A good friend told me many years ago that I needed to give the Holy Spirit something to work with if I wanted to live a victorious christian life. If I wanted Him to encourage me with Scripture at opportune times I would have to meditate on Scripture before the temptation came. If the Scripture was in the well, He would bring it up when I needed it. That was good advice and my well has a supply; but there’s plenty of room for more.

I distinctively heard the other side of that coin this morning.

If you are tired of the Evil One’s shenanigans, stop giving him so much to work with.

It didn’t take much contemplation to figure out what the so much to work with meant. As the Holy Spirit uses Scripture to infuse us with power to overcome; our very own flesh gives Lucifer plenty of ammo to fire at us.

Doesn’t the Scripture tell us that ABBA inhabits the praise of His people? (Ps. 22:3) If GOD draws near to praise what would Lucifer draw near to?  What’s the opposite of praise? Complaining, fault-finding, negativity, woe is me, I hate this, I hate that.  I think I got this. A steady stream of thankless words and a heart packed tight with un-forgiveness and ill will is the so much to work with.

Does this mean when we have troubles, conflicts, etc., we have given the devil too much to work with?
Not always.
When the neglect or willful sins of another slings chaos my way that’s not my so much to work with until I react to the slinging chaos in my flesh rather than the Spirit. 

So how do we handle slinging chaos?  Here’s a great start:

Philippians 4:7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua.

8 In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.

9 Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you.

via Philippians 4:7-9 NASB;CJB – And the peace of God, which surpasses – Bible Gateway.

Day 112 of 2014, praying for revival in the Body of CHRIST.

Kathie

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Thank You, ABBA. This is a lesson I need and human nature as it is, I think I’m not the only one; so thank You for allowing this offering and I trust You to apply it to waiting hearts. We are still asking You to revive the Body of Christ; protect and restore Israel and grant grace and space for America to repent in the Holy Name of Yeshua. 

Do not be paralyzed with fear nor have your heart turned to unbelief as you look at the world’s corruption or closer to home, see those hard, unfair maladies that go on and on, seemingly plaguing your nights and days on and on.

Let’s lean in and eavesdrop on King Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. It disturbed him. Disturbed him enough he sent for Daniel inquiring what does it mean. The first lesson we gather here is when we are disturbed, seek Godly counsel.

21 (24) “‘This is the interpretation, your majesty; and it is the decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:

22 (25) “‘You will be driven from human society to live with the wild animals. You will be made to eat grass like an ox and be drenched with dew from the sky, as seven seasons pass over you; until you learn that the Most High rules in the human kingdom and gives it to whomever he pleases.

23 (26) “‘But since it was ordered to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be kept for you until you have learned that Heaven rules everything. 24 (27) Therefore, your majesty, please take my advice: break with your sins by replacing them with acts of charity, and break with your crimes by showing mercy to the poor; this may extend the time of your prosperity.’

25 (28) “All this happened to King N’vukhadnetzar. 26 (29) Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Bavel, 27 (30) the king said, ‘Bavel the great! I built it as a royal residence by my power and force to enhance the glory of my majesty!’ 28 (31) No sooner had the king spoken these words when a voice came down from heaven: ‘King N’vukhadnetzar! These words are for you:

    ‘“The kingdom has left you. 29 (32) You will be driven from human society to live with the wild animals.  You will be made to eat grass like an ox and be drenched with dew from the sky, as seven seasons pass over you, until you learn that the Most High     rules in the human kingdom and gives it to whomever he pleases.’

30 (33) “Within the hour the word was fulfilled.

via Daniel 4 KJV;CJB – Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all – Bible Gateway.

What was the king to learn?

until you learn that the Most High rules in the human kingdom and gives it to whomever he pleases.

If only we would acknowledge and trust the Sovereignty of GOD in all our unwanted, inconvenient, uncomfortable, down-right hard places. If only we would acknowledge and trust that HE is the Ruler of the Universe – even our tiny universe that swirls around us taunting us into an abyss of despair.

The holy man gave the king workable advice: 

break with your sins by replacing them with acts of charity, and break with your crimes by showing mercy to the poor; this may extend the time of your prosperity.’

But the king closed his heart and refused the garment of humility. Months passed. All was well. More months. Twelve months in all the king strutted in his lofty place and suddenly just as the LORD had said where was the king? 

Whether we be the one strutting or be compelled to watch another, we would do well to remember the LORD knows how to humble the proud.  Let us make sure we humble ourselves so it is not necessary for ABBA to do the humbling. 

ABBA, this is a stern lesson; it rubs against the flesh; yet, ABBA, I thank You and I pray for a humble spirit, a pliable neck and knees quick to bow. Thank You for giving us the account of Nebuchadnezzar; I pray we learn well the lessons You have for us here. We have folks coming to mind in need of help; we know You are willing, we pray they will be willing to receive Your help and follow Your lead.  We pray for little children, especially those sick with fevers and unexplained infections and we ask You to heal them. We pray for grieving families and for families with new babies, asking You to comfort and give attention as needed. Thank You for every Reader. I pray You will encourage and help each one find their niche in Your Kingdom work and be faithful in Jesus name. 

Day 111 of 2014, praying for revival in the Body of CHRIST.

Kathie

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Just Listen.

And hear.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands; . . .  23 Yeshua answered him, “If someone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 
24 Someone who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words — and the word you are hearing is not my own but that of the Father who sent me.

via John 14 KJV;CJB – Let not your heart be troubled: ye – Bible Gateway.

And so the question to ask is Do I love Jesus?  Do YOU love Jesus? How are we doing with His Commands?

To refresh your memory as to these Commandments, click HERE and read them in context either KJV or CJB.

And then of course there is this account:

36 “Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?”
37 He told him, “‘You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’
38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah.
39 And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot.”

via Matthew 22 KJV;CJB – And Jesus answered and spake unto them – Bible Gateway.

Yeshua (Jesus) truly did sum it up for us. For you see in keeping these two, there are no gaps with the others.  If we love our neighbor as ourselves; murder, theft, adultery, coveting, giving false testimony (or gossip) won’t happen. And if we have no gods other than ADONAI; we will keep not just the Shabbat holy but all the days of the week holy and we will bow to no god but ABBA. And taking His name in vain? That won’t even enter our minds, much less come out of our mouths. And honoring our mother and father?  How could we dishonor them if we are in love with our Heavenly Father?

So how are we doing? It is a question I must answer. And so must you. And what better time than now as we approach Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday?

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands; . . . 

Thank You, ABBA, take Your message to all You have prepared to hear and those not yet ready to hear I pray HOLY SPIRIT You will get them ready. I don’t want to be an unbelieving believer; nor any of my family, friends or any member of the Body of Christ;  I pray You will not let us rest until we show the world that we love You.

Day 106 of 2014, praying for revival in the Body of CHRIST.

Kathie

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