When a brother said that it is vital that we "keep the main thing the main thing", it reminded me that recently the Lord has opened up for us some understanding - by that, I mean revelation - of a life scripture He gave me long ago. I fretted and strove to understand it, and kept it on my fridg for years, because He told me to study it. I didn't get it. Time went by and I forgot about it. Then in recent years it would come up now and then and I knew I still didn't get it. When He gave us some revelation, He afterward reminded me of the verse. Isn't God cool?
The verse is, "There is great gain in godliness with contentment."
What IS contentment?
After years of learning about Trust, and Him showing me that trust in the Father was lost in the Garden even before they sinned, and the journey BACK to God is relearning Trust, this revelation is about His GRACE and REST. As with all revelation, I'm stuck on how to explain this... Our basis for salvation is not of ourselves, lest any man should boast - and YET - how boastful are many who minister in His Name? How proud are some of the people in church about their saved status? How special are they? Are they more special than anyone else who does not yet KNOW Jesus? No. The great unwashed are every bit as much treasures to the Father, and their sins were carried by our Lord Christ along with all of our own. It's ALL about Grace. We truly can't earn His favor or reward by our busyness and "ministry", because He gave us the wonderful example already in Scripture... Some came to work in the field early in the morning, and He promised them a certain payment for their day's work. Some came later, and He promised them the same payment. Some came at the last hour, and they also received the promised payment. The ones who worked all day long complained that this was unfair, but He reminded them that in the morning, they had agreed with the offer. And He was the boss making the payment, and He said it was fair. (So, who were they to argue?)
IF we learn to trust our Father God as a kind, generous, patient, GOOD God, Who is always FOR us and not ever AGAINST us, then we can shed all fear of coming into His Presence, now or after death. We can learn to sit like Mary did at His feet, and learn from Him, and soak in His lovingkindness TOWARD us. We can "be still and know that He is God." In this is REST. We can REST from our labors and the indictment made on Adam after the fall. What is the chief end of man, but to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? Grace is raining over us at all times.
Grace is the atmosphere we breathe in His Presence. Unmerited forgiveness and kindness and favor. Unmerited. Given by the One Who gives because it is His nature to do so. Given because He knows our frame, that we are dust. Given because He creates us in our mothers' wombs for Himself, for His delight, for His own pleasure, and for His holy purposes. Given because He is the All Wise, and knows the end from the beginning. He knows all that will be, and how He will bring to pass all of His own heart's desires and plans. He knows the plans He has for us, and they are plans for good, not for harm, for blessing and not for calamity. Why, then, do I worry? Because I forget that my God loves me and that He will work all things for my good because I love Him and I am among those called according to His purposes. Why am I sometimes afraid? Because I forget that it is not that my God is like ME (puny and inadequate), but that I am somehow made like HIM and He will not forget me, never leave me, nor forsake me. I am an image bearer of the Most High God, and when I forget that it is all about GRACE, then I do not reflect Him well to the world. When I choose to believe that my works define me, then the world rejects the image I show them. That's good, actually, because that is a false image.
Contentment is resting in our trustworthy God's grace at all times.
May we pray in these last days as the great and dark deception covers the earth, that the Church may shine brighter and brighter, not only with good deeds, but with the love of Jesus Christ raining compassion on every kind of people, extending grace and mercy. May you experience more and more of His grace for yourself.
My next art project is going to be about coming into the atmosphere of Grace and out of the darkness of negative emotions. Keep watching for my soon-coming website with reproductions of my paintings for sale. Pray for me, please, and all the other artists who are seeking to glorify God with their gifts. And may He meet you right where you are and bless you abundantly!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Have You Been Called to Pray?
I was unchurched as a child. I got married at 18, and got saved at almost 21. It was in the Jesus Movement, and we were off the wall, feet off the floor, way out there Charismatics. I still am. My husband is calmer than I, but that's just his personality, not his spirituality. We didn't understand how anyone who knew Jesus could possibly be calm about it, or reserved, or ho- hum. How could people just sit in their pews, or not talk about Him all the time? He is so amazing, and He loves US!!! What better reason to jump and shout and be a fanatic?
Because I had not had religion in my life, I had missed all the unbelief that layers so many congregations. I just figured that the Bible is God's Word, and is true. Therefore, if there's something in there that I couldn't understand, the problem was with my understanding, and not with it being untrue. Being that innocent was a real blessing, and God could get hold of me about stuff that lots of people struggle with. I was eager to accept what He said, and to hope that He would bring it to pass for me, in me, and through me.
By His precious Spirit He told me who I am in His Body, and that I am a prophet. Well, maybe you already know that it takes several decades of walking with the Lord to Become a Prophet, and that what He declares about us is not always immediately made manifest! I suffered a lot over the years because I "knew" who I was, and others didn't always "see" that! (wry grin here) The point in telling you this story is that along the way, I kept hearing about "intercessors" and "intercessory prayer" while I was out there hearing 'words' for folks and sharing them. I was learning to listen carefully and share only what I heard from Holy Spirit, growing in the gift of prophecy.
Remember that my only experiences with church were all brand new without context - completely subjective. Well, all I 'knew' about intercessors was my impression that they were little old ladies with blue hair who sat in somebody's parlor gossiping about Ethel's arthritis or wayward son and calling it prayer. Sound offensive? Sound condescending? Oh, yeah. I thought my gift was 'bigger' than that. My Father loves to show me when I am being judgmental or proud. Prophets can't afford to have such mess in their hearts.
He began to speak with me about prayer, and told me that I am an intercessor. So, it behooved me to find out what that really means. He began to teach me. He put me in relationship with other intercessors. He "grew me up" in my gifts and calling. He later told me that one can be an intercessor and not be a prophet, but one can never be a prophet without being an intercessor. That's because a prophet must have God's heart for people. He even taught me that if I did NOT have his heart, I had no right to give a prophetic word to Anyone. Even a stranger deserves to have someone prophetic speak from God's heart, and not their own judgment mixed in with God's holy word. And when we do know someone, it can be even harder not to mix in the advice we have been wanting to give them with the pure, unadulterated word we hear from God. But it is imperative.
This is about integrity. It's about being an instrument instead of a Personality.
It is His desire for us each to be mightily used as His humble servant, as His listening friend, as His dear child, as His ministering healer. He wants us to have a heart to help, and not to hurt. What is the beginning of the Physician's creed, but "First of all, do no harm..."
How do we do this, but to let Him have His perfect way - with us, in us, with others, and for others. As you pray, put His will above your own. Desire for His plan to take effect, even over your own need, or opinion, or heartache. Want what He wants more than what you want. And His mighty, warm, and gentle hand will rest on your bent head as He lovingly approves your prayers.
We are all on a journey, and you are well on the road. Never think you have already arrived, ok? This portion of the road may have been difficult, but even if you don't feel successful, even if you feel you are failing, Jesus is the Captain of your victory, and He will not let you fail. There is a contemporary Christian song that says something like, "if you see me on my knees it's not because I've failed. I'm getting stronger: I'm on my knees." Every humbling experience makes His power more real to us, and His devotion and constancy more real to us. He is always real, but what we receive and know we must also appropriate and walk in. He will use this experience, as hard as it has been, to continue to change YOU and what He can do in and through you in the days ahead. There is always more. He is the God of "yes, and..." He is the Almighty. His purposes for you are already written in His book, and He is taking you by the hand and leading you into the fullness thereof.
And may the oil of healing drip off of your fingers, may His love shine from your eyes, may His salvation be a warm cloud of incense that exudes from your being so that everyone around you breathes in His Presence and His acceptance and His forgiveness wherever you go.
May you continue to be strengthened as you remain on your knees.
Your fellow prayer warrior,
Sarah, She Who Waits
Because I had not had religion in my life, I had missed all the unbelief that layers so many congregations. I just figured that the Bible is God's Word, and is true. Therefore, if there's something in there that I couldn't understand, the problem was with my understanding, and not with it being untrue. Being that innocent was a real blessing, and God could get hold of me about stuff that lots of people struggle with. I was eager to accept what He said, and to hope that He would bring it to pass for me, in me, and through me.
By His precious Spirit He told me who I am in His Body, and that I am a prophet. Well, maybe you already know that it takes several decades of walking with the Lord to Become a Prophet, and that what He declares about us is not always immediately made manifest! I suffered a lot over the years because I "knew" who I was, and others didn't always "see" that! (wry grin here) The point in telling you this story is that along the way, I kept hearing about "intercessors" and "intercessory prayer" while I was out there hearing 'words' for folks and sharing them. I was learning to listen carefully and share only what I heard from Holy Spirit, growing in the gift of prophecy.
Remember that my only experiences with church were all brand new without context - completely subjective. Well, all I 'knew' about intercessors was my impression that they were little old ladies with blue hair who sat in somebody's parlor gossiping about Ethel's arthritis or wayward son and calling it prayer. Sound offensive? Sound condescending? Oh, yeah. I thought my gift was 'bigger' than that. My Father loves to show me when I am being judgmental or proud. Prophets can't afford to have such mess in their hearts.
He began to speak with me about prayer, and told me that I am an intercessor. So, it behooved me to find out what that really means. He began to teach me. He put me in relationship with other intercessors. He "grew me up" in my gifts and calling. He later told me that one can be an intercessor and not be a prophet, but one can never be a prophet without being an intercessor. That's because a prophet must have God's heart for people. He even taught me that if I did NOT have his heart, I had no right to give a prophetic word to Anyone. Even a stranger deserves to have someone prophetic speak from God's heart, and not their own judgment mixed in with God's holy word. And when we do know someone, it can be even harder not to mix in the advice we have been wanting to give them with the pure, unadulterated word we hear from God. But it is imperative.
This is about integrity. It's about being an instrument instead of a Personality.
It is His desire for us each to be mightily used as His humble servant, as His listening friend, as His dear child, as His ministering healer. He wants us to have a heart to help, and not to hurt. What is the beginning of the Physician's creed, but "First of all, do no harm..."
How do we do this, but to let Him have His perfect way - with us, in us, with others, and for others. As you pray, put His will above your own. Desire for His plan to take effect, even over your own need, or opinion, or heartache. Want what He wants more than what you want. And His mighty, warm, and gentle hand will rest on your bent head as He lovingly approves your prayers.
We are all on a journey, and you are well on the road. Never think you have already arrived, ok? This portion of the road may have been difficult, but even if you don't feel successful, even if you feel you are failing, Jesus is the Captain of your victory, and He will not let you fail. There is a contemporary Christian song that says something like, "if you see me on my knees it's not because I've failed. I'm getting stronger: I'm on my knees." Every humbling experience makes His power more real to us, and His devotion and constancy more real to us. He is always real, but what we receive and know we must also appropriate and walk in. He will use this experience, as hard as it has been, to continue to change YOU and what He can do in and through you in the days ahead. There is always more. He is the God of "yes, and..." He is the Almighty. His purposes for you are already written in His book, and He is taking you by the hand and leading you into the fullness thereof.
And may the oil of healing drip off of your fingers, may His love shine from your eyes, may His salvation be a warm cloud of incense that exudes from your being so that everyone around you breathes in His Presence and His acceptance and His forgiveness wherever you go.
May you continue to be strengthened as you remain on your knees.
Your fellow prayer warrior,
Sarah, She Who Waits
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