Thursday, September 29, 2011

A Day to Pray

By Lonni Collins Pratt and taken from Cynthia Hyle Bezek’s book Come Away With Me

   “There’s no telling what circumstances will compel you to set aside a day for prayer. Maybe it’s a critical decision to be made, a problem to wrestle, or a call to abandon and surrender some destructive habit. You might have a growing sense that you need renewal or a day to celebrate God in your life.

   I’ve been drawn to set aside a day of prayer for all of these reasons mentioned above. I never thought one day could make such a difference. I discover my mind is cleared, my vision keener, and my ear better tuned to the voice of God after such a day.

   Of course, a day of prayer won’t always change your life, and it won’t always be earth moving. But, as those who have made this a regular practice will testify, it is always worthwhile.

Preparation

   Since it’s just a day, preparation will probable be minimal. Pick a date. Write it into your schedule, then tell someone close to you about it—a spouse, parent, pastor, or best friend. Plan to get together with that person after your day apart to discuss what happened.

The Shape of Your Day    

    Of course, you don’t want to be tied to a rigid schedule. Yet, you don’t want to spend the time daydreaming or doodling in your journal either. I’ve found it helpful to follow this model: Read a Bible passage prayerfully, slowly, with an open heart. Rather than reading it like a textbook or self-help book, listen to Scripture with a prayerful, yielded, open mind. It helps to read one word at a time, loud enough to hear yourself.

   When something strikes a chord in you, stop reading and concentrate on that insight. Prayerfully meditate on it, allowing it to sink slowly and deeply into your spirit, paying attention to your inner, honest response. Don’t rush.

   From meditating on the Living word, move to writing about your insight. You might do this as a written prayer to God or a journal-like record. This, too, should be done without hurry. If new insights come to you, repeat the process. When you are ready to continue reading, go back to Scripture and begin the process again. I like to take my readings from the gospels or epistles. Psalms are also fertile material for prayerful reading.

   After doing this for two or three hours, take a break to worship and rest in God. You might select a hymn or chorus to sing. I like to pray two or three psalms also, then quietly rest in the presence of God, listening for Him to speak to my spirit.

   When I feel ready for a break, I usually take a walk and have a small meal or snack. Then, I return to praying in the same way.

   I reserve the last hour of my prayer day to record my feelings, what I understand has happened, and to make commitments or plans according to any discoveries God has given me.

Ending the Day 

   Don’t think you have to come away with an extraordinary experience or blazing new insights. By being present and available to God, you will cooperate with God the best you can.

   In evaluating your day, it isn’t the emotional experience that matters. It isn’t new insights or resolutions. If you have become fully vulnerable to God and to the transforming power of the Word of God in Scripture, it will show in your daily living.

   That’s why it’s important to make a habit of setting apart days for prayer. The result of scheduled, frequent prayer days will be an increase in everyday prayer. Prayer, I’ve learned, produces a desire for prayer.”

“A Day to Pray” by Lonni Collins Pratt in Disciples Journal January/February 1996

Copyright 2008 by Cynthia Hyle Bezek used by permission of NavPress. All Rights Reserved. www.navpress.com


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

PUT THAT BURDEN DOWN!


    
 
Mary Southerland shares with us, "Our air conditioner was just not getting the job done. 

It only partially cooled the house, running night and day, doubling our already exorbitant electric bill.

 I called John, our friendly air conditioning repairman, with a desperate plea for help. When he came to the house, the first thing he did was remove the filter from the vent. 


It was filthy, completely covered by some nasty gray gunk! Changing the air filter had never been one of my top priorities, as evidenced by the dirt and hair-caked object in front of me.


              With a disapproving scowl wrinkling his weathered face, John continued working, muttering under his breath. I pretended not to hear. 

He then removed the coil which proved to be the last straw for him. With a sigh of exasperation, John dramatically thrust the offensive coil in front of my face, pointed at the almost unrecognizable object and asked, 'What is this?' 


My response was classic. 'John, how am I supposed to know what that is? You’re the air conditioning expert.' He did not think the comment was funny.


              In an attempt to avoid his scathing glare, I stepped forward and began to closely examine the obviously faulty coil. It was covered with layers of dog hair, compliments of our West Highland terrier and Australian cattle dog; cat hair, compliments of Sassy, Chocolate and Tiger; and dust, compliments of me!


              John then proceeded to chastise me for not changing the filter more often and ended his discourse with an ominous explanation, 'Mrs. Southerland, this unit was never meant to work under this kind of load. It’s working as hard as it can, but it’s not strong enough to do something it was never intended to do.' 

John then replaced the air filter, cleaned out the coil along with our bank account, and left the scene of the crime. The electric bill went back down, the house was cooler than it had been in months, and the unit worked like it was supposed to work. I forgave him and learned a thing or two about burdens.


              We come to Jesus, asking and trusting Him to save us from the eternal burden of sin, but we find it hard to believe that He can and will carry the burdens we deal with every day. 

We forget that He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep, totally dependent upon Him for every need – big and small.


"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." (Psalm 23:1-2).


              Notice the words “makes me lie down.” They are not a suggestion. The word used in this verse is “rabas,” a Hebrew command meaning to rest; lay something down; to lay down in rest - securely and safely.


God is commanding us to lay down our burdens and spiritually rest our souls in Him. 

It is important to note that the place of rest to which Jesus is referring - the Judean landscape - is not naturally a place I would describe as restful or replenishing. It is dry, parched, and sandy.

              A shepherd has to spend a great deal of time working the land; tilling it, cultivating it and planting it in order to grow the young, tender, green shoots of grass the sheep like best. 


The sheep graze on the finished work of the shepherd. The Shepherd of our souls wants us to rest in His finished work on the cross. If Jesus can save us, He can certainly handle every burden we will ever have. 


We simply have to make the choice to release each burden to Him.


              Some days are harder than others. There are so many things that can get us down. Long hours at work, difficult relationships, financial difficulties, medical conditions, emotional stress and family responsibilities are just a few of burdens we tend to carry.


              In Matthew 11:28, the word “rest” literally means 'tranquility in the midst of labor.' The implication is to be still before Him and choose to release each burden to Him. 

How? When the kids are screaming and on your last nerve, put on some praise music and dance your stress away. Meditate on His Word when you are confused and afraid. 


Pray as you do the laundry. List your blessings as you clean house. Look for His hand in every part of every circumstance. 


Our Father does not intend for us to carry the burdens He alone can shoulder.


              Jesus understands the burdens we carry. During His time on earth, Jesus healed the sick and set the captives free. He established the Church, sent the Holy Spirit to teach us and took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. 

The church works on His behalf to help us. The Holy Spirit indwells us in order to guide and comfort us and Jesus Himself intercedes for us with the Father. 


So when Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest,” He really meant it.


              What burden do you have? What is weighing you down? Bring it to Jesus. He will comfort and guide you. He will give you rest. 

Right now, in the midst of that worry or issue or concern, the God of the universe is asking you to turn it over to Him. Let Him work it out in His timing and His perfect way.


Let’s Pray

              Lord, I bring my burdens to You, knowing that I can do nothing apart from You and Your power. You know my situation. It is not a surprise to You, Lord. Please fill my heart with Your peace and comfort my soul. Guide me, Father. Give me strength. I give You my burdens; please give me Your rest.
       In Jesus’ name,
          Amen."

        Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest' ”. (Matthew 11:28, NASB)


  Mary Southerland on Crosswalk.com  www.girlfriendsingod.com

(Google image and emphasis added)


Monday, September 26, 2011

TIME OF REFRESHMENT

Where does your nourishment come from?

 The Pocket Testament League   www.ptl.org   Sept. 26/11

       “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you --even Jesus.”  Acts 3:17-20

“Thoughts for Today:

        Here is the sequence Peter gives us: repentance, a turn toward God, sin is forgiven and forgotten (wiped out) -- then a time of "refreshing" occurs. This same pattern was repeated every forty years or so throughout Israel's history. For example, the people turned away from God (idol worship, etc.); they then were oppressed and suffered at the hands of an enemy; they cried out and turned towards God and away from sin; God forgave them and raised up a leader; they were victorious over their oppressor; following the victory came the blessing (peace and prosperity) or the "refreshing" -- the living within God's will and intention for their lives. Unfortunately, about one generation later they were back to their evil ways.

       How much like this are we? We are blessed, then we begin to ignore God and get caught up in the world -- things really start to go wrong, then we cry out to God -- repent -- and turn back to God. It's silly but that is the story of my life as well. I am so grateful that we have the God of second chances (third, fourth, fifth, sixth, etc. as well), because I seem to need a lot of them.
      The question is: How do you stay constantly refreshed? In Exodus 16 the Israelites grumbled against God because they had no bread or meat to eat, so the Lord gave them manna and quail for their nourishment. Again in Exodus 17 they complained because they had no water to drink -- God brought forth water from a rock. Jesus, referring to this example of the Israelites total dependence on the Lord for their physical survival tells us in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never go thirsty."

       It is Jesus who now provides us with this nourishment or refreshing. He is not only the "bread of life" He is also referred to as "The Word." We are refreshed when we spend time with Jesus -- in study of the Bible (The Word) and in prayer. When we drift off course and we become sick, depressed and angry, it's because we are not being fed the proper food.

Questions to Ponder:

      Where does your nourishment come from? Does it come from television, magazines, friends, news media? Or does it come from Jesus? Who do you spend your time with? What can you do today to reverse that trend?"

jowildflowers@gmail.com  www.jean-oathout.blogspot.com

Friday, September 23, 2011

Checklist of Flaws and Assets




 Character Defect                      Opposite Asset

aggressive, belligerent               good-natured, gentle
apprehensive, afraid                  calm, courageous
argumentative, quarrelsome       agreeable
arrogant, insolent                       unassuming, humble
avoidant                                     faces problems and acts
boastful                                      modest, humble
careless                                     careful, painstaking, concerned
cowardly                                    brave
critical                                        non-judgmental, praising, tolerant
deceitful                                     guileless, honest
defiant, contemptuous                respectful
disobedient                                obedient
enabling                                     setting boundaries, tough love
envying                                      empathetic, generous, admiring
exaggerating                              honest, realistic
faithless disloyal                        reliable, faithful
fearful                                         confidant, courageous
forgetful                                     responsible
gossiping                                   closed-mouth, kind, praising
hateful                                       forgiving, loving, concerned for others
inconsiderate                             thoughtful, considerate
indifferent, apathetic, aloof         caring
inflexible, stubborn                    open-minded, flexible
insecure, anxious                      self-confident, secure
judgmental                                broadminded, tolerant
loud                                          tasteful, quiet
perfectionistic                           realistic goals
possessive                               generous
rude, discourteous                    polite, courteous
spiteful, malicious                     forgiving
tense                                       calm, serene
treacherous                              trustworthy
unfriendly, hostile                     friendly
ungrateful                                thankful, grateful
violent                                     gentle

These are taken from a paper given to me. I do not know the source.

"And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the reproach of the foolish." Ps. 39:7, 8 (NKJV)
                          



Wednesday, September 21, 2011

BE AN ARMOR-BEARER 5/24






Dave Egner shares this: "Leaders are their best when people get behind them.

“We give the help that pastors need
  For burdens they must bear
When we entrust them to the Lord
And hold them up in prayer.”  D. De. Haan

Taken from Our Daily Bread for Personal and Family Devotions   Sept. 16

Read: I Samuel 14:1-14

 “Do all that is in your heart. God then; here I am with you.”  I Samuel 14:7

  “The Israelites and the Philistines were at war. 

   While Saul relaxed under a  pomegranate tree with his men, Jonathan and his armor-bearer left camp quietly to see if the Lord would work on their behalf, believing that ‘nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few’ Sam. 14:6.

  Jonathan and his helper were about to cross a path between two high cliffs.

  Armed enemy soldiers were stationed above them on both sides. They were two men against who knows how many. 

  When Jonathan suggested that they climb up after them, the armor-bearer never flinched. ‘Do all that is in your heart,’ he told Jonathan. ‘I am with you, according to your heart’ (v. 7).

  So the two climbed the cliff, and with God’s help they overcame the enemy (vv. 8-14). 

  We have to admire this courageous young armor-bearer. He lugged the armor up that cliff and stayed with Jonathan, following along behind and killing those Jonathan wounded.

  The church needs strong leaders to face our spiritual foes, but they must not be left to face them alone. 

  They need the help and support of everyone in the congregation—loyal ‘armor-bearers’ like you and me who are willing to join them in battle against the ‘enemy of our souls.’ “ 

Scripture-Based Prayers to pray for Your Pastor  1-800-366-7788  www.praymag.com

Some samples are:

Protection. “Thank You that no weapons formed against my pastor will prosper. As _________ dwells in the shadow of the Most High, deliver him/her from terror, darts of doubt, and diseases. Set Your angels around my pastor, and let no power of the enemy harm him/her. turn aside rumors, gossip, criticism, abuse, and ungratefulness. May inordinate expectations, stress, and fatigue be cast into the see, and may every need and vision of ________’s be fulfilled (Ps. 91:1-11; Lk. 10:19; Mk. 11:22-24).”

Holiness. “Jesus, keep my pastor holy in every way. Protect _________ from seducing spirits, especially when he/she is tired and hard-pressed. Provide friends to help protect my pastor and to walk with him/her in personal holiness (1 Pet. 1:16)”

Worship. “Draw my pastor into deeper worship of You. Give my pastor a vision of heaven, and keep him/her from traditions that hold the form of godliness but deny its power (Isaiah 6; Revelation 4; 2 Tim. 3:5).

Preaching. “Anoint my pastor with the truth. As ________ preaches, may he/she proclaim Jesus Christ in the energy of the Holy Spirit. Let people be cut to the heart and accept Christ. Confirm _________’s message with signs and wonders. Heal the sick, and set the oppressed free (Mt. 16:17; Col. 1:28; Acts 2:37; Mk. 16:20).

Lasting fruit. “Lord, as You have promised, grant my shepherd lasting fruit. Let those who believe in You through his/her ministry grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. May they become disciples who disciple others (Jn. 15:16; Col. 2:6-7; 2 Tim. 2:2).

Adapt the prayers to fit your situation




Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Do We Know What God's Up To?



Outrageous Grace was written  by missionary Grace Fabian 

In this book, Grace quoted the following from pgs 39-40 of

Elizabeth Elliot in Worldwide Challenge.   January 1978  
  
       “In almost anything I offer to Christ, my reaction would be,
‘what is the good of that?’ The use He makes of it is none of my 
business; it is His business, it is His blessing.

Whatever it is, which at the moment is God’s means of testing my faith and bringing me to the recognition of who He is—That is
the thing I can offer.”
(pg 144)

“It’s an awesome God who enables a person to trust Him enough to say against all his natural instincts, ‘You know what is best.’ Ross Webb speaking at Edmond’s funeral.” (pg.114)

Hank Hanegraaff
had this to say at the funeral of Grace Fabian’s husband:

“…In the caldron of her suffering, Grace has come to know ever more fully that nothing can befall us without first passing through the filter of God’s love.”

The following is quoted in Grace Fabian's book:

“God of the Ages.”   Margaret Clarkson Hope Publishing, 1983

“God of the ages, History’s Maker,
Planning our pathway, Holding us fast,
Shaping in mercy All that concerns us:
Father, we praise You, Lord of the past.
God of this morning, Gladly Your children
worship before You, Trustingly bow:
Teach us to know You always among us,
Quietly sov’reign-Lord of our now.”
God of tomorrow, Strong Overcomer,
Princes of darkness Own Your command:
What then can harm us? We are Your people,
Now and forever Kept by Your hand.” (pg 146)

Bill Gaither Vocal Band

“What this dying world could use is a willing man of God
Who dares to go against the grain and work without applause…
Whose love is tough and gentle a man whose word is sure.
God doesn’t need an orator who knows just what to say…
He doesn’t need an army to guarantee a win
He just needs a few good men.” (pg 148)

Our Daily Bread, for Personal and Family Devotions–

“Between the circumstance and me,
A Father’s loving hand
Is working all things for my good-
All moves at His command. -Anon.

God is behind the scenes and
controls the scenes He stands behind.”
  August 6th, 2011







Monday, September 19, 2011

CRISIS ALWAYS REVEAL CHARACTER




“Those who have loss of character make a choice.” –Cindy Kasper

“It isn’t the tranquil and placid seas that bring out the sailor’s skill; It’s the wind and waves that pound his ship and toss it about at will. --Ritter

When wealth is gone, little is lost; when health is gone, something is lost; but when character is gone, all is lost!”

Sept. 13 Taken from Our Daily Bread, for personal and family devotions.


The following is taken from “Devotions for DEVOTIONS for MORNING AND EVENING with Oswald Chambers” for Sept. 10:
         
 “Worshipping as Occasion Serves.”                    

“We imagine we would be all right if a big crisis arose; but the big crisis will only reveal the stuff we are made of, it will not put anything into us.
                              
‘If God gives the call, of course I will rise to the occasion.’

You will not unless you have risen to the occasion in the workshop, unless you have been the real thing before God there.

If you are not doing the thing that lies nearest, because God has engineered it; when the crisis comes instead of being revealed as fit, you will be revealed as unfit.

Crisis always reveal character.

The private relationship of worshipping God is the great essential of fitness.

The time comes when there is no more 'fig tree' life possible, when it is out into the open, out into the glare and into the work, and you will find yourself of no value there if you have not been worshipping as occasion serves you in your home.

Worship aright in your private relationships, then when God sets you free you will be ready, because in the unseen life which no one saw but God, you have become perfectly fit, and when the strain comes you can be relied upon by God.

‘I can’t be expected to live the sanctified life in the circumstances I am in; I have not time for praying just now, no time for Bible reading, my opportunity hasn’t come yet; when I does, of course I shall be all right.’

No, you will not.

If you have not been worshiping as occasion serves, when you get into work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you.

The workshop of missionary munitions is the hidden, personal, worshipping life of the saint.” (pg. 524)

March 16 pm “--the days that have furthered us most in character are the days of stress and cloud, the days when we could not see our way but had to stand still and wait; and as we waited, the comforting and sustaining and restoring of God came in a way we never imagined possible before.” (Also from Oswald Chamber’s devotional pg. 157).

Our Daily Bread, for personal and family devotions:

June 22   “The Lord provides the strength we need              
                        to follow and obey His will;
                      So we don’t need to be afraid
                 That what He asks we can’t fulfill. –Sper


     We can face any fear when we know the Lord is with us.”


June 27     “O Lord, You see what’s in my heart—
                    There’s nothing hid from You;
                   So help me live the kind of life
            That’s loving, kind, and true. –D. De Haan

                 If we take care of our character,
              our reputation will take care of itself!”


A quote from “Devotions for MORNING and EVENING with Oswald Chambers”:

“We are apt to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching, it is to be turned into something better than teaching, viz., into character.” (for October 1/11, pg.568)



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

FUELED BY THE SPIRIT

Acts 2:1-4 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Taken from the Pocket Devotions of The Pocket New Testament League Sept. 6/11

"Thoughts for Today:

  What an incredible experience that must have been -- to actually see tongues of flame resting on each of them as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Many of us feel that access to that kind of power is no longer available. In fact we can sometimes feel our faith becoming dry and lifeless, as if the energy we once had for service has left us. Yet the Holy Spirit is available to you today as He has always been, waiting for you to ask for His presence and power. This example has been given to us throughout the Bible -- in both the Old and New Testaments.

  One story that comes to mind, involves the Old Testament prophet, Ezekiel (37:1-14) who was given a vision in which the Lord instructed him to prophesy to a valley full of bones.

  "So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them."

  The bones came together, but there was no life -- they rattled together. The same is true for us when we try to work for the Lord in our own power without the Holy Spirit's power or enabling -- there's no life in us either. Verse 9 continues,

  "Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet a vast army."

  The Bible often uses the words "wind" or "breath" to indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is this breath of God, His Holy Spirit that comes upon us and into us -- powers and empowers us for service. The key to our receiving this power is obedience. In verse 10, Ezekiel says, "So I prophesied as he commanded me." In other words, he obeyed. In Acts 1:12, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem and waited in the upper room as Jesus had commanded (Acts 1:4). They were obedient as well.

  If you are feeling spiritually dry, or maybe you're just going through the motions of Christian life without any significant purpose or direction, then it's time to ask God through His Spirit to reveal to you in what area of your life you need to obey. Ask God's Holy Spirit to fill you as you are obedient and empowered to humbly serve Him.

God's work in our life as well as usefulness in the kingdom is typically interrupted when we fail to obey a God directive. What was the last thing God told you to do or change that you haven't quite finished?”




Do you know of something you're to do?

Friday, September 9, 2011

JESUS PROMISED WELLS OF WATER 6/3 NT


 “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water.” John 4:14  

From Oswald Chamber’s Devotions for  MORNING AND EVENING:

September 7th   “The picture Our Lord gives is not that of a channel but a fountain. “'e being filled,' and sweetness of vital relationship to Jesus will flow out of the saint as lavishly as it is imparted to him. If you find your life is not flowing out as it should, you are to blame; something has obstructed the flow. Keep right at the Source, and—you will be blessed personally? No, out of you will flow rivers of living water, irrepressible life.

  We are to be centres through which Jesus can flow as rivers of living water in blessing to everyone. Some of us are like the Dead Sea, always taking in but never giving out, because we are not rightly related to the Lord Jesus. As surely as we receive from Him, He will pour out through us, and in the measure He is not pouring out, there is a defect in our relationship to Him. Is there anything between you and Jesus Christ? Is there anything that hinders your belief in Him? If not, Jesus, says, out of you will flow rivers of living water. It is not a blessing passed on, not an experience stated, but a river continually flowing. Keep at the Source, guard well your belief in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady flow for other lives, no dryness and no deadness.

  Is it not too extravagant to say that out of an individual believer rivers are going to flow? 'I do not see the rivers,' you say. Never look at yourself from the standpoint of—Who am I? In the history of God’s work you will nearly always find that it has started from the obscure, the unknown, the ignored, but the steadfastly true to Jesus Christ.” (pg 518)
    

 “The one mark of a saint is the moral originality which springs from abandonment to Jesus Christ. In the life of a saint there is this amazing wellspring of original life all the time; the Spirit of God is a well of water springing up, perennially fresh. The saint realizes that it is God Who engineers circumstances, consequently there is no whine, but a reckless abandon to Jesus. Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you.” (pg 340) 
A quotation from Fresh Wind, Fresh fire  by Jim Cymbala:

“When we get serious about drawing upon God’s power, remarkable things will happen. Even if we grow listless and lukewarm, still Christ says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come and eat with him, and he with me….He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”  (Rev. 3:20, 22)  (pg 103)
This should help us understand better the “well of water” that’s promised by Christ, and desire it!



Thursday, September 8, 2011

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU


Sharon Jaynes’ article in her Friend to Friend article gives us some good guidelines:
The following is an excerpt from her article..
September 6, 2011
“The Power of the Holy Spirit in You!

Today’s Truth

              Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8 NIV).
   "Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom spent the last years of her life speaking to men and women all around the world about the God who sustained her during her imprisonment and who delivered her from the Nazi prison camps.  During one of her presentations, she held up a lady’s white glove.

“What can this white glove do?” she asked. Then she went on to explain…          

“The glove can do nothing. “Oh, but if my hand is in the glove, it can do many things…cook, play the piano, write.  Well, you say that is not the glove but the hand in the glove that does it.  Yes, that is so.  I tell you that we are nothing but gloves. The hand in the glove is the Holy Spirit of God. Can the glove do something if it is very near the hand?  No! The glove must be filled with the hand to do the work. That is exactly the same for us:  We must be filled with the Holy Spirit to do the work God has for us to do.”

It is time to see yourself as God sees you. No more living in a house of mirrors looking at a distorted image of who you are.  This is how God sees you.

              You are a child of God. John 1:12
              You are justified- completely forgiven. Romans 5:1
              You are free from condemnation. Romans 8:1
              You have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16
              You have been made righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21
              You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1:3
              You are righteous and holy.  Ephesians 4:24
              You have been redeemed and forgiven of all your sins. Colossians 1:14
              You are a dwelling place for Christ. He lives in you. Colossians 1:27
              You are complete in Christ. Colossians 2:10
              You are chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. Colossians 3:12
              You have been given a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 
              You have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by
                         which you are a partaker God’s  divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4
 (Underlining is mine)

              And that, my friend is only the beginning!  Say these verses out loud.  Speak to your soul.  Believe the truth about who you are.  You are more than good enough because of who lives in you and works through you.

Let’s Pray
              Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to live in me, to work through me, and give power to me. I pray that I will plug into the power source every day. Forgive me when I act like a powerless spiritual invalid rather than a spirit-empowered soldier. Regardless of what my feelings tell me today, I choose to believe that I am a dearly loved, chosen, holy child of God who is enveloped by Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
              In Jesus’ name,
            Amen”

Today’s devotion was taken from Sharon’s book, “I’m Not Good Enough”…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves.

The next post will be about the "well of water' Jesus promises.