Quote from Forum Archives on October 5, 2000, 4:51 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

I have been writing all week about spiritual matters. It is my
opinion that a great number of us really don't know our Lord all
that well. Clearly, before we believed, at best, we simply heard
of God, but did not really know Him. When we first believe, we
begin to learn a little about God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

>From there, it is similar to a human friendship in this respect:
we have to get to know one another. On God's side, that is not a
problem. He created us, He knew before we were ever born who we
are, what we would be like, and so on. Human constraints do not
bind God - they bind us. So when we get to know God, we need to
expend the effort, just as we do in a friendship. Anyone who
says there is no effort involved is mistaken. Don't confuse this
with salvation - that is a free gift from God. All we can do is
accept the gift. But cultivating any relationship, including a
relationship with our Creator is what matters most to me.

My friends, when we cultivate a healty relationship with the Lord
of Creation, it puts life into perspective. Those of us who have
failed in our relationships with others may learn some valuable
lessons from building a healthy relationship with God. That's
OK, because that is precisely how God designed us - to have unmet
needs that can only be met in Him. When we see that our deepest
needs are fully met in Him, the pressure is released in our
interpersonal relationships as well. I urge you to seek God
today, and wait patiently for Him to work in the depths of your
spirit. My personal prayer is that it will be so for me, and
also for you.

Brother Brian

Subject: Quiet Walk for Thursday, October 5, 2000

Q U I E T W A L K D E V O T I O N A L
by Walk Thru the Bible

BIBLE READING
Colossians 3:1-4

OVERVIEW

Life's lies: "What can be seen is all there is."

INSIGHT

There is a segment of our society, including Christians,
who admit to there being a spiritual world. For the most
part, however, the world does not acknowledge spiritual
reality.

If something cannot be scientifically verified, the
scientists say that it does not exist. As Christians, we
do not believe this way; yet we act as though it is true.

Instead of praying, we work hard. Instead of being
sensitive to spiritual warfare, we blame "bad luck."
Instead of looking forward to heaven, we worry about
dying. We need to move in our material world with hearts
that are sensitized to the spiritual.

PRAYER

* Praise your heavenly Father that He has great things in store
for us:

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no
sorrow with it. The fear of the wicked will come upon
him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted.
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But
the righteous has an everlasting foundation (Proverbs
10:22,24-25).

* Now pray this confession to the Lord to keep your life free
from sin and in

fellowship with Him: Walk in the ways of your heart, And
in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these
God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow
from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For
childhood and youth are vanity (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10).

* Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. As
you agree with God's will, voice your affirmation of His
Word:

"Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot
be My disciple. So likewise, whoever of you does not
forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke
14:27,33).

* The Lord encourages us to come to Him with our concerns and
desires. As you make your requests known to the Lord,
include:

* that the fruit of the Spirit would be evident in your
life,

* the leaders of your church,

* your pastor's family.

* Finally, close with this prayer of hope:

You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the
coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:8).

-----------
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