Thoughts for Life: #4 Stepping Into Spiritual Life

Andrew Murray: Private devotions give us a clearer insight into what God is absolutely willing to do for us. A life prepared for us by God Himself is waiting to be revealed in us by the Holy Spirit.

We must only be ready to know and confess how much is lacking in our spiritual life. (Google image, Putting God First)

The Church today is characterized by the feeble workings of the Holy Spirit. The Bible promises us the mighty working of God's Spirit in the hearts of His children.

Therefore, we should make a penitent confession of how little we have honored the Holy Spirit and lived up to what He is willing to work in us. Then our hearts will be drawn out to a new and stronger faith in the mighty workings of the Spirit which God has promised.

Each day our devotions lead us out of the human standard we have been content with and into a life in the Spirit that God has provided and will certainly make real to us.

As we pursue out study, let us fix our attention on three simple questions:

1. Does Scripture really lay down a standard for those who wholly yield themselves to the Spirit and trust God's almighty power to work in them?

2. Is it true that the Church as a whole does not live up to the standard that God has placed within our reach?

3. Are we ready to yield ourselves with our whole heart to accept what God has prepared?

(Chapter 2, pp. 13, 14)

Receiving Power from God

by Andrew Murray
Copyright © 1984

by Whitaker House

Used by permission

www.whitakerhouse.com.

Let's pray-

"Lord, thank you for guarding and strengthening us in all of our ways. From season to season, You are the same and You never change and we know we can have faith in You. Thank you for Your Spirit interceding on our behalf when we are too weak and don’t seem to have the words to pray. We love you and thank you and praise you for your goodness.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen."

Today's Bible verses-

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV), Titus 3:5-7 (NIV).

Today's quote-

~ Lauren Gaskill- "If I made a list of all the things I want to thank Jesus for, this wonderful display of grace (see Luke 22:31-32 (NIV,) would be at the top. I mean seriously, here Jesus is, about to be abandoned, arrested, persecuted and executed, and what does He do? He prays for Simon Peter’s faith and assures Him that even though the waters are about to get stirred up, he’ll pass through them. The waves will not overwhelm him or obliterate his faith, even if he might feel like he’s going under.

You want to know what just wrecks me? Knowing that Jesus, who now sits at the right hand of God and is interceding for us, has prayed specifically for me, that my faith may not fail. Consider the fact He’s doing the very same thing for you, right here and now in this moment. Amazing, right?

From Jesus Is On Your Side, by Lauren Gaskill (her book, and video- Into the Deep)

~ Mary Southerland- "Honestly, I do not care for this life scenario of constantly choosing God’s plan over my own. It’s hard! But the rewards of choosing His plan blast the consequences of choosing my plan right out of the water.

I have been a follower of Christ for many years. You would think I have this truth down pat. Nope! I am on the very same journey you are on – learning to trust, I mean really trust God. Learning how to walk through my fear instead of allowing it to consume me. Choosing to believe God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.

God is with you. God is for you. You are never alone."

Words of wisdom-

~ Christ's unfathomable Peace can be experienced through thanksgiving and in trusting Him, no matter what takes place. If we slip into complaining about our circumstances we can climb out again by turning to Him for help. Try it. You'll be surprised!

~ The invitation of the Lord is to come to Him, all who are weary, and He will give us rest. As we rest in His Presence, we are restored to health and to our first love of Him.

Today's guest post-

Continual Guidance

by LuAnn K. Edwards

In last week’s blog, I shared a verse that is one of my go-to scriptures. Many Bible verses have affected my life. I’d like to share one I use for an email address—Isaiah 58:11. 

"The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought,  and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden,  and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail (NKJV)."

Today's sermon spotlight-