your quite time, all voices are silenced and you can focus on hearing the voice of God.

God is your refuge. He is the only one who knows the answer to your present problems.  Take refuge in Him and the answer will quickly come. In the refuge of the Lord, the enemy cannot touch you, taunt you, or discourage you.  You are safe under the shadow of His wings.  Find the secret place every day.  There you can find rest for your soul and strength to overcome the trials of these difficult days.

Psalm 112:7, “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is firmly fixed.”

God Calls for A Time of Rest

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“Come unto me all who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”   Matthew 11:28

God Calls for A Time of RestAre you tired and weak from the busyness of life?  Are you tired from the heavy burdens you are carrying?  The Lord is calling you to come to Him and rest awhile.

The only way you can truly rest is by laying your burdens down.  Lay them down and let Him tell you what He wants you to pick back up.

God set forth times of rest from the beginning.  Even when everything He created was good, He didn’t just keep going.  He stopped on the seventh day and rested.  Even when everything we are doing is good, we still need to draw away from what we are doing to rest awhile.

Do you hear Him calling, “Enter into rest”? If so, pray the following prayer:

Lord, I hear Your calling to enter into a time of rest, to cease all busyness and draw closer to You.  In obedience to Your calling, I choose to enter into a time of rest.  Lord, I see this as a higher calling and I will gladly lay down those things You show me are hindering my time with You, which are _________________.

Lord, I know I need a time of rest because I am very tired and my burdens are heavy.  I need a quiet place to lay my burdens down until you tell me what to pick back up again.

I need a place, where I am not drawn to the expectations or demands of others, a place where I rest in You and hear Your voice.  Lord, I ask You to lead me to that quiet and peaceful resting place.

Lord, my desire is to cease all busyness and activities that are based on striving and performing.

Lord, every area of my life that is not at peace, I surrender to You.  I ask You to do a work of righteousness within me. (Isaiah 32:17) You have said the work of righteousness shall be peace.  I want every area of my life to be in alignment with Your will, Your plan and purpose for my life.

Search me O Lord and know my heart, try me and know my ways, and show me every way within me that is not Your way.

Show me the heavy burdens I have picked up that You did not give me to carry.

Show me responsibilities that are not mine that need to be laid aside.

Show me all the projects I have started for the wrong reasons and even the futile serving I have done out of my own need to be needed.

Lord, I want to lay down everything that it hinders my relationship with You.

So, as I cease from my labors for the next 21 days, I ask You to reveal Your will for my life, Your plan and Your purpose. Have Your way in me Lord.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Cleanse Your Spirit With the Word of God

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” The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”  Psalm 12:6

purifying fire“You have to drink plenty of water,” my mom would say to me whenever I was sick as a child.  Drinking fluids helps flush out the harmful bacteria in your body that causes you to be ill.

Guilt, shame, and condemnation are like harmful bacteria in your spirit.  Unless they are flushed out by the Word of God, these things will reside within you and cause spiritual damage.  They can hinder your personal relationship with the Lord. The very words of the Lord refine us and cleanse us deep within our spirit. Without them we become vulnerable to all of the impurities in this world.  It is imperative for you to allow the words of the Lord to settle deep down in your heart.  His words will drive out all the things that are unclean and replace them with His truth.

Pray this prayer with me: “Lord, I thank you that I have access to your Word at all times. I ask that as I read Your Word, you would cleanse and purify my heart. Make me whiter than snow. In Your name I pray. Amen.”

This is the way, so now walk in it

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

Path of GodWhen we have decisions to make and doubts are flooding our soul and others suggest courses of action that are conflicting, when caution dictates one approach but faith the other, it is the time to stop and be still.  The scripture says, “Be still and know, I am God” (Psalm 46:10).  This gives us the permission that it is “ok” to quiet the intruding opinion of others around us and then calm ourselves into the stillness of God’s presence and wait to hear His gentile voice.

It sometimes takes courage to wait in silence trusting that He will not be silent. It takes courage to bypass all the words of well meaning friends.  It takes courage to not be pulled by those who are insisting on an immediate decision or action.  It takes courage to wait on, trust in, and rely on the Lord to direct you in those difficult decisions.

God is ever present in times of trouble.  When important decisions need to be made, you will hear His voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” Once you hear clearly and the decision is made, a friend may then be used by the Lord to give confirmation and support. So be still and wait on the Lord, He is not silent.

“Unto you do I cry, O Lord my rock, be not deaf and silent to me…”  Psalm 28:1

The Right Path: Lord, as I still myself before You, help me to block out all intruding thoughts and opinions. I pray as David did that You will not be silent, I ask You to speak to me and give me direction in each decision I am making today. I desire to hear You say: “This is the way, walk in it.”

Search My Heart

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 “Search me Lord and know my heart, try me and know my ways and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).

All through Scripture we are encouraged by the Lord to examine our heart. In Psalms 139, David prays and asks the Lord to Search his heart.

David said, “any wicked way,” this would be any wicked way of thinking, feeling or acting.  The thoughts of our heart are sometimes hidden from view, but can be clearly seen by our actions and our responses. Psalm 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” You can have the right intentions and want to respond correctly, but find it very difficult if you have been hurt or offended.  That is why the prayer that David prayed in Psalm 139 is so important for us to pray today.

The thoughts of our heart determine our decisions, actions and how we respond to others. We need to examine the condition of our heart, especially after we have been hurt or wounded by someone and know we are offended.  I believe that taking up offenses is one of the greatest traps of the enemy today.

When you ask, the Holy Spirit will reveal the condition of your heart. Ask Him to reveal every area that is not at peace. Therefore, when you ask the Lord to search your heart, don’t be surprised when the Holy Spirit brings to your attention a relationship conflict that still needs to be resolved. The level of peace clearly indicates how much we have resolved heart issues so that, we are no longer controlled our circumstances. Peace is the inward witness of the presence God, as He leads us through every situation we face.