I am truly overwhelmed by God and His faithfulness, His love, His correction, His hope, His willingness to allow His mercies to be new every morning!!!
In Oswald Chambers devotional for February 10, I am reminded of many things...
"The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control."
"If your own power to see has been blinded, don't look back on your own experiences, BUT LOOK TO GOD. IT IS GOD YOU NEED. (emphasis mine)
"...DELIBERATELY TURN YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR EYES TO GOD." (emphasis mine)
"It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others."
A friend shared a statement from February 7th's as well... "The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not the answer!"
In reading in Exodus this morning, I am stirred with so much...
33:13 "Now He (The LORD) replied (to Moses) 'My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.'"
34: 6a "Then the LORD passed in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed: 'Yahweh -- Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin.'
34:8 "Moses immediately bowed dow to the ground and worshiped..."
34:9b "Even though this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wrongdoings and sin, and accept us as Your own possession."
35:21a "Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD..."
35:22a "Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts..."
36:1b "The Lord has given them wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work of constructing the sanctuary."
36:2b "in whose heart the LORD had placed wisdom, everyone whose heart moved him, to come to the work and do it."
Ok, so I know it is a lot and yet it is only parts of the Scripture so check it all out and see for yourselves.
But God has so vividly reminded me this morning that I am me - not anyone else. He has redeemed me, He has called me and He will prepare me. I do not have to look like anyone but Jesus. I need to look to Him and follow His lead and quick trying to figure 'things' out.
Psalm 51:10-12 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit."
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
I am still to wait expectantly for him, to be still and let Him reveal Himself and then I am to do that which He tells me to. Not what others think or expect or even what I think they think or expect. I know that I know that God has called me to... "give myself (devote; give my attention) to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." Acts 6:4 How ever He tells me to do it and when He says to. Not according to anyone's standards but His, not even my own!!! Such freedom this brings if only I could and would remember it and stop getting distracted by ... so many things, but mainly myself!!! LORD, help me to remember. He causes me to want to worship! He gives me a willing heart. He gives me a heart that is moved and prompted by His Spirit. He gives me wisdom and understanding to that which He has called me to do. He is compassionate to me, forgiving of my wrongdoings, my sin. His presence is with me ALL THE TIME! I must go to Him for the creation of a clean heart and a renewed and steadfast spirit. He will restore His joy in His salvation and He does uphold me by His generous Spirit. And soooooo much more...
What has He called you to?
He wants all of us to be willing and obedient and He does the providing of even that in us if we are willing. Are you willing? Am I? Please God make me willing...moment by moment and day by day.
Father God, I do worship You for You alone are worthy of worship and praise! Thank You for forgiving my sins over and over again. I can be so stiff-necked and proud. Thank You for speaking to me through Your Word. May I listen and obey. May I do the thing that You have placed in front of me to do with my eyes on You, not on myself, the past or what others think. I know it is You that I need. Give me eyes to see You...
