The Holy One of God

 

Meditating on Jesus going into the wilderness just after His being baptized by John the Baptist and before His ministry, I was drawn toward Jesus in that time period that He had much conversation with the Father of heaven. And while He had much conversation with the Father in those forty days, He also heard from the devil.

In conversations people declare their hearts! They can declare they are glad to see you or else drag their feet in greeting you. They can declare much joy, or a pain or hurtful situation. They can express the trial they are experiencing in a stressful state with much sorrow. Of they can give a message of too much information or only that which is false. Then again, there are those who choose a life without people and without speaking!

 In that wilderness Jesus walked, the devil, too, desired some conversation with Jesus. And in those forty days, it was about identity. And when Jesus returned to begin His ministry, He continued to spend time going to the Father in prayer!

Jesus had A Committed Prayer time to speak with the Father! Jesus was keeping His identity with God the Father, and His plan.

Morning time:   Mark 1:35  & in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a “deserted place”, and there He prayed. Amplified Bible

Evening time: Mark 6:46-47  and after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray. Now when evening had come, the boat was out in the middle of the lake, & He was by Himself on the land.

Solitary Prayer time:   Luke 5:15-16 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him; and great multitudes came together to hear, & to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 And He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.  

The more THE  demand from people on our lives, the more we should pray! 

All Night:    Luke 6:12  Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray and spent the whole night in prayer to God.. 13 And when it was day, He summoned His disciples & selected from them twelve, whom He named apostles (special messengers).

Jesus chose that time in prayer finding the Father's heart to choose the 12 disciples.  Prayer had held Jesus in the mind of God. Philippians 2:5…Let this same attitude and purpose & [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

We are to have a Prayer commitment, praying for those God has given to you and me as family members, friends, people we work with and any who is within our circle of influence.  Prayer commitment is not only for ourselves…… but for pastors of other churches, other leaders and other people’s children and not just for our own! It is in love when we, yes you and I, respond to God’s plan for them and pray!

 Prayer kept Jesus in focus to His identity in the Father, to the Father’s command in instruction to deliver the Kingdom which had come! It would also prepare Him for what was coming toward Him in His walk to deliver that Message from the Father’s heart! Identity should hold us in Jesus!

 Jesus encountered the Sanhedrin! Luke 22:66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.” 70 Then they all said, “Are You then the Son of God?” So He said to them, “you rightly say that I am.” 71 And they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.

 Yes, the company you keep will determine where you will go in this life! Jesus even warns these people that the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God. And all they heard was what they thought to be blasphemy! That very thing is going on today in the land of which I live and most likely where you live anywhere around this world!

 Here it is also written: Matthew 26:63-65 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!”

I love this when he the high priest asks Jesus...."I put You under oath by the living God": Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus voiced an affirmation that He is the “Son of God” a title expressing His exclusive and unique oneness with God! Jesus came to separate the holy of God from the profane. He gave an affirming word of God: Luke 23:3 then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” he answered him and said, “It is as you say.”

Identity! Identity! Identity!

 Even the disciples knew who Jesus was! They called Him the Son of God: Matthew 14:28-33  NKJV And Peter answered Him & said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “come”. And when Peter had come out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 & immediately Jesus stretched out His hand & caught him, & said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came & worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

If you ever have a disastrous situation occurring before you and those close to you, you will certainly come through holding out to Jesus and worshiping Him the ONE who is TRULY the Son of God!

 The Demons knew who He was! Mark 1: 21- 28 NKJV Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are-----the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

Yes, the demons knew Jesus! And they greatly desired to not be harassed by the powerful One of God!

 Kept hearing this morning: “the Holy One of God”! Then I read where a university in this nation has hired a chaplain who is an atheist. Now how does that work? How was the job listed?  How is his job description detailed? You can pray but in your own name only, you can treat people as is natural to you, and you can have worship time to worship you! I have never in my life heard of an atheist being chaplain. Have you?

An atheist believes there is no God. Do you know what God's response to that is? "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'"Psalm 14:1.

An atheist does not pray. The atheist has no time to seek God in prayer. The Lord says in the Book of James, "You do not have because you do not ask" James 4:2.  An atheist does not read the Bible. So the average atheist is very susceptible to the devil's lies because he or she does not take time to read and study God's Word. Hopefully that does not apply to those saying they are Christ's followers today!

An atheist walks by sight, not faith. So sad too that many people including Christians should tend to walk by sight and not by faith. They fail to receive the miraculous power of God and how it came through Jesus! "Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God" Hebrews 11:6.  An atheist never gives to the Lord's work. An atheist lives only for this life. "The eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth" Proverbs 17:24.

 Interesting to truth that the religious sect did not know Who Jesus was, but demons did! When Jesus prayed, He met with people, and lives were changing.  In Jesus’ time, as in today’s culture, the world sees the “wise man” as one who will live for the moment, always living by sight, and is devoted to self.  He uses his own time for his own thing or purpose he has set to do. Jesus set about to do the Father's business on earth.  For Jesus, His own neighbors rejected Him. They saw interruption in their lifestyle, and refused Him in their own thinking and chose to carry on in their unbelief.

People were wanting to rid their plate of that which they did not like, you know like the child who will not eat their food that their mother put on the plate. They kick, scream and push the plate away till they get their way. And many in that place, like Pilate, Caiaphas or Herod would have their way but it was the way of destruction and yes death to them!

You know Herod had seen Jesus, was exceedingly glad to see Him because he, Herod, had heard many things about Jesus and Herod had hoped to see some miracle done by Him. ( Luke 23:6-12) But alas, Herod with his men of war, would treat Jesus with contempt and mock Him and send Him back to Pilate.

Do people seek out something from you that is only a part of the kingdom of God but not willing to participate because they do not want to hear God's words spoken by you?

Pilate wishing to release Jesus called out to the crowd.  And YOU know that crowd chose Barabbas (the world) and not Jesus (life eternal). So Pilate gave sentence as they requested. ( Luke 23:24) Barabbas was released and Jesus was delivered to their will. Yeah, remember that screaming child not wanting to eat what was before them, well here you have a people kicking and screaming wanting the world and not life of God!

People today are clamoring for the murderer to be put back into society and the righteous to be jailed. People are clamoring for their demands and not that of the Father Who is the Creator!

Yes, where Jesus would walk, the Holy One would not be revered by many. But His prayer time brought power, looked like grace, and caused reactions. In His teaching, the doctrine was the EXTREME when heard, and some received the Son and some refused. But His prayer was for ADVANCEMENT OF THE KINGDOM!

Jesus encountered many people on His walk from the wilderness to the Place of the Skull, where He would take His last breath at Calvary. In John 17:3 and this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, & Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  He prayed:  John 17:6 "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

 John 17:11  Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, & I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

Yes, Jesus was no longer in the world, His heart faith was in His Father. And in John 17:26  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."    NKJV

 In these it was words given, it is Jesus Who spoke what He spent His ministry revealing to us about God His Father. It is in this, that He keeps us through His name, both by our trusting in what it means & by the evidence revealed by living this life in faith and in obedience!  This obedience is for fellowship, that daily walk with the Lord in communion, to have God’s Word fill our hearts, to speak of our future with the Lord and yes, for that prayer life that gives voice to where we are headed. 

We live in this world, but we should not be of it.

 Holy One of God is majesty on high. Holy One of God is life eternal, that speaks truth that lives in prayer and resides in a rest. Might we be united with the Holy One of  God, to see with our eyes and understand in our hearts. United to one heart where we expect to see the astonishment in the faces of those God is touching by His presence in and through us. Before we go to participate out there, we should have the intimate time to know our Father’s heart.

Knowing not what you might encounter in the coming year, but that your steps are ordered in the Lord like Jesus: you have a voice, not a languishing voice, but one of joy and gladness, a song of praise that fills the atmosphere where the peace of God rules your heart and a boldness of authority because Jesus is Lord of your life.

It may appear bleak where you reside, but we have the Holy One of God. The world may have lock-downs, shutdowns, closed signs, wearing the latest new masks designed by some new designer; still we should not be in fear nor should we be the tired nor weary. Pray for your leaders eyes to be wide open to actually see and ears to hear and to guided by love in God by the Holy Spirit. Pray for those dealing in insanity that they would become sane again. If you know their names, those living, confess their names before the Father, and ask with that righteous desire that they would live and not die to declare the works of God

People require conversation! We were never meant to be alone! We know the Way, for Jesus pointed it out to us in John 14:1-11 they WAY HOME! To go along with Jesus is one heart with Jesus! For in Him is truth revealed and life is given in the Father. We give thanks for this revealed nature of the Father and purpose set in Jesus for we received Him and carry His authority in boldness in a walk where demons quake, the religious shake and chaos around us becomes only peace! We receive the next advancement of His kingdom. Come Lord Jesus Come!

                                          New teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

The Faith that Sees and Is Seen

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Weighing the Hearts

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Jesus Ala Carte'

Asking others if they have been a disciple for prayer, most would look at you with that “deer in the headlight look” and think you might be joking! And then they might make that move away from you just in case you are expecting them to pray at that moment with them. Not sure why people frown on praying to God and why they get alarmed to pray in front of other people. You certainly do not mind many people standing over you talking when a surgeon operates on you to remove something or make something right that fails to work accurately.

 One thing though I have noted when having conversation about prayer, is that as they move slowly away from where you stand or sit, they ultimately speak of those “things” that must be done and done in that day and hour, so that praying would take all their time or afternoon away! My husband and I always have a scheduled time together to pray: for the president, this nation and the believers who walk with Jesus! It is easy to schedule that time when you know that you are reading scripture together and taking communion to remember the Lord’s sacrifice. But for all those ingredients in discipleship, the area many of us struggle with most is ( the ) prayer itself.

In regard to published article written in 2018, the estimated time for a typical Christian layman to pray was some three to four minutes each day. Certainly that full-time Christian worker averages to about seven minutes per day. But this is sad to hear, when we know our Lord Jesus prayed early in the morning, at night and during the night as well.

Even from the Cross at Calvary He prayed: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. “ Luke 23:46

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do!” Luke 23:34

If you have ever led a prayer group or was a part of a prayer team you could all think back of some of the remarks people would speak for not praying: like too busy or too tired, long time at work today, do not know what to pray about, do not feel like praying, feel guilty while praying and firmly speaking, or like this one, they did not believe they made a difference in their time of praying.

If we aren’t captivated by God, prayer is a tedious task indeed. I like what Dutch Sheets wrote in his 'Give Him 15 today July 19, 2021, where he wrote that spiritual warfare often entails warfare against mindsets. He regarded the mindsets of the individual but also wrote of those mindsets of an entire culture. (and wow, do we have some strange mindsets of a strange culture indeed) He was writing of the word of God that is spoken into the spiritual realm that absolutely addressed the situation, and works to divide between truth and deception. Praying the Word over people can bring deliverance to those trapped by wrong mindsets.

One of my favorite pastors many years ago had given us this passage in Isaiah 54:17. And in prayer he used it many times.

As that given in Isaiah 54:17…no weapon forged against you will prevail and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. ( Isaiah 54:17) If this is our heritage, then most certainly we should be using it. From this, God proclaims that His people will withstand all attacks because of His protection.

For if God is our Lord, then communion should not be about wrestling with God for an answer, but understand that He has sent forth His word. His Word is manifested in the New Testament.  And how do we take His manifested Word? Do we receive His speaking or do we want to slice and dice the Gospel to fit our whims. Some just like to have Jesus Ala Carte'! But God is about relationship with much communion about His desire. He has set the table and it is a feast indeed.

 Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that he may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that he may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are those who wait for Him.

Isaiah 65:1-2 I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am.’ To a nation that was not called by My name.  2 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people. Who walk  in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts; ( from this God pitifully reaches out to a rebellious people. We see the apostle Paul mention it in Romans 10:20-21. The two different people: Gentiles in verse 20 and verse 21 is Israel.)

 Jeremiah 33:3 is my favorite. Again from a pastor who was of the healing ministry in Jesus, always gave this verse in his teaching and prayers.  Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

God answers us in ways that astounds us. Pray it and you will see it happen to you.

 Romans 5:8-10 NKJV 8 But demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

 1 John 4:9-10 NKJV 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love,  not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Prayer is much like marriage or that of study in a school for education. Unless you apply your whole heart and mind to it, then you will find it only a work or drudgery. And if we only study or pray about the things we like, we might miss the greater picture, that of how God is wanting that communion to reach our own thoughts, touch our emotion, initiate that intimate sharing of fellowship where His joy is marked in you, His smile spreads from His face to yours and communication has begun where nothing else matters. From the verses above we can see God’s heart on the matter of communication! Walking or that fellowship with God is active, not laying down but aware and awake to God!

 We are to live in purpose and respond to any anxiety or worry with joy of the Lord and prayer. Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men, “The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Our conversations should be permeated with and in Christ Jesus.

We should allow the Lord to show us that which needs His purpose to prevail in our lives. Understand that to pray is equal to finding the peace of God.

In coming to His plan: His conduct and actions show clearly that we are to be one heart with Him. We allow time available to Him so that we hear clearly and know truthfully that which we must know whether pertaining to work, to the body of believers or for our own family.

All is important to God for He desires us to know the mind and the disposition of Christ Jesus…3 John 3 I have not greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 2 says: Beloved I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Joy should be seen in us when prayer is asked for. Joy should be effervescence, that enthusiasm to resound in God in prayer. We are to be the sound, that is hygienic…by taking of the word of God daily in and praying to prosper in sound faith. Balance is required in our bodies, in our lives and within the body of Christ.

The Privilege of Prayer is a balance within the Holy Spirit who will light those areas needing help as to spiritual, physical ( that regarding your health), to your emotions ( like not wearing them on your sleeve), financially ( where our tithes benefit the body of believers for God’s purpose in them and through them) and socially. 

Prayer is that rest in the Lord. And those motivated by the spirit man rest in that truth. Their faith is in God by the shed blood of His Son Jesus so that they would walk in truth and give other’s the God kind of love always! Prayer is an adventure. It has no limits, for in God we explore the depths of His love! 

Romans 8:37-39 NKJV 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are more victorious not by our own ability but because it is God Who loved us!

Jesus is the great Intercessor who still prays or intercedes for us. He is our intercessor in heaven ( Hebrews 7:25) and the Spirit is our intercessor on earth within our own hearts.

Proverbs 15:11 Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; so how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

If Hell and Destruction is seen, it is horror that appears, and God certainly sees them and that which man hides in his own heart is very similar to that indeed.

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, and even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Our hearts are deceitful, that is why we must fill it with God’s word. To speak God’s words over our silly thoughts which might mean destruction. God’s word reveals where there is darkness in our thinking or in our opinions. We must have balance for within this we walk by faith, have joy in our hearts, and bring encouragement and much love to others!

The privilege of prayer is knowing Him. It is knowing the rhythm of His heart beat. Lord search me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) You and I should delight the Lord. We should be willing to prioritize when the Holy Spirit speaks to prioritize some things and make room for prayer, to following the Lord's heart. As we begin operating in that faith mode we see the unseen. We exercise our inheritance on earth as it is in heaven. As we do, faith let us see the unseen, the greatness of the "little things": as mass destruction in the jawbone of an ass in Judges 15: 15-16. Then Sampson  said, "With this jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon hears, with the jawbone of a donkey I have slain a thousand men"; a small child's lunch feeding 5, 000 men seen in John 6:5-14; or a coming king in the ruddy-face of a young teenager who shepherds sheep found in 1 Samuel 16!

Elijah prayed and the servant saw in 1 Kings 18:41-46. And he saw the cloud the size of a man’s hand………….but Elijah remembered the sound……….it was a gully washer coming, it was going to be the rainstorm of rainstorms to end drought and to fill rivers to overflowing capacity. The promises of God come in concentrated form and one little word from God will set you free, and will destroy that ugly thing out of your life forever. Pray, believe and receive the paramount victories in Christ Jesus who stands with you and loose the Holy Spirit in your prayer time and see the magnitude of a great God in your midst. You will surely see the glory of the coming of the Lord. Amen and Amen.

 

                                          New teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

Functioning Under Divine Authority

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Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Fighting from a Faith of Victory

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Withstanding the Onslaught of the Enemy

 Now if you are a woman, you can probably relate to this kind of stress where you cry with sorrow. You experience a grief into your soul that is so deep that a good cry is required. And we can experience a deep pain of grief many times during a lifetime whether you are a woman or a man. I remember talking with my own mother of those times that she hurt so deeply that the cry seemed to be endless for her.

Psalm 31: 9-13  Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends-- those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Certainly reading Psalm 31…verses sink in our heart and thoughts of those who have pleas to reach the Lord. There is that unwarranted persecution and yes trouble. And does not trouble follow the righteous? It appears like a dog after a tasty bone, does it not?

Jesus mentions this in John 17:14-15 I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

As the righteous we are set apart for ministry. Each in regard to their calling even a married woman raising four children. That is a calling! The married man to watch over his home and his place of work. He keeps watch by prayer and hearing the Lord’s voice. Yes, each of these is in their walk to keeping the focus of God’s plan in view to hear the will of the Lord’s voice.

In regard to Psalm 31, verse 9 reads: have mercy on me, O LORD for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! For many people who have trouble in their marriage can face heartache. They try reaching for that which flickered with a light years ago but somehow and somewhere, someone forgot to keep the flame in the blazing mode of brilliance. It always takes two people to make a marriage work. With that in mind, we should first have a relationship with God and then the person you see as your spouse, right?

I heard people speak many times of their thoughts on how they kept their fire burnings, but in their speaking you find that one’s job took their extra effort and stayed at the work place more than they were at home to keep a fire even to burn. Another spoke how they never seemed to be a part of the marriage team. Their voice never seemed to be heard in whatever the conversation was being engaged. Still another gave voice that her husband did not hear her ever! I had wondered how two people could get to that first conversation at the first meeting of one another and then have no conversation after that. Monopolizing a whole conversation could be hard for anyone to bear no matter who you are but then to marry that person seemed like a miraculous thing indeed to me!  So whatever the circumstance for man or woman, or even a youth, anything broken is a serious matter. And certainly heartache is serious. BUT Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. He came to bind up wounds and to deliver us into His peace and healing! And to converse about that is to contact God first and foremost, to hear Him and then to do what He instructs!

 

People are in a grief today of coronavirus! They have experienced grief in lockdowns, shutdowns, closed signs, wearing masks to disguise and even cover their smile which welcomes that hidden and muffled “hello” to being social distanced because of a fear.  They find themselves being hounded by "Karens" who yell for police and 911 but some places have defunded their police departments, so who are you going to call?

I thought on this weeks ago when school would have been starting about all those children who would not be back in public schools. They would not be back among their peers. I thought how many young people would only see another like them from a screen on their computer, being miles apart and never to have that close and personal opportunity to say hello and have a conversation with them of how they enjoyed the summer or how they had “no summer!” People require conversation! We were never meant to be alone! God showed us that in the Garden of Eden.

I always think of God sending angels to announce the birth of Jesus. He sent angels to declare before shepherds in a field who kept a watch over a flock of sheep with no flood lights, no roadways, but only pathways, with no cell phones, but only that occasional conversation between those shepherds passing as they work in the fields on that special night! I thought of there not being a folding chair to get comfortable by a fire to warm the bones of one who had already put in work for a day now to work all night. But something occurred. Something changed the mundane to the best of all things ever. God sent a notice.....announced something had happened. He engaged mankind!

We were in conversation with our daughter and son-in-law a couple of weeks ago. And she was talking of songs she remembered from her early years at school and especially those she remembered in her times at the skating center. Between the two of them, our daughter and son-in-law, they could think of a number of songs, but one I keep going back to is “It’s a Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler. Then she had hits like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding out for a Hero”.  Now this lady had some heart issues and you can tell by the words written and sang about what they were! Now the songs were special when skating with your spouse or even your child in that family time and a family evening together, but I also thought especially since Thanksgiving Day of this year for those who spent time giving thanks to God that 2020 is almost over. I know many could not record that song so milllions could hear it, but I thought of those who spent the day giving thanks they are alive to see another year coming.  I thought of those who spent time singing about the goodness of God!

Yes, the year 2020 has brought many to their knees, some for senseless things, but others in regard to loved ones dying, in regard to working from home, no toilet paper to be found, and bread and milk not available to a family with small children.  There were mandates, and demands and yes, people have gone from crying to emotional pain and even to the point of a physical pain. Loss was mentioned by many who have an anchor chair in the news department, and many who just had loose tongues this year and we should watch what comes out of our mouths. We should not be those who run around with loose tongues giving opinions and no truth.

I thought of people using the word “privileged” and those who love God, the righteous are the privileged indeed. It tells of the virtuous, the capable, the person who is the godly and brings about profit to her (or his) family.

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find the virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. 15 She also rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. 20 She extends her hand to the poor, yes she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and tells them and supplies sashes for the merchants. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “ Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” 30 charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her praise own works praise her in the gates.

 

To begin: the first nine verses of Proverbs 31 deals with what is called symbolically that Lady Wisdom. But the rest of Proverbs 31 deals with the real woman who is flesh and blood. Every man and woman can learn from this proverb of wisdom that regards the individual and the family at large!

Verse 10: who can find the virtuous wife? Who can find that person who has virtue? Are we looking for someone who is virtuous?

The apostle Paul commands us to think on things which are virtuous: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy---meditate on these things.

The virtuous begins with thoughts in the mind. Our actions give away to what our thought process has been. The apostle Paul gives us guidance in what our minds should hold so that our character and conduct will line up with what God expects in the righteous man or woman.

We cannot allow our minds to dwell upon evil and expect to live virtuously before God. "Evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Corinthians 15:33). If our mind is in the gutter, we cannot live a virtuous life. Christians can never escape all of the negative influences of sin living on the earth, but we have a choice of whom we will serve in our hearts and minds. We must not continue to dwell on the sin that surrounds us as we interact with people of the world. We can never allow ourselves to gleefully entertain the pleasures of unrighteousness in our minds (2 Thessalonians. 2:11-12; and  2 Tim. 3:1-4). To do so is sin ( Matt. 5:27-30).

From verse 15-17, the thought is of diligence to her or him who gives tremendous strength to earn money for the family but also to earn extra to buy that vineyard. It takes work to remove those stones to plant vines to grow grapes. It takes some muscle to work to dig that winepress and then build that tower to protect  that vineyard once it is flourishing.

It is the Proverbs 31 person who laughs at the days to come as seen in verse 25. Those who can laugh at the days to come, laugh in seeing the approach of 2021, will be those secure in knowing Who holds the future. That person is the one who will rejoice because God is in the midst of every part of their life. Good or bad, the person is equipped with the word of God, equipped with His power and ready for the days ahead with a smile on the face and an expectancy within the heart that God is with them because they have chosen His way of life!

You may be the Psalm 31 person where your strength fails because of affliction and your bones grow weak as seen in verse 10, but Proverbs 31 person is the strong and the healthy. Proverbs 31 tells us a “woman” who is strong and healthy, that she is one set about to do work vigorously and that her arms are strong for her tasks! She is one who has strength like the young person but she also has honor like the older person. When she gives instruction she is giving it by the wisdom of God and the love of Him in her heart. That person is always one known as the vigilant and the diligent. She is no sluggard!

 

With the present day of social media in the lives of many, the life of a woman or even a man can revert back to a high school popularity contest. And if you stay around those who act more like teenagers than the grown and the mature, then it is most certainly the time to find the right place to spend that quality moment away from those who will only make you feel socially inferior as you can see from this given in Psalm 31:11-13: Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Men and women should not be about pleasing everyone around them. Jesus did not do that. Focus on Jesus, read to find understanding that discerns your walk, and discerns the right from the wrong! Yes, we can read Proverbs 31 as “The MOST Popular”, yes, everyone is tweeting about them, but struggle is found when those things appear suddenly and that same person is not capable of handling all the hoopla of such great attention so quickly. They get off on a tangent and may not find that narrow path back in safety! Your spouse may not match up to the respectable, but certainly God’s word works and when we apply it to our lives and those of our spouse we can see changes come. Some may be slow, but others can come sooner when we continue to activate His word of truth now, today in this moment for them! Your children may not be serving God and in this hour of coronavirus, they may be still trying to find where they need to live to have a job to go to and perform every day. May we continue to speak as David did: Psalm 31NKJV  “But as for me, I trust in you, LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who persecute me.”

I remember when a lady sent this Psalm 31 to me. Her name Juliana C. She was over all those who ministered in Jail Ministry for Snohomish County, Washington. She sent it to both men and women alike and it was to encourage those who spent the time in prayer, study and meditation to see God’s purpose on earth in the jails to reach those incarcerated by bad behavior. It was about seeing God’s goodness to those who needed a Savior.

She encouraged me, when things were not so wonderful for me, not so great for me, but she showed me how to keep the focus and it has become the fruitful field. That was some sixteen years ago, but I always think of my times are in His hands! And I have continually spoke as the Lord speaks and to believe with a heart of faith, His will is done on earth as it is in heaven….coronavirus or no coronavirus,….God is sufficient!

The Psalm 31 person encountered anxiety: “it is the what if” issue. It looks like what if the children remain disobedient, why are all my children “the prodigals”, why is there issue in the body and nothing is given as the cause nor the solution?

But as that woman who was the esteemed by her husband her children, we too would like to be esteemed and Proverbs 31 points to children that rise and call her blessed and her husband also. Your children may not call you the blessed, but God calls you the blessed and from that point you begin. I say to you b-e-g-i-n that walk in seeing God as your refuge as seen in Psalm 91. See yourself dwelling with the Most High God and then whatever is going on outside of you will be buffered by that power of God on the inside of you. Psalm 31: 19-21 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You, in the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!

Yes, we are the fortified when we stay with God and work at that relationship within His presence and His great love that sustain man or woman in all the challenges outside the home as coronavirus or men with wicked intentions as trying to overthrow elections for their purposes, for that challenge is seen, but we keep our homes in His love and His focus. We keep speaking His word over our spouse, over their position, over their drive to work and home, we keep God’s angels active to perform what is needed. So if you have been dealt a blow and find yourself in a depressive state, social challenges being locked in one location or with physical ailments when you have no opportunity to seek medical help or even with family problems, the key thing to remember is this: we exist. God planned for you and He planned for me. He planned something good. He desired us to live as this moment for His glory and to His praise. We belong to Him Who is greater. We belong to Him! Proverbs 3: 19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; 20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son let them not depart from your eyes-  Keep sound wisdom and discretion;  22 So they will be life to your soul, And grace to your neck. 23 Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. NKJV

 

Righteous behavior will always bring a great reward. We are to detest anything not virtuous. We look for His wisdom, to gain more knowledge of Him and then apply that to our lives and that of our children, our jobs, and anything else that can come in contact with our lives. Wise counsel is needed when there is anxiety, loss and pain. Wisdom of God is so vital to withstand the onslaught of the enemy and we keep to His peace, and love that guides us through whatever emotional, physical, mental or spiritual chaos. For we have seen what a virus can do, but we also know what God can do when we allow Him in!

 New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Calling on Him from the Word in our Heart

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REVEALING GOD TO WHOM HE CHOOSES

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