Do you fall asleep while Praying? Do you think going to sleep while Praying is "lack" of commitment and respect to GOD? Does it make GOD angry? And do we then feel guilty? A parent holds their child while they talk and share their thoughts and questions. After being comforted, experiencing the purity of true love the child drifts to sleep while still talking. When we are in this kind of prayer we cease from worldly thoughts, worries and work. We become content while our mind is only on GOD and the things of GOD. Proverbs 3:24, "...lie down, your sleep will be sweet." Psalm 4:8, "In peace I will lie down and sleep..." When our last thought is of GOD, WHAT BETTER WAY TO GO TO SLEEP? There is nothing to feel guilty about, WE ARE BEING HELD AND COMFORTED AS WE DRIFT OFF IN HIS ARMS.
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Have we ever responded to someone who was asking us a question, "What do you mean"? Likewise, we need to respond appropriately to Scriptures. Too many times, a "vague" or "confusing" statement in the Bible has become the "Division Point" causing many Denominations. John 9:35, "Do you believe in the SON of man?" Is this one statement the source of disagreement for centuries, because of misunderstanding; OR MISTRANSLATION TO BEGIN WITH? What if we learned JESUS was not referring to "physical family"; "but one who depends on another", "one who is a follower or Disciple", and that the Greek translation is not MAN but "MANKIND" or "HUMANITY"? To read this Scripture with correct translation, "Do you believe in the SERVANT OF HUMANITY", is no longer divisive nor confusing. When Scripture becomes CONFUSING, look to TRANSLATION INSTEAD OF INTERPRETATION.
Do we only PRAISE and TRUST GOD when things are the way we want? But when adverse circumstances occur, do we not listen to, or even ignore, GOD'S PROMISES? Do we treat HIS Promises as "just words"? Do we "draw near to GOD" (James 4:8); do we believe, "GOD is our refuge" (Psalm 46:1); what about, "...I will fear no evil: for THOU art with me..." (Psalm 23:4-5); do we cherish, "Peace I leave with you...let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid..." (John 14:27)? Do we say, yea, yea, don't interrupt me now GOD, I'M BUSY BEING ANGRY AND AFRAID!
We are known to say this when we see someone upon hard times. This phrase is from John Bradford in the 1800's and not the Bible. However the Bible does say in 1 Corinthians 15:10, "But by the Grace of GOD I am what I am: and HIS Grace bestowed on me was not in vain..." Do you think the Bible's version brings Pure HUMILITY and AWARENESS? Do you think this Revelation is a comparison to other people OR are we HUMBLED when we compare who we were and still are? Do we realize how completely undeserving we are; and the MAGNITUDE and MERCY of GOD'S FAVOR in our lives? I AM WHAT I AM, BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
Do the Promises of this world no longer tempt us and separate us from GOD? Do we no longer magnify the strength of our enemies; nor magnify our own weaknesses and inabilities? Do we no longer have to "THINK ABOUT" Forgiving, or "THINK ABOUT" worldly good fortunes as being Blessings? Are we in a Place where the height, width, length and depth are beyond human inequities and earthly fears? Numbers 14:24, "...because he had another SPIRIT with him and has followed ME fully..." Can we live in the Promised Land now; where there is no disappointment of broken commitments, anger for injustices, and FEAR? Is this Place not of the MIND, BUT OF THE HEART? Is this Place, THE HEIGHT, WIDTH, LENGTH AND DEPTH of Everything?
Reading the warning labels on products, reading highway signs, and reading Scriptures have something in common. We are not kept safe by "just reading" them; IT'S OBEYING THEM, that keeps us safe! Does our fear and greed cause us to repeatedly say things that are injurious to others, while trying to draw attention or sympathy to ourselves? The Scriptures, in NO WAY, encourage the Proud, Greedy or Selfish person, because THERE IS NO awareness or Conviction to OBEY. Only when we are Humble do we discern TRUTH. Psalm 25:9, "The meek will HE guide in judgement: and the meek will HE teach HIS way..." The ONLY way to know GOD'S PROVISION, is to come before HIM with a HUMBLE, OBEDIENT heart. No matter how many times we go to Church, genuflect at the pew, or make the "sign" of the CROSS; if we are not HUMBLY OBEDIENT and REPENTING, we will NEVER KNOW HIM. AND WE WONDER WHY OUR PRAYERS WANDER AND DISAPPEAR?
This is our Meditation and Acceptance of TRUTH within ourselves today, TRUTH is not changed by circumstances and circumstances do not change TRUTH. Our senses can tell us loud, quite, hot or cold and soft or rough; but our senses cannot tell us TRUTH. John 4:24, "GOD is SPIRIT and those who worship HIM must worship in SPIRIT and TRUTH." TRUTH is revealed by the SPIRIT; when we Worship in SPIRIT we Worship in TRUTH. Because we Worship GOD in SPIRIT, and HE is everywhere all of the time, we are not to make idols or graven images in the form of anything and "bow" before them. AND THAT'S THE TRUTH.
When GOD refuses to be manipulated, do we get "offended" that our "religion" does not work? Do we complain that HE does not see our Fasting? Does HE take no knowledge of us "humbling" ourselves? Do we "Token Fast" and still seek our own pleasures? Isaiah 58:6, "Is not this fast to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undue the straps of sin..." ARE WE OFFENDED, WHEN WE CAN'T MANIPULATE GOD?
Do we want to love GOD all that we can? Then do we realize, that all we can, isn't ENOUGH? Do we have a TIME for Prayer, a TIME for meditation, a TIME to "go out", and a TIME for "March Madness"? Philippians 3:7, "...Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of CHRIST...." The trouble with rereading familiar Scriptures is, we don't meditate on them! Try again, it says, "anything and everything we view in life as important is TRASH, if it doesn't have to do with KNOWING CHRIST." How can we love GOD all we can, if we don't OBEY HIS Commands and TRUST HIS Promises? Maybe because we don't know them, and don't meditate on them. Maybe it's because we still treat "things" of the world as important, where they become equal to, or greater than GOD. We will never love GOD all we can if we continue to keep GOD and THINGS in their PROPER TIME AND PLACE.
Why do we Christians have to be "renewed" or "cleansed" so frequently in our Christian Journey? Does something within us tell us that we are "ungrateful", "presumptuous" and are taking GOD'S gifts for granted? Whether it is the Sunrise (SONrise), wind blowing in the trees or the sounds of the first bird singing encouraging others to join in; we begin to take these things for GRANTED. As though these miracles will always be here, as we take our gift of sight and hearing for granted also. James 4:13-15, "...those of you who say, today or tomorrow we will do this or that...yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring...instead you should say, if the LORD WILLS, we will do this or that." Why do we need "RENEWED"? Because we know WE FAIL TO LOVE GOD ENOUGH, and take HIM and HIS gifts for granted.
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About the Author and writerThe writer for our daily devotionals wishes to remain anonymous in regard to his work, giving instead Glory to the Author. Archives
December 2015
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