Overcome Evil With Good And Grow

Have you been feeling fearful or maligned lately? Been the target of malevolent or hateful treatment? What about persecution, harassment or oppression in it's various psychological and emotional ways? Do you wonder where your Father God is as you struggle to righteously endure the unceasing unfairness that he seems to be allowing?

Do not doubt that he is aware. Furthermore, he knows why you feel the way that you do. He knows the causes of your confusion and anger and he is not mad at you. When will he ever do something about what you are suffering? I don't know. Will he ever stop it? I don't know. Despite our uncertainties and intense anxieties, there is always a place where we can take refuge in a way that pleases God. We should always want to please and glorify him, no matter what. 

I pray every morning before I speak to or encounter anyone in person or online. I also do talking prayer to God throughout the day. When these distressed feelings are particularly severe, however, I need something else to help me. Rather than attack others (in my mind or outwardly) who may seem to be the cause of my troubles, I like to quote Psalm 91. I have it written on three little sheets of paper that I've taped together.

I keep the little packet in the place where I am most of the day. I can find it either on my art work table or at my computer. When I feel particularly distressed, I pick it up and walk around my home reading it aloud.

I bring the words out of my spirit and put them into my atmosphere, where they will grow and bear good fruit, within and all around me. I listen to myself speaking the Living Word of God, that which will transform and convert. I always feel better and equipped for the next stage of battle when I do this. 

Don't fight with others. Don't attack others in mind, spirit or physically. Don't repay evil for evil. Do good by speaking the Holy Scripture passage that will carry you to the next level of walking in God's light and growing in Christ.

Mornings With God

Begin each morning with prayer and triumph throughout the day.

I feel wonderful when I start my day with God! Before I talk with anyone, before I answer emails, before I open my door to anyone, before I engage with the world through sight, speech or reading, I engage with my Heavenly Father. First thing!

I probably have written about this before but I am actually afraid to start my day without talking to God first. It's dangerous. It's the same as going into a serious war without weapons.

It's suicide. It's murder, self-murder to go into any battle without having the center area of our bodies protected with our breastplates, without having our feet armor on, without hefting up our shields, without putting on our helmets and without our all-important swords. (Ephesians 6:14-17) These weapons of warfare don't come automatically. They don't put themselves on us. We have to put them on, to dress out, to suit up at the beginning of every day.

Cares of the world take over when we don't start out with God.

We cannot handle the issues of our private lives and our relationships with the world without God. When we don't set our day with him first, we find very little time to do it later. The cares of the world quickly take over as the day advances and serious thoughts about God are often crowded out.

We have to be aware of God to feel that he's helping us and to recognize his help when he sends it. Since he often sends help in unusual ways, we have to be close to God to not only recognize that help but to accept it.

Feel close to God all day when you meet him first thing.

When I meet God before I start my day, I feel close to him all day and into the night. It leads me to think about him often throughout the day. I am reminded to talk to him and pray little prayers at various points during my day. These are all very important for us to live an ever-increasing, strengthened Christian life. 

Whatever time you begin your day start it with God!

Now your day may begin at a different time every 24 hrs. You may have some temporary changes in your schedule where sometimes you stay up all night or late into the night, and arise in the afternoon or evening. It doesn't matter with regards to meeting God in the morning. Your morning is whenever you get up from an extended period of sleeping. The beginning of your day is whenever you start it.

Satan never rests. His demons never rest. Evil influence never rests. Wicked plans never cease. We can't rest either when it comes to seeking God's face, drawing nigh to him and putting on his whole armor at the beginning of every, single day! 

God In The Morning

I met God in the morning
When my day was at its best,
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.

 

All day long the Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.

 

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the Presence left behind.

 

So I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day!

~ Ralph Spaulding Cushman ~

 

How To Take Communion In Faith

I was reading I Corinthians 11:23-34 this morning and taking Communion. I began to think about the burdens that Christians put on each other about the Eucharist. The scriptures 27-33 seem to some to mean that we must go over, recount and acknowledge our sins before we can take part in the Lord's Supper. While it can be helpful to clear our minds of ill will, we can't ensure, through a few quick thoughts, that we are perfect.

In verses 28-29 we are encouraged to discern the Lord's body as we take Communion. We are to perceive that Christ's sacrifice on the Cross cleansed us from unrighteousness. We are to recognize that He is at the right hand of the Father always intervening on our behalf. When we remember, at the time of Communion, that the Blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is able to cover our transgressions, past, present and future, we have discerned the Lord's body. These are thoughts that we should enjoy daily.

We can read the Bible daily and pray with sincerity so that the cleansing power of prayer and the transformational power of the Word is continually converting us. This will help us to exist in a state of discerning the body of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Take Communion with faith. Don't be afraid.