PRAYER CHOICE- PRAYER CONFLICT- SPIRITUAL INDEX

August 24, 2017

“When you pray enter into your closet,

and…pray to your Father in secret. 

Matthew 6:6

“Or, what man is there of you, whom

 if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?”

Matthew 7:9

Prayer is to be in a secret place.

Prayer is an effort of the will.

Shut the door!

We have to discipline our minds

and concentrate on willful prayer…

deliberately shut out emotions and remember God!

And…you will find God there.

Pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the Presence of God!
~Oswald Chambers

A good Child asking for a good thing. 

Find out the reason…turn up the index.

Are you rightly related to family; friends; fellow-workers?

Until you come into the attitude of a Good Child of God, God will not answer.

Are you asking God for money when there is something you have not paid?

Have you asked God for liberty while withholding it from someone else?

Is there someone you haven’t forgiven?

Someone you haven’t been kind to?

Are you living as God’s Child among your family and friends?

If we turn up the index, we will see clearly what is wrong –

that relationship/friendship – that debt – that attitude.

It is no use praying unless we are living as children of God.  
Then, Jesus says:  “Everyone who asks will receive!”

Lord, please show me where I have not been a good child of Yours.  My first thought is always my attitude because sometimes I have trouble discerning righteous anger and being zealous for my Lord; or self-righteous pride judging without all the facts. . .

 What can we, who Love You and desire Your will, do to help bring Your Body back to You?

"I indeed...but HIM!"

August 22, 2017

“I indeed…but Him!”

“I indeed baptize you with water…but He…

shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.”

Matthew 3:11

INSPIRATION

Baptize with water…anyone can do this!

     Demonstration of confession and repentance.

     Sense of uncleanliness and guilt.

     End of self-centeredness!

     I must decrease…

TRANSFORMATION

Baptize with Holy Ghost and fire…ONLY JESUS can do this!

     Evidence of His Presence and possession.

     Sense of unworthiness and Awe.

     New Life that is Christ-centered!

     HE must increase…

Lord, I do want to know the fullness of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire…

and repent of the life of thinking I am anything, and know I am only because of Your Spirit.  
But what about the fire?

Further study reveals that fire is trials and suffering.  This is taking on clearer meaning  - Wow!

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit activity brought persecution and suffering.  Two examples:  Saul/Paul and Stephen; and all apostles martyred!  We don’t accept this as real.

Jesus said: “If they hate Me, they will hate you…but do not fear,  
I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 10:22

John 16:33

John 17:14

THE MINISTRY OF THE UNNOTICED & UNCONSCIOUS!

Solar Eclipse 1^st time in 99 Years!

August 21, 2017

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

Matthew 5:3

The Ministry of the Unnoticed & Unconscious

"The poor in spirit shall see God!"

Poor means in NEED.  I cannot enter Christ’s Kingdom until I see my need.  Being poor spiritually is the only way to come; having nothing to bring to Him but my need for Him!

The true character of the loveliness that tells for God is always unconscious.  If I ask myself 
“I wonder if I am of any use to God” – I instantly lose the touch of God! 

Who are the people who have influenced us most?

Not the ones who think they have; but the ones that have no notion of having influenced.  They are the ones who unconsciously have the unaffected loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus.  When Jesus is at work, He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring; and He uses commonplace people who are unnoticed and unconscious of being of worth…so that,

He will be seen and desired!

My Prayer:

It is not because of my worth, but my need.

Lord, I need You to help me because I am helpless on my own.

I want to simply and unconsciously be Yours.  But, how do I take a stand for You without a conscious effort?

COMPLETENESS IN HIM!

August 19-20, 2017

COMPLETENESS IN HIM!

Matthew 11:28

“Come unto Me…and I will give you rest.”

“Come unto Me” -  for Christ-consciousness!

“…and, I will give you rest” - from self-consciousness!

Christ-consciousness will take the place of

Self-consciousness.

     Self-consciousness is the first thing that will upset the  

             completeness of the life in God.

     Self-consciousness continually produces wrestling.

     Self-consciousness is not sin, but it will divide the intimacy of oneness in Christ.  
             If self-consciousness continues it will slowly awaken self-pity; and self-pity is a sin!

     Beware of anything or anyone that will make you

             to see yourself separately from Him!

NOTHING is so important as to keep right spiritually!

The great solution is a simple one –

“Come unto Me.”

IF we come to Him and

ask Him to produce Christ-consciousness,

He will always do it until we learn to abide in Him!

Lord, prove Your consciousness in me.

The complete life is the life of a child. 

The Child of God is not conscious of the will of God because he is the will of God.

A Child of God never prays to be conscious that God answers prayer, 
he is so restfully certain that God always does answer prayer!

IF we try to overcome self-consciousness by common sense, 
we will become more consumed in it!

Jesus establishes the rest of perfection of activity

that is never conscious of itself!

“…When did we?” (Matthew 25:37)

Prayers

 Lord, I am so slowly learning to abide in You.  Too slow for my anxious heart.  MORE of You and less of me…please make it so!  Remove ALL my preconceived ideas that are based on my flesh and open my eyes and heart to Your life and Your world, and who I am in You.  Be real in me, and fill me with ALL of YOU…and

 be glorified!

 Oh Lord, thank You for More of YOU!  Self-conscious may not be sin but it sure leads the way to self-pity that is.  Thank You for the joy of being Your Child and learning to be like You – completely!

Reveal the More that awaits to make me in Christ as well as Christ in me.  AMEN. ~Betty

WHEN JESUS SAYS A HARD WORD

August 17, 2017

“Yet lackest thou one thing; sell all that thou hast…

and come follow Me.”

Luke 18:22

When Jesus Says a Hard Word

"You lack ONE thing…sell ALL & follow ME!"

Has Jesus every said a hard word to you? 

If not, then it’s doubtful that you have heard anything!

When He does, you may say “No” –

But you will never forgot!

Following Jesus ALWAYS requires ALL!

My Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, that I see more about this today …

After giving all…it’s “come, follow Me.”

It’s not about the doing –

it’s about enthusiastic devotion –

being in Your Presence;

being with You in Your Presence;

sitting at Your feet;

giving my very Best;

going with You into Your world!

Help me.  Fill me with Your Love. 

A PERSONAL Intimate ENCOUNTER!

August 16, 2017

“He calls…by name.”

John 10:3

A PERSONAL intimate ENCOUNTER

       

When I have sadly not understood Him.  John 20:17

It is possible to know all about doctrine and not know Jesus!

Knowledge without an intimate touch of Jesus can be spiritually dangerous.  Epygnosis – experiential knowledge!

When I have stubbornly doubted.  John 20:27

Have I doubted something about Jesus-an experience that someone else has had that I haven’t?

When and how His touches come, we do not know; but when they do, they are indescribably precious…”My Lord and my God!”

When I have selfishly denied Him.  John 21:15-17

Jesus restored him privately, and then publicly.  They had a personal history, an intimate connection – a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake!

My Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, I have misunderstood,

doubted and denied You

in my struggles of faith;

but oh how I want the intimacy

that only Love brings and nothing can shake it.

Call my name, and give me

a moment and memory to cherish forever

so that I can live with You passionately

if I were the only one!

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

August 15, 2017

“You must be born again.”

John 3:7

You must be born again…

                                                   -to see Jesus

                                                   -to receive life Forever;

                                                   -to not sin!

“Keep me watching and waiting at Your threshold.”

Oswald Chambers

Oh Lord, may the results of being born again

be obvious in my life!

May You be seen in me

as I just live in my new life with You.

May I be unconsciously Yours!

GRIPPED BY HIS POWER

August 14, 2017

“Despise not the chastening of the Lord,

Nor faint when you are rebuked of Him.”

Hebrews 12:5

Am I prepared to let God grip me by His power

and do a work in me that is worthy of Himself?

Oswald Chambers

Lord, grip me by Your power

and do what You have planned to glorify Yourself

and declare Your Word.

Cleanse me and make me fit to be useable.

Thank You for living in me and helping me to become…

 more in You.

TEACHING & TESTING

August 12, 2017

“Why are you afraid, O ye of little faith?”

Matthew 8:26

TEACHING & TESTING

It is when a crisis comes that we instantly reveal who we rely upon.  If we have been learning to worship God and to trust Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking point and not break in our confidence in Him.

My Prayer

Oh, the pain of tests of our faith – they reveal the depths of truth!  
Thank You, Lord, for teaching and testing.

Our problem:  We think there is only one level of learning and one test to pass; 
but we will never stop learning and being tested about our faith.

May I be a student of Yours, Lord Jesus, that brings You deep joy!

ALONE...AND WITH GOD!

August 11, 2017

“And he saw him no more.”

2 Kings 2:12

ALONE…AND WITH GOD!

Thank You, Lord, that I have been alone;

but never lonely!  You are always with me!

It is not wrong to depend on Elijah as long as God gives him to you, 
but remember the time will come when he will have to go.

…Put into practice what you learned with your Elijah, use his cloak (symbol of faith) and pray.  Determine to trust in God, and do not look for Elijah any more.

Lord, how special and meaningful this Scripture has been to me.  
I have come to know You and to trust You and do great things in Your Name and Power. 

Now, I think the best is on its way! 

I have experienced these 3 stages(Jordan, Jericho, Bethel) in:

Towns:  Miami, McEwen, Nashville

Husbands:  Bob, Joe, Ronnie

Teaching Events:  DiscipleYouth, Evangelism Conf., SuperWow

Commissions:  Ridgecrest, N.C., Kentucky, Louisiana

Studies:  DiscipleYouth, Experiencing God, PrayerLife

Life Illustration:  CATERPILLAR-COCOON-BUTTERFLY

ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS

August 7, 2017 

“Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

Luke 2:49

MY FATHER'S BUSINESS ~ GOD'S ENTERPRISES!

        
Do I look upon life as being in my Father’s house?

Is the Son of God living in His Father’s house in me?

*The abiding Reality is God within me!

Are you so identified with the Lord’s life that you are simply a Child of God, continually talking with Him and realizing that all things come from His Hands?

The vicarious life of your Lord is to become your vital simple life; the way He worked and lived among men must be the way He lives in you!

(Thoughts from My Utmost for His Highest 8/7)

Lord, this is my goal to always be in contact with the Reality ~ You in me!

…to be in conversation, all the time;

to know You are my constant companion

…to be about my Father’s business.

Help me, Lord!

AT THAT DAY...IN MY NAME!

August 6, 2017

“At that day, you shall ask in My Name…”

John 16:26

“At that day”  - the day that He becomes LORD!

The day that JESUS becomes my intimate Companion…

my Soul Mate!

“in My Name” – it is NOT a Password!

It is a personal Love Relationship!  It is NOT a casual acquaintance!

It is personal identity; one of honor; an endearing close association; entrusted authority; 
one who trusts you to use their name!

Example:  “I am asking in the name of my FRIEND.” 

“I am asking in the name of my SISTER.” 

“I am asking in the name of my MOTHER/FATHER.” 

“I am asking in the name of my HUSBAND/WIFE.”

“I’m asking in the name of my TEACHER/PROFESSOR.”

“I’m asking in the name of my BOSS/SUPERVISOR.”

A PERSONAL LOVE RELATIONSHIP

Creator God must be FATHER!

Redeemer Jesus Christ must be LORD!

Indwelling Holy Spirit must be LIFE!

    

…And, there is no other!