Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Hosea 6:1-3 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

“Come, let us return to the Lord;
for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;
he has struck down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”

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Reflect

Recently I have been reading some of the classic Christian devotionals. One that has had a profound impact on my thoughts has been “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence. In one of his conversations he said,

“I must tell you, that for the first ten years I suffered much: the apprehension that I was not devoted to GOD, as I wished to be, my past sins always present to my mind, and the great unmerited favors which GOD did me, were the matter and source of my sufferings. During this time I fell often, and rose again presently. It seemed to me that the creatures, reason, and GOD Himself were against me; And faith alone for me.I was troubled sometimes with thoughts, that to believe I had received such favors was an effect of my presumption, which pretended to be at once where others arrive with difficulty; at other times that it was a willful delusion, and that there was no salvation for me.”

I get this, I get this deep down in my bones. Chances are that you get this. The hardest part of faith for me is not to believe the resurrection being true, or the authority of the Word of God, or submission to Christ the King. The most difficult thing for me to do is to believe that God has forgiven me. That not only has God forgiven me, but loves me, and showers blessings on me, and the most incredulous thing is being called a child of God.

I feel like Charles Wesley when he wrote, “And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain? For me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
I pray every day for the Holy Spirit to remind me of these great truths

 

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Pray

Lord, I love you with all my mind, with my heart, with my soul, and my strength. Continually keep me in your care that I might apprehend and appropriate your love to me. Strengthen my unbelief. Receive my gratitude for what it is, imperfect but authentic. In Christ name, we pray and stand, Amen.

Go with God!