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1 John 2:6 “He who says he abides in Him ought also to walk just as He walked.”

It is sad how often I (and others I suspect) fail to avail ourselves fully of the promise and request that we live as our Saviour lived; or fully believe that we actually can do that – in His strength; not our own.  Not only do we need to want to abide with Jesus 100% of the time, in reality, none of our strength is genuinely righteous or sufficiently capable of rising above our own sinfulness or withstand Satan on our own.  We must actually ask Jesus to come into our lives and do that.

We learn a lot for ourselves, by observing the disciples after their dear leader had died, risen from the grave, and some weeks later, ascended back to His heavenly home.  They were desolate, but now realizing that the Kingdom of Jesus was not on this earth, but in heaven, wanted to live and work as Jesus did.  They did not hang about repining, but came together as Jesus had taught them, and humbled themselves, confessing their sins, and with much prayer proceeded to purify each their own hearts and lives.  Then when they were in unity with God and one other, as promised by Jesus the Holy Spirit could come into each one of them in full power that was life changing.

Jesus points out we can have today the same Holy Spirit power that they had.  In these times, it is for preparing us and a worldwide telling and preparing a other people to be ready to for Jesus to take us to His heavenly Kingdom when He comes again.  The disciples took the message about Jesus and salvation through Him, with the hope of eternal life, to the non-Jewish people in other nations around.  The Jewish people had largely rejected Jesus and His salvation message.

Lord show each individual person their wickedness and heart indifference, and prompt each to recognize their need for Jesus and for Him to strengthen us to prepare anew for the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  Show each of us, what You would have them to do for You today, and each day.  Lord I love You and want be Yours in truth, in all ways

1 John 5: 12, 14, 15 “He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”  “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

 

I am so encouraged that You God love each person, whether they love You or not.  Now I truly understand, as Jesus taught, His Father and He are one in love and purpose.  No one is able to come to Jesus unless His Father draws them to Himself first, and as Jesus said, John 6: 45 “It is written in the prophets. ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.”  Isaiah 54:13 “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children”

This is a wonderful truth, because I see for me, and for unbelievers, God wants us in heaven with Him, and it is hard to lose salvation, in the face of such total unbiased love.  The above words of Jesus are even more significant and precious to me, because Jesus reassures us, John 6: 37 “All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no mean cast out.”

I am so encouraged, by these words, for I want to be true, in love, truth and live in obedience, with an undivided heart, mind and strength.  We all have much sinfulness, wrong thinking and actions, we can be assured we will be led out into all truth, because our heavenly Father gives us to Jesus, and as Jesus said He will not send any away, or lose us as His spiritual child, we will be taught, kept and saved by Jesus, and as His true child, we will be worthy of a place in heaven, and He promises to raise up His own spiritual children.

It is evident God is close to each person on earth, Acts 17: 27 “………though He is not far from each of us.”  Thank You Jesus that I am Yours, and that You keep me, and do not lose me and that You plan to raise me up in the last day.

 

Isaiah 66: 2 “………. Says the Lord, ‘but on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.’”

Matthew 5: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit.  For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

As I pray and meditate this morning, I praise God, for no matter what I have done or how Satan has oppressed me, or I have doubted myself, or Gods love, Jesus continues to love me, if not my thoughts and actions.  When I come to Him with a contrite heart, in true repentance, and trembling for my soul before God, and as I confess every sin, I know I am forgiven, for that is His promise.  I then can rise up from my knees with joy, to do the will of my Father in heaven, abiding by His commands.  John 15: 9, 10”As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in my love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept My Father’s and abide in His love.”

Then we will have true enduring joy that comes from Him, as well as being filled with love for Him and for my fellow man.”  John 15: 11 “These things I have I spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” 

What an uplifting emotion love is, especially the interactions between God and mankind!  It brings lightness to the human spirit, even when earth is drear and sordid, and not too easy to live in.  The words of Jesus become very precious the more they are trusted and claimed into each heart and mind.

 

We have the assurance that God does not leave us without His love and help.  We only have to believe and call upon Him at all times.

Here are a few Bible Texts for us to read and meditate upon or ask back to God, at the time needed:-

2 Corinthians 4: 16, 17 “Therefore do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  The things that are being worked out unseen within us by God are for our eternal consequences.

2 Corinthians 12: 9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  All of us are sinners and weak at keeping out of sin and trying to fix it all ourselves, even though Christ offers to be our wisdom and strength.

Jeremiah 31: 16 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord……”

Remember to ask of God His promises and receive the promised strength, for He will never force upon us, for that we have not asked.

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you; yes I will help you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 40:28 “Have you not known?  Have you not known?  The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.  His understanding is unsearchable.”

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

So our joy will be full, God shares with us freely of all His resources and always helps us, and expects us to be like minded and caring toward other people; in our gratitude to Him.

 

A morning meditation prayer, before starting the day’s tasks —

To me again today, my need of increased faith is evident, and I believe it does not stop there, for because of His promise to grow it in me, I am assured He will do so, as I ask and grasp this promise, and by faith I take His word and take sure baby steps toward a closer vibrant relationship with Him, worthy of God Most Holy.  It is assured to occur because I want it to be, and God always fulfills His word, in a seeking, willing, obedient person.

My heart is so sinful and self-focused, that hitherto I have not realised enough, my great need of genuine spirituality, and humility, in surrender to my Saviour of all I am and have.  I have been unaware that for me subtly pride is present, and threatens to dim the face of Jesus and the reality implications of every one of His promises, when quietly claimed.

It is God who testifies in truth of His, my Saviour, and He is to be believed above all mankind.  As I believe and live by the Word of God and not my own understanding, my trust in God has begun to grow.

1 John 5:10 “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.”

Proverbs 3: 5-7 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on Your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes;………..”

I desire to trust in the Lord today, for He lives in me.  Therefore of Him I humbly ask.

Everything God speaks in the Bible is good and worth telling others about, as well as all creation which He spoke into existence.

Genesis 1: 30 “Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food; and it was so.”

Have you stopped to listen to the birds; they are talking to each other often. Not only because God made them to sing happy songs, but also when they find food, such as nuts, seeds and fruit,  they don’t keep it to themselves, they straight way tell other birds about their find of good things.  The other birds, never say ‘are you sure’, maybe it’s not true’, but they all go and share the food together, making happy bird noises.

In my yard at home, I have some nut and fruit trees.  Last year 2019, for the very first time, the white tailed black cockatoos found my macadamia nut trees, when I was not home.  In one afternoon they picked and cracked the hard shell and ate many, many of the creamy delicious nuts inside.  Such a mess of husks, shells and a few nuts, I have never seen.  Just like happens to the honky nuts, under that gum tree.  Though many black cockatoos cannot find enough food, and are dying out; at my place they have a huge honky nut tree and the pine nuts from that tall tree to eat, that they do not need all my Macadamia nuts.

This year I started listening carefully to the white tailed black cockatoo’s squawking to each other, for I had found a dropped nut on the ground outside a neighbours house and thought my nuts must be ready.  I watched and watched when black cockatoos roosted nearby in the tall pine tree all day, squawked and chortled, and I expected them to come over to the macadamia nuts.  So I watched and pulled off some macadamia nuts, still in their green husks instead of when husk opening up and falling on the ground ripe.

For me this was all about save Macadamia nuts, because they are worth saving for me and to share with others.

Then came the afternoon when I heard much squawking, like a small army coming overhead.  I rushed down to the Macadamia tree, with buckets and a long tool to pull down the nuts.  The black cockatoos were already feasting and did not want to leave the feast.  They sat nearby on trees and the ground, for a couple of hours, while I took off the nuts from the two trees.

Jesus taught the disciples in, Luke 12: 6, 7 “’Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins.’  And not one of them is forgotten by God.” “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Remember how the birds share all their good news, so let us tell people we meet that Jesus loves them and is soon coming to earth to save His own.

Matthew 11: 28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This is the need for many who feel overburdened, with many trying to do too many tasks, and have many worries, just from living in our society and world at this present time.  I have found that that the offer from Jesus is true, as He says He will give and do and does so, time after time.

The word Yoke – conjures up being kept down or forced, but is not true in this case, and nothing is forced upon me, for Jesus always comes to us only when we choose Him freely of our own will.  I can take on the guidance of Jesus in what I do and how I proceed, much as it is through the yoke, oxen are directed.

Jesus is a lovely example of love, meekness and humility never ‘puffing’ Himself up in ‘self-importance’ or doing things for His own selfish purposes.  His reason for coming to earth was to overcome Satan, sin and death and help the sickness and spiritual darkness and oppression of the people; and so save all who believed in and accepted Him.

He was very humble, and lived a simple, self-sacrificing life, without worldly ‘trappings’.  This was how He was, and could accomplish what He and His Father had agreed upon at the beginning of earth; which was to bring salvation to the people of earth, if they succumbed to the temptation of Satan at any time and gave him allegiance over God.  Amazingly we are so loved by God the Father and His Son, that we were never abandoned to our fate and a new world with people on it created in our stead.

Today let us take Him at His word, and come to Jesus and accept Him and allow Him to guide our direction and movements, and He will deliver the promised ‘rest for my soul’, I do not need to run around frantically without direction and hope of eternal life.

Matthew 6: 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?”  Verse 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

 

Mark 13: 34 “For the Son of Man, is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work and commanded the porter to watch.

It is a wonderful privilege to be loved by the divine Majesty of heaven.  Also it is a most solemn injunction from our Lord Jesus, to carry on His work, in His way, with His power in our lives.  This responsibility and joy, has been left to all who live on earth, and call Jesus their Saviour.  There is much spiritual blessing from Jesus and again when we humbly depend on Him and proceed with our life fully in His strength, wisdom, and abilities.

If we don’t do the deeds of kindness as Jesus did when on earth and the reflecting and sharing of His love; and then lovingly warning others of the troubled times in Matthew 24, that Jesus told us about, that herald the return of Jesus, our Lord and King; I ask have we given our whole allegiance to Jesus our Saviour.  This is a rebuke in scripture to many of us, and we are told now is the time of change and do not delay.  I take heart and directions, for Jesus says come to me today and repent and I will listen and forgive your divided heart and place a new heart within.   Jesus also spoke about the eternal damnation of all the wicked and unfaithful, which have not aligned themselves behind the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Lord Your bidding and work I desire to do.  Therefore please give each an understanding of Your will for us as we interact with many needy people and those who have taken the step of accepting Jesus.  To have You as our close and loving Saviour communicating back and forth is such a stabilizing love and growth experience, that we would have none miss out on for themselves, as Jesus makes all a worthwhile life experience, whilst awaiting with hope our final events.

Psalm 27: 1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 86:5, 6 “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.  Give ear, O Lord, to my supplications.”

God plans for us to grasp His righteousness that will be imputed to all who are forgiven and desire to walk with Him.  Matthew 5: 48 “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”  I can be perfect in Jesus, only by His gift.  Every day I must confess my sins and have His love and forgiveness flood my soul.  Thank you My Lord for listening to me in mercy.

Ephesians 5: 1, 2 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.”  With my sins forgiven, I walk confidently in His love, knowing that He wants me to walk uprightly, reflecting His love to all I meet.   Jesus was filled with love and righteousness whilst on earth, giving us the example to follow, being oft in prayer with His heavenly Father, on all subjects, as well as receiving the Holy Spirit.  He studied the scriptures and knew all the promises and prophesies well.

We need to meet with God in prayer and in His Holy Word, to imitate our Saviour, bowing humbly at His feet, receiving light and power, and the blessing and truth of Jesus will reflect to others, and we will become more and more His disciple in all ways.  What a privilege to share the message of salvation!

God makes it all possible, when we ask Him to be able to love and tell others about our experience with Him.  Psalm 86: 11, 12 “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.  I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.”

 

Humbly I have become aware of my practiced unbelief, and lest you fall into the trap of reading and mouthing the words, with passing belief but not earnest, total  persevering application, and then realize a dearth of blessing, peace and real prayer answers; I mention it.

Therefore I will just give a few of the texts, that I am using with application, believing God answers His word as written.  I have not long been so urgently, pressing into God’s presence, more times in short prayer and claiming Bible Text/s often; apart from formal prayers, each day.  God is patient, and impresses me, with thoughts I so much need to now enact.

Psalm 91: 14, 15 “The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love Me.  I will rescue those who trust in My name.  When they call on Me, I will answer, I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue and honour them.”  (All God asks of us is to love, trust, call on Him and He will be with us and do, truly a loving good God toward us always.)

Isaiah 27:5 “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with Me, and He shall make peace with Me.”

Isaiah 26 3 “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”  (Having trouble keeping stayed on God, I find pray, believe and keep on, and God changes me over time or quickly, to be able to stay mentally fixed on Him.)

Jesus said, John 14: 27 “Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

There are several texts, in which Jesus refers to the person having faith in Him, being the reason they were made well.  There are many different types of being made well, and God still today responds to someone’s request based on their faith in His words, for them being made well or whole.  Mark 10:51, 52 “So Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’  The blind man said to Him, ‘Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.”

I praise God that He impressed me to claim these words, for healing of an issue and associated significant fear.  I struggled to keep applying these words to my need over and over, realizing Jesus says them and they are true, and with my faith in Jesus it would be true for me also, and he would deliver me, and He has.

I thank God, from the bottom of my heart that He is teaching me to stay much closer to Him, even when my feelings preoccupy me.