Yearnings

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Yearnings can draw us back in our mind to other times. They take our focus off the now. They can dictate to our heart and negatively affect our attitude and behavior.
 
Did you ever wish that things where back in the good ole days? The children of Israel did. Numbers 11 is the account. Verse 5 says, “We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.”
 
Notice what they yearned for. It was a variety of foods that they used to eat. Why? Verse 6 says, “But now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes.”
 
The manna was the Lord’s special provision for them. It sustained them day by day, but they loathed it. They totally forgot the hardships they endured in Egypt.
 
Let me take you back. Exodus 2:23 says, “…Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.”
 
Numbers 11:1 says, “Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.”
 
To allow our minds to go back and yearn for something we used to have is futile activity that will bring emotional fatigue. The serious part of yearnings is the discontentment it causes. With discontentment comes complaining which displeases the Lord.
 
Do you see the set up? When we are tempted to yearn for something we cannot have, it is a set up by satan to pull us off course. It desensitizes our ability to see what the Holy Spirit is doing around us, and dulls our hearing. This pattern is clearly seen in the book of Jeremiah. Let us choose to accept our now and look for opportunities to reach out to others in their need.
 
 
 

The Heart Of Humility Part Two

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There is an interesting use of wording in James 3:13 Amplified. It says, “Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his (good) works with the (unobtrusive) humility (which is the proper attribute) of true wisdom.”
 
Unobtrusive means to not be conspicuous or attracting attention. If we flaunt our humility we are walking in pride. Humility is a hidden attribute of the heart.
 
Listen to how the Lord described Moses. Numbers 12:3 says, “(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth).”
 
The Lord Jesus is our example for humility. Philippians 2:8 says, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Jesus was devoid of all arrogance and self-exultation.
 
There was nothing of ‘self’ in the Lord. He was sinless. Not even in His thoughts did He sin. Paul exhorted his followers to imitate him, as he imitated Christ.
 
Are you an imitator? Are you walking in humility? There is a contrast of the publican and the Pharisee. Luke 18:9-14 is the parable. The Pharisee was all about his view of his life. He was a self-made man. The publican acknowledged he was a sinner and cried out for God’s mercy.
 
Verse 14 is Jesus’ statement of the two. “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
 
We have a choice to humble ourselves, or be humbled. Walking low, esteeming others, setting our eyes on the Lord instead of ourselves are attributes of humility.
 
Philippians 2:3 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself.” Verse 4 says it is alright to look out for ourselves, but it is within a lifestyle of humility.

The Heart Of Humility

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Reading the book of Jeremiah is startling. Over and over the Lord would call His people and they refused. They chose their way instead of His.
 
Disobedience is the pride of a rebellious heart. Isaiah 30:15 says, “…in returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. But you would not.”
 
Why do we choose our way over His? Isaiah 55:8 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord.” Verse 9 says that His ways are higher than our ways.
 
I love Psalm 18:30. It says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. The heart of humility trusts even when facing the impossible.
 
Psalm 18:27 says, “For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks.” Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
 
James 4:6-7 says, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Verse 10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
 
How much better to humble ourselves, then to disobey the Lord and be humbled by Him. Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger…” Exodus 16:4 says, “…that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.”
 
Worship comes from a humble heart. We recognize afresh that all we have is from Him, and our heart lifts up in praise and adoration to the only One who is worthy of all praise.
 
Psalm 149:4 says, “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.” Verse 6 says, “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” Do you see the connection of humility and praise?
 
Pride and praise are like water and oil. Pride is me centered, and praise is God centered. They don’t mix. Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

When Circumstances Don’t Make Sense Part Two

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Jeremiah was stymied. He had no clue. His response to his quandary was right. He went to the only One who could help him understand. His prayer reflected what he knew to be true. Nothing was too hard for the Lord.
 
The Lord answered. Jeremiah 32:27 says, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” First of all the Lord confirmed who He is–the God of all flesh. Everyone is under God’s watchful eye.
 
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…”
 
Psalm 103:14 says, “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” We have no recourse on our own. We are absolutely dependent on the Lord. John 15:5 says, “…without Me you can do nothing.”
 
I love David’s words in Psalm 63. Verse 8 in the Amplified says this, “My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.”
 
We cling in trust and hope with our mind, will, and emotions. Everything within us is holding fast to Him through His promises, and His eternal character which never changes. We can absolutely depend on Him. Here is a new song the Lord gave me last year. May it encourage you.
 
Nothing Is Impossible
 
You can move the mountains. You can calm the sea. You can split the skies and rescue me. Nothing is impossible, no nothing at all. You created everything before man’s fall. Though it seems impossible to me. I must remember Who You are as my Savior and King.
 
You rule in my heart through Your word supreme. I just have to believe-trust for You will faithful be. Nothing is too hard for You, no nothing at all. You delight to strengthen me through trials that reveal Yourself to me.
 
Your character is forged in me. Your anvil strong and true. You bring me through the fiery trials—my faith refined-secured. Your will is accomplished as I yield to Your hand. My thoughts are united with Your purpose and plans. As I walk in the path You choose You establish my heart. I serve You with thanksgiving and praise. You alone are worthy, O my Lord.
 

When Circumstances Don’t Make Sense

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Jeremiah was in a circumstance that did not make sense. Jerusalem was under siege. He was imprisoned. He had a word from the Lord earlier saying that they would not succeed against the Chaldeans, but would be carried away to Babylon.
 
Then the Lord gave him a word to purchase a field. Jeremiah’s response was to pray for understanding. Jeremiah 32:17-25 was his prayer. Verse 17, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”
 
He continued to recount who the Lord is: shows lovingkindness, great in counsel, mighty in work, and with eyes that are open to the works of men.
 
Verse 24 he says, “Look, the siege mounts! They have come to the city to take it; and the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans…”
 
Verse 25 says, “And You have said to me, O Lord God, Buy the field for money, and take witnesses!–yet the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans.”
 
Jeremiah just couldn’t make sense of why the Lord would tell him to buy a field when the land had been sieged by the enemy and they were all going to be carried away.
 
Verse 26-35 is the Lord’s recall of why He allowed the enemy to capture them. Then verse 37 says, “…I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely.” Verse 40 says, “…I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.”
 
Isaiah 5:13 says, “Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge…” Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”
 
Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
 
Let us follow Jeremiah’s example and pray for understanding in our world wide present circumstance that doesn’t make sense. The key is to return to the fear of the Lord. Let us ask Him to put His fear in all our hearts so that we will not depart from Him.

Born Into His Fullness Part Two

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We do not choose our parents. We are born into a family without any say in the matter. However, when it comes to being born into the family of God it is a different matter.
 
John 1:12-13 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
 
John 15:16 says that we did not choose God, but He chose us. Here is the first verse of a new song called Love Sonnet.
 
Precious life. I chose you before the foundation of the world. You are Mine, irrevocably Mine. Don’t seek any other. You are Mine for eternity. I called you from the womb. Your name is always on My lips. You are My fragrance sweet. Like a flower bud opening. Enter in come enter into My love.
 
1 John 3:1 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!…” Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
 
What marvelous truth! Everything that God is, is ours by faith. 1 Peter 1:4-5 says, “To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away reserved in heaven for you, who are KEPT by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
 
We enter into His fullness through putting our faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. We are sealed for eternity (Ephesians 1:13). Ephesians 1:7 says that we are redeemed by His blood, forgiven our sins, according to the riches of His grace. Verse 8 Amplified says, “Which He lavished upon us…”
 
The verses we saw yesterday using these words: satiate, which means filled to the full, abundance, fullness, satisfied, exceedingly abundantly, filled and flooded, are all words that describe the Lord’s goodness to us.
 
There is no lack in God’s economy. Psalm 34:9-10 says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

Born Into His Fullness

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I love John 1:16 in the Amplified. It says, “For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and we were all supplied with) one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift.”
 
Psalm 36:8 says, “They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasure.”
 
Jeremiah 31:14 says, “I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”
 
Colossians 2:9-10 says, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
 
It is good to be reminded of what we have been born into through salvation. It is all of the Lord. He is the Initiator, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
 
John 10:10 says, “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Romans 6:5 says, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
 
His resurrection power dwells in us. Ephesians 1:19 says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. Verse 20 goes on to say, “Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead…”
 
Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
 
Ephesians 3:19 Amplified says, “(That you may really come) to know (practically, through experience for yourselves) the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience); that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fullness of God (may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself)!”
john 1 16

Worship Part Two

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Worship is an expression of what we believe in our heart about the Lord. Revelation 4 is a scene in heaven that John saw. I always marvel at the four living creatures with eyes all around and within. They could see the Lord at every angle. It seems that they were in continual revelation of who He is.
 
Revelation 4:8 says, “…they do not rest day or night saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” They were in His Presence continually and they worshipped Him continually.
 
I’m formatting my next paperback, Emotional Freedom. I just came to this part this morning that I want to share with you. The chapter is called: Heart-Idols Are Idle-Worship: futile, empty, worthless pursuits.
 
There is only One worthy of our worship. Yet, anything that usurps that place is an idol in our heart.
 
Emotional idols are flesh. They are a self-preserving means of escape. They deceptively block out what is real to replace it with something futile.
 
In worship we bow down to the Lord in adoration. Emotional idols bow down our spirit man allowing our flesh to rule our thoughts.
 
Psalm 95:6 says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
 
Here is a new song about the power of worship.
 
Song of Purity
 
As I look into Your eyes of purity I see holiness. All my defilements melt away like wax before fire and I am cleansed. Your eyes are pooled with love for me.
 
As I behold You all shame is removed. You are the lifter of my head my shield and my defense. I hide in You and enter into the sweetness of intimate communion.
 
O Most High. You are the Pure One. No defilement can come near You. All that stands before You is purified.
 
As I behold You O Most Holy One, as I gaze upon the beauty of Your holiness, I am changed. All that is within me rises to acknowledge You and bow in worship.

Worship

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Worship is an expression of the heart. John 4:24 says, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
 
Worship is an essential aspect of intimate communion with the Lord. I think of the words to a song: I worship You, Almighty God, there is none like You. I worship You O Prince of Peace, that is what I want to do. I give You praise…
 
Worship is drinking in the Presence of the Lord, and lifting our heart up to Him through words that express our wonder and awe. It is acknowledging who He is through our heart-lips.
 
It is all about being and not doing. It is abiding vitally united to Him, spirit, soul, and body. Worship is as natural as breathing. Acts 17:28 says, “For in Him we live and move and have our being…”
 
Colossians 3:2-3 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
 
Worship is an expression of love through spontaneous words that bubble up from our heart. It isn’t rote, or canned, or forced. It is like an artesian well. It springs up from our inner being. Here is a new song.
 
The Embracing
 
You call me to Yourself O the wonder of such love. You draw me close to You. You whisper words that transform and strengthen my faith. You reveal truths that set me emotionally free. I grasp each one in a joyful embrace. You delight my heart and fill it with peace.
 
You give me songs of deliverance and songs of grace. They are new songs to worship You. As I focus on You all else fades. You’re my center thought as I run this race. I keep my eyes on You and I dwell in Your nature. My thoughts explode and expand their space.
 
O Your fullness is beyond my understanding. I only touch the surface of a depth unending. Take me deeper Lord in intimacy with You that nothing on this earth can rival. In Your Presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. I embrace You as You are embracing me.

Established Hearts Part Two

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Colossians 2:7 Amplified says, “Have the roots (of your being) firmly and deeply planted (in Him, fixed and founded in Him), being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.”
We can draw insights from this verse on what will establish our heart. It is all about the depth of our relationship with the Lord. Fixed, founded in Him are words synonymous with abiding.
Intimacy with the Lord is a progressive deepening. You don’t arrive. It is a wondrous journey of Heart to heart communion, in a living expression of a love relationship that has no end.
Luke 4:4 Amplified says, “…Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone but by every word and expression of God.” It is living, breathing, touching, tasting, drinking in the very essence of His fragrant Presence.
Psalm 45:7-8 says, “…Your God has anointed You with the oil of gladness…All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia…”
David expressed his relationship with the Lord in Psalm 63. Verse 3-4 says, “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.” Verse 5 Amplified says, “My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.”
Verse 8 Amplified says, “My whole being follow hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.” It is His heart reaching out to caress our heart through His words of love for us. Everything is from Him. He is the Initiator, and we are the responder.
Psalm 25:14 Amplified says, “The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning.”