Embrace the Within no. 107

"Empathy is your pain in my heart."

Halford E. Luccock

Father,

There is so much for which to be thankful. And for all those things for which I am thankful, You deserve the glory. You allow this great creation to exist. You create a path through the way of the world to salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. You have known me from the beginning. You know my walk this side of eternity and my walk beyond. I am thankful for the daily walk of sanctification that allows me to grow closer to You.

I embrace being an ambassador for your Kingdom. Let me walk as a better ambassador for Your Kingdom this week than the week before. Help me walk in the Way of the Lord better each day. I give You the authority to lead with Your Way and Truth and not my way each day.

I pray for those that are struggling with physical, mental, and spiritual suffering. Specifically I pray for those ministering to our youth that they may find rest and reassurance in Your work. I pray for reconciliation between family and friends this holiday season that through Your grace and peace problems will disappear and love will overcome anger and confusion. I pray for revival among Your followers to be lights within the darkness of this world during this Advent season.

Help all find Your reassuring Spirit. Bring all peace and comfort. I pray that Your grace and forgiveness fall upon all of as we work out Your Truth.

I pray for those uncertain of the future. Those that are worrying about the situations and obstacles created in the way of the world. Help them to see that there is a Way that You provide through this broken and fallen world of humans. Give them the peace and joy that comes from Your Grace.

Forgive me for my failures. As I work out Your path this side of eternity, I am not perfect. I am working each day to become a better ambassador of Your Kingdom BUT I don’t have it all worked out. I stumble, I fail, and I fall BUT You keep allowing me time to work out sanctification through grace and peace. And I am thankful for that patience. That even though I fail You quite often, You do not stop working on making me better.

Allow me to forgive both myself and others for failing. Often I set unrealistic expectations for myself and the lives of others. We are only saved by Your grace and I can only work within the limitations of my understanding. Allow me the Wisdom and Truth to walk more in Your Way.

Thank you, Father.

Amen

Grace and Shalom this Sabbath. Shalom to your home. Bless your being. The reign of the Lord is now. Be a blessing to the Lord and others.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH

Embrace the Within no. 106

"Every believer is a witness whether he wants to be or not. "

Donald Barnhouse

I need to evaluate my choices. Sometimes my choices are the only witness to what belief in Christ looks like in practice. Yesterday we were talking about the natural tendency of folks to avoid conflict and go along with the group. This is something that has helped people survive in communities BUT it can also be something that leads us to do things with which we are morally opposed.

And that is where I need to be grounded in solid doctrine and practice. How will I know what to say or do when faced with a decision that is popular with the crowd? Will I rely on God’s Spirit and let it guide me or will I avoid the conflict and relent to the spirit of the crowd?

Try all things, and keepe that which is good. Absteine from all appearance of euill.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 GNV

In that conversation I ended with stating that I needed to be good with what I was doing in my life. I spent a lot of time doing what I thought was right and avoiding conflict. Then, I spent a lot of time seeking conflict and embracing division. Now, I have come to realize that no one really enjoys conflict. Folks like to lie to themselves and think they can find peace through conflict. Folks like to lie to themselves and think that having folks dislike or even hate them brings them joy. Folks like to lie and believe that they don’t need other people. BUT these are just deceptions we choose to tell ourselves that don’t stand against scrutiny.

Let loue be without dissimulation. Abhorre that which is euill, and cleaue vnto that which is good.

Romans 12:9 GNV

So, I have to choose what is good, not in my eyes or reasoning, BUT what is good according to the Word and Spirit of God. I need to approach the Word and Spirit with what I can learn and not how it can reinforce what I think I know. I have to conform to the Word and the Spirit and not the reverse. I need to look for where the Word and Spirit are leading and follow obediently. There is always the option that I will get swallowed by a fish and vomited onto a beach BUT it would be much easier for both God and I if I just listened and obeyed.

So, I am going to do what God says and show that I am doing what God says. I don’t want any confusion or division or controversy about what I am doing and saying. I want there to be only one explanation for my actions and words, and that one explanation need be that it’s what God sees as good for my life. And through that spirit of goodness, I can be a better ambassador for His KIngdom.

But the fruite of the Spirit is loue, ioye, peace, long suffering, gentlenes, goodnes, fayth, Meekenesse, temperancie: against such there is no lawe.

Galatians 5:22-23 GNV

Grace and Shalom this week. Shalom to your home. Bless your being. The reign of the Lord is now. Be a blessing to the Lord and others.

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH