Word for Today, Fri, 14 Feb 2003: Draw Near To God
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Here we are already, at the end of another week. I've not had
very much time at all to write this week. I'm now at least
working. I have two part time jobs, so we should be able to limp
by until something more permanent comes along, but I am working
many hours for significantly less income (not anywhere even close
to half of what I once made at an ordinary 40 hrs./week job).
Still, God has been very good to all of us, and we are getting
by, and God is helping me, day by day to continue to seek Him and
to lean on Him. The last thing I think about each night as I
finally get to lay down is Him, and the first thing I think of as
I arise is Him, so at least that much is well and right -
ultimately, isn't that the direction in which He desires us to
go?
I long each day to draw closer to the Lord. Have you ever read
what the scriptures have to say about that?
Hebrews 7:19
in context, the surrounding verse:
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and
useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope
is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 10:1
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not
the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the
same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect
those who draw near to worship.
Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty
conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Have a
great weekend!
James 4:1-10
Submit Yourselves to God
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from
your desires that battle within you?
2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but
you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not
have, because you do not ask God.
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the
world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of
the world becomes an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit
he caused to live in us envies intensely?[1]
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God
opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."[2]
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you.
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands,
you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and
your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
(All scriptures in this message are from the New International
Version (NIV) of the Holy Bible, copied from the Bible Gateway at
bible.gospelcom.net/, and are Copyright 1995-2003 Gospel
Communications International Box 455, Muskegon, MI 49443
1-231-773-3361).
Dear Lord,
Again, I pray, as I did before:
"Please write Your Word within the very deepest part of me, that I
may be completely, entirely Yours. Be patient with me, help me
learn and apply Your ways in every area of my life. Draw me to
You in every way, for that is my deep desire, and I believe it is
my entire reason for being.
"Strengthen those who are weak today in whatever way, whether ill
in body or mind, or lacking in any way. Fill the void with Your
Holy Spirit. Please cleanse away any impurities from each of
us. I know, Lord, that I cannot purify myself in any way other
than to offer myself completely to You, giving up even the things
that I hold onto tightly. I trust You, even in the darkest times
You are there, and You have always been faithful. You are a joy
because Your love never fails. May I be like minded, for Jesus
sake. Amen."
Your Brother in Christ,
Brian
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Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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