Category: prayer

Transforming Chaos into Harmony

Harmony out of chaos, health out of sickness, hope out of despair, joy out of grief, and love out of hate.

Meditation Thought: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)

To realize that there is power beyond myself is to have confidence. And to have confidence gives courage. To have courage is to release action. Action causes change. When the power, the confidence, the courage and the action are all working out God’s will, then the change is for the better. The change is “all things working together for good”. (Romans 8:28)

The change is bringing harmony out of chaos, health out of sickness, hope out of despair, joy out of grief, and love out of hate. Grace abounds. Beauty evolves. All of life glows with the newness of the dawn, light penetrating into darkness and revealing Truth: Truth that removes fears which were manifested in the darkness. I can think and speak and move in the confidence of knowing “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”. (Psalm 23:6)

Listening to Wisdom: The Power of Quiet Reflection

It is not wise to share your knowledge indiscriminately: wait for the leading of the Spirit.

Meditation Thought: “…pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.” (Proverbs 5:1-2)

Guarding knowledge is discretion: there is a balance and an order to be kept in the realm of the mind. The more knowledge you have of Truth, the more adequately you are prepared to do My will. But it is not wise to share your knowledge indiscriminately: wait for the leading of the Spirit that it may be most effective in the renewal of minds and the changing of hearts.

It is for this reason that you need to have times of quiet to listen – to receive instruction. The times will vary in length – in fact even a split second’s awareness of the Spirit can guide your thoughts, words and deeds.

Do all you can to develop “Spirit-awareness”: get the Word implanted into your mind; welcome the Spirit into your spirit, embrace Christ in your heart. This is to be attentive to wisdom, incline your ear to wisdom’s understanding, to be discreet, and to use knowledge wisely.

The advice in Proverbs is desirable, it is advantageous – but it cannot be totally comprehended nor fully used without Christ within interpreting the knowledge that it may be used wisely.

Transform Trial into Triumph

You shall be guided, step by step, prayer by prayer, revelation by revelation, to success.

Meditation Thought: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

Success! Success is exhilarating, it gives energy and joy and willingness to put forth effort to try new ventures. But ‘success’ can never be achieved unless there is some trial to overcome – something that it takes effort to change.

Do not be discouraged as trials are met – but call upon your knowledge of Truth – that the Word is sure, that Jesus has released the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome every trial in your life.

You shall be guided, step by step, prayer by prayer, revelation by revelation, to success – not by your own power and might, but by the Spirit’s power and might working within your spirit, mind, emotions and body.

The Spirit cannot work, however, without your consent and cooperation to bring success.

Understanding God’s Love and Protection

Come to realize that when you turn your eyes toward me, you are not turning them to a distant point, but inward to your mind, your spirit, your heart, and your body.

Meditation Thought: “For my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord;
In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.” (Psalm 141:8)

When your eyes are on me, you have total refuge and total defense. This is because in me you find knowledge, wisdom, guidance and strength.

Come to realize that when you turn your eyes toward me, you are not turning them to a distant point, but inward to your mind, your spirit, your heart, and your body. It is in these places that I’d dwell, through your faith in Jesus Christ as your savior.

The more you comprehend that we are so close together, as arm in arm the more effectively you can perceive my will

You have been conceiving of me as separate from you. Conceive of me as close as anyone can be to you, in body, in mind, in sympathetic understanding of common emotions, in a rapport of having similar character.

In this way, you’ll be able to feel my presence in you, and will be able to live the life of the new creature in Christ.

You are my beloved child, for whom I not only would sacrifice my own life, but I did! This is how much I love you! This is the extent to which I go to ensure you’re having a place of refuge and a sure defense. Now, do you understand the scripture for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and a sound mind?

This spirit, which I have given you in response to your faith in Jesus as savior is the Holy Spirit: the spirit of power and love and a sound mind.

The purpose of the in-dwelling Holy Spirit is to blend you and me together into such close association that we become as one in thought, in word, and in deed.

No matter the circumstances, no matter the intent of evil, or those who are ignorant, always those who have their eyes on me, and my spirit within, living resurrection out of death, good out of harm, and rescue out of peril, for I am their defense. I am power, I am love, I am sound mind, and no foe can overthrow these.

Understanding God’s Affection

It is not the earthly ‘king’ who rules my destiny, but my beloved heavenly “Daddy”.

Meditation Thought: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?…  I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:14, 16)

A response to God’s call to be brave:

“Oh, Lord; Father, “Daddy”. I know now why Jesus said “Abba” – “Daddy”. It is a term that defines our relationship more accurately than the term “Father”. “Daddy” connotes deep affection, sweet, happy communion, a relationship in which confidences are shared and enjoyed.

This is what I see more clearly now that You desire – and it is what I have been unknowingly longing for, even searching for – almost panicking for. Now I understand that, no matter what happens, you will assure that I will be all right, wherever I am, whatever form I am in. To the extent that I follow Your suggestions, to that extent will the heavens open up their glories, and miracles of reconciling love appear.

You aren’t so concerned that I choose to be brave so that your purposes may be fulfilled (for you can always do this through others), but You delight in my joy at success in being brave, at my realization of Your power and of our sweet communion.

You want me to say: “if I perish, I perish”, not out of disgusted resignation, or fear of guilty conscience if I refuse to approach the king, but in the knowledge of, and awareness of, the high sense of purpose – a grandeur of being an important part of destiny – of being a true, competent, loyal representation of Your Kingdom, of Your people as I approach the king of this world, whoever that “king” is in the circumstances (the kingdom) of the moment.

May I be content with the verdict of the ‘king’, for it is not the king who rules my destiny, but my beloved “Daddy”.

Finding Your Haven

Listen to yourself. Watch yourself. Would your words appear logical if they were reported in the New Testament as having spoken by Christ? Would your actions appear to be appropriate if reported as His actions by the gospel writers?

Meditation Thought: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2-3)

Your mind, your will, your personality: all transformed by Christ through the Spirit whenever you are thinking on ‘things above’. ‘Things above’ are the eternal values, the ‘treasures in heaven’. To concentrate on these is to change your words and actions at the worldly level, through your mind projecting into words and actions – Christ’s words and Christ’s actions.

Listen to yourself. Watch yourself. Would your words appear logical if they were reported in the New Testament as having spoken by Christ? Would your actions appear to be appropriate if reported as His actions by the gospel writers?

You know Christ’s words. You know Christ’s actions. People he knew were no different than people you know. Despite the years since Christ walked the earth, it is possible to follow Him as a contemporary, as far as the problems posed, and the actions and reactions possible. Only the names have changed!

How did Christ interact with his friends, his enemies? His mind was on things ‘above’ – He prayed to His father seeking His Father’s will – and then He spoke and acted.

When your mind is ‘hidden with Christ in God’, in meditation and prayer, then shall your words and deeds be the Son’s and the Father’s for your will has died to be raised up and transformed by the will of the Son which was totally yielded to the will of the Father.

Jesus left his imprint for you to follow. As you follow that imprint, as a child imitates, you reproduce His imprint on things below. You feed the hungry, heal the sick, forgive, don’t judge, minister, clothe the naked, encourage the downhearted. In other words – you love! You give your ‘life’ (selfish desires) to be killed for others, that they might come to find your ‘hiding place’. You – and they – envisioned it as a grave. But your hiding place is not a grave; it is a haven.

Wherever God is, wherever Christ is, that place is a ‘haven’ – a ‘heaven’ – a safe place and a glorious place.

Step-by-Step: Seeking Lord’s Guidance in Decision Making

Do not make complications where none are intended.

Meditation Thought: “Moses answered them, ‘Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.'” (Numbers 9:8)

Look before you leap. Look to the Lord – where? You have His Word, you have His life – both as a record and His strength within you. Do not make complications where none are intended. Step by step, do what seems right After
1. Prayer
2. Listening
3. Analyzing for
a) priorities
b) the details of the situation
c) likely consequences – both positive and negative.

And, when the deed is done, pray the Lord’s will be done – and trust that it will, and do not speculate any further.

Finding Peace in God’s Grace

Take heart!

Meditation Thought: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord let his face shine upon you…” (Numbers 6:24-25a)

But you want to choose the way of blessing don’t you? You want to decide where He keeps you? And you want His face to shine on you whether you are within His kingdom, or whether you are rebelling in the world?

Take heart! You at least recognize your willfulness, stubbornness and contrariness. You want to want the Father’s will – and that is a beginning!

Stay in prayer, in supplication, in thanksgiving – and make your requests known. You shall have “the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4) – it may be that your desires shall be what is changed, not circumstances. Do not plot and plan, get tense and fight what is disappointing to you. Relax. My Grace is sufficient for you. Do you believe this?

(Yes, Lord. I believe – help my unbelief!) (Mark 9:24)

The Interpreter

Take my personality and clean it, shine it, give it the glowing health of my Savior’s ministrations and inheritance.

Meditation Thought: “The Spirit himself intercedes for …according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

The Spirit is the interpreter between God and man – the message-bearer – the One who understands God and understands man and brings the two together that the bond might be closer, the communication more complete, the Father’s works done more speedily and completely.

Suggested Prayer: Holy Spirit – dwell in me mightily; I ask You to work in me to your fullest desire, that Father’s will might be also my way, my path, my works and my manner. Take my personality and clean it, shine it, give it the glowing health of my Savior’s ministrations and inheritance brought to me through You, who move from the realm of heaven where He resides to the realm of the world where I reside. Holy Spirit, move in my mind, in my heart, in my spirit, in my soul, my emotions, my body – cause them to vibrate with Your power – the power of love – of LOVE, divine love, beyond any love I’ve known or could know without Your Presence within me. Through you I cry to the Father – in need, and in joy, too – “Have your own way, Lord, have your own way.”

The Divine Purpose of Creation

Your shape, your form, your destiny depend upon your choice… to cling to yourself or to yield to me.

Meditation Thought: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

“Love is the healer; love is the joy; love is the pleasure – love, love, love. Love is the elixir – the potion – the only one needed to right every wrong, heal every hurt, fill every heart with peace. My love I pour in unbounding, unending supply – wherever the willing heart, the open mind, the yielding will absorbs it – there is a soul transformed.

Jesus the Christ – see Him, obey His instructions and your knowledge of My love, your ingesting of My love, your renewal by My love fulfills the divine purpose of creation: My love flowing out, your love flowing back, freely given, joyously give, loyally given. The continuous stream of love purifies all who enter into it, cleanses the sin of rebellion and all the sins resulting from that sin. Increase the flow of the stream of love by reaching for more and more of My love to channel back to Me.

Seed the clouds of My love with the Word, the Son, the Spirit within you: the replacing of the parts in you which are rebellious, sinful, unrighteous and unloving – selfish and ego-controlled, with the Word, the Son and the Spirit is the act of seeding My love – releasing it in torrents which will overflow the banks of your life. I want you to replace everything that your free will rejected of Me with My image clearly stamped on every part of you, and every aspect of your life. But I will not force this replacement. You must hand to me, whether willingly or reluctantly, every facet of your life, and I will return it to you – purified by the blood of Jesus, glowing with My love, enriched by the Spirit. Your shape, your form, your destiny depend upon your choice… t0 cling to yourself or to yield to me, bit by bit, moment by moment every physical, spiritual, mental and emotional aspect of your life. Hear and understand, see and perceive, understand with your heart, that I may heal you.”