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Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 59 – Fruit of the Spirit

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 59

Fruit of the Spirit

Lord, displaying the fruit of the Spirit seems a goal too difficult to continually attain. How do I become a fruit-bearing Christian? How do I maintain a life of fruitfulness in You? Lord, may You be known by the fruit of the Spirit displayed in me. I want to serve You and bring You glory all the days of my life. Let me be known as Your disciple by Your good fruit in me.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My sweet child, I desire a close relationship with you. When you remain continually connected to Me, My Spirit produces His good fruit in you. You cannot yield the fruit of the Spirit on your own. You must submit yourself to the purifying work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit produces choice fruit in you; it is not the result of your own doing. Be the bearer of good fruit by walking in step with the Spirit, rather than striving in the flesh. Depend on Me and be sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit within.

The Holy Spirit is continually sanctifying you; daily He transforms you into the image of Christ Jesus. Surrender your will to Him. Pay attention to His voice. Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Crucify the flesh with its passions and desires and live by the Spirit keeping in step with Him at all times (Galatians 5:23). When you do this, you will be recognized by your fruit (Matthew 12:33). Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:17).You are a good tree when you remain rooted in Me.

Meditate on My Word day and night and you will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever you do will prosper (Psalm 1:2-3). Blessed are you when you trust in the Lord, and put your confidence in Him. You will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

You are known to be My disciple, when you display the fruit of the Spirit in both your words and deeds. Stay tuned in to My Spirit. When you remain in relationship with Me, you will experience My love, joy, and peace. The seed I sow in you will reap a harvest of fruitfulness in you for others to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). When you, yourself, have experienced My patience, kindness, and goodness, you can’t help but display it and share it with others. Surrender to the control of My Spirit and clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven you. Let your love bind all these virtues together and let peace rule in your heart (Colossians 3:12-15).

“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. This is My command: Love each other” (John 15:16-17) Be transformed by My Spirit as you live in step with Him, and you will bear fruit that will last.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I do want to glorify Your holy name. I ask that Your Spirit purify me and transform me into the image of Jesus Christ. I pray that I could remain in an intimate relationship with You, walking in step with the Spirit, so that I will become a good tree that produces choice fruit. Holy Spirit, I submit myself to Your transforming power, so that I will blossom. Mature those blossoms into vine-ripened fruit. Let me remain in the vine right now as we speak face to face in quiet conversation. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father God, please share from Your heart what I need to improve on with regard to maintaining a more cherished relationship with You. (Write whatever you hear Him say.)

Jesus, my Friend, You are the vine, I am the branch. How do I bear fruit that will last? What is my part in this command? (Record everything Christ says to you in your thoughts.)

Holy Spirit, help me stay in step with You. Allow me to hear Your voice clearly. What am I missing? What must I do to remain in step with You? (Journal your thoughts and the impressions He gives you now.)

Review God’s thoughts and impressions you’ve sensed and written above. What Scripture comes to mind as you review your notes? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up an impression from God’s Word. Record the verse or passage here. Write all insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit illumines for you as you read God’s Word right now.

Prayer:

Most High God, You have laid down Your life for me. I want to honor You, by laying down the desires of the flesh, and picking up my cross daily to follow You. I submit my will to Yours and ask that You empower me to live a fruitful life when I remain in close relationship with You. As I read and meditate on Your Word, let me be like a tree planted by streams of water. Let me bear fruit in its season. I will remain in You as You remain in me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Psalm 1:1-3, ¹Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, ²but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night. ³That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 34:8, Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

Proverbs 11:30, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

Jeremiah 17:7-8, ⁷“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. ⁸They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heart comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Matthew 7:17-20, ¹⁷“Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in to the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

Matthew 12:33, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.”

Luke 3:9, The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

John 15:4-17, ⁴“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. ⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. ⁶If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ⁹As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. ¹⁰If you keep my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. ¹¹I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be compete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. ¹⁷This is My command: Love each other.”

Galatians 5:16-17, ¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Galatians 5:22-26, ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Colossians 1:9-14, ⁹For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹²and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 3:12-15, ¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 56 – Set Free in Christ

May17

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 56

Set Free in Christ

Lord, what does it mean to be set free in Christ? Sometimes, I still don’t feel free from the power of sin. I want to be free to become all that You created me to be. Lord, how can I claim Your freedom and remain free?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

Child of Mine, when you accepted Christ as your Savior, you became free from the penalty of your sin. Jesus Christ died in your place and paid the wages of your sin (Romans 6:23). You are a new creation in Christ Jesus; the old is gone, the new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17). He has released you from a life of sin. You may now live a life of righteousness through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9). Christ has made you righteous in My eyes, so that we now may enjoy an intimate relationship. You have the freedom to approach My throne of grace with boldness (Hebrews 4:16).

You were crucified with Christ, so you no longer live, but Christ lives in you. Live by faith in Jesus, who loved you and gave Himself for you (Galatians 2:20). Your old self was crucified with Him, so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with and you would no longer be a slave to sin—you were set free from it (Romans 6:6). You are dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). Sin is no longer your master because you are not under the law, but under My grace (Romans 6:14).

You are free from the power of sin. It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). It is up to you to claim this freedom and walk in the victory over sin that the death of Jesus Christ provided for you. You have the authority of Jesus’ name; you have the power of His Spirit within you. You can overcome the desires of the flesh, by the power and authority I have given you. I will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but I will provide a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13).

I sent My Son to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1-2). He is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). My divine truth has exposed the lies of Satan. The light of My salvation has released you from the bondage of Satan’s lies. Do not believe the lies of the enemy, when you know the truth of God. Walk in the freedom of the truth. Do not make vows and agreements with the devil, when Christ has freed you from the prison of the evil one. Now you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:32, 36). Claim the freedom of the truth and walk in it victoriously.

You are free to become what I created you to be. Allow Jesus to live His life in and through you. Be obedient to whatever He asks you to do. He will demonstrate His love and power through you. Do not be distracted by the world, but focus your attention on Christ. Trust Him to live out His perfect will and plan for you, through you. This happens only when you are walking in close relationship with Him through reading the Bible, praying, and listening to His voice. The most important thing you can do is to put Him first, meet with Him daily, talk to Him and listen to His voice.

I will speak to you in your thoughts and from My Word. The Bible will come alive for you when you tune in to the voice of the Holy Spirit within you. He will remind you of what I say, as well as, reveal and interpret Scripture for you, so you are able to understand My wisdom, My promises, and My will for your life. When you hear and recognize My voice, you experience the life of abundance that Christ came to give you. I want the best for you. I am the best! Be free in Me.

Prayer:

Jesus, my Lord, thank You for dying for me, so that I might live. I submit myself to You and ask that You will live out Your will and plan for me, through me. Allow me to live a life of abundance by clearly hearing Your voice and obeying it. Lord, I am always blessed with so much joy whenever I am obedient to Your requests. Give me the desire to obey Your every command, and connect with You daily in two-way conversation. Lord, speak to me now as we meet to maintain a deeper, more intimate relationship. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Heavenly Father, will you expose one area of my life that I remain in the bondage of sin? Please tell me exactly what I need to be free from in this area. (Record every word you hear in your thoughts. Spend some time now confessing your sin and submitting yourself to God.)

Jesus, my Savior, please expose one of the enemy’s lies that I have believed or bought in to, and then, set me free with Your truth. (Write down whatever you hear Him say, and claim the freedom He gives you.)

Holy Spirit, please show me Your plan for me to live in freedom from the sin and bondage I just confessed. Please remind me of the truth in God’s Word and remind me to use it when the enemy attacks me in this area. (Write all the thoughts He gives you on this and record any words or verses from Scripture that come to mind.)

Prayer:

Sovereign Lord, Your plans and timing are perfect. I submit my will to Yours, and ask that You would live Your life in and through me. Help me become the creation You had in mind when You formed me in the womb. Before you knew me, You set me apart (Jeremiah 1:5). I am grateful that You purchased my freedom from sin and continue to release me from the bondage of sin and the prison of lies I have believed over the years. Lord, I give You access to all areas of my heart and ask that You transform my life so that I might become the creation You called me to be. Thank You for the abundant blessing I receive by hearing Your voice and living in relationship with You. I am so grateful for everything You do for me. I am blessed to be dead to sin and alive to God in Christ (Romans 6:11). In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Psalm 146:7, He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.

Isaiah 61:1-3, ¹The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, ²to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, ³and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.

Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”

Luke 4:18-19, ¹⁸”The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

John 8:31-36, ³¹To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” ³⁴Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Romans 6:6-14, ⁶For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—⁷because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. ⁹For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. ¹⁰The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. ¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6:17-18, ¹⁷But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Romans 6:22-23, ²²But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness , and the result is eternal life. ²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:1-2, ¹Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ²because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

1 Corinthians 10:13, No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18, ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 5:1, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Ephesians 2:10, For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Philippians 3:7-9, ⁷But whatever were gains to me I know consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Colossians 1:19-22, ¹⁹For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, ²⁰and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. ²¹Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ²²But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

Hebrews 4:16, Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Revelation 1:5-6, ⁵and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, ⁶and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father—to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 55 – Spiritual Battle

May16

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 55

Spiritual Battle

Lord, there is a daily battle of good vs. evil going on in my mind. I know it, I feel it—it’s real. I fight against the desires of the flesh on a daily basis. Father God, please make me even more sensitive and aware of this, and give me the tools of engagement. Make me strong in You. Arm me with Your protective battle suit and defend me against my enemy.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

Child of Mine, you are in a daily spiritual battle—the enemy’s goal is to destroy you. Recognizing this is the first step to victory. Whether you realize it or not, there is a conflict raging in you between flesh and Spirit. Your struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). This battle is as real as you are. It is not a virtual war game. Prepare your method of defense for this war.

Before you put one foot on the floor each morning, dress yourself in My full armor so that you may be able to stand your ground (Ephesians 6:13). Buckle the belt of truth around your waist. The truth is you are My child and the devil has no power over you. Believe this truth and claim it. Your identity in Christ gives you the authority over your enemy, as well as, the victory over sin, death, and the grave, that the atonement of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provided for you. Use your authority in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of His blood to bind up Satan and restrict his destroying influence in your daily life. You are supernaturally empowered by the Spirit of Christ living in you. Be sure to tap in to that amazing power at all times.

Stand firm then, with the breastplate of righteousness in place to avert the flaming arrows of the enemy. He shoots straight for the weakest areas in your heart, but Christ has made you righteous and blameless. Clothing yourself with the breastplate of righteousness, a life of honesty and obedience to God, will keep you pure and ready to stand firm in battle, deflecting all attacks against your standing in Christ. You are Mine, and you have been made righteous in Christ.

Ready yourself to proclaim the gospel of peace by fitting your feet with My battle sandals (Ephesians 6:15). Anchor yourself in the soil of My salvation and remain steadfast in your faith. Be prepared to share with the lost the message of My love and saving grace. Be a witness for Christ even in the midst of battle. And take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). This is the all-encompassing protection of Christ against everything your enemy hurls at you. Your victory is sure in Jesus’ name.

Wear the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17), putting on the mind of Christ with all wisdom and discernment. Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Do not fight the enemy with your own words and thoughts, but use the Word of God as your weapon of choice. Just as Jesus battled Satan in the wilderness with the Word of God (Matthew 4:4), you too must fight the enemy’s lies and deceit with the truth of My Word. As the devil distorts Scripture, you will set him straight with the truth. The power of your testimony is no match for Satan. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). You are no longer a slave, but My child (Galatians 4:7). You have been freed from the bondage of the enemy’s lies. Do not return again to a yoke of slavery.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. You may experience My peace, even in your troubles (John 16:33). Though you live in the world, you do not wage war as the world does. The weapons you fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. You demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and you take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Finally, be strong in Me and in My mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying (Ephesians 6:18). Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) as prayer is another strong weapon of warfare. Pray your way through every challenge and struggle. The flesh may be weak, but you are strong in Christ Jesus. Stand firm, and when you have done everything, remain standing (Ephesians 6:13).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a warrior God; you are my strength and defense (Exodus 15:2-3). Train me and prepare me for this daily battle. Lord, speak to me now with Your words of wisdom, and transform my heart with the truth of Your love and promises. Give me Your peace that passes all understanding to guard my heart and mind (Philippians 4:7). In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Abba Father, protect me with Your infinite wisdom. Train me in Your warrior ways. Teach me what I need to know for this spiritual battle. (Record everything He says to you.)

Jesus, my Deliverer, rescue me from this fight. Do not let me be bound by a yoke of slavery. Please make me aware of what that looks like. (Write all the ideas He gives you.)

Holy Spirit, please give me a sense of my most vulnerable weakness, along with the Scripture to fight against the enemy’s attack in that area. Prepare me with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, so that I am ready to defend myself. (Journal the Scripture that comes to mind. If only a word, find the verse in your concordance and write it out here, then meditate on it and memorize it to repeat to the enemy in the battle.)

Prayer:

Lord, You do not leave me alone to fight my own battles. When I pass through the waters, You are with me, the rivers will not sweep over me. When I walk through the fire, I will not be burned; the flames will not set me ablaze (Isaiah 43:1-2). You stand with me in the fiery furnace of affliction. You hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8). You give me the victory in every struggle when I depend on You for my strength and wisdom. Strengthen my vulnerable areas and fortify my weak spots. You are my refuge and my fortress; I put my trust in You. I will make You my dwelling and You will give Your angels charge over me to guard me in all my ways. I will call on You and You will be with me in trouble; You will deliver me (Psalm 91). In the name of Jesus Christ and by His blood shed on the cross, I claim victory over my enemy and bind up the work of Satan, the destroyer. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Exodus 15:2-3, “The Lord is my strength and defense; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.

Psalm 17:8, Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.

Psalm 91, ¹Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ³Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. ⁴He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. ⁵You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ⁶nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. ⁷A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. ⁸You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. ⁹If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, ¹⁰no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. ¹¹For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ¹²they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ¹³You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. ^14”Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. ¹⁵He will call on Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. ¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Isaiah 43:1-2, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Jeremiah 20:11, But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.

Matthew 4:4, Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Galatians 4:7, So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.

Ephesians 6:10-18, ¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, an after you have done everything to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Philippians 4:4-7, ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 53 – Be Humble

May14

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 53

Be Humble

Lord, please give me a picture of what it means to be humble. What would You have me do walk in greater humility? How do You want me to serve others? I confess that I am prideful, and I request that expose my pride every time it surfaces. Help me to see the error of my ways.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

Dear one, I am your Father in heaven, the Sovereign Lord of all, everlasting God, Creator of the ends of the earth (Isaiah 40:28). I speak and even the wind and waves obey My voice (Mark 4:41). I rule and reign over heaven and earth, yet I gave the life of My Son for you. Jesus Christ is the picture of humility. He humbled Himself, taking on flesh of a man, in order to reconcile you to Me so that we could share an intimate relationship. He came to earth not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:26).

Jesus, My Son, bore the weight of all the sins of humankind: past, present, and future; once for all. This is real—it’s a personal sacrifice—He humbled Himself and died for your sin. He laid down His life in exchange for yours. He suffered the worst possible death, hanging on a cross—a sentence reserved for the worst of criminals. He did it willingly in obedience to His Father’s will. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13). You are My friend, and My Son did this for you.

I now ask you to do the same: lay down your life for Me. Humble yourself and I will lift you up (James 4:10). Serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). Value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests but to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:3-4). Set your heart and mind on things above (Colossians 3:1-2), not on earthly things of your own desire. I favor the humble and contrite in spirit (Isaiah 66:2). Clothe yourself with humility toward others, because, I oppose the proud but show favor to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).

In your heart, you make your plans, but it is I, the Lord, who establishes your steps (Proverbs 16:9). Your own plans may fail, but My plans for you are better than you can conceive or imagine. Lay down your pride. Do not be so independent; but be dependent on Me. I hate pride and arrogance (Proverbs 8:13). Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor (Proverbs 29:23). Sow pride and reap destruction; sow humility and reap honor. Love Me with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and live (Luke 10:27-28). I do not say love yourself only and take pride in yourself, but love Me first with your whole heart and love others as you have been loved by Me—unconditionally.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord. I have a better understanding of humility. Please help me walk out your desires. I submit myself to Your Spirit and ask that He would guide me, convict me, and empower me to live according to Your will. May my words and actions be a beautiful aroma to Your senses. Please continue to speak to me even more personally now as we meet one-on-one. Thank You so much. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father, please list some specific ways I have been prideful recently. (Record every thought He gives you.)

Jesus, you are the ultimate example of humility. Help me remember all you’ve done that I might live in a similar manner and bring glory to Your name. Lord, in what areas do I need to get rid of pride? (Write everything you think and hear.)

Holy Spirit, bring Your conviction upon my heart. I confess that my pride shows through in these ways that you have convicted me with just now:_______________ (fill in the blank). Please forgive me and help me live into the new creation You made me when I accepted You as my Savior and Lord.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself and taking on the nature of a man, so that You would be the perfect sacrifice to bring me into a saving relationship with my heavenly Father. Thank You for exposing my pride. Please help me to live in Your humility and victory demonstrated on the cross. As I become the lowly in spirit—the servant—may You become greater and be glorified in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Deuteronomy 10:12, And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

1 Samuel 3:10, The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Psalm 25:9, He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

Psalm 149:4, For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.

Proverbs 8:13, To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 11:2, When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdonm.

Proverbs 16:5, The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 16:9, In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Proverbs 22:4, Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 29:23, Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

Isaiah 40:28, Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.

Isaiah 57:15, For this is what the high and exalted One says—He who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Isaiah 66:2, “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at My word.”

Zephaniah 2:3, Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.

Matthew 11:28, ²⁸“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 20:26, “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 23:12, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Mark 4:41, They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!”

Luke 10:27-28, ²⁷He answered, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ²⁸You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied, “Do this and you will live.”

Luke 14:11, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 22:27, “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”

John 12:26, “Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

John 15:13-14, ¹³“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are My friends if you do what I command.”

2 Corinthians 10:1, By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when fact to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!

Galatians 5:13-14, ¹³You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather; serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ephesians 4:2, Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Philippians 2:3-11, ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ⁵In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; ⁷rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! ⁹Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and ¹¹every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 3:1-2, ¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:23-24, ²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

James 4:6-8, ⁶But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” ⁷Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near to God and He will come near to you.

James 4:10, Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

1 Peter 5:5-6, ⁵In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34). ⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 44 – Confess Your Sin

May5

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 44

Confess Your Sin

Lord, I confess I am sinful, and my sins separate me from You. Lord, I do not want to live a life apart from You. Please forgive my sins, and help me feel the conviction of Your Holy Spirit every time I fall short of Your glory. Father, may I be quick to respond and confess my sin. Holy Spirit, empower me to turn away from temptation and sin; to turn and walk away from it, every time. Lord, sanctify me and make me more like Jesus. Teach me Your ways and fashion me after Your will. Help me to pay attention to Your voice within me; to listen and obey.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

O child of mine, you are not your own; you were bought with a price—the death of My Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Do not feel free to go your own way and continue in rebellion to Me. Partial obedience does not equal obedience. All sin, no matter how small, is disobedience. When you obey Me, I know that you love Me. I will not be anywhere near sin or those who sin. Do not let sin set you apart from Me, but remain in Me with your love and obedience.

All have sinned and fall short of My glory (Romans 3:23). But I loved you so much, while you were still sinners, I sent My Son, Jesus Christ, to die for your sin (Romans 5:8). Death is the required penalty for your sin, but My free gift to you is eternal life (Romans 6:23), when you believe in Me and confess your sin. Confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that I raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

I love you so much, that I gave My one and only Son, Jesus. Whoever believes in Him, shall not die, but experience eternal life (John 3:16). When you confess your sin, I am faithful and just and will forgive you all your sin and purify you (1 John 1:9). When you do sin, you have an Advocate with Me—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for your sins (1 John 2:1-2).

When you confess your sin, then turn and walk away from it. Do not continue in your sinful nature, when you have the Spirit living in you. In Christ, you have crucified the flesh and no longer need to walk in it. But since you now live according to the Spirit, stay in step with the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:24-25). You are a new creation in Jesus Christ, the old is gone, the new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17). Live as the new person you are, claiming your victory in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for you.

When necessary, confess your sins to each other. Seek forgiveness when you have wronged another. You have been forgiven much, therefore, you will be required to forgive as much. Do not be generous with your judgment and stingy with your forgiveness. But forgive one another as you also have been forgiven (Colossians 3:13).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for providing the Way, Jesus Christ, to be reconciled to you despite all my sin. Thank You for loving me, even though I am sinful, and for giving the gift of Your Son to die in my place. Lord, I am so grateful that I may experience Your grace and forgiveness when I confess my sins to You. Lord, please share Your heart with me in a more personal way right now. What do I need to change? What do You see in me? Please pour into my heart directly from Yours, as deep pours into deep. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father, please forgive me, for I have sinned. I confess my sin and weakness in this area:______________ (fill in the blank). I ask your forgiveness in the name of Jesus by His blood. Lord, what do You want to share with me about this? (Record all that you hear.)

Jesus, my atoning sacrificial Lamb of God, thank You for taking away my sin. Please tell me what You want me to know about Your love and Your sacrifice. (Write down every word and thought you receive.)

Holy Spirit, thank You for Your convicting work in my heart. Please reveal any other layers of sin that need to be confessed regarding this situation. Tell me what I need to do. (Journal everything you hear, think, and feel. Then, be obedient to what He asks you to do.)

Prayer:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I appreciate all that You have done for me. I thank You for working together to accomplish in me the work You have started in me. I am a work in progress, and I am grateful that You are patient with me, every time I fail. Thank You for picking me back up, brushing me off, and setting my feet back on Your firm foundation. Thank You for second chances, and third, and fourth. I love You, and I will do better in the future with Your help. I cannot do any of this on my own. I am completely dependent on You, so I submit myself to You now. I commend my spirit into the hands of Your Spirit and ask that You will carry on Your continual redemptive, renovation work in me. In the name of Jesus, my Redeemer, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Psalm 32:5, Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 65:3, When we were overwhelmed by sins, You forgave our transgressions.

Jeremiah 15:19, Therefore, this is what the says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve Me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be My spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.”

Ezekiel 18:30-32, ³⁰“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. ³¹Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? ³²For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”

Luke 13:3, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Luke 15:7, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Luke 15:10, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

John 16:7-11, ⁷“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ⁸When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹about sin, because people do not believe in Me; ¹⁰about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; ¹¹and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

Acts 3:18-20, ¹⁸But this is how God fulfilled what He had foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Messiah would suffer. ¹⁹Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰and that He may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

Romans 2:4-8, ⁴Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? ⁵But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” ⁷To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. ⁸But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Romans 3:23-24, ²³For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:8, But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-10, ⁹If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ¹⁹Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 7:10, Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Galatians 5:24-25, ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Colossians 3:13, Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

James 5:16, Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

1 John 1:8-2:2, ^1:8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us. ^2:1My dear children, I write this to anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ²He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 37 – Be Armed for Spiritual Battle

Apr28

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 37

Be Armed for Spiritual Battle

Lord, sometimes I can really relate to what Paul said in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Why do I continue to behave and respond in the flesh, when You have given me new life in the Spirit? What is this battle raging within me that keeps me from living the sanctified life You intended for me? Lord, I confess my sin and ask that You would help me fight this battle and win.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

It is good for you to realize that you are involved in a form of daily spiritual battle between the flesh and the Spirit. Use the Holy Spirit’s power to annihilate the force of sin in your life. Sin has no control over you, unless you allow it to. You are no longer a slave to sin; but Jesus Christ has rescued you and delivered you from all evil (Romans 7:24-25). You are a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). You have the same power living in you that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-21). The Holy Spirit is your ally and defender. You may exercise His supernatural strength in all your encounters. I am your Warrior God; I help you fight your battles and win them!

Also understand that you live in a continual spiritual warfare of good vs. evil. Every morning, dress yourself for spiritual battle by putting on the full Armor of God, so that you will be able to stand your ground. Gird your waist with the belt of truth, claiming who you are in Christ; you are supernaturally empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. With the helmet of salvation, you put on the mind of Christ, giving you wisdom and discernment with regard to your enemy and his attacks. Secure the breastplate of righteousness in place to protect your heart and defend your birthright as a child of God. Hold up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Stand firm with your feet fitted with the sandals of the gospel of peace. Take up and carry the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God so you can fight against the enemy’s lies with the truth of Scripture and God’s promises. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Always be alert and keep on praying for all God’s people (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Draw on the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit whenever you find yourself in a diabolical battle. Your enemy’s attacks may be subtle. Sometimes you do not even know you are in a fight until you have lost. Remain alert to the devil’s ways, knowing that he will first go after your weakest areas. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). When you are in a struggle against another human, consider the provocative nature of the evil one. Often times, he is your true opponent. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Do not fall prey to his devious schemes. Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Live as wise, not as unwise (Ephesians 5:15). Remember that Christ has already defeated Satan, sin, death and the grave. Do not give the devil more power than he is due. Christ has made him powerless. Claim your victory over evil and the evil one, by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. You are victorious in Jesus Christ. Stand firm and win over evil. You are armed with power from on high to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10;19).

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for shedding Your blood on the cross and claiming Your victory over sin, death, and the grave. Thank You for providing me that same victory, as well as, power and authority over all evil and the evil one. I am so grateful that I do not stand alone to battle the forces of evil, but You stand at my side. You are my Warrior God, hiding me in the shadow of Your wings and protecting me from my enemies. Lord, thank You for providing me the Armor of God, so that I may stand firm in battle and remain standing. Thank You for the victory and for the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. Please help me be alert to the ways of the enemy and engage in battle with the weapons and authority You provide. Please speak to me now and share Your wisdom with me to better prepare me for anything the enemy throws my way.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Loving Father, please expose the broken places in my heart and show me my areas of weakness that the enemy will most certainly go after. (Record all thoughts that come to mind in this moment.)

Jesus, my Victor, please enlighten me to the truth about my vulnerabilities exposed above. Replace the lies of the enemy with Your truth. Tell me how to defend myself against the enemy attacks in these areas. (Write down all thoughts, ideas, and Scripture verses that come to mind right now.)

Holy Spirit, please help me be alert to Satan and his ways. Remind me that I struggle not with flesh and blood, but against the evil one. Empower me with the Word of God to fight these attacks. Please give me verses that will combat the enemy when he strikes my weak spots. (Journal all His words and verses He leads you to for this application.)

Prayer:

Almighty Lord, thank You for sharing Your wisdom, words, power and protection with me as I fight these daily battles. Lord, I ask that You will daily empower me with Your wisdom and Your Word. Lord, help me always remain alert to the enemy’s ways and recognize each battle I engage in for what it truly is. I claim my victory in You. I claim all power and authority over evil and the evil one, in the name of Jesus Christ, and by His blood. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Luke 10:18-19, ¹⁸He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

Romans 7:14-25, ¹⁴We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. ²¹So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²²For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Ephesians 1:19-21, ¹⁹and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 5:15-20, ¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not become drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:8-11, ⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ¹⁰And the God of grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. ¹¹To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 19 – Crucified with Christ

Apr10

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 19 – Crucified with Christ

Lord Jesus, Romans 6:6 concludes that I have been crucified with You and I died with You, and if I died with You, then I was raised with You and now live with You. This concept is so difficult for me to grasp. I have suffered nothing compared to the sacrifice You made for me. I do not feel worthy to claim this truth, and yet, if I do not, then You died for nothing! Lord, help me understand the meaning of being crucified with Christ.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My beloved sons and daughters, do not be confused by the concepts in My Word. The simple truth is I died for you. I died once for all the sins of all mankind, past, present, and future. When you invite Me into your heart to be your Savior and Lord, you confess that I am the Son of God, the Lamb of God, who died to take away the sins of the world. You believe in your heart that God raised Me from the dead. When you confess this and believe this, you will be saved. You become My child, and you will spend all eternity with Me.

I died for your sin, in your place, on the cross. So, in essence, your sin died with Me; your old sinful self died with Me. My Word says that you have been crucified with Christ, and you no longer live, but Christ lives in you (Galatians 2:19). But wait, there’s more! Christ did not remain in the grave. God raised Him from the dead! He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father.

Therefore, if you died with Christ, you were raised with Christ. Your old self is gone, your new self is here (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. Do not spend too much time trying to grasp the depth of this concept. Keep it simple. Sometimes, you need to exercise your faith and simply believe that My Word is true. You have been crucified with Christ, and you no longer live, but Jesus Christ lives in and through you (Galatians 2:19).

Do not give in, then, to the former ways of the flesh. Those old ways were nailed to the cross and died. You are dead to sin and alive to Christ. Live your new life in step with the Spirit of the risen Jesus Christ, whom I have deposited in your heart.

I have reconciled you to Myself, and I remember your sins no more (Jeremiah 31:34). You must forget them also. Do not cling to the past, but live in your present state, alive in Christ and fully forgiven. Accept My forgiveness in full. When you do not accept My forgiveness in full, you do not accept the complete work of Christ on the cross. Now, do as I do, and remember your sins no more. You are fully forgiven; fully accept it and live in the freedom that brings.

Do not hold on to your sinful nature. That was nailed to the cross as well. You now have new life in Jesus. Live for Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and God, Himself, who sanctifies you through and through (1 Thessalonians 5:23). You are holy and righteous because I have bought you with a price and redeemed you (Psalm 103:4). You are Mine.

Prayer:

Father, Your work in me is amazing. Your Spirit in me is right. I am no longer a slave to sin (Romans 6:6), sin is not my master. I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. Thank You for your gift of saving grace through the death of Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord. I am crucified with Christ, and therefore, I am risen with Him, and He lives in me. Hallelujah! Praise You, Lord. And now will you speak to my heart about this some more. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father, why did You send Your Son, Jesus, to die for me? (Record what God says to you in your thoughts.)

Jesus, I am so humbled that You would die for me and count me in on the act. I am crucified with You. Please share Your heart with me on this. (Write the words Jesus gives you in your heart and mind.)

Holy Spirit, empower me to claim this victory over death, sin, and the grave, by the precious blood of Jesus, my risen Savior. Show me my part in this plan. (Note the impressions and thoughts you experience right now.)

Review the Holy Spirit’s thoughts and impressions you’ve sensed and written above. What Scripture comes to mind as you review your notes? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up an impression from God’s Word. Record the verse or passage here. Write all insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit illumines for you as you read God’s Word right now.

Prayer:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You all are so precious to me. Thank You for Your love and work in my life. Thank You for Your favor and Your grace. Thank You for Your unselfish acts. May You be glorified! Thank You for the words and thoughts You gave me just now. I am so blessed to be in relationship with You, to know Your heart and Your thoughts. Let me not take this for granted. You are my personal, living Lord, who lives and reigns in me. Have Your way in me, Lord. Sanctify me through and through, to make me more like You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Psalm 103:2-5, Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Jeremiah 31:34, “No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins on more.”

Romans 6:5-14, ⁵For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. ⁶For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—⁷because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. ⁹For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. ¹⁰The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. ¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.

Galatians 2:19-21, ¹⁹“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ²¹I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Galatians 5:24-25, Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

2 Thessalonians 2:13, But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

1 Peter 1:2, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 7 – I Forgive You

Mar29

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 7

I Forgive You

Father, I am so humbled that You would shower me with Your grace and forgiveness. I am nothing but a sinner, and yet, You love me, in spite of my sin. Why? Why do You forgive me again and again, even forget all my sins (Hebrews 8:12)?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

I am your Father and Forgiver. I created you with a free will to choose. From the beginning, I allowed humankind the free will to make their own choices and decisions. Unfortunately, humans were deceived by the evil one and chose disobedience. Sin entered the world and clouded the vision of my children. Still, I would have it no other way. I created you with your own free will. Which way will you choose? Obedience or disobedience? Life or death?

I created you in My image with a mind to reason, a heart to love, and a will to survive. You are a beautiful representation of My character and My love. Yes, your flesh causes you to sin, but your sin does not define you. Your identity is in Christ. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus, the old is gone, the new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17). Claim your new identity as My child and discard your old way of living.

No temptation will overtake you. I am faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, I will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). You always have a choice—good or evil, obedience or disobedience. Choose wisely. Do not rely on your own strength, but depend on Me and draw on My power within you.

When you are tempted, look within your own heart to My Spirit. The Holy Spirit will empower you to choose the right way every time. It’s up to you to claim that power and walk in victory. Do not be overcome by sin and temptation, but overcome sin and temptation by My power and My might. You have the same power living in you that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-21). Tap into that power and stay on the narrow path that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). Choose life!

Daily dress yourself in My spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). This too will keep you from falling into temptation and sin. Recognize that evil is all around you. Stand firm in your convictions. Fight the daily battle against the evil one and the powers of darkness. Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

I love you, My child. I have forgiven you, now you must forgive others as I have forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

Prayer:

Father in heaven, I am so thankful that You created me to love me and care for me. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for sending Your Son to die in my place, so that relationship with You is possible. Lord, I feel indebted to You forever. But You would have done it anyway, even if I was the only sinner on earth. Thank You for Your Spirit who empowers me to resist temptation and sin. Thank You for providing a way out. Lord, will you now meet with me and share more of Your heart with me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

God, please share your heart with me about sending Your Son to die for me. (Record the thoughts God gives you.)

Jesus, what were Your thoughts as You willing went to the cross for me? (Write the impressions He places on your heart.)

Holy Spirit, remind me of an idea or verse from Scripture that will better impact me on the magnitude of God’s forgiveness. (Jot down any word or verse that comes to mind.)

Prayer:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for meeting with me and taking me into the deep places of Your heart. Thank You for sharing Your truth and promises with me. I value Your wisdom and direction as You teach me Your ways. Thank You for Your love and provision. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Psalm 32:5, Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Zechariah 4:6, So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Matthew 6:12-15, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter thought it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Luke 6:37-38, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Ephesians 1:7-8, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.

Ephesians 1:19-21, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 4:32, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 6:10-18, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, an after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Colossians 2:13-15, When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 3:13-14, Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Hebrews 8:12, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 5 – I am Your Living Water

Mar27

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 5

I am Your Living Water

Lord Jesus, I am hungry for your love and thirsty for your companionship. Please come and sit with me now, and satisfy my longings. Let my hunger forever be contented by You only, and my thirst forever be fulfilled by Your presence. Jesus, love me with Your words and quench my insatiable cravings. Please pour into me now a fresh filling of Your Living Water, the Holy Spirit.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

From the moment you believed in Me, you have had access to My living water, the Holy Spirit. You may come to Me anytime you are thirsty. When you drink of My living water, you will never thirst. I am the spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14). My living water is the only thing that will satisfy your spiritual thirst. Your needs can be met nowhere else but in Me. Come to Me and drink. Drink freely from the fountain of life.

I have loved you with an everlasting love. My love is the only remedy for your soul. Your longings can be met only in relationship with Me. I am the medicine for your pain. I am the food for your hunger and the water for your thirst. I am the wisdom for your questions. I am the shelter in your storm. I am your Comforter in times of grief and loss. I am your companion in your hour of need. I will never leave you or forget about you (Joshua 1:5). I am with you always.

Believe in Me and rivers of living water will flow from within you (John 7:38). Tune in to Me daily. I am the voice of God within you. Take delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). Commit your way to Me, and I will make firm your steps; I will uphold you (Psalm 37:23-24). Sow your seed in time spent with Me, and I will bring forth a garden of peace and satisfaction in your spirit.

I am the bounce in your step, the sparkle in your eyes, the joy in your spirit, and the hope in your heart. A life lived apart from Me is no life at all. Spend time with Me each morning. Put your trust in Me, submit yourself to Me, and I will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). I will lead you to springs of living water (Revelation 7:17). I am the passage through which your spiritual lifeblood flows. I am the living water, flowing from a place of righteousness.

Turn your thoughts to Me. Set your mind on what the Spirit desires and live in accordance to My will. Do not be controlled by the flesh, but let your mind be directed by Me. In this, you will find your life and peace (See Romans 8:5-6). I will teach you all things and remind you of everything Jesus said. I am the gift of Jesus, your inner peace. Do not let your heart be troubled (John 14:26-27). You can be at peace, even in the middle of the storm. Simply tune into My Spirit within.

You may return to the well of the world time and time again, but your thirst will never be satisfied. Let down your bucket into the well of My Spirit, and I will fill it to overflowing with My living water. I am your confidence. Find your peace and joy in Me and nothing else. Let Me demonstrate My love and faithfulness to you. Drink deeply from My well and find rest for your weary soul. I am your lifeblood. I am your living water, welling up to eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Dear God & Jesus, I thank You for the indescribably awesome gift of Your Holy Spirit living within me. Thank You for the incredible picture of being my living water. I praise You that You offer an easily accessible way that my needs and longings will be met. I will not thirst when I drink deeply from the well of Your living water within my soul. You provide all my needs and desires. Thank You for caring for me so deeply and completely. Let Your living water flow through me right now as I spend a few minutes with You alone. Allow me to hear and recognize Your voice within me as You satisfy my thirst for more and more of You.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Holy Spirit, what does it mean to me that You exist in me as living water? (Write the first thing that comes to your mind.)

How does your living water help me in my daily life? (Record the thoughts He give you.)

Allow me to bask in the river of Your eternal love. Please tell me what You think of me? Lord, what do You want me to hear from you today? (Jot down all words and thoughts that pop into your mind right now.)

Review the Holy Spirit’s thoughts and impressions you’ve written above. What Scripture comes to mind as you review your notes? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up an impression from God’s Word. Record the verse or passage here. Write all insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit illumines for you as you read God’s Word right now.

Prayer:

Dear Holy Spirit of God, I thank You for dwelling in me as a fountain of water welling up to eternal life. You are my living water, the lifeblood that flows through my heart. My life is so much richer because of Your presence in me. Help me fight for the time to spend alone with You. Please daily pour into me a fresh and continuous filling of your living water. Cleanse me and wash me whiter than snow. Satisfy all my longings and give me the desires of my heart. I want to live with a heart for God, allowing the overflow of Your love to burst forth from my inner fountain into the lives of others who are parched and weary. Lord, help me to love myself as You do, so that I may love others with the love You pour into me. Let me be Your fountain of life bringing Your encouragement to another desperately thirsty soul. Thank You for Your love and Your presence in my life. I am eternally grateful for these awesome gifts. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

John 4:10, Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:13-14, Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Joshua 1:5, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.”

John 7:37-39, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Psalm 37:4, Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:23-24, The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your path straight.

Revelation 7:16-17, “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.”

Romans 8 – See whole chapter.

Romans 8:5-6, Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:11, And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.

John 14:26-27, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Revelation 22:17, The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

A Delicate Balance

Oct1

Body

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Mind

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

Spirit

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:10-12)

My beloved one,

Honor Me with your body—it is My dwelling place. Deep within your inmost being, I make your heart My home. Do not defile your body, it is My holy temple. You are not your own. You have been purchased by My blood; I redeemed you. You belong to Me; therefore, honor Me with your body. You are My child. Put to death the misdeeds of the body and live by the Spirit of the One Who adopted you for all time.

Renew your mind with My good pleasure. Immerse yourself daily in My Word. Do not be conformed to the ways of this world, but be transformed by Me. Do not believe the lies that originate in the darkness. But listen to the truth spoken by My Spirit. Let Him recreate your thoughts. Bathe yourself in Scripture, using it as your fortress and your defense on the battlefield of your mind.

Your spirit has been linked with mine. Live in step with the Spirit, disregarding the desires of the flesh. Set your mind on what the Spirit desires and deny the impulses of the body. When your body, mind, and spirit all cooperate with My Spirit, He gives life to your mortal body and purifies your depraved mind.

The balance between body, mind, and spirit is delicate and difficult to achieve. Only when you live by My Spirit will you find your equilibrium. Listen to My voice within and submit yourself daily into My care and guidance. I am here to help you succeed. Take My hand and walk with Me. I will see you through your challenges and rejoice with you in your victories. We will overcome.

Let My children, called by My name, delight with Me in the joy of My salvation!

Sindy Nagel

Author/Speaker Communicating Messages from God's Heart to Yours and Helping You Hear His Voice Within

Tag Archive | flesh

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 59 – Fruit of the Spirit

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 56 – Set Free in Christ

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 55 – Spiritual Battle

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 53 – Be Humble

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 44 – Confess Your Sin

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 37 – Be Armed for Spiritual Battle

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 19 – Crucified with Christ

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 7 – I Forgive You

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 5 – I am Your Living Water

A Delicate Balance